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CONTAINING 


Full  Page  Portraits  and  Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent  and 
Representative  Citizens  of  the  Counties, 

TOGETHER    WITH 

PORTRAITS    AND    BIOGRAPHIES     OF     ALL    THE     GOVERNORS     OF     THE     STATF,    AND    OF     THE 

PRESIDENTS    OF     THE     UNITED    STATES. 


CHICAGO: 

CHAPMAN  BROTHERS, 

1889.  - 


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pi^Ep/^?E. 


'^»i>  +M-  fStf-* 

•■/x*'";>'.l  I K  greatest  of  English  historians,  M  lcai  lay,  and  one  of  the  most  brilliant  writers  of 
the  present  century,  has  said :  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the 
tves  of  its  people."   In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  Portrait  and  Biographical 
Album  of  this  county  has  been  prepared.     Instead  of  going  to  must)'  records,  and 
taking  therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated   by   but  few,  our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their 
enterprise  and  industry,  brought  the  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of   their  life 
struggles.     No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could   be   presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.     In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of  coming  generations.      It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by 
industry    and   economy   have   accumulated    wealth.      It  tells  how   others,    with   limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have   become  learned  men  and  women,   with  an 
y\_    influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.     It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and   whose  names  have 
)fi'J%f\^,        become  famous.      It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
^  0  records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.     It  tells  also  of  many,   very 

many,  who,  nol  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pursued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,''  content 
to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a.  deed  of  mercy — "they  have  done  what 
they  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace 
once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
he  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be 
inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possible 
given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  tothe  biograph- 
ical sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.  For  this  the 
publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 
information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  some  member  of 
the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

CHAPMAN   PROS. 
Chicago,  September,  188'J. 


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"IDGRABH1E.S. 


"     |1_1;.W  ,»liiiv.-(V   V.ll': 


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OF  THE. 


GOVERNORS  of  ILLINOIS, 


AND    OF   THE. 


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FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


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I  i-W 


HE  Fatlier  of  our  Country  was 
Igbom  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.  22,  1732.  His  parents 
were  Augustine  and  Mary 
(Ball)  Washington,  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
f  been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and  became  a  prosperous 
'  planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
Lawrence  and  John.  The 
former  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  three  children,  John. 
Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Hetty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  lie  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics.      His    spelling  was   rather   defective. 


B 


a 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physical 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  ui  1  haracter,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  14  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  175  r,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  apiointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ai  - 
cepted,  which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     The 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


trip  was  a  perilous  one,-and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
ivere  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  ( )hio, 
10  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
if  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia, Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  lo  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  every  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  1783,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  lesigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  lo 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February,  1 7 89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  veiy  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  yeais  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  reiiose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
lake  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


J<rfwiJdmy 


SECOND  PRESIDES  T. 


23 


tssgJS. 


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jl   OHN     ADAMS,     the     second 
sLPresident  and  the    first    Vice- 
-President of  the  United  States, 


was  born  in  Braintree  (now 
jj«jb  Quincy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
"^  miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
about  1640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  oi  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
"school  of  affliction,"  from  which  lie  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He- 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  lie 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cils, of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  lxissessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
anil  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (t7<>5),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holdir.B  1  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  populai 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  foi 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Com t  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  capacity  foi  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  meed 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  ave 
apiwiuted  June  n,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  th  • 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "t'.ie 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil. 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde 
pendent  states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God.      It  ought  to  be  solemnized   with   pomp,   shows, 


24 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
wurth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  proposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
fan.  21,  17S3.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  goto  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  still  drooping  anddespond- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter;  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  lie  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot, he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785.  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  17S8. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
ele<  ted  President.though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years, he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

While    Mr.   Adams  was  Vice   President   the    great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  u[ion  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  In- 
dependence forever."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spiiit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  piejiossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests,was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Tefferson. 


_ 


^z, 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


27 


w* 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON   was 

born  April  2,   1743,   at  Shad- 

xPwell,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 

His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  t he  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obodeof  fashion 
a. id  splendor.  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then  77 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproai  ha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences, that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Creek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls ;  and 


there  was  not  to  !>e  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

"Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  !n 
1772  he  married  .Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and   highly  accomplished  young   widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monlicello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in   our  land. 

In  1775  ,ie  was  sent  to  die  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776.     What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


28 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  noolhcr  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  ;.s  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monticello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  lie  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  1,  1794.  In  1797,11c  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext  ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1S00,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  [efferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  gieatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1S26,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer. 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

<  )n  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  enteitained  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life!  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  ( ompany,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  ol 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore 
head  broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discemable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


i 


*  j 


J-  <2/Ocs~<-^       4sCC 


it<^>H  o^K 


FOUR  TH  J  >£  t- SI  DEN  T. 


3' 


PEQES  n^DISOl}. 


AMES  MADISON,  "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
^President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Virginia, 
''^    |une  28,    1S36.     The   name  of 


in 


r.       "'"•'    Vm    James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  im|»rtant 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of   this   great    republic    were 
laid.   He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of   the    Constitution    of   the    United 
States  to   be   called   to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
iS  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  lie  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


Blue  Ridge. 


prudent  zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  177  1,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subst' 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election  ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the    Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;    and  their  appreciation  of  his 


3* 


JAMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia   Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  an6ther  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  17S7,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
t he  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  8r  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  |»wer  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  tl.e  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  fust,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiiing 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  181 2,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1813,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infant 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling wilh  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  Febrnaiy, 
18 13,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
ditator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensbiirg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  r836,  then  ;it  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


^^7L^ 


FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
President  of  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  2.8,  175S.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  |>lace  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
e  .:  --yVyg)  many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince ill  which  he  was  horn.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
'\  of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  ot  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
s<  liool  and  enlisted  among  the   patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White- 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
alter  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  (barg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-decamp;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collec  1  .1 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  petiod  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun- 
teer, during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1 7 S 2 ,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  ol  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
ol  his  fellow  citizens  at  2;  years  of  age;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremittirg  energy  for  the  public  good, 


36 


JAMES  MONROE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
thinking,  with  many  others  of  'he  Republican  parly, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  iaeas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  Fiance,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
tight  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  witn  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Tneir  united  efforts  were  sue 
cessful.  For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  oui 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  but  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  ot  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  ol 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec 
lion  held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1 S f 7,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  L'nited  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the    "  Monroe  doctrine.'' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr   Monroe   retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until    1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  Vork  to  live  with   his  son-in 
law.     In  that  city  he  died, on  the  4th  of  July,  1831 


J,   2,  At 


ojy^j, 


SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


39 


J2A      301)1]  Qmi)6Y  WW$-      1 


I 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the   United 
ip  States,  was   horn   in   the   rural 
home   of  his    honored    lather. 
John  Adams, in  Quincy,  Mass  , 
on  the  i  i  tli  cf  July,  1767.    His 
mother,   a   woman   of   exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during    the   almost    constant    ab- 
sence of   his   father.      When    hut 
eight  years  of  age,  he   stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  hat- 
tie  on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames   billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration    of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  fatner  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  I1. n  is,  where 
his  lather  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  teturned  to  this 
cour.try,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad  Again 
John  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  .-.'udy;  then  accompanied  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  1  oy  was  but  fourteen 
yea";  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
istei  to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.    Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent; 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings, 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Alter 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Patis,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive; 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  <  Ictober,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted  to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Cicat  P.ritian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  in 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Berlin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,—  Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  London; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  hertomove  in  the 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 


40 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1S02,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1S09,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Creek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  ot  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1 8 17,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  Jane,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
18th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  yearsof  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty-one ;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choii  e  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
■>.l-.e  past  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  whit  h 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew- 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  ''resi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
jxjrtentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  lo  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1S30,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  readv  lo 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  lo 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  '1  he 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  its  moral  daiing  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he- 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination  ; 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prayer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  lo  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, ami  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  endof  earth  .•"then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "/am  content."  These  were  Ihe 
last    words  of    the     grand    "Old     Man     Eloquent." 


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SE I  'EN  I H  1>RESIL>  EN 1 . 


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■  I 

-     •;♦       -»> 


-   ■     '■;-'•• 


NDREW     JACKSON,     the 

m  seventh     President    of     the 

^United   States,  was  born   in 

Waxhaw  settlement,  N.   (";., 

March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  Mis 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
trai  live. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  ol 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
I'low  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  in    obtaining    their  exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illness. 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  -non 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways, s  12h  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
witn  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
( Ireat  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  fvnoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  elev  :n 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  meml  er  in 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  link- 
son  was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress   then    held  its 


44 


ANDRE  \V  JA  CKSON. 


sessions,— a  distance  of  about  eight    hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mi. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  ot  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  alter  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  (lie  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred iqion  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hurdred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  alter  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrtort  ot  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "(  >ld  Hickory/' 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
lers,  were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
i  isive  action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tant e,  gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  for(  on 
nne  dI  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men,  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.     The  bend 


ol  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  nanovv 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  bri  art- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  light  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  1  old 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  1  on- 
centrate  all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he- 
was  appointed  major-general. 

I. ate  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  den.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola, landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up     and   the   rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six   hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but, in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1S28,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jaik- 
son's    life   were   that    of   a    devoted  Christian    man. 


^?  7  -yzs&,  t^/y&ot^z^ 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


47 


X   a-V-  >:  • 


n^ifrii]  Y^i?  Bapi}. 


A.RTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.    5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July    24,    1862.      His 
body   rests  in    the   cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite    shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  halt  way  up   on    one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  I  lis  mother, 
also  of  1  ditch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  six  years  in  an  office  in  his    native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted   his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  Ins 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  tlw 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years , 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  the 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  1S1  2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic   party,   he   had 


4s 


MARTIN   VAN  BUR  EN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage  "  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  witli  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  (nullified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
Stale. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  1  ii^  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  .is  .111  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
the  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
"State  Rights"  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

S.hiii  after  this,  in  [828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  sptings  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  P.y 
these  [lowers  it  is  said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
lew  thought  then  could  lie  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  'Phis 
position  he  resigned  in  1 83  t ,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
s;i me  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused    to    ratify  the   nomination,    and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
ftowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chiel  Execu- 
tive. On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  (leu. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States  lie  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  ex<  iting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  gie.u  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
.mil  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he- 
failed  of  re  election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "  free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1.S4.S, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  ami  the  distinguished  positions  which  lie 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1S41,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


fa.  fc¥fa^L^c'^ 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


5< 


WILLIAM,   HENRY    HARRISON. 


f 


i 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth    President  of 

the    United   States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Ya.,  Feb.  9, 1773. 
Mis  father,    Benjamin    Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments oi  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and    John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice  re-elected.  His  son, 
William  H en ry,  of  course  enjoyed 
in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
-■hen  repaired  to  Philadelphia  tostudy  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  botli  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Ul>on  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


5 


dent  Washington.  He  was  then  but  iy  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  alter  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embra<  ed 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  "  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  w  hie  h 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap- 
pointed by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  [lowers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  neatly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrison 
reicned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.   About 


u.  of  ill  ua 


S2 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "The  Prophet;" 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator:  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  18 1 2,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, lie  took  every  precaution  against  surprise 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accoutrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompanied  by  a  shower  of   bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
ous yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned  :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  lie 
fore     them,     and    completely     routing     thf    foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can - 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.,  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  lie  difficult  to  place  a  man  in   a    situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found   equal   to    the    position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet   all   the    re 
sponsiliilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
witli  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  lire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  18 16,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  ol 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  powerof  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  [819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re-nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  forthe  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisy-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  Stales. 


^ 


if: 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


55 


OHN    TYLER,     the    tenth 
residentof  the  United  Stales. 
He  was  horn  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.   He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the    early   age    of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and    Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
hut  seventeen  years  old.   After 
graduating,   he  devoted   him- 
self  with    great    assiduity  to    the 
study    of    law,    partly    with     his 
father   and    partly  with    Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  lie 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
not  retained.  When  hut  twenty-one  vears  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
hank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 


ment, a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congn 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  constantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.     His   popularity  secured   his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
lus  profession.     There  was  a  .  plit  in  the    Democratic 


JOHN  TYLER. 


party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments  upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  Noith:  but  the  Vice 
President  lias  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  [ire- 
side  over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1 841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  longlife  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
news  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommended  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.       He   suggested,   however,   that  he   vvould 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
h  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  addiess  to  the  people  ot  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  I  )emocrats,  until  atthe  close  ot  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  I  lemocratie  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassment  s  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  lelief.  His  first  wile. 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tylei  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
moans  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,   he   was  taken   sick  and  soon   died. 


ELEVEh  I II  PRESIDENT. 


59 


ES  IK.  POLK. 


||amesk. 


POLK,  the  eleventh 
^President  of  the  United  States, 
:K%  was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C,  Nov.  2,  1795.     Mis  par- 
ents  were    Samuel    ami    Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Thomas  l'olk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1006,  with  his  wile 

and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 

owed  by  most  of  the    members    of 


the  Polk  farnly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  llie 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  l'olk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  I  lis 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  <  omnion 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
leading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
1  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
ilim  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail  ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind  t he- 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  ta--ks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  leu  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  181S,  with  the  highest  honors, be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classic  s.  lie  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  lie 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  Alter  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.      His  skill  as  a    speaker   was    such    that 

he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished    morals,    ger.ir.l   ard 


So 


JAMES  K.  POLK. 


courteous  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  joy  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United    States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House.  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th of  March,  iS45,Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  war 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion, "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'Tii  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr.  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge— was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


hS^SSpSiE''- 


Til 'ELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


('3 


>S- 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 

$)  President  of  the  United  States, 

-Jo  was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
17S4,  in  ( >range  Co.,  Va.  1  lis 
<o  father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
f  tinguished  patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children, emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  tew 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
■•ather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  featless  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  .1  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There- 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  011  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army  ;  and  lie  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  1S12,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Yincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
Jed  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering    fifty    men,    many   of 
whom  were  sic  k. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  18 12,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  (.'apt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  (lag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  con  e  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war-whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  imniagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  lire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  I  he- 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  box  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
I    best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


64 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


tellectiuil  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty -four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
hac"  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
he;c  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
tc  he  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of 'Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
spread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
tl..ir  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose   name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  'Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  lie  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  woids  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  nil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short, 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortable,  labor- 
saving  contempt    for  learnirg  of  every   kind." 


<c6 


•jtz^j^i^t 


XTtx) 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


6? 


SIC  :": 

i 

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I  ^MILLAHH  FILLMIIRE^ 


i#a 


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4-* 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth President  of  the  United 

States,   was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,    N.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.    His 
"^    father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 


cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
%  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1 83 1  ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  .1 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  bis  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  u  liic  h  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
..nil  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where   some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate; 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory;  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  lie  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  line  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
no  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  t'> 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  hal"  •. 
ind  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no   means   at' 


68 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1S23,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail   Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature  ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degree  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress  ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  stuength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he   was   elected  Comptroller  of    the   State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proi  laimed  in  tiumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  hiiii'e 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
n ames of  Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  r85o.  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution. Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillmore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  com  iliate 
the  South;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmore's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more, having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,    ^74. 


•' 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT 


7' 


,^«.a3bfli 


■ { "i^  .....       ... .  „ „  w  „ T, T  T  „    „ T „  „  „  „   _M         _  ^ Ji 


^FRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


^fe.t,.*  A  .t.  .f-t.,.t .t,.t.,A,.t.  ,.t,.t,.t.  .t.  .t,..t  ds4b*i*.**!  **.t«,f.-*,i. -.+»*..+, >t,.+,;fc.t.,  .1.  .i.  .1.  i.  .\.X  .t.  .t.  -t...t,t  % '   ' 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,    the 
fourteenth    President  of  the 
jp  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary   soldier,   who, 
with    his    own     strong    arm, 
hewed    out   a    home    in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of     inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,   though    uncultivated 
mind,  and  an   uncompromis- 
Democrat.      The    mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar ;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  fmely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1S20,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  cf  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,   and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied:  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  years.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1 S37,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  memberin 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied.    Of  the 


72 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  born  to  thein,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1S38,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1S47. 
He  took  an  hrqiortant  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States   on    the  4th  of  March,    1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict"  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrate acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  ihey  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  lo  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  le- 
tired  to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ,  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1S69.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladened  by  his  material    bounty. 


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FIFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


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AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
.teenth  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
the  23d  of  April,  1 7  91.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  was  called  Stony 
Hatter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1 7  S3,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  yeaisof  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  lie 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
«o  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native   powers    en- 


abled him  to  master  the  most   abstruse  subjects  with 
facility. 

In  the  year  1 S09,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  ti|>on  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  for 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advoi  atcd  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri- 


76 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  " might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  I'olk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1S50, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  [856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  forthe  Presidency.  'Hie 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
O'.ir  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
ceived 1 14  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
T74,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March    4th,    1857,  Mr.   Buchanan   was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  comer-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
[n  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered      He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples, consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic.     He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen,  lie 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword-hilt,  he  exclaimed.  "The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  1S60;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston  :  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  (lose  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion. 
He  died   at  his   Wheatland    retreat,    June    1,    1868. 


^-T 


G^^CvC^t^ 


SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


79 


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■  ■  ■  ■  •««'■■  •   •  ■ 

I5RAHAM     LINCOLN, 
g  sixteenth     President     of 


the 

the 
in 

12, 


i-©  United  States,  was  born 
I  Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb. 
1809.  About  the  year  1780,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wildsof  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
widi  the  must  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  i*>orest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log -cabin;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  built  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"  All  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "I  owe  to  my  angel-mother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  1 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few  ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr. 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830, 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,    111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  reaving 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education,  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.       In   this   advon- 


8o 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so   well  pleased,  that    upon 
his  return  they  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1S36  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1S54  I  he  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1S56,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1 85 S  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history  1  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
lie  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher   prize: 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  1 6th  of  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
orominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  upon    this    good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  trough  I 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to"  get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  airy  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Cun- 
federate  gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great    anxiety  was   felt   by  all  loyal   people, 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  ami 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  tell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet, and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  lie 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  "Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1S61,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  t.e  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witli  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  his  country- 
men being  unable   to  decide    which   is    tl^e    neater. 


-t-Ots^ 


%2?z- 


EN'l  J:  I:  A '  7  11  J'KESJDEy  T. 


m  o  n  mm  ipanipi 


^   NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
th teenth  President  of  ihe  Unitet 


^   .States. 


l- 

d 

The    early    life    of 

Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 

the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 

% -VT     tionand   friendlessness.      He 

/.  \ .  ■■-  ...  --  .  j  ^ 

■   was  born    December    29,     1S0S, 

in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  or  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow- workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.      The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  oi. 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  poliiical 
affairs;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-class^ 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature, 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "  stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  those 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  res])onsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abi. 


84 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1S57,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  rree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  Wis  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  piide  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic  ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  i&uj,  ne 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
ern Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  lie 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.  In 
i  S64,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15, 
1S65,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
fhey  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  *  The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to.  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  bis  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the    trial   began    March   23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotent!-") 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  a.m.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


/Z^7~  a^ZZI 


EIG11  TEENTH  ['RESIDENT. 


87 


■■•'■■■ 


ta  LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
&i  eighteenth  President  of  the 
^United  States,  was  born  on 
V  the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
{,  Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
he  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
gTasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  aniroal,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


»£^V@$&<§V<§Xs>€£>fe) 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent, with  the  fourth  infantry, 
10  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rev,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  i860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.      On  the  15th  of 


S8 


l/LVSS&S  S.  GRANT. 


June,  1861,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
district  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
pushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 
Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
i:is  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  iipor.  !!?p  duties  of  his  new  office. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,    1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1S68,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being    cast    for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  18S0  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1SS5,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


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UTHERFORD  B.    HAYES, 

the  nineteenth  President  of 
K  the  United  States,  was  horn  m 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
^  death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune overtaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  was  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  arid  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  E/.ekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  K/.ekiel  and  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford  Hayes    the  father   of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldieis 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn',  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock, 
ing,  or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day. 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter- 
mined to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son, of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


92 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
him,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right !  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
wait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
E  'lool.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  robably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  a;  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in   1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  as^hief  Justice  Salmon  P.Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood. The  Literary  Quo  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1 86 1,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  Flis  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  up 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  ar.d  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "forgallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  Jiad  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  1 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in   1875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hewever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  op  =  . 


".■;::._ 


Til  'ENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


Oj 


I  JAMES  Aa  gAREimU.  y 


^ 


I 


^         'II 


/^X 


AMES  A   GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  tlie  United 
States,    was    horn    Nov.    ig, 
1831,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His    par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)    Garfield,    both    of   New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was    not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.     It 
..  as  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
.ween    the  logs  filled  with  clay.     His  father  was  a 
lard  working  farmer,  and    he  soon    had   his   fields 
cleared,  an   orchard  planted,   and  a  log  barn  built. 
i'lie  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
heir  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
antes.     In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
rai  ted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest   fire,  died.     At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Phomas  about  ten  years  old.     No  one,  perhaps,  can 
(ell  how  much  James  was  indeLted   to  his  btother's 
ceil  and  self-sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years   suc- 
ceeding  his    father's   death,   but   undoubtedly   very 
much.     He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
itrs  live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  lie'  struggles  to  keep  the  little   family  to- 


P 


gether.  Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  hi? 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  the) 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seatsof  honor, 
the  humblest  fiiend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sureof  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition   of  young   Garfield   until   he 
was  about  sixteen   years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.     He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly   opposed.     She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtain 
some  other  kind  of  employment.     He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.    This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city. 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get   aboard  a   lake  vessel,  and   not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.     He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
home,    and  attended    the    seminary    at   Chester   for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,   teaching  a  few   terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.     This   school 
was  started  by  the   Disciples  of  Christ   in    1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.     He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  w.n 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.     He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.     He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.     As  above  slated,  he    early 
united   with   the   Christian   or   Diciples    Church    at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and    places  where 
he  happened  to  be.     Dr.  Noah  Porter,   President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion ; 


96 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
liristians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
commu.iion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  185S,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  burn  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
in  Hiram  and  the. neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1S61  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut.-Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  ac^on, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloli, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  b'story  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,   where  he  won 
the  stars  01  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gei?  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
K.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  heen- 
tered  Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1SS0. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  18S0,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  LJ.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  ol  his 
parly  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention- 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  lie  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Blaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  lie  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  nofarlhei 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  Foreighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


T IVEN  T  Y-FIAS  T  PRESIDENT. 


09 


A 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

m  twenty-first    Presi'i-in    ul   'lie 

^United    States    was    bom    in 

Franklin Cour.ty,  Vermont,  on 

the  fifthofOdobcr,  1830,  and  is 

the  oldest    of  a    family    of  two 

sons  and    five    daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  aBaptistc''.rgyman,'wht, 

emigrated  to  tb'.s  country  fro-,i 

L     the  county  Antrim,   Ireland,    in 

his  18th  year,  and  died  in   1875,  in 

Newtonville,    neat    Albany,    after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S<  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  schoo! 
|h  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  .§500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex- Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  marred  the  daughter   of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at. 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthurs 
nomination    to    the    Vice     Presidency,    leaving    two 

children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon- 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  wen;  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Ckarles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1S56.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and   the  other  car  companies  quickly 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1 86 1,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  Yoik,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not   indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  zr  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1S80.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  fading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
lor  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
wasoneof  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
.vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for.  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as    never 
before   in    its    history   over  the  death   of    any   other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.     Then  it  became    the   duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume   the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath   in    New  York. 
Sept.  20,  1SS1.     The  position  was  an    embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from   the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.    The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  happily   surprised  the   nation,  acting  so 
wisely    that   but   few   criticised    his   administration. 
He   served    the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1S85,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his   party  for  a  second 
term.     His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention   at   Chicago,  and   was  received  with   great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one   of  the  opposing   candidates,   he  would  have 
been   selected   as  the  standard-bearer  of  his   party 
for  another  campaign.     He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


W:. 


/ZVt/^ 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


^7^LM*8>7$a, 


-.i.c 


^S;g<*^-s*^:s>s«-s;s*'S;s«^::s-'&^:S*-s; 


mmx  ClewlanC 


s;s-*s-^ 


oco 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con  - 
trast  with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school   and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayette/ille  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  |ioo  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  Ilia 


104 


S.    GROVE R   CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
ne  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  thai  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
isk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock- breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
rpeak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sii,  I  want  to  study 
'aw,"  was  the  reply.  "Good  gracious!"  remarked 
die  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"'  '  Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
any." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "  look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  them  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and 
ne  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  tiller  ran  around  the  little 
rircle  of  cleiks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Groverout  of  his  plans  ; 
but  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
t,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
eiected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
lo  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  18S1  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniq  ii- 
tous  street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  fur 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1SS2, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
11,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thunr.an,  etc.:  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  18S5,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  18S5.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


C&z 


<Zs^?^7isis&1?~-i^ 


TWENTY-THIRD  l'RKSlDENT. 


m; 


"Ojo-tg^/®-^" 


JENJAM1N    HARRISON,  the 
twenty-third    President,    is 

the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
?;  8\l  ^""t-^lB'1-1  lii-l"i  i '  ■  ■■  1 1    f.-nn  ilii-s   of   this 

^  jiBa^V1  eW\W\$  country.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  in  the  trial  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  to  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quently paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  1CC0.'  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
min 'Tarrison,  of  Virginia, great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  wliom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  1774-5-G,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
was  tlircfi  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia, 
Gen     William    lb  my    Harrison,  the   son   of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suc- 
cessful career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with -a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  career  was  cut  short 
by  death  within  one  month  .fter  Ins  inauguration. 
President  Harrison  war  born  at  North,  Bend, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  ".0,  1833  His  life  upto 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University, 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try lad  of  a  family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  tiu 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  school 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en- 
ter upon  the  stud}'  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
ainnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  tht 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  received  tfa 
only  inheritance  of  his  life;  his  aunt  dying  left  him 
a  lot  valued  at  §800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  i 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  '.ak? 
this  money  and  goto  some  Eastern  town  ar  oe 
gin  the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  money  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  witii  his 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  in   the  world,     "e 


108 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON. 


decided  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
that  time  a  town  of  promise.  He  met  with  slight 
encouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  anything 
the  first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applying  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession.    He  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  18G0  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  then  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speaker.  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughly,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  18G2  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  the  rawest  of  material, 
hut  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
with  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
complimentary  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 
the  Supreme  Court  declared  the  ollice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
ing Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  of  1  864 
he  had  Xaken  no  leave  of  ahsence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  State,  and  was  elected 
for  another  terra.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
."ever,  and  after  a  most  trying  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
ncidents  of  the  war. 

In  18G8  Gen.  Harrison  declined  a  re-election  as 
reporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1870 
he  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  Although  de- 
feated, the  brilliant  campaign  he  made  won  for  him 
i  National  reputation,  and  he  was  much  sought,  es-, 
peciai.y  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1880, 
as  usun',  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign, 
and  wv  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Here 
ue  served  six  years,  and  was  known  as  one  of  the 
ablest  men,  best  lawyers  and  strongest  debaters  in 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Senatorial 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  country.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  June  and 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  even*  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed upon  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popular,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journeyed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  his 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
commonly early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
the  country.  He  was  an  uncompromising  ant: 
slavery  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  lie 
most  eminent  Democratic  speakers  of  his  State. 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  desired  to 
be  pitted  with  him  again.  With  all  his  eloquence 
as  an  orator  he  never  spoke  for  oratorical  effect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
He  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  is  a  spier 
did  type  of  the  American  statesman.  Gifted  wit',. 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.  Many  of  these  speeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.  Many  of  his  terse 
statements  have  already  become  aphorisms.  Origi- 
nal in  thought,  precise  in  logic,  terse  in  statement, 
3'et  withal  faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  brilliant  orator  of  the  day 


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O^L, 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


1|S3&1I9SB  l|OTSt 


HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  as  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  bom  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  r 7 7 3,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1S12-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3. 
181 2,  and  serving  until  Get.  3,  iSr4.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  .it  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Pubiic  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.       In    company    with   John    G.    Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Ham's,  Charles  Slaile,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  i8t8  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  1818,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros 
ecuting  attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  Ai 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.   bond  was    honored  by    the    naming   of  a 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  S^ate,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Ke  it  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1S20,  when  the  famous  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  360  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  18 18  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor;  but  for  tiie  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and   de- 


clared that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State" 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
lo  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution ; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole,  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bestowment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  Win.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel  ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  1  r,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


id^r-Uyu)  C<TU2<? 


GOVERNORS  OF  JLUAOIS. 


"5 


%4fe    % 


5v<s*;-«fsw®>fe 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
,  6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
iSo7,ashort  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Win.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia,  anil  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs, Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.      He    read    every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal"  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  the  non-slaveholding  portion  of  the  Union  he  would 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the    Emperor    (Alex- 


n6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring. of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
nil  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  desciibed  in  his  own  language : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on   me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1810,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  EdwardsvtLe, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  question  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
ISond,  (he  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
I'hillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
I'.rowne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
i  ia.  The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  which  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yeiled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cam i.  to  this  country  with  Win.    Penn  in    1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


cy^/oon^c-^>^y  oc?-(*y&^JL, 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


no 


Pin  Tail  Kclwuidi 


-He|4Hs»5*-*- 


|:  INI  AN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
Sy  from  1S27  to  1830,  was  a  son 
,p  of  Benjamin  Edwards,  and 
was  born  in  Montgomery 
#&'*  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
s^rt  177c;.  His  domestic  train- 
c*'  u  ing  was  well  fitted  to  give 
his  mind  strength,  firmness  and 
honorable  principles,  and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to  which  he  afterwards 
attained.  His  parents  were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
principles.  His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company  with  and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wm. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  patronized 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
formed  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.  He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Kv.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
County  before  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age  !  In  addition,  in 
1S02,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1S04  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1S09.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  1  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Governmeni 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each   county,  by  an   informal 


NINIAN  EDWARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  1810  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  ve  irs 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1S12,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  18 15  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  18 18 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
.eriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  1821,  but  was 
ijcrsuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
.he  State  of  Illinois  during  t lie  whole  of  his  career  in 
Jiis  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
xtor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  party  in  1824. 

In  1826-7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soire  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  kinds 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  conbiderable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval  to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  was  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  web' 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely., 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  c< 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  1809  to  1S1S;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


y&ty&\§gg^ 


%^&&kH^Mt® 


'§8&§>\*&m^<& 


•«— *- 


)HN  REYNOLDS,  Governor  1S31- 
4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
nosed  to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
Hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.     In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edvvardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  20th  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himself 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social   intercourse. 


124 


JOHN  BEYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1S1S  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  182S  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
iudicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
if  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti- Jackson," 
"he  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1S30,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  recommended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1S32.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
ihe  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
t  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
,.nd  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the -same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
.834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
■  e  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
lays  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
•nove  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable   heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex-Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "  My  Own  Times  "  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord' ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter- Day 
Saint!  " 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  i860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C  ,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  pli rases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


,z7 


ILLIAM  LEE  D.  EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
;,D  to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  bad 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  rS3o  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the*  characteristics  of  the  times,  see- 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
M01  eys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
Uii..  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
\xte  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
s-tth-  /resent  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
ubbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
doll;!  r  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
(  olonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
ne  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
>\hen  1  >'as  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  and  nis  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  Rive.-,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
rubordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  19th  of 
July,    early  in  the    morning,   five   baggage    wagons, 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  the  worst  thickets ;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skins  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Hen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly- 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


WILLIAM  L.  D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "  General,"  which  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Charles  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  17th  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  17th  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
u.ince  of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
?-as  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes,  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped  ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie  ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Auditor  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.     He  died  March  25,  1846. 


t* 


JcJ^&fi^l   &* 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


1 1\ 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
|L    rS34-8,  was   born    at    Paris, 


Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  lie 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
\  or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
;e  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1S26,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
As  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  militaiy  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr. 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  personal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise  fbut  he  was  doubtless 


132 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
j. ad  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
rgainst  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
r.e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
mainly  to  barks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
vupted  the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
:hese  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  one  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public; 
;  ut  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
Handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
for  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"provided  for"  railroads  from  Galena  to  Gairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Garmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Torre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
Blooinington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve- 
ments were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
;laced  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  man  half  enough!  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,   even   counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
in  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
ioy  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
Lerm  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1S42 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,<)ot  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
1  hat  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  light.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


■35 


"n^v? 


IS  ,      *  


M&Ssaasja^mW^^^am^ 


<b* 


Thomas  carlin,  the  sixth 

Governor  of  the    State   of 
Illinois,  serving  from    1838 
to   1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,    being    horn    near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
18,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being    very   meager  in. his   native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment    and    maturity,    applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing  that  seemed   most  important, 
(M    ,w^     anci  tnus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
•v  ^/y<fc     '    and    his    taste    for     reading     and 
Jt.  '^X^l,         study  remained  with  him   through 
^4^fy^        life.     In  1803  his  father  removed 
10  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where   he 
died  in  1S10. 

In  18  [2  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted  bravery.      In    1814   he    married    Rebecca 
Huilt,  and  lived  for  four   years  on   the   bank  of  the 
Mississippi   River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sc..ri,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.     He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
n,i:*on,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825    made  a   liberal 
donation   of  land  for  county  building  purposes.      He 
was    the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as   a 
1  11  kson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois   Senate.     In  the 
liiack   Hawk   War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
pOil  of  considerable   danger.      In    1S34   he   was  ap- 
pointed   by    President    Jackson    to    the    position    of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and   to   fulfill   the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 
While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  U«ited  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times  "existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Carlin 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573  ;  Ander- 
son, 30,335  ;  Edwards,  29,629  ;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

7LS- 

Ui*>n  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan)  in    his  mes- 


136 


THOMAS  CARLIN. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
hut  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Cli'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scates,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  not  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that   they  should   have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  day<. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1 840- 1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  io 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  bis  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1S52,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


■ 


Oma^uOLd  era^-d? 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


139 


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JHOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers ;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi  bluffs.      Here    young    Ford    received    his  first   i 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.     Through  the  advice  of 


140 


THOMAS  FORD. 


this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
jne  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  183  r  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  timesxelected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  live  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
noiiee  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1S42,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
•  office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  Wis  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
Tound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
the  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  lie  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a   "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
administration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
the  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
1:  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the    notorious  "internal  improvement"   schemes   of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  te 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State- 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
theirleader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  no  l-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "  between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1S45,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  successor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a,  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


6&>*<*vc^/ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


143 


17\ 


jJ7$kY/\\yz& 


|       Augustus  0.  French. 


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p'^UGUSTUS  C.    FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846   to   1852,  was  born  in 
rSi         the    town   of  Hill,   in    the 
VY  State  of  New  Hampshire, 

»SM>  Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth 
generation  ot  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction from  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school  afforded.  For  a 
brief  period  he  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident   when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  Tohn  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scates, 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Win.  McMurlry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election ;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,   received   5,152    vot^s. 


144 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1S48,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  terra  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  time,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  85  1,470. 


In  1849  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  185 1.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  there  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  1851  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1S65,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St. 
Clair  Co.,  111. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


147 


3«®v-<(i»Ks><£ 


fc-^JSft.^nEL  A.  MATTESON,  Governor 
'^'(jfes*  1853-6,  was  born  Aug.  8,  1808, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal  Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  t  lie  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1S33,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
three  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.     His   family    was   boarded    1 2 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  during  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  184 1,  when  hard  limes 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  hirn  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1S42  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apportionment,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however, 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


r48 


JOEL  A.  MATTE  SON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $r, 600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross, of  Fulton;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,40s.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
rirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  tlie  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "Anti-Nebraska"  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska  " 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  fewballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  11th  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson 's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1 S55  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson 's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,079  to  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
r44;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3,000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He   died  in    the  winter  of  187 2-3,   at  Chicago. 


^^U*Uj2e_ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


IS' 


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[LLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
pa  April  25,  181 1,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
who  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
&7vtSu  example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
fi.  ing  to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local   notoriety.     It  soon  came  lo  be   under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  lie  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


IS2 


WILLfAM  H.  BISSELL. 


of  Monroe  County,, by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  up 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.     The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
Implicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.     (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1S59  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned,  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  r8, 
1 S60,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  his 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  hart  been  a  member  since  1854. 


GC  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'55 


4m 


>& 


|^:OHN  WOOD,  Governo.-  i86o-i,and 
f^w  the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co.( 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  ■  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  languages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown, 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1S21  he  visited  "  the  Bluffs  "  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


4** 


18   x   20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  whirl 
he  then  became  the  first  and   for  some   months   the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  0  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  yei 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  ,t 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male   residents  and   half 


'5° 


TOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Sinoe  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Win.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  1860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  i860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  tiie  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nation  from  destruction. 

In  1861  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the    Rebellion,   he    was    appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  137th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise ;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  S,  1S63,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
18S0,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eitjlit 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C,  who  married  Mary  ]. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


3 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'59 


jFJ  i  v  \\  a  r  d    Y  a  f  e  ,s. 


ilCHARD  YATES,  the  "War 
Governor,''  r 86 1-4,  was  born 
Jan.  18,  1818,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio  River,  at  Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  father 
moved  in  1S31  to  Illinois,  and 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County.  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  r837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West.  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
he  party  of  his  idol.  In  1840  he  engaged  with  great 
-rdor  in  the  exciting  "hard  cider"  campaign  for 
riarrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
T>ry  that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
f.vtending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
.  orth  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
i:i~  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic- 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
lar man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
oeaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  was 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  i860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ross, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr.  Allen  ^9,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


i6o 


RICHARD     YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
Diomptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
"ie  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
ad  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "  laws !  "  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  sine  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers— Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which,  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  27th  of  November  following. 


GGVhR.VORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


163 


Richard  J.  Oglesby 
<Hsgsasi 


Jt" 


4-«-: 


*-#► 


'sf/^ICHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
!f*»  ernor  1865-8,  and  re-elected 
|L  in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
?  July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
-v  '  Ky., — the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


pany of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  i860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  lie  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen~ 
eral;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


164 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  g  tllantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  16th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  returned  home. 
The  Republican,  or  Union,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,  May  25,  when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon, and  John  M.  Palmer,  of  Macoupin.  Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.  On  the  Democratic  State  ticket  were 
James  C.  Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  3r,ooo  votes.  The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  the  Legislature  and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the  election  of  ex-Gov.  Yates  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  t3th 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.  This  session  also  signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1819.  Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature. But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,  granted  in  1859  for  25  years,  and  now 
sought  to  be  extended  99  years.  As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt  to  check  their  headlong  career.  At  this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless  we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867  was  still  more  productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.  Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proposed,  and  some  passed.  The  contests  over  the 
.ocation  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


Southern  Penitentiary,  and  the  canal  enlargement 
and  Illinois  River  improvement,  dominated  every- 
thing else. 

During  the  year  1S72,  it  became  evident  that  if 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35>334  to  S6>!74. — 'he  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1S79,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  joint 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  iovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure. 


(L-£^lcl~ 


GO  VERXORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i  -7 


^e 


John  M.  Palmer 


OHN  Mc  AUI.EY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor 1869-72,  was  born  on 
Eagle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
early  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Eliliu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
18  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During    the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then   making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  Ir 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  In. 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slaver) 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op 
position  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  part; 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  tin 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.     A    few    weeks    afterwara 


1 68 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the  'United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  1S60  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
14th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  3T,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  14th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
persistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  Slate's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  fir 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  tJie  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"lc  pay  railroad  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  r87o,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution  "  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  1871,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principles 
of  statesmanship. 


-  zSsr*  " 


// 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'71 


■v  11  .'■i|..',i|..',)i,"i|.::i'  :  11,:.  i1-: v<;  ■' :  ■' .'  <■  :>'.:>,.,  :■;  •..■.  .  '■  -.  '■ :  ]> :  '< :  't-'.-v. 


-y — »= 


-a       .% 


OHN  LOWRJE  BEVER- 
IDGE,  Governor  1873-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
ly idge.  His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
Washington  County.  His  father 
'  p  was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
P  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "Asso- 
ciate   Church,"   a    seceding    Presbyterian     body     of 


• 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  19th 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  18th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  n  it  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40    in  money   started    South    to  seek    his  fortune 


I72 


JOHN  L.  BEVERIDGE. 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  TS49,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  .his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1 861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  1 8,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  11,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days' 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1 863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  17th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  ot 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  hi-- 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 187 1,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large,  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "Haines'  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1881,  he  has  aLo  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer:  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennst 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


•75 


2k 


SBELB  Y  31.   CULLOM. 


HLLBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor i S7 7  —S3,  is  the  sixth  child 

of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 
'873. 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Within  this  time, 
however,  he  spent  several  months  teaching  school, 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  l'eoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  Anti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.    Practicing 


176 


SHELBY  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  i860,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1S61,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  party 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1S62  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.     He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  enteted  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories  ■ 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed    in    nomination    Lewis    Steward,    a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,Soo  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1S77. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27.000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  1S81.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  oflaw  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field ;  and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79 


^>*-^-*<^ 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
,  TON,  Governor  1883-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1S47,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
•>  Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  Wra.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
"^»  Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMoiris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
21  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  the  land  and 
making  a  comfortf"''^  home.     John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to''  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  i860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  r4  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  he 
attended  an  academy  at   Henry,   Marshall  County. 


r8o 


JOHN  MARSHALL  ILA MILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  141st  III. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  roo-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 
The  following  winter,  1864-5,  Mr.  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1S65-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  lime  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1 SS 3,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  187  1,  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  War.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  We.deyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  'on  the  stump" 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
C.reenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany; and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans-had gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
Divid  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  again"'  .  : 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peni- 
tentiary, which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1 S79  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President  pro  tern. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supixjrter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  4r,2oo.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  33d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  Stales  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  rS83.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  18S3,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad   bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  Tune, 
1S84,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  wis  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 
1885,  when  the  great  favorite  "Dick"  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


m 


JOSEPH   W.   FIFER. 


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ilOSKI'H    WILSON    FIFER. 
distinguished     gentleman 


This 
distinguished  gentleman  was 
Jlfft*'''  elected  Governor  of  Illinois 
November  G,  1X88.  He  was 
popularly  known  during  the 
campaign  as  "Private  Joe."  lie 
had  served  with  great  devotion 
to  his  country  during  the  Re- 
hellion,  in  the  Thirty-third 
Illinois  Infantry.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  was  horn  in  1840. 
His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Daniels)  Filer,  were  American 
horn,  though  of  German  de- 
scent.  His  father  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  an  old 
Henry  Clay  Whig  in  politics.  John  and  Mary 
Fifer  had  nine  children,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the 
Sixth,  and  naturally  with  so  large  a  family  it  was 
all  the  father  could  do  to  keep   the    wolf    from    the 

door;  to  say   nothing  of  giving  his  children   any- 
thing like  good  educational  advantages. 

Young  Joseph  attended  school  some  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  it  was  not  a  good  school,  and  when 
his  father  removed  to  the  West,  in  1857,  Joseph  had 
not  advanced  much  further  than  the  "First  Reader." 


Our  subject  was  sixteen  then  and  suffered  a  great 
misfortune  in  the  loss  of  his  mother.  After  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Fifer,  which  occurred  in  Missouri,  the 
family  returned  to  Virginia,  but  remained  only  a 
short  time,  as  during  the  same  year  Mr.  Fifer 
came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  McLean  County  and 
Started  a  brickyard.  Here  Joseph  and  his  broth- 
ers were  [ml  to  work.  The  elder  Fifer  soon 
bought  a  farm  near  Bloomington  and  began  life  as 
an  agriculturalist.  Here  Joe  worked  and  attended 
the  neighboring  school.  He  alternated  farm-work, 
brick-laying,  and  going  to  the  district  school  for 
the  succeeding  few  years.  II  was  all  work  and  no 
play  for  Joe,  yet  it  by  no  means  made  a  dull  boy 
of  him.  All  the  time  he  was  thinking  of  the  great 
world  outside,  of  which  he  had  caught,  a  glimpse 
when  coming  from  Virginia,  yet  he  did  not  know 
just  how  he  was  going  to  get  out  into  it,.  lie 
could  not  feel  that  the  woods  around  the  new 
farm  and  the  log  cabin,  in  which  the  family  lived, 
were  to  hold    him. 

The  opportunity  to  get  out  into  the  world  was 
soon  offered  to  young  Joe.  lie  traveled  a  dozen 
miles  barefoot,  in  company  with  his  brother  <  leorge, 
and  enlisted  in  Company  C,  33d  Illinois  Infantry; 
he  being  then    twenty   years   old.      In   a    few    days 


184 


JOSEPH     W.  FIFER. 


the  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler,  and  then 
over  into  Missouri,  and  saw  some  vigorous  service 
there.  After  a  second  time  helping  to  chase  Price 
out  of  Missouri,  the  33d  Regiment  went  down 
to  Milliken's  Bend, and  for  several  weeks  ••  Private 
Joe"  worked  on  Grant's  famous  ditch.  The  regi- 
ment then  joined  the  forces  operating  against  Fort 
Gibson  and  Vicksburg.  Joe  was  on  guard  duty  in 
the  front  ditches  when  the  Hag  of  surrender  was 
run  up  on  the  tth  of  July,  and  stuck  the  bayonet 
of  his  gun  into  the  embankment  and  went  into  the 
city  with  the  vanguard  of  Union  soldiers. 

The  next  day,  July  5,  the  38d  joined  the  force 
after  Johnston,  who  had  been  threatening  Grant's 
rear;  and  finally  an  assault  was  made  on  him  at 
Jackson,  Miss.  In  this  charge  "Private  Joe"  fell ,  ter- 
ribly wounded.  He  was  loading  his  gun  when  a 
minie-ball  struck  him  and  passed  entirely  through 
his  body.  He  was  regarded  as  mortally  wounded. 
His  brother,  George,  who  had  been  made  a  Lieu- 
tenant, proved  to  be  the  means  of  saving  his  life. 
The  Surgeon  told  him  unless  lie  had  ice  his  brother 
Joe  could  nut  live.  It  was  fifty  miles  to  the  nearest 
point  where  ice  could  be  obtained,  and  the  roads 
were  rough.  A  comrade,  a  McLean  county  man,  who 
had  been  wounded,  offered  to  make  the  trip.  An 
ambulance  was  secured  and  the  brother  soldier 
stalled  on  the  journey.  lie  returned  with  the  ice. 
but  the  trip,  owing  to  the  roughness  of  the  roads, 
was  very  hard  on  him.  After  a  few  months'  care- 
ful nursing  Mr.  Fifer  was  able  to  come  home.  The 
33d  came  home  on  a  furlough,  and  when  the 
boys  were  ready  to  return  to  the  tented  Geld, 
young  Fifer  was  ready  to  go  with  them;  for  he  was 
determined  to  finish  his  term  of  three  years.  He 
was  mustered  out  in  October,  1864,  having  been 
in    the  service   three  years  and  two  months. 

"Private  Joe"  came  out  of  the  army  a  tall, 
tanned,  and  awkward  young  man  of  twenty-four. 
About  all  he  possessed  was  ambition  to  be  some- 
body— and  pluck.  Though  at  an  age  when  most 
men  have  finished  their  college  course,  the  young 
soldier  saw  that  if  he  was  to  be  anybody  he  must 
have  an  education.  Yet  he  had  no  means  to  ena- 
ble him  to  enter  school  as  most  young  men  do. 
He  was  determined  to  have  an  education,  however, 
and  that  to  him  meant  success.     For  the  following 


four  years  lie  struggled  with  his  books.  lie  entered 
Wesleyan  University  Jan.  1.  18G5.  He  was  not  a 
brilliant  student,  being  neither  at  the  head  nor  the 
foot  of  his  class.  He  was  in  great  earnest,  how- 
ever, studied  hard  and  came  forth  with  a  well- 
stored  and  disciplined  mind. 

Immediately  after  being  graduated  he  entered 
an  office  at  Bloomington  as  a  law  student,  lie  had 
already  read  law  some,  and  as  he  continued  to  work 
hard,  with  the  spur  of  poverty  and  promptings  of 
ambition  ever  with  him,  he  was  ready  to  hang  out 
his  professional  shingle  in  18G9.  Being  trust- 
worthy he  soon  gathered  about  him  some  influen- 
tial friends.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Corporation 
Counsel  of  Bloomington.  In  1K72  he  was  elected 
State's  Attorney  of  McLean  County.  This  otliee 
he  held  for  eight  years,  when  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  State  Senate.  Here  he  served  for  four  years. 
His  ability  to  perform  abundance  of  hard  work 
made  him  a  most  valued  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. 

Mr.  I"' iter  was  married  in  1870  to  Gertie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  Lewis,  of  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Filer  is  six  feet  in  height  and  is  spare,  weighing 
only  150  pounds.  He  has  a  swarthy  complexion, 
keen  black  eyes,  quick  movement,  and  possesses  a 
fiank  and  sympathetic  nature,  and  naturally  makes 
friends  wherever  he  goes.  During  the  late  Guber- 
natorial campaign  his  visits  throughout  the  State 
proved  a  great  power  in  his  behalf.  His  happy 
faculty  of  winning  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  personal  contact  is  a 
source  of  great  popularity,  especially  during  a  polit- 
ical battle.  As  a  speaker  he  is  fluent,  his  language 
is  good,  voice  clear  and  agreeable,  and  manner 
forcible.  His  manifest  earnestness  in  what  he  says 
as  well  as  his  tact  as  a  public  speaker,  and  his  elo- 
quent and  forceful  language,  makes  him  a  most 
valuable  campaign  orator  and  a  powerful  pleader 
at  the  bar.  At  the  Republican  State  Convention, 
held  in  May,  l,s.s,X,  .Mr.  Fifer  was  chosen  as  its  candi- 
date for  Governor.  He  proved  a  popular  nominee, 
and  the  name  of  "  Private  Joe"  became  familiar 
to  everyone  throughout  the  State,  lie  waged  a 
vigorous  campaign,  was  elected  I iy  a  good  majority, 
and   in    due   1  hue  assumed  the  duties   of   the    Chief 

Executive  of  Illinois. 


?1M 


m  i  t ^ 


Vermilion  County 


ILLINOIS, 


tosJ 


INTRODUCTORY. 


5HE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
peopie  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
of  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Th  !  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those   people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  vvork  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  lives 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


^■^fe 


YKKMILION   COUNTY. 


191 


A^H^^^v^^ 


•,.',,*.,  »*,;,;■  ,^/f: 


■>,%J 


s. 


^-r^s-e- 


i.MES  S.  SCONCE.     It  is  a  fitting  [   of  America,  and  more  especially  in   Kentucky,  of 

testimonial  to  the  worth  and  char-       which   State   they  were  early  settlers.     The  great- 

[jfete  acter  of  this  citizen  to  present   :   grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of 


his  portrait  and  biography  on 
these,  the  opening  pages  of  the 
E  Album  of  Vermilion  County. 
Of  the  many  citizens  of  Carroll 
Township  none  were  better 
known  <>r  more  highly  esteemed 
than  this  gentleman,  who  was 
born  near  Brook's  Point,  Ver- 
milion County,  Nov.  II.  1831, 
and  died  Sept,  21,  1888,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven  years.  In 
childhood  he  attended  the  puli- 
lie  schools,  as  well  as  those  more 
advanced,  at  Danville,  receiving  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. His  father  and  mother  were  Samuel  and 
Nancy  (Waters)  Sconce,  both  natives  of  Bourbon 
County,  Ivy.,  the  birth  of  the  former  occurring  in 
1802,   while  the  mother  was  horn  six  years  later. 

The  elder  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sconce  removed  to  Illi- 
nois in  1828,  and  settled  in  Vermilion  County  in 
1829.  They  had  three  children,  who  grew  to  ma- 
turity, namely:   .lames  S..  America  J.,  and  'I'h as 

J.  America  J.,  is  the  widow  of  Oliver  Calvert, 
and  now  makes  her  home  at  the  residence  of  her 
brother,  lately  deceased.  Thomas  •).  died  in  this 
county,  Jan.  I,  1888,  while  the  father  passed  awaj 
in  January,  1874.     The  mother  is  still  living,  with 


the  earliest  settlers  of  Bourbon  County,  where  he 
lived  in  a  log  house,  built  especially  to  resist  the 
depredations  of  the  Indians.  There  were  eight 
brothers,  and  they  were  among  the  brave  settlers 
who  reclaimed  that  beautiful  country  from  the  sav- 
ages, and  in  so  doing  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of 
a  grateful  nation.  Nearly  all  of  these  brothers  emi- 
grated South  and  West.  There  is  a  large  family  of 
this  name  in  Texas.  James  S.  Sconce's  father.  Sam- 
uel, was  born  in  Bourbon  Count}',  Ky.  He  lived 
in  the  county  of  his  birth  until  1828,  when  lie 
removed  to  this  State,  and  in  the  following  year 
located  in  Vermilion  County.  His  wife  came  with 
her  parents  to  the  vicinity  of  Brook's  Point,  in 
1829,  her  marriage  occurring  at  that  place  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Samuel  Sconce  engaged  in  farming, 
and  from  start  to  finish  was  successful.  In  1852  he 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  [ndianola, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Bailey  &  Sconce.  This 
firm  continued  to  do  business  until  the  big  lire, 
which  destroyed  their  stock.  Mr.  Sconce  then  re- 
tired from  active  life,  and  died  Jan.  '.),  1874,  leav- 
ing behind  him  a  reputation  of  which  any  man 
might  be  proud.     In  1849  he  took  a  drove  of  200 

fat    cattle    to    Philadelphia,  where    he    sold    half    of 

them  and   drove   the  rest  to  New  York,  returning 
the  entire  distance  on  foot.     He  also  hauled   pro- 


widow   of    her   son,  at   the  advanced    age   of       duee  to  Chicago  in  the  early  days. 
eighty -one  years.  (>»    November   14.   1831,  James  S.  Sconce   was 

The  Sconces  were  prominent  in  the  early  history    I    born,  iii  this  county,  and  was  one  of  its   first  chil- 


192 


VERMILION   COUNTY. 


dren  born.  He  was  early  taught  industry,  anil  be- 
ing reared  upon  a  farm  was  consequently  used  to 
hard  work.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  as 
a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Bailey  &  Sconce,  drawing  a 
salary  of  S300  a  year  for  four  years.  In  18.5!)  lie 
went  to  Kansas,  where  he  pre-empted  160  acres  in 
Lyon  County,  and  at  the  end  of  three  months  he 
trader]  this  piece  of  land  for  a  similar  tract  in  llli- 
.  nois.  Here  commenced  his  career  as  a  stockman 
and  drover.  During  this  time  he  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  his  estimable  wife,  Miss  Emma  San- 
dusky, or  as  her  father  wrote  it  "  Sodowsky."  She 
was  the  only  daughter  of  the  well-known  Short- 
horjl  breeder  of  Carroll  Township.  After  marriage 
Mr.  Sconce  lived  one  year  with  his  father-in-law. 
when  he  located  on  the  present  homestead,  remain- 
ing there  until  the  day  of  his  death.  He  worked 
systematically,  and  to  this  may  be  attributed  his 
success.  At  any  rate  he  became  wealthy,  and 
when  he  died  was  the  owner  of  2,100  acres  of  the 
most  desirable  land  in  the  count}-.  Upon  this  he 
built  an  elegant  home,  said  to  be  the  finest  country 
house  tci  be  seen  in  the  State.  It.  is  a  large  struct- 
ure, built  of  brick,  beautifully  located  on  a  slight 
elevation,  while  the  surroundings  are  all  that  an 
admirer  of  the  beautiful  could  picture.  Giant 
trees  shade  the  grounds,  and  what  nature  has 
omitted  art  has  supplied.  The  lawns  and  gardens 
are  laid  out  artistically,  adding  to  the  beauty  and 
picturesqueness  of  the  landscape,  and  making  it  a 
•■thing  of  beauty"  not  excelled  in  this  great  State 
of  Illinois.  The  place  is  called  "  Fairview,"  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mrs.  Sconce.  The  house  is  heated  by 
the  Rutan  system,  and  every  room  is  supplied  with 
hot  and  cold  water,  while  the  spacious  parlors  and 
corridors  are  illuminated  by  gas. 

When  Mr.  Sconce  died  he  left  a  fortune  variously 
estimated  at  from  $200,000  to  $300,000,  every 
cent  of  which  was  accumulated  by  judicious  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  It  will  be  many  years  be- 
fore the  recollection  of  this  good  man  will  fade 
from  the  memories  of  the  people.  His  life  was 
simple  and  his  methods  straightforward,  his  manner 
gentle,  kind  hearted  to  the  poor,  indulgent  to  the 
weak,  charitable  to  the  erring,  and  his  memory  like 
a   sweet    fragrance    ascends    on    high.       Generous 


friend,  kind  husband,  noble  citizen,  and  sincere 
Christian,  the  world  is  better  for  thy  living,  and 
the  flowers  of  a  sweet  memory  will  ever  blossom 
upon  thy  grave. 

Like  his  illustrious  ancestors  Mr.  Sconce  was  a 
fine  looking,  active  man.  He  had  keen  blue  e3res, 
a  personal  characteristic  so  marked  in  his  family, 
and  was  of  a  sanguine  temperament.  A  lifetime  of 
usefulness  and  business  activity  had  developed  in 
him  good  judgment,  and  as  he  became  older  his 
attention  w\as  directed  closely  toward  the  things 
revealed  in  Holy  Writ.  He  was  a  consistent 
and  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat  from  con- 
viction and  from  principle.  In  1882  he  consented 
to  run  for  the  State  Senate,  making  a  brilliant  can- 
vass am'  running  ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  served 
as  Township  Supervisor,  and  always  evinced  a 
deep  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  especially  in  the 
welfare  of  his  township,  his  county  ami  his  State. 
His  library  was  tilled  with  choice  and  valuable 
works,  especially  those  treating  upon  the  tariff,  a 
question  which  was  studied  by  him  with  deep  in- 
terest, he  believing  with  other  leading  Democrats, 
in  a  tariff  for  revenue  only. 

In  matters  pertaining  to  schools  he  took  a  great 
interest.  For  several  years  prior  to  his  death  he 
was  a  Regent  of  the  Wesleyan  University  of 
Iiloomington,  111.,  which  was  financially  favored 
by  his  generosity.  As  a  husband  and  father  he 
was  most  loving  and  devoted.  As  a  result  of  his 
wedlock  two  children  were  born:  Anna,  who  was 
a  student  of  Morgan  Park  two  years,  and  of  Wes- 
leyan University  one  year;  and  Harvey  .7..  a  bright 
lad  of  fourteen  years.  He  was  greatly  attached  to 
his  children,  anil  in  them  was  centered  his  great 
love.  The  poor  young  farmer  and  business  man, 
who  is  almost  discouraged  in  life,  will  miss  in  Mr. 
Sconce  a  friend,  for  it  was  one  of  his  salient  char- 
acteristics to  help  those  who  would  help  themselves, 
and  as  an  illustration  of  this,  it  may  be  stated  that 
his  will  provided  that  those  who  owed  him  on 
loans,  should  be  allowed  to  pay  his  estate  in  small 
yearly  installments,  that  they  might  not  be  dis- 
tressed. 

He  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors  at  the  Wood- 
lawn  Cemetery.     The  funeral  was   attended   by  an 


VERMILION   COUNTY. 


193 


i tense  throng,  ami  the  procession  was  headed  by 

200  Masons  in  mourning,  and  was  over  three  miles 
in  length,  the  largest  funeral  line  ever  seen  in  Ver- 
milion  County.       It    was  remarked    by    one    who 
knew  Mr.  Sconce  well  that  "a  secret  society  which 
commanded  the  fealty  of  a  man  like  James  Sconce 
must  have  something    in    it."      If  lie    loved    Ma- 
sonry it  was    equally  true    that    the    Masons    loved 
him.      To  his  faithful  wife   the   death   of    her   hus- 
band was  sad  beyond   expression.     -'Sorrows  come 
not  single."  A  less  noble  woman  would  have  given 
up  to  despairing  sorrow  at  the  loss  of  her  husband, 
her  father,  and  her  mother  within  the  space  of  one 
short  year.      ( )f  true  Christian  grace  and    motherly 
heart  she  hore  up  bravely  in  her  bereavement,  fully 
determined    henceforth    to  give    up    her  life  to  her 
Master,  and    to    the   welfare   of   her  children.      As 
before  stated  she  is  the  only  living  child  of  Harvey 
Sandusky  and   Susan   Baum.     Coming  from   illus- 
trious ancestors,  an  effort  will  be  made  to  herewith 
present  a  few  facts  in  regard  to  each  of  her  parents. 
In  the  year  of   1721  there   came   to   America   an 
exile  from  Poland,  of  noble  birth  and  proud  spirit, 
and  lofty  patriotism.   He  headed  a  rebellion  against 
the  despotism  of    Russia  and    her  allies    in  the  dis- 
graceful oppression  of  the  defeated  but  not.  subdued 
Poles.      For  this  brave  act  he  was  exiled  and  came 
to   Richmond,   Va.     That    noble    man    was    .lames 
Sodowsky,    who    afterward     married   tin'  sister    of 
Gov.  In-lip.  of   the  Colony  of  Virginia,  and  from 
them    descended    Harvey    Sandusky,  the   father  of 
Mrs.  Sconce.     Men  of   courage    and    force  of  char- 
acter, the  family  has  been  represented  in  every  for- 
ward movement  of  civilization  in  this  great    coun- 
try for  more  than  a  century:   with  the  gallant    pio- 
neers in  beating  back  the  savages  of  the  wilderness; 
with  the  brave  Continentals,  battling   for   freedom 
in  the  heroic  days  of   '76;   at  the    front  in  the  War 
of  L812;   with  Daniel  Boone  in  the  wild  Kentucky, 
where  the  grandfather  of  Harvey  settled  just  after 
the    close   of   the   Revolutionary  War.      His  father. 
Abraham  Sandusky,    was    born  there,  and    married 
Miss  .lane  McDowell,  who  bore  him  eight  children. 
Harvey    being   the  eldest.      In    1831    he   removed 
I  loin    Kentucky    to   Illinois,  and    settled    with    his 
family   on   the   Little   Vermilion    River,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death.   His  oldest  son, 


Harvey,  was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky..  May 
17.  1817,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father,  lit- 
erally growing  up  with  thecountry.  In  histwenty- 
fom  th  year  he  was  married  to  Susan,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Susan  Baum,  who  had  emigrated  from 
Ohio  and  settled  on  the  Little  Vermilion  River. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Sandusky  located  on  the  es- 
tate which  has  since  become  so  famous  as  "Wood- 
lawn  Stock  Farm."  Here,  by  intelligent  and  indus- 
trious use  of  their  opportunities,  he  and  his  faithful 
wife  built  up  a  princely  home,  and  surrounded  it 
with  an  abundance  that  enabled  them  to  dispense 
the  largest  charity  and  most  unbounded  hospitality. 
Mrs.  Sandusky  was  converted  to  Christianity  in 
her  girlhood,  and  rejoiced  in  the  hope  of  an  im- 
mortal life. 

In  the  old  family  Bible  is  found  this  record  : 
"Harvey  Sodowsky  this  day  found  peace  with 
God,  March  15,  1858."  For  forty  years  their's 
was  a  house  of  prayer.  To  them  were  born  three 
children:  The  oldest  died  in  infancy;  the  second 
is  Emma,  the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Gilbert,  the  third  child  and  only  son,  died  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-three  years.  Harvey  San- 
dusky died  on  Saturday,  Dec.  18,  1886,  and  the 
following  Tuesday  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his 
son  in  the  beautiful  Woodlawn  Cemetery,  which  he 
bad  selected  and  donated  to  the  public.  "Uncle 
Harvey,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  in  many 
respects  a  noble  man.  There  is  always  good  in  a 
heart  that  is  always  tender,  and  his  was  a  very  ten- 
der heart.  To  feed  the  hungry,  to  clothe  and  help 
the  needy,  afforded  him  the  greatest  pleasure.  The 
foot-sore  itinerant,  whose  horse  had  died,  was  taken 
to  the  stables  and  told  to  "select  the  best  nng  in 
the  lot,"  without  pay  or  promise.  That  preacher 
was  sent  on  his  way  rejoicing,  and  thereby  the 
Oospel  was  spread  to  those  beyond.  By  him  the 
homeless  were  sheltered,  the  friendless  cheered,  and 
the  wretched  soothed. 

He  was  a  very  successful  man  in  business,  was 
enterprising  and  public  spirited.  In  the  stalls  and 
on  the  fields  at  Woodlawn  are  perhaps  the  finest 
specimens  of  Short-horn  cattle  in  America,  if  not 
in  the  world.  For  fifty  years  he  had  been  interested 
in  raising  and  exhibiting  fine  stock.  No  man  in 
America   has   been  more  successful  than  he,  as  the 


19! 


VERMILION   COUNTY. 


premium  lists  of  principal  fairs  will  sliow.  Evi- 
dently he  lias  added  untold  riches  to  the  general 
community  by  his  enterprise  in  tin's  particular.   But 

his  work  is  done,  and  the  toils  of  his  busy  life  have 
ceased.  The  familiar  figure  has  dropped  out  of  the. 
picture  of  this  lil\>.  and  let  us  hope  that  it  has 
dropped  into  the  life  that  lies  beyond  the  other 
shore.  His  home  is  lonely  without  him.  his  fam- 
ily mourn  him.  his  neighbors  will  miss  him,  his 
friends  regret  his  absence,  but  "God  doeth  all 
things  well." — (Extract  from  Ihe  Rev.  G.  A.  Fra- 
sier.)  His  wife,  Susan  Sandusky,  came  from  an 
equally  illustrious  family.  She  was  the  daughter 
miles  and  Sarah  (Moyer)  Baum.  They  were 
likewise  Polish  patriots,  and  by  the  Russian  au- 
thorities banished  from  their  native  land.  They 
for  a  few  years  lived  in  Germany,  and  then  emi- 
grated to  the  Colony  of  Virginia.  This  noble  ex- 
ile and  progenitor  of  the  Baums  of  Vermilion 
County,  was  Charles  Baum,  the  great-grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Emma  Sconce.  He  married  Miss  Barbara 
McDonald,  a  relative  of  the  brave  Gen.  McDonald, 
of  Marion's  army.  He  entered  the  Colonial  forces, 
and  served  on  reserve  duty  in  protecting  the 
frontier.  After  the  war  he  settled  in  Bucks  County, 
and  the  year  following  Wayne's  treaty  with  the 
Indians,  sailed  down  the  Ohio  River  with  his  fam- 
ily. They  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Bullskin  Creek, 
and  there,  close  to  what  is  now  the  river  town  of 
Chilo,  established  the  first  settlement  in  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Ohio.  One  of  his  sons  was  Charles  Baum, 
Mrs.  Sconce's  grandfather.  He  married  Susan, 
daughter  of  John  Moyer,  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
who  fought  many  years  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Washington. 

John  Mover  lived  in  Pennsylvania  some  time 
after  the  war,  then  removed  to  Ohio,  of  which 
State  he  also  was  an  early  pioneer.  Charles  Baum, 
the  grandsire  of  Mrs.  Sconce,  came  to  Vermilion 
County  in  1839.  He  lived  to  be  ninety-six  years 
old,  had  prospered  well,  and  was  a  consistent 
Christian.  From  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Frasier  we  quote 
the  following  concerning  Mrs.  Susan  Sandusky. 
'•(  lur  community  is  again  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of 
n  most  estimable  lady,  who  fell  asleep  at  her  home 
near  Indianola.  March  21,  1888.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Susan  Baum,  born  in  Claremont 


County,  Ohio.  Sept.  25,  1818.  She  was  converted 
and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when 
quite  young,  and  was  married  May  20,  1840.  Her 
life  was  singularly  pure  and  exemplary,  and  she 
adorned  those  stations  in  which  true  womanhood 
shines  the  brightest.  As  a  wife,  mother,  friend 
and  neighbor  she  was  indeed  a  model  woman. 
None  doubted  the  genuineness  of  her  Christian  ex- 
perience. Always  consistent,  always  true,  she  was 
a  power  for  good  in  the  community.  Her  chari- 
ties and  uniform  kindness  for  the  poor  had  won  for 
her  the  love  of  all  who  knew  her.  Her  devotion 
to  duty,  and  her  unswerving  fidelity  had  won  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all.  She  was  not  only 
ready,  but  willing  to  die.  In  a  conversation  a  few 
days  before  her  death  she  expressed  a  desire  to 
■reach  her  Father's  house.'  She  leaves  but  one 
child  to  mourn  her  absence  from  the  old  home- 
stead. Mrs.  James  S.  Sconce,  the  only  remain- 
ing child  was  with  her  mother  during  her  last  ill- 
ness, faithfully,  lovingly  attending  to  every  want, 
and  tearfully  watching  the  slowly  ebbing  tide  of 
life  till  all  was  still  in  death.  In  this  great  be- 
reavement Mrs.  Sconce  has  the  sympathy  of  the 
entire  community.  The  old  homestead  is  left  deso- 
late. A  family  has  passed  from  earth.  We  hope 
that  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  they  are  again 
united." 

Mrs.  Emma  Sconce  was  born  in  the  old  Harvey 
Sandusky  homestead,  better  known  under  the  name 
of  -Woodlawn,"  a  name  suggested  by  her  for  her 
father's  large  farm,  which  was  so  famous  in  pro- 
ducing herds  of  prize-winning  Short-horn  cattle. 
Here  she  grew  up  under  the  influences  of  a  Chris- 
tian home,  attending  Georgetown  Academy  for 
some  time.  Her  loyalty  has  marked  her  entire  ca- 
reer from  childhood  to  widowhood.  As  the  wife 
of  James  S.  Sconce  she  was  ever  a  most  worthy, 
affectionate,  and  loving  companion;  as  mistress  of 
the  "Fairview"  mansion  she  is  modest,  kind,  gen- 
erous and  hospitable;  while  the  taste  with  which 
the  mansion  is  furnished  reflects  great  credit  upon 
its  mistress.  She  possesses  a  great  deal  of  knowl- 
edge, general  and  special,  and  is  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  her.  She  is  a  devout 
Christian,  and  rich  and  poor  alike  are  graced  by 
her  favors.     She   deeply   mourns   the  loss  of  her 


YKR.MII.ION   COUNTY. 


195 


husband,  for  their  marriage  proved  to  be  a  most 
happy  one.  She  is  truly  the  type  of  noble  Ameri- 
can woman! d,  and  as  a  mother  is  (airly  wor- 
shipped by  her  two  children,  and  they  in  turn 
are  held  most  affectionately  dear.  Her  modesty 
prevents  her  giving  further  facts  in  regard  to  her- 
self. Her  attorney,  however,  has  furnished  the 
following  figures  concerning  her  estate:  Personal 
property  of  .lames  s.  Sconce,  deceased,  $62,000 ; 
personal   property  of   Harvej  Sandusky,  deceased, 

120, I;  total  number  of  acres  of  land  held  by  Mrs. 

Sconce.  3,600. 


IRAM  ARMANTROUT.  In  no  portion  of 
the  world  is  there  illustrated  the  result  of 
patient  industry  more  forcibly  than  in  the 
great  West.  Could  the  youug  man  of  fifty 
years  ago  have  had  the  power  to  look  forward  into 
the  future  and  discover  not  only  what  he  himself 
would  accomplish,  but  what  would  lie  done  by  his 
brother  pioneers,  he  would  have  labored  with 
greater  courage  than  he  lias  already  done;  for  no 
one  can  dispute  that  the  first  settling  upof  this  part 
of  the  country  was  necessarily  an  experiment.  Few 
however,  stood  in  doubt  as  to  the  final  result,  but 
fewer  still  would  have  prophesied  the  achievements 
which  have  really  been  accomplished. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Middle  Fork  Township,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Butler  Township  in  April,  1855.  He 
took  up  a  half-section  of  government  land,  em- 
bracing a  part  of  sections  2,  22  and  13,  in  township 
22,  range  13,  before  there  had  been  any  attempt  at 
cultivation.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  put  up  a  small 
frame  house,  and  being  unmarried,  took  in  a  tenant. 
with  whom  he  lived.  He  had,  prior  to  this,  broken 
sixty  acres.  lie  proceeded  with  the  improve- 
ments of  his  property  single-handed  until  the 
spring  of  1859,  when  he  took  unto  himself  a  wife 
and  helpmate.  Miss  Celinda  Pugh.  They  spent  the 
first  few  years  of  their  wedded  life  in  the  little 
house,  and  in  due  time,  being  prospered,  our  sub- 
ject was  enabled  to  e-ect  a  larger  dwelling.  lie 
also  built  a  good  bain  and  planted  forest  and  fruit 
trees,  which  flourished,  and  he  now  has  the  finest 
grove  in  the  neighborhood.     He  occupied  this  farm 


until  .March.  1889,  when  he  wisely  retired  from 
active  labor  and  purchased  property  in  Rossville. 
where  he  took  up  his  abode  and  purposes  now  to 
live. 

Our  subject  was  burn  in  Montgomery  County, 
Ind.,  Aug.  12,  1829,  and  lived  there  until  1855 
with  his  father  and  mother.  The  former,  Valen- 
tine Armantrout,  was  born  in  Rockingham  County. 
Va.,  April  27,  1799,  and  removed  with  his  father. 
Frederick  Armantrout,  to  Warren  County,  Ohio, 
in  1808,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  He 
married  Miss  Catherine  Kesling,  and  they  so- 
journed in  the  Buckeye  State  until  1828,  when  they 
removed  to  Montgomery  County.  Ind.  There  the 
father  engaged  in  farming  and  blacksmithing  com- 
bined, and  lived  until  his  decease,  which  took  place 
March  17,  184C. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  bom  seven 
children,  of  whom  he  was  the  third,  and  of  whom 
four  are  living:  Ambrose  is  a  resilient  of  Chautau- 
qua County,  Kan.;  Simon  lives  in  Waynetown, 
Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.;  Sarah  became  the  wife  of 
C.  s.  Bratton,  of  Rossville,  and  she  is  now  de- 
ceased. Mary  Ann  is  the  wife  of  .lames  Applegate, 
Of  this  county;  Melinda  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years;  Henry  died  in  Linn  County,  Kan.,  in  1887. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  a  resident  of  Vir- 
ginia during  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  which  his 
father  and  two  brothers  fought,  while  he  remained 
at  home.  He  was  drafted,  but  Washington  sent 
him  home.  The  family  is  of  German  descent,  and 
the  first  representative  in  this  country  settled  in 
Virginia. 

At  the  time  of  leaving  Butler  Township  Mr. 
Armantrout  was  its  oldest  living  male  resident.  One 
lady,  Mrs.  Pyles,  had  been  there  one  year  longer 
than  himself.  As  a  farmer  he  was  more  than  or- 
dinarily successful,  and  also  prosecuted  stock-rais- 
ing with  excellent  results.  He  was  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  being  the  first  Road  Commissioner  in 
the  township,  in  which  ollice  he  served  eleven  years. 
He  officiated  as  Constable  four  years,  was  Justice  of 
the  Peace  seven  years.  School  Trustee  nine  years, 
and  School  Director  for  a  long  period.  Politically, 
he  is  a  Republican. 

Of  the  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arman- 
trout. the  third    child,  a  son,  Harmon,  died  when 


196 


VERMILION  COUNTY. 


one  year  old.  The  survivors  are  Scott,  Celia  M., 
Drusilla,  Carrie  and  Ida.  Scott  married  Miss 
Emma  Walters,  and  lives  on  the  home  farm ;  Celia 
May  is  the  wife  of  Ira  G.  Philips,  and  the  mother 
of  one  child,  a  daughter,  Mabel;  they  live  near 
the  homestead.  The  others  are  unmarried  and 
remain  with  their  parents.  Mrs.  Celinda  (Pugh) 
Armantrout  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ind.. 
Aug.  26,  1833,  and  is  the  daughter  of  George 
Pugh.  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Anderson,  and  they  reared  a 
large  family  of  children.  He  followed  farming  his 
entire  life,  and  after  leaving  his  native  State  set- 
tled near  Lebanon,  in  Warren  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  spent  his  last  days.  His  death  occurred  about 
1  864,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 

.LIVER  HARRISON  CRANE.  The  leading 
event  in  the  life  of  this  gentleman  was  his 
birth,  which  occurred  in  Fountain  County. 
Ind..  on  the  4th  of  March,  1841,  the  day  of  the  in- 
auguration of  President  William  Henry  Harrison) 
and  in  honor  of  whom  the  infant  was  given  his  sec- 
ond name,  lie  is  now  a  man  of  forty-eight  years, 
and  one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  of  Grant 
Township,  being  the  owner  of  ICO  acres  of  choice 
land,  pleasantly  located  on  section  29,  township  23, 
range  12, 

Mr.  Crane  spent  the  first  eighteen  years  of  his 
life  in  his  native  county,  acquiring  a  practical  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  and  becoming  famil- 
iar with  farm  pursuits.  In  the  fall  of  1859,  leaving 
the  parental  roof,  he  came  to  this  county  and  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  land  which  his  father  had  en- 
tered from  the  Government  at  $1.25  per  acre.  He 
boarded  at  the  house  of  a  neighbor  until  the  spring 
of  1861 ;  then  put  up  a  house  into  which  he  removed 
with  his  young  wife,  having  been  married  Feb.  7 
of  that  year  to  Miss  Charlotte  Bowling  of  his  own 
county  in  Indiana. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane,  although  removing  into  a 
more  modern  domicile,  have  occupied  the  same 
farm  which  they  moved  upon  at  the  time  of  their 
marriage.  Their  labors  and  struggles  have  been 
similar  to  those  of  the  people  around  ihem;  their 


rewards  likewise.  Industry  and  economy  have  been 
repaid  fourfold,  and  now,  in  the  enjoyment  of  all 
the  comforts  of  life  and  many  of  its  luxuries,  they 
sit  under  their  own  vine  and  fig  tree  and  are  blest 
with  the  respect  of  their  friends  and  neighbors. 
For  some  time  after  Mr.  Crane  settled  here  there 
were  no  neighbors  north  for  fifteen  miles,  the  near- 
est being  at  Ash  Grove.  Deer,  wolves  and  other 
wild  animals  were  plentiful,  but  these  slowly  dis- 
appeared as  the  country  became  settled  up. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane,  eleven 
in  number,  are  recorded  as  follows:  The  two  eldest 
died  in  infancy;  Elmer  E.  was  born  May  28,  1865; 
John  N..  Sept.  3,  1867;  Lillian  L.,  Jan.  6,  1870; 
Alfaretta,  Feb.  11.  LS72;  Winifred.  Dec.  4,  1873; 
Morris  S..  Nov.  2,  1876;  Mary  A.,  June  21,  1879; 
Perry  I).,  Jan.  28,  1883;  Anna  M.,  Oct.  23.  1885. 
The  eldest  son  living,  Elmer,  married  Miss  Olive 
Keplinger,  is  a  resident  of  Northwest  Nebraska  and 
the  father  of  two  children.  Mrs.  Charlotte  (Low- 
ling)  Crane  was  born  July  3,  1843,  in  Fountain 
County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Willis  P.  and 
Mary  (Bruce)  Bowling,  who  -were  natives  of  Ohio. 
The  father  was  born  in  Warren  County.  .Ian.  25, 
1816,  and  lived  there  until  a  lad  of  eight  years. 
His  parents  then  removed  to  Indiana,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  father  in  Fountain  County  he  contin- 
ued on  the  farm,  where  he  reared  his  family  and 
spent  his  last  days.  This  farm  is  located  in  Van 
Buren  Township  six  miles  northeast  of  Covington. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Crane  was 
Mary  Bruce,  and  the  parents  were  married  in  1838. 
( )f  the  eight  children  born  to  them  three  are  living — 
Charlotte,  Arthur  and  Morris.  The  two  boys  live 
at  the  old  farm  in  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  with  their 
father.  The  latter,  with  his  estimable  wife,  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  the  famil}' 
stand  high  in  their  community. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Bruce;  Bowling  was  bom  in  Law- 
rence County.  Ohio.  Jan.  21.  1817,  to  Joshua  and 
Margaret  (limes)  Bruce,  the  father  a  farmer  bv  oc- 
cupation. When  Man-  was  a  girl  of  eleven  years, 
they  left  the  Buckeye  State  and  removed  to  Foun- 
tain County,  Ind.,  where  she  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  her  marriage. 

Joel  Crane,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
Jan.  28,  1817,  in    Warren    Count}',  Ohio    near   the 


VERMILION   COUNTY. 


197 


birthplace  of  Mr.  Bowling.  Me  lived  there  until 
1832,  and  then,  a  lad  of  fifteen  years,  migrated 
to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  with  his  parents,  where 
he  was  married  and  still  lives  on  the  old  farm 
northeast  of  Covington  which  his  father  took  up 
from  the  Government.  His  wife  was  formerly  .Miss 
Elizabeth  Jenkins,  and  they  reared  a  family  of  three 
children— Oliver  EL,  Lewis  C.  and  Cyrus,  the  hit- 
ter two  of  Missouri  and  Kansas  respectively.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  (Jenkins)  Crane  was  born  Dec  .">.  1820, 
in  Ohio,  and  departed  this  life  at  the  homestead  in 
Indiana  Sept.  2,  1853.  She  left  the  Buckeye  State 
with  her  parents  in  1839  and  remained  with  them 
until  her  marriage. 

Mr.  Crane,  our  subject,  has  been  a  man  always 
full  of  business  and  one  who  has  little  respect  for 
the  drones  in  the  world's  busy  hive.  He  has  kept 
himself  well  posted  upon  events  of  general  interest, 
and  is  one  with  whom  may  be  spent  an  hour  very 
pleasantly  and  profitably.  His  course  in  life  has 
been  that  of  an  honest  man,  while  his  industry  has 
been  rewarded  with  a  competence. 


HARLES  BUHL.  This  gentleman  occupies 
no  unimportant  position  among  the  self- 
^i^f'  made  men  of  this  county  who  have  arisen 
by  their  own  efforts  from  the  foot  of  the  ladder 
and  who  by  unflagging  industry  and  perseverance 
have  accumulated  a  competence  and  in  their  later 
years  are  retired  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  it.  Mr. 
Huh!  represents  a  goodly  amount  of  property — in- 
deed is  recognized  as  a  capitalist — and  has  contrib- 
uted his  full  quota  to  the  business  interests  of  Dan- 
ville and  vicinity.  He  comes  of  substantial  ances- 
try and  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  having  been 
born  in  Butler  County,  Feb.  8,  1812. 

Our  subject  remained  a  resident  of  his  native 
place  until  a  young  man  of  twenty  years,  acquiring 
a  practical  education  in  the  common  school  and 
being  variously  occupied.  Finally  resolving  upon 
a  change  of  location,  he  made  his  way  in  1838,  to 
Detroit  and  for  two  years  thereafter  employed 
himself  as  a  teamster.  In  the  fall  of  1818,  lie  vis- 
ited Chicago  and  being  favorably  impressed  with 
the    outlook,    established  himself    in    the   hat,   cap 


and   fur  business  on     Lake  street,  second  door    west 

of  Clark  street  where  he  operated  successfully  until 
about  1850.  Then  selling  out  he  invested  the 
proceeds  in  a  farm  of  697  acres,  embracing  the 
present  site  of  Kensington  and  which  he  secured 
for  the  sum  of  $5,000.  Nine  months  later  he  sold, 
the  bottom  land — about  300 acres — to  the  Michigan 
Central  Railway  for  the  price  which  he  had  paid 
for  the  whole.  For  about  ten  years  thereafter  he 
engaged  ill  farming,  and  then  sold  out  and  coming 
to  Danville  invested  a  portion  of  his  capital  here 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

Mr.  Buhl  has  been  engaged  in  different  enter- 
prises since  coming  to  Danville.  He  invested  a 
portion  of  his  capital  in  the  lots  embracing  Nos.  117 
to  123  or  Last-  Main  street  where  he  has  put  up 
buildings,  the  rents  from  which  yield  him  a  hand- 
some income.  He  has  at  different  times  owned 
considerable  land  in  the  county  and  has  now  eigh- 
teen acres  of  valuable  land  just  outside  the  city 
limits.  Although  a  sound  Republican  politically 
he  has  never  sought  office,  but  was  twice  elected  to 
represent  his  ward  in  the  City  Council  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  From 
these,  however,  he  withdrew  before  the  expiration 
of  his  term.  During  the  Civil  War  his  son  Sidney 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  Army. 

Mr.  Buhl  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  July  9, 
1834,  to  Miss  Eliza  Ann  McConaughy,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Sidney.  Frank.  Emma  and 
Laura,  Mrs.  Buhl  was  born  in  New  Lisbon.  Ohio. 
.Ian.  1,  1820,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  McConaughy,  with  whom  she  lived  in 
the  Buckeye  State  until  her  marriage.  Mr.  McC, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  the  parental  house- 
hold included  ten  children — four  sons  and  six 
daughters.  Sidney  Buhl,  the  only  son  of  our  sub- 
ject married  Miss  Sally  Myers  and  they  have  one 
child,  a  daughter.  Georgia;  he  is  in  the  employ  of 
the  American  Express  Company.  Frank  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Louisiana  where  he  operates  a  fruit  farm  and 
nursery;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  William  Myers,  to 
whom  she  was  married  Jan.  -1.  1888; Mr.  M.,  is  em- 
ployed as  a,  carriage  salesman  and  the}'  live  in 
Danville.  Laura  was  married  June  .").  1883,  to  Mr. 
John  Lawrence,  a  boot  and    shoe  merchant,  located 


198 


VERMILION  COUNTY. 


at  117  East  Main  street.       The  daughters  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Christian  Buhl,  the  father  of  our  subject, was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  and  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man,  and  settled  near  Zeleinople,  Fa.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  hats.  lie  also  became 
theownerof  considerable  land  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  that  vicinity.  Me  had  mar- 
ried Miss  Fredrika  Gearing  and  they  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children,  of  whom  Charles  was  about  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth,  and  of  whom  seven  are  now 
living.  Mr.  Buhl  died  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-seven  years.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  three  years  and  was  also  eighty-seven 
years  old  at  the  time  of  her  decease. 


^[OIIX  W.  BANDY,  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Smith  &  Bandy,  druggists,  is  also 
owner  of  the  Bandy  Block  en  Vermilion 
.'  street.  Danville,  and  is  well-known  to  the 
citizens  of  the  city  and  vicinity  as  representing 
some  of  its  most  important  business  interests,  lie 
is  a  native  of  this  place  and  was  horn  A  [nil  S, 
1844.  Of  his  father.  William  Bandy,  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  this  county  ami  an  aged  vete- 
ran 6 f  seventy-seven  years,  a  sketch  will  he  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  first  four  years  of  the  lite  of  our  subject 
weii'  spent  upon  a  farm  and  then  the  family  re- 
moved to  Danville,  where  John  W.,  acquired  a 
practical  education  in  the  common  schools  When 
approaching  manhood  lie  entered  the  office  of  the 
Danville  Plaindealer,  then  under  the  control  of 
John  Leslie  and  with  whom  he  remained  until  the 
office  was  purchased  by  Judge  Daniel  Clapp. 
Young  Bandy  continued  with  the  latter  until  1864. 
That  year  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Samuel  Humphrey  as  preceptor  and  after  a  time 
began  practicing  to  a  certain  extent.  lie,  how- 
ever, concluded  that  he  was  better  adapted  to 
some  other  business  than  that  of  a  physician,  which 
resolution  was  strengthened  by  his  failing  haalth. 
He  spent  three  or  four  years  in  recuperating  and  in 
1872  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  E.  E.  Boudi- 
not   about  five   years.      At   the  expiration   of  this 


time  he  was  admitted  to  partnership  with  his  em- 
ployer. Three  years  later  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  E.  G. 
Smith,  a  native  of  Danville,  and  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  the  family  of  Giles  Smith.  These 
gentlemen  have  been  in  partnership  since  thai 
lime  and  .Air.  Bandy  has  been  in  the  store  since 
1872.  Mr.  Bandy  is  a  gentleman  of  great  energy 
and  enterprise,  and  has  accumulated  a  good  prop- 
erly, including  one  of  the  finest  brick  blocks  ,in 
North  Vermilion  street  which  was  erected  in  1887, 
and  is  equipped  with  all  modern  improvements. 

Mr,  Bandy  was  married  in  Danville,  Sept.  28, 
1864,  to  Miss  Margaret  Humphrey,  who  became  the 
mother  of  one  child  and  who  died  together  with  the 
child  in  1865.  Our  subject  contracted  a  second  mat- 
rimonial alliance  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Campbell,  of 
Lafayette.  Bid.,  Aug.  29,  1879.  Of  this  union  there 
was  one  ehihl.  a  son,  Claude  W.,  who  was  born  Aug. 
29,  1880.  and  is  still  living.  Mrs.  Man  A. 
(Campbell)  Bandy  was  bora  June  I,  1853,  about 
fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Logansport,  Ind..  and 
spent  her  childhood  and  youth  in  Indiana.  Both 
.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Band}' are  members  of  good  standing 
of  the  Kiniher  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Until 
about  1865  Mr.  Bandy  voted  with  the  Republican 
party  hut  has  since  that  time  affiliated  with  the  De- 
mocracy, lie  has  never  had  any  ambition  for  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  best  efforts  to  his  business 
affairs.  His  home  comprisesa  neat  residence  in  the 
northeast  part  of  the  city  and  as  the  son  of  a  prom- 
inent family  he  occupies  no  secondary  position  in 
social  and  business  circles. 


ENRY  L.  BUSHNELL  is  one  of  the  leading 

and  successful  business  men  of  lloopeslon. 
lie  is  the  proprietor  of  the  North  Elevator, 
which  has  a  capacity  of  75,000  bushels.  He 
also  owns  several  other  large  elevators  on  the  line 
of  the  Chicago  A-  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad.  He  is 
also  general  agent  for  the  Brazil  Block  Coal  Com- 
pany, handling  from  2.500  to  3,000  cars  yearly, 
besides  his  local  trade. 

Mr.  Bushnell  was  bom  Oct.  2.  1S43.  near  what  is 
now  Dunlap.  III.,  and  there  remained  with  his  father 
until  he  left  school  to  enter  the  army.      He  enlisted 


YFUMIL10N  COUNTY. 


19:) 


on  July  2, 1862,  in  Company  E,  77th  Illinois  In- 
fantry.  This  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  13th 
Army  Corps,  originally  under  Gen.  Smith,  but 
which  was  latterly  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Banks,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Black 
River,  Jackson,  Champion  Hill,  Black  River  Bridge, 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  also  in  the  entire  cam- 
paign which  resulted  in  the  opening  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River.  At  Vicksburg  he  was  wounded  on  the 
22d  of  May,  1863,  in  the  left,  knee,  after  which  he 
was  in  the  field  hospital  until  his  recovery.  The 
last  seventeen  months  of  the  service  he  was  Second 
Lieutenant  of  his  company.  While  on  the  expedi- 
tion with  Banks  up  the  Red  River,  he  was  cap- 
tured at  Mansfield,  La.,  April  8,  1864,  and  taken  to 
Camp  Ford.  Tyler.  Tex.,  and  was  there  held  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  While  a  prisoner  of  war  he  suf- 
fered untold  hardships,  which  impaired  his   health, 

the  effects  of   which  lie  feels  to  this  day.       After  his 

ise  he  joined  Ins  regiment  at  Mobile,  Ala..  Jan- 
uary, 1  865,  1  nit  remained  there  lint  a  few  days  when 
he  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  properly 
exchanged.  Here  he  was  detailed  on  Gen.  Dodge's 
staff,  remaining  on  this  duty  until  Aug.  1.  when  he 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  having  served  for 
several  months  more  than  his  regular  enlistment.. 
After  leaving  the  army  he  returned  to  Peoria,  111., 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  his  father. 
In  this  he  continued  for  some  time,  having  an  ex- 
tensive  trade,  and  becoming  accustomed  to  railroad 
business  in  the  mean  time,  he  was  appointed. Assis- 
tant General  Freight  Agent  of  the  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  with  headquarters  at  Ter- 
re  Haute.  Ho  continued  in  this  capacity  for  five 
years,  when  in  .Inly  ISS.'J.  he  resigned  and  removed 
In  Hoopeston  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
business,  and  it  is  not  too  broad  an  assertion  to 
State  that,  he  transacts  more  business  that)  any  other 
man  in  Eastern  Illinois. 

Mr.  Bushnell  has  served  his  city  as  Mayor  for 
two  terms  and  for  one  term  has  been  an  Alderman, 
lie  has  also  sen  ed  live  years  on  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, of  which  he  i-  now  President,  lie  has  never 
aspired  to  office   but  his    great  business  talents  are 

always  in  request  by     his  neighbors,  and  he  CH t 

see  his  way  Vicar   to  refuse   them.       He  is  a  hard- 
working   Republican,  i>   recognized  as  a   leader  in 


his  party,  and  can  be  found  attending  all  it^  conven- 
tions and  gatherings.  lie  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  and  has  been  a  Sunday-school  Su- 
perintendent for  twenty   Near,-. 

On  September  is.  1867,  Mr.  Bushnell  married 
Miss  Hattie  A.  Littcll.  of  Peoria,  and  they  have 
become  the  parents  of  ten  children,  two  of  whom 
only  are  living,  six  dying  of  diphtheria.  The  living 
are  William  F..  who  was  born  .Ian.  25,  1872  and 
Jessie  A.,  April  21.  1883.  Airs.  Bushnell  was  born 
in  New  York  City.  .March  IS.  1844  ami  is  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  Littell,  who  came  West  in  1855. 
In  closing  this  brief  sketch,  it  is  proper  to  say  that 
there  are  no  more  popular  people  in  this  section  of 
the  country  than  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Bushnell. 


/^jHARLES  M.  BAUM,  a  native  of  this 
|(  „  county,  may  usually  be  found  at  his  well- 
vVg^   regulated   homestead    on    section    25.       Be- 


sides general  agriculture,  he  is  largely  interested 
in  the  breeding  of  draft  horses  and  has  been  of 
signal  service  in  elevating  the  standard  of  horse 
flesh  in  this  part,  of  the  State.  Active,  energetic 
and  industrious,  lie  is  a  scion  of  the  pioneer  ele- 
ment which  located  in  this  county  at  an  early  day 
and  assisted  largely  in  its  growth  and  develop- 
ment. 

There  are  some  interesting  facts  connected  with 
the  family  history  of  Mr.  Baum  which  cannot  by 
any  means  be  properly  omitted  from  this  sketch. 
His  father,  Samuel  Baura,  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
was  born  twenty-live  miles  SOUth  of  the  city  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  was  the  son  of  Charles 
Baum.,  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, whence  he  removed  first  to  Ohio  and  later 
to  Illinois.  He  was  a  gunsmith  by  trade,  but  after 
coming  to  this  country  occupied  himself  mostly  as 
a  farmer,  and  died' at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years.  Three  of  his  seven  children  are  yet 
living,  and  Samuel,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  oldest  of  the  family.  Samuel  Baum  came  to 
Illinois  as  early  as  1828,  and  located  on  the  Little 
Vermilion,  near  the  present  site  of  Indianola.  The 
country  then  was  very  thinly  settled  and  Vermil- 
ion County  was  considered  quite  a  frontier.     The 


200 


VERMILION  COUNTY. 


journey  was  made  overland  in  a  Dearborn  wagon, 
and  they  brought  with  them  a  bug-horned  cow 
tied  behind  the  wagon.  The  incidents  of  that  long 
and  wearisome  journey,  during  which  they  camped 
and  cooked  by  the  wayside  and  slept  in  the  wagons 
at  night,  and  the  after  experiences,  replete  with 
toil  and  privation,  if  properly  related,  would  fill  a 
good-sized  volume. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  however,  possessed 
the  hardy  spirit  requisite  in  the  pioneers  of  '28 
and  entered  with  courage  upon  the  task  set  before 
them.  The  mother  was  in  her  girlhood  Miss  Sarah 
Weaver,  daughter  of  Michael  Weaver,  who  also 
came  to  this  county  in  1828,  and  the  young  people 
were  married  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Weaver  prior  to  this 
time  had  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  was  greatly  prospered  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  of 
Illinois,  becoming  one  of  Vermilion  County's 
wealthiest  men.  Mrs.  Bauin  was  the  eldest  of  the 
eight  children  comprising  the  parental  family,  of 
whom  only  two  are  now  living. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  1823. 
Samuel  Baum  became  a  very  successful  farmer, 
the  owner  of  1,400  acres  of  land,  and  devoted  him- 
self largely  to  stock-raising.  After  the  labors  of  a 
well  spent  life  he  departed  hence  in  March,  1861. 
The  mother  had  passed  to  the  silent  land  fourteen 
years  previously,  in  1817.  Of  the  ten  children 
born  to  them  seven  are  still  living.  Charles  M.  was 
the  sixth  child  anil  was  born  Dec.  22,  1838,  at  the 
old  homestead  near  Indianola.  He  pursued  his 
first  studies  in  the  district  school  and  in  due  time 
entered  Bryant  &  Stratum's  Commercial  College, 
Indianapolis,  from  which  he  was  graduated  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years  began  work  for  him- 
self on   his  father's  farm. 

Our  subject  operated  as  a  general  agriculturist 
two  years,  then  for  one  year  turned  his  attention 
to  shipping  stock.  In  the  meantime  he  went  into 
Texas  and  purchased  500  Texas  cattle,  which  he 
drove  through  the  Indian  Territory,  in  18(16,  to 
Chicago,  consuming  eight  months  on  the  journey. 
He  disposed  of  his  stock,  then  returning  to  New- 
town, this  county,  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business  for  two  and  one-half  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased ground  for  a  sawmill  and  in  company  with 
-Robert  Craig  put  up  the  necessary  building,  equip- 


ping it  with  machinery  and  operated  the  mill  for 
two  years.  Then  selling  out  he  resumed  his  for- 
mer business  as  a  live  stock  shipper  and  afterward 
farmed  again  for  about  two  years. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Baum  became  interested  in 
line  horses  and  began  importing  Clydesdales  from 
Canada  and  was  thus  occupied  two  years.  After- 
wards he  began  breeding  fine  horses,  for  which  his 
well-equipped  farm  of  200  acres  affords  every  con- 
venience. He  has  thirty  head  mostly  Clydesdales, 
including  the  Knight  of  Colander,  imported*  by 
Galbraith  Bros.,  of  .lanesville.  Wis.,  and  a  very 
valuable  registered  mare  imported  by  himself. 
Mr.  Baum's  horses  are  gaining  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion in  this  part  of   the  State. 

On  the  22d  of  .March,  1869,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  .1.,  daughter 
of  William  and  Emily  (Vanderin)  Craig,  who  were 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county.  Of  this 
union  there  have  been  born  live  children:  Grace, 
Ernest,  Katie.  Charles  and  Frank,  all  of  whom  are 
at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Baum  has  been 
active  in  politics  since  becoming  a  voting  citizen, 
and  is  proud  to  record  the  fact  that  his  first  Presi- 
dential candidate  was  the  martyred  President, 
Abraham  Lincoln.  He  keeps  himself  well  posteel 
upon  the  political  issues  of  the  day.  and  for  twelve 
years  has  officiated  as  School  Director  in  his  dis- 
trict. He  is  President  of  the  Newtown  Horse  and 
Cattle  Fair  and  a  member  of  the  Clydesdale 
American  Association,  also  for  the  Newtown  Horse 
Protector  Association.  Me  has  been  for  the  hist 
three  years  a  Road  Commissioner.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that  he  has  made  a  good  record  as  a  citizen 
and  is  amply  worthy  of  representation  in  the  Bio- 
graphical Album  of  Vermilion  County. 


attention  is  now  directed  is  that  of  a  man 
possessing  some  admirable  traits  of  charac- 
ter and  one  whose  course  in  life  has  been  such  as  to 
command  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who 
have  known  him.  During  the  vicissitudes  of  life 
he  has  spent  many  years  in  arduous  labor,  has 
handled  probably  a  million   dollars   in    money,  has 


VERMILION  COI'NTY. 


201 


dealt  honestly  and  fairly  by  his  fellow-men  and 
should  reap  a  large  measure  of  consolation  from 
ihe  fact  that  comparatively  few  have  made  person- 
ally so  clean  and  admirable  record.  There  are  few 
who  have  not  experienced  adversity  in  their  strug- 
gle with  the  world,  some  more  and  some  less,  and 
while  with  some  it  has  had  the  effect  to  make  them 
sour  and  cynical,  others  have  learned  wisely  from 
the  lesson  and  in  this  respect  at  least  come  off  con- 
querors in  the  struggle.  Nature  endowed  Mr. 
Adams  with  those  qualities  of  mind  and  heart, 
which  have  enabled  him  to  make  the  best  of  cir- 
cumstances and  leave  the  rest  to  Providence. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  not  far  from 
the  New  England  coast  in  Sussex  County,  N.  J., 
his  birth  occurring  Sept.  25,  1817.  He  commenced 
the  battle  of  life  for  himself  at  the  early  age  of 
fourteen  years,  clerking  in  a  store  from  that,  time 
until  a  young  man  of  twenty,  lie  then  accompan- 
ied his  father's  family  to  Virginia  and  remained 
on  a  farm  in  the  Old  Dominion  for  a  period  of 
five  years.  Then  leaving  the  parental  roof  he  emi- 
grated to  Orange  Count}',  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
employed  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  store  of  Mr. 
Reeve  in  Goshen.  Two  years  later  he  established 
himself  as  a  general  merchant  at  Unionville  in  the 
same  county  and  sold  goods  there  for  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Adams  finally  becoming  wearied  of  mer- 
cantile pursuits  concluded  he  would  seek"  the 
farther  West  and  settle  upon  a  farm.  Coming  to 
this  county,  in  1857,  he  purchased  480  acres  of 
land  south  of  Fairmount*  and  put  up  the  largest 
residence  in  this  vicinity.  Thereafter  he  occupied 
himself  at  farming  ami  merchandising  until  188G, 
when  on  the  account  of  the  failing  health  of  his 
wife  he  removed  to  Kansas,  living  there  with  a 
daughter  one  year  and  then  returned  to  this  county. 

Our  subject  in  1844  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Amanda  1!..  a  daughter  of  .Samuel  King  of 
Pennsylvania  and  a  prominent  farmer  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. The  ceremony  took  place  at  the  home  of 
the  bride's  mother  in  Philadelphia.  This  union 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Frank  A.,  was  married  and  died  leaving  his 
widow  with  two  children.  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
Stanley  Conklin,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Jarvis, 
Conklin   &    Co.,   in    Kansas    City.  Mo.,    and   they 


have  two  children.  George  ('..  married  .Miss 
Nellie,  daughter  of  Hiram  Catlett  of  Vance  Town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children.  Mrs  Adams 
has  been  sorely  afflicted  with  rheumatism,  being  in 
feeble  health  for  the  past  twenty  years  and  in  1884 
was  stricken  with  total  blindness.  She  and  her 
children  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  in 
which  Mr.  Adams  has  been  a  Deacon  for  thirty 
years.  In  politics,  Mr.  Adams  was  first  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Democrat.  Although  seventy-two 
years  old  he  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health  and 
although  having  met  with  many  reverses  main- 
tains the  cheerful  and  genial  disposition  which 
has  always  attracted  to  him  numbers  of  warm 
friends.  He  appreciates  the  importance  of  pre- 
serving the  family  record  and  a  few  years  ago 
wrote  up  a  complete  history  of  his  life  placing  it, 
in    the   hands  of  his  son. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Joseph  Adams,  a 
native  of  New  Jersey  and  a  farmer  by  ocupation. 
He  married  Miss  Martha  Post,  a  native  of  New- 
Jersey  and  they  lived  there  until  1839.  Then 
disposing  of  their  interests  in  that  State  they  re- 
moved to  Spottsylvania  County,  Va.,  where  the 
mother  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  Joseph 
Adams  spent  his  last  years  in  Virginia  and  de- 
parted this  life  in  July,  184,5. 

The  parental  household  included  eleven  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years.  Grandfather 
\dams  was  a  prominent  man  in  Sussex  County, 
N.J.    and  held    the    position    of  Judge    for    some 


years. 


~^>t^*-^*3>-£^$r>^z~^*e~. 


e|p^HOMAS  D.  McKEE,  of  OakwoOd  Town- 
™§l^l  SQiP'  nas  ^or  years  been  prominent  in  busi- 
v§s0/  ness  circles,  operating  as  lawyer,  banker  and 
farmer.  His  home  is  located  on  section  15.  and 
the  farm  is  chiefly  devoted  to  stock-raising,  an  in- 
dustry which  has  always  proved  profitable  in  this 
section.  Mr.  McKee  was  born  in  New  York  Slate 
June  'J,  1833,  at  the  old  homestead  of  his  parents. 
John  C.  and  Jeanette  (Stewart)  McKee,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  native  also  of  the  Empire  State,  and 
the  mother  of  Scotland. 

John  C.  McKee  was  born   in    1809,  and  died  at, 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years.     The  paternal  grand- 


202 


VERMILION   COUNTY. 


father,  Thomas  McKee,  was  born  about  1784  in 
Dryden,  Tompkins  Co..  N.  Y..  where  he  spent  his 
entire  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years. 
The  great-grandfather,  James  McKee,  was  born  in 
the  North  of  Ireland,  and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
six  years.  Grandfather  John  Stewart  married  a 
Miss  Mcintosh  and  emigrated  to  America,  settling 
near  Dryden.  N.  Y..  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  Thomas  D. 
had  the  privilege  of  seeing  all  three  of  the  old 
veterans. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  New 
York  State,  and  afterwards  lived  upon  the  same 
farm  which  still  remains  in  the  family,  and  which 
is  located  on  the  old  State  Road  four  and  one-half 
miles  from  Cortland,  between  the  latter  place  and 
Ithica.  The  mother  passed  away  in  1877,  and  the 
lather  in  1885.  Their  family  consisted  of  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years,  and  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  Thomas  I).,  like 
his  brothers  and  .sisters,  attended  the  village  school 
at  McLean,  and  later  was  a  student  in  Cortland 
Academy  at  Homer,  N.  Y.  He  prosecuted  his  law- 
studies  in  the  State  and  National  Law  School  at 
Poughkeepsie  under  I  lie  presidency  of  J.  W.  Fow- 
ler, from  which  he  was  graduated  and  then  set  out 
for  the  West. 

Mi'.  McKee  left  his  home  in  New  York  State  in 
1855,  and  going  to  Maysville,  Wis.,  taught  school 
there  six  months.  Prior  to  this  before  leaving  his 
native  State  he  had  been  similarly  occupied  at 
South  ^Cortland.  In  1857  he  went  to  Faribault, 
Minn.,  and  platted  Morristown  together  with  sev- 
eral other  towns,  lie  then  migrated  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  from  there  to  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  during 
the  days  of  the  troubles  in  the  latter  State  and  wit- 
neesed  many  scenes  of  violence,  enacted  on  the  soil 
of  "bleeding  Kansas."  In  that  State  he  operated 
as  a  surveyor,  and  taught  the  first  school  estab- 
lished at  Atchison.  After  a  two-year's  sojourn  in 
that  region  he  returned  home,  completed  his  law 
course  in  Poughkeepsie,  and,  in  1861,  returning  to 
Illinois,  established  himself  at  Homer,  Champaign 
County,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. 

The  next  important  event  in  the  life  of  our  sub- 
ject was  his  marriage  with  Miss  Alary  Groenendyke. 


and  six  or  seven  years  afterwards  the  newly  wedded 
pair  established  themselves  at  their  present  home 
stead.  While  at  Homer  Mr.  McKee,  in  company  with 
D.  S.  Pratt,  established  the  bank  at  Homer,  and  later 
our  subject  purchased  the  interest  of  his  partner 
therein.  That  same  year  through  the  speculation 
of  his  clerk  the  bank  was  obliged  to  close  its  doors. 
This  individual  had  been  trusted  implicitly  without 
bonds,  and  had  made  away  with  ¥23,000  in  cash. 

Subsequently  Mr.  McKee  became  interested  in 
farming  pursuits  and  began  operations  on  240  acres 
of  land,  which  amount  has  been  augmented  so  that 
the  farm  now  embraces  C80  acres  all  in  one  body. 
It  is  all  in  productive  condition,  but  largely  de- 
voted to  stock-raising — forty  to  fifty  cattle  in  a 
year,  about  200  head  of  swine  and  numbers  of  very 
flne  imported  Belgium  horses. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKee  there  were  born  five 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  Samuel  G., 
Stewart  T.,  Mallie  and  John,  all  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Our  subject  has  been  for  many  years  the 
School  Director  in  his  district,  and  has  served  on 
the  School  Board  in  Homer  for  six  years.  He  was 
President  of  the  Town  Board  there  for  several 
terms,  and  it  was  largely  through  his  influence  that 
sidewalks  were  laid  and  shade  trees  were  planted. 
He  also  labored  assiduously  in  suppressing  the  liq- 
uor traffic.  He  votes  the  straight  Republican 
ticket,  and  is  uniformly  in  favor  of  those  measures 
tending  to  elevate  society  and  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  the  people.  Mrs.  .McKee  is  a  very  capable 
and  estimable  lady,  with  a  good  talent  for  business 
and  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church. 

Samuel  Groenendyke,  the  father  of  Mrs.  McKee, 
was  born  in  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1803,  and 
married  Miss  Lacy  Thompson,  of  Cumberland 
County,  Pa.  In  1821  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  the  vicinity  of  Terre  Haute.  Ind.,  and  thence  to 
Vermillion  County,  Ind..  where  he  established  his 
permanent  home.  He 'finally  became  'he  owner  of 
nearly  2.000  acres  of  land.  Later  he  established  him- 
self as  a  general  merchant  at  Eugene,  and  also  had 
a  branch  store  at  Homer,  111.  lie  was  very  indus- 
trious and  enterprising,  and  was  the  first  pork- 
packer  in  his  locality.  He  aided  largely  in  encour- 
aging the  various  industries   of   the  new   country, 


Stock-Farm  and  Residence  of  J.  W.Goodwii: 


;SECS.2I,22,  26,27  &    28.  Pi  LOTTp,VERMI  LION  Co. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


2D7 


and  was  prominent  in  liis  community,  being  espec- 
ally  well  known  bj  the  old  settlers.  The  parental 
family  included  three  children,  two  daughters  and 
a  son.  Samuel,  who  is  now  a  residenl  of  Eugene. 


Si  OHN  \V.  GOODWINE  is  one  of  the  leading 
fanners  and  stock-growers  of  Vermilion 
Count}',  and  the  owner  of  one  of  its  largesl 
and  most  valuable  farms,  finely  located  in 
the  township  of  Pilot,  his  substantial  resilience, 
with  its  attractive  surroundings,  being  situated  on 
section  2G.  He  is  the  son  of  a  former  well  known 
prosperous  pioneer  of  this  section  of  the  country, 
who  was  in  his  day  an  extensive  land  owner,  and 
did  much  toward  developing  the  vast  agricultural 
resources  of  the  county. 

The  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  of  English 
descent,  his  parents  having  been  earl}'  pioneers  of 
that    State.      In    1810    he    went   to    Bartholomew 

(  ity.  Ind.,  and  was  among   its   earliest   settlers, 

subsequently  removing  from  there  to  Warren 
County  in  the  same  State.  In  1826  he  came  to 
Warren  County  while  it  was  still  in  the  hands  of 
the  pioneers,  and  located  on  government  land,  buy- 
ing at  that  time  200  acres.  He  built  a  log  house 
for  the  shelter  of  his  family  and  entered  with  char- 
acteristic zeal  upon  the  development  of  a  farm 
from  the  wild  prairies,  and  from  time  to  time  in- 
creased its  acreage  till  he  became  the  possessor  of 
2,400  acres  of  fine  farming  land  at  the  time  of  Ids 
death,  so  fortunate  was  he  in  his  undertakings.  He 
died  March  8,  1851.  His  wife,  who  died  in  1824, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  her  maiden  name  being 
Elizabeth  Snyder,  and  she  came  with  her  parents  to 
this  country  when  she  was  young.  Of  her  mar- 
riage nine  children  were  horn:  James,  Martha  and 
John,  the  only  ones  now  living.  James  married 
Sophia  Buckels,  of  Warren  County,  Ind.,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  farming,  and  they  have  t'wt.'  children 
— William.  Christina,  Indiana.  Horace  and  Fre- 
mont; Martha  married  Richard  Lyon,  of  Warren 
County,  Ind.,  and  they  have  three  children — .John. 
Martha  and  Thomas. 

John  Goodwine  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life 
in    his   native  Stale,  gleaning  such  an  education  as 


was  afforded  by  the  pioneer  scl Is  of    those    days. 

and  on  the  home  farm  a  good  practical  training  in 
the  management  of  a  farm.  He  came  to  Vermil- 
ion County  March  15,  1848,  and  when  he  began  an 
independent  life  for  himself  he  had  a  better  start 
than  many  fanner's  sons,  having  inherited  300 
acres  from  his  father's  estate.  !'>ut  notwithstanding 
such  an  advantage  he  worked  with  persevering  en- 
ergy, and  by  wise  management  and  a  judicious  ex- 
penditure of  money  he  has  become  possessed  of  one 
o!  ili:  largesl  and  finest  estates  within  the  limits  of 
Vermilion  County,  owning  over  1,000  acres  of 
highly  improved  land,  besides  having  given  his 
children  2,000.  lie  docs  an  extensive  business  in 
general  farming,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  raising 
Short-horns,  having  a  fine  herd  of  highly  graded 
cattle  of  that  breed. 

Mr.  Goodwine  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Jane  Charleton,  of  Indiana,  and  to  them 
were  born  five  children — Marion,  John,  Jann  s, 
Mary  J.  and  Fremont.  Marion  married  Susan  Sel- 
sor.  and  lives  in  Marysville,  this  count}-.  They 
have  five  children,  one  of  whom  is  dead;  the  others 
are  Hattie,  Fred,  Daly  E.  and  Ary;  John  married 
Mary  Alexander,  and  they  had  one  child,  Annie  ;  his 
first  wife  died  October,  1872,  and  about  1874  he  was 
again  married  to  Miss  Alice  Lane,  and  they  have 
six  children — John,  Wilber,  Nora,  Ulysses,  Cora 
and  Villa;  James,  a  farmer  in  this  county,  married 
Minerva  King,  of  New  Jersey,  and  they  have  three 
children — Nellie,  Roy  and  Coldie;  Mary  J.  mar- 
ried James  M.  Tillotson,  of  Warren  County,  Ind.. 
now  a  farmer  in  Louisiana,  and  they  have  three 
children — Jessie.  Estella  and  Mabel. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  present  wife  of  oursuh- 
ject  was  Arminda  Sperry.  and  she  was  born  in  this 
county  Dec.  24,  1842.  Her  parents,  Erastus  and 
liuth  (Rees)  Sperry,  -.Mae  of  German  antecedents 
though  they  were  horn  in  this  country,  the  father 
in  Ohio  June  :!.  1819,  and  the  mother  in  Indiana 
Aug.  19,  l<si(.).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodwine  have  four 
children,  namely:  Martha.  Helen,  Dora  and  Grant 
\Y..  all  of  whom  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Goodwine  possesses  in  a  rare  degree  far-see- 

igacity  and  energy,  so  combined    with    those 

useful   qualities  oi    prudence  and  steadfastness  of 

purpose,  that  he  could  not  fail  to  increase  his  wealth 


•208 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


by  legitimate  means,  and  accomplish  whatever  tie 
attempted.  His  career  in  life  has  been  an  honor- 
able one.  and  his  place  is  among  the  most  useful 
and  worthy  of  the  citizens  of  Vermilion  County. 
with  whose  interests  his  own  have  been  so  inti- 
mately connected  these  many  years,  and  whose  ma- 
terial prosperity  he  has  greatly  extended,  lie  has 
served  on  the  juries  of  the  State  and  county,  and 
as  an  intelligent,  observant  man  is  greatly  inter- 
ested in  the  political  issues  of  the  day,  giving  his 
support  to  the  Republican  party  on  all  questions  of 
National  or  local  importance. 

A  fine  large  double  page  view  of  the  handsome 
residence  and  surroundings  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Goodwine  is  among  the  attractive  features  of  the 
opening  pages  of  the  album,  and  is  a  fitting  intro- 
duction to  those  which  follow.  It  shows  what  can 
be  accomplished  by  a  life  of  industry  and  energy, 
coupled  with  a  good  business  capacity. 


'fl/OHN  R.  BALDWIN.  There  are  few  of  the 
older  residents  along  the  western  line  of 
this  county  who  are  unfamiliar  with  the 
'  name  which  stands  at  the  head  of  this  bio- 
graphical sketch.  It  is  that  of  a  man  selfmade  in 
the  broadest  sense  of  the  term — one  who  in  his 
young  manhood  resolved  to  make  life  a  success  if 
it  could  be  accomplished  by  industry  and  wise 
management.  Many  men  who  are  successful  per- 
haps do  not  as  fully  realize  the  fact  as  those  around 
them  who  have  been  less  so,  but  the  present  stand- 
ing of  Mr.  Baldwin,  socially  and  financially^  should 
give  him  an  extremely  comfortable  feeling,  for  his 
career  has  been  worthy  of  emulation.  It  is  main- 
tained that  every  man  has  his  hobby,  and  Mr. 
Baldwin,  a  great  lover  of  the  equine  race,  has  for 
many  years  given  his  attention  to  the  breeding  of 
and  dealing  in  horses,  and  in  this  branch  of  business 
can  scarcely  be  excelled.  He  is  an  excellent  judge 
of  this  noblest  of  the  animal  kingdom,  and  while 
developing  their  fine  points  has  made  of  the  indus- 
try a  profit  as  well  as  a  pleasure. 

The  farm  property  of  Mr.  Baldwin  is  pleasantly 
situated  on  section  17,  Vance  Township,  and  com- 
prises a  homestead  furnished  with  all  the  modern 


improvements,  both  for  agricultural  pursuits  and 
for  stock  operations.  Mr.  Baldwin  is  now  past 
sixty-one  years  old,  having  been  born  March  9, 
1828,  and  is  a  native  of  Mason  County,  Ky.  His 
father,  George  Baldwin,  who  was  born  in  Virginia, 
is  still  living  and  in  good  health,  although  having 
arrived  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  over  eighty-six 
years.  In  addition  to  the  possession  of  a  strong 
constitution  he  has  for  the  last  thirty  years  espec- 
ially avoided  the  use  of  liquor  in  any  form.  His 
life  occupation  has  been  that  of  a  farmer,  and  he  is 
now  living  at  a  comfortable  home  in  Fairmount, 
where  he  enjoys  the  acquaintance  of  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was,  in  her  girlhood. 
Miss  Rebecca  Downing.  She  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  married  in  her  native  State,  where 
the  family  lived  until  1839.  Thence  they  removed 
to  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of  18G.">  came  to  this 
county,  and  settled  three  miles  south  of  Fairmount. 
They  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  and  the  mother  departed  this  life 
in  1884. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  emi- 
grated from  Prince  Edward  County,  Va.,  to  Mason 
County,  Ky.jn  181-1, during  the  period  of  its  earliest 
settlement.  He  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  in  18-13.  In  the  meantime  he  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  had  a  son, 
Pleasant  Baldwin,  who  carried  a  musket  in  the 
War  of    1812.      The   latter  died  in   1880. 

The  early  education  of  John  R.  Baldwin  was 
obtained  partly  in  Kentucky  and  partly  in  Ohio, 
and  he  remained  a  member  of  the  parental  house- 
hold until  the  time  of  his  marriage.  This  interest- 
ing event  was  celebrated  Feb.  22.  L850,  the  bride 
being  Miss  Catherine  J.,  daughter  of  Nathan  (Haze, 
of  Maryland.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baldwin  settled  on  a  rented  farm  near  Ripley. 
Ohio,  where  they  lived  until  1856.  They  then  re- 
moved to  a  farm  which  Mr.  Baldwin  had  purchased 
on  Straight  Creek  Ridge,  Ohio,  and  which  he  partly 
improved  and  sold  at  a  good  profit  two  years  later. 
The  next  two  jears  he  operated  as  a  renter,  then 
purchased  more  land,  which  he  sold  at  war  prices. 
At.  the  expiration  of  this  time  Mr.  Baldwin,  de- 
termining to  see  something  of  the  Western  country. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


209 


came  to  Illinois,  and  after  viewing  the  country 
went  back  home,  published  his  sale  of  personal 
property,  established  his  family  in  Ripley,  and  in 
May,  1865,  started  out  on  another  tour  of  investi- 
gation. This  time  he  was  accompanied  by  his 
father,  they  boarding  a  boat  at  Ripley  which  con- 
veyed them  to  St.  Louis  and  thence  to  Rockporl 
Landing.  Mo.  They  were  prevented  from  landing 
at  Lexington  on  account  of  the  bushwhackers,  who 
were  unaware  that  the  war  was  over.  They  next 
pursued  their  travels  by  stage  and  hack  to  St.  Jo- 
seph, thence  to  Quincy  and  Chicago,  111.,  and  from 
there  by  way  of  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  home. 

Having  seen  so  many  different  places,  and  all 
with  some  advantages,  our  subject  now  found  him- 
self in  a  dilemma  as  to  where  it  was  best  to  settle. 
He  finally  concluded  to  remain  in  Ohio  until  he 
could  get  all  his  money  together.  He  rented  a 
farm  and  commenced  dealing  extensively  in  horses 
and  cattle,  shipping  to  Cincinnati  and  realizing 
handsome  returns.  The  fall  of  1868  again  found 
him  Westward  hound,  and  passing  through  this 
county.  From  here  he  went  to  .Southern  Missouri 
by  way  of  Kansas  City,  and  gravitated  back  to  this 
county  via  St.  Louis  and  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road. He  found  nothing  in  his  opinion  superior 
to  this  region,  and  accordingly  rented  a  house  in 
Fairmount.  and  returning  to  Ohio  had  collected,  by 
the  11th  of  March,  1861),  all  his  money,  and  re- 
turned to  this  county.  He  did  not  then  intend  to 
invest  his  capital  here,  and  in  less  than  two  weeks 
had  loaned  about  $4,000.  He  finally  purchased  the 
land  comprising  his  present  homestead,  and  which 
was  embellished  with  the  best  dwelling  on  the  prai- 
rie. His  stock  shipping  operations  have  extended 
as  far  East  as  Boston  and  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  he 
has  probably  sold  more  young  horses  than  any 
other  man  in  his  neighborhood,  these  being  shipped 
largely  to  Pennsylvania  buyers,  who  come  to  him 
and  make  their  purchases  at  first  hands. 

During  the  last  ten  years  Mr.  Baldwin  has 
operated  as  a  breeder,  and  sold  four  colts  of  his 
own  raising  to  Pennsylvania  buyers  for  $850.  He 
does  no  more  shipping,  but  since  abandoning  this, 
has  sold  sixteen  head  of  horses  for  over  $3,400,  be- 
sides three  carloads  at  from  $150  to  $190  each. 
( )ne  remarkable  circumstance   in  his   career    i>   the 


fact,  thai  in  Ohio  he  never  lost  but  *10  in  his  horse 

operations.  Since  coming  to  Illinois  he  lias  handled 
large  numbers  of  valuable  horses  without  loss.  In 
one  carload  he  losl  $262,  but  made  it  all  right  on 
the  next  shipment. 

Of  the  twelve  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  estimable  wife  nine  are  living:  Charles  N.,  the 
eldest,  married  Miss  Susie  Guilder,  is  the  father  of 

three  children,  and  lives  two  and  one-half  miles 
southwest  of  Danville;  Mary  .1.,  the  wife  of  Bar- 
ton Elliott,  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  and 
they  live  a  half  mile  east  of  Fairmount;  J.  Henry 
married  Mi>s  Lizzie  Price,  is  the  father  of  six  chil- 
dren, and  lives  three  miles  south  of  Fairmount,; 
Emma  Belle,  Mrs.  William  Hill,  lives  in  Oakwood 
Township,  and  is  the  mother  of  one  child;  Laura 
F.  married  Edwin  North,  and  they  live  in  Side] I, 
without  children;  Cora  I...  Mrs.  Lincoln  Smith,  has 
no  children,  and  they  live  three  and  one-half  miles 
northwest  of  Fairmount;  Lizzie,  Oscar  G.  and  Rob- 
ert L.  remain  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mrs.  Baldwin  was  the  fifth  child  of  her  parents, 
and  was  born  Aug.  31,  1829,  in  Brown  County. 
Ohio.  Her  father,  a  prominent  man  in  his  neigh- 
borhood, came  to  Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1866, 
and  died  in  Hancock  County,  in  1883,  in  the  nine- 
tieth year  of  his  age.  The  mother  survived  her  hus- 
band five  years,  dying  in  1888,  in  Hancock  County 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two.  Their  family 
consisted  of  four  daughters  and  six  sons.  Mrs. 
Baldwin's  people  on  both  sides  of  the  house  were 
largely  represented,  many  of  them  living  to  a  great 
age.  Her  grandfather  on  her  mother's  side  was 
the  father  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  lived  to 
be  from  eighty  to  eighty-eight  years  old;  their 
united  ages  being  3:52.  Her  father,  Nathan 
Glaze,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Vfav  of  1812,  and 
was  a  pensioner  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
for  the  long  period  of  sixty  years.  Mrs.  Baldwin 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Conservative  in  politics,  Mr.  Baldwin  votes  the 
Straight  Republican  ticket,  and  recalls  the  fact  that 
the  largest  and  most  enthusiastic  political  meeting 
which  he  ever  attended,  was  one  held  in  the  inter- 
ests of  William  Henry  Harrison,  in  1 840,  at  Ripley, 
Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  when  .Mr.  Baldwin  was  a    lad    of 


210 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPAICAL  ALBUM. 


twelve  years.  He  has  mixed  very  little  in  public 
life  with  the  exception  of  serving  as  School  Di- 
rector twelve  years.  His  interests  have  chiefly 
centered  in  live  stock,  and  he  has  been  a  prominent 
worker  in  the  County  Fair  Association.  I  lis  con- 
nection with  this  in  Ohio  extended  from  1853  to 
1867,  and  in  Illinois  from  1869  to  1886.  He  was  for 
four  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
Vermilion  County  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
Association  at  Danville,  ami  took  an  important 
part  in  the  discussion  of  the  matters  pertaining  to 
its  best  interests.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  be- 
longing to  Homer  Lodge  Chapter,  and  in  Fair- 
mount  is  a  member  of  lodge  number  590,  in  which 
he  has  served  as  Master  for  two  years,  having 
passed  all  the  Chairs.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Homer  Agricultural  Fair  Association. 


-€-*-B" 


S^l  DMUND  P.JONES  has  a  valuable  farm  in 
|t<]  Danville  Township,  pleasantly  located  four 
/jj^rj1  miles  southeast  of  the  city  in  the  center  of 
a  rich  agricultural  region.  He  is  a  fine  type  of 
the  sturdy,  intelligent,  self-reliant  natives  of  Ver- 
milion County  who  were  born  here  in  the  early 
days  of  its  settlement,  reared  amid  its  pioneer 
scenes,  and  after  attaining  a  stalwart  manhood, 
took  their  place  among  its  practical,  wide  awake 
citizens  and  have  ever  since  been  active  in  devel- 
oping and  sustaining  its  many  and  varied  interests. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  comes  of  good  pioneer 
slock,  and  both  his  paternal  and  maternal  ancestry 
were  early  settlers  of  Kentucky,  and  there  his  fa- 
ther and  mother,  William  and  .lane  (Martin) 
Jones  were  born,  the  former  in  Harrison  County, 
Feb.  24,  1796,  and  the  latter  April  15,  1795.  They 
were  united  in  marriage  Jan.  23,  1816,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  their  native  State  till  1828, 
when  with  their  six  children  they  came  to  Illinois 
with  a  team  and  cast  in  their  fortunes  with  the 
earl}'  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County,  locating  near 
Danville,  in  Danville  Township.  They  lived  a 
short  time  on  section  16,  and  then  the  father 
bought  a  tract  of  land  on  section  11.  It  was  heav- 
ily timbered,  and  the  family  lived  in  a  rail-pen  for 
a  time    as    a    temporary    shelter,    and     then     Mr. 


Jones  built  a  log  house  on  the  place,  and  in  that 
bumble  abode  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
.Ian.  13,  1830.  The  father  improved  a  part  of  his 
land,  and  a  few  years  later  removed  to  another 
place,  and  resided  in  different  parts  of  the  town 
till  his  demise,  Oct.  30,  1859.  A  faithful  citizen 
was  thus  lost  to  the  community,  one  who  had  led 
an  honest,  sober-minded  life,  and  was  deserving  of 
the  respect  accorded  to  him.  His  worthy  wife 
survived  him  till  Sept.  10.  1867,  when  she  too 
passed  away  at  the  home  of  our  subject.  The  fol- 
lowing is  recorded  of  the  eight  children  born  to 
them:  John  P.  is  deceased;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Sallee,  of  Oakwood  Township;  Joseph  M.  is 
deceased;  Sarah  A.  married  Dennis  Olehy.  and  is 
now  deceased;  William  Perry  and  Mazy  J.  are 
deceased;  Edmund  P.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Thomas  J.  lives  in  Oakwood  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remembers  well  the 
wildness  of  the  country  around  about  as  it  first  ap- 
peared to  him  when  he  became  old  enough  to 
observe  his  surroundings,  and  the  beautiful  scene 
presented  by  the  virgin  prairie  and  primeval  for- 
est before  civilization  had  wrought  its  marvelous 
changes,  is  indellibly  impressed  on  his  mind.  Deer, 
wild  turkeys  and  other  game  were  plentiful  and 
roamed  at  will,  unless  brought  down  by  the  uner- 
ring aim  of  the  hunter  anxious  to  replenish  the 
scant  larder  in  his  humble  pioneer  home.  There 
were  no  railways  for  many  years  after  our  subject's 
first  recollection,  and  the  nearest  market  was  at 
Chicago,  125  miles  distant,  till  after  the  canal  was 
finished,  and  then  produce  was  taken  to  Perrys- 
ville,  Ind.  The  farmers  of  those  days  hail  to  con- 
duct their  agricultural  operations  in  the  most,  prim- 
itive manner,  and  Mr.  Jones  says  that  when  he  was 
young  grain  was  cut  with  a  sickle,  and  when  the 
cradle  came  into  use  that  was  considered  a  great 
improvement,  and  the  present  harvesting  machine 
was  undreamed  of.  Threshing  machines  were  then 
unknown,  and  the  grain  was  either  trampled  out 
by  horses  or  else  whipped  out  by  Hails.  The  plows 
in  use  had  wooden  mold-boards,  and  all  corn  was 
dropped  by  hand  and  covered  with  a  hoe.  while 
grass  was  cut  with  a  scythe  and  hay  was  pitched 
with  a  wooden  fork.  Nor  was  the  work  of  the 
busy    housewife    lightened    bv    modern    improve- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


21  1 


incuts.  The  good  mother  cooked  the  food  before 
the  6re  in  the  old-fashioned  fireplace,  and  used  to 
spin,  weave  and  make  all  the  cloth  for  the  family. 
The  intelligent  pioneers  early  sought  to  give  their 
children    educational    advantages,   and    the    lir.st 

schools  were  conducted    in    rude  log  school-l ses 

provided  with  seats  made  of  puncheon  with  wooden 
pins  for  legs,  and  the  window  comprising  an 
opening  from  which  a  log  had  been  removed 
and  greased  paper  inserted  through  which  the 
light  had  to  penetrate,  and  a  large  fireplace, 
the  chimney  of  stick  and  clay,  for  heating  purposes. 
In  such  a  structure  our  subject  gleaned  his  educa- 
tion, lie  commenced  in  his  boyhood  to  assist  his 
father  on  the  farm,  and  gained  from  him  a  thor- 
ough practical  knowledge  of  farming  in  all  its 
branches.  He  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  till  he  attained  man's  estate  and  then 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  by  renting  land  and 
carried  on  agriculture  thereon  for  a  while.  At 
the  time  of  his  marriage  he  went  to  Iroquois 
County  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  wild  land  there, 
remaining  till  1859,  when  he  returned  to  Vermil- 
ion County,  and  in  18(!1  he  bought  forty  acres  of 
land  on  section  13  of  Danville  Township.  It  was 
partly  fenced  and  a  few  acres  had  been  broken, 
hut  aside  from  that  no  improvements  had  been 
made,  nut  even  any  buildings  had  been  erected. 
lie  built  a  frame  houseon  forty  acres  adjoining  his 
original  purchase,  and  has  since  bought  other  land, 
till  he  now  has  220  acres,  under  excellent  cultiva- 
tion and  capable  of  producing  large  crops.  His 
resi  'eiice.  a  well  built  house,  is  located  on  section 
12.  and  he  has  other  substantial  buildings,  and 
everything  about  the  place  is  conveniently  ar- 
ranged and  .veil  ordered. 

Mr.  Jones  has  been  twice  married,  lb;  was  first 
wedded  Out.  19,  1854,  to  Sarah  A.  Cox,  who  was, 
like  himself,  a  native  of  Danville  Township,  born 
May  .">,  1831.  she  closed  her  eyes  to  the  scenes  of 
earth  altera  brief  and  happj  married  life,  dying 
in  Iroquois  County,  Nov.  11,  1858.  Mr.  . I  ones 
was  married  to  his  present  wib'.  formerly  Mary  K. 
Villars,  Feb.  21,  1861.  Mrs.  Jones  is  a  native  of 
i  Hilton  County.  Ohio,  bom  Dec.  11,  1810,  to 
William  and  Ruth  (Whitaker)  Villars  (sec  sketch 
of  William  Villars  l"i  parental  history).     Mr.  and 


Mrs.  Jones  have  had  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  as  follows:  Rosa  Belle  married  Joshua 
(  Mehy.of  Danville  Township:  John  W. married  Mary 
J.  Rouse,  and  they  live  in  Danville  Township;  Lillie 
A.  married  Albert  E.  Villars  of  Newell  Township; 
Clark  S.  is  at  home  with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Jones  is  a  man  of  self-respecting,  energetic 
character,  well  dowered  with  firmness  and  decision, 
and  his  conduct  in  all  the  various  relations  of  life 
is  such  as  to  inspire  the  trust  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  either  in  a  busi- 
ness or  in  a  social  way.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to 
the  Pleasant  Grove  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
are  active  in  aiding  their  pastor  and  fellow-inem- 
bers  in  any  good  work,  and  they  are  always  to  be 
found  on  the  side  of  the  right.  In  him  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  in  this  section  of  the  country  find  a 
stanch  ally. 


i^F^IIOMAS  LEE.  Among  others  who  came  to 
Central  Illinois  during  the  period  of  its  pio- 
'■'  ncership  was  the  sturdy  English-born  citizen 
with  the  substantial  traits  of  character  handed  down 
to  him  by  his  ancestors,  the  qualities  of  industry  and 
perseverance,  which  were  bound  to  win.  He  as- 
sisted in  the  development  of  the  soil,  in  the  build- 
ing up  of  communities,  and  almost  without  an  ex- 
ception acquired  a  competence.  Mr.  Lee  is  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  his  nationality  and  an 
early  settler.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  185G  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  Vermilion  County  in  1874  on 
section  32,  township  2.'5,  range  12.  During  the  pe- 
riod of  his  fifteen  years'  residence  here  he  has 
opened  up  a  good  farm  of  120  acres  and  secured 
himself  against  want  in  his  old  age. 

Our  subject  was  horn  in  Devonshire,  England, 
Sept.  17,  1838,  and  lived  there  until  approaching 
the  eighteenth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  the  first 
child  of  the  family  to  leave  home,  and  the  occasion 
was  one  naturally  mixed  with  regret  and  some  ap- 
prehensions. Embarking  at  Liverpool,  he  made 
the  long  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  in  safety,  land- 
ing in  New  York,  and  proceeded  directly  to  Illinois, 
locating  first  in  Peoria  County.  He  worked  on  a 
farm   there  several  years,  and  about  18(J0  changed 


212 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  residence  to  Woodford  County.  In  that  county 
he  purchased  wild  land,  where  he  opened  up  a  good 
farm  and  lived  about  twelve  years.  During  this 
time  he  put  up  good  buildings,  planted  an  orchard, 
fenced  his  land,  and,  in  fact,  effected  the  improve- 
ments naturally  suggested  to  the  progressive  agri- 
culturist. 

In  Woodford  County,  111.,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried, March  8,  1862,  to  Miss  Grace  Huxtable.  The 
young  people  began  life  together  on  the  new  farm, 
and  after  selling  out,  Mr.  Lee  traveled  all  over  the 
West  and  the  Pacific  Slope,  but  came  back  to  Illi- 
nois, not  being  able  to  find  any  section  of  country 
which  suited  him  better.  He  then  came  to  this 
count}'  and  purchased  the  farm  where  he  now  lives. 
There  were  no  buildings  upon  it  to  speak  of,  but  he 
soon  provided  a  shelter  for  his  family,  and  here  he 
has  since  remained,  carrying  on  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  successfully.  He  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  and  has  since  been 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  part}'.  He 
believes  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a  member,  attending  services  at  Hoopes- 
ton. 

Seven  of  the  eight  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lee  are  still  living — Herschel  J.,  Lizzie,  Clarence, 
Delraer,  Newton,  Jennie  and  Morris.  The  eldest 
son  has  been  in  the  farther  West  for  the  past  four 
years.  Lizzie  became  the  wife  of  Loren  Briggs, 
and  they  live  on  a  farm  west  of  the  Lee  homestead ; 
they  have  two  children.  Clarence  married  Miss 
Ada  Redden  and  lives  in  Butler  Township.  The 
other  children  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mrs. 
Lee  was  likewise  born  in  Devonshire  in  1843,  and 
came  to  America  with  her  father  when  a  child  of 
nine  years,  the  family  settling  on  Kickapoo  Prairie. 
The  father  farmed  there  for  a  time  and  then  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Woodford  County,  where 
Mr.  Lee  made  the  acquaintance  of  his  future  wife. 
Mr.  Huxtable,  also  a  native  of  Devonshire,  came  to 
America  in  1852,  and  carried  on  farming  in  Wood- 
ford County  until  1 887.  Then,  retiring  from  active 
labor,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Benson,  Wood- 
ford County,  where  he  now  lives  and  is  married  to 
his  second  wife.     His  first  wife  died  in  England. 

William  Lee,  the  father  of  our  subject,  also  a  na- 
tive   of  Devonshire,  England,  spent  his  entire  life 


there.  He  married  Miss  Susanna  Davey,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  two  daugh- 
ters, came  to  America,  together  with  the  mother, 
who  died  in  Benson  in  January,  1888. 


rILLIAM    DICKINSON,  an    honored   resi- 
dent and  well-to-do  farmer  of  Catlin  Town- 


ship, is  numbered  among  the  far-sighted 
men  of  practical  ability  and  cool  judgment,  who 
have  been  instrumental  in  promoting  its  growth, 
and  making  it  a  rich  agricultural  centre.  He  owns 
a  well-orderod  farm  on  section  26,  every  acre  of 
which  is  highly  cultivated,  and.  with  its  neat  build- 
ings and  other  appointments,  it  does  not  compare 
unfavorably  with  the  many  other  fine  farms  of  which 
Vermilion  County  can  boast.  Here  Mr.  Dickinson 
has  passed  thirty-six  of  the  best  years  of  his  life, 
coming  here  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  a  stalwart 
manhood,  and  that  these  years  have  been  well 
spent  in  diligent  and  cheerful  labor,  is  shown  by 
the  substantial  home  that  he  has  built  up,  in  which, 
now  that  the  infirmities  of  age  are  upon  him,  he 
can  rest  from  his  toils,  and  enjoy  its  comforts  with- 
out the  necessity  of  labor  and  drudgery. 

Our  subject  is  of  English  antecedents  and  birth. 
His  parents,  John  and  Hannah  Dickinson,  were 
both  natives  of  England,  and  they  died  in  Lincoln- 
shire. Their  son,  William  Dickinson,  of  whom  this 
sketch  is  written,  was  born  in  the  old  home  in  Lin- 
colnshire, April  27,  1819,  and  amid  its  pleasant 
surroundings,  he  grew  to  man's  estate.  He  early 
engaged  in  farming,  and  became  quite  a  farmer 
before  he  left  the  old  country  to  try  life  in  the  new 
world,  coming  here  in  1853,  landing  in  New  York 
city  the  first  day  of  May.  He  came  directly  to 
Vermilion  County  in  this  State,  having  previously 
heard  of  its  wonderful  agricultural  resources,  and 
has  been  engaged  in  tilling  the  land  in  Catlin  Town- 
ship ever  since,  though  on  account  of  his  advanced 
age  he  has  retired  somewhat  from  the  active  duties 
of  the  management  of  his  estate.  His  farm  com- 
prises 197  acres  of  choice  land,  well  cultivated  and 
supplied  with  all    the  necessary   buildings  and  ma- 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


•_'  1 3 


chinery,  and  is  indeed  one  of  the  most  desirable 
places  in  fcbe  vicinil  \ . 

Mr.  Dickinson  was  a  married  man  when  he  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  lie  having  been  previously 
wedded  in  the  historical  old  town  of  Boston,  in 
Lincolnshire,  to  Miss  Emma  Barker,  :i  native  of 
that  shire.  Ten  children  were  born  of  their  union, 
as  follows:  Harriet  A.,  wife  of  Frederic  Jones, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume; Elizabeth  M.,  wife  of  George  Stonebraker; 
William,  who  married  Callie  I. alien;  Emma,  the 
wife  of  Arthur  Jones,  whose  sketch  appears  on 
another  page  of  this  work;  .lames;  Matilda,  the 
wife  of  .lames  Bentley:  Henry,  Hannah  B.,  John 
and  Joseph. 

Aug.  14,  1MS<H,  she  who  had  walked  by  the  side 
Of  Our  subject  many  a  year,  leaving,  for  his  sake. 
home  and  friends  in  the  dear  old  England,  and  for 
many  a  year  cheering  and  strengthening  him  in  his 
work,  passed  out  of  his  life,  and  entered  into  the 
rest  that  passeth  understanding. 

"Her  work  is  compassed  and  done; 
All  things  are  seemly  and  ready 
And  her  summer  is  just  begun." 

Mrs  Dickinson — obituary. 
Mrs.  Emma  Dickinson,  to  whose  memory  this 
notice  is  inscribed,  was"  born  in.  Boston,  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  Sept.  22,  1823,  making  her  age  at 
time  of  death,  sixty-four  years,  ten  months  and 
twenty-two  days.  Her  maiden  name  was  Emma 
Barker.  She  was  married  to  William  Dickenson, 
March  2,  1847.  They  emigrated  to  this  country 
May  1  1  tli.  1853,  and  located  within  three  miles  of 
where  the  family  now  reside.  Her  sister,  Mrs.  Ma- 
tilda Clipson  came  over  at  the  same  time.  She  was 
the  mother  of  ten  children,  five  girls  and  five  boys, 
of  whom  the  following  were  born  in  England: 
Harriet  A.,  wife  of  Frederic  JoncS;  Mary  E..  wife 
of  George  Stonebraker;  Emma,  wife  of  A.  Jones, 
and  William,  the  eldest  son.  The  following  were 
born  in  America:  .lames,  Henry,  John,  Joseph 
and  Mat  ilda.  wife  of  James  Bentley,  and  Hannah 
Ii.  the  youngest  daughter.  The  children  are  all  of 
mature  age,  and  the  family  have  never  before  been 
bereaved  by  death.  The  deceased  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  England,  ami 


although  she  did  not  identify  herself  as  a  member 
here,  she  was  an  attendant  on  divine  services,  and 
lived  an  exemplary  and  Christian  life.  Her  illness 
dates  back  several  years,  however,  she  was  not  con- 
fined  to  her  bed  until  about  the  beginning  of  Sep- 
tember, since  which  time  she  was  unable  to  help 
herself.  Her  sufferings  were  \^\'y  ureal,  but  were 
borne  with  a  resignation  which  none  but  a  Chris- 
tian woman  could  possess.  She  was  a  devoted 
wife,  a  faithful  mother,  the  light  of  the  home  and 
the  pride  of  the  family.  While  we  must  bid  her  a 
fond  farewell,  her   virtues  will  not,  be   forgotten. 

A  short  funeral  service  was  held  at  the  home  by 
Rev.  A.  C.  Cummings.  The  music  was  under  the 
direction  of  Mrs.  Elsie  McGreggor,  and  the  follow- 
ing persons  were  chosen  as  pall  bearers:  A.  G. 
Olmstead,  G.  W.  L.  Church,  Jno.  Parker,  jr.,  T. 
Brady,  J.  M.  Douglass  and  (!.  W.  Tilton. 

By  request  of  the  deceased,  a  sacred  song  was 
sung  during  the  services  by  little  Benny  Louis,  ac- 
companied by  his  sister.  A  large  procession  of 
friends  accompanied  the  family  to  the  Jones  ceme- 
tery, where  the  body  now  reposes. 

Mr.  Dickinson  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the 
solid,  reliable  citizens  of  this  township,  as  during 
the  many  years  that  he  has  resided  here,  lie  has 
evershown  himself  to  be  faithful  to  his  duties  and 
responsibilities  in  every  department  of  life  in  which 
he  has  acted,  as  a  husband,  father,  neighbor  and 
citizen,  and  it  may  truly  be  said  that  his  character 
is  such  as  to  inspire  respect  and  esteem. 


f  AMES  M.  GEDDES,    an   Illinois  pioneer  of 

'56,  and  a  man  who  has  been  t lie  architect 
of  his  own  fortune,  is  now  the  owner  of  a 
fine  property,  comprising  a  well-appointed 
farm  located  on  section  7,  in  Ross  Township.  He 
is  a  scion  of  an  excellent  old  family  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry, and  the  son  of  Joseph  Geddes,  whose  father, 
George  Geddes,  emigrated  from  the  Land  of  the 
Thistle  to  America  about  17<S,H.  Making  his  way 
to  the  Territory  of  Ohio,  he  located  on  a  tract  of 
land  m  the  wilderness,  near  where  the  town  of 
East  Liverpool  now  stands,  but  which  then  for  miles 
around  was  destitute  of  any  signs  Of  civilization.  He 


21  I 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


had  been  married  in  Boston,  Mass.  to  a  lady  who 
was  descended  from  old  Plymouth  stock — people 
who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower — and  who  was 
reared  iu  the  strict  doctrines  of  the  old  Presbyte- 
rian faith.  They  began  their  wedded  life  together 
in  the  wilds  of  Ohio,  where  they  reared  their  fam- 
ily, and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days,  each 
attaining  to  a  ripe  old  age.  Of  their  children, 
seven  in  number,  Joseph,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  the  youngest,  and  was  born  in  1805.  lie  was 
reared  at  that  home  in  the  wilderness.  The  coun- 
try was  gradually  settled  up,  and  among  the  other 
adventurous  pioneers  who  followed  in  the  wake  of 
the  Geddes  family  were  William  Moore,  whose 
daughter,  Catherine,  became  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Geddes,  and  the  mother  of  our  subject.  The 
mother's  parents  lived  just,  across  the  Ohio  River 
in  Brook   County,  Va.,  until  their  deaths  occurred. 

Joseph  Geddes  and  his  young  wife  continued  to 
reside  near  the  old  folk  in  East  Liverpool  about 
six  years,  and  in  the  meantime  their  son,  James  M., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  April  21,1837. 
About  1839  they  removed  to  Tuscarawas  County, 
and  later  to  the  northeastern  part  of  Indiana,  where 
Joseph  Geddes  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years,  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-six. They  became  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom,  with  one  exception,  are  living. 
The  second  child,  Elizabeth,  died  when  about  seven 
years  old.  Those  besides  our  subject,  are  named 
respectively,  John,  William,  Mary  A.,  Wilson, 
Richard,  Robert,  Nancy  J.,  Lucinda,  Joseph,  and 
Minerva.  The  latter,  the  3'oungest  of  the  familv, 
is  thirty-six  years  old.  The  household  circle  re- 
mained undivided  by  death  for  more  than  fifty 
years — a  circumstance  scarcely  equalled  in  the  his- 
tory of  any  other  family  in  this  region. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  during  their  younger 
years,  were  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
but  later  became  connected  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren, in  the  faith  of  which  they  died.  James  M., 
upon  coming  to  Illinois  in  1850,  located  first  at 
Momence,  but  later  removed  to  Iroquois  County. 
There  he  was  married,  in  1862,  to  Miss  Emma, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Barkley)  Young. 
They  lived  there  until  the  spring  of  1883,  engaged 
in  farming  pursuits;  then  our  subject  disposed  of 


his  interests  in  that  section  and  purchased  his  pres- 
ent fine  farm  of  ICO  acres,  which  he  proposes  ?" 
make  his  permanent  home.  Upon  coming  to  this 
State  he  was  without  other  resources  than  his  good 
health  and  strong  hands,  and  like  the  wise  man  of 
Scripture,  he  has  increased  his  talent  ten  fold.. 
During  his  younger  years  he  experienced  all  the 
hardships  and  difficulties  of  life  in  a  new  country, 
and  improved  his  first  farm  from  the  raw  prairie. 
He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Lincoln,  and 
has  been  a  steadfast  supporter  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples, especially  since  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and 
has  ever  maintained  an  ardent  admiration  for  the 
martyred  President,  Lincoln.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  belong  to  the  Christian  Church  at  Prairie 
Chapel.  Their  seven  children,  who  are  all  living, 
were  named  respectively:  Elmer  L.,  Joseph  F., 
Maude,  Ruby,  Nellie,  Grace  and  Nora.  They 
form  a  bright  and  interesting  group,  and  are  being 
given  the  educational  advantages  which  will  fit 
them  for  intelligent  and  worthy  members  of  so- 
ciety. 


Sr=77>RANKLIN  BALDWIN.  It  must  be  ad- 
-nfe>  mitted  that  although  no  man  attains  to  suc- 
\  cess  without  encountering  difficulties  and 
drawbacks,  life  still  has  its  compensations,  espec- 
ially when  the  individual  has  chosen  that  wise  path 
of  rectitude  and  honor  which  has  led  him  to  a  po- 
sition where  he  is  looked  upon  by  his  fellow  men 
with  confidence  and  esteem.  The  career  of  Mr. 
Baldwin  has  been  pregnant  with  interesting  events 
and  experiences,  some  of  them  dark  and  trying 
and  some  of  them  filled  in  with  a  large  meas- 
ure of  satisfaction.  The  former  served  to  devel- 
op the  naturally  strong  points  of  a  substantial 
character  while  the  latter  have  shown  like  the  sun 
upon  a  rugged  mountain  side,  rounding  up  the 
whole  to  a  complete  end. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Decatur,  Ohio,  and  the  date  of  his  birth, 
April  26,  1832.  When  he  was  a  mere  child  his 
parents  set  out  for  the  West  and  after  landing  in 
Grant  County,  Ind.,  stopped  there  and  raised  one 
crop.  In  the  spring  of  1838  they  folded  their 
tents  for  a  further  journey  Westward,  starting   out 


I'OliTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


2 1 5 


with  a  four-horse  team  and  taking  with  them  their 

household    g Is   and   a   quantity    of  provisions. 

Arriving  at  the  Wabash   River  at  Covington,  thej 

then  loaded  their  belongings  on  ton  terry  boat. 
The  wind  being  strong  and  the  river  high,  thej 
canie  very  near  being  capsized  and  drowned  and 
received  such  a  fright  that  our  subject  distinctly 
remembers  the  event  to  this  day.  Thej  succeeded 
however,  in  making  the  crossing  in  safety  and  ar- 
rived in  this  county  on  the  30th  day  of  March. 
stopping  at  Danville,  that  place  then  being  a  very 
small  town.  'The  country  around  was  compara- 
tively unsettled,  the  cabins  of  the  pioneers  being 
few  and  far  between.  There  was  oiiI\  one  or  two  wag- 
on roads  and  wild  animals  were  plentiful.  The  fel- 
low feeling  which  makes  all  man  kin  prevailed,  and 
each  new  comer  was  greeted  with  a  heartiness 
which  made  him  feel  welcome.  The  father  of  our 
subject  died  the  succeeding  fall  and  the  family 
were  left  to  struggle  along  as  best  as  they  could 
under  the  stress  of  limited  means,  and  the  hard- 
ships and  difficulties  of  life  on  the  frontier.  The 
mother  was  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary  capacity 
and  by  careful  management  kept  her  family  to- 
gether until  they  were  old  enough  to  take  care  of 
themselves.  Finally,  laying  aside  the  cares  and 
labors  of  life  she  removed  to  the  home  of  her 
daughter  in  Dallas  County.  Iowa,  where  her  death 
took  place  at  the  age  of  seventy -six  yens. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  acquired  his  educa- 
tion mostly  in  the  subscription  schools.  When  fif- 
teen years  old  the  mother  broke  up  housekeeping 
and  Franklin  began  working  out  by  the  day. 
month  and  job,  and  managed  to  maintain  himself 
very  comfortably,  splitting  wood  by  the  cord, 
plowing,  sowing  and  gathering  in  the  harvest.  In 
the  fall  of  1856,  he  took  an  important  step  toward 
establishing  a  home  of  his  own.  being  married  to 
.Miss  Edith  a  .lane,  daughter  of  John  and  Polly 
(Stewart)  Naylor.  The  newly  wedded  pair  took 
up  their  residence  near  Yankee  Point  and  Mr. 
Baldwin  occupied  himself  as  before,  until  1864, 
when  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  from  which  he 
built  up  a  good  farm  and  which  he  occupied  for  a 
period  of  twenty-one  years.  In  January,  1886,  lie 
and  his  estimable  wife  decided,  and  wisely,  they 
would    retire  from    active  labor,   and   accordingly 


leaving  the  farm  removed  to  the  new    village  ol 
Sidell,  of  which  they  have  since  been  residents. 

Mr.  Baldwin  in  the  fall  of  1885,  purchased  from 
Sanson  RawlillgS  a  stock  id'  hardware  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  trade,  building  up  a  good  patron- 
age. In  the  year  1887,  he  completed  a  neat  res- 
idence on  Fast  Market,  street  and  with  ample  means 
and  all  the  comforts  of  life,  is  enabled  to  live  eas- 
ily and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  early  industry. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  became  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  John  M.,  mar- 
ried Miss  Lucy  Thornton  and  is  farming  in  Car- 
roll Township,  they  have  three  children;  Ferry  A., 
married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Lawrence  and  occupies  the 
homestead;  they  have  four  children — Maude.  Ellen 
Lester,  and  Rosa:  Charles  M..  married  Miss  Emily 
(  rices,  and  they  are  tile  parents  of  one  child;  he 
conducts  a  grocery  store  in  Sidell;  William  A.  and 
Wilbur  A.  were  twins,]  the  former  is  farming  in 
Sidell  Township,  and  Wilbur  is  with  his  brother 
Charles  in  the  grocery;  Benjamin  lives  at  the  home- 
stead; Norah  E.,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months  ; 
Robert  W.,  is  in  Carroll  Township  with  his  brother 
John. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  in  his  early  man- 
hood an  old  line  Whig,  and  Franklin  remembers 
the  election  of  1840,  when  tin;  grandfather  of  Pres- 
ident Harrison  was  elevated  to  the  first  position  in 
the  land,  lie  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
J.  C.  Fremont,  and, was  a  staunch  supporter  of  Re- 
publican principles. 

James  Baldwin,  the  father  of  our  subject,  mar- 
ried Miss  Rachel  Parry  and  both  were  natives  of 
Brown  County,  Ohio.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
John  Baldwin,  came  from  England  prior  to  the 
War  of  1812,  and  settled  near  Ripley  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject 
participated  in  the  above  war.  enlisting  at  the  aye 
of  twenty-one  years,  after  Hull's  surrender.  The 
father  of  our  subject  came  to  this  county  in  the 
spring  of  183S.  and  rented  a  pari,  of  the  Draper 
farm,  but  died  the  ensuing  fall  when  Franklin  was 
a  lad  of  six  years.  There  were  eleven  other  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom,  the  youngest  born.  William, 
died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 

The  remaining  children  of  the  parental  family  of 
our  subject  are  recorded  as  follows:    Caroline,  the 


2 1  6 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eldest,  is  a  resident  of  Madison  County.  Iowa,  and 
is  seventy- four  years  old;  Amanda  lives  in  Marys- 
ville,  this  State,  and  is  aged  seventy-two;  Polly, 
sixty  five  years  of  age,  is  a  resident  of  Georgetown. 
III.;  Jane,  aged  fifty-five  is  a  resident  of  Dallas 
Count}',  Iowa;  Thomas  lives  at  Yankee  Point,  this 
county,  and  is  fifty-nine  years  old.  He  and  our 
subject  are  the  only  two  sons  living.  The  other 
children  were  named  respectively,  Elizabeth,  Dari- 
us. John  N..  James  and  Elijah. 

Mrs.  Baldwin's  father  was  horn  in  Ohio,  and  her 
mother  in  Ireland.  Mrs.  Baldwin  was  born  in  Ver- 
million County,  Iii«l..  June  11,  1840,  and  there 
spent  her  childhood  and  youth,  attending  the  com- 
mon school  and  being  trained  by  an  excellent 
mother  to  those  housewifely  duties,  a  knowledge 
of  which  is  essential  in  a  well-ordered  household. 
She  has  stood  bravely  by  her  husband  in  his  toils 
and  struggles  and  he  avers  that  it  is  owing  largely 
to  her  good  sense  and  wise  counsels  that  he  has 
been  enabled  to  attain  to  his  present  position,  so- 
cially and  financially.  They  take  a  natural  and 
pardonable  pride  in  their  fine  family  of  children  to 
whom  they  have  given  all  the  advantages  in  their 
power.  Mr.  Baldwin  believes  in  education  and 
has  carried  out  his  sentiments  in  this  respect  in 
providing  his  children  with  good  schooling.  The 
family  is  widely  and  favorably  known  throughout 
Sidcll  Township  ami  vicinity  where  they  count 
their  friends  by  the  score. 


¥  WILLIAM  McBROOM  occupies  a  high  place 
among  the  venerable  and  honored  citizens 
of  Catlin  Township,  and  though  not  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  this  part  of  Vermilion 
County,  lie  may  be  denominated  one  of  its  pioneers. 
He  is  still  living  on  the  pleasant  tract  of  land  on 
section  :;."},  that  at  the  time  of  his  purchase  formed 
a  part  of  the  wild  prairie,  and  which  he  has  since  im- 
proved into  a  tine  farm.  He  and  his  wife  are  serenelj 
passing  their  declining  years  in  one  of  the  cosiest 
and  neatest  homes  in  this  community,  where  they 
are  held  in  respect,  and  affection  by  the  many  who 
know  them. 

Mr.  McBroom  is  a  Kentuckiau  b\   birth,  born   in 


Preston  County  April  28,  1815,  the  eldest  of  the 
five  children  of  Joseph  and  Phebe  (Young)  Mc- 
Broom,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the 
latter  of  Chilicothe,  Ohio.  After  their  marriage 
they  had  settled  in  Preston  County,  Ky..  and  thence 
they  removed  to  Crawfordsville,  Ind..  in  1827,  be- 
coming early  settlers  of  that  place.  Mr.  McBroom 
bought  a  tract  of  land,  and  cleared  forty  acres  of 
it  where  the  city  now  stands.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  enterprise,  and  besides  engaging  m 
agriculture,  he  made  brick  in  that  locality  for  four 
years,  operating  two  brickyards  at  a  time,  and 
making  the  first  brick  that  was  ever  made  in  that 
county.  His  useful  career  was  closed  in  1841,  in 
the  home  that  he  built  up  there  in  Montgomery 
County,  and  a  valued  citizen  was  then  lost  to  the 
community.  His  wife  survived  him  several  years, 
but  for  fourteen  years  previous  to  her  death,  which 
occurred  in  Cass  County,  Neb.,  at  the  home  of  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Sarah  Young,  she  was  an  invalid. 

Our  subject  was  still  in  his  boyhood  when  his 
parents  took  him  to  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  and  there 
he  grew  to  maturity,  developing  into  a  strong. 
shrewd,  capable  man.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
wagon-making  in  that  county,  and  followed  it 
exclusively  for  a  long  term  of  years,  finding  it 
quite  profitable.  He  removed  to  Tippecanoe 
County,  and  was  engaged  in  his  trade  there,  manu- 
facturing wagons  for  some  ten  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Montgomery  County,  where  he  resided 
until  the  month  of  October,  1854,  when  he  came  to 
Vermilion  County,  and  settled  in  Catlin  Township, 
purposing  to  give  his  attention  to  agriculture  on 
this  rich,  alluvial  soil,  and  he  has  ever  since  made 
his  home  here.  He  owns  120  acres  of  land  that  is 
very  fertile  and  productive,  and  is  supplied  with  a 
good  set  of  buildings;  everything  about  the  place 
is  orderly,  and  the  farm  is  under  good  manage- 
ment. 

Mr.    McBroom    has    been    three   times    married. 

The  maiden   name  of  the  wife  of  his  early  manh 1 

was  Uhoda  Ann  Stover,  and  she  was.  like  himself, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  She  bore  him  one  child, 
which  died  in  infancy,  and,  the  mother  dying  also, 
both  were  buried  in  the  same  grave.  Mr.  McBroom 
was  married  a  second  time  in  Montgomery  County. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Boyd  becoming   his  wife;  she  was  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


2i ; 


daughter  of  Joseph  Hanks.  To  them  three  eliil-" 
(Iron  were  born — Joseph.  John  and  Thomas,  the 
latter  dying  when  about  a  year  old.  Mrs.  Mr- 
Broom  departed  this  life  in  Tippecanoe  County, 
hid.,  in  1848.  Our  subject  was  married  to  his 
present  wife  in  that  county  March  13,  1851.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Emily  Allen.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  the  late  Judge  William  and  Susan 
(Spurgeon)  Allen,  and  widow  of  Jacob  Snyder. 
lie  died  in  Montgomery  County  Nov.  17.  1846. 
She  had  by  her  first  marriage  four  children — Sarah, 
Susan.  Ivea  Ann.  Amanda  M.  Sarah  was  the  wife 
of  Arthur  ('.  Schocky,  and  she  died  in  Kansas. 
Mrs.  McBroom's  parents  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  she  was  the  sixth  of  their  ten  children. 
She  was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  May  20, 
1818.  By  her  marriage  with  our  subject  she  has 
had  six  children,  as  follows:  Phoebe  K..  Alfred. 
Franklin,  Josephine,  William  and  Eddie  J.  Phoebe 
and  Franklin  are  deceased. 

Although  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McBroom  are  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  the  snows  of  age  have  not  yet 
chilled  their  hearts  or  deadened  their  sympathies 
towards  the  needy  and  suffering.  They  still  take 
an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  day.  and 
keep  well  posted  on  topics  of  general  interest.  Mr. 
McBroom's  career  in  life  has  been  a  useful  one  to 
himself  and  to  the  community  at  large,  as  he  has 
contributed  his  quota  towards  its  upbuilding,  and 
has  always  acted  the  part  of  a  good  citizen.  He  is 
decided  in  his  political  views,  and  is  a  faithful  ad- 
herent of  the  Democratic  party. 

fINSON  R.  BOARDMAN.  Occasionally 
we  find  a  man  who  has  had  the  enterprise  to 
see  something  of  the  world  before  settling 
down  to  the  sterner  duties  of  life,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  subject  of  this  notice.  He  has  been  quite  a 
traveler  throughout  the  Western  country,  and 
Spent  a  number  of  years  on  the  Pacific  Slope.  lie 
came  to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1840,  and  settled 
on  this  farm  in  L859,  where  he  lias  2G5  acres  of 
choice  land  on  section  2(j,  township  2."S,  range  12. 
This  has  been  his  home  for  the  long  period  of 
thirty-five  years,  and  he    is  still  on  the  sunny  side 


of  seventy,  surrounded  by  all  Hie  comforts  of  life, 
and  blest  with  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  bis 
fellow  citizens. 

Air.  Boardman  was  born  in  Ontario  County,  N. 
V..  .May  :'.,  1822,  and  there  spent  his  youthful 
days,  acquiring  a  practical  education  in  the  com- 
mon school.  He  was  bred  to  farming  pursuits.  In 
the  spring  of  1849,  young  Boardman  decided  to 
visit  California,  and.  purchasing  an  ox  team  at  In- 
dependence, Mo.,  started  across  the  plains  with  a 
company  of  125  men.  They." crossed  the  Missouri 
River  at  St.  Joseph,  and  followed  the  usual  trail 
taken  by  emigrants.  They  were  five  months  on 
the  road,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  12:!  of  the 
men  were  scattered  to  different  places,  only  our 
subject  and  one  man  reaching  their  destination  in 
company.  The  others  finally  drifted  to  the  same 
place  after  having  wandered  around  north  of  the 
Sacramento  River. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  California,  our  subject  en- 
gaged in  mining  from  early  in  the  fall  until  late 
in  the  winter,  then  went  down  to  Nappa,  when 
there  was  only  one  building  in  Sacramento  but 
acres  of  tents.  He  staid  there  with  an  attack  of 
fever,  which  lasted  about  four  weeks,  and  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  proprietor  of  the  city,  with 
whom  he  remained,  hauling  lumber  at  $150  per 
month  until  fall,  when  he  made  his  way  to  Oregon, 
where  he  spent  the  winter.  Inthespring  he  entered 
the  mines  of  Northern  California,  hut  with  rather 
poor  success,  then  returned  to  Oregon,  but  finally 
went  hack  to  California  and  rented  land,  where  he 
carried  on  agriculture  until  returning  home. 

This  return  journey  was  made  by  our  subject  via 
the  water  route,  across  the  isthmus  to  New  Orleans, 
and  up  the  Mississippi,  Mi-.  Boardman  arriving  in 
this  county  again  in  the  spring  of  1853.  Thai 
year  he  visited  New  York  State.  Subsequently 
Mr.  Boardman  employed  himself  at  farming,  hav- 
ing in  view  the  establishment  of  a  home  of  his 
own.  and  on  the  Kith  of  November,  1854,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Susan  Carter.  Soon 
afterward  he  settled  on  his  present  farm,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home,  although  the  farm  did 
not  equal  its  present  dimensions,  having  been 
added  to  both  by  himself  and  his  sons. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boardman  there  were  born  four 


218 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Inez  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Evans,  and  they  are  residing  in  Grant 
Township;  Herbert  V.  and  Ernest  C.  are  at  home 
with  their  father;  Marcus  A.  is  traveling  Auditor 
for  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Boardman  has  been  for  a  number  of 
years  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Rossville,  and  politically  gives  his  support  to  the 
Republican  party.  He  is  a  man  quiet  and  unosten- 
tatious in  his  manner  of  living,  and  has  been  con- 
tent to  pursue  the  even  tenor  of  bis  way,  making 
very  little  stir  in  the  world,  and  never  seeking  po- 
litical preferment. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Jesse  C.  and 
Mary  (Runyon)  Boardman,  the  former  a  native 
of  Connecticut.  When  about  eight  or  nine  years 
old  he  removed  with  bis  parents  to  New  York 
State,  where  he  was  married  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Ontario  County.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  died  there  when  the  latter  was  four  years 
old.  Jesse  Boardman  spent  his  last  days  near 
Rushville,  Ontario  County,  and  departed  this  life 
when  about  sixty-seven  years  old. 


JfOHN  E.  SMITH  is  classed  among  the  able 
and  highly  intelligent  young  farmers  of  Ver- 
milion County,  who  are  active  in  sustaining 
and  extending  its  great  agricultural  inter- 
ests. His  well  appointed  farm  on  section  26,  Pilot 
Township,  is  in  all  respects  finely  improved,  and 
compares  well  with  other  estates  in  the  vicinity. 
He  has  stocked  it  with  cattle,  horses  and  hogs  of 
fine  grades,  and  he  is  cultivating  it  with  good  re- 
sults so  as  to  make  money.  He  is  a  native  born 
citizen  of  this  county,  Dec.  3,  1854,  being  the  date 
of  his  birth.  His  father,  George  G.  Smith,  was 
born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  Aug.  31,  1828, 
and  he  came  to  this  county  in  company  with  his 
parents,  who  were  of  German  antecedents  and 
birth,  in  1836.  They  thus  became  the  pioneers  of 
Vermilion  County,  and  were  respected  residents 
here  till  death  closed  their  earthly  career,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject  dying  in  1864,  and  the  grand- 
mother in  1842.  The  following  is  recorded  of  the 
nine  children  born  to    the  parents   of  our  subject: 


Elizabeth  married  George  Wilson,  of  Ohio,  now  a 
farmer  of  Blount  Township,  and  they  have  two 
children;  Elias  1)..  a  farmer  of  Blount  Township, 
married  Clara  Smith  and  they  have  three  children; 
Sarah  lives  with  her  parents;  Eva  married  Andrew 
Lanham,  of  Blount  Township,  now  of  Ross  Town- 
ship, and  they  have  one  child;  Wesley,  a  fanner. 
married  Emma  Sperry,  of  Blount  Township,  and 
they  have  one  child;  Marshall.  Woodard  and  Jo- 
sephine are  the  others. 

John  Smith  received  the  preliminaries  of  a  sound 
education  in  the  public  schools,  which  he  attended 
till  he  was  twenty-one  j-ears  old,  and  then  being 
ambitious  to  advance  still  farther  in  his  studies,  he 
attended  the  State  Normal  School,  where  he  pur- 
sued an  excellent  literary  course  that  thoroughly 
fitted  him  for  the  profession  of  teaching  that  he 
afterward  adopted.  He  was  successfully  engaged 
at  that  vocation  eight  years,  but  after  marriage  he 
abandoned  it  to  give  his  attention  to  agriculture, 
and  bought  eighty  acres  of  finely  improved  fann- 
ing land.  He  subsequently  sold  that  and  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  of  160  acres  of  land  equally 
good,  and  well  adapted  to  general  farming.  It  is 
under  high  cultivation,  and  is  provided  with  a 
comfortable,  conveniently  arranged  set  of  farm 
buildings. 

Mr.  Smith  has  much  financial  capacity,  is  en- 
dowed with  good  mental  qualities  that  have  been 
stimulated  by  a  liberal  education,  and  he  carries  on 
his  farming  operations  with  intelligent  skill  that 
will  one  day  place  him  among  the  wealthy  and 
substantial  citizens  of  this  township,  if  he  prospers 
as  he  has  heretofore  done.  In  his  politics  he  is  an 
ardent  champion  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has 
been  since  the  days  when  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Samuel  J.  Tilden,  the  great  New  York  statesman, 
his  last  vote  for  president  being  in  favor  of  G  rover 
Cleveland. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  with  .Miss  Mary  E. 
Eirebaugh,  of  Blount  Township,  occurred  March 
25,  1876.  She  was  born  Dec.  11,  1853,  in  the 
aforementioned  township,  her  parents  being  Wil- 
liam R.  and  Melvia  (Flora)  Eirebaugh,  the  father 
being  of  German  descent.  They  emigrated  from 
Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  thence  to  Illinois.  The  mo- 
ther departed  this  life  in    1872.     The    father    still 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


219 


resides  in  this  county.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children:  Curtis  married  Christina  Porter,  of 
this  county,  and  they  have  two  children  ;  Elizabeth 
married  George  Snyder,  of  this  county,  now  liv- 
ing  in  Oakwood  Township,  and  they  have  two 
children;  Robert,  a  farmer,  married  Leo  Fairchilds, 
of  Blount  Township,  and  they  have  two  children. 
Emma  married  Milton  Fairchilds,  of  Blount  Town- 
ship. The  following  is  the  record  of  the  five  chil- 
dren born  of  the  pleasant  wedded  life  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs  Smith:  Irvin  W.,  was  born  June  3,1877: 
Edwin  R.,  Jan.  23,  1H79;  Alfred  G..  Jan  9,  1881; 
Everett  J.,  Sept.  5,  1881;  Alga,  Nov.  6,  1886. 


LLEN  T.  CATIIERWOOD  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  busy  men  of  Hoopes- 
t!'  ton,  having  large  interests  in  various 
branches  of  industry  in  the  town.  He  is 
one  of  the  originators  and  present  owner  of  the 
Hoopeston  Canning  Factory,  and  is  also  its  Gen- 
eral Manager.  This  enterprise  was  inaugurated  in 
1 882,  and  at  first  was  operated  on  a  small  scale, 
but  has  gradually  increased  until  it  has  become 
a  very  important  factor  in  the  business  interests  of 
Hoopeston.  Last  year  the  establishment  used 
about  2,000  acres  of  corn  and  peas,  being  all 
raised  by  the  company,  which  is  composed  of  Mr. 
Catherwood,  J,  S.  McFerren  and  A.H.Trego.  The 
concern  furnishes  employment  to  300  people  and 
fifty  teams,  and  the  output  of  corn  alone  last  year 
amounted  to  2,500,000  cans.  The  value  of  the 
plant  and  stock  is  given  at  *1 50,000. 

Mr.  Catherwood  is  also  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  on  the  line  of  the  Lake  Erie  and  Western 
Railroad,  on  which  road  he  owns  large  elevators 
at  different  points,  having  associated  with  him 
partners  at  each  place.  He  also  owns  a  large 
grain  farm  of  1.520  acres  in  the  State  of  In- 
diana in  company  with  Mr.  Williams.  It  will  be 
seen  that  Mr.  Catherwood  has  a  large  business, 
which  is  composed  of  grain  handling,  farming  and 
manufacturing,  and,  it  is  safe  to  say,  that  there  is 
no  man  in  this  part  of  the. countryr  better  able  to 
handle  these  immense  interests.  He  has  held  dif- 
ferent public  offices,  and    here    shows  his   capacity    i 


for  doing  business  for  others  as  well  as  for  himself. 
He  was  made  Chairman  to  investigate  the  differ- 
ent plans  of  waterworks,  with  a  view  to  the  selec- 
tion of  the  best  for  Hoopeston.  He  visited  differ- 
ent places  in  the  country,  and  after  a  decision  was 
finally  reached,  which  practically  embodied  his 
recommendations,  he  was  given  the  general  super- 
vision of  the  erection  of  the  waterworks.  With  his 
partner,  Mr.  Trego,  this  important  improvement 
reached  a  successful  completion. 

Mr.  Catherwood  was  born  in  Belmont  County, 
Ohio,  Dec.  15,  1842,  and  when  fifteen  years  of 
age,  and  two  years  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
he,  with  his  mother  and  family,  removed  to  Chris- 
tian County,  111.,  where  he  remained  with  his 
mother  on  their  farm  until  his  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred in  October,  1874.  In  1876  he  removed  to 
Vermilion  County,  settling  on  a  farm  near  Hoopes- 
ton. He  engaged  in  this  business  for  awhile, 
when  he  purchased  a  grocery  store.  While  he  had 
no  previous  experience  in  the  mercantile  business, 
his  solid  common  sense  guided  him  on  to  pros- 
perity in  his  newly-chosen  vocation.  He  continued 
in  this  trade,  and  also  engaged  extensively  in 
stock-raising  (which  he  still  follows)  until  he 
launched  into  the  grain  business,  as  has  been  before 
stated. 

Mr.  Catherwood's  wife's  maiden  name  was  Miss 
Cornelia  Hartwell,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
three  children  living — Robert,  Maud  and  Naomi, 
and  three  who  died  while  young.  Mr.  Catherwood 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a 
Knight  Templar.  He  is  ever  willing  and  ready- 
to  aid  anyone  who  is  deserving,  and,  as  a  leading 
man  of  Hoopeston,  has  an  enviable  record.  It  is 
safe  to  assume  that  there  are  few  better  men  in  this 
portion  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

James  Catherwood,  father  of  Allen  T.,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  anil  when  twenty  years  of  age  came  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Delaware,  where  he 
married  Miss  Lydia  Tussie.  Soon  after  his  mar- 
riage he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  all  his  children 
were  born,  Allen  being  the  youngest  of  ten.  He 
was  a  general  farmer,  and  was  considered  a  suc- 
cessful man  in  his  calling.  When  his  death  oc- 
curred, in  1H55,  his  wife  and  her  family  removed 
to  Christian  County,  as   before  stated,  where  she 


220 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


purchased  a  farm,  which  she  operated  until  the 
marriage  of  Allen,  when  he.  with  the  other  chil- 
dren, bought  her  a  nice  property  in  Taylorville, 
where  she  now  resides  with  a  single  daughter. 


^f[  OHN  McVEY,  general  merchant,  of  Tilton, 
and  Postmaster  of  Vandercook  Post-office, 
Vermilion  Co.,  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
business  men  in  this  locality,  and  is  one  of 
the  leading  civic  officials.  He  is  of  Celtic  ancestry 
and  was  born  in  County  Longford,  Ireland,  in  June, 
1837.  His  father,  John  McVey,  was  a  native  (if 
the  same  county,  and  was  there  reared  and  married, 
continuing  his  residence  in  the  home  of  his  nativity 
till  1837.  In  that  year  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  seeking  to  better  his  fortune,  leaving  his 
family  behind,  intending  to  send  for  them  at  a  later 
date  after  he  became  permanently  established.  He 
located  in  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  mining  for  several  years,  till  an  accident 
in  the  mines  caused  his  death  in  1852,  while  yet 
scarce  past  life's  prime. 

His  son  John,  of  whom  we  write,  was  but  an  in- 
fant when  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  loving 
care  of  a  good  mother,  and  his  father  being  in  this 
country,  he  was  taken  to  the  home  of  his  grand- 
parents, and  was  reared  by  them  till  1851.  In  that 
year  he  followed  his  father  to  America,  setting  sail 
from  Liverpool  and  landing  in  New  York  after  a 
voyage  of  seven  weeks,  a  poor  boy  in  a  strange 
land.  He  hastened  to  join  his  father  whom  he  had 
scarce  seen,  he  having  been  an  infant  when  he  had 
left  home,  and  they  were  reunited  in  Pennsylvania. 
Our  subject  soon  commenced  life  for  himself  as  a 
mule  driver  in  a  coal  mine.  In  1857  he  decided 
that  he  would  like  to  try  life  in  the  great  West,  and 
making  his  way  to  this  State  he  tried  to  obtain  work 
in  a  coal  mine  at  Danville.  Not  succeeding  in  that 
attempt  he  got  employment  on  a  railway  for  a  few 
months. and  then  engaged  in  mining.  In  May  of  that 
year  he  answered  Lincoln's  call  for  90-day  men, 
and  enlisting  in  Company  ('.  12th  Illinois  Infantry, 
served  with  his  regiment  till  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  enlistment,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged and  returned  to  Danville.  In  August,!  862, 


he  again  went  forth  to  aid  his  adopted  country, 
and  enrolling  his  name  with  the  members  of  Com- 
pany C.  125th  Illinois  Infantry,  he  went  to  the  front 
with  his  regiment,  and  bravely  faced  the  foe  on 
many  a  hotly  contested  battlefield.  The  most  im- 
portant battles  in  which  he  took  part  were  those  of 
Perry ville,  Ivy.,  and  Chicamauga.  On  the  way  from 
Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  with  General  Sherman,  he 
fought  in  the  various  engagements  with  the  rebels 
that  they  encountered  and  in  the  siege  and  capture 
of  the  latter  city.  He  was  also  present  at  the  battle 
of  Jonesboro,  where  he  was  severely  wounded,  and 
was  obliged  to  go  to  the  hospital  for  treatment.  He 
rejoined  his  regiment  that  winter  at  Savannah. 
After  that  he  was  unable  to  carry  a  musket,  so  did 
not  march  with  his  comrades,  but  went  by  boat  to 
Washington,  where  he  was  honorably  discharged  in 
May,  1865. 

After  his  experience  of  military  life,  Mr.  McVey 
returned  to  Danville  and  resumed  mining,  which 
occupation  he  continued  till  1873.  He  then  rented 
land  and  engaged  in  farming  the  ensuing  five  years. 
During  that  time  he  established  himself  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  Tilton,  his  wife,  a  woman  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  acting  as  manager.  She 
proved  so  successful  that  Mr.  McVey  finally  deter- 
mined to  enlarge  the  business  and  devote  his  time 
to  it,  and  from  that  small  beginning  has  grown  his 
present  prosperous  business.  He  is  the  onljT  mer- 
chant in  Tilton,  and  carries  a  large  stock  of  general 
merchandise,  groceries,  etc.,  and  has  a  neat,  well 
appointed  store. 

July  2,  1869,  Mr.  M.Vey  took  a  step  that  has 
had  an  important  bearing  on  his  after  life  whereby 
he  secured  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Julia 
(McHeney)  Mulhatton,  who  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  his  prosperity.  She  is,  like  himself,  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  born  in  County  Monaghan,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Ann  (Mulhollan) 
McHeney,  and  the  widow  of  James  Mulhatton. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  and  her 
father  dying  when  she  was  very  young,  her  mother 
soon  after  took  her  children  to  England,  and  later 
came  to  America,  five  of  her  children  coming  at 
different  times.  Mrs.  McVey  was  first  married  in 
County  Durham,  England,  when  but  a  girl  in  her 
teens,  to  James  .Mulhatton.     When  she  was  nineteen 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


22  I 


years  of  age  she  accompanied  her  husband  to  the 
United  States,  and  they  lived  one  year  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  subsequently  came  to  Vermilion 
County,  and  here  Mr.  Mulhatton  died  while  in  the 
prime  of    life. 

Our  subject  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  genus  homo 
denominated  the  self-made  man,  as  all  that  lie  has 
and  all  thai  he  is  he  owes  to  liis  own  exertions. 
IK-  is  a  man  of  honor,  whose  character  is  unblem- 
ished, and  his  standing  in  business  and  social  circles 
is  of  th.6  highest.  His  frank,  genial,  and  pleasant 
manner  has  given  him  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts 
of  his  many  associates  and  he  is  popular  with  -ill 
classes.  In  politics  he  alliliates  with  the  Demo- 
crats, but  is  friendly  with  all  parties.  He  has  re- 
presented Danville  Township  as  Assistant  Supervi- 
sor of  the  County  Board  four  years:  has  served 
several  terms  as  a  member  of  the  Tilton  Town 
Council, and  is  at  present  President  of  that  honora- 
ble body  of  men.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  St.  Patrick  Roman  Catholic  Church,  contribute 
liberally  to  its  support,  and  are  active  in  its  ever) 
g, kiiI  work. 


.     OC7Q 

-    coo 


ft/OHN  YV.  P.oci.KSS.  M.  I).,  stands  high  in 
the  medical  profession  as  represented  in 
Vermilion  County,  and  he  has  also  acquired 
VJj  a  fair  reputation  as  an  intelligent,  enter- 
prising agriculturalist,  owning  and  managing  the 
farm  on  which  he  makes  his  home,  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  section  29,  Catlin  Township,  he  having 
retired  to  this  place  a  few  years  ago  on  account  of 
failing  health.  This,  his  native  township,  has  good 
reason  to  be  proud  of  her  son.  and  he  has  always 
exerted  his  influence  to  elevate  her  citizenship. 

The  father  of  this  subject,  likewise  named  John, 
was  a  Virginian  by  birth.  Monroe  County  being 
his  native  place.  His  mother,  Jane  G.  (McCorkle) 
Boggess,  was  born  in  Green  Briar  County,  W.  Va. 
After  marriage  his  parents  settled  either  in  Green 
Briar  County,  or  in  Monroe  County,  W.  Ya..  where 
the  father  was  engaged  as  a  farmer  and  stock 
raiser.  In  1830  he  settled  up  his  affairs  in  that 
section  of  the  country,  and  with  his  family  emi- 
grated to  the  wilds  of  Vermilion  County,  and  lie- 
came  an  early  pioneer  of  Catlin  Township,  settling 


in  what  is  known  as  Butler's  Point.  About  1846 
he  removed  with  his  wife  and  children  to  Wiscon- 
sin, considering  this  locality,  with  the  newly  bro- 
ken   prairie    sod    and  other  miasmatic    influences, 

quite  unhealthful  then.  He  did  not.  however, 
sell  his  real  estate  in  this  township,  and  after  an 
absence  of  three  years,  he  returned  to  this  locality 
with  his  family,  and  settled  on  the  old  Elliott 
place,  jusl  "est  of  Catlin,  living  there  for  conven- 
ience a  short  time,  and  then  went  back  on  to  his 
farm.  In  1856  they  went  to  Danville  to  reside, 
and  dwelt  there  four  years  for  the  purpose  of  edu- 
cating their  children.  Mr.  Boggess  then  returned 
again  to  his  farm  in  this  township,  and  continued 
to  live  here  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Feb- 
ruary. 1874.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the 
grave,  dying  in  .May,  1868.  They  had  eleven 
children;  William,  who  died  in  Catlin  Township. 
when  about  twenty-two  years  old;  Diana  M.,  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Griffith,  died  when  she  was  thirty- 
seven  years  old;  [lebecca  M.  is  the  wife  of  William 
M.  Ray;  Elizabeth  died  when  about  seventeen  \  ears 
old;  Harvey  II.  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years;  Charles  T.  is  a  farmer  in  Vermilion  County; 
America  J.  is  the  wife  of  .lames  Davis;  Enoch  P. 
is  a  farmer  in  Vermilion  County:  Julia  died  when 
she  was  six  years  old;  Melissa  died  in  infancy; 
John  W. 

The  latter,  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in  Cat- 
lin Township.  Feb.  27,  1843,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  three  years  spent  in  Wisconsin,  when  he 
was  but  an  infant,  and  the  four  years  in  Danville 
when  he  was  attending  school,  he  was  reared  to 
man's  estate  in  die  township  of  his  birth.  He  was 
educated  partly  in  th<;  public  schools,  and  in  the 
seminary  at  Danville,  which  he  attended  till  he  was 
sixteen  years  old.  After  that  he  became  a  teacher, 
and  was  engaged  in  that  vocation  in  the  winter  of 
I, Slid  and  in  the  summer  of  1861.  In  1862,  ambi- 
tious to  extend  his  education,  he  entered  the  Illi- 
nois Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1866,  having 
attained  high  rank  for  excellent  scholarship.  He 
then  took  up  th'e  study  of  medicine,  and  while  pur- 
Suing  his  course  he  taught  school  to  pay  his  ex- 
penses. He  was  under  the  tutorship  of  Dr.  A.  II. 
Puce,    a    well-known     physician   of    Bloomington, 


222 


PORTRAIT  AND  Bl<  )( iliAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


and  remained  with  him  till  the  fall  of  1867.  In 
the  winter  of  that  year,  he  entered  the  Chicago 
Medical  College,  the  medical  department  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  and  pursued  his  studies 
with  characteristic  vigor.  In  the  spring  of  1868, 
he  resumed  teaching  in  Catlin  Township,  in  order 
that  he  might  be  at  home  with  his  mother,  to  whom 
he  was  devotedly  attached,  and  whose  health  was 
fast  failing,  and  his  presence  soothed  her  dying 
hours.  In  the  fall  of  1  868  he  returned  to  college,  and 
resuming  his  studies,  was  graduated  in  March  1870, 
with  all  honor  for  having  attained  a  high  standard 
in  his  class.  He  established  himself  in  his  profession 
in  Oconomowoc,  Wis.  But  he  did  not  remain  there 
long,  however,  as  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  heard 
of  a  good  opening  for  an  enterprising  young  phy- 
sician at  Coon  Rapids.  Iowa,  and  proceeding  to 
that  place,  he  opened  an  office  there,  and  continued 
there  till  the  spring  of  1872,  when  he  located  in 
Nevada,  Iowa,  the  county  seat  of  Story  County, 
which  presented  a  broader  field,  and  during  his  ten 
years  residence  there,  he  built  up  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  practice,  becoming  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  of  the  county.  In  1882  he  retraced  his 
steps  to  his  native  county,  and  opening  an  office  in 
Danville,  he  soon  had  more  patients  than  he  could 
attend  to,  as  his  fame  as  a  successful  and  skillful 
practitioner  had  preceded  him  to  his  old  home;  but 
under  the  continuous  strain  of  overwork  his  health 
gave  way,  and  he  was  forced  to  retire  from  the  ar- 
duous duties  of  his  profession,  and  having  a  nat- 
ural taste  for  out-of  door  labor,  and,  as  a  wise  phy- 
sician fully  believing  in  its  health  restoring  pro- 
perties, he  came  to  Catlin  Township  in  1884  and 
went  to  farming,  and  has  ever  since  devoted  him- 
self to  that  occupation.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
sixty  acres,  and  has  it  under  excellent  cultivation. 
The  doctor  was  married  in  Carroll  County,  Iowa, 
Dec.  29,  1872,  to  Miss  Velora  B.  Piper,  who  pre- 
sides over  his  home  with  true  grace,  and  makes  it 
cosy  and  attractive  to  its  inmates  and  to  their  nu- 
merous friends,  and  even  the  stranger  that  hap- 
pens under  its  roof  is  kindly  made  welcome.  Mrs. 
Boggess  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Bed- 
ford County,  Jan.  8,  1853,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
A.  and  .Mary  (Funk)  Piper.  The  following  is  the 
record  of  the   lour  children    born   to   her  and    her 


husband:  Charles  Wesley,  born  March  2.  1874. 
died  Aug.  8.  1874;  Carrie  M.,  born  July  6,  1*7.">: 
Walter  Thomas.  April  24,  1879;  Genevieve,  April 
28,  1888. 

The  doctor  possesses,  in  a  rare  degree,  those 
noble  traits  of  character  that  mark  a  man  of  honor 
and  veracity,  one  in  whom  his  fellow-citizens  feel 
they  may  safely  put  their  trust.  He  is  a  man  of 
extensive  learning  and  information,  and  on  his 
retirement  from  active  practice,  the  medical  pro- 
fession of  Vermilion  County  lost  one  of  its  most 
able  members.  He  is  greatly  interested  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  native  township,  and  takes  an  active 
part  in  everything  that  tends  to  promote  its  moral 
elevation,  educational  or  material  status,  anil  is 
especially  active  in  religious  affairs,  he  and  his  wife 
being  esteemed  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  he  has  been  an  active  Sunday- 
school  worker,  holding  the  office  of  superintendent 
and  also  being  a  teacher.  He  is  influential  in  po- 
litical matters,  being  one  of  the  leading  Republi- 
cans in  this  vicinity,  and  a  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican Central  Committee  of   1888,  of  his  township. 


ON.  CHARLES  A.  ALLEN,  member  of 
the  Thirty-sixth  General  Assembly,  from 
the  Thirty-first  District,  comprising  Vermil- 
(Mj  ion  and  Edgar  counties,  was  elected  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  first  in  1884,  and  re-elected 
twice  thereafter,  having  entered  now  upon  his  third 
term.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Judicial  Com- 
mittee and  several  other  important  committees-, 
including  Insurance,  ami  has  served  as  Chairman 
of  the  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Committee,  also  of 
Corporations  and  Educational  Institutions.  Dur- 
ing the  Logan  fight  he  was  the  first  man  on  the 
roll  call,  at  that  time  a  very  important  position. 
He  has  frequently  represented  his  district  in  Stale 
and  other  conventions  and  is  in  all  respects  a  very 
prominent  man  in  Eastern  Illinois. 

Mr.  Allen  was  born  in  Danville,  July  6,  1851, 
and  removed  with  his  parents  when  a  child  of  two 
years  to  the  Ridge  where  they  were  the  earliest 
settlers.  Charles  A.,  upon  leaving  the  district 
school   prepared    himself  to  become  a  student   of 


^fozsc^^x  ^/y^c^c^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


225 


Michigan  University  from  the  Law  Department  of 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1875.  He  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Rossville  where  he 
remained  until  1881,  then  changed  his  residence 
to  Hoopeston,  which  has  sinee  remained  his  home. 
In  addition  to  a  lucrative  law  practice,  lie  has  been 
largely  engaged  as  a  real  estate  dealer,  and  has  oc- 
cupied many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility 
among  his  fellow  citizens.  Socially,  he  is  a  char- 
ter member  of  the  K.  of  P.  and  is  identified  with 
the  I.  (>.  O.  F.  and  Masonic  fraternity. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  .Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  L.  M.  Ihompson,  of  Rossville.  was 
celebrated  April  1.  1878.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Thomp- 
son appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Of  this 
union  there  have  been  born  two  children — John  N. 
and  Lawrence  T.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
William  I.  Allen,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ver- 
milion County,  and  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  on 
another  page. 


!L=>  0>,T-   JOSEPH   G.    CANNON.    Member    of 

\   Congress  representing  the  Danville  district 

of   Illinois.     On  the  opposite    page  appears 

'■(!E<)  :l  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  who  has  been 
for  many  years  a  prominent,  factor  in  the  official, 
social  and  political  life  of  this  section  of  the  State. 
and'  who  has  made  a  national  reputation  as  a  legis- 
lator and   a  statesman. 

For  many  years  there  was  a  large  exodus  of  the 
Soci'  ty  of  Friends  from  North  Carolina  to  the  Wa- 
ba.sh  Valley,  who  left  their  former  homes  to  get 
away  from  the  curse  of  slavery.  Among  the  num- 
ber whs  Dr.  Horace  F.  Cannon,  who,  accompanied 
bv  his  family,  removed  in  1840  to  make  his  home 
in  Park  County7,  Ind.  Thus,  far  removed  from 
the  scenes  of  their  youth  he  and  his  wife  passed 
the  residue  of  life  in  the  Northern  country. 
surrounded  by  old  frien  Is  who  had  also  come 
North,  and  by  many  new  friends  whom  the}-  had 
met  in  their  new  home.  Dr.  Cannon  was  in  early 
manhood  united  in  marriage  with  Gulielma  IIol- 
lingsworth.  He  was  a  native  of  Greensboro,  N.  C, 
and  in  his  early  maturity  practiced  his  profession, 
being  a  physician  ami  surgeon.      After  his  removal 


to  the  Wabash  Valley  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  died 
an  accidental  death  in  1851  when  he  was  fort}'- 
five  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  character  and 
considerable  local  note,  being  a  prominent,  early 
Abolitionist. 

Joseph  G.  Cannon,  of  whom  this  brief  record  is 
written,  was  born  in  New  Garden,  Guilford  Co.. 
N.  O,  May  7,  1836.  His  education  was  received 
at  the  Western  Manual  Labor  School,  now  known 
as  Bloom ingdale  Academy.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
his  school  work  ended,  and  for  five  years  thereafter 
he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  store. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  having  a  strong  desire 
for  professional  life,  Mr.  Cannon  entered  the  law 
office  of  the  Hon.  John  1'.  Usher,  who  afterward 
became  one  of  President  Lincoln's  secretaries.  In 
1859  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  to  practice  in  the 
courts  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  located  at  Tus- 
cola, Douglas  Co.,  111.,  for  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, in  which  he  continued  until  1872.  In  that 
year  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  has  since  been 
consecutively  re-elected,  now  serving  his  ninth  term. 
He  made  Tuscola  his  home  until  1876,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Danville,  where  he  has  for  many  years 
resided. 

Mr.  Cannon  now  stands  as  one  of  the  foremost 
men  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  His  position 
he  owes  to  the  confidence  of  his  constituency,  who 
have  given  him  long  service,  and  to  his  industry 
in  the  public  service.  I  lis  early  preparation  was 
not  all  he  would  have  desired,  as  he  was  deprived 
of  a  college  course,  and  for  financial  reasons  was 
compelled  to  enter  the  law  practice  as  soon  as  lie 
could,  so  it,  was  only  by  strenuous  exertion  that  he 
fitted  himself  for  the  responsible  position  he 
occupies. 

After  serving  for  six  years  on  the  Committee  for 
Post-offices  and  Post-roads.  Congressman  Cannon 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Ap- 
propriations, on  which  he  has  served  until  the 
present  lime.  Said  Mr.  Cannon,  with  the  justifiable 
pride  and  satisfaction  arising  from  having  accom- 
plished a  good  work:  -'I  had  charge  of  the  Postal 
Appropriation  P.ill  while  on  Committee,  upon  which 
legislation  was  had  reducing  letter  postage  from 
three  to  two  cents,  and  containing  other  important 


22G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


post.il  revisions  and  reforms."  During  the  Forty- 
seventh  Congress  the  Republicans  had  control  of 
the  House.  In  this  same  Congress  Mr.  Cannon 
was  continued  on  Appropriations,  having  special 
charge  of  the  Legislative,  Executive  and  Judicial 
Appropriation  Bill,  which  carries  appropriation  for 
the  officials  of  the  Public  Service,  and  upon  which 
many  reforms  were  wrought.  For  many  years, 
being  the  head  of  the  minority  on  that  committee, 
it  has  fallen  to  him  to  make  a  statement  of  the  esti- 
mates and  appropriations  for  and  expenditures  by 
the  Government.  It  has  usually  been  received  by 
Congress  and  the  country  as  authoritative  and  ex- 
haustive. 

The  Republicans  have  a  small  majority  in  the 
present  Congress,  which  will  organize  the  first 
Monday  of  December  next  (1*89).  It  seems  to 
be  generally  conceded  that  from  seniority  of  service 
and  equipment  for  work,  Mr.  Cannon  will  be  chosen 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  organization 
of  the  House,  unless  he  is  elected  Speaker,  for 
which  position  he  is  a  candidate.  His  service  in 
the  House,  his  acquaintance  with  public  men  and 
affairs  has  given  him  good  standing  with  the  Re- 
publicans, and  also  with  those  of  the  opposite 
party,  who  respect  him  for  his  sincerity  and  hon- 
esty, even  though  Ihey  differ  with  him  in  polities. 
His  party  in  the  House  of  Representatives  did 
him  the  honor  for  six  years  of  making  him  Chair- 
man of  its  Caucus  and  of  the  Caucus  Commit  tee. 
which  has  charge  primarily  of  suggesting  the  policy 
of  the  Republicans  in  the  House  touching  matters 
of  legislation. 

Mr.  Cannon  being  engaged  in  politics,  has  paid 
but  little  attention  to  law  practice  of  late  years. 
He  has  business  interests  in  the  city  of  Danville, 
and  also  owns  farms  both  in  Vermilion  and  Doug- 
lass counties. 

Although  politics  has  engaged  a  great  deal  of 
the  consideration  and  thought  of  Mr.  Cannon,  he 
has  spared  the  necessary  time  to  found  home  ties 
of  his  own.  His  marriage  was  solemnized  on  the 
7th  of  January,  1862,  with  Miss  Mary  P.  Reed,  of 
Canfield,  Ohio.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  two  daughters,  Helen  and  Mabel,  who 
are  now  at  home,  having  recently  finished  their 
college  education.     Thus  Congressman  Cannon,  in 


his  leisure  hours,  partakes  of  the  enjoyment  of  a 
beautiful  home,  and  the  society  of  those  he  loves, 
and  whose  interests  are  ever  uppermost  in  his 
mind. 


yALKER  T.  BUTLER  is  an  enterprising 
wheelwright  of  Sidell.  He  located  in  this 
village  in  December,  1887,  at  which  time 
he  erected  his  shop  on  Chicago  street.  He  has  laid 
the  foundation  for  a  large  business,  which  is  con- 
stantly increasing,  and  in  the  spring  of  1889  he 
enlarged  his  business  in  a  substantial  manner.  Mr. 
Butler  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  his  adopted  town, 
and  one  whose  word  is  as  good  as  a  bank  note. 

On  February  23,  184(1,  Mr.  Butler  first  saw  the 
light  of  day  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  about  a  mile 
from  Chrisman.  His  father,  Asa  Butler,  was  born 
near  Lexington,  Ky.,  while  his  mother,  Catharine 
Porter,  is  a  native  of  Madison  County,  that  State. 
The  Butlers  were  originally  from  Virginia,  and 
came  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day.  The  father  was 
a  blacksmith,  the  entire  male  portion  of  the  family 
of  Butlers  being  mechanics.  One  of  the  uncles 
was  a  cabinet  maker  at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  and 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  saw  him  at  work  making 
spinning  wheels  at  that  great  age.  In  1834  Asa 
Butler  and  his  wife  removed  to  Vermilion  County, 
settling  close  to  Indianola,  erecting  a  shop  there. 
He  left  this  place  and  went  to  Chrisman,  where  he 
remained  for  a  long  time.  This  couple  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  whose  names  are  given: 
Ephraim  P.,  Elizabeth  A.,  William  F.,  Ellen  F., 
Walker  Turner,  S.mie  F.,  Lucinda  C,  Rosa  A.  and 
and  an  infant  child,  the  two  latter  being  deceased. 
The  father  died  at  Indianola  in  1878  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years,  while  the  mother  is  still  living 
on  the  old  Butler  homestead. 

Ephraim  resides  in  Richardson  County,  Neb.; 
Samuel  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Burlington  iV- 
Missouri  River  Railroad  Company  at  South 
Omaha,  Neb.,  as  a  billing  clerk;  Eliza  is  liv- 
ing in  Indianola  with  her  mother;  William  F.  was 
accidentally  killed  by  a  traveling  man  who  mistook 
his  head  for  a  prairie  chicken;  the  man  after- 
ward went  insane;  Ellen  F.  is  the  wife  of  Janus 
R.  Adams,  who  is  farming  near  Georgetown;   Lu- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


227 


cinda  C.  married  Melvin  L.  Porter,  who  i.s  en- 
gaged in  the  clothing  business  at  Danville;  Walker. 
of  whom  this  sketch  is  written,  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  working  alternately  at  farming  and  in  the 
blacksmithshop.  His  schooling  was  obtained  in 
the  subscription  schools.  His  first  attendance 
upon  the  public  school  was  in  Edgar  County, 
111.,  where  the  schoolhouse  was  erected  by  sub- 
scription, and  built  of  logs.  He  worked  on  the 
farm  nine  months,  attending  school  the  balance 
of  the  year.  He  continued  in  this  way  until  he 
became  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
work  exclusively  at  his  trade.  On  .March  26,  1861, 
he  was  married  to  .Miss  Susan  J.  Porter,  daughter 
of  Richard  Porter,  and  a  half-sister  of  Mrs.  Hewes. 
Her  mother  was  Elizabeth  Howard.  The  Porters 
originally  came  from  Woodford  County,  Ky., emi- 
grating to  Illinois  in  1834. 

At  the  time  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke 
out  Mr.  Butler  was  a  half  owner  in  a  shop,  and 
had  just  passed  his  honeymoon.  There  was  every 
inducement  for  him  to  remain  at  home,  and  pros- 
per in  his  business,  but  his  duty  lay  in  enlisting 
hi  the  Union  army,  which  he  did  in  May,  1801, 
by  joining  Company  D,  25th  Illinois  Infantry,  being 
mustered  into  service  on  June  4,  following,  at 
Danville.  His  regiment  drilled  at  Arsenal  Park. 
St.  Louis,  for  two  months,  and  here  he  was  elected 
Captain  of  his  company.  He  was  young  and  in- 
experienced, and  being  modest,  he  refused  to 
serve,  but  afterwards  accepted  the  position  of 
Sergeant.  On  account  of  a  severe  wound  in  the 
right  foot,  he  was  honorably  discharged,  after  which 
he  came  home,  and  devoted  his  entire  attention 
to  his  trade.  His  arm}'  record  was  a  brilliant. 
one,  and  the  men  are  very  few  who  would  refuse 
a  commission  as  he  did,  which  exhibits  his  entire 
unselfishness  and  patriotism.  He  remained  in  In- 
dianola  until  1879,  when  he  removed  to  Ridge 
Farm,  there  engaging  in  business  at  his  trade  until 
1887,  when  he  came  to  his  present  locution. 

Mr.  Butler  is  one  of  the  original  members  and 
organizers  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Sidell,  which 
came  into  existence  May  2,  188(J,  and  of  which 
he  was  elected  Deacon.  He  has  belonged  to  this 
church  since  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
for    twenty-two    years    was    Superintendent    of  a 


Sabbath-school,      lie  is  also  Vice-President  of  the 

Sunday-school  Association  of  Carroll  Township. 
Mr.  Butler  belongs  to  Vermilion  Lodge,  No.  205, 
A.  F.  A-  A.  M.,  and  was  its  Master  for  three  terms, 
and  also  its  delegate  to  the  Grand  Lodge  at  Chi- 
cago in  the  years  187:3.  1K71  and  1875.  lie  is 
also  a  charter  member  of  the  C.  A.  Clark  Post, 
No.  184,  (L  A.  R..  located  at  Ridge  Farm.  The 
office  of  School  Director  has  been  filled  by  him 
for  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butler  have  had  five  children:  Mel- 
vine  S.,  Gracie  E.,  Adoniram  J.,  Leslie  F.,  Bessie 
and  Willie.  Melvine  S.  was  educated  at  the  Jack- 
sonville Blind  Institute.  He  died,  and  his  parents 
deeply  felt  his  loss.  Gracie  E.  is  the  wife  of 
John  Fletcher,  a  farmer  of  Edgar  County,  111.; 
they  have  three  children:  Henry  T.,  Howard  and 
Charles.  Adoniram  J.  and  the  rest  of  the  chil- 
dren are  living  at  home.  Mr.  Butler  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  for  several  years  has  served  his 
party  on  the  County  Central  Committee.  He  has 
always  been  in  favor  of  temperance  laws,  and 
their  strict  enforcement,  and  ii  was  largely  through 
his  instrumentality  that  the  sale  of  whisky  was 
finally  abolished  in  Carroll  Township.  Mr.  But- 
ler is  one  of  the  very  best  men  of  Vermilion 
County,  and  is  so  regarded   by   his  neighbors. 


|  IVILLIAM  CAST.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
\/\J/i  's  numbered  among  the  pioneer  residents 
V>7\v  and  well-to-do  farmers  of  this  county,  who 
carved  out  their  fortunes  by  the  labor  of  their 
hands,  and  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  devel- 
opment of  the  rich  resources  of  the  Prairie  State. 
Mr.  Cast  has  been  a  resident  of  Danville  Township 
for  a  long  period,  anil  is  held  in  high  repute  among 
its  best  citizens. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Vernon 
Township.  Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  April  17,1821,  and  is 
the  son  of  Aquilla  and  Mary  (Villars)  Cast,  the 
former  born  in  Kentucky,  Dec.  7,  1709,  and  the 
latter  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Dec.  13,  1798.  The 
paternal  grandfather.  Ezekiel  Cast,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  likewise  a  native  of  Kentucky,  whence 
he  removed  to  Ohio  in   1805,  while  it    was    in    the 


2-28 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


third  year  of  its  dignity  as  a  State.  He  was  one  of 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  Clinton  County,  and  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  timber  land  in  Vernon  Township, 
where  he  improved  a  farm  and  resided  until  his 
death. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  quite  young  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Ohio.  He  was  reared  and 
married  in  Clinton  County,  and  purchased  land  in 
Vernon  Township,  where  he  engaged  in  (arming 
until  his  death  in  September,  1831.  The  mother  sur- 
vived her  husband  for  a  period  of  twenty-five 
years,  and  died  in  Clinton  County  in  1856.  Her 
father,  James  Villars,  is  supposed  to  have  been  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  removed  to 
Ohio  in  1806.  making  the  journey  down  the  river, 
and  landing  at  Cincinnati,  which  was  then  in  its 
embryo  state.  He  also,  like  grandfather  Cast,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Clinton  County, 
and  like  him  cleared  a  farm  from  the  wilderness, 
where  he  spent  his  last  days.  He  married  Miss  Re- 
becca Davis,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  she  also  died  in 
Clinton  County,  Ohio. 

Aquilla  Cast,  and  his  estimable  wife  became  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  years,  and  of  whom  William,  our  subject, 
was  the  fourth  iu  order  of  birth.  lie  was  only  ten 
years  old  when  his  father  died,  but  remained  on  the 
farm  with  his  mother,  acquiring  his  education  in 
the  common  school  and  becoming  familiar  with  the 
labors  incident  to  the  routine  of  farm  life.  He 
continued  a  resident  of  Clinton  County  until  1843, 
then  started  out  to  seek  his  fortunes,  his  destination 
being  this  county.  He  was  equipped  with  a  team 
of  horses  and  a  wagon  and  accompanied  by  his 
family,  they  bringing  with  them  their  household 
goods.  After  fourteen  days'  travel  they  landed  in 
Danville  Township,  and  Mr.  Cast,  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,  purchased  100  acres  of  land,  the  nucleus  of 
his  present  farm. 

There  were  no  railroads  in  Illinois  for  some  years 
after  Mr.  Cast  settled  in  this  county,  and  for  a  long 
period  Covington  and  Perrysville  were  the  nearest 
markets.  Deer,  turkeys  and  other  game  were 
plentiful.  The  Cast  family  battled  with  many  dif- 
ficulties and  some  hardships,  and  underwent  the 
usual  experience  of  life  on  the  frontier.  Our  sub- 
ject proceeded  steadily  with   the    improvement   of 


his  property,  and  was  greatly  prospered  in  his  la- 
bors. As  time  passed  on,  he  added  to  his  landed 
estate,  and  now  has  a  well-improved  farm  of  320 
acres.  He  has  erected  good  buildings,  and  has 
gathered  around  himself  and  his  family  all  the 
comforts  and  conveniences  of  modern  life. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Rachel 
Villars  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in  Clin- 
ton County,  Ohio,  Oct.  28,  1843.  Mrs.  Cast  was 
born  in  Vernon  Township,  Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  May 
16,  1823.  Her  father,  William  Villars,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  Aug.  31,  1802,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Rebecca  Villars,  who  removed  to  Ohio 
when  he  was  four  years  old.  He  was  reared  in  the 
Buckeye  State,  and  married  Miss  Ruth  Whittaker, 
a  native  of  Clinton  County.  Her  parents  were 
Oliver  and  Mary  Whittaker,  natives  of  New  Jer- 
sey, who  removed  to  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  during 
its  early  settlement.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Cast  in- 
herited a  large  tract  of  land  in  that  county,  where 
he  carried  on  farming  until  1843.  He  then  came 
to  this  county,  purchasing  land  in  Danville  Town- 
ship, and  has  been  a  resident  here  since  that  time, 
and  is  now  in  his  ninety-seventh  year. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cast  there  were  born  four  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom.  James  W.,  married  Miss 
Ella  Karris,  anil  is  the  father  of  two  children — 
Mabel  and  Minnie.  John  Oliver  married  Mary 
Thayer,  and  has  two  children — (Jeorge  and  Carrie. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Perry  Brown,  of  Chetopa, 
Kan.  George  Aquilla  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
months.  In  politics  Mr.  Cast  has  been  a  staunch 
Democrat,  as  was  also  his  father,  and  Mrs.  Cast 
also. 

NDREW  II.  KIMBROUGH,  M.  D.,  was 
!'/LJj  born  near  Elizabeth  town,  Hardin  Co..  K\\, 
lii  on  the  27th  day  of  February,  1823.  His 
father,  Richard  C.  Kiinbrough,  was  a 
native  of  Wexhall  County,  S.  C,  and  his  grand- 
father, Goldman  Kimbrough,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Virginia.  The  Kimbrough  family  settled  early 
in  Virginia,  and  in  Colonial  times  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  and  were  extensive  farmers.  They 
served  with  distinguished  ability  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary   War.       The    grandfather   of    Andrew   H. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


229 


Kimbrough  removed  from  Virginia  toSouth  Caro- 
lina after  the  Revolutionary  War  and  later  to 
Alabama,  where  he  bought  large  blocks  of  land, 
and  where  he  died  in  1835.  lie  was  a  large  slave- 
owner. 

Richard  C.  Kimbrough,  the  father  of  Dr.  Kim- 
brough, was  under  age  when  the  War  of  1812 
broke  out,  and  in  order  to  enlist,  he  ran  away  from 
home  and  served  iu  the  army  until  the  elose  of  the 
war.  He  was  in  several  battles  including  the 
Horse  Shoe  fight  and  was  witli  Gen.  Jackson  at 
New  Orleans.  lie  was  wounded  in  the  former 
battle.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  went  with 
some  of  his  comrades  to  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  and 
there  taught  school  until  his  marriage,  and  then 
witli  a  brother,  he  engaged  in  the  business  of  tan- 
ning. In  1825  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  was 
therefore  a  pioneer  of  Edgar  County.  The  re- 
moval was  made  with  teams,  bringing  all  the  house- 
hold goods  along,  camping  out.  on  the  way.  He 
entered  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Wayne, 
now  Stratton  Township.  There  was  no  house  on 
the  place  and  he  was  compelled  to  rent  a  cabin,  but 
in  the  following  spring  he  erected  a  house  on  his 
his  own  land,  which  was  surmounted  by  a  stick 
and  clay  chimney.  There  were  no  sawmills  in  the 
county,  a  fact  which  compelled  him  to  make  his 
own  boards  in  order  to  build  the  doors.  He  had 
no  nails  and  so  used  wooden  pegs  instead.  The  old 
fashioned  fire-place  was  used  to  cook  food  in  those 
days,  stoves  being  an  unknown  utensil  in  the 
economy  of  kitchen  work.  The  cloth  with  which 
they  made  their  clothes  was  constructed  from  yarn 
spun  entirely  by  hand.  He  bought  another  eighty 
acres  of  land  which  added  to  his  former  purchase 
made  a  good  farm.  He  died  in  1833.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
Jane  Morrison,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Her  father, 
James  Morrison,  it  was  thought  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia and  removed  from  there  to  Kentucky  and 
settled  in  Hardin  County.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
spent  his  last  years  there.  The  maiden  name  of 
Ids  wife  was  Mary  McWiliiams.  She  was  born  in 
Virginia  and  removed  to  Kentucky  with  her  par- 
ents in  1791.  This  family  were  pioneers  of  Hardin 
County,  where  they  broughta  large  tract  of  timber 
land  and  improved  a  farm   which  Mr.  McWiliiams 


afterward  lost  on  an  old  claim.  Mr.  McWiliiams 
spent  his  last  years  in  that  State.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  married  a  second  time  in  18  17  to 
Hall  Sims  and  resided  in  Edgar  County  until  her 
death. 

Andrew  II.  Kimbrough  was  eleven  years  old 
when  his  father  died  leaving  his  mother  with  six 
children  to  care  for.  He  resided  with  his  guard- 
ian until  1842,  and  then  returned  home  and  man- 
aged the  farm  for  his  mother  until  her  second 
marriage,  when  he  purchased  her  interest  in  the 
farm.  He  continued  fanning  until  1854.  He  had 
some  time  before  resumed  the  study  of  medicine, 
but  had  to  abandon  that  on  the  account  of  the  lack  of 
funds,  but  later  be  again  took  up  the  study  and  grad- 
uated from  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia, 
in  March,  1858.  In  that  year  he  commenced 
practice  at  Georgetown,  this  county,  and  contin- 
ued so  doing  until  1873,  when  he  removed  to 
Danville  and  has  practiced  there  continuously  since 
that  lime.  He  married  Sarah  Ashmore,  who  was 
born  in  Clark  County,  April  10,  1820.  She  was  a 
danghter  of  Amos  and  Patience  Ashmore,  natives 
of  Tennessee.  They  were  truly  pioneers  of  Clark 
County,  111. 

Andrew  II.  Kimbrough  is  the  father  of  three 
children — Laura  H.,  E.  R.  Eugene,  and  Lillie  A.  T. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  socially,  is  a 
member  of  Franklin  Lodge  K.  of  II.  He  joined 
the  I.  O.  0.  E.  in  1850  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs. 


-»*>- 


-o*o-@^<A^-o*o.. 


ENRY  DAVIS.  The  man  who  ventured 
|)  into  Central  Illinois  during  its  pioneer 
days  is  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing 
J^J  mention.  Few  who  did  not  undergo  the 
experience  can  have  a  full  realization  of  the  hard 
lot  of  the  early  settlers.  The  distant  markets, 
the  inadequate  price  for  the  crops  which  they 
raised  under  great  difficulties,  the  inferior  educa- 
tional advantages,  and  the  miasma  from  the  fre- 
quently low,  wet  land,  which  confronted  the 
pioneers  with  illness — a  physician  miles  away — 
and  the  generally  wild  condition  of  their  surround- 
ings, no  railroads  or  stage  lines,  and  in  some 
sections  scarcely  a  well-defined   wagon  track,  made 


230 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


life  in  the  pioneer  times  a  .lire  struggle  frequently. 
for  existence. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  had  a  full  exper- 
ience of  pioneer  life  in  all  its  details,  but  at  the 
same  time  lie  has  been  the  privileged  witness  of 
changes  almost  miraculous.  He  was  born  in  this 
county,  May  5,  1841,  his  father.  William  Davis, 
being  among  the  earliest  pioneers.  The  latter  was 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  descended  from  excellent 
Scotch-Irish  stock,  lie  was  prospered  in  his  labors 
as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  of  Illinois,  and  in  due  time 
became  the  owner  of  2.000  acres  .of  land,  a  large 
portion  of  which  he  gave  to  his  children. 

The  father  of  our  subject  still  has  about  1,000 
acres  of  land,  all  in  this  county,  and  is  likewise  in- 
terested in  the  hardware  business  at  Fairmount, 
while  he  has  considerable  other  property.  The 
mother,  Mrs.  Elizabeth' (Hayes)  Davis,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  the  parental  household  included 
ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  and  of  whom 
Henry  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  He.  like 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  pursued  his  early  studies  in 
the  old  log  schoolhouse,  the  system  of  instruction 
of  that  day  being  fully  in  keeping  with  the  fashion 
and  furnishings  of  the  temple  of  learning,  into 
which  light  was  admitted  through  greased  paper, 
and  the  seats  and  desks  of  which  were  made  of 
slabs,  the  floor  of  puncheon,  a  wide  fireplace  ex- 
tending nearly  across  one  end,  and  the  chimney 
built  outside  of  dirt  and  sticks.  Young  Davis  at- 
tended school  mostly  on  stormy  days,  when  he 
could  not  work  at  home.  He  had  few  companions 
and  little  recreation,  as  the  county  was  very  thinly 
settled,  and  for  a  distance  of  forty  miles  south 
there  was  not  a  single  cultivated  farm. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  working  with  his 
father  until  about  twenty-two  years  old,  and  then 
determined  to  strike  out  for  himself.  The  first  in- 
teresting event  which  followed  was  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Nancy  Cox,  on  the  24th  of  December, 
1863.  This  lady  remained  the  companion  of  her 
husband  less  than  nine  years,  her  decease  taking 
place  Oct.  24,  1874,  leaving  no  children.  Their 
wedded  life  had  been  begun  in  a  log  house  on  the 
present  farm  of  Mr.Davis,  and  that  humble  dwel- 
ling is  still  standing.  Mr.  Davis  was  married  a 
second    time,  Sept.   7,  1875.  to  Miss    Rebecca  E. 


Baird.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three 
children — Fred  L..  born  May  24,  1876:  Grace 
Elizabeth,  July  30,  1877;  and  Sarah  Mabel,  Dec. 
18.  1878.  Mrs.  Rebecca  E.  (Baird)  Davis  de- 
parted this  life  July  18.  1880. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1881.  Mr.  Davis  was  mar- 
ried a.  third  time,  to  Miss  M.  Belle,  daughter  of 
Nathan  B.  and  Mary  F.  (Wilson)  Pemberton.  Mr. 
Pemberton  was  a  native  of  ( )hio.  and  his  wife  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  father  of  Mrs.  Davis  left  his  native 
State,  when  twenty-one  years  old,  going  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  was  married. 
Nineteen  years  ago  they  left  the  Blue  Grass  State 
for  Indiana,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  for  seven 
years,  then  came  to  this  county,  and  settled  two 
miles  northwest  of  Fairmount.  After  living  there 
two  years  they  made  another  removal,  and  are  now 
living  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Catlin,  in  the 
enjoyment  of  good  health,  Mr.  Pemberton  being 
sixty-seven  and  his  wife  fifty-eight  years  old. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pemberton  there  were  born 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  and  of 
whom  Mrs.  Davis  was  the  third.  She  first  opened 
her  eyes  to  the  light  in  Maysville,  Ky.,  July  2D, 
1855.  She  received  excellent  educational  advan- 
tages, and  grew  up  an  attractive  and  accomplished 
young  woman,  fitting  herself  for  a  teacher,  and 
pursuing  this  calling  in  Indiana  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage. Mr.  Pemberton  some  years  ago  was  wounded 
by  an  ax  in  his  own  hands,  which  struck  his  knee, 
and  which  resulted  in  confining  him  to  the  house 
for  three  years  thereafter.  He  has  suffered  from 
this  almost  continuously  since  that  time.  He  has 
been  a  plain  and  upright  man  and  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  while  Mrs.  Pemberton  belongs 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Davis  erected  his  present  residence  about 
1874,  and  in  connection  with  his  farming  opera- 
tions gives  considerable  attention  to  live  stock, 
raising  about  seventy-five  head  of  swine  annuallv, 
besides  graded  cattle  and  horses.  His  farm  com- 
prises 120  acres  of  land,  including  a  timber  strip 
of  fifteen  acres.  One  year  he  was  engaged  in  the 
grocery  trade  at  Fairmount.  Politically  he  has 
always  been  a  strong  Democrat,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  the  past 
nine  years.     He  is  a  School  Director  in  his  district, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


2:il 


and  for  five  years  past  has  been  President  of  the 
Vermilion  County  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  As- 
sociation, lie  is  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Fair  Association,  and  is  crop  re- 
porter for  the  Agricultural  Department  at  Spring- 
field, lie  has  exercised  no  small  influence  upon 
party  polities  in  this  region,  officiating  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Central  Committee,  anil  as  a  delegate 
to  the  various  county  conventions.  Both  he 
and  his  excellent  wife  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Davis  has 
labored  faithfully  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  ofh'c- 
iated  as  Librarian.  Without  making  any  preten- 
sions to  elegance,  the  Davis  homestead  is  without 
question  the  abode  of  peace  and  comfort, and  while 
the  head  of  the  family  has  acquitted  himself  in  a 
creditable  manner,  his  very  intelligent  and  amiable 
partner,  a  lady  of  great  worth  and  refinement,  has 
fulfilled  her  whole  duty  in  making  home  the  most 
attractive  spot  on  earth  for  those  dearest  to  her. 


*-«*- 


ft?  ABAN  GRITTEN  is  classed  among  the  lead- 
I  ((§>  m&  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Pilot  Town- 
jlj—^s  ship,  he  having  contributed  much  towards 
making  it  a  great  agricultural  center.  His  farm  on 
section  22  is  comparable  with  the  finest  and  best 
in  this  section  of  Vermilion  County,  is  so  cultivated 
as  to  produce  large  harvests,  and  its  buildings  and 
all  other  appointments  are  first-class.  Mr.  Gritten 
has  evolved  this  desirable  farm  from  the  wild  prai- 
ries of  Illinois,  as  they  were  many  years  ago,  before 
they  had  been  changed  by  cultivation,  it  having 
been  government  land  when  he  purchased  it  more 
than  thirty  years  ago,  and  situated  in  the  midst  of 
a  sparsely  populated,  scarcely  civilized  country. 

Mr.  Gritten  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  born  in 
Mercer  County,  Jan.  19,  1832.  His  father,  John 
R.  Gritten.  was  born  in  the  same  county  in  1807. 
He  married  Nancy  Atkinson,  who  was  born  there 
in  1806,  and  they  came  to  this  county  with  their 
family  in  1842.  and  located  on  a  farm  of  120  acres, 
pleasantly  situated  in  Blount  Township,  where 
tliey  have  built  up  a  comfortable  home,  and  now, 
in  life's  decline  are  enjoying  the  hard-earned  fruits 
of  their  united  labor.     Three  of  the  children  that 


have  blessed  their  union  are  still  living:  Ann,  re- 
siding in  Danville  Township,  is  the  widow  of  Frank 
Watson,  of  Ohio,  and  has  five  children — William, 
John,  Nancy  J.,  Margaret  and  Maltha;  Lloyd  mar- 
ried Sarah  Gritten,  daughter  of  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  and  they  have  four  children — 
Wesley  Annie,  Ella  and  Elisha;  Laban  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  we  will  write  further  of 
him. 

We  have  seen  that  his  parents  brought  him  here 
in  pioneer  times,  when  he  was  a  mere  lad,  and  here 
they  bred  him  to  a  life  of  usefulness,  and  fitted 
him  for  an  honorable  career,  and  to  their  careful 
training  he  doubtless  owes  much  of  his  prosperity. 
He  became  manly,  self-reliant  and  a  good  worker, 
and  in  early  manhood  prudently  invested  his  money 
in  government  land,  proposing  to  make  farming  his 
life  work,  and  purchased  320  acres  of  land  at 
twenty-five  cents  an  acre.  He  now  has  the  land  all 
under  excellent  cultivation,  and  has  greatly  in- 
creased its  value  by  the  many  fine  improvements 
that  he  has  made,  including  substantial  buildings, 
etc.  He  does  a  general  farming  business,  has  his 
farm  well  stocked  with  stock  of  high  grades,  from 
the  sale  of  which  he  makes  good  profits,  and  he 
raises  a  good  deal  of  grain  and  other  farm  produce, 
from  which  he  derives  an  income  amply  sufficing 
to  carry  on  his  agricultural  operations  in  good 
shape,  and  for  all  his  personal  wants. 

Mr.  Gritten  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  a  Miss  Sarah  Potter,  who  was  of  English 
descent,  and  her  father,  an  early  settler  of  this  part 
of  Illinois,  took  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  under 
General  Taylor.  Five  children  were  born  to  our 
subject  in  that  union,  of  whom  one  died;  the  others 
are  Orsmus,  Charles,  Edward  and  Thomas.  Orsmus, 
a  carpenter  in  Danville,  married  Miss  May  Gritten; 
Charles,  living  with  his  father  on  the  homestead, 
married  Matilda  Gritten,  and  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren— Clarence,  Arthur,  Orsmus,  Elzora,  Oliver, 
Ross  and  Rock.  Edward,  a  farmer  in  this  county. 
married  Miss  Belle  Davis,  of  Ohio,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Jesse  B. ;  Thomas,  a  blacksmith  at  Bixby. 
married  Martha  Schank, and  they  have  three  children 
— Earl.  Maude  and  Olive. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Gritten  married  Miss 
Lydia  Pile,  a  native  of  Breckenridge  County.  Ky„ 


232 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPAICAL  ALBUM. 


and  of  their  eleven  children  the  following  five  arc 
living:     Oracena,  Alvina,  Jacob,  Eli  and  William. 

William  and  Elizabeth  Pile  were  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Gritten,  the  father  a  native  of  Virginia,  the 
mother  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  both  are  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  Gritten  may  well  be  proud  of  bis  farm,  whose 
increased  value  is  due  to  his  hard  labor  and  excel- 
lent business  capacity  and  management.  He  pos- 
sesses sober  judgment,  keen  discernment  and  a 
resolute  nature  that  has  overcome  all  obstacles  in 
the  path  to  success.  In  his  political  views  he  sides 
with  the  Democrats,  and  gives  his  hearty  approval 
to  party  measures. 


^^ACIIAlilAIIC.  HOLLOWAY.  Amongquite 
a  company  of  young  men  who  came  to  this 
county  at  different  times  in  the  spring  of 
1853,  was  a  young  man  named  Holloway,  plainly 
attired  and  with  no  means  to  speak  of,  quiet  and 
unobtrusive  in  bis  demeanor  but  with  the  fixed  pur- 
pose of  giving  the  Western  country  a  fair  trial  in 
the  building  up  of  a  future  home.  He  was  not  pre- 
pared to  purchase  land  and  so  was  obliged  to  locate 
upon  a  rented  farm  in  Blount  Township  which  had 
been  but  slightly  improved  and  offered  few  advan- 
tages to  the  pioneer.  Upon  this  amid  many  diffi- 
culities  he  prosecuted  farming  for  a  period  of 
four  years,  then  changed  his  residence  to  Newell 
Township  where  he  sojourned  two  years.  His  next 
removal  was  to  a  farm  adjoining  that  which  he 
now  owns  and  occupies,  in  the  southern  part  of 
Ross  Township.  This  brought  him  up  to  1859  in 
which  year  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild  prai- 
rie and  two  years  later  established  himself  upon  it 
with  his  young  wife  in  a  log  cabin. 

Mr.  Holloway  began  the  cultivation  of  his  land 
with  an  ox  team  and  in  the  meantime  made  his 
home  in  Newell,  then  a  very  unimportant  village. 
In  the  spring  of  1860  he  hired  thirty  acres  plowed, 
which  he  planted  inborn.  From  that  time  on  he 
labored  industriously  early  and  late  until  he  had 
eighty  acres  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
had  erected  a  neat  and  substantial  house  and  barn 
besides  effecting  other  improvements,  j  As  oppor- 


tunity permitted  he  planted  fruit  and  shade  trees 
and  after  a  number  of  years  found  himself  in  a  con- 
dition to  purchase  additional  land  and  thus  in- 
vented his  surplus  capital  until  he  became  the  owner 
of  100  acres.  For  many  years  he  has  dealt  in  cattle 
realizing  therefrom  handsome  returns. 

Our  subject  generously  acknowledges  that  he  has 
been  greatly  assisted  and  encouraged  in  his  labors 
and  struggles  by  his  excellent  wife,  who  b  re  with 
her  husband  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day  and 
assisted  him  in  saving  as  well  as  earning.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  living,  namely: 
Albert,  Alford,  Frank,  and  Ivy,  the  wife  of  C.  R. 
Crawford,  of  Ross  Township. 

Upon  becoming  a  voting  citizen  Mr.  Holloway 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party  and 
later  cordially  endorsed  Republican  doctrines.  He 
has  made  a  speciality  of  attending  to  his  own  con- 
cerns and  consequently  has  meddled  very  little 
with  public  affairs,  having  no  desire  for  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  office.  His  pleasant  home  with  its 
attractive  surroundings  and  his  intelligent  family 
have  largely  supplied  his  social  needs,  although  he 
is  not  lacking  for  troops  of  friends  among  the  peo- 
ple whose  intelligence  always  leads  them  to  respect 
the  man  who  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  for- 
tune and  who  has  made  the  most  of  his  opportuni- 
ties, adding  to  the  talent  with  which  nature  en- 
dowed him. 

John  Holloway,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  son  of  Elijah  Holloway,  a  native  of  Maryland 
and  one  of  eight  children.  The  others  were  named 
respectively,  Adam.  William.  Elijah.  Annel.  Fran- 
ces, Hettie  and  Mary.  John  also  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, where  he  was  reared  to  man's  estate  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Davis.  About  1804.  with  a 
party  of  probably  eighty  persons,  they  set  out 
across  the  mountains  with  teams  and  landed  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  where  it  is  believed  the  grand- 
parents also  settled.  The  journey  at  that  time  was  a 
dangerous  one,  the  country  being  infested  with  des- 
perate characters,  who  frequently  murdered  trav- 
elers for  their  money.  The  trip  occupied  about 
six  weeks  and  the  Holloway  family  fortunately  were 
not  molest  ill. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  settled  in  the  heavy 
timber  of  Ross  County,  Ohio,  where  Zachariah  C. 


\ 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


235 


was  born  June  16,  1824,  and  where  the  parents 
spent  their  hist  days.  The  father  died  in  Septem- 
ber L 863,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years  and  the 
mother  at  the  same  age,  in  March,  18G5.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  the  faith  of  which  they  serenely  passed  away. 
Many  and  great  were  the  hardships  endured  by  the 
pioneers  in  the  wilderness  of  Ross  County  and  our 
subject  like  his  brothers  and  sisters  was  taught  to 
make  himself  useful  at  a  very  early  age.  lb-  as- 
sisted in  clearing  the  farm  ami  received  a  limited 
education  in  the  subscription  school.  His  life 
passed  quietly  and  uneventfully  during  his  boy- 
hood and  youth,  and  like  the  other  young  men  of 
that  day  and  place,  his  chief  ambition  was  in  due 
time  to  have  a  farm  and  a  fireside  of  his  own. 

Our  subject  continued  a  resident  of  his  native 
county  until  his  marriage,  in  1849.  The  maiden 
of  his  choice  was  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Joshua 
Shockley,  formerly  of  Delaware,  but  who,  like  the 
Holloways,  was  an  early  pioneer  of  the  Buckeye 
State.  Mrs.  Holloway  was  born  in  Delaware  and 
was  take  by  her  parents  to  Ohio  when  about  two 
years  old.  Her  father  died  there,  in  1841.  The 
mother  later  came  to  this  county  and  made  her 
home  with  her  daughter,  her  death  occurring  in 
May,  1888. 


■ c*    >-7=7i?^--V    *">      ~ 

ROSEPH  S.  CHRISTMAN  is  emphatically  one 

of  the  business  men  of  Vermilion  County, 
who  has  risen  to  prominence  through  his 
own  exertions.  He  was  born  on  the  30th 
day  of  January,  1855.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days 
with  his  parents  until  he  became  seventeen  years 
of  age,  when  being  of  a  studious  mind,  he  went  to 
Indianapolis  and  attended  business  college  in  that 
city,  where  he  graduated.  After  leaving  school  he 
returned  to  Warren  County,  Ind  ,  where  his  par- 
ents were  living  at  the  time,  and  remained  there 
for  a  short  period  engaged  in  a  dry  goods  store  in 
Attica.  He  returned  to  Indianapolis  and  entered 
into  the  elastic  roofing  business  at  241  Massachu- 
setts Ave.,  being  successfully  employed  for  one 
j-ear.  He  then  bought  a  grocery  store  on  Merid- 
ian street,  where  he  carried  on  a  good  business  for 


a  period  of  one  year,  when  be  sold  out  and  came  to 
Rossville,  111.,  where  he  landed  in  his  twenty-first 
year  with  about  $4,000.  He  contemplated  pur- 
chasing a  half  interest  in  the  dry  goods  sto>'e  of 
Henderson  &  Co.,  but  the  company  making  arrange- 
ments more  satisfactory  to  themselves,  our  subject 
found  he  could  invest  his  money  to  agood  advant- 
age by  loaning  it  and  did  so,  in  the  meantime  en- 
tering the  employ  of  the  dry  goods  Ann  mentioned 
as  clerk.  About  this  time  he  bought  600  acres  of 
his  present  home  of  1,100  acres  of  land  upon 
which  he  erected  his  present  farm  buildings,  and 
where  he  now  lives. 

Joseph  S.  .Christman  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Eli- 
zabeth Christman,  who  are  natives  of  Ohio,  but 
who  came  to  Illinois  when  they  were  young.  They 
were  married  Oct.  25,  1843,  when  they  immediately 
moved  to  Warren  County,  Ind.,  where  they  settled 
on  a  farm  which  they  conducted  for  two  years,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  period,  they  came  back  to 
Vermilion  County,  settling  here  on  a  quarter  section 
of  land  where  they  now  live.  The  family  comprised 
the  following  children — Sarah  J.,  is  at  home;  Su- 
san C,  is  the  wife  of  W.  II.  Lincoln  and  is  liv- 
ing in  West  Lebanon,  Ind. ;  Mary  H.,  is  the  wife  of 
H.  C.  Swisher  and  they  also  reside  in  the  same 
place.;  Eliza  E.,  was  killed  when  nineteen  years  of 
age  by  being  thrown  from  a  carriage;  Maria  C,  is 
the  wife  of  William  Hunter,  a  farmer  who  is  living 
in  Warren  County,  Ind.;  Joseph  S.,  of  whom  this 
sketch  is  written;  Frank  is  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness at  York,  Neb.;  Mahala  L.,  died  when  two  years 
of  age.  The  mother  of  this  family  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Christman,  died  July  8,  1872.  She  was  an  ardent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  sustained  a 
fine  reputation  in  her  neighborhood.  Mr.  Isaac 
Christman  is  quietly  living  with  his  son,  Joseph, 
and  enjoying  his  latter  days  in  a  manner  which  he 
has  won  by  hard  work.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  takes  great  interest  in  his  party. 

Mr.  Joseph  S.  Christman  is  a  dealer  in  live  stock 
shipping  considerable  quantities  every  year  to  Chi- 
cago. He  makes  a  specialty  in  breeding  Ilamble- 
tonian  horses,  of  which  breed  he  owns  several  fine 
specimens.  Politically.  Mr.  Christman  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  has  held  the  ottice  of  Township  Trustee 
for  a  long  time.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Ma- 


236 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sonic  fraternity,  having  joined  that  order  in  1876, 
by  uniting  with  Lodge  No.  527  at  Rossville.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Oriental  Consistory  which 
meets  on  Monroe  street,  Chicago.  His  career  in 
business  is  a  good  illustration  of  what  grit  and  in- 
telligence can  do,  and  should  he  emulated  by  oth- 
ers of  the  younger  generation.  Mr.  Christman  is 
unmarried,  but  has  succeeded  in  making  a  very 
comfortable  home,  and  the  view  given  in  this  vol- 
ume, represents  a  residence  that  in  no  wise  displays 
the  absence  of  a  mistress. 


€-*-!*- 


-«s 


R,  GEORG  EDENS.  In  the  person  of 
this  able  practitioner  the  biographer  dis- 
covers a  gentleman  in  love  with  his  pro- 
fession— one  who  adopted  it  on  account  of 
the  keen  interest  which  he  has  taken  in  it  almost 
from  boyhood,  and  whose  aim  has  been  to  excel. 
He  has  been  located  in  Danville  for  the  past  ten 
years,  and  it  is  not  surprising  to  learn  that  he  has 
built  up  a  lucrative  patronage  among  its  best  peo- 
ple. He  has  been  faithful  and  conscientious  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties,  and  aimed  to  gain  a  full 
understanding  of  the  disorders  which  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  remedy  before  making  the  applica- 
tion of  chemicals  or  drugs. 

Dr.  Edens  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Holstein, 
Germany.  June  16,  1851,  and  remained  a  resident 
of  his  native  province  until  1867.  Then,  a  youth 
of  sixteen  years,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  his 
parents,  they  settling  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Cham- 
paign County,  this  State.  The  father  prosecuted 
farming,  while  the  son,  who  also  assisted  around 
the  homestead,  continued  the  reading  of  medicine, 
which  he  had  begun  when  a  lad  of  fifteen  years. 
Two  years  later,  in  1868,  he  began  to  dispense 
medicine  to  his  acquaintances,  and  there  followed 
such  excellent  results  from  his  prescriptions  that 
before  he  had  realized  the  fact  he  had  quite  a  num- 
ber of  regular  patrons. 

In  1876  young  Edens  repaired  to  Chicago  and 
entered  Hahnemann  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1879,  after  taking  the  special  courses. 
On  the  17th  of  March,  that  year,  he  came  to  Dan- 
ville, and  commenced   the  regular  practice  of  his 


chosen  profession,  which  he  has  since  followed 
with  really  surprising  results.  He  adopts  many  of 
the  customs  common  to  the  Fatherland,  where  the 
students  of  medicine  are  subjected  to  the  must 
thorough  training,  and  not  allowed  to  practice 
until  they  are  masters  in  their  profession. 

The  office  of  Dr.  Edens  is  situated  on  North 
Street,  near  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  depot, 
where  he  has  around  him  his  books  and  the  various 
appliances  requisite  for  his  extensive  business,  lie 
not  only  has  a  large  practice  in  Danville,  but  also 
in  the  country  surrounding  it.  He  repairs  to  dif- 
ferent points  at  regular  intervals,  usually  once  a 
month.  There  is  every  indication  that  he  has  be- 
fore him  a  most  prosperous  future,  and  the  pros- 
pects of  attaining  to  eminence  in  his  profession. 
He  has  naturally  been  too  full  of  business  to  give 
much  attention  to  politics,  but  has  become  fully 
identified  and  in  sympathy  with  American  institu- 
tions, and  usually  votes  for  the  men  and  not  the 
party. 

Dr.  Edens  was  married  in  Danville.  March  1  1, 
1885,  to  Miss  Frances  Keehler.  who  was  born  in 
Posen,  Germany.  April  30,  185!).  She  came  to 
America  in  1881,  after  having  acquired  a  careful 
education,  and  thereafter  was  employed  as  a  pri- 
vate teacher  in  German  and  French,  and  also  in  the 
public  schools  of  St.  Louis  and  Chicago.  Mrs. 
Edens  likewise  possesses  considerable  musical  tal- 
ent, and  is  at  once  recognized  as  a  very  accom- 
plished and  intelligent  lady.  They  occupy  a  pleas- 
ant and  attractive  home,  and  enjoy  the  friendship 
of  the  best  citizens  of  Danville. 


AMUEL  COOK,  the  son  of  a  pioneer 
family  of  Vermilion  County,  as  one  of  its 
practical,  well-to-do  farmers,  a  man  of 
sound  sense  and  good  understanding,  is 
classed  among  its  most  desirable  citizens.  His 
homestead  on  section  1 1.  Catlin  Township,  com- 
prising 160  acres,  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  vicin- 
ity, and  he  has  100  acres  of  excellent  farming  land 
in  Georgetown  Township  besides  valuable  properd- 
in Danville. 

James  Cook,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


237 


either  in  Maryland  or  Virginia,  Juno  23,  17!>7.     In 

early  manh 1   lie  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 

Susanna  Mover,  their  union  taking  place  ( >et.  6, 
1822.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Dec.  2, 
1803,  ami  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  settled  in  Clermont 
County,  Ohio,  living  there  among  its  early  pioneers 
till  1834,  when  they  migrated  across  the  country 
with  their  family  to  Vermilion  County  and  became 
early  settlers  of  Brook's  Point  in  ( Jcorgetown. 
There  the  father  rounded  out  a  useful  life,  holding 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  about  him  as  he  was 
in  all  respects  a  good  man.  The  wedded  life  of 
himself  and  wife  was  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth 
of  six  sons  and  five  daughters. 

Our  subject  was  the  second  child  of  the  family, 
and  he  was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  Oct. 
4,  1825.  He  was  nine  years  old  when  he  came  to 
Vermilion  County  with  his  parents  more  than  fifty 
years  ago,  but  he  still  retains  a  recollection  of  that 
memorable  journey  through  the  forests  primeval 
and  over  the  wild  prairies  to  this  then  sparsely 
settled  country.  He  grew  to  man's  estate  in 
Georgetown  Township,  and  gleaned  an  education 
in  the  "old  log  [school-house  in  which  the  children 
of  the  pioneers  were  taught  the  rudiments  of  learn- 
Lng.  He  remained  with  his  father  and  mother  till 
he  was  twenty-six  and  a  half  years  old,  when  he 
married  and  established  a  home  of  his  own.  He 
has  devoted  himself  principally  to  farming,  and 
through  many  years  of  persistent  toil  has  accumu- 
lated a  goodly  amount  of  property,  including  one 
of  the  best  farms  in  Catlin  Township.  He  has  his 
land  under  fine  tillage,  and  has  erected  a  substan- 
tial, conveniently  arranged  set  of  buildings,  in- 
cluding a  handsome,  roomy  residence,  replete  with 
all  the  comforts  of  life.  When  he  was  a  young 
man  Mr.  Cook  assisted  in  making  five  flatboats  to 
go  down  the  Vermilion  River  into  the  Wabash. 
and  thence  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  and 
once  he  took  a  trip  to  Memphis. 

Mr.  Cook  has  been  twice  married.  He  was  first 
wedded  to  Miss  Amanda  M.  Graves,  April  1,  1852, 
in  Georgetown  Township.  She  was  a  native  of 
that  place,  born  Aug.  18,  1833,  to  James  and  Mar- 
garet (Black  bourn)  G raves,  who  were  among  its 
earliest    pioneers,  coming    there  from  Kentucky  in 


1829,  and  spending  their  remaining  days  on  their 
homestead  in  that  township.  By  that  marriage 
our  subject  became  the  father  of  six  children,  of 
whom  the  following  is  recorded:  George  W.  mar- 
ried Eliza  Douglas;  James  P.  married  Miss  Eveline 
O'Neal;  Mary  married  John  II.  Wherry;  Margaret 
died  when  she  was  eighteen  years  old;  Charles 
married  Miss  Celia  Padgett;  Ellen  died  when  about 
six  months  old.  Aug.  19,  1866,  after  a  happy  mar- 
ried life  of  fourteen  years  Mrs.  Cook  passed  away 
from  the  scene  of  her  usefulness,  and  thus  was  lost 
to  her  household  a  wife  who  had  always  striven  to 
aid  her  husband  and  make  his  home  pleasant  and 
comfortable,  a  mother  wdio  was  devoted  to  her 
children,  a  neighbor  who  was  a  kind  and  true 
friend. 

Mr.  Cook  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  for- 
merly Mrs.  Martha  E.  (Citizen)  Mor eland,  in  La- 
fayette, Ind.,  April  14,  1870.  Their  wedded  life 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three 
children:  Bertie  J.,  John  F.,  and  Fred.  Mrs.  Cook 
was  the  fourth  of  the  nine  children,  six  sons  and 
three  daughters,  born  to  William  and  Esther 
(Parker)  Citizen,  and  her  birth  occurred  in  Dark 
County,  Ind.,  July  25,  1838.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Maryland,  Nov.  10,  1809,  and  her  mother  in 
North  Carolina,  Aug.  4,  1812,  her  death  occurring 
in  Warren  County,  Ind.  The  father  survives  at 
an  advanced  age.  When  she  was  two  years  old 
Mrs.  Cook's  parents  moved  to  Wayne  County, 
Ind.,  and  when  she  was  thirteen  years  old  her 
father  brought  her  to  this  State.  She  was  married 
in  Warren  County,  Ind..  Aug.  25,  1854,  to  Joseph 
Moreland.  Of  this  union  there  was  one  son, 
Charles  W.,  an  intelligent,  well  educated  young 
man,  who  has  been  engaged  in  the  profession  of 
school-teaching  seven  years. 

It  is  said  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  that  "  they  are 
people  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet,  so  friendly 
and  generous  are  they  toward  all  who  come  under 
their  influence,  and  so  kind  and  considerate  are 
they  in  their  relations  with  all  about  them."  They 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Christian  Church  — 
of  which  he  is  an  elder  —  contribute  liberally  to  its 
support,  and  are  never  backward  in  aiding  all 
schemes  that  look  to  the  moral  or  social  advance- 
ment of  the  community.     In  our  subject  the  Dem- 


238 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM 


ocratic  party  Muds  one  of  its  most  honest  support- 
ers and  the  township  one  of  the  promoters  of 
education  within  its  borders,  he  having  held  seve- 
ral of  the  school  offices,  and  also  being  School 
Director  for  years,  discharging  the  duties  thus  de- 
volving upon  him  with  characteristic  fidelity  and 
to  the  eminent  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 


v^- 


_^ju^ 


VIC  - 


ffiOHN  L.JACKSON.  In  the  career  of  this 
leading  business  man  of  Sidell,  we  recognize 
the  type  of  the  live,  energetic  American 
citizen,  who  has  been  peculiarly  favored 
by  Providence,  being  the  owner  of  a  fine  property, 
the  son  of  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  county, 
ami  one  of  its  leading  citizens,  and  having  had  the 
happy  faculty  of  improving  all  his  advantages.  By 
his  straightforward  methods  of  proceedure  he  has 
fully  established  himself  in  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  all  with  whom  he  has  had  dealings.  He  is 
at  present  engaged  in  general  merchandising  at 
Sidell.  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  patronage  which 
is  steadily  increasing.  The  firm  of  John  L.  Jack- 
son &  (  o.  is  considered  A  1 . 

Mr.  Jackson  was  born  in  Douglas  County,  tin's 
State,  Sept.  22,  1860,  and  is  the  son  of  Amos  and 
Sarah  (Hesseler)  Jackson,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  near  Frankfort,  Ind.,  and  the  latter  in  this 
county.  They  were  married  in  Michigan.  The 
elder  Jackson  operates  as  a  farmer  and  cattle 
raiser,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Danville.  He  is 
represented  on  another  page  in  this  volume.  The 
parental  household  was  completed  by  the  birth  of 
four  daughters  and  two  sons,  and  of  these  John  was 
the  eldest.  He  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  came  to  this  county,  and  settled  near  In- 
dianola.  in  Carroll  Township.  Later  they  removed 
first  to  Paris  and  then  to  Danville.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  our  subject  entered  the  Commercial 
College  at  Terre  Haute,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1879.  Upon  leaving  school 
lie  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  stock,  with 
which  business  he  had  been  familiar  since  a  003-. 
He  shipped  his  first  load  from  Archie  Station,  and 
was  occupied  at  this  business  until  1883. 

The    marriage   of   our    subject   with  Miss  Eva 


Gray  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home,  in  March, 
1883.  This  lady  was  born  and  reared  in  Cham- 
paign County,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Louisa  (Weisiger)  Gray,  who  settled  in  the  above- 
named  county  in  1861.  The  father  died  in  1876, 
aged  about  forty  years.  The  mother  was  subse- 
quently married  and  now  resides  near  Kankakee. 
The  three  daughters  were  named  Eva.  Cora  and 
Nettie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  have  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Meta  J. 

Mr.  Jackson  purchased  the  store  and  stock  of 
general  merchandise  belonging  to  William  Danley, 
the  pioneer  merchant  of  Sidell,  and  in  addition  to 
looking  after  the  affairs  of  this  establishment,  con- 
tinues to  deal  in  cattle.  Politically,  he  is  an  un- 
compromising Democrat,  and  socially  belongs  to 
Peace  Dale  Lodge  Number  25,  I.  < ).  ( ).  F.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen.  His  farm 
comprises  172  acres  of  choice  land,  pleasantly 
located  southwest  of  Sidell. 


ffiOIIN  MILTON  DOUGLASS,  a  prominent 
and  honored  citizen  of  Vermilion  County,  is 
classed  among  its  leading  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers,  he  having  been  intimately  connected 
with  its  agricultural  interests  for  many  years;  and, 
the  son  of  parents  who  were  early  settlers  of  this 
part  of  Illinois,  he  may  indeed  be  regarded  as  a 
pioneer  himself,  as  since,  and  even  before,  attain- 
ing man's  estate,  he  has  done  much  to  develop  the 
rich  resources  of  this  region  and  make  it  a  great 
agricultural  center.  He  owns  a  farm  on  section  16, 
Catlin  Township,  that  is  justly  considered  one  of 
the  best  places  in  the  county,  and  here  he  has 
erected  a  handsome  commodious  residence  that, 
with  its  surroundings,  beautiful  lawns  adorned 
with  shade  trees,  etc.,  forms  an  attractive  scene  in 
the  landscape,  and  in  this  lovely  home  he  is  quietly 
passing  his  declining  years,  calmly  awaiting  life's 
great  change. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  what  is 
now  Ohio  County.  Ind..  Aug.  23,  1823,  the  second 
child  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five 
daughters,  belonging  to  Thomas  W,  and  Delilah 
(Peyne)  Douglass.     The  former  was   born  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


239 


State  of  Maine,  on  the  Penobscot  River,  and  the 
mother  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  Xork. 
After  marriage  they  first  settled  in  Dearborn 
County.  Ind..  in  that  part  of  it  now  called  Ohio 
County,  and  thence  journeyed  to  this  State  in  the 
spring  of  1880,  and  located  in  Catlin  Township,  Ver- 
milion County,  where  the  County  farm  now  is,  and 
where  they  spent  their  declining  years,  and  the 
mother  closing  her  eyes  in  death  in  September,  1856, 
and  in  October,  1805,  the  father  departed  this  life. 
They  were  people  of  solid  merit,  who  faithfully  per- 
formed their  allotted  tasks  in  life,  and,  as  pioneers  of 
Vermilion  County,  their  memories  will  ever  be  held 
in  reverence  along  with  those  of  other  courageous, 
self-sacrificing  spirits  who  came  here  in  the  early 
days  of  the  settlement  of  the  country,  and  toiled  to 
make  it  a  fitting  home  for  those  who  came  after 
them. 

Their  son  John  Milton,  of  whom  we  write,  was 
seven  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
in  their  migration  from  the  home  of  his  birth  to 
this  county,  and  here  the  remaining  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  were  passed,  and  his  entire 
manhood  has  been  spent  within  the  limits  of  the 
county.  He  early  began  his  career  as  a  farmer, 
and  has  been  greatly  prospered  in  his  life  work'. 
being  the  fortunate  owner  of  a  fertile  farm  of 
;i  1  7 A  acres  that  is  not  surpassed  in  point  of  culti- 
vation and  value  of  improvements  by  any  other 
place  in  the  township.  He  has  erected  a  commo- 
dious, well-built  house,  a  barn  fifty  feet  square 
on  a  stone  foundation,  and  other  necessary  build- 
ings, and  has  set  out  numerous  beautiful  shade 
and  fruit  trees,  and,  taken  altogether,  he  has  one 
of  the  finest  estates  in  the  county.  Mr.  Douglass' 
farm  is  well  adapted  to  stock-raising,  and  he  makes 
a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle,  and  his  fine  herd 
of  that  breed,  highly  graded,  is  one  of  the  best  in 
this  locality. 

On  the  1  Ith  of  November.  1844,  the  marriage  of 
our  subject  and  Miss  Mahala  Burroughs  was  sol- 
emnized in  Catlin  Township,  one  mile  west  of  the 
village  of  Catlin.  Mrs.  Douglass  was  born  in  Rip- 
lev  County,  Ind.,  April  3,  1824,  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Polly  (Wilson)  Burroughs.  Of  her 
union  with  our  subject  nine  children  were  born, 
as   follows:    Judith    A.,  wife   of   Joseph   Trisler; 


Winlield  s.,  who  married  Lizzie  (lark;  Delilah,  who 
died   when   shew-as   two   years   old;  Thomas  W., 

who  died  when  he  was  eleven  mouths  old:  Clarissa. 
the  wife  of  James  Clipson;  .Mahala;   Pamelia,  who 

died  in  infancy;  Arinilda.  the  wife  of  Richard 
O'Conell;  and  Esther,  who  died  when  one  week 
old. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  L887,  the  pleasant 
wedded  life  of  our  subject  was  brought  to  a  sad 
close  by  the  death  of  her  with  whom  he  had 
walked,  hand  in  hand,  for  more  than  forty-two 
years.  This  amiable  wife  and  companion  had  been 
to  him  all  that  a  true  and  devoted  woman  can  be 
to  her  husband,  and  to  her  children  she  hail  been  a 
wise  and  tender  mother,  and  her  presence  is  sorely 
missed  in  the  household  where  she  had  been  the 
home-maker  so  long.  But  our  subject  does  not 
mourn  as  one  without  comfort,  as  his  Christian 
faith  points  to  a  reunion  beyond  the  grave. 

Mr.  Douglass  is  a  man  of  decided  character  and 
sound  understanding,  and  his  career  has  marked  him 
as  possessing  those  qualities  that  enable  man  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world  without  the  adventitious 
aids  of  fortune  and  birth.  lie  and  live  of  his  chil- 
dren are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  are  among  its  most  earnest  workers. 
In  politics  Mr.  Douglass  has  taken  part  in  the  pub- 
lic affairs  of  the  township  as  School  Director  and 
Highway  Commissioner.  In  politics  he  favors  the 
Democratic  party,  firmly  believing  that  its  policy- 
is  the  only  safe  one  for  the  guidance  of  National 
affairs. 

—~t— '. W—&&V     i      .■■— ■'V~- 

ffiOHN  B.  CRANSON.  It  is  a  homely  and 
time-worn  adage  that  "virtue  brings  its  own 
reward,"  but  the  truth  of  it  is  frequently 
brought  to  mind,  as  in  contemplating  the 
career  of  Mr.  Cranson,  which  has  been  that  of  an 
honest  man  and  a  good  citizen,  and  in  which  he  has 
performed  life's  duties  in  a  creditable  manner,  with 
the  exception  that  he  is  still  plodding  along  life's 
road  single-handed  and  alone,  although  having 
passed  the  fifty-second  year  of  his  age.  While  he 
may  not  be  the  hero  of  any  very  thrilling  event  he 
has  seen  much  of  life  in  its  different  phases,  and 
during  the  Civil  War  gave  his  services  to  assist    in 


240 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  preservation  of  the  Union.  His  army  record  is 
a  creditable  one,  as  has  been  that  of  his  life  after 
leaving  it,  when  he  settled  down  to  farm  life 
again  in  1878  on  his  present  farm,  and  has  now 
one  of  the  attractive  homesteads  in  his  township. 
His  specialty  is  Jersey  cattle,  and  he  is  likewise  in- 
terested in  the  chicken  industry,  having  a  goodly 
number  of  fine  fowls  in  which  he  takes  a  pardon- 
able pride. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  native  of  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  April  15,  1837.  His 
parents,  Joel  and  Rhoda  (Gray)  Cranson,  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont  respectively, 
and  lived  in  New  York  until  1854,  then  removed  to 
Michigan,  and  from  the  Wolverine  State  to  In- 
diana, and  from  there  came  to  Illinois  in  1864, 
where  their  death  occurred;  the  father  died  in  1875, 
and  the  mother  in  1882.  They  were  the  parents 
of  six  children,  three  of  whom  besides  our  subject 
are  still  living. 

The  union  school  at  Lockport  furnished  young 
Cranson  with  his  early  education,  which  was  com- 
pleted at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  He  then  began 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of  tinsmith,  which 
he  followed  two  years,  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Michigan  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. After  their  removal  to  Indiana  he  became 
interested  in  farming.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War  he  enlisted  in  1801  in  Company  B,  29th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  six  mouths  later  was  pro- 
moted to  the  post  of  Orderly  Sergeant.  The  regi- 
ment was  organized  at  La  Porte,  Ind.,  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  Gen.  McCook,  and  afterward 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing, 
after  which  he  fell  and  was  hurt.  Upon  recovering 
sufficient^  he  was  transferred  to  the  veteran  re- 
serve corps,  in  which  he  remained  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  service.  He  received  his  hon- 
orably discharge  in  September,  1864,  and  after  a 
brief  visit  to  his  old  home  in  Indiana  set  out  for 
Illinois  with  the  view  of  permanently  establishing 
himself  in  this  State.  Prior  to  entering  the  army 
he  had  purchased  a  farm  in  Indiana  and  sold  it  be- 
fore coming  to  Illinois. 

The  domestic  arrangements  of  our  subject  are 
presided  over  by  his  two  sisters,  and  he  has  one  of 
the  pleasantest  homes  in  the  count3r.     The    sisters 


are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  while  Mr.  Cranson  is  identified 
with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian.  The  three  op- 
erate together  in  the  business  of  raising  chickens, 
which  is  carried  on  by  the  natural  process  and  by 
incubators.  They  market  about  800  per  3'ear,  and 
have  all  the  modern  conveniences  for  hatching  and 
taking  care  of  the  chickens.  The  whole  process  is 
so  systematized  that  the  industry  is  pleasurable  as 
well  as  profitable.  Their  cattle  are  grade  Short- 
horn and  full-blooded  Jerseys. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cranson  uniformly  votes  the 
straight  Republican  ticket.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Homer  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  as  a  Mason  be- 
longs to  Blue  Lodge  and  the  Chapter  in  Homer,  in 
the  latter  of  which  he  is  Master  of  Third  Veil.  Both 
in  social  and  business  circles  he  occupies  an  envi- 
able position,  and  is  one  of  those  men  whose  word 
is  considered  as  good  as  his  bond. 

\T[ ENRY  G.  BOYCE.  Sixteen  years  have 
[i/jlj  passed  since  this  worthy  pioneer  folded  Iris 
'J*)^'  hands  in  rest  from  the  labors  Of  life,  but 
{^)  his  name  will  be  recalled  by  many  as  that 
of  one  of  the  first  men  coming  to  the  vicinity  of 
Danville  and  performing  some  of  the  earliest  work 
in  connection  with  his  trade  as  a  carpenter  and 
joiner.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county 
in  1831  and  two  years  later  established  himself  in 
the  embryo  town  of  Danville,  which  then  consisted 
of  only  a  few  houses.  Willi  his  young  wife  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  domicile  which  he  built 
that  year,  which  was  weather-boarded  in  walnut 
and  which  is  still  standing  and  the  property  of  his 
widow,  who  preserve  it  as  a  relic  of  the  older  days. 
Opposite  it  was  built  the  engine  house  which  now 
shelters  the  fire  apparatus  of  a  thriving  and  pro- 
gressive modern  city. 

A  native  of  New  York  State,  Mr.  Bo>'ce  was 
born  in  Schoharie  County,  Feb.  20,  1809.  Thirteen 
months  later  his  parents  removed  to  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  where  the  father  entered  a  tract  of 
land  from  the  Government  and  where  the  family 
lived  until  1831.  Then  pushing  still  further  west- 
ward   the3-  came   to   this    county    and    Henry  (i. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


241 


worked  on  a  farm  until  1832.  That  year  he  turned 
bis  attention  more  particularly  to  liis  trade  of  a  car- 
penter and  until  his  marriage  the  year  following 
was  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Beckwith  and  Gov. 
Leander  Rutledge.  His  marriage  with  Miss  Fli/.a 
Potter  occurred  on  the  3d  of  March,  1833,  the 
Rev.  Freeman  Smally  officiating  at  the  ceremony. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyce  estab- 
lished themselves  in  a  log  cabin  on  what  is  now 
Walnut  street  and  where  their  first  child  was  born. 
Mary  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Fulton  of  Vallejo. 
Cal.  In  the  summer  of  1833  Mr.  Boyce  went  to 
Chicago  when  there  were  only  two  houses  between 
Danville  and  that  now  great  city.  After  the  father, 
brother  and  brother-in-law  of  Mrs.  Boyce  arrived 
there,  they  dug  the  cellar  for  the  first  brick  house 
ever  built  in  Chicago,  which  was  for  a  man  named 
Chapman.  Mr.  Boyce  did  the  carpenter  work  on 
said  building.  He  remained  there  that  fall  in  order 
to  earn  money  to  pay  taxes  and  later  returned  to 
Danville  purchased  land  lying  along  what  is  now 
Walnut  street.  He  pursued  his  trade  as  a  carpenter 
and  finally  became  a  contractor  and  builder,  put- 
ting up  many  of  the  first  buildings  in  the  town. 
He  thus  labored  until  about  1850  and  in  1856  was 
appointed  Postmaster  of  Danville,  prior  to  the 
election  of  President  Buchanan.  He  served  until 
the  incoming  of  President  Lincoln's  administration 
and  later  was  Deputy  Postmaster  under  President 
Johnson. 

Mr.  Boyce  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
abilities  and  occupied  a  leading  position  in  his  com- 
munity. He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
serving  four  terms  of  four  years  each,  holding  this 
Office  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
warmly  interested  in  the  cause  of  temperance.  Up- 
right and  honorable  in  his  transactions  he  enjoyed 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him 
and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  3,  1K73,  was 
deeply  mourned  not  only  by  his  own  family  but 
by  the  entire  community. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Peter  Boyce.  a 
native  of  Washington  County,  X.  Y.,  and  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his 
native  State  where  he  married  Miss  Jane  Potter, 
and  later  removed  to  Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.      lie 


was  three  times  married  and  was  the  lather  of 
twenty-one  children.  In  bis  father's  family  there 
were  thirteen  children  and  his  mother  died  in  Har- 
rison County,  Ohio.  After  coming  to  Illinois  he 
lived  here  only  a  few  years,  then  returning  to  Ohio 
settled  near  Springfield  where  he  spent  his  last  days, 
lie  was  a  man  of  considerable  force  of  character 
and  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mrs.  Eliza  J.  (Potter)  Boyce  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son County,  N.  Y.,  one  half  mile  from  Sackett's 
Harbor,  Sept.  ID.  1813,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Elijah  and  Lana  Potter,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Washington  County.  X.  Y.,  Sept.  4,  17.S7. 
He  was  there  reared  upon  a  farm  and  was  married 
to  a  maiden  of  his  own  township,  Miss  Lana  Van 
Wormer,  in  1810.  Not  long  afterwaid  the  young- 
people  removed  to  a  point  near  Sackett's  Harbor, 
in  Jefferson  County.  Mrs.  Lana  Potter  was  bora 
June  2,  171)3  and  was  consequently  seventeen  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 

The  three  eldest  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Potter 
were  born  in  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  Eliza  J. 
being  the  eldest.  Six  more  children  were  added 
to  the  family  after  they  left  the  Empire  State. 
With  one  exception  they  all  lived  to  mature  years, 
one  being  killed  when  about  four  years  old  by  the 
falling  of  a  tree  upon  him.  .About  1820  the  Potter 
family  resolved  to  seek  what  was  then  the  farther 
West  and  accordingly  removed  to  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  settling  near  the  present  site  of  the  town  of 
Ashland.  That  region  was  then  a  wilderness, 
peopled  chiefly  by  wild  animals  and  Indians,  there 
being  only  four  other  white  families  in  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  Potter  entered  a  tract  of  land  from  the 
Government  and  the  family  endured  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  life  on  the  frontier.  The 
nearest  mill  was  thirty  miles  away  and  the  road 
which  led  to  it  was  for  long  distances  nothing  more 
than  an  Indian  trail. 

As  the  country  began  settling  up  Mr.  Potter 
distinguished  himself  as  a  leading  citizen  and  was 
one  of  the  first  to  exert  himself  in  the  establish- 
ment of  a  school  which  was  effected  after  much  diffi- 
culty, Mr.  Potter  riding  three  days  to  find  a  teacher 
who  could  even  write.  The  family  sojourned  in 
that   neighborhood  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years 


•242 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  in  1830  concluded  to  make  another  change  of 
residence,  this  time  seeking  the  Prairie  State.  After 
due  preparation  they  in  October  set  out  overland 
with  a  two-horse  team  and  two  cows,  and  their 
household  goods  and  provisions.  They  were  three 
weeks  on  the  road,  camping  and  cooking  by  the 
wayside.  They  arrived  near  the  present  site  of 
Newtown,  on  Middle  Fork  Township,  in  November 
following.  The  father  three  or  four  years  later, 
purchased  land  on  the  State  road,  at  the  edge  of 
Eight  Mile  Prairie,  ten  miles  north  of  Danville, 
where  he  opened  up  a  good  farm  and  lived  until 
136o.  The  death  of  the  wife  and  mother  occurred 
June  17,  1856.  Eleven  years  later  Mr.  Potter  re- 
moved to  Missouri  and  subsequently  made  his  home 
with  his  son,  Joseph,  who  was  located  on  a  farm 
nine  miles  from  Chillicothe. 

Mrs.  Lana(  Van  Wormer) Potter  was  the  daughter 
of  Jacob  Van  Wormer,  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Washington  County,  N.  V.,  and  a  strict  adher- 
ent of  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  His  house  for  many  years  was  the  meet- 
ing place  for  the  annual  conference  and  was  the 
frequent  resort  of  the  itinerant.  Among  the  early 
preachers  of  that  day  was  the  renowned  Lorenzo 
Dow,  who  made  for  himself  a  name  intimately  as- 
sociated with  the  early  history  of  Methodism.  He 
and  his  wife  finally  removed  to  Jefferson  County 
and  made  their  home  with  Mrs.  Potter,  his  young- 
est daughter.  They  intended  going  to  Ohio  with 
the  Potter  family,  but  on  account  of  the  mother's 
health  they  were  obliged  to  remain  in  Jefferson 
County  N.  Y.,  where  they  spent  their  last  days. 
The  Van  Wormer  family  traced  its  ancestry  to 
Holland. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Boyce  was 
William  Potter  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Washington 
County,  N.  Y.,  who  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Sher- 
man and  settled  near  Fori  Ann.  They  became  the 
parents  of  nine  sons  and  two  daughters  and  eight 
of  their  sons  lived  to  mature  years.  They  remained 
residents  of  Fort  Ann  until  quite  aged,  then  went 
to  live  with  their  son,  William,  near  Buffalo,  where 
their  decease  took  place. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyce  there  were  born  four 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom.  Mary  J.,  has  been 
already  mentioned.     The  second  daughter,  Emily, 


is  at  home  with  her  mother.  Sarah  M.  died  July 
30.  1861;  William  during  the  late  Civil  War  served 
three  years  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company  A,  1  lth 
Indiana  Infantry  and  was  wounded  at  Champion 
Hill.  At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  of  enlist- 
ment he  re-entered  the  ranks  and  at  the  battle  of 
Winchester  received  a  fatal  shot  and  his  remains 
now  lie  in  Winchester  burying  ground.  Mrs.  Boyce 
and  her  daughter,  Emily,  are  members  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Miss 
Emma  is  a  well  educated  lady  and  has  followed 
the  profession  of  a  teacher  fifteen  years  in  Danville. 
Jacob  Van  AVormer  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  Elijah  Potter  served  in  the  War  of  1812  and 
Henr}'  G.  Boyce  tendered  his  services  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War. 


/p^EORGE  CLARKSON.  This  gentleman  upon 
'if  <^t?  eoln'no  t0  Vermilion  County  purchased 
V\^S(  160  acres  of  land  in  Sidell  Township  which 
is  now  occupied  by  his  widow,  Mrs.  Elvira  Clark- 
son,  a  very  capable  and  intelligent  lady  who  enjoys 
the  friendship  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  her. 
Since  the  death  of  her  husband  she  has  released  the 
estate  from  its  indebtedness  and  managed  it  in  a 
manner  reflecting  great  credit  upon  her  discretion 
and  good  judgment.  Without  making  any  pre- 
tentions to  elegance,  she  lives  simply,  comfortably 
and  modestly,  and  has  a  true  and  motherly  heart, 
full  of  sympathy  for  all  the  wrongs  and  woes  of 
mankind. 

Mrs.  Clarkson  was  born  in  Kentucky  where  she 
lived  until  a  maiden  of  eighteen  years  and  then 
her  parents  removed  to  Illinois.  She  was  married 
in  1865,  and  settled  with  her  husband  on  the  farm 
which  she  now  occupies.  Mr.  Clarkson  had  also 
been  reared  in  Kentucky.  Of  their  union  there 
were  born  two  sons  and  two  daughters — Henry  T., 
Jennie  M.,  Allie  V.,  and  George  J.  The  youngest 
was  only  two  months  old  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death.  Mrs.  Clarkson  has  reason  to  be  proud  of 
her  family,  her  sons  and  daughters  being  more 
than  ordinarily  bright  and  attractive,  the  daugh- 
ters especially  handsome. 

Mrs.  Clarkson  after  the  death  of  her  husband 
was  forced  to  assume  the    responsibilities  of    the 


'■ 


>    (s>    ^^yu^t) 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


245 


farm  and  right  nobly  has  slie  fulfilled  the  duties  of 
her  position  and  reared  her  children  in  a  manner 
which  shall  make  of  them  useful  and  respected 
members  of  the  community.  Mrs.  Clarkson  is  an 
active  member  of  ihe  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  the  northern  part  of  Sidell  Township 
and  comprises  in  her  life  and  character  the  faith- 
ful and  devoted  mother  and  the  true  woman.  A 
sketch  of  her  father.  James  Thompson,  will  be 
found  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr.  Clarkson 
died  Sept.  3,  1877. 


(F  ON.  WILLIAM  P.  PEIRCE,  M.  D..  Mayor 
ITj)  of  Hoopeston,  is  also  a  practicing  physician 
(IW'  and  surgeon  and  senior  partner  of  the  firm 
'(©)  Of  Peirce  &  McCaughey,  proprietors  of  the 
drug  store  on  Main  street.  The  various  titles  ap- 
pended to  his  name  have  been  justly  earned  and 
from  them  it  will  be  readily  guessed  that  he  occu- 
pies no  secondary  position  in  his  community. 

Dr.  Peirce  was  born  in  Chautauqua  County, N.Y., 
March  25,  1830,  and  lived  there  until  about  1852, 
completing  his  education  in  what  was  then  Fredonia 
Academy,  but  is  now  the  Fredonia  .State  Normal 
School.  Upon  leaving  school  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  his 
father,  Dr.  Austin  Peirce,  beginning  his  readings 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Later  he  entered 
upon  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  University  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  from  which  he  was  gradaated 
in  the  class  of  18.52. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  above  mentioned  young 
Peirce  came  to  Illinois  and  began  the  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession  in  Kendall  County  where  he 
resided  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  In 
June,  1801,  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers 
named  Company  D,  and  assigned  to  the  30th  Illin- 
ois Infantry  and  of  which  he  was  elected  Captain. 
After  a  year's  faithful  service  in  this  capacity,  he 
was  appointed  Surgeon  to  one  of  the  new  regi- 
ments, the  88th  Illinois,  with  the  rank  of  Major. 
and  remained  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  met  t lie  enemy  in  many  important  battles,  being 
in  the  fight  at  Pea  Ridge,  Bentonville,  Ark.,  Wil- 
son's  Creek,  Mo.,  Shiloh,  Tenn.,   and  the  siege  of 


Corinth,  at  which  places  he  was  in  command  of 
his  company.  After  receiving  the  appointment 
of  Surgeon,  he  was  at  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga, 
in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  at  Nashville  and 
Franklin.  Tenn..  besides  many  other  important  en. 
gagements.  The  greater  part  of  the  time  he  acted 
as  Urigade  Surgeon  and  discharged  his  duties  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  gain  him  the  friendship  of  his 
subordinates  and  the  approval  of  his  superiors. 

After  the  war  was  ended  Dr.  Peirce  returned  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Lisbon,  Kendall  Co.,  111.,  and 
subsequently  at  Lemont,  Cook  County,  where  he 
followed  his  profession  until  1880,  when  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Hoopeston  and  is  now  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  lucrative  business.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  surgery  and  has  met  with  unqualified 
success.  He  soon  afterward  established  his  drug 
store  and  being  a  liberal  and  public  spii  d  citizen, 
has  always  interested  himself  in  the  well  and 
progress  of  his  adopted  town. 

While  a  resident  of  Kendall  County,  Dr.  Peirce 
was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  represent 
his  party  in  the  2'5th  General  Assembly  and  during 
the  sessions  which  followed,  served  on  the  com- 
mittee of  State  Charitable  Institutions  and  Revenue. 
Later  he  was  appointed  a  delegate  from  the  Fif- 
teenth District  to  the  Constitutional  Convention 
of  1870  at  Springfield.  In  1871  he  was  elected 
Senator  from  the  district  comprising  Kendall, 
Grundy  and  Will  counties,  living  at  the  time  in 
Minooka,  Grundy  County,  where  he  practiced 
until  his  removal  to  Cook  County.  During  the 
Constitutional  Convention  he  was  on  the  committee 
of  Federal  Relations,  Revenue  and  Judicial  Dis- 
tricts, sometimes  serving  as  Chairman.  In  the 
Senate  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Slate 
Charitable  Institutions.  Railroads,  Penitentiary  and 
Education.  Wherever  residing  he  has  usually 
been  a  representative  to  district  and  State  conven- 
tions, haviug  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in 
political  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  County 
Medical  Society  and  in  Masonry  is  a  Knight 
Templar. 

In  Cook  County,  this  State,  Dr.  Peirce  was 
married  July  18.  1879,  to  Miss  Ella  Anderson. 
The  four  children  born  of  this  union  were  named 
respectively:  William,  James.  Lamartine  and  John 


-.mi; 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Logan.  They  are  all  living  and  form  a  bright  and 
interesting  group,  which  the  parents  look  upon 
with  pardonable  pride.  Mrs.  Peirce  was  born  in 
llarrisburg,  Pa.,  May  12,  1848,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  James  Anderson,  who  removed  first  to  Cook 
County.  Ill  ,  and  then  to  Kansas  where  he  died  in 
1888. 

Hon.  Austin  Peiree,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  born  in  17'.I9.  When 
a  3'oung  man  he  emigrated  to  Chenango  County, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  lead  medicine  with  Dr.  Pitcher,  of 
the  town  of  Pitcher,  and  afterward  took  a  course 
of  instruction  at  Geneva.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Hamlet,  Chatauqua 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  made  his  home  for  many 
years.  His  decease  occurred  in  1860,  when  he  was 
sixty- one  years  old.  The  mother  in  her  girlhood 
was  Miss  Mary  Ann  Sterling  of  Chenango  County. 
The  parental  household  included  eleven  children, 
eight  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years  and  five  of 
whom  are  still  living.  The  mother  also  survives 
and  makes  her  home  in  Fredonia,  N.  Y.  She  was 
born  in  Connecticut  in  1808  and  came  with  her 
father,  James  Sterling,  to  Chenango  County,  N.  Y., 
when  quite  young,  living  there  until  her  marriage. 

The  elder  Peirce  during  his  younger  years  be- 
longed to  the  old  Whig  party  and  about  11S42  was 
a  member  of  the  New  York  Legislature.  He  was  a 
man  of  decided  views  and  attained  to  much  prom- 
inence in  his  community,  serving  as  Township 
Supervisor  many  years.  In  religious  matters  he 
belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  which  he 
officiated  as  Deacon  for  a  long  period.  Dr.  Peirce, 
our  subject,  is  a  member  of  the  ITniversalist  Church 
at  Hoopeston. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Dr.  Peirce  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume  in  connection  with  this 
brief  outline  of  his  life. 


.  <P  C). 

— « ■#-#• »- 

bENRY  L.  CHACE.     The  farming  lands  of 
1  Vermilion   County  comprise  its   most   val- 
uable  property,  and    the  men  who  have  re- 
((gy)     deemed  them    from    their   primitive   condi- 
tion occupy  no  unimportant  position  among  a  vast 
and    intelligent    population.     The  subject  of    this 


notice  may  be  properly  classed  among  these,  as  he 
turns  in  annually  a  handsome  sum  to  the  county 
treasury  as  taxes  on  the  property  which  he  has  ac- 
cumulated, largely  by  the  .labor  of  his  own  hands. 
He  is  a  land  owner  to  the  extent  of  a  fine  farm  of 
440  acres,  with  the  residence,  on  section  5,  town- 
ship 23,  range  12.  which,  together  with  its  build 
ings  and  improvements,  forms  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable estates  in  this  part  of  Vermilion  County. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  Newport, 
R.  I.,  where  he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light 
March  7,  184:3.  There  he  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  completing  his  education  in  the  High 
School.  This  brought  him  up  to  the  time  of  the 
Civil  War.  On  the  13th  day  of  October,  1862,  he 
enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company  I),  12th 
Rhode  Island  Infantry,  in  which  he  first  served  a 
short  time  as  a  private,  and  later  received  the 
rank  of  Sergeant.  His  regiment  was  made  a  part 
of  the  First  Brigade.  Second  Division,  9th  Army 
Corps,  and  operated  mostly  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, and  was  under  Gen.  Burnside  in  his 
skirmishes  through  Kentucky.  He  left  the  regular 
ranks  in  August,  1863,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Quartermaster's  department,  and  given  charge  of 
two  large  pontoon  trains,  numbers  15  and  17, 
Army  of  the  James,  and  was  mostly  stationed  at 
City  Point  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when  he  assisted 
in  the  reconstruction  of  the  burned  bridge  at  Rich- 
mond after  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army,  when  he 
was  mustered  out  and  returned  home. 

Our  subject  for  a  year  after  leaving  the  army 
engaged  in  business  in  his  native  town,  and  in  the 
meantime  was  married,  March  26,  1866,  to  Miss 
Anna  E.  Cogswell.  Soon  afterwards  they  removed 
to  Kendall  County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  two  years,  then  moved  to  the  vicinity  of 
Seneca,  LaSalle  County,  where  he  sojourned  for  a 
period  of  eight  years.  His  next  removal,  in  1877, 
was  to  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies. 
Upon  this  he  has  effected  many  improvements, 
gathering  around  him  all  the  conveniences  and  ap- 
pliances of  the  enterprising  and  progressive  agri- 
culturist. He  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket, 
and  has  held  the  various  minor  offices  of  his  town- 
ship.    As  an  ex-soldier  he  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R., 


PORTRAIT  AM)   RHX ;  KAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


247 


and  funis  his  religious  home  in  the  Universalist 
(  'hurch. 

Henry  Choce,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  like- 
wise a  native  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  where  he  was  bom 
in  1812.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  Capt. 
James  Chace,  who  followed  the  sea  for  many  years, 
hut  finally  settled  <>n  terra  firma  in  Newport,  ami 
there  spent  his  last  days.  There  was  a  large  repre- 
sentation of  the  (hare  family  in  that  city,  where 
they  were  familiarly  known  for  several  generations, 
and  traced  their  ancestors  to  the  Puritans.  Henry 
Chace  in  early  manhood  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Lyon,  and  for  :\  time  was  engaged  as  a  merchant 
in  Georgetown.  S.  C.  The  wife  of  our  subject  was 
also  a  native  of  Newport.  She  was  the  daughter 
of    Aaron    S.   Cogswell,   of     Revolutionary     fame, 

who  was  the  representative  of  an  old  and   h r- 

: 1 1 1 1 1 ■  family,  which  furnished  a  number  of  success- 
ful business  men  to  the  commercial  interests  of  that 
time. 

— >m&%- — 

[LLIAM   RANDY.      In  taking  this  intelli- 


k«l  IKliiLilAM  BAJNJUX.  in  taKing  mis  mien 
\/\l/i  Sent  ou*  gentleman  by  the  hand,  we  exten 
VW  greeting  to  the  oldest  living  resident  c 
Danville.  He  i~  now  approaching  the  seventy-sev- 
enth year  of  his  age.  having  been  born  July  22, 
1812,  in  Bedford  County.  Va.  When  a  youth  of 
sixteen  years,  he  was  brought  by  his  foster-parents, 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Howell,  to  this  county,  they 
arriving  at  the  present  site  of  Danville,  Dec.  Hi, 
1828.  There  were  then  not  to  exceed  nine  families 
in  the  town.  Some  men  go  abroad  to  look  upon 
great  and  wonderful  things,  but  Mr.  Randy  has 
seen  enough  at  home  to  satisfy  the  ordinary  indi- 
vidual in  the  almost  incredible  change  which  has 
come  over  the  Prairie  State  since  his  arrival  within 
its  limits. 

Upon  leaving  the  Old  Dominion,  the  little  cara- 
van of  which  our  subject  was  a  member,  having 
amid  much  preparation  and  speculation  bidden 
their  friends  adieu,  set  out  with  a  four-horse  team, 
the  wagon  loaded  with  household  effects  and  pro- 
visions, and  traveled  for  thirty-six  days  before 
reaching  their  destination.  They  made  their  bed 
in  their  wagon  at  night,  and  set  their  table  by 
the  wayside,  traveling  in  the   primitive    fashion   of 


those  days,  before  the   time  of  railroads,  or  even 
stages  in  this  region. 

T  pon  their  arrival  here  the  emigrants  could  not 
even  rent  a  cabin,  but  finally  succeeded  in  finding 
shelter  in  a  log  house  which  already  contained  two 
families  of  four  persons  each,  and  which  was  six- 
teen feet  square,  and  stood  upon  the  present  site  of 
the  First  National  Rank.  Thus  they  spent  the 
winter,  being  able  to  do  but  little  except  to  make 
preparations  for  the  spring  campaign.  The  nearest 
land  office  was  at  Palestine,  ninety  miles  away,  and 
the  father,  after  making  the  journey  thither,  was 
not  able  to  purchase,  as  the  officer  in  charge  re- 
fused to  accept  the  Virginia  money,  whirl:  was  tin; 
only  currency  .Air.  Howell  possessed.  Finally,  Inn  - 
ever,  he  bridged  over  his  difficulties,  and  succeeded 
in  entering  480  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  erected 
four  cabins,  the  principal  one  of  which  was  located 
one  mile  southeast  of  the  court  house  and  con- 
structed of  rough  logs,  with  a  puncheon  floor,  two 
windows  and  a  door,  using  greased  paper  instead  of 
glass.  The  building  was  16x18  feet  square,  and 
boasted  of  window  shutters  of  rived  boards.  For 
the  fireplace  there  was  was  made  in  the  logs  an  ap- 
erture eight  feet  wide,  and  built  out  three  feet 
back, and  this  was  lined  with  earth,  while  the  chim- 
ney was  built  outside  six  feet  high  and  covered  with 
mortar.  This  contrivance  lasted  for  years,  and 
furnished  sufficient  heat  for  cooking  purposes,  as 
well  as  warming  the  building. 

The  furniture  in  this  humble  domicile  was  like- 
wise home-made,  the  bedstead  being  riven  boards 
set  up  on  wooden  legs,  and  upon  it  there  was  first 
placed  a  straw  tick,  and  then  a  feather  tick.  The 
table  was  constructed  in  a  similar  manner,  only 
made  higher.  The  family  had  brought  with  them 
two  chairs,  which  were  given  to  the  father  and 
mother,  while  the  boys  had  to  make  stools  to  sit 
upon.  The  groceries  and  provisions  had  to  be 
transported  fifty  miles  from  Terre  Haute,  and  as 
may  lie  supposed,  at  times  the  family  were  placed 
upon  short  rations  in  this  line,  although  wild  game 
being  plenty,  they  never  lacked  for  meats,  and  in  a 
few  years  there  was  a  surplus  of  cattle  and 
swine. 

After  the  cabin  was  built,  the  Randy  family  had 
to  carry  water    .'H)0    yards    until   a   well    was    dug. 


24  8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  Litlier  an<I  sons  made  a  contract  to  get  out 
10,000  Mack  walnut  rails  at  25  cents  per  100,  ami 
in  the  meantime  carried  on  as  rapidly  as  possible 
the  cultivation  of  the  new  farm.  William,  our 
subject,  assisted  in  breaking  the  first  timber  land  in 
this  region,  and  harvested  some  of  the  finest  corn 
ever  raised.  There  was,  however,  no  market  for  it. 
and  he  was  obliged  to  feed  it  to  his  hogs,  and  sell 
the  perk  for  from  $1  to  $1.50  per  100.  A  day's 
work  was  equal  to  ten  or  twelve  pounds  of  salt 
pork,  or  eight  bushels  of  corn,  or  from  thirty  - 
seven  and  a  half  to  fifty  cents  in  cash,  and  the 
latter  price  could  only  be  commanded  by  extra 
good  men. 

I)i  this  way  were  passed  the  first  few  years  of 
the  life  of  our  subject  in  this  county.  He  attended 
the  first  school  taught  in  his  township,  and  re- 
mained a  member  of  the  parental  household  until 
1831.  About  that  time  lie  engaged  with  the  State 
Militia  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  under  Capt.  J. 
Rainier  and  Col.  I.  R.  Moore.  They  went  first  to 
Joliet  and  built  a  fort.  Two  or  three  of  their 
comrades  were  killed  by  the  Indians.  Thence  they 
proceeded  to  Ottawa,  and  subsequently  our  subject 
joined  the  United  States  Mounted  Rangers,  which 
comprised  six  companies.  At  Rock  Island  many  were 
stricken  down  with  cholera.  After  operating  around 
Galena  and  Prairie-du-Chien,  they  finally  returned 
and  wintered  southeast  of  Danville  until  January, 
when  they  were  ordered  to  the  other  side  of  the 
Illinois  River,  but  there  being  no  need  of  their 
services  in  that  region,  they  came  back  to  the  old 
camp,  and  remained  until  the  1st  of  May.  They  re- 
in lined  ready  for  duty  and  reconnoitering  in  dif- 
ferent sections  until  the  fall  of  that  year,  when 
they  were  discharged. 

.Mr.  Bandy  now,  in  company  with  Mr.  Howell, 
commenced  operating  as  a  carpenter,  and  put  up  a 
house  on  what  was  called  Sulphur  Spring  Place, 
about  one  mile  southeast  of  the  present  court- 
house. In  the  spring  of  1834  they  built  a  flat  boat, 
75x10  feet  in  dimensions,  and  upon  this  loaded 
great  quantities  of  pork,  which  Mr.  Bandy  had 
purchased  for  the  purpose  of  transporting  to  New 
Orleans.  The  craft  was  propelled  by  hand  power, 
and  when  arriving  at  the  Crescent  City,  the  "trav- 
eling salesman"  was   confronted    by  a  cholera   epi- 


demic, and  sold  only  enough  to  pay  expenses, 
putting  the  balance  of  his  property  into  the  hands 
of  commission  men.  lie  then  returned  home  and 
awaited  results.  One  morning,  two  years  later, 
going  to  the  post-office  soon  after  the  blowing  of 
the  horn  by  the  carrier  on  horseback,  he  received  a 
letter,  stating  that  all  his  pork  had  been  sold,  but 
at  very  little  profit,  and  the  proceeds  were  sent  him 
in  a  draft  on  a  bank  in   Louisville,  Ky. 

Mr.  Bandy  finally  succeeded  in  getting  his 
money,  and  after  building  another  boat,  proceeded 
as  before,  and  carried  on  this  business  for  several 
years,  conveying  wheat  and  pork  to  New  Orleans, 
and  building  a  new  boat  each  year.  He  was  the 
first  man  to  run  a  boat  down  the  Mississippi  River, 
and  about  1839  or  1840  abandoned  the  river  until 
after  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War.  He  then  se- 
cured a  sub-contract  to  deliver  horses  in  New  Or- 
leans, and  by  this  time  could  transport  by  steam- 
boat. The  business  proved  quite  profitable  until 
the  last  trip,  when  he  got  as  far  as  St.  Louis,  and 
found  that  the  war  was  ended,  and  he  was  left  with 
fifty  horses  on  his  hands.  He  finally  traded  them 
for  a  lot  of  worn-out  Santa  Fe  horses,  getting  $17 
a  piece  for  his  own  to  boot,  and  reserving  two  of 
his  best  animals.  He  returned  home  with  the  poor 
horses,  fed  them  up.  and  sold  them  to  the  Illinois 
Canal  Company,  receiving  therefor  good  prices. 
Later  Mr.  Bandy  furnished  a  large  proportion  of 
the  packet  horses  of  this  company,  and  in  the 
meantime  had  carried  on  general  merchandising  in 
company  with  his  father-in-law,  William  Murphy, 
they  operating  together  five  or  six  years.  Later 
he  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade  and  conducted 
the  largest  business  of  this  kind  in  the  county  for 
a  number  of  years.  Finally  selling  out  for  a  large 
lot  of  Wisconsin  lands,  he  began  dealing  in  real 
estate,  and  was  at  one  time  the  owner  of  1,500 
acres.  Mr.  Bandy  sold  considerable  of  this  land 
afterwards,  but  he  and  his  wife  own  together 
1,600  acres  at  the  present  time. 

In  addition  to  his  other  enterprises,  Mr.  Bandy 
put  up  a  large  number  of  business  houses  and  resi- 
dences, and  during  the  last  years  of  his  active  life 
confined  himself  largely  to  the  business  of  real 
estate  dealer  and  capitalist.  About  1882  he  re- 
tired, and  for  the   last   eight  years    has    made    his 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


249 


home  in  Danville.  His  first  residence  was  on  North 
street,  where  he  had  a  half  acre  of  ground,  and  ef- 
fected some  fine  improvements.  In  1836  he  was 
appointed  by  the  Legislature  as  one  of  the  com- 
missioners 1"  make  the- slack  water  of  the  Vermilion 
River,  but  did  not  see  it  practical.  Later  he  was 
appointed  Marshal  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Illi- 
nois, with  a  bond  of  $40,000,  hut  there  being 
nothing  particularly  desirable  in  the  office,  he  with- 
drew. 

Mr.  Bandy  has  represented  his  town:  hip  in  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  two  terms;  he  has 
served  as  President  of  the  City  Council,  and  also 
a>  Alderman.  He  voted  with  the  Republican  party 
until  the  administration  of  President  Lincoln,  and 
has  since  been  a  Democrat.  His  whole  career  lias  been 
signalized  by  liberality  and  public-spiritedness,  he 
having  probably  contributed  as  much  as  any  other 
man  in  furthering  the  interests  of  Danville  and 
vicinity.  A  goodly  portion  of  his  capital  is  now 
invested  in  the  live-stock  business,  which  yields 
him  handsome  returns. 

The  marriage  of  William  Bandy  and  Miss  Har- 
riet J.  Murphy  occurred  at  the  home  of  the  bride 
in  Edgar  County,  III..  Oet.  16,  1833.  Of  this 
union  there  were  born  five  sons  and  two.daughters, 
ami  six  of  the  children  are  living.  Samuel  J.,  the 
eldest,  is  a  resident  of  Danville;  John  W.  is  the 
owner  of  the  Bandy  block,  and  is  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness Bennett  E.  is  the  School  Commissioner  of  the 
township,  and  interested  in  the  Building  Associa- 
tion; Emma,  the  youngest  born,  remains  at  home 
with  her  parents,  and  there  is  also  in  the  household 
circle  a  foster  child  named  Bella  E.  Bandy.  Mrs. 
Harriet  Bandy  departed  this  life  March.  1872.  She 
was  burn  in  Bedford  Count}',  Ya.,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  this  county  in  1818,  about  the  time 
that  Illinois  was  transformed  from  a  Territory  into 
a  State. 

Mr.  Bandy,  in  1881,  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  Deborah  (King)  Johnson.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Kentucky.  Oct.  13,  1815,  and 
when  epiite  young  was  taken  by  her  parents  to 
Indiana,  they  settling  on  the  western  line  of  the 
state,  just  across  from  Danville.  She  spent,  the 
greater  part  of  her  early  life  in  Warren  County, 
hid.  where  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Johnson,  who 


died  near  West  Lebanon.  Ind..  in  1853.  Joseph 
King,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bandy,  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  a  fanner  by  occupation.  He  spent 
his  last  years  in  Missouri. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  .lames  Bandy,  who 
was  born  in  Virginia  about  171)0,  and  upon  reach- 
ing man's  estate  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Brown, 
also  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Only  two  of  their  chil- 
dren lived,  and  the  mother  died,  when  William,  our 
subject,  was  an  infant  of  three  years.  A  few  years 
later  he  was  taken  into  the  home  of  the  Howells. 
.bimes  Bandy  finally  removed  to  Tennessee  to  take 
care  of  his  father.  He  was  married  a  second  time. 
and  came  to  the  southern  part  of  Illinois,  where  he 
died  in  1883,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three 
years.  He  came  to  Virginia  after  his  children,  both 
of  whom  were  with  the  Howells,  but  the  latter 
were  unwilling  to  give  them  up.  He  became  the 
owner  of  lands  and  slaves,   which   he   gave   to   his 

children. 

.    ooo    . 


|       JMLLIAM  O.  CUNNINGHAM,    an    exten- 
\fij//     sive  stock  shipper  of  Newell  Township  was 


born  on  the  15th  day  of  December,  ls.'i.s, 
in  this  township,  and  is  the  son  of  .lames  anil  Mary 
(Andrews)  Cunningham,  the  father  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  bom  in  New  York,  and  is  deceased. 
The  father  is  now  retired  and  living  at  Stab- 
Line.  Ind. 

William  0.,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the  third  child 
of  a  family  of  four  children.  He  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  was  about 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  the  restless  spirit  of 
the  typical  American  youth  seized  him  and  he  con- 
cluded to  see  more  of  the  world;  accordingly  he 
went  to  Nebraska  where  be  worked  for  a  time 
breaking  prairie  sod,  but  this  being  too  slow  work 
for  him  he  made  up  his  mind  that  he  would  go  to 
California,  which  be  did.  He  started  from  Nebras- 
ka City  for  Pike's  Peak  in  1859,  and  from  there 
went  overland  to  California.  Here  he  was  engaged 
in  mining  and  farming  alternately,  and  worked 
with  some  degree  of  success  in  this  manner  for 
about  four  years,  when  he  returned  to  Nebraska 
where  he  worked  for   a  short  time  and  then  came 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


back  to  Illinois  with  $1,200  in  his  pocket,  every 
cent  of  which  was  gained  by  reason  of  his  indus- 
trious and  prudent  liabits.  lie  invested  his  money 
in  land,  buying  his  father's  farm  of  200  acres 
winch  was  really  the  nucleus  of  his  present  fortune. 
He  then  married  Feb.  22,  1865,  Martha  J.  Chand- 
ler; she  is  the  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Frazier)  Chandler,  who  both  died  in  one  week 
from  milk  sickness,  also  two  children;  at  that  time 
Mrs.  Cunningham  was  only  five  years  old.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cunningham  became  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  living,  viz;  Irwin, 
Alice,  James.  Porter,  Sophia,  Minnie  and  Roy. 
Stella,  the  oldest  child,  died  in  infancy,  and  a  baby 
boy  died  unnamed,  and  the  balance  are  at.  home. 
Mr.  Cunningham  is  giving  his  children  the  benefit 
of  a  good  education. 

Mr.  Cunningham  is  the  owner  of  a  large  farm  of 
556  acres  of  as  good  land  as  there  is  in  Illinois,  es- 
timated to  be  worth  at  least  $70  per  acre.  His 
residence  and  buildings  are  models  of  convenience 
and  of  these  he  ought  to  feel  proud.  He  has  dis- 
play<  '1  a  great  deal  of  common  sense  in  all  of  the 
inprovei  lents  he  has  made  and  in  none  more  than 
in  the  ei\  ion  of  his  buildings.  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham makes  a  sj  ecialty  of  Cotswold  and  Shropshire- 
down  sheep,  of  which  he  always  keeps  a  large 
flock.  He  is  also  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
live  stock  to  Chicago,  a  business  which  he  has  pros- 
ecuted with  success,  all  due  to  his  shrewd  judg- 
ment as  a  buyer.  He  supplements  his  other  bus- 
iness by  dealings  in  superior  grades  of  fine  horses, 
and  it  is  said  that  he  is  a  most  excellent  judge  of 
this  noble  animal. 

Politically,  Mr.  Cunningham  believes  that  the 
party  that  obliterated  slavery  from  the  American 
continent  is  right,  and  he  therefore  votes  and  works 
for  the  Republican  party  and  never  omits  an  op- 
portunity to  forward  its  success.  He  has  never 
been  an  active  aspirant  for  political  honors,  but  by 
reason  of  his  superior  judgment  has  held  the  of- 
fice of  Assessor  of  this  township.  While  he  was  liv- 
ing in  California  he  made  an  endeavor  to  enlist 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  his  motives  be- 
ing based  wholly  upon  the  love  he  bore  his  coun- 
try. But  being  disabled  he  was  refused  admission 
to  the  ranks  of  the  Uuion  army,  though  he  was  al- 


ways in  hearty  and  active  sympathy  witli  the  ob- 
jects for  which  it  fought.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cunning- 
ham are  active  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  are  always  alive  to  any  move  that  will  uplift 
humanity  and  make  life  happier. 


RA  FAUROT.  This  venerable  gentleman  was 
long  intimately  connected  with  the  agricult- 
ural interests  of  Vermilion  County,  and  is  still 
the  possessor  of  one  of  its  many  valuable  farms, 
finely  located  in  the  midst  of  a  rich  farming  re- 
gion on  section  34,  Pilot  Township.  When  he  pur- 
chased this  farm  it  was  wild,  uncultivated  land 
with  no  buildings  on  it.  and  but  one  dwelling  house 
in  sight,  the  country  roundabout  still  being  not  far 
removed  from  its  primitive  condition  and  sparsely 
settled.  It  is  a  fact  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud 
that  our  subject  has  witnessed  the  greater  part  of 
its  development,  and  has  aided  its  growth  as  only 
a  skillful,  practical  farmer  can  do.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing here  in  retirement  in  his  comfortable  home, 
having  accumulated  a  competency  sufficient  to 
guard  his  old  age  against  want  in  any  form. 

The  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  natives  of 
sunny  France  as  is  betokened  by  his  name,  and 
from  them  he  inherited  those  genial  and  pleasing 
traits  of  character  that  have  gained  him  a  warm 
place  in  the  hearts  of  those  about  him,  and  also  the 
thrifty  and  industrious  habits  that  have  led  him  to 
prosperity.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Sears) 
Faurot,  were  of  French  ancestry,  but  were  natives 
of  this  country.  They  at  one  time  made  their  home 
in  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  whence  they  came 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Champaign  County, 
Ohio.  They  afterward  turned  their  steps,  and  o-o- 
ing  to  Steuben  County,  Ind.,  made  their  home 
there  till  death  claimed  them,  the  father  dyin^  in 
1836,  and  the  mother  in  1839.  They  were  the  pa- 
rents of  five  children,  of  whom  two  are  living: 
Jane  is  the  widow  of  David  Porter,  of  Kentucky, 
and  she  is  now  living  in  Missouri  with  her  three 
children;  Benjamin,  deceased,  married  Louisa 
Avey.  of  New  York,  and  they  had  two  children, 
Elmira  and  Harriet;  Alva,  deceased,  was  a  farmer; 
he  married  Louisa  Farmer,  of  Ohio,  and  they   had 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


251 


three  children — William  II.,  Alva  and  Farmer; 
Henry,  deceased, married  Maria  Wolf, of  Ohio,  and 
she  is  now  living  in  Missouri  with  her  four  chil- 
dren— Sylvester,  Theodore,  Melvin  and  Mary. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Ontario  County.  N.  V., 
April  23,  1819,  and  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Champaign  County,  Ohio,  when  he  was  young.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  a  hardy,  self-reliant  youth,  manly 
beyond  his  years,  he  left  the  shelter  of  the  parental 
roof  to  go  forth  into  the  world  to  fight  life's  bat- 
tles on  his  own  account,  and  for  some  years  was 
engaged  in  working  by  the  month.  After  mar- 
riage he  commenced  to  rent  land,  but  always  with 
the  end  in  view  of  owning  land  himself  as  soon  as 
his  means  would  allow.  By  frugality  and  hard  la- 
bor, at  the  expiration  of  three  years,  he  had  money 
enough  to  buy  sixty  acres  of  timbered  land,  and  he 
lived  on  it  the  next  nine  years,  busily  engaged  in 
its  clearance  and  improvement.  In  1850  he  sold 
it.  and  going  to  Marion  County,  in  this  State,  he 
resided  there  the  ensuing  four  years.  Returning 
to  tins  county  he  invested  some  of  his  money  in 
200  acres  of  wild  land,  from  which  he  has  devel- 
oped his  present  fine  farm,  on  which  he  has  erected 
suitable,  well-appointed  buildings,  and  has  every 
convenience  for  carrying  on  agriculture  to  the  best 
advantage. 

•  To  the  wife  who  has  shared  his  fortunes  and  been 
an  important  factor  in  bringing  about  bis  pros- 
perity, Mr.  Faurot  was  united  in  marriage  July  2, 
1840.  Her  maiden  name  was  Elvira  Fowler,  and 
she  is  a  daughter  of  Willey  and  Cynthia  (Perkins) 
Fowler,  natives  respectively  of  London,  England, 
and  Germany.  They  came  to  this  country  and 
spent  their  last  days  here.  The  following  is  the 
record  of  the  five  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife:  Hannah  was  born  June  130,  1841  ;  Cyn- 
thia. Feb.  19,  1843;  Sarah,  Feb.  15,  184G;  Victo- 
ria. Aug.  21,  1849,  died  Oct.  10,  1851;  Willie, 
born  Sept.  11.  1852;  Joseph.  Jan.  18,  1858.  Hannah 
marr>ed  John  Davidson,  of  Ohio,  now  living  in  this 
county,  and  they  have  five  children — Arabella,  Ira, 
Zeruah  and  two  dead;  Cynthia  married  Hugh  V. 
Davidson,  of  Marion  County,  Ohio,  now  living  in 
this  county,  and  they  have  four  children — Ella, 
Josephine.  James  and  Estella;  Sarah  has  been 
twice  married.  Her  first  husband  was  Aaron  Davis, 


Of  Shelby  County,  111.,  and  they  had  four  children 
— Olive,  Seigel,  Eflie  and  Leona.  Her  present  hus- 
band is  Alexander  Steward,  of  Champaign  County, 
III.,  and  they  have  four  children — Lizzie,  Alvina, 
Jessie  and  James  ().;  W i Hie  married  Annie  Ay,  of 
Douglas  County,  111.,  and  they  are  living  in  this 
county;  they  have  three  children — Ira,  Elsie  and 
Florence;  Joseph,  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Arm- 
strong, married  Flora  Thompson,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Amy. 

.Mr.  Faurot  is  a  thoroughly  good  and  upright 
man,  who  is  well  thought  of  by  the  entire  commu- 
nity. His  life-record  shows  that  he  is  a  man  of 
good  capacity  and  sound  discretion,  always  cordial 
and  kindly  in  his  relations  with  others  and  fair 
in  his  dealings  with  them.  As  consistent  members 
of  the  Christian  Church,  he  and  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren exert  a  good  influence  in  the  township,  or 
wherever  they  may  be.  Politically,  Mr.  Faurot  is 
a  decided  Republican,  and  gives  his  party  the  ben- 
efit of  his  hearty  support. 

■\fjOSEPH  J.  SIDELL.  The  son  of  the 
founder  of  the  village  of  Sidell,  naturally 
occupies  no  secondary  position  among  the 
'  people,  not  only  of  the  village  but  the  town- 
ship at  large.  The  late  Hon.  John  Sidell,  after 
whom  the  township  was  named,  was  long  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Vermilion 
County,  and  possessed  those  talents,  both  natural 
and  required,  which  distinguished  hiin  as  a  charac- 
ter more  than  ordinarily  forcible  and  efficient,  and 
one  who  had  a  sensible  and  permanent  influence 
on  the  community  where  he  was  so  favorably 
known  for  so  many  years. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  at  Hagers- 
town,  Washington  Co.,  Md..  June  27,  1816,  and 
his  earl}'  life  was  spent  in  Maryland  and  Ohio. 
His  father  having  died  when  he  was  a  lad  of  eight 
years  the  boy  was  thrown  largely  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, but  he  seemed  to  have  within  him  the  ele- 
ments of  success,  and  those  years  which  were 
fraught  witli  perhaps  hardship  and  privation  suf- 
ficed to  develop  a  character  of  more  than  ordinary 
excellence.     At  the  age   of    nineteen   years,    being 


252 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


dissatisfied  with  his  condition  and  his  prospects  in 
his  native  state,  he  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  engaged 
to  work  out  by  the  month  in  Greene  County  on  a 
farm  at  $12.50  per  month. 

Saving  what  he  could  of  his  earnings  young 
Sidell  in  due  time  purchased  a  horse  and  mounting 
it  started  for  the  farther  West.  He  crossed  Illinois 
and  visited  Iowa,  hut  finding  nothing  particularly 
desirable  returned  to  Ohio  and  took  a  contract  tn 
cut  cordwood  at  thirty-three  and  one-third  cents 
per  cord.  This  was  extremely  hard  work  for  Such 
small  pay,  but  he  persevered  at  it  until  he  was  able 
to  do  something  better.  While  a  resident  of  Ohio 
he  was  married  Jan.  20,  1816,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Cline,  who  became  the  mother  of  two  children  and 
died  in  1854.  lie  was  then  married  to  Miss  Ada 
B.  Ransom,  who  also  died  after  :i  comparatively 
short  period  of  married  life. 

Mr  Sidell  came  to  the  county  in  1860,  and  for 
the  firsi  >  years  occupied  himself  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  Lu.ter  he  drifted  into  stock-raising  and 
became  one  of  the  leading  men  in  this  industry  in 
Vermilion  County.  His  eldest  son.  George  A., 
stalled  West  at  the  age  of  nineteen  yens  and  pros- 
pected for  gold  in  and  around  Fair  Play.  South 
Park,  Col.  He  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  discover 
silver  at  Leadville,  and  was  founder  of  the  town. 
lie  became  owner  of  the  celebrated  Beaver  Creek 
Silver  .Mine,  eight  or  ten  miles  southwest,  and  con- 
tinues his  residence  there.  Allie  E.,  the  daughter 
of  his  first  wife,  married  Mr.  C.  C.  Tincher,  who 
is  well  known   in   the   financial  circles  of  Danville. 

Mrs.  Ada  B.  (Ransom)  Sidell,  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  horn  in  the  city  of 
Toronto,  Canada,  and  being  left  an  orphan 
when  quite  young,  was  reared  to  womanhood  by 
an  excellent  family  who  gave  her  a  good  educa- 
tion. She  left  the  Dominion  when  a  young  lady, 
and  going  to  Greene  County,  Ohio,  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  formed  the  acquaintance  of  her  fut- 
ure husband.  There  were  born  to  them  two  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Sidell  in  coming  to  Illinois  settled  near 
Paris  in  Edgar  County,  and  having  some  means 
engaged  at  once  extensively  in  the  cattle  trade, 
lie  had  learned  carpentering  early  in  life.  Before 
locating,  however,  he  traveled  extensively  on 
horseback   in  the  West,  crossing  Illinois  nine  times 


and  through  portions  of  Texas  and  Iowa.  He  was 
in  the  Lone  Star  State  before  its  admission  into 
the  Union.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Samuel 
Houston  was  chief  sovereign  of  that  country  at 
that  time,  and  John  Sidell  erected  a  residence  for 
him  at  Houston. 

The  live  stock  enterprise  of  Mr.  Sidell  prospered 
very  well,  and  not  finding  a  sufficient  area  of  land 
to  suit  his  purpose  in  Edgar  County  he  came  to 
this  county  where  in  due  time  he  became  the  owner 
of  7,000  acres.  Upon  becoming  a  voter  he  had 
identified  himself  with  the  Old  Whig  party,  but 
upon  its  abandonment  allied  himself  with  the  Re- 
publicans, lie  interested  himseif  greatly  in  politi- 
cal affairs,  and  was  elected  a  representative  to  the 
Lower  House  of  the  Legislature,  in  which  position 
In-  acquitted  himself  in  a  manner  reflecting  great 
credit  upon  his  good  judgment  and  honesty.  He 
was  instrumental  in  defining  and  improving  the 
road  laws  of  Illinois,  and  was  an  influential  member 
of  the  General  Assembly,  participating  in  most  of 
its  important  deliberations.  In  later  years  he 
gradually  retired  from   public   life. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  John  C.  Short,  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Sidell  Township,  it  was 
given  its  present  name.  Mr.  Sidell  was  very  lib- 
eral and  public  spirited  and  cheerfully  gave  of  his 
time  and  means  to  encourage  the  enterprises  calcu- 
lated for  the  general  good.  Several  years  ago  he 
decided  to  open  a  portion  of  his  lands  to  settlers 
who  would  locate  and  make  homes  for  themselves, 
and  thus  disposed  of  a  large  tract  ata  very  reason- 
able price,  realizing  from  the  sales  the  sum  of 
$115,000.  At  the  same  time  he  retained  a  large 
portion  of  land  himself  and  was  instrumental  in 
bringing  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  to 
this  section,  freely  donating  the  right  of  way.  The 
town  of  Archie  had  been  laid  out  and  was  boom- 
ing before  Sidell  had  an  existence,  but  finally  was 
practically  absorbed  by  the  superior  advantages 
ottered  by  the  founder  of  Sidell  as  a  business  point, 
ami  consequently  enterprising  men  invested  their 
capital  here. 

Mr.  Sidell  at  one  time  chartered  a  train  and  ran 
it  free  from  Columbus,  Ohio,  for  the  benefit  of 
those  desiring  to  make  a  home  in  the  West.  Sidell 
was  laid  out  in    1881,  and    its  illustrious  founder 


Residence  or  Alvin  Stearns  ,  ,  Sec.1,  (Ti8.-R.ia.)  VanccTownship. 


-.         ,  .  : 


_i_L_^ ■■■--      ^      -■■ 


Residence  of  John  R.Kin5ey,5ec.23.(T.19.-R.13)  Oakwqod  Township. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


•2:.  5 


lived  to  note  its  phenomenal  growth  ami  prosper- 
ity. He  departed  this  life  Jan.  29,  1889,  after  a 
severe  illness  of  eleven  weeks.  Although  not  a 
member  of  any  church  he  donated  generously  to- 
ward the  erection  of  the  various  church  edifices  in 
this  region,  giving  to  the  Kimber  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  alone  $500,  this  structure  being  lo- 
cated in  Danville.  He  had  identified  himself  with 
the  Masons  some  years  before  his  decease  and  was 
buried  with  the  honors  of  the  fraternity. 

To  Mr.  Sidell  and  his  second  wife  there  were 
born  three  children,  Jennie  II.,  Joseph  John  and 
Luclla  Blanche.  The  eldest  daughter  is  now  the 
wife  of  William  Southwick,  a  clothier  of  Streeter, 
111.;  Luella  married  Frank  Hastings,  an  extensive 
cattle  breeder,  and  they  live  in  Essex,  Page  Co., 
Iowa;  Mr.  Hastings  makes  a  specialty  of  three  dif- 
ferent breeds  of  cattle,  the  West  Highland  Scotch 
—  the  first  ever  bred  in  America — the  Hereford 
and  the  Short-horn. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  March  11. 
1862,  at  Dudley.  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and  the  scenes  of 
his  first  recollections  were  in  connection  with  the 
first  cattle  ranch  of  his  father  near  that  place.  He 
began  at  an  early  age  to  assist  his  father  in  looking 
after  the  cattle,  and  mounted  on  his  broncho 
scoured  the  country  for  many  a  mile  in  the  fall 
enjoyment  of  boyish  youth  and  strength.  He  at- 
tended the  schools  of  his  home  district.  Wrhile  a 
boy  of  seven  he  went  in  charge  of  a  train  load  of 
cattle  from  Earimount,  111.,  to  Buffalo,  N.Y.  In 
case  one  of  the  bovines  sought  repose  by  lying 
down  at  the  risk  of  being  trampled  to  death,  he 
exerted  himself  to  keep  it  in  a  standing  position, 
and  if  not  able  to  do  this  alone  would  solicit  the 
assistance  of  a  brakeman. 

When  a  youth  of  seventeen  our  subject  entered 
the  Russell  Preparatory  School  for  Yale  College, 
but  he  was  Western  in  his  mode  of  thinking  and 
in  his  habits  and  manners,  and  an  utter  stranger  to 
the  mode  of  living  of  the  light-headed  Eastern 
students,  so  he  abandoned  his  first  intention  of  en- 
tering Yale,  and  returning  home  continued  with 
his  father  in  the  cattle  business.  He  is  now  re- 
volving in  his  mind  the  plan  of  embarking  exten- 
sively in  this  in  the  near  future  farther  west,  prob- 
ably in    Nebraska,  but  will  make   his  home  at  the 


old    place,  which    is    beautifully  situated    2l(i  rods 
northwest  of  sidell. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Mamie 
C,  daughter  of  .Michael  Fisher,  of  Indianola,  took 
place  at  the  bride's  home  in  1884.  Mr.  Fisher  is  a 
hardware  merchant  and  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
his  town.  A  sketch  of  him  will  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  ALBUM.  Mrs.  Sidell  was  born  at  Indianola. 
where  she  completed  her  studies,  being  graduated 
from  the  High  School.  Of  her  union  with  our  sub- 
ject there  are  two  children:  Rozalia  and  Zelda 
Luella.  Mrs.  Sidell  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Our  subject,  like  his  father  be- 
fore him,  is  Republican  in  politics  and  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  member  of  Vermilion 
Lodge,  No.  265,  of  Indianola.  He  is  endeavoring 
to  comply'  with  his  father's  wish  of  having  a  Ma- 
sonic lodge  established  in  Sidell.  and  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  M.  W.  C.  at  this  place,  lie  is  a 
young  man  of  sterling  worth  and  very  popular 
both  in  business  and  social  circles. 

^•hh- $<:££$>-**- «- 

ELDER  GEORGE  W.  DODSON.  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizen  of  Blount  Town- 
ship, is  the  owner  of  a  farm  on  section  16, 
which  in  regard  to  cultivation  and  neat,  well-ap- 
pointed buildings  is  indeed  one  of  the  best  in  this 
part  of  Vermilion  County.  The  Elder  is  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  Regular  Baptist  Church, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  has  preached  almost 
constantly  in  this  and  Champaign  County,  and  as  a 
man  of  true  piety  is  an  acknowledged  power  for 
good  wherever  he  may  be.  He  is  also  closely  con- 
nected with  the  management  of  local  public  affairs, 
ami  has  been  an  incumbent  of  some  of  the  most  re- 
sponsible civic  offices.  He  has  held  the  position  of 
Supervisor  of  Blount  Township  three  terms,  has 
served  as  Road  Commissioner  the  same  length  of 
time  and  has  been  School  Director  many  years.  He 
has  not  taken  an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  but 
is  a  decided  Democrat  in  his  views. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  born 
in  the  vicinity  of  Hendricks,  in  Boone  County. 
Ind.,  Aug.  1,  1839,  being  the  eldest  son  and  fifth 
child   of  the   six  children,  four  daughters  and  two 


256 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sons,  born  to  Uuel  and  Mary  (Dickerson)  Dodson, 
natives,  respectively,  of  Kentucky  and  Virginia. 
His  parents  married  and  settled  in  Boone  County 
and  lived  then-  till  February,  184-8,  wben  they 
came  to  Vermilion  County  and  cast  in  their  lot 
with  the  pioneers  of  Blount  Township,  settling 
about  a  mile  northeast  of  Higginsville.  They  lived 
there  only  three  or  four  years,  however,  wdien  the 
father  sold  that  farm  and  bought  another  that  he 
considered  more  desirable,  pleasantly  located  in  the 
Faircliild  settlement  in  Blount  Township.  There 
the  mother  died  Aug.  8,  1860,  and  the  father  took 
for  his  second  wife  Lucinda  Walls,  who  survives 
him.  He  died  at  Kiekart's  Corner  in  Blount  Town- 
ship. Feb.  28,  1871,  thus  rounding  out  a  life  that 
was  a  credit  to  himself,  his  friends  and  his  com- 
munity. 

His  son  George,  of  whom  we  write,  was  between 
eight  and  nine  years  old  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  their  new  home  in  Vermilion  County,  and 
lie  grew  to  man's  estate  in  Blount  Township,  his 
parents  training  him  in  all  useful  labors  and  care- 
fully instilling  into  his  mind  those  high  and  holy 
principles  that  have  been  his  guides  in  all  his  after 
life,  lie  attended  the  common  schools,  and  being 
an  apt  pupil  gained  a  good  practical  education.  He 
has  always  paid  attention  to  the  calling  to  which 
he  was  bred,  and  there  is  no  more  skillful  or  shrewd 
farmer  in  the  neighborhood  than  lie,  as  is  shown  by 
the  appearance  of  his  farm  of  350  acres  of  well 
tilled  land,  with  its  comfortable  dwelling,  fine  con- 
veniently arranged  barn  and  other  substantial 
buildings,  among  the  best  in  the  township. 

Elder  Dodson  has  been  twice  married.  The  first 
time  in  Blount  Township,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Walls, 
who  was  born  in  Hendricks  County.  Ind..  duly  29, 
1842.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Regular  Baptist 
Church  and  a  truly  good  and  virtuous  woman, 
whose  death  Aug.  8,  1867,  was  deplored  far  beyond 
the  home  circle.  She  bore  her  husband  three  chil- 
dren: Annie  M.,  the  -wife  of  William  O'Toole; 
John  W.,  who  married  Fva  K.  Faircliild;  George 
W.,  who  married  Lillie  Parks. 

Our  subject  was  married  to  his  present  wife  March 
12,  1868,  and  in  her  he  has  found  a  cheerful  and 
ready  helper,  and  an  able  manager  in  her  depart- 
ment, she  making  their  home  cosy  and  comfortable 


for  the  family  and  attractive  to  others,  who  often 
share  its  generous  hospitalities.  Mrs.  Dodson's 
maiden  name  was  Dorcas  T.  Pilkington,  and  she  was 
born  in  Hamilton  County,  Ind.,  Dec.  10,  1846. 
Her  marriage  with  our  subject  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  eleven  children,  as  follows:  Sarah  L., 
who  died  when  about  two  years  old;  Carrie  E.; 
Ruel  I-'.,  who  died  when  six  months  old;  Ira  W.  W., 
Dora  E..  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months;  .lames 
V..  Jesse  R.,  Effie  L..  Bertha  \V..  who  died  when 
one  year  old;   Lillie  M.  and  Bessie  Orella. 

In  all  his  useful  and  honorable  career  the  Elder 
has  been  guided  by  the  highest  moral  sentiments, 
and  has  ever  shown  himself  to  be  a  just,  kind- 
hearted,  pure-souled  man,  one  in  whom  his  fellow- 
men  can  safely  place  their  trust,  and  whose  sagacity 
and  wisdom  eminently  fit  him  for  the  part  of  coun- 
sellor. He  has  been  identified  with  the  Regular 
Baptist  Church  for  many  years,  has  filled  the  office 
of  Deacon,  and  was  ordained  Elder  in  the  church 
Nov.  28,  1874,  since  which  time  he  has  preached 
regularly  in  this  and  Champaign  County,  as  before 
mentioned,  with  great  acceptance  to  his  hearers. 
His  ministry  has  been  very  successful  and  much 
good  has  resulted  from  it.  He  has  brought  joy  to 
many  hearts,  has  soothed  and  comforted  many  in 
grief,  and  many  have  turned  from  the  error  of  their 
ways,  persuaded  to  do  thus  by  his  simple,  earnest 
words  of  warning,  and  by  the  example  of  a  godly, 
upright  life. 

S?SAAC  CURRENT   comes    of   sterling  pioneer 
!    stock,  his  immediate  ancestry  on  both  sides  of 

/!!  the  house  having  been  early  settlers  of  Ver- 
milion County,  who  figured  honorably  in  the  his- 
tory of  its  settlement.  He  is  a  fine  representative 
of  the  native  born  citizens  who  are  sustaining  and 
extending  the  large  agricultural  interests  of  this 
fair  land  of  their  birth,  and  the  farm  that  he  owns 
and  is  successfully  managing  in  Danville  Town- 
ship compares  very  favorably  with  the  best  in  this 
vicinity  in  point  of  cultivation,  neat  and  substan- 
tial buildings  and  well  ordered  appearance,  and  its 
fertile  acres  yield  him  an  ample  income. 

Mr.  Current  was  born  in  Newell  Township,  Yer- 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGIi Al'AICAL  ALBUM. 


25  7 


milion  County.  Nov.  17.  1845.  He  is  a  descend- 
ant of  Virginia  families,  both  his  parents  and  their 
parents  having  been  born  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
his  father.  William  Current,  April  20,  1803,  and 
his  mother.  Man  Baston,  Oct.  19,  1807.  The  pater- 
nal grandfather  of  subject  was  a  fanner  in  Harri- 
son County.  Va.,  but  he  finally  disposed  of  his 
property  in  that  State,  and  coming  to  Vermilion 
County  in  1827,  with  his  family,  was  one  of  the  ear- 
liest settlers  in  what  is  now  known  as  Newell  Town- 
ship. He  entered  a  tract  of  Government  land 
and  was  a  resident  in  that  township  till  death  called 
him  hence,  though  he  did  not  die  on  that  farm. 
but  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  which  he 
had  entered;  after  the  death  of  his  father  he  buying 
that  farm  of  the  other  heirs.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  reared  in  his  native  State,  and  there 
married  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  Baston. 
Her  father  was  a  resident  of  Harrison  County  in 
his  native  Virginia  till  1827.  when  he  came  with 
others  to  Vermilion  County,  and  entered  a  tract  of 
land  and  improved  a  farm  in  what  is  now  Danville 
Township,  and  lived  here  many  years.  He  had 
learned  the  trade  of  a  hatter  in  his  youth;  and  after 
he  came  here  found  it  very  profitable  to  work  at  it 
a  part  of  the  time,  his  hats  finding  a  ready  sale. 
I'k mi  this  place  Mr.  Baston  moved  to  Iowa  in 
1848  and  became  a  pioneer  of  Marion  County.  A 
few  years  later  he  came  back  to  Illinois  and  made 
his  home  with  his  children  for  a  time,  and  then  re- 
turned to  the  Hawk  Eye  State  and  resided  there  till 
his  demise  at  the  advauced  age  of  ninety-eight 
years.  His  wife  lived  to  be  about  the  same  age. 
They  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  ten  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity  and  married. 

The  father  of  our  subject  continued  to  live  in 
Harrison  County  till  1827,  but  early  that  year  he 
left  the  State  of  his  nativity  accompanied  by  his  wife, 
his  parents  and  her  parents,  bound  for  the  then  far 
West,  and  made  the  entire  journey  with  ox  teams. 
He  settled  in  Newell  Township  and  entered  the 
tract  of  Government  land  that  is  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  his  eldest  son.  It  was  wild  prairie  at 
the  time,  with  no  improvements  whatever,  and  he 
had  to  erect  a  rude  pole  house  for  temporary  shel- 
ter, and  in  that  the  family  resided  a  year.  It  was 
then  burned  with  all  its  contents,  and  a  more  sub- 


stantial log  bouse  "as  put  up  iii  its  place,  and  in 
that  humble  abode  the  most  of  his  children  were 
born.  When  he  first  went  onto  this  land  he  did 
not  have  money  enough  to  pay  for  it  and  held  it 
as  a  claim  till  he  could  earn  money  enough  break- 
ing prairie  for  others,  to  buy  it.  He  had  learned 
the  trade  of  wagon-maker  before  coming  here,  and 
he  built  a  shop  on  his  place  and  devoted  part  of 
his  time  to  making  wagons.  When  he  had  three 
or  four  wagons  made  he  would  yoke  his  oxen  and 
start  for  Chicago  to  sell  them,  and  at  the  same  time 
his  wife,  who  was  a  thrifty,  economical  housekeep- 
er, would  send  the  eggs  and  butter  that  she  had 
saved,  to  market.  There  were  no  railways  for 
years  after  he  settled  here,  and  deer  and  othei 
kinds  of  wild  game  were  plentiful  and  often  troub- 
lesome in  the  wheat  fields  of  the  pioneers,  and 
where  the  flourishing  city  of  Danville  stands  there 
was  then  no  village.  Mr.  Current  closed  a  life 
that  had  been  a  useful  one  and  an  honor  to  his  com- 
munity-, on  his  old  homestead  Aug.  (I.  18.31,  dying 
while  yet  in  his  prime.  His  wife  died  in  October, 
1885. 

Isaac  Current  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educa- 
ted in  this,  his  native  county.  He  was  but  six 
years  old  when  his  father  died,  and  he  continued 
with  his  mother  till  his  marriage.  He  then  estab- 
lished himself  on  a  part  of  the  homestead,  and  two 
years  later  bought  his  present  farm,  where  he  has 
built  up  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  in  the 
township. 

Mr.  Current  has  been  three  times  married.  Clar- 
issa E.  Lynch,  to  whom  he  was  wedded  Dec.  14. 
1862,was  his  first  wife.  She  was  born  in  Danville 
Township  in  184.'5,  and  died  here  .lime  14,  1869, 
leaving  one  child,  Rachel  II.  She  is  now  the  wife 
of  Isaac  Bowman  of  Vance  Township,  and  they  have 
one  child  named  William  Isaac.  Mr.  Current's 
second  marriage  was  to  Mary  (Campbell)  Wyatt, 
their  union  taking  place  Oct.  28,  1869.  She  was 
born  in  Newell  Township  Aug.  1,  18  1,"),  and  died 
June  21,  1872. 

Mr.  Current's  marriage  with  his  present  wife, 
Mrs.  Derotha  (Jones)  Noel,  took  place  Jan. 
26,  1883.  Her  first  husband  was  Arthur  Noel  by 
whom  she  had  one  son,  Shelby  1'.  Noel — he  married 
Hannah  Lappin.lhey  have  three  children,  viz:  Percy 


258 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Leo,  Lorla  Belle,  and  Arthur  Raymond.  She  was 
born  in  Rockville,  Park  Co..  Intl. ,. Ian.  13,  1845.  Her 
father,  Cornelius  Jones  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
when  a  young  man  went  to  Park  County,  Ind.,  and 
there  married  Nancy  Hull,  a  native  of  Ohio,  lie 
lived  in  Park  County  till  1881,  and  then  came  to 
Illinois  and  made  his  home  with  a  son  in  Doughs 
Count}'  till  his  decease  in  March,  1885.  His  wife 
died  May  10,  1860.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Current  have 
one  son,  Charles  R. 

It  may  well  be  the  pride  of  our  subject  that  it 
has  been  his  privilege  not  only  to  witness  the  won- 
derful progress  of  his  native  count}' since  his  birth, 
but  thai  he  lias  had  a  share  in  advancing  its  mate- 
rial prosperity  and  making  it  a  great  agricultural 
centre.  He  has  accumulated  a  valuable  property 
by  the  exercise  of  those  faculties  that  mark  him  as 
a  man  of  more  than  usual  sagacity,  far  reaching 
forethought,  and  practical  tenacity  of  pin-pose. 
Underlying  all  these  traits  are  those  high  princi- 
ples that  have  gained  him  the  trust  and  respect  of 
his  fellow-citizens.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  act- 
tive  members  of  the  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  as  is  also  their  son.  In  politics,  on  Na- 
tional issues  he  sides  with  the  Democrats,  but  in 
local  affairs  the  best  man  for  the  office  gets  his 
vote  without  regard  to  his  party  affiliations. 


Vi;  OHX  J.  SOUTHWORTH  is  one  of  the  young 
leading  and  progressive  business  men  of  one 
of  the  most  promising  villages  in  Vermilion 
County.  Allerton.  The  town  lies  on  the  line 
which  divides  Vermilion  from  Champaign  County. 
and  was  laid  out  in  1887.  The  depot  was  built  the 
same  fall  and  located  on  lands  given  to  that  pur- 
pose by  Sam  W.  Allerton,  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Southworth  was  the  first  business  man  who 
located  at  the  town  of  Allerton.  Before  coming 
here  he  was  engaged  in  the  town  of  Archie  in  the 
lumber  business.  In  1887  he  took  charge  of  Al- 
lerton's  steam  elevator,  removing  his  lumber  yard 
here  at  the  same  time,  and  on  July  20,  1887,  he 
bought  the  first  load  of  grain  purchased  in  Aller- 
ton, a  load  of  corn,  from  Thomas  L.  Miller,  of 
Champaign  County.  The  price  paid  was  forty  cents 


a  bushel.  As  soon  as  the  railroad  was  completed 
to  his  town  he  added  to  his  stock  of  lumber,  salt, 
binding  twine,  sand  and  barbed  wire.  Mr.  South- 
worth  is  a  son  of  John  R.  and  Anna  (Akers)  South- 
worth,  the  nativity  of  the  former  being  at  Thom- 
aston,  Mass.,  while  the  latter  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg,  Pa. 

John  R.  Southworth  was  reared  as  a  mechanic, 
working  in  the  woolen  mills  at  Lowell,  Mass..  but 
in  1854,  thinking  the  broad  prairies  of  the  West 
were  more  conducive  to  happiness  than  the 
cramped  shops  of  the  East,  he  came  to  Champaign 
County,  III.,  eventually.  His  first  removal  west 
was  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  married.  As  a  farmer  of 
Illinois  he  was  fairly  prosperous,  and  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  progress  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, lie  died  on  his  farm  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years,  while  his  wife  still  lives  there.  The 
maternal  grandparents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
died  while  Mrs.  Southworth  was  quite  young.  They 
were  natives  of  England,  as  were  also  the  paternal 
grandparents.  The  great-grandfather,  Roy  South- 
worth,  served  with  distinguished  honor  through 
the  entire  period  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
his  descendants  are  in  possession  of  a  cane,  the  head 
of  which  is  composed  of  solid  silver  in  the  shape  of 
a  dog's  head,  and  inscribed  thereon  are  the  words, 
"Southworth,  1776."  The  silver  was  taken  from 
the  hilt  of  a  British  sword,  which  he  captured  from 
the  enemy.  Our  subject's  parents  had  six  children: 
Addie,  Julia,  Frank,  Lehmond,  John  J.  and    Lillie. 

John  Jay  Southworth  was  born  at  Coldwater, 
Mich.,  in  1852,  and  when  he  was  but  three  years 
old  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  where  he 
was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  received  his  primary 
education  at  the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  entered  Oberlin  College,  where  he  con- 
tinued a  student  for  some  time,  and  afterward  com- 
pleted his  education  at  Champaign.  In  1875  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Irwin,  who  was  born  in 
Champaign  County,  111.,  and  who  was  graduated 
from  the  women's  department  of  the  Bloommglon 
College.  She  was  engaged  as  a  teacher  in  her  na- 
tive county,  for  sometime  and  was  reckoned  as  one 
of  the  best  teachers.  Soon  after  their  mariange  the 
young  couple  removed  to  Archie,  where  Mr.  South- 
worth  engaged  in  business,  and  from  the  start  has 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


259 


been  successful.  They  have  had  four  children: 
Grace,  Walter,  Ida  and  Anna  Mary;  the  latter  died 
when  slit-  was  twenty  months  old. 

Mr.  Southworth  owns  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres 
four  miles  ninth  of  Allerton.  lie  is  also  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business,  he  and  his  wife  being  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  Allerton  House.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  odd  Fellows  lodge,  and  votes  the  Republican 
ticket.  The  offices  of  School  Director  and  Trustee 
have  been  filled  by  him  with  ability.  In  all  his 
efforts  of  life  in  which  he  has  succeeded  he  has 
been  ably  seconded  by  his  intelligent  and  faithful 
wife,  and  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  they  will  go  on 
prospering.  They  are  prominently  identified  with 
the  prosperity  of  their  town,  and  there  are  no 
better  people  in  it. 


fl  WILLIAM  COPELAND  is  the  son  of  Samuel. 
\/\lli  wnose  f;ll'ier  was  likewise  named  Samuel, 
V(7\y  a  native  of  Ireland,  having  been  born 
near  Dublin.  He,  with  his  brother,  Robert,  came 
to  the  United  States  when  young  men  and  located 
at  Philadelphia,  Pa.  From  there  the  brother  went 
to  South  Carolina,  and  has  not  since  been  heard 
from  by  our  subject.  The  grandfather  married 
near  Philadelphia,  and  after  a  few  years  removed 
to  Galia  County,  Ohio,  the  subject's  father  being 
then  a  little  boy.  The  journey  was  made  on  pack 
horses.  The  father  and  older  brothers,  Isaac  and 
Robert,  were  carried  in  a  basket  lashed  to  a  horse. 
That  journey  was  made  about  1805,  many  years 
previous  to  the  building  of  any  railroads.  Even 
road  wagons  were  not  in  general  use  at  that  time. 
Sleds  were  used  in  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The 
only  wagons  in  use  in  those  parts  were  such  as  were 
known  as  truck  wagons,  the  wheels  of  which  were 
made  of  a  piece,  perhaps  six  inches,  sawed  off  the 
end  of  a  round  log  and  a  hole  bored  in  the  center 
for  the  axle,  which  was  also  wood.  The  wheels 
were  held  on  the  axle  by  wooden  linch-pins,  in  fa^t 
the  entire  wagon  was  made  of  wood.  The  grand- 
parents located  among  the  hills  and  heavy  timber 
and  there  made  n  farm  on  which  they  reared  their 
family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  our  subject's 
father  was  the  third  child  and  only  survivor.     The 


children  were:  Robert.  Isaac.  Samuel,  .lames.  Ham- 
ilton. Mary  A.  .lane,  and  Mahala.  The  grand- 
parents spent  their  last  days  on  the  Ohio  farm. 
The  parents  Of  Our  Subject    were    married    in  (.alia 

County,  Ohio,  the  mother  being  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Ham,  of  German  ancestry  and  earlj 
settlers  of  Ohio. 

Like  the  grandparents,  the  parents  of  our  subject 
reared  a  large  family  consisting  of  eleven  children: 
William  H„  George  W.,  Perry,  Mary  A.,  Nancy, 
Malinda,  Andrew,  Delila,  Clarinda,  Emily,  and 
Elizabeth.  The  four  elder  were  born  in  Ohio. 
In  1827,  the  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
with  their  family,  removed  to  this  county  and 
made  the  journey  on  a  keel-boat  down  the  Ohio 
and  up  the  Wabash  to  Perrysvillc,  Ind.  The  father 
made  the  boat  for  the  journey  and  brought  the 
household  goods  and  also  salt.  Out  of  the  profit  on 
that  load  of  salt  he  made  a  start  in  life.  He  sold 
it  at  Perrysville,  where  he  hired  a  man  with  a  team 
to  haul  his  goods  and  family  seven  miles  north- 
west of  Danville,  where  he  entered  eighty  acres, 
part  timber  and  part  prairie.  His  first  house  was 
made  by  laying  a  pole  from  one  tree  to  another 
about  ten  feet  apart  on  a  fork  in  either  tree,  against 
which  poles  and  rails  were  leaned  on  each  side  for  a 
roof.  In  that  tent  they  lived  until  they  could 
build  a  log  house,  and  in  this  house  the  family  was 
chiefly  reared.  After  getting  the  eighty  acres  in 
a  good  state  of  cultivation  he  would  buy  more 
land  as  he  could,  until  he  had  increased  his  farm  to  a 
considerable  extent.  On  that  farm  the  worthy 
mother  spent  her  last  days.  The  father  makes  his 
home  with  our  subject  during  the  winter  and  with 
his  daughter,  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  .Milton  Lamb, 
of  Danville,  in  the  summer.  Thefatherof  William 
II.  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church, 
in  which  faith  his  mother  died. 

In  the  wilds  of  Illinois  educational  advantages 
were  very  limited,  and  the  school  which  our  sub- 
ject attended  at  twelve  years  of  age  was  called  a 
"subscription  school."  Each  family  would  board 
the  teacher  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  puplis. 
The  school-house  was  built  of  round  logs,  punch- 
eon floor  and  slab  doors.  The  window  was  made 
with  greased  paper  pasted  over  the  hole  cut  in  a 
log.     The  M-ats  were  also  made  of  puncheon.      The 


260 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPAICAL  ALBUM. 


school  term  only  lasted  about  three  months  of  the 
year,  these  being  the  winter  months,  when  the 
work  on  the    farm   was   retarded  by  cold  weather. 

The  next  step  of  importance  was  the  marriage  of 
our  subject  to  Miss  Racbael  Sterns.  Her  parents 
were  Zara  and  Mary  (Smalley)  Stems.  They  too 
were  pioneers  in  this  county  and  came  from  near 
Clarkesville,  Ohio,  and  were  among  the  very  earl- 
liest  settlers.  They  died  at  an  advanced  age  near 
Williamsport,  hid.  By  his  first  marriage  there 
were  ten  children:  Mary  married  James  Wilson 
and  died  in  1860.  Mr.  Wilson  enlisted  in  the  war 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chickasaw.  Their 
only  surviving  child,  William  II.,  was  reared  by 
our  subject  for  whom  he  was  named;  Nancy,  now 
Mrs.  W.  II.  Duncan  lives  in  this  county;  E.  II.; 
Almeda  is  married  to  Frank  Johns  and  died 
about,  1875;  Eli  lives  in  Missouri;  Andrew  Z  ;  an 
infantson;  Elizabeth  now  Mrs.  John  B.  Chambers; 
George;  Harmon;  and  Charles,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years.  Mrs.  Copeland  died  Jan.  27,  1831, 
a  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  which 
faith  she  lived.  Our  subject  was  married  a  sec- 
ond time  to  Elizabeth  Kirkhart,  September,  1885. 
Her  parents  were  also  early  settlers  here  and  came 
from  Whitsell  County,  Va.,  in  which  State  they 
were  born.  Her  mother,  Ann  (^Courtney)  Kirk- 
hart, died  when  Mrs.  Copeland  was  about  eight 
3'ears  old.  Her  father,  John  died  a  few  years 
later,  thus  leaving  her  an  orphan  in  earl}'  life. 
Previous  to  her  marriage  with  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  Mrs.  Copeland  had  been  married  to  Stephen 
Lamb,  who  died  in  1882. 

William  Copeland  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethern  Church.  He  lias  held  the  offices  in  this 
county  of  Supervisor,  twelve  years;  School  Direc- 
tor, twenty  years;  Road  Commissioner,  three  years. 
His  politics  are  strictly  Republican.  His  indus- 
trious habits  have  been  crowned  by  a  splendid 
property  in  the  village  of  Potomac,  where  he  lives. 
He  owns  a  large,  well  furnished  frame  house  and 
three  lots,  finely  planted  with  shade  and  fruit  trees. 
The  house  has  all  modern  conveniences,  and  testi- 
fies to  the  neatness  and  taste  of  its  owners.  He 
also  owns  another  residence  and  a.  large  business 
house  in  the  village.       Beside  these,  a  fine  farm  of 


440  acres  in  this  county,  where  he  lived  for  many 
years,  and  here  his  family  was  reared.  He  has 
given  each  of  his  children  at  their  marriage  $2,500, 
and  still  has  a  competency  remaining  to  keep 
himself  and  wife  as  long  as  they  live.  I  lis  pres- 
ent prosperous  condition  speaks  well  for  his  good 
management  and  frugality,  for  when  first  married, 
in  1841,  he  was  destitute  of  means.  Mr.  Copeland 
is  one  of  those  worthy  pioneers,  who  is  now  living 
a  life  of  peaceful  retirement. 


HARLES  E.  WHITTON  has  been  a  resident 
,  of  Illinois  nearly  all  his  life,  though  he  has 
lived  in  Vermilion  County  but  a  short  time. 
He  was  born  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  J11I3*  3. 
1847,  and  when  a  boy,  came  West  with  his  parents, 
Robert  and  Mary  (Ferguson)  Whitton.  They  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Grundy  County,  111.,  and  the 
father  and  mother  are  now  living  at  Hammond, 
Ind.,  near  Chicago.  The  former  is  an  Englishman 
by  birth,  and  came  to  this  country  with  an  elder 
brother  when  quite  young,  while  the  latter  is  a 
native  of  Oneida  County,  N.  Y. 

Charles  E.  Whitton  was  brought  up  on  the  home 
farm  in  Grundy  County,  and  when  Fort  Sumter 
was  fired  upon,  ardently  desired  to  enter  the  Union 
army,  but  was  not  accepted  because  of  his  youth. 
On  i'eli.  7,  1865,  however,  he  stole  a  few  months 
of  the  time  necessary,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  and  six  months  enlisted  in  Company  C,  147th 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  for  a  year.  On  the 
declaration  of  peace,  his  company  was  assigned  to 
Provost  Marshal  duty  in  Georgia,  and  was  so  en- 
gaged until  Jan.  20,  1866,  on  which  day  they  were 
mustered  out.  After  his  return,  being  still  but  a 
boy,  although  a  veteran,  Mr.  Whitton  went  to 
school,  and  for  two  years  studied  with  an  especial 
view  of  preparing  himself  for  the  profession  of 
school  teaching.  In  this  vocation  he  was  subse- 
quently engaged  for  more  than  twelve  3'ears,  mostly 
in  Iroquois  Count}',  111.,  and  in  Benton  County, 
hid.  In  the  latter  county  he  was  also  Superinten- 
dent of  Schools  for  two  years,  discharging  the  res- 
ponsible duties  of  that  position  satisfactorily  to 
the  people,  and  with  credit  to  himself.     During  all 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBIM. 


261 


the  years  he  was  teaching  he  was  also  working  at 
farming  during  the  summer  months.  In  the  spring 
of  1884  lie  began  work  on  a  rented  farm  in  Iro- 
quois County,  but  his  first  wife  dying  about-  that 
time,  Mr.  Whitton  gave  up  this  place,  and  after  his 
second  marriage  lived  for  three  years  on  a  farm  in 
Iroquois  County,  belonging  to  his  present  wife. 
This  they  sold  in  1888,  and  then  bought  and  re- 
moved to  the  fine  farm  of  200  acres,  on  section  21, 
in  Grant  Township,  where  they  now  make  their 
home. 

As  stated,  Mr.Whitton  has  been  twice  married — 
first  in  1 877,  to  Miss  Salinda  .bines,  who  died  in  the 
spring  of  1884,  leaving  two  boys,  Lewis  and  Law- 
rence. On  Dee.  Ill,  1884,  Mr.  Whitton  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Laura  11.  Dunham,  widow  of 
Quiney  Dunham,  of  Logan  County,  111.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Houser)  Alsop,  and 
was  born  in  Spencer  Count}',  Ky.,  Aug.  26,  1840. 
Both  the  parents  were  also  born  in  that  county, 
where  Mr.  Alsop  was  a  farmer.  They  emigrated 
to  Logan  County,  111.,  when  Laura  was  but  nine 
years  old,  and  she  has  ever  since  been  a  resident  of 
this  State.  Her  mother  died  in  1875,  and  her 
father  is  still  living  in  Logan  County.  He,  too, 
although  a  southerner  by  birth,  was  a  soldier  of 
freedom,  and  served  for  three  years  in  the  Union 
army  as  a  member  of  Company  F,  106th  Illinois 
Infantry.  In  fact,  all  of  Mrs.Whitlon's  connections 
showed  themselves  to  be  true  patriots,  her  father, 
her  father-in-law,  her  first  and  her  second  husband, 
all  having  served  bravely  in  the  Union  ranks.  Wil- 
liam Dunham,  her  first  husband's  father,  was  Chap- 
lain of  the  106th  Illinois  Infantry,  the  same  regi- 
ment in  which  her  father  was  a  soldier.  He  served 
through  the  war.  but  contracted  a  disease  from 
which  he  never  recovered,  and  which  terminated 
his  life  in  1877. 

Laura  15.  Alsop  (now  Mrs.  Whitton)  was  married 
to  Quiney  Dunham,  Dec.  15,  1870.  He,  like  Mr. 
Whitton,  was  a  youthful  soldier,  having  been  born 
Aug.  C,  1847,  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  and  on 
Feb.  10,  1865,  when  seventeen  years  and  six  months 
old.  enlisted  in  Company  M.  6th  Illinois  Cavalry, 
serving  for  nine  months,  and  was  discharged  Nov. 
5,1865.  After  his  return  from  the  army,  young 
Dunham  was  engaged  in  farming  pursuits  in  Logan 


County  until  his  death.  He  bought  the  farm  in 
Iroquois  County,  on  which  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Whitton 
lived  after  their  marriage,  but  never  occupied  ii 
himself.  The  circumstances  attending  his  death, 
which  occured  Dec  9,  1881.  were  very  sad,  A  man 
whom  he  had  hired  to  work  on  the  farm  was  found 
to  be  suffering  from  smallpox,  and  Mr.  Dunham 
contracted  the  disease,  and  died  from  it.  His 
brother,  Monroe  Dunham,  who  was  married  to  a 
sister  of  Mrs.  Whitton.  and  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Lucy 
Zollars,  with  a  child  of  Monroe's,  named  .Maud, 
also  fell  victims  to  the  same  dread  disease,  as  did 
five  of  their  neighbors,  making  nine  in  all  who  died 
before  the  pest  could  be  controlled. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quiney  Dunham  became  the  parents 
of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living  with 
their  mother,  and  are  named  Clarence  K..  Mary  I... 
William  D.,  Arthur  A..  Pearl  E.  and  Grace  L.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Whitton  have  one  child,  a  bright  little 
girl,  named  Estella  K.  Though  not  long  residents 
in  Vermilion  County,  they  have  lived  near  its  bor- 
ders, and  are  well  known  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
Both  are  respected  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  Boswell  Lodge,  No. 
486,  A.  F.  &  A.  M„  of  Boswell.  Ind. 

Mr.  Whitton  is  known  as  an  industrious,  hard- 
working man,  who  attends  closely  to  the  duties  of 
his  farm,  in  which  he  is  ably  assisted  by  his  ener- 
getic and  capable  wife.  The  farm  they  now  own 
is  a  fine  property,  and  under  their  careful  manage- 
ment is  being  rapidly  improved,  and  when  their 
plans  are  fully  carried  out,  it  will  be  one  of  the 
best  properties  of  its  size  in  this  neighborhood. 

fjOHN  II.  PARRISH  has  for  twenty  years 
or  more  been  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
Sidell  Township.  As  a  farmer  he  is  skillful 
and  successful,  has  a  comfortable  and  beau- 
tiful home,  and  is  genial  and  hospitable  in  his 
manner,  gaining  the  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.  He  is  considerable  of  a  politi- 
cian, and  in  1879  was  elected  Highway  Commis- 
sioner for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  was  re-elected 
in  188;").  and  served  another  term.  Prior  to  his 
assuming    the    duties    of    this    office   the   Commis- 


262 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sioners  had  contracted  for  a  large  amount  of  road 
grading,  and  unwisely  involved  the  township  in 
debt  to  the  amount  of  $4,000.  By  careful  man- 
agement on  the  part  of  Mr.  Parrish  this  sum  has 
been  greatly  reduced,  so  that  the  township  finances 
are  placed  upon  a  sound  basis. 

Our  subject  was  born  May  7,  1839,  in  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio.  There  his  early  life  was  spent,  and 
as  his  brother  had  left  the  parental  roof  when 
about  sixteen  years  old,  John  naturally  assumed 
the  principal  charge  of  the  homestead.  To  this  he 
brought  a  bride  in  1864,  being  married  that  year 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Donnelly.  This  lady  was  a  na- 
tive of  his  own  county — in  fact  they  had  grown  up 
together  from  childhood.  They  resided  in  Ohio 
until  after  the  birth  of  two  children,  coming  to 
this  county  in  1868.  In  the  meantime  the  brother, 
Joseph  Parrish,  had  become  owner  of  a  large  farm, 
a  part  of  which  our  subject  rented,  and  upon  which 
he  operated  with  success.  He,  however,  with  many 
others  at  the  time  suffered  greatly  from  ague,  a 
disease  common  among  the  early  settlers,  be- 
fore the  land  had  been  sufficiently  cultivated  to 
do  away  with  miasma. 

The  first  purchase  of  our  subject  in  this  county 
was  eighty  acres,  the  nucleus  of  his  present  home- 
stead, and  to  which  he  added  until  he  had  200 
acres.  He  put  up  a  fine  dwelling  in  1888,  and  has 
brought  his  land  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  To 
him  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were  born  nine 
interesting  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daugh- 
ter. Giula,  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Thompson,  of 
Sidell  Township;  Melvin  P.  remains  at  the  home- 
stead; Charles  died  when  eighteen  months  old; 
Horace  C,  Allie,  Grace,  and  Harley  are  at  home. 
Belle  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months,  and  Gro- 
ver  C.  died  when  an  infant.  Mr.  Parrish  votes 
with  the  Democracy,  and  is  quite  prominent  in 
local  politics,  frequently  serving  as  a  delegate  to 
the  county  conventions.  He  has  also  served  on 
the  Circuit,  Petit,  and  Grand  Juries,  and  has  offi- 
ciated as  School  Director  for  a  period  of  fifteen 
years. 

James  and  Lania  (  Hardman)  Parrish,  the  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  natives  respectively  of  Bel- 
mont and  Coschocton  counties,  Ohio.  The  Par- 
rishes  were  originally  from  Pennsylvania,  in  which 


State  the  mother's  family  also  flourished  quite  nu- 
merously at  an  early  day.  The  parents  were  mar- 
ried in  Kosciusko  County,  where  the  father  success- 
fully pursued  his  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  and 
lived  to  be  seventy-two  years  old.  The  mother 
died  when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  seven,  leaving 
besides  himself,  an  older  brother,  Joseph,  and  a 
sister  younger,  Hannah,  now  Mrs.  W.  15.  Shane,  who 
lives  in  Smithtield,  Ohio. 


^^UY  C.  HOWARD.  Among  the  most  promi- 
||  (— -,  nent  merchants  of  Armstrong,  Mr.  G.  C. 
V^i)  Howard  takes  the  lead.  He  is  noted  for  his 
success  and  excellent  business  qualifications.  He 
was  the  son  of  Joseph,  whose  father,  Nathan,  was 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  who  was  of  English  descent. 
This  gentleman  came  to  Illinois  among  the  pio- 
neers, and  located  three  miles  northeast  of  Dan- 
ville. His  wife,  Nancy,  was  of  Irish  ancestry. 
This  worthy  couple  were  blest  with  six  children; 
Joseph,  Clinton,  Milton.  Richard;  Julia,  who  mar- 
ried C.  Campbell,  and  died  in  this  county;  and  one 
other,  who  died  quite  young.  Our  subject's  father, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  is  the  eldest  of  these  chil- 
dren. Here  he  was  united  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Barbara  Snyder,  a  daughter  of  Asa  B.  Snyder,  who 
was  also  a  pioneer.  Of  this  marriage  there  was  but 
one  child,  our  subject.  The  father  had  been  pre- 
viously married  to  a  daughter  of  Ralph  Martin, 
another  pioneer  of  this  county.  It  was  here  in 
Vermilion  County  that  the  father  died  in  the  year 
1850,  eighteen  months  after  the  birth  of  their  son. 
The  mother  lived  and  devoted  all  her  attention  to 
her  child,  whom  she  reared  on  the  farm  with  great 
care  and  precision,  and  whom  she  has  educated  in 
the  district  schools.  "When  he  became  of  age  lie 
was  married  to  Miss  Emily,  daughter  of  William 
H.  Price.  This  happy  event  occurred  in  April, 
1878.  lie  was  profitably  engaged  in  farming  until 
1887,  when  he  found  employment  as  a  clerk  for  a 
Mr.  Tilton,  in  Potomac,  for  about  eighteen  months. 
From  here  he  "came  to  Armstrong,  where  he  has  a 
general  store  and  where  he  enjoys  great  prosperity. 
His  stock  is  valued  from '83,000   to  £.">.000.       His 


's/fctfL    fl(M<U^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


265 


trade  runs  from  £12.000  to  *lf>,000  a  .year.  He 
carries  an  unusually  fine  line  of  general  merchan- 
dise. 

Mr.  Howard  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  A:  A.  M.  of  Potomac',  his  wife  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  "  Enstern  Star''  of  that  lodge.  When 
our  subject  began  business  he  had  nothing  to  help 
him  on  but  a  determined  character  and  a  pair  of 
willing  hands.  These,  however,  are  effectual  in- 
struments, and  never  fail  to  prove  themselves  due 
weapons  in  his  battles  with  the  ordinary  obstacles 
of  life  From  what  we  have  already  seen  of  his 
energy,  we  cannot  but  predict  for  him  a  bright  and 
prosperous  future. 

I ■OlIX  M.  McCABE.  This  friend  of  the 
laboring;  man  has  made  for  himself  an  un- 
deniably fine  record  in  connection  with  the 
'  important  question  which  is  to-day  absorb- 
ing the  minds  of  intelligent  men  everywhere.  A 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  talent  and  possessed  of 
large  information,  he  has  not  only  studied  this  but 
many  other  questions  of  political  economy,  and  his 
published  opinions  have  had  a  marked  effect  upon 
the  complexion  of  partj  politics  in  this  part  of  the 
State.  A  man  of  broad  and  liberal  ideas,  and  with 
the  faculty  of  giving  voice  to  his  opinions  in  forci- 
ble language,  he  has  for  years  been  a  power  in  the 
community,  and  has,  it  is  evident,  sought  to  exert 
his  influence  for  good  and  good  only.  Mr.  Mc- 
Gabe,  while  affiliating  with  the  Union  Labor  party, 
is  also  a  strong  advocate  of  prohibition,  and  fa- 
vored a  union  of  the  two  parties. 

We  are  constrained,  before  proceeding  further, 
to  glance  at  the  home  surroundings  of  Mr.  McC'abe, 
who  has  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  inviting 
mansions  in  Fairmount  and  vicinity — a  large,  old- 
fashioned  house,  built  in  the  early  days,  and  situ- 
ated on  the  corner  south  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  It  stands  on  an  eminence  gently  sloping 
to  the  south,  while  Stretching  east  i>  a  line  orchard 
containing  large  and  spreading  trees,  a  useful  old- 
fashioned  garden,  and  twenty  acres  of  pasture,  in 
tin'  midst  of  which  is  a  fish  pond  stocked  with 
German  carp.     Recently  the  School  Directors  have 


purchased  two  acres  of  the  twenty  for  the  purpose 
of  building  a  fine  graded  school  building.  The 
whole  premises  are  both  comfortable  and  elegant, 
and  form  one  of  the  most  attractive  features  in  the 
landscape  of  this  region.  The  tile  works,  of  which 
Mr.  McCabe  is  proprietor,  and  which  lie  at  the 
north  end  of  Main  street,  were  erected  in  1882, 
and  have  been  prosecuted  successfully  since  that 
time. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Dearborn 
County,  End.,  Feb.  19,  18  14,  and  is  the  fifth  child 
in  a  family  of  nine,  the  offspring  of  Alex  and 
lihoda  (Knapp)  McCabe,  who  were  natives  respect- 
ively of  Ohio  and  North  Carolina.  The  father 
followed  farming  after  his  marriage,  in  Dearborn 
County,  Ind.,  to  which  he  had  removed  with  his 
parents  at  an  early  day.  Grandfather  Knapp  was  a 
native  of  New  York  State.  Alex  McCabe,  after 
his  marriage,  continued  in  Indiana  until  1872,  then 
removed  with  his  family  to  Stanberry,  Mo.,  where 
he  and  his  excellent  wife  still  live.  Six  sons  and 
two  daughters  lived  to  become  men  and  women. 

Mr.  McC'abe,  our  subject,  attended  school  quite 
regularly  until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  mostly 
in  the  winter  season,  and  worked  on  the  farm  with 
his  father.  In  1803,  desirous  of  starting  out  in 
life  for  himself,  he  left  home,  arriving  at  Fair- 
mount  with  a  capital  of  £2.37,  and  in  debt  $5  to 
his  mother  for  money  borrowed  to  help  him  get 
away.  Arriving  at  Fairmount,  he  engaged  in  work 
for  Mr.  James  M.  Dougherty,  about  one  mile  north- 
east of  town,  and  with  whom  he  remained  until  the 
fall  of  that  year.  The  winter  following  he  taught 
school  at  Walnut  Grove.  The  year  following  he 
attended  school  at  Danville  a  short  time,  and  sub- 
sequently resumed  work  on  a  farm. 

In  the  meantime  our  subject  had  his  mind  in- 
tent upon  establishing  a  home  of  his  own,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1864  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  Dougherty. 
The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  McCabe's  mother  was 
Jane  Dalby.  and  Miss  Mary  was  the  third  child  in 
a  family  of  seven.  The  newly  wedded  pair  set- 
tled on  a  rented  farm,  where  they  struggled  along 
amid  many  difficulties  and  drawbacks,  Mr.  McCabe 
farming  in  summer  and  teaching  school  in  winter 
until    the   spring    of    1880.        He    then    resolved  to 


266 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


change  his  occupation,  and  abandoning'  the  farm, 
secured  an  interest  in  a  Hour  mill  at  Fairmount. 
lie  withdrew  from  this  eighteen  months  later,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  the  manufacture- of  tile. 
He  put  up  an  old-fashioned  Indiana  tile  shed  on  a 
small  scale,  using  one  kiln.  By  the  exercise  of 
great  industry  and  energy  his  business  advanced 
slowly  but  surely,  and  in  time  he  was  obliged  to 
enlarge  his  facilities.  He  now  has  one  of  the  most 
extensive  factories  of  the  kind  in  his  part  of  the 
State,  and  in  addition  to  the  first  products,  has 
added  brickmaking  and  roofing-tile  of  a  new  de- 
sign known  as  '-Donaldson's  patent,"  which  is  by 
one-half  the  lightest  roofing-tile  ever  manufac- 
tured in  any  country. 

Mr.  McCabe  has  now  the  only  manufactory,  ex- 
cepting a  flour  mill,  in  the  town,  and  the  people  of 
this  vicinity  are  justly  proud  of  this  enterprise, 
which  gives  emploj'iuent  to  a  number  of  men,  and 
enters  largely  into  the  success  and  reputation  of 
its  industrial  interests.  At  present  (June,  1889) 
the  works  demand  the  services  of  fifteen  men,  with 
a  prospect  in  the  near  future  of  the  number  being 
doubled.  The  buildings  and  equipments  are  fully 
in  keeping  with  the  demands  of  the  business,  which 
is  not  only  a  credit  to  the  town,  but  to  its  instigator 
and  proprietor. 

In  politics  Mr.  McCabe  always  has  an  opinion 
and  is  never  afraid  to  express  it.  He  was  in  for- 
mer years  an  ardent  Republican,  but  of  late  has 
not  been  tied  to  any  party.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  National  Labor  Conference  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
and  was  nominated  for  Representative  in  this  dis- 
trict on  the  Union  Labor  ticket  in  1888.  He  has 
officiated  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Village  Trustee 
and  School  Director,  and  has  been  for  years  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  the  Good  Tem- 
plars, the  Grange,  and  the  Masonic  fraternity,  hold- 
ing in  each  organization  important  offices.  He  and 
his  excellent  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Fairmount,  and  for  some 
time  Mr.  McCabe  was  Superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school. 

Only  two  of  the  four  children  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  estimable  wife  are  living,  both  daugh- 
ters. The  eldest,  Effie,  was  married  in  March, 
1889,    to    Owen   McClenathan,   and    they   live  five 


miles  east  of  Fairmount.  Elsie,  a  bright  child  of 
nine  years,  is  pursuing  her  studies  in  the  village 
school,  and  is  a  fine  amateur  musician,  playing  well 
on  both  organ  and  guitar. 

Among  other  valuable  features  of  this  volume, 
the  portraits  of  influential  citizens  of  the  county 
hold  no  second  rank.  And  of  these  portraits  an 
important  place  belongs  to  Mr.  McCabe,  the  friend 
of  the  laborer. 


-^ 


<■*    s^*W^ 

EV.  MICHAEL  OAKWOOD.  The  strong 
points  in  the  character  of  this  most  efficient 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

11  have  been  his  energetic  and  uniform  advo- 
cacy of  temperance,  and  his  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  the  Master,  as  exemplified  in  his  pulpit  work,  ex- 
tending over  a  period  of  thirty-five  years.  lie  is 
possessed  in  a  marked  degree  of  the  gift  of  lan- 
guage, and  has  delivered  some  very  powerful  and 
stirring  sermons,  calculated  to  have  a  lasting  effect 
upon  his  hearers.  A  man's  habits  and  disposition 
are  usually  indicated  by  his  home  surroundings,  and 
the  fact  that  we  find  Mr.  Oakwood  the  possessor  of 
a  fine  farm,  with  all  needful  appurtenances,  and 
surrounded  by  the  evidences  of  refined  and  culti- 
vated tastes,  indicates  the  efficiency  with  which  he 
has  labored  and  the  solidity  of  his  general  character, 
by  which  he  has  attained  to  an  enviable  position 
socially  and  financially  among  his  fellow-citizens. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio.  Nov.  10,  1823.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  of  German  ancestry,  and  reared 
in  Tennessee.  Being  an  only  son,  the  name  was 
only  preserved  in  America  through  him.  When  a 
youth  of  nineteen  years  he  emigrated  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  afterward  married  Miss  Margaret  Remley, 
who  was  also  of  German  descent.  She,  with  her 
parents,  had  emigrated  to  Kentucky  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, going  down  the  Ohio  River  on  a  flatboat, 
when  the  Indians  were  numerous  along  its  shores. 
The  Remleys  were  a  thrifty  and  long-lived  family, 
the  mother  of  our  subject  living  to  nearly  the 
eighty -ninth  year  of  her  age. 

Henry  Oakwood  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years.     He  was  a  strong,  athletic  man,  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


267 


very  genial  temperament,  and  kept  Himself  well 
posted  upon  the  general  events  of  the  age  in  which 
he  lived,  especially  in  the  politics  of  the  country. 
He  was  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Whig  party,  and 
held  some  of  the  local  offices,  among  them  justice  of 
the  peace,  lie  loll. .wed  farming  for  his  occupation, 
and  reared  a  family  of  six  suns  and  three  daugh- 
ters, lie  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  the  British  and  Indians  at 
the  fall  of  the  celebrated  chief,  Tecumseh. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  resident  of  Ohio 
for  a  number  of  years,  but  in  1833  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  this  county  when  Michael  was  a 
lad  of  ten  years.  '1  he  people  around  him  were  few 
and  far  between,  and  located  mostly  along  the  bor- 
ders of  the  timber  that  skirted  the  streams.  The 
broad  prairies  were  occupied  by  deer,  wolves  and 
other  wild  animals  in  abundance.  A  village  of  In- 
dians was  located  about  a  mile  from  the  Oakwood 
residence,  which  was  frequently  visited  by  these 
native  sons  and  daughters  of  America,  who  seemed 
to  enjoy  their,  contact  with  civilization  although 
unwilling  to  give  up  their  own  rude:  manner  of  life. 

On  account  of  the  limited  number  of  white  peo- 
ple in  the  new  settlement,  the  early  education  of  our 
subject  was  conducted  at  home,  there  being  no  es- 
tablished school  in  his  township  for  three  years. 
This  want,  however,  was  partially  compensated  for 
by  the  father  taking  the  place  of  instructor  on  win- 
ter evenings,  when  the  children  would  form  a  semi- 
circle around  the  huge  0 replace,  and,  largely  by  the 
light  of  the.  burning  wood,  would  pursue  their 
evening  studies  with  their  books  and  slates.  Greater 
ambition  to  excel  is  seldom  witnessed  in  the  school- 
room than  existed  in  that  little  family  circle,  and 
Michael  was  greatly  encouraged  to  find  himself  a 
little  in  advance  of  some  of  his  older  brothers  in 
his  studies. 

By  the  prosecution  of  his  home  studies,  with  the 
aid  of  the  later  meager  school  privileges  afforded, 
our  subject,  with  four  of  his  brothers,  became  a 
teacher,  and  still  further  anxious  to  excel  in  learn- 
ing, mastered  some  of  the  higher  branches  of  an 
English  education,  and  espeeiallj-  delighted  in 
wrestling  with  difficult  mathematical  problems  and 
investigating  the  principles  of  metaphysical  science. 
History,  both   ancient  and   modern,  received  a  fan- 


share  of  attention.  He  was  much  interested  in  the 
history  of  the  nations  of  the  earth,  as  made  m  his 
own  day  by  their  struggles,  both  in  time  of  war  and 
in  peace1,  the  gradual  advance  of  human  liberty,  and 
the  improved  <■ lition  of  mankind,  politically  in- 
tellectually, morally,  socially  and  religiously. 

In  politics  Mr.  Oakwood  was  a  Republican  from 
the  foundation  of  the  party  through  all  its  strug- 
gles and  took  an  active  part  in  promoting  its  suc- 
cess.      During    the   Civil    War    he    was  frequently 

called  iq to  address  large  gatherings  of  citizens, 

and  labored  as  far  as  he  was  able  to  keep  alive  the 
enthusiasm  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  Union 
arms.  Although  never  aspiring  to  political  honors, 
he  frequently  held  the  local  offices,  tie  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  supervisors  seven  years,  served 
one  term  as  justice  of  the  peace  much  against  his 
inclination,  and  frequently  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  other  local  officej. 

Mr.  Oakwood  very  early  in  life  was  made  the 
subject  of  deep  religious  impressions.  His  parents 
were  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  in  the  pioneer  days  before  the  country 
was  supplied  with  church  buildings,  their  large  farm 
house  afforded  a  place  for  regular  meetings  for 
preaching  and  other  religious  services.  Being  lib- 
eral in  their  views,  there  were  welcomed  under  this 
hospitable  roof  Methodists.  Presbyterians,  and  vari- 
ous other  religious  denominations,  who  were  all 
permitted  to  seek  God  in  the  manner  best  suited  to 
their  separate  views. 

Michael  Oakwood,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
years,  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  soon  afterward  was  licensed  to  preach,  but  de- 
clined entering  the  itinerant  field.  He  was  ambi- 
tious to  study  and  to  "  show  himself  approved  unto 
God,  a  workman  that  need  not  be  ashamed,  rightly 
dividing  the  word  of  truth,"  as  Paul  advised  Tim- 
othy. !So  he  committed  himself  to  a  Biblical  and 
theological  course  of  study. 

In  entering  upon  his  ministerial  career,  Mr.  Oak- 
wood  rather  adopted  the  expository  and  didactic 
style,  and  his  gifts  as  a  pulpit  orator  were  speedily 
recognized  to  be  such  as  would  command  the  re- 
spect and  attention  of  his  hearers.  On  the  2d  of 
October,  1864,  he  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop 
|    E.  R.  Ames,  and    on  Sept.  28]  1  's7:3,  was  ordained 


268 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


elder  by  Bishop  I.  W.  Wiley.  During  his  ministry 
lie  has  received  many  into  the  church,  united  many 
in  marriage,  preached  many  funeral  sermons,  and 
administered  upon  many  occasions  the  ordinances 
of  the  church,  baptizing  as  many  as  fifty  in  a  day, 
at  other  times  thirty,  twenty  and  in  lesser  numbers. 
He  held  the  office  of  recording  steward  for  the  long 
period  of  thirty-one  years,  besides  many  other  offi- 
cial positions  in  his  church. 

Mr.  Oakwood  has  been  twice  married.  In  184G 
he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Copeland  of  Blount  Township,  with  whom  he  lived 
happily  for  six  years,  and  at  her  death  was  left  with 
one  child — Samuel  II.  Their  first-born,  Elizabeth, 
died  in  infancy.  In  1853  Mr.  Oakwood  was  again 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
P.  Mills,  then  of  Ross  Township.  She  is  still  liv- 
ing, and  is  a  highly-esteemed  Christian  lady,  well 
educated,  and  for  some  time  before  her  marriage 
was  engaged  as  a  teacher.  The  issue  of  this  union 
was  one  daughter  and  three  sons.  The  daughter, 
Belle,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years;  she  was 
possessed  of  superior  intellectual  endowments  and  a 
fine  Christian  character,  which,  united  to  her  thor- 
ough education  and  usefulness  as  a  teacher,  con- 
spired to  draw  around  her  a  large  circle  of  warm 
friends.  Wilbur,  a  promising  boy,  (lied  in  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  age;  Edwin,  a  deeply  pious  child, 
and  a  member  in  full  connection  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
years. 

John  M.  Oakwood,  the  only  surviving  child  of 
our  subject,  is  now  (1889)  twenty-three  j'ears  of 
age.  He  was  married  in  1888  to  Miss  Effie,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  A.  G.  Copeland  of  Danville.  He  lias 
been  a  Christian  from  childhood  and  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  well  edu- 
cated, a  great  lover  of  books,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  teaching  in  the  Champaign  county  schools  for 
several  years,  being  at  present  principal  of  the  high 
school  at  St.  Joseph.  Samuel  H.,  the  son  of  the 
first  marriage,  has  likewise  been  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  since  child- 
hood; he  is  now  forty  years  of  age.  He  acquired 
a  good  education  in  his  youth,  and  followed  the 
profession  of  a  teacher  several  years,  after  which  he 
embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  at   Newtown. 


He  lived  there  a  few  years,  then  removed  his  busi- 
ness to  Danville,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1878 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Laura  Bennett, 
daughter  of  John  Bennett  of  Georgetown.  Two 
sons  and  two  daughters  were  born  of  this  union,  but 
only  one  child  is  living,  Belva,  a  promising  little 
girl  of  four  years. 

The  Oakwood  homestead  is  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive and  beautiful  in  the  township  of  the  same 
name,  and  our  subject,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years, 
with  his  faithful  and  estimable  companion,  sui 
rounded  by  friends  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  happj 
home,  sees  much  that  is  desirable  in  life,  and  as  op- 
portunity occurs  seeks  to  alleviate  the  afflictions  of 
those  less  fortunate. 

Rev.  John  P.  Mills,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Oakwood, 
was  a  regularly  ordained  local  preacher  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  died  at  his  home 
in  Fairmount  Aug.  20,  1882.  His  estimable  wife 
passed  away  some  years  before,  Nov.  15,  1868. 
The  fatherof  Mr.  Oakwood  died  in  October,  1856, 
and  the  mother  March  8,  1878. 

HI  LIP  Y.  PETERSON  is  one  of  the 
|j  younger  citizens  of  Grant  Township,  living 
HJgi  p^  ()n  section  5.  He  was  born  in  Salem 
Jl\  County.  N.  J.,  Nov.  11.1 847.  His  parents 
were  named  Samuel  and  Jane  (Paden)  Peterson. 
both  of  whom  are  now  living  in  Woodford  County, 
this  State.  The  elder  Peterson  is  now  retired  from 
active  life,  being  seventy-two  years  of  age,  and  his 
wife  sixty-seven.  Both  are  hearty  and  rugged. 
They  are  natives  of  Salem  County.  N.  J.,  and  are 
descended  from  Swedish  ancestors  who  settled  in 
this  country  many  generations  ago.  The  elder 
Peterson  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  four 
years,  and  his  mother  marrying  again,  he  was 
brought  up  in  the  house  of  his  stepfather,  and  is 
essentially  a  selfmade  man,  who  has  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world,  and  now,  in  his  old  age  is  enjoy- 
ing an  ample  fortune,  the  result  of  years  of  indus- 
try and  good  management.  He  was  married  in  his 
native  State  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  but  some 
years  later  he  determined  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the 
great  West,  and   with   his  wife  and    family  moved 


POKTKA1T  AND   BIOI !  KAPII  K'AL  ALBUM. 


269 


to  Jefferson  County,  [nd.,  but  he  stayed  there  only 
six  months,  not  liking  the  country,  and  so,  taking 
his  wife,  six  children  and  household  goods,  he  came 
to  Peoria,  111.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  1856,  and 
to  support  his  family  that  winter  lie  engaged  in 
hauling  coal,  his  wife  also  helping  to  support  the 
family  by  her  labor.  Next  spring  he  rented  a  farm 
twenty  miles  west  of  Peoria  and  the  succeeding 
year  bought  a  place  twenty-five  miles  northeast  of 
that  city.  On  this  latter  place  he  made  his  home 
till  1885,  when  he  relinquished  all  active  labor. 
When   he  first  came  to  Illinois.  Mr.  Peterson  was 

I r  in  this  world's  goods,  but  rich  in  pluck,  energy 

and  ambition.  He  now  owns  three  farms  in  Wood- 
ford County.  III.,  for  the  poorest  of  which  he  has 
refused  *70  an  acre.  He  owns  400  acres  of  land 
altogether.  He  also  possesses  a  half  interest  in  the 
elevator  at  Benson,  a  handsome  residence  there, 
and  other  property,  also  a  farm  of  160  acres  in 
Grant  Township,  this  county,  besides  personal 
property.  Mr.  Peterson  has  all  of  his  lifetime 
been  very  industrious  and  has  taken  care  to  avoid 
public  office,  attending  strictly  to  his  own  affairs, 
lie  and  his  wife  joined  the  Baptist  Church  the  year 
after  they  were  married,  and  for  many  years  he  has 
been  an  officer  of  his  church  in  Benson.  He  was  also 
Trustee  of  his  township.  He  is  a  man  of  genial, 
happy  temperament  and  kind  disposition,  upright 
and  honorable  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men 
and  is  held  in  universal  esteem  for  his  correct  life 
and  conduct. 

Samuel  and  Jane  Peterson  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  the  family 
cord  being  unbroken  by  death.  They  are  named 
respectively:  Mary  P.  wife  of  James  I.  Jeter,  a 
farmer  in  Woodford  County;  Simeon  P.,  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  Jane  Huxtable  and  is  a  farmer,  tile 
manufacturer  and  owner  of  three  threshing  ma- 
chines and  is  living  in  Benson,  111.;  Philip  Y.  was 
next  in  order,  then  David  C,  who  married  Ellen 
Deal:  he  is  a  butcher  in  Kossville,  this  county. 
Lewis  S.  and  Sarah  Jane  are  twins;  the  former  is 
married  to  Emma  Kay,  living  in  Benson,  where 
Lewis  S.  is  running  an  elevator,  lumber  yard,  and 
also  operates  a  branch  bank.  Sarah  Jane  is  the 
wife  of  George  Tallman,  a  dairyman  of  Grant 
Township, this  county;  Annie  Margaret  is  the  wife 


of  Cal.  Iloff.  a  farmer  in  Woodford  County,  111., 
and  Maria  Frances  is  married  to  James  Huxtable, 
a  merchant  of  Benson,  111.  Beside  their  children 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  twenty-four  grand- 
children living,  and  an  unusual  case,  is  that  they 
have  never  lost  a  child  by  death,  and  but  one 
grandchild. 

Philip  Y.  Peterson,  was  eight  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  emigrated  to  Indiana.  He  well  remem- 
bers passing  through  Danville  on  their  way  to 
Peoria,  and  says  then  it  was  but  a  collection  of 
small  houses,  principally  shanties  inhabited  by  coal 
miners.  He  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home  farm 
in  Woodford  County,  III,  receiving  such  education 
as  was  afforded  by  the  limited  facilities  of  the  time 
and  place.  The  nearest  school  was  three  and  a  half 
miles  away  and  not  a  bridge  being  built  in  the  lo- 
cality, when  lie  attended  school  he  had  to  wade 
across  the  sloughs  the  best  way  he  could.  Under 
these  circumstances  he  got  what  little  schooling  he 
received.  He  stayed  on  the  home  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-one,  after  which  he  began  farming  on 
land  belonging  to  his  father,  who  furnished  each 
of  his  boys  with  a  team,  and  boarded  them  the 
first  year  for  half  the  produce  of  their  farms.  He 
lived  on  land  of  his  father's  for  five  years  and  then 
bought  a  place  of  120  acres  in  Woodford  County, 
and  there  continued  to  live  until  in  March,  1882, 
he  sold  out  and  removed  to  this  county.  Land 
here  was  much  cheaper,  and  just  as  good  as  there, 
and  he  bought  120  acres  of  his  present  home,  sub- 
sequently adding  forty  more,  and  he  also  leases 
eighty  acres,  which  joins  his  land  on  the  south.  In 
1886  Mr.  Peterson  erected  the  fine  new  modern 
house  which  he  now  occupies  and  which  makes  a 
comfortable  and  commodious  home  for  the  family 

February  23,  1872,  Mr.  Peterson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Allie  Chaney,  who  was  left  an 
orphan  at  an  early  age,  her  mother  dying  when  she 
was  six  years  old,  and  her  father  two  years  later 
while  he  was  in  the  Union  army.  She  was  adopted 
and  brought  up  by  a  German  couple,  named  Shoup. 
She  was  born  in  Huntington  County,  Ind.,  Aug.  1(1, 
18f>4.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  all  at  home:  Katie  F.,  Lillie  Dell, 
Bessie  Jane  and  Myrtle  Edna.  Mr.  Peterson  has 
never  held  any  office  in  this  county  other  than  that 


270 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  School  Director.  He  and  hi*  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  Church  in  Giant  Township  and  he 
is  connected  with  its  Sabbath-school.  By  his  neigh- 
bors who  know  him  best,  Mr.  Peterson  is  highly 
respected  as  an  honest  straightforward  man  and  a 
good  citizen. 


-eh. 


SPANIEL  CAMPBELL  stands  among  the 
))  honest,  manly,  industrious  farmers  and 
(fiJifr  stock- raisers  of  Pilot  Township  who  have 
made  its  interests  their  own,  and  while 
building  up  comfortable  homes  in  this  pleasant 
locality  have  materially  contributed  to  its  advance- 
ment. His  tine  well-stocked  farm  on  section  12 
compares  favorably  in  all  its  appointments  with 
the  best  in  the  vicinity,  and  is  sufficient  evidence 
that  he  has  achieved  success  in  his  chosen  calling, 
although  he  began  life  as  a  poor  man  and  has  had 
to  work  his  way  up  from  the  lowest  round  of  the 
ladder  leading  to  prosperity. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  New  York,  and  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in  Washington 
County  Aug.  20,  1828.  His  father.  Thomas  Camp- 
bell, was  born  in  Massachusetts,  came  to  this  coun- 
ty in  1868.  following  his  son  Daniel  to  this  place, 
and  died  in  1879  at  a  ripe  old  age.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Naby  Swain,  whose  parents  wen.'  of 
Scottish  birth  and  ancestry,  and  the}-  came  to  this 
counti'3'  some  time  early  in  this  century  or  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  one,  and  settled  in  Washing- 
ton County,  N.  Y.,  where  she  was  burn.  She  died 
in  1831,  while  yet  a  young  woman.  She  bore  to 
her  husband  five  children,  two  of  whom  are  living, 
Marvin  S.  and  our  subject.  The  former,  who  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Cole  of  New  York,  lives  in  Tro}',  that 
State,  retired  from  active  business. 

Daniel  Campbell  passed  his  boyhood  and  the 
opening  years  of  his  manhood  in  the  State  of  his 
nativity,  gleaning  such  education  as  was  afforded 
by  the  schools  of  the  time.  In  1856,  being  then 
twenty-eight  years  of  age,  and  in  the  possession  of 
a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body,  he  determined  to 
try  life  on  the  rich,  virgin  plains  of  the  great  West, 
and  selecting  this  part  of  Illinois  as  having  in  all 
respects  the  characteristics  of  soil,  climate,  etc.,  most 


desirable  in  the  eyes  of  a  young  farmer  and  neces- 
sary t<>  the  successful  prosecution  of  his  calling,  he 
came  to  Vermilion  County  and  bought  240  acres 
of  improved  land  in  Pilot  Township.  He  imme- 
diately entered  upon  his  task  of  bringing  it  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  erecting  suitable  build- 
ings as  his  means  allowed,  making  the  place  in  every 
way  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  this  part  of 
Vermilion  County.  By  well-directed  toil,  close 
economy  and  sagacious  management  lie  has  become 
very  prosperous,  and  now  owns  500  acres  of  as 
well  tilled  and  productive  soil  as  is  to  be  found  in 
this  fine  agricultural  region,  and  he  has  erected  a 
comfortable,  roomy  set  of  buildings  for  all  needful 
purposes,  lie  is  engaged  extensively  in  mixed 
husbandry,  raising  grain,  and  other  farm  products 
common  to  the  soil,  and  he  has  his  farm  well  sup- 
plied with  stock  of  good  grades,  comprising  sixty 
head  of  cattle,  thirty  horses,  160  sheep  and  forty- 
five  hogs. 

Mr.  Campbell  has  had  the  effective  aid  of  one  of 
the  most  helpful  of  wives  in  his  work,  their  mar- 
riage occurring  in  1854.  Mrs.  Campbell's  maiden 
name  was  Maggie  Campbell,  and  she  was  of  Irish 
birth  and  parentage,  her  parents  being  James  and 
Nancy  (Pinkertonj  Campbell.  She  came  to  this 
country  with  two  of  her  brothers.  Seven  children 
have  come  to  our  subject  and  his  amiable  wife  in 
their  pleasant  wedded  life,  of  whom  the  following 
are  married  and  settled  in  life:  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife 
of  Marion  Kirkpatrick,  a  tile  maker,  of  Indiana, 
and  they  have  one  child.  Pearl;  Thomas,  an  agri- 
cultural implement  dealer  and  grain  buyer  of  Pen- 
field,  111.,  married  Dora  Kirkpatrick  of  Indiana, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Samuel  and  May;  Mary 
F.  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Thomas,  a  farmer  of  Wis- 
consin, anil  they  have  two  children,  Otis  and  Reed; 
Rosetta  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Hibbler,  a  farmer  of 
this  county,  and  they  have  five  children — Logan, 
Earl,  Lola,  Amy,  Ernest. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  gifted  with  keenness  and  tenacity 
of  purpose,  and  a  well-balanced  mind,  and  these 
attributes  have  not  only  placed  him  with  the  solid, 
representative  men  of  the  township,  but  they  have 
rendered  his  services  as  a  civic  official  invaluable 
during  his  incumbency  of  the  various  local  offices 
that  have  been   entrusted    to  him    by  the  votes  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


271 


his  fellow  townsmen,  and  as  a  juryman.  In  politics 
lie  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  Republican  party,  and 
advocates  its  policy  on  all  proper  times  and  occa- 
sions. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  members 
of  the  Christian  Church,  and  their  children  also 
belong. 

■>  V^ir^'  <•    '" 

^j]  ACOB  DAZEF.  The  present  commercial 
importance  and  prosperity  of  Hoopeston  is 
unquestionably  traceable  to  the  wisdom  of 
/  her  merchants,  and  it  is  a  fitting  tribute  to 
those  who  have  honorably  distinguished  themselves 
in  the  commercial  arena  that  their  names  should  be 
commemorated  in  history.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of 
consideration  that  nearly  all  of  our  prominent  busi- 
ness men  have  struggled  up  from  obscurity  to  the 
foremost  places  in  every  branch  of  trade.  As  a 
representative  of  this  class,  the  following  is  a  brief 
outline  of  one  who  has  attained  the  leading  position 
he  holds  to-day  among  the  merchants  of  Vermilion 
County. 

Mr.  Daze\'  is  a  prominent  merchant  of  Hoopeston, 
where  he  carries  on  an  extensive  business  in  heavy 
and  shelf  hardware,  agricultural  implements  and 
lumber.  In  1855  he  came  from  Indiana,  his  native 
Mate,  having  been  born  there  on  the  25th  of  March. 
1831,  near  Attica.  He  remained  with  his  father  on 
the  old  homestead  until  he  was  married,  which 
event  occurred  on  Aug.  18,  1853.  His  wife,  Miss 
Sarah  Whitlatch,  died  about  one  year  after  her 
marriage.  When  Mr.  Dazey  came  to  Illinois,  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  which  he  increased 
later  on  to  G40.  Upon  this  tract  of  land  he  erected 
the  very  best  of  buildings  and  the  improvements 
are  of  the  very  highest  order.  He  continued  the 
business  of  farming  until  Dec.  15,  1881  when  he 
removed  to  Hoopeston  and  engaged  in  his  present 
business. 

( In  April  27.  1855,  Mr.  Dazey  married  the  second 
time,  taking  for  his  wife.  Miss  Lorinda  Wilkinson, 
who  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ind.,  May 
I.  1838,  where  she  resided  until  coining  to  Illinois 
in  1851.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Abram  Wilkinson, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County,  who 
married  Mrs.  Harriet  Hawkins.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  sons  and  two  (laughters.     Mr.  Haw- 


kins  came  from  Indiana  to  this  county  and  entered 
land  upon  which  he  resided  until  about  1877,  when 
he  removed  to  Benton  County,  Ind..  remaining 
there  until  1881,  when  he  finally  came  to  Hoopeston, 
where  he  has  lived  with  his  wife  a  retired  life. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dazey  are  the  parents  of  six  sons 
and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  are  still  living: — 
Charles  M... lames  H.,  John, William.  Frank,  George, 
and  Elizabeth.  The  youngest  son  and  daughter 
are  at  home.  James  II.  is  married  and  has  three 
children;  Charles  M.  married  Miss  Mary  Fitzgib- 
bons;  they  are  living  on  a  farm  near  Milford, 
111.,  and  have  one  child.  John  married  Maggie 
Williamson  and  is  residing  on  the  old  homestead; 
they  have  one  child.  William  married  Miss  Smith; 
they  are  living  on  a  farm  and  have  two  children. 
Frank  married  Miss  Eva  Dobe;  he  is  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Hoopeston. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dazey  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  in  which  they  take  great 
interest.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  that  organi- 
zation and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 

James  Dazey,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Gobel  and  came  from  Montgomery  County,  Ind., 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  his  early 
days  he  was  a  shoemaker,  a  business  he  carried  on 
with  success,  but  latterly  he  was  a  farmer.  He  died 
at  Tolona,  111.,  his  wife  passing  away  at  the  same 
place  in  1883. 

fi^T^REDKRIC  JONES  is  intimately  connected 
jrafej)  with  the  material  prosperity  of  Catlin 
;k\  Township  as  one   of    its  enterprising,  pro- 

gressive, business-like  farmers  and  stock-raisers, 
and  the  farm  that  he  possesses  here,  finely  located 
on  section  35,  is  in  all  respects  a  well-appointed, 
well-managed  estate,  comparing  favorably  with  the 
best  in  this  region  of  fine  farms. 

Our  subject  is  of  English  ancestry  and  birth,  as 
were  also  his  parents,  Henry  and  Sarah  (Hough) 
Jones.  He  was  their  sixth  child  and  was  born  in 
the  city  of  London.  England,  May  28.  1844.  In 
1849  his  parents  brought  him  to  America,  and    he 


272 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  reared  to  manhood  in  Catlin  Township,  and 
can  scarcely  remember  any  other  home.  He  was  a 
quick  scholar  and  gleaned  a  very  good  education 
in  the  common  schools.  When  about  fourteen 
years  old  he  entered  upon  a  mercantile  career,  going 
into  his  father's  employ  at  that  age  as  a  clerk.  lie 
was  in  the  store  about  a  year  and  a  half  when  he 
went  to  Lafayette,  Ind.,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith in  the  Lafayette  and  Indianapolis  Railway 
shops.  lie  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years 
and  two  months,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time 
returned  to  Catlin  and  building  a  blacksmith  shop, 
formed  a  partnership  with  S.  A.  McGregor,  Si\, 
and  carried  on  his  trade,  of  which  he  had  gained 
a  thorough  mastery,  the  ensuing  two  years.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  dissolved  his  partnership 
with  Mr.  McGregor  and  again  became  a  clerk  in 
his  brother  Richard's  store.  He  remained  with 
him  sixteen  years,  and  when  his  brother  died  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother  Arthur, 
and  they  conducted  the  business  together  about  two 
years.  Our  subject  then  sold  out  his  interest,  having 
decided  to  devote  his  attention  to  the  more  conge- 
nial calling  of  a  farmer,  and  at  that  time  invested  a 
part  of  his  capital  in  his  present  farm,  which  he 
has  owned  since  1880.  It  comprises  171  acres,  all 
under  good  cultivation  and  finely  improved,  having 
an  excellent  set  of  farm  buildings  and  modern  ma- 
chinery for  conducting  agriculture  after  the  most 
approved  methods. 

The  successful  career  of  our  subject  is  partly 
attributable  to  the  fact  that  he  is  blessed  with  a 
wife  who  is  in  every  sense  a  helpmate.  Their  mar- 
riage was  solemnized  Dec.  5,  1866,  and  to  them 
have  come  ten  children — James,  Emma,  Richard. 
Harriet  A.,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Frederic,  Arthur, 
Henry,  Edward.  Mrs.  Jones'  maiden  name  was 
Harriet  Ann  Dickinson,  and  she  is  like  her  husband 
a  native  of  England,  born  in  Boston,  Lincolnshire, 
Dec.  28,  1817,  to  William  and  Emma  (Barker) 
Dickinson.  (For  parental  history  see  the  sketch  of 
William  Dickinson  that  appears  on  another  page  of 
l ii  is  w  »rk). 

Mr.  Jones  is  in  all  respects  a  manly,  upright 
man,  is  well  and  favorably  known  here,  and  his  in- 
fluence in  the  community  is  felt  in  eveiything  that 
tends  to  promote  its  welfare.     He  takes  an   active 


part  in  political  matters,  and  in  him  the  Republican 
parly  finds  one  of  its  truest  and  staunchest  advo- 
cates. Religiously  both  he  and  his  amiable  wife 
sympathize  with  the  teachings  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  carry  its  Christian  spirit 
into  their  everyday  lives.  They  are  genial,  court- 
eous people, and  their  a* tractive  home  is  the  center 
of  perfect  hospitality. 


-^fX/V.-"* 


«24£/!5*£-  •■m§^~@*3.OT7i»- 


EORGE  M.EVANS.  The  Keystone  State 
has  contributed  largely  of  her  best  elements 
V^jjjj  to  the  development  of  the  Great  West, 
numbers  of  men  coming  thither  at  all  ages  and  un- 
der all  conditions,  the  greater  majority,  perhaps, 
those  who  were  dependent  upon  their  own  resources 
and  just  starting  out  in  life  to  carve  their  fortunes 
by  the  labor  of  their  hands.  The  homes  of  these 
men  are  among  the  finest  in  Central  Illinois.  The 
farm  of  Mr.  Evans,  finely  situated  on  the  northern 
line  of  this  county,  invariably  attracts  the  attention 
of  the  passing  traveler,  and  gives  ample  evidence 
of  being  under  the  control  of  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability.  It  will  be  acknowledged  that  he 
has  the  true  conception  of  the  manner  in  which  to 
conduct  agriculture,  and  he  possesses  the  cultivated 
tastes  which  have  enabled  him  to  construct  a  home 
second  to  none  in  this  region. 

The  property  of  Mr.  Evans  embraces  328  acres 
of  land,  lying  on  section  26,  township  2.'i.  range 
12,  where  he  settled  seven  years  ago,  although  he 
purchased  it  in  1879.  He  has  effected  a  radical 
change  in  its  condition,  and  purposes  to  still  fur- 
ther augment  its  beauty  and  value.  lie  came  to 
Illinois  when  a  young  man,  twenty-four  years  old, 
from  Berks  County,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born  in  1852. 
He  made  his  first  trip  West  in  1876,  and  after  so- 
journing in  Grant  Township  one  year  he  returned 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  the  winter  follow- 
ing and  came  back  to  this  county  in  the  spring  of 
1877,  and  two  years  later  purchased  his  present 
homestead. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  Grant 
Township,  to  Miss  Tillie  Groom,  the  wedding  tak- 
ing place  at  the  bride's  home.  Sept.  22,  1885.  This 
lady  is  a  native  of  this  county.     Her  father,  Fred- 


PORTRAIT  AND   Bl<  >< :  KA  I'l  I1CAI.  ALBUM. 


27.", 


erick  Groom,  came  to  Illinois  from  England,  car- 
ried on  farming  a  number  of  years,  and  then  retir- 
ing from  active  labor  took  up  his  abode  in  Rossville, 
where  he  now  lives.  .J<>lm  Evans,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where, 
upon  reaching  manhood,  he  married  Miss  Anna 
Miller.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in  Berks  County, 
and  died  when  his  son  George  M.  was  a  lad  of  ten 
or  twelve  years.  His  widow  survived  him  until 
about  four  years  since,  her  death  taking  place  in 
Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Evans  upon  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen 
allied  himself  with  the  Republican  party,  and  still 
gives  to  it  his  unqualified  support.  Aside  from 
serving  as  School  Director  in  his  district  he  has  had 
very  little  to  do  with  public  affairs. 


*~§* 


> 


■* 


^HILLIP  CADLE,  an  extensive  and  well- 
known  farmer  of  .Vermilion  County  and 
•f  one  whose  career  has  been  marked  by  suc- 
\  cess,  was  born  in  England  on  the  22d  of 
February.  184'.(.  When  four  years  of  age  he  came 
to  America  with  his  parents  and  is  practically  an 
American  bred  man.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  common  schools,  and  until  he  became  of 
age,  he  worked  for  his  father  faithfully  on  the  old 
homestead. 

Phillip  Cadle  is  the  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Saunders)  Cadle,  who  were  natives  of  England 
and  were  living  in  Bradfordshire  at  the  time  they 
concluded  to  better  themselves  by  emigrating  to 
America.  The}-  sailed  from  the  old  country  in 
1853  and  after  landing  upon  American  soil,  they 
immediately  proceeded  to  Attica,  Ind.,  where  for 
four  years  they  were  engaged  in  farming,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  period  they  removed  to  Iro- 
quois County,  111.,  four  miles  north  of  Hoopeston. 
Here  they  remained  for  two  years  more,  when  they 
again  removed  to  a  farm  situated  one  and  a  half 
miles  southwest  of  Rossville.  111.,  remaining  there 
for  three  years.  Their  next  removal  was  to  Salt 
Fork,  west  of  Danville,  where  they  lived  for  thir- 
teen years,  removing  from  that  place  to  Homer. 
111.,  where  the  elder  Cadle  is  living  in  retirement, 
with  his  wife,  enjoying  a  well   earned  rest.     They 


are  the  parents  of  eight  children :  Emma  was  mar- 
ried in  England  to  Thomas  Edwards  and  they  arc- 
now  living  near  Armstrong,  111.;  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
D.  Young  and  they  are  residing  in  Idaho;  .lane 
married  .lames  Tol liver,  both  of  whom  are  deceased; 
Rachael  is  the  wife  of  C.  Hayes.  She  died  some 
years  ago;  Sidney  (i.  is  dead;  Martha  married 
John  Maun;  Phillip  is  the  subject  of  this  article, 
while  Dora  is  at  home  with  her  father  and  mother 
at  Ilomei'.  111.  Mr.  Cadle's  first  marriage  occurred 
in  Vermilion  County,  111.,  May  30,  1871,  his  wife 
being  Miss  Emma'Weaden,  a  native  of  Virginia. 
Of  this  union  one  child  was  born,  Mary  Anna,  who 
died  when  four  months  of  age.  The  wife  died 
Oct.  23,  1872. 

In  1875  Phillip  Cadle  married  Miss  America 
Seymour.  She  is  a  native  of  Virginia  but  came 
here  when  a  very  small  child  with  her  parents,  who 
are  living  at  Oakwood,  this  county.  She  was  the 
sixth  child  of  a  family  of  nine  children.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cadle  are  the  parents  of  four  bright  children: 
Lilian,  Maud,  George  and  Dode,  all  of  whom  are 
living  at  home  and  going  to  school.  In  addition 
to  his  general  farming  Mr.  Cadle  is  engaged  very 
extensively  in  the  stock  business,  a  combination 
which  has  been  a  success  from  a  pecuniary  point 
of  view. 

In  1871!  he  purchased  381  acres  where  he  now 
lives,  and  at  this  time,  really  commenced  his  active 
career  as  a  large  dealer  in  hogs  and  cattle.  In  the 
aggregate  he  owns  915  acres  of  the  very  choicest 
land  that  lies  in  Vermilion  County,  and  the  build- 
ings that  he  has  erected  are  nearly  equal  to  that  of 
a  small  village,  consisting  of  barns,  stables,  gran- 
eries,  an  elevator,  and  in  fact  everything  that  goes 
to  make  up  a  well  appointed  farm.  He  has  also  a 
fine  system  of  water-works  that  supplies  his  house, 
pastures  and  different  barns  with  fresh,  pure  water. 
Mr.  Cadle  deals  in  grains  of  all  kinds,  but  more 
especially  in  wheat. 

Mr.  Cadle  is  a  consistent  Republican  and  while 
he  has  never  aspired  to  office,  has  held  local  posi- 
tions, filling  them  with  the  same  fidelity  which  he 
has  shown  in  his  private  affairs.  Mr.  Cadle's  suc- 
cess in  life  can  be  directly  traced  to  his  prompt 
business  habits,  his  integrity  and  his  capacity  for 
judging   human    nature.     He   is  truly  a  self-made 


276 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


man  and  the  fortune  he  now  owns  has  been  accu- 
mulate (1  within  the  last  eighteen  years. 

A  view  of  the  farm   residence   of    Mr.  C'adle  is 
shown  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


/p^EORGE  ALLEN  is  the  proprietor  of  Shrop- 
(/[(—-,  shire  Park.  His  father.  George  Allen,  was 
^^Jj  known  to  Europe  and  America  as  the  lead- 
ing breeder  of  Bate  Short-horn  cattle  and  Shrop- 
hire  sheep.  The  history  of  this  extensive  enter- 
prise of  breeding,  dates  back  to  the  early  life  of 
the  father.  While  yet  a  young  man  he  showed  a 
desire  and  liking  for  the  better  grades  of  cattle  and 
sheep  and  his  son  has  inherited  this  disposition  to 
an  eminent  degree. 

George  Allen,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Derbyshire,  Eng- 
land, while  the  grand  fat  her  was  a  tenant  farmer 
of  the  same  place  and  was  born  there  also.  This 
family  were  all  remarkable  for  their  ureal  stature, 
the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
being  a  man  of  six  feet  five  inches  in  height,  and 
measured  one  yard  from  one  shoulder  point  to  an- 
nother.  George  Allen.  Sr..  was  a  remarkably 
large  and  well-proportioned  man  and  possessed 
great  vigor  and  unusual  activity.  He  served  in 
the  English  cavalry  for  several  years,  and  was  dis- 
tinguished as  one  of  the  finest  appearing  soldiers 
in  the  British  army.  He  married  Elizabeth  Tur- 
ner, who  was  a  native  of  England  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Sarah  Turner,  farmers.  After 
their  marriage,  they  settled  at  Knightly,  England, 
and  there  began  the  breeding  of  Short-horn  cattle, 
and  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-five  years,  Mr. 
Allen  continued  in  this  business  on  the  same  farm, 
gaining  a  wide-spread  reputation  as  a  most  success- 
ful breeder  of  the  best  strains  of  cattle  and  sheep 
in  England.  He  operated  an  extensive  farm  of 
400  acres  and  here  he  reared  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren— George,  Robert  II..  Mary  Ann  and  Harry. 
Robert  II.,  is  residing  at  Darlington,  Ind..  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  Mary 
Ann  is  residing  at  Stafford,  England,  where  she 
married  William  Ebbern.  who  is  an  extensive  man- 
ufacturer of  ladies'  fine  shoes  and  operates  a  very 
large  business.     They  have  four  children,     Harry. 


is  the  executor  of  the  Allen  estate  and  the  firm  ac- 
cording to  the  father's  will  is  to  continue  under 
the  same  management  and  retain  the  firm  name  of 
George  Allen  &  Son. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  father  saw 
greater  fields  for  operations  in  America  than  in 
England.  They  shipped  several  cargoes  of  sheep 
here,  exhibiting  them  for  the  first  time  at  St. 
Louis  in  1871.  This  shipment  proved  profitable 
and  fully  exceeded  their  expectations.  The  entire 
management  of  this  enterprise  was  under  George, 
Jr.  lie  exhibited  his  stock  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  also, 
in  1872,  on  the  occasion  of  Goldsmith  Maid's  mak- 
ing her  great  record.  The  same  year  he  also 
showed  his  stock  at  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis. 
This  plan  of  business  was  followed  for  several 
years  and  so  successfully  that  in  1879,  George  and 
his  father — including  the  entire  family — came  to 
America,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  cattle  and 
sheep  raising,  bringing  100  head  of  Shropshire 
sheep  and  twenty-two  head  of  the  Bate  Short-horn 
cattle.  After  casting  about  for  a  suitable  location 
they  finally  concluded  that  Vermilion  County,  met 
all  the  requirements  they  were  seeking.  Here  they 
purchased  960  acres  of  land,  and  at  once  entered 
upon  a  career  as  breeders  of  cattle  and  sheep,  which 
in  many  ways  cannot  be  duplicated  inAmerica. 
The  mother  died  March  6,  1881,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six  years,  while  the  father  met  his  death, 
March  16,  1889,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two.  And  so 
passed  away  a  couple  whose  reputation  was  of  the 
very  best  and  who  made  this  world  the  better  for 
their  living  in  it. 

George  Allen,  of  whom  this  is  written,  was  born 
April  15,  1818  at  Tean.  Staffordshire,  England. 
He  was  seared  as  a  stock-raiser  and  farmer,  an  oc 
cupation  which  he  has  followed  since  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age.  He  received  a  common  school 
education,  which  has  been  added  to  since  by 
intelligent  and  careful  reading.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann 
Elizabeth  Ellsmore.  who  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Lucy  Ellsmore.  They  were  farmers  in  England 
and  had  two  children  that  grew  to  maturity:  Ann 
E.,  and  William  T.  The  latter  is  residing  at  Staf- 
ford, England,  and  is  a  shoe  manufacturer.  Mr. 
and  Mrs,  Allen  had  two  children  born  in  England; 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


277 


George  and  Florence,  who  are  now  at  home  and 
attending  school.  Since  coming  to  America  the 
following  children  have  been  born  —  Frederick  ('., 
William,  Elizabeth  and  Harry. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  state  that  perhaps  there  is 
no  man  in  this  country  who  has  a  better  reputation 
as  a  breeder  of  Short-horn  cattle  and  Shropshire 
sheep,  than  Mr.  Allen,  who  has  taken  more  prizes 
for  the  excellent  qualities  of  sheep  than  any  other 
man  in  the  world,  a  record  of  which  he  feels,  nat- 
urally, very  proud.  From  a  financial  standpoint, 
he  has  been  most  eminently  successful,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  earnings  of  his  great  stock  farm  is  in- 
vested in  more  lands  and  stock.  He  has  become  a 
naturalized  citizen  and  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  worship  at  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Of  the  celebrated  Bate  Short-horn  cattle,  the  Al- 
iens have  on  hand  about  150  of  the  following  fam- 
ilies: Airdrie  Duchess,  Grand  Duchess,  Oxfords, 
Barringtons,  Wild  Eyes,  Waterloos,  Kirk  Leving- 
tous.  Fletchers,  Fennel  Duchess.  Acombs,  Plaees, 
Darlingtons,  Georgiannas,  Eden  Rose,  Rose  of 
Sharon  and  Surmises.  The  Duke  of  Vermilion  No. 
80443,  stands  at  the  head  of  the  herd.  The  Grand 
Duke  of  Oxford  holds  the  second  place,  and  is  the 
son  of  the  Duke  of  Vermilion.  He  will  some  day 
take  his  place  at  the  head  of  the  herd.  The 
most  valuable  animals  on  the  farm  are  the 
Duchess  of  Vermilion,  Grand  Duchess  No.  28  and 
the  Duke  of  Vermilion,  which  in  point  of  excel- 
lence have  never  been  surpassed  inthe  State  of  Illi- 
nois or  perhaps  in  America.  They  have  a  flock  of 
5(H)  sheep  with  three  celebrated  imported  rams  at 
the  head.  Goodsort  No.  9904,  won  second  prize 
at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  in  England  in 
1888,  and  cost  $300  delivered  at  Boston.  True- 
type,  No.  5603,  A.  S.  R.  A.,  won  first  prize  as  a 
lamb  at  the  Shropshire  Agricultural  Show,  at 
Shrewsbury,  England,  in  1887.  This  animal  was 
imported  the  same  year.  T.  A-  W.  S.  No.  13438, 
A.  S.  R.  A.  was  the  first  prize  winning  land)  in 
England  in  1888.  Among  the  most  valuable  ewes 
on  this  farm  may  be  mentioned  Lady  Brad  burn 
second,  and  Jane  L.,  who  are  great  prize  winners. 

The  horse  breeding  department  of  this  farm  has 
been  added  lately.       The  celebrated   English  Shire 


horse  Wymondham  2960  E.  C.  II.  S.  1',.  is  considered 
to  be  as  well  bred  a  shire  horse  as  can  be  found  in 
America.  There  are  also  six  registered  Shire 
mares  on  this  farm. 

Shropshire  Park  is  a  most  fitting  name  for  this 
extensive  farm,  which  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
in  the  State  of  Illinois  It  has  more  the  appear- 
ance of  a  fair  ground  than  a  farm.  It  is  well  pro- 
vided with  a  multitude  of  houses,  sheds,  com  cribs 
and  implement  houses.  There  are  live  windmills 
on  the  farm  which  furnish  water  and  grinding 
power.  In  concluding  this  Sketch  it  would  be 
proper  to  state  that  there  arc  probably  no  more 
intelligent  stock  breeders  than  the  gentlemen  who 
compose  the  firm  of  George  Allen  it  Son,  of  Aller- 
ton.  III. 


ESSE  DAVIS.  Although  not  a  native  of 
Vermilion  County,  this  gentleman,  the  son 
of  pioneer  parents,  was  reared  within  its 
limits,  and  has  for  many  years  occupied  an 
important  place  among  its  enterprising,  far-seeing, 
thrifty,  well-to-do  farmers  and  stock-raisers.  On 
section  30,  Catlin  Township,  he  owns  a  large  and 
valuable  farm,  cultivated  by  the  best  methods,  so 
that  it  yields  an  extensive  .yearly  income.  He  has 
erected  a  fine  residence  and  other  substantial,  well 
arranged  buildings,  while  everything  about  the 
place  shows  every  evidence  of  a  master  mind  and 
skillful  band  controlling  affairs. 

Our  subject  is  of  Southern  antecedents,  although 
a  native  of  Ohio.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Eliza- 
beth (George)  Davis,  are  supposed  to  have  been 
natives  of  Virginia,  but  after  their  marriage  they 
settled  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  among  its  early 
settlers.  They  remained  there  until  1833,  when, 
hoping  to  better  their  pecuniary  condition  by  going 
to  a  still  newer  country,  they  came  with  their 
family  to  Vermilion  County  to  try  farming  on  its 
virgin  soil.  They  selected  Catlin  Township  as  a 
desirable  location,  and  thus  became  pioneers  of  the 
township.  The  father's  useful  career  was  cut  short 
however,  in  a  few  years,  and  while  yet  in  life's 
prime  it  was  closed  in  death,  August,  1839.  He 
was  a  man  of  sound  sense,  a  good  farmer,  and  one 
whom  all   respected   for   his  unswerving    integrity 


278 


PORTRAIT  AND    BIOOKAI'AICAL  ALBUM. 


and  kind  heart.  His  widow  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  in  this  township  Dec.  30,  1<SG9.  She 
was  a  woman  of  true  Christian  piety  and  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  To  her  and 
her  husband  were  born  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, our  subject  being  the  youngest  son  and  the 
seventh   child. 

He  was  born  near  Darbysville,  Pickaway  Co., 
Ohio,  Oct.  24,  18:32.  Me  was  about  a  year  old 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Vermilion  Coun- 
ty, and  here,  amid  the  pioneer  scenes  of  those  early 
days  in  the  settlement  of  the  county,  he  grew  to 
be  a  stalwart,  manly  man.  He  had  such  schooling 
as  could  be  obtained  in  those  days  of  limited  edu- 
cational advantages  when  the  rude  log  cabin  was 
the  only  literary  institution  of  this  section  of 
country,  and  its  doors  were  only  opened  to  the 
children  of  the  pioneers  a  few  short  weeks  in  the 
different  seasons  of  the  year,  lie  was  bred  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer,  and  has  made  the  tilling  of  the 
land  his  principal  occupation.  He  has  met  with 
more  than  ordinary  success  in  his  calling,  and  may 
well  feel  proud  of  what  he  has  achieved  by  hard 
labor,  directed  by  sound  business  acumen  and 
the  prudent  management  of  his  monetary  affairs. 
His  farm,  comprising  440  acres  of  land  of  exceed- 
ing fertility,  is  well  stocked  and  is  amply  provided 
with  all  the  necessary  appliances  and  machinery  for 
making  it  one  of  the  model  places  of  the  township. 
Mr.  Davis  holds  that  a  part  of  his  prosperity  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  he  is  blessed  with  a  good  wife, 
who  has  actively  co-operated  with  him  in  all  his 
plans.  The}'  were  united  in  marriage  in  Catlin 
Township  March  10,  1859,  and  to  them  have  come 
five  children,  as  follows:  Clara  J.,  the  wife  of 
Willis  Lesher ;  Van  C. ;  one  who  died  in  infancy; 
Scott  G.;  Minnie  L.,  the  wife  of  David  McMillin. 
The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Davis  was  Melvina  Eliza- 
beth Hyatt,  and  she  is  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Martha  (Rouland)  Hyatt,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. -  Her  father  was  born  in  South  Carolina 
and  her  mother  in  Kentucky,  and  after  marriage 
they  settled  in  Davis  County.  Ky.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming,  and  there  the}- died.  They 
had  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Mrs.  Davis  was  their  second  child,  and  she  was  born 
in  Davis  County,  Ky„  Nov.  24,  1838.     She  grew 


to  womanhood  there,  and  came  to  Vermilion  Coun- 
ty in  the  month  of  November,  1858,  with  her  sister. 
Mis.  Mary  Wallace,  who  was  an  invalid.  She  is  a 
genial,  lovable,  motherly  woman,  whose  genuine 
kindness  has  won  her  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of 
the  entire  community. 

When  Mr.  Davis  was  brought  here  in  his  infancy, 
the  surrounding  country  presented  a  far  different 
appearance  from  what  it  does  to-day.  Then  it  was 
a  literal  wilderness,  savage  animals  and  abundant 
game  roamed  over  the  wild,  uncultivated  prairies, 
or  found  shelter  in  the  primeval  forests  along  the 
water  courses,  and  the  bold,  hardy  frontiersman  had 
scarcely  more  than  begun  to  turn  the  virgin  sod 
and  lay  the  foundations  of  the  wealth  and  pros- 
perity that  obtain  to-day  on  all  sides,  as  evidenced 
by  flourishing  and  busy  towns,  smiling  farms,  and 
many  happy  homes.  That  he  has  had  a  hand  in 
bringing  about  this  great  change  may  be  a  source 
of  pride  to  our  subject,  who  is  a  man  of  eminent 
public  spirit,  and  has  generously  contributed  of  his 
means  to  further  all  enterprises  that  will  in  any 
way  add  to  the  prosperity  of  the  community  with 
whose  interests  his  own  are  identical,  and  among 
whose  people  he  has  lived  in  peace  and  friendship 
for  more  than  half  a  century.  He  is  a  man  of  high 
moral  character,  and  is  gifted  with  many  worthy 
attributes  that  render  him  respected  of  all  men.  In 
his  political  views  he  strongly  favors  the  Prohibi- 
tion party',  being  himself  a  sound  temperance  man. 
He  and  his  wife  are  worthy  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  she  having  been  a  communicant 
ever  since  she  was  thirteen  years  old. 


— -^ 


■I 


*p^  APT.  JOSEPH  TRUAX.     Oakwood  Town- 

l[  _  ship  contains  no  more  active  or  energetic 
v^?/  business  man  than  Capt.  Truax,  who  is  in 
the  prime  of  life  and  in  the  midst  of  a  prosperous 
career.  The  opening  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  where  he  wae  born 
July  25,  1838,  being  the  eighth  in  a  family  of  nine 
children,  the  offspring  of  Joseph.  Jr.,  and  Nancy 
(Ro bison)  Truax,  who  were  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  father  born  in  Bedford  County,  May 
16,  1800.  and   the    mother  March    15,  1801.     The 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


279 


paternal   grandfather,  Joseph   Truax,  Sr.,  was  like- 

He   returned   to  his   regiment   in    February,  1862, 

wise  a  native  of  the  Keystone  Slate  and  of  German 

and  was  placed    in   command   of  a  detachment   of 

descent;     He  entered  the   Revolutionary  Army  at 

seventy  men,  with    which    he    repaired    to  Spring- 

the  beginning  of  the  war  and  served  on  the  side  of 
the  colonists  until  its  close.  His  wife  was  a  Miss 
Stillwell,  a  native  of  his  own  State,  where  they  set- 
tled and  died.  Their  family  consisted  of  foursons 
and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  deceased. 

The  motherof  our  subject  was  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Ellen  Robison,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Dublin,  Ireland.  Grandfather  Robison 
was  a  very  prominent  Knight,  Templar  of  Dublin, 
and  our  subject  has  in  his  possession  a  demit  once 
belonging  to  the  old  gentleman  and  signed  107 
3-ears  ago. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  remained  there  until  1839.  Then  re- 
moving to  (Ohio  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  Mus- 
kingum County  where  they  lived  until  the  fall  of 
1854.  then  took  up  their  line  of  march  for  Illinois. 
Coming  to  this  county  they  settled  two  miles  east 
of  Pilot  Grove,  and  in  1859  removed  to  Blount 
Township,  where  the  father  died  March  7,1861. 
The  mother  passed  away  Jan.  4,  1885.  Seven  of 
their  nine  children  lived  to  mature  years  and  three 
are  still  living. 

Our  subject,  upon  coming  to  this  county,  had  a 
fine  young  horse  which  he  sold  and  devoted  the 
proceeds  to  advance  his  education,  attending  school 
in  Danville,  where  he  closely  applied  himself  to  his 
studies  for  some  eighteen  months.  In  1859  he  be- 
gan teaching  at  Collison's  Point  and  remained  there 
through  the  fall  and  winter  until  spring.  In  the 
latter  part  of  I860  he  commenced  teaching  at 
Craig's  schoolbouse,  and  in  the  winter  taught  in  the 
old  Union  Church  building  at  Blue  Corner.  On  the 
3d  of  July,  1861,  the  Civil  War  having  broken 
out,  he  entered  the  Union  Army  as  a  member  of 
Company  I,  35th  Illinois  Infantry,  being  mustered 
in  as  First  Lieutenant.  Aug.  24.  1861  at  St.  Louis. 

The  35th  Illinois  saw  much  hard  service.  They 
were  first  ordered  to  Jefferson  City,  thence  to  Se- 
dalia,  Mo.,  and  from  there  started  south  on  the 
lookout  for  the  rebel  General  Price.  They  marched 
120  miles  to  Springfield,  and  from  there  to  Rolla, 
a  like  distance.  Lieut.  Truax  was  here  seized  with 
illness  and  sent  home  on  a   two    month's    furlough. 


field  still  after  Gen.  Price.  Later  he  was  detailed 
with  his  command  to  remain  :\iu\  guard  the  city. 
After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  he  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment on  the  road  to  Batesvillc,  Ark.,  but  at  this 
place  they  were  ordered  to  Cape  Girardeau,  a  dis- 
tance of  250  miles,  which  distance  they  covered  in 
nine  days,  taking  one  day  to  rest,  making  ten  in 
all.  On  account  of  walking  without  shoes  the  feet 
of  many  of  the  men  were  sore  and  bleeding.  At 
Cape  Girardeau  they  were  paid  their  monthly  sti- 
pend by  Maj.  McKibben,  an  old  resident  of  this 
county. 

Lieut.  Truax,  with  his  regiment,  now  boarded 
the  transport  "Sunshine"  and  proceeded  to  Cairo. 
and  from  there  up  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Tennessee,  and  thence  to  the  old  battle-ground  of 
Pittsburg  Landing.  Here  they  joined  the  army  of 
Gen.  Halleck  and  moved  toward  Corinth  from  the 
east,  witnessing  the  burning  of  the  city.  From 
there  they  marched  to  Clear  Springs  and  spent  July 
1  near  Jacinto,  Miss.  Later  they  were  placed  on 
guard  at  Bear  Creek  Bridge,  near  luka.  Then  the 
division  to  which  the  35th  Regiment  belonged  cut, 
loose  and  crossed  the  Tennessee  at  Mussel  Shoals, 
marching  through  the  enemy's  country  and  joining 
Buell's  army  at  Murfreesboro. 

Our  subject,  and  his  command  now  started  after 
the  rebel  General.  Bragg,  reaching  Louisville  he- 
fore  him' and  followed  him  on  his  retreat  to  Perry  - 
ville,  to  Crab  Orchard  and  to  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Afterward,  succeeded  the  Wattle  of  Murfreesboro, 
and  the  regiment  then  entered  upon  the  Chicka- 
niauga  campaign.  Subsequently  followed  the  two 
day's  battle  of  Chiekamauga  when  they  fell  back  to 
Chattanooga,  and  tin-  November  following  charged 
upon  Mission  Ridge  driving  the  enemy  before 
them  and  capturing  the  place.  Their  next  business 
was  to  relieve  Gen.  Burnside  at,  Knoxville,  to 
which  they  hurried  on  a  forced  march,  and  later 
they  proceeded  to  Strawberry  Plains  and  to  Lou- 
don, Tenn..  where  they  built,  a  bridge  in  the  spring 
of  18(14. 

The  35th  Regiment  was  then  ordered  to  the  vi- 
cinity of  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  where  they  prepared  to 


•280 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


join  Sherman's  Army  on  its  march  to  the  sen.  and 
Lieut.  Truax  was  with  his  regiment  in  every  battle 
and  skirmish  in  which  it  afterward  participated.  In 
1862  lie  was  rewarded  for  his  bravery  and  fidelity 
to  duty  by  promotion  to  a  Captaincy,  receiving  his 
commission  at  Crab  Orchard,  and  with  his  regi- 
ment at  his  expiration  of  term  of  enlistment,  was 
relieved  from  duty  on  the  28th  of  August.  1864. 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield  in  September 
following. 

After  retiring  from  the  army  Capt.  Truax  first 
took  his  mother  to  ( )hio,then  came  back  and  resumed 
teaching  in  the  same  old  Union  Church  building 
south  of  Oakwood.  On  the  19th  of  March,  1865, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Ilelmick,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Oak- 
wood,  where  they  lived  until  the  fall  of  1884.  He 
then  bought  out  the  firm  of  Stillwell  &  Young, 
general  merchants,  and  has  since  been  in  trade,  be- 
sides handling  grain  quite  extensively.  He  owns 
the  entire  block  in  which  his  store  is  located,  and 
has  also  a  good  residence  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  city. 

Capt.  Truax  takes  an  active  part  in  politics  and 
votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket.  He  has  served 
as  School  Trustee  for  twenty  years.  Justice  of  the 
Peace  four  years,  and  Commissioner  of  Highways 
two  terms.  Both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  the  Cap- 
tain became  identified  in  1866,  and  in  which  he  has 
served  as  Steward  and  Trustee.  Socially,  he  be- 
longs to  Oakwood  Lodge  No.  564,  1.  O  O.  F.,  in 
which  he  has  occupied  all  the  offices  from  Warden 
to  Past  Grand.  He  is  also  identified  with  George 
Morrison  Post,  G.  A.  R.  The  Captain  and  his  es- 
timable lady  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  one  of 
whom,  Nancy  B.,  who  was  born  Dee.  21,  1868, 
died  Jan.  20,  1869;  Frances  E.  was  born  Feb.  10, 
1866;  Ruberta  A.,  April  1,  1867;  Charles  E., 
Aug.  9,  1872,  and  Josephine,  March  24.  1876. 

Rev.  Eli  Ilelmick,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Truax,  was 
born  in  Randolph  County,  Va.,  May  4.  1800,  and 
her  mother,  May  25,1804.  After  marriage  they 
resided  in  the  Old  Dominion  for  awhile,  then  about 
1832  came  to  this  county.  He  was  an  ordained 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a  man 
of  fine  abilities,  good  judgment  and   great  perse- 


verance, and  was  of  essential  service  in  the  Master's 
vineyard.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife.  Mrs. 
Rachel  (Yillers)  Ilelmick.  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Truax.  he  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Oakwood. 
who  died  about  1874.  Mr.  Ilelmick  departed  this  life 
July  18,  1887,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  Of  his  first  marriage  there  were  born 
nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Truax  was  the  sixth. 
Her  birth  took  place  in  Vermilion  County.  111., 
Nov.  21.   1835. 


*-#* 


-V" 


ffi  OHN  J.  PARTLOW.  The  neat  and  well- 
I  regulated  home  of  this  gentleman  lies  adja- 
cent to  the  city  of  Danville,  and  embraces 
;(te^/'  twenty-six  acres  of  land,  which  is  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  devoted  to  the  raising  of 
small  fruits.  Upon  it  the  proprietor  has  erected  a 
fine  residence,  and  each  year  adds  something  to  the 
beauty  and  value  of  the  property.  Mr.  Partlow  is 
numbered  among  the  stead}' -.going  and  reliable  citi- 
zens of  this  count}- — one  who  without  making  a 
great  deal  of  stir  in  the  world  has  fulfilled  his  obli- 
gations to  his  family  and  society  in  a  praiseworthy 
manner,  and   deserves   more  than  a  passing  notice. 

A  native  of  this  county,  our  subject  was  born  in 
Middle  Fork  Township,  Aug.  7,  1832,  and  is  the 
son  of  James  Partlow,  who  was  born  in  Virginia, 
and  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Partlow,  to  whom  fur- 
ther reference  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  Asa  Part- 
low,  on  another  page  in  this  volume.  James  Part- 
low  was  reared  in  Kentucky,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  wheelwright  in  his  youth,  which  he  followed 
in  the  Blue  Grass  regions  until  1831.  That  year 
he  came  to  Illinois,  overland  with  a  team,  accom- 
panied by  his  family  and  traveling  after  the  prim- 
tive  fashion  of  those  days — carrying  with  him  his 
household  goods,  and  camping  and  cooking  by  the 
wayside. 

The  father  of  our  subject  upon  his  arrival  in  this 
county  took  up  a  claim  of  Government  land  before 
it  had  come  into  the  market.  Indians  were  still  to 
be  seen  prowling  over  the  country,  while  deer,  wild 
turky  and  wolves  were  also  plentiful.  The  land 
which  Mr.  Partlow  selected  was  part  timber  and 
part  prairie.     He  put  up  a  rail  pen  for  the  tempor- 


■  -•■■ 


uze^o. 


¥a/ 


s 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


281 


ary  shelter  of  his  family,  and  afterward  built  a  log 
house,  in  which  structure  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  horn.  The  chimney  of  this  primitive  dwell- 
ing was  made  of  earth  and  sticks  outside,  the  Boor 
was  laid  of  split  puncheon,  and  the  roof  covered 
with  clapbords.  It  was  before  the  time  of  rail- 
roads, and  the  nearest  market  was  at  the  towns  on 
the  Wabash  River,  .lames  Partlow  here  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  passing  away  about  the  year 
1854.  He  had  lived  to  see  the  wilderness  around 
him  transformed  into  smiling  grain  fields  and  com- 
fortable homes,  and  himself  put  up  a  third  dwell- 
ing, in  the  shape  of  a  commodious  frame  house. 
This  latest  structure  was  built  prior  to  the  con- 
struction of  the  railroad  through  this  part  of  the 
county,  and  the  doors  for  it  were  hauled  from  Chi- 
cago. The  weather- hoarding  was  sawed  from  black- 
walnut  logs  which  .Mr.  Partlow  drew  to  the  mill. 
He  brought  his  farm  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
and  in  his  last  years  was  surrounded  by  all  the  com- 
forts of  life. 

Mrs.  Ellen  (Milton)  Partlow,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  died  at  the 
home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Dr.  Humphrey,  of 
Danville,  about  1855.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
had  been  twice  married.  John  .1.,  our  subject,  pur- 
sued his  first  lessons  in  a  log  school-house,  into 
which  light  was  admitted  through  greased  paper 
stretched  along  an  aperture  from  which  one  of  .the 
logs  had  been  sawed  away,  lie  was  at  an  early  age 
trained  to  habits  of  industry,  and  as  soon  as  large 
enough  his  services  were  utilized  in  the  labors  of 
the  farm.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  employed 
in  a  drug  store  two  years,  but  later  attended 
Georgetown  Academy  and  the  Red  Seminary  in 
Danville.  Later  he  officiated  as  clerk  in  the  dry- 
goods  store  of  E.  V.  &  P.  Leshure  three  years. 
Subsequently  he  became  the  employe  of  Partlow  & 
Humphrey,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year.  At 
the  expiration  of  this  time  he  associated  himself 
in  partnership  with  R.  A.  Short,  and  they  engaged 
iu  mercantile  business  together  two  years,  when 
our  subject  purchased  the  interest  of  his  partner  in 
the  business,  and  conducted  it  twelve  years.  At 
this  point,  abandoning  merchandising,  Mr.  Partlow 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  A-  Eastern  Illi- 
nois  Railroad  Company,  with  whom   he   continued 


two  years,  and  was  then  appointed  :'  Railway  Mail 
Clerk  on  the  same  load,  running  Brst  from  Chicago 
to     Danville,     and     later     from     Chicago     to    Terre 

Haute.  Ind.  He  performed  in  this  manner  faithful 
and  efficient  service  for  a  period  of  eleven  years, 
and  in  1884  invested  a  portion  of  his  earnings  in 
his  present  property. 

Miss  Frances  L.  Giddings,  the  eldest  child  of 
William  and  Caroline(Kitchener)Giddings,  became 
the  wife  of  our  subject  Nov.  5,  1857.  Of  this  un- 
ion there  have  been  born  two  children,  the  eldest 
of  whom.  Elmer  E..  married  Miss  Matlie  Collins, 
and  is  the  father  of  a  son  and  two  daughters — 
George  E.,  Vera  and  Frances.  The  younger  son, 
Charles,  is  a  printer  by  trade,  and  makes  his  home 
with  his  parents.  Mr.  Partlow,  politically,  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  with  his  estimable  wife  is 
a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


OJ£ 


yMLLIS  I!.  CAUBLE,  Physician  and  Sur- 
geon. Among  the  truly  successful  pro- 
fessional men  of  this  county  is  the  young- 
man  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch.  He  came 
to  Sidell  right  after  his  graduation  from  Rush 
Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  through  the  urgent 
request  of  some  of  the  leading  citizens  of  this  en- 
terprising village.  Naturally  gifted  to  fill  his  re- 
sponsible position  of  ministering  to  the  health  of 
his  fellowmen.  and  after  a  long  and  studious  course 
in  the  intricacies  of  his  profession  at  different 
places,  he  is  well  equipped  to  meet  the  expectations 
of  his  friends. 

Dr.  Cauble  was  born  at  Alto  Pass,  Union  Co. 
111.,  where  his  father  is  a  large  land  owner  and  one 
of  the  wealthiest  and  most  prominent  men  of  his 
county.  Willis  C.  and  Serena,  father  and  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  are  leading  people  in 
society  in  Union  County,  the  native  place  of  the 
former.  The  grandfather  of  Willis  Jr.,  John  E. 
Cauble.  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  was 
an  extensive  land  owner,  lie  subsequently  came 
to  Illinois,  where  he  acquired  large  tracts  of  land 
also.  His  son.  Willis  Sr.,  being  the  only  heir  and 
a    good    business    man.  became    the   owner   of   the 


282 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


large  property  left  by  his  father,  and  he  afterward 
engaged  in  the  erection  of  a  sawmill  and  grist- 
mill, shipping  lumber  and  flour  to  St.  Louis  and  is 
now  very  extensively  engaged  in  growing  fruits 
and  vegetables,  lie  owns  three  large  farms,  one 
of  them  being  two  miles  and  three-quarters  long. 
The  parents  of  Willis  Jr.,  had  nine  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Willis  Benton,  Cora 
E.,  Adam  J.,  Flora  M.,  and  Myrtle  A. 

Dr.  Cauble  passed  his  childhood  days  in  rural 
life  with  his  parents  and  in  his  early  boyhood  at- 
tended the  district  schools.  Later  on  he  entered 
St.  Vincent  College  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo., 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  with  distin- 
guished honors  in  the  class  of  1885,  in  the  scientific 
course.  While  studying  at  college,  he  became 
imbued  with  the  idea  that  the  medical  profession 
was  one  which  would'suit  his  inclinations  and  he 
therefore  chose  that  for  his  life  work.  He  studied 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Esick  of 
Murphysboro,  111.,  for  one  year,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1887  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Tennessee  at  Nashville,  there  prose- 
cuting his  studies  for  one  year.  From  there  he 
proceeded  to  Louisville,  Ivy.,  and  attended  for  six 
months  the  summer  lectures  at  the  Medical  and 
Surgical  Institute  of  that  city.  He  graduated  from 
those  two  courses,  when  he  returned  to  Murphys- 
boro and  began  practice  under  his  old  pre- 
ceptor which  he  continued  for  two  months.  In  the 
fall  of  1887  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College, 
graduating  in  Feb.  1888.  His  thesis  on  "Typhoid 
Fever  and  Death  from  Uremic  Poisoning,"  was  de- 
livered before  the  faculty  and  won  the  prize,  and 
was  also  pronounced  by  Prof.  Ross  as  one  of  the 
ablest  productions  of  any  student  of  Rush  College, 
while  a  letter  was  written  by  Dr.  Ross  to  Dr. 
Cauble's  preceptor,  filled  with  commendatory 
language. 

Dr.  Cauble  was  born  April  '24,  18G6  and  is  one  of 
the  youngest  medical  men  of  the  State  and  the 
youngest  practitioner  in  Vermilion  County.  He 
seems  intent  upon  reaching  the  highest  round  in 
the  ladder  of  his  profession,  and  never  wearies  in 
studying  and  writing  upon  subjects  connected  with 
his  noble  calling.  He  is  especially  proficient  in  the 
subject  of  the  diseases  of  women  and  children.    The 


citizens  of  Sidell  may  well  congratulate  themselves 
upon  the  acquisition  of  a  physician  of  such  marked 
ability. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church 
and  votes  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  ap- 
pointed County  Physician  of  the  district  including 
Sidell,  and  is  also  the  examining  physician  of  the 
Aetna  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Hartford,  and 
he  fills  a  similar  position  for  other  insurance  com- 
panies. It  is  his  intention  to  go  to  Vienna  in  three 
or  four  years  and  there  take  instruction  under  the 
celebrated  German  medical  professors.  There  is  a 
great  future  in  store  for  Dr.  Cauble. 


s^sgri-:..  y^ 


ARRY  L.  FREEMAN,  junior  partner  in 
|)  the  firm  of  John  Jackson  ifc  Co.,  dealers  in 
general  merchandise  at  Sidell,  although 
young  in  3-ears,  occupies  no  secondary  posi- 
tion among  the  business  interests  of  this  thriving 
village.  He  is  bright,  capable  and  energetic,  and 
is  universally  popular  among  the  people  who  have 
known  him  almost  since  his  boyhood.  He  was 
born  in  Fairmount,  this  county,  and  is  the  son  of 
Alfred  C.  and  Mary  W.  (Dustin)  Freeman,  the 
former  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  ami 
the  latter  of  St.  Johnsbury,Vt.  Mrs.  Freeman  was 
a  direct  descendant  of  Hannah  Dustin,  one  of  the 
most  notable  and  heroic  women  of  her  time — the 
old  Puritan  days. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to  Illinois  prior 
to  their  marriage,  Mr.  Freeman  settling  in  Edgar 
County,  and  Miss  Dustin  with  her  parents  in  this 
county.  They  were  married  at  Fairmount.  The 
father  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits,  but  finally 
changing  his  occupation,  became  station  f.gent  of 
the  Wabash  Railroad  at  Fairmount,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  satisfactorily  several  years.  Finally 
in  1868,  he  changed  his  residence  to  Danville,  and 
has  been  city  clerk  there  for  the  last  sixteen  or 
eighteen  years.  During  this  time  he  has  made 
many  warm  friends,  having  performed  the  duties 
of  his  ollice  in  an  admirable  manner,  and  possessing 
the  good  judgment  and  discretion  which  is  so 
essential  to  every  individual  occupying  a  position 
of  trust  and  responsibility.       The  wife  and  mother 


■^■:-9 


'te^w^T-^ 


^2r?^o-^t/ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


285 


is  still  living,  and  is  now  about  fifty  years  of  age. 
Their  family  consisted  of  five  children,  who  were 
named  respectively  Harry  I...  Fred  D„  Bert  I).. 
Nellie  J.,  and  Edmund  (J. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  Sept.  8,  l  865- 
He  attended  school  at  Danville  during  his  boyhood 
ami  youth,  and  received  careful  parental  training, 
When  of  suitable  years  and  attainments  he  launched 
out  in  life  for  himself,  and  at  the  early  age  of 
seventeen  years  became  Deputy  Assessor  and  Col- 
lector of  Danville  Township,  which  position  he 
held  for  nine  years.  Shortly  after  reaching  the 
twentieth  year  of  his  age  he  was  married,  Dec.  2, 
1885,  to  Miss  Jennie  W.  Jackson,  daughter  of 
Amos  Jackson,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mrs.  Freeman  was  born  in  Indianola,  this  county. 
Dec.  3,  1865,  where  she  was  reared  to  womanhood. 
Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  was  one  child, 
Anna  J. ,  born  Sept.  6,  1887,  died  Nov.  13,1888. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freeman  removed  to  Sidell  in  July, 
1888,  in  which  time  our  subject  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  above-mentioned.  They  occupy  a  neat 
and  tasteful  dwelling  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
city,  and  number  their  friends  among  its  best  peo- 
ple. Mr.  Freeman  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  socially,  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen. 
He  has  started  out  in  life  with  fair  prospects,  and 
has  the  wishes  of  hosts  of  friends  for  his  continued 
prosperity. 


yfclLLIAM  G.  HERRON  is  the  most  exten- 
sive farmer  in  Vermilion  County,  having 
W^S  3,800  acres  under  his  immediate  super- 
vision, all  of  which  is  in  a  highly  improved  state 
of  cultivation.  The  firm  of  Allerton  &  Herron  was 
established  in  1880,  when  Sam  W.  Allerton.  of 
Chicago,  purchased  this  extensive  tract  of  land, 
from  J.  G.  Clark,  of  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine 
Company,  who  foreclosed  the  mortgage  on  the  cel- 
ebrated Joseph  Sullivan  farm,  which  was  called  by 
the  earlier  settlers  "Twin  Grove." 

Two  groves  of  about  100  acres  each  on  this  tract 
of  land  looked  so  much  alike  that  the  people  gave 
the    farm   the    name  quoted  above.      .Michael  Sulli- 


van was  made  trustee  of  the  Sterling  estate  in 
Kentucky  and  Ohio,  by  reason  of  his  son  Joseph 
being  one  of  the  heirs.  The  father  invested  the 
funds  thus  inherited  in  lands,  purchasing  them  at 
their  regular  government  price,  immediately  upon 
the  reopening  of  the  land  office  after  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad's  time  for  choosing  its  lands  in 
the  State  of  Illinois  had  expired.  This  period  ex- 
tended from  1849  to  1852. 

William  G.  Herron  was  born  in  Madison  County, 
Ohio,  near  London,  lie  remained  on  a  farm  until 
he  was  twenty  years  old.  and  there  learned  his  early- 
lessons  of  industry.  His  father,  Gardner  Herron, 
and  his  mother,  Maria  (  Moraine)  Herron,  were  born 
in  Dorchester  County,  Md.  His  father  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  War  of  1812,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  removed  to  Ohio.  His  mother  was  brought 
to  Madison  County  when  she  was  four  years  of  age. 
His  father  and  a  brother  and  sister  were  left  or- 
phans; the  sister  married  and  died  when  sixty 
years  of  age.  Gardner  Herron  was  a  man  of  mod- 
erate circumstances,  owning  his  farm  in  Madison 
Count}-  where  he  died,  which  event  occurred  in 
1855.  His  wife  is  still  living  with  a  daughter  at 
Mahomet,  111.  This  worthy  couple  had  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  boys  and  three  girls  grew  to 
maturity;   the  others  died  in  infancy. 

William  G.  Herron  was  born  April  6,  1829.  His 
educational  advantages  were  exceedingly  limited. 
He  was  the  oldest  child  of  the  family,  and  of  course 
was  expected  to  take  an  important  part  in  carrying 
on  the  farm.  In  1851  he  left  Ohio  in  the  employ 
of  a  stockman.  On  his  first  visit  to  Illinois,  which 
was  at  the  time  indicated,  his  impressions  were  not 
favorable  to  his  location  in  this  county,  for  at  the 
time  he  remarked  he  would  not  give  ten  cents  an 
acre  for  any  of  the  land.  So  he  continued  in  the 
occupation  of  drover,  proceeding  backward  and 
forward  from  Ohio  on  horseback  and  in  a  buggy, 
driving  many  cattle  from  Illinois  to  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania.  He  became  very  well  acquainted  on 
the  National  Road,  so  that  he  knew  almost  every 
one  located  on  that  thoroughfare.  He  was  married 
in  1855  to  Miss  Evelyn  Robison,  a  native  of  Mad- 
ison County,  Ohio,  and  the  same  year  he  settled  in 
Piatt  County.  111.  His  wife  is  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Lane)    Robison,  the    former   of 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


whom  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Madison 
County.  He  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  while 
Mrs.  Robison  was  a  native  of  Maryland.  They 
came  of  good  Revolutionary  stock.  The  Robison 
family  was  a  leading  one  in  the  South,  while  the 
Lanes  were  prominent  in  colonial  times. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Herron  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising  until  1860,  when  he  bought  into 
a  general  merchandise  business  at  Monticello.  111., 
continuing  in  this  with  varied  results  for  several 
years.  He  and  S.  W.  Allerton  became  acquainted 
in  Chicago  in  1860.  Fortune  had  favored  Mr.  Al- 
lerton, and  in  1881,  when  he  purchased  this  vast 
farm,  he  offered  his  friend  an  opportunity  that  was 
embraced,  giving  Mr.  Herron  the  entire  manage- 
ment of  the  place. 

The  firm  of  Allerton  &  Herron  was  therefore 
formed,  and  it  has  been  a  successful  business  ven- 
ture from  the  start.  The  influence  of  this  firm  in- 
duced the  Chicago  ife  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  to 
forward  its  work,  and  Mr.  Allerton  donated  the 
right  of  way  through  his  land  and  laid  out  the  vil- 
lage plat  of  Allerton  which  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  but 
on  account  of  its  fine  location  is  destined  to  become 
a  good  point  for  shipping  grain,  cattle  and  horses. 
General  trade  is  also  bound  to  prosper  here,  and  the 
people  of  the  town  have  great  faith  that  their  hopes 
will  be  full}-  realized.  The  large  steam  elevator  was 
put  up  by  Mr.  Allerton  in  1887,  and  is  operated  by 
John  H.  Herron,  our  subject's  son,  and  is  run  in 
the  firm  name  of  Allerton  &  Herron.  Mr.  Herron 
gives  employment  to  about  twenty-five  men.  and 
runs  from  sixty  to  seventy  teams.  He  is  following 
general  or  mixed  farming,  and  is  constantly  im- 
proving his  large  farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herron  have  reared  nine  children: 
Fannie  died  when  she  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
at  the  time  being  a  student  at  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity at  Bloomington,  111.;  Emma  was  married 
June  26,  1889,  to  Prof .  F.  W.  Martin,  of  Chaddock 
College,  Quincy,  111.  She  is  one  of  the  faculty  at 
Chaddock  College.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Wes- 
lyan  University  and  is  a  Master  of  Arts  and  Pro- 
fessor of  Greek  and  Latin;  David  W.  is  on  a  ranch 
at  Cedar  Rapids,  Neb.,  where  he  is  conducting  a 
7,000-acre  farm  for  Allerton.  lie  is  married  and 
lias  two  children;   William  H.  is  connected  with  the 


United  States  Geological  Survey,  and  has  charge 
of  the  survey  in  Kansas;  John  H.  is  running  the 
steam  elevator  at  Allerton;  Una  is  a  student  at 
Chaddock  College  in  the  class  of  '90;  Edwin  is  at- 
tending the  High  School  at  Mahomet;  Clyde  is  at 
home  as  is  also  Ralph,  who  is  attending  school. 
Mr.  Herron  has  given  all  of  his  children  the  ben- 
efit of  good  educational  advantages,  and  they  have 
improved  them. 

Mr.  Herron  is  an  uncom prising  and  stalwart  Re- 
publican and  attends  most  of  the  conventions  his 
party  holds.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive commitee  and  is  President  of  the  Republi- 
can Club  of  Sidell.  He  has  been  an  Active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Fpiscopal  Church  from  boy- 
hood up.  lie  has  given  large  sums  to  the  Wesleyan 
University.  He  and  his  wife  have  been  members 
of  the  Broadland  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for 
many  years,  where  they  take  great  interest  in  the 
Sunday-school.  Mr.  Herron  was  Superintendent 
of  the  Sabbath-school  at  Monticello,  111.,  for 
eighteen  years,  and  in  this  work  he  is  perhaps  bet- 
ter known  than  in  any  other,  as  he  began  active 
operations  in  the  Sunday-schools  thirty  years  ago, 
and  has  continued  in  the  work  without  flagging 
during  that  long  period.  He  assisted  in  the  for- 
mation of  most  of  the  Sunday-schools  of  Piatt  and 
Champaign  counties,  and  also  of  the  southern  por- 
tion of  Vermilion.  In  all  things  he  is  a  leader, 
whether  in  politics  or  religion.  As  a  man  and  as  a 
neighbor,  there  is  none  who  stands  higher  than 
William  (t.  Herron. 

On  another  page  of  the  Album  appears  a  fine 
portrait  of  Mr.  Herron,  who  occupies  a  prominent 
position  among  his  fellow-men,  and  is  accordingly 
worthy  of  an  important  place  in  a  book  of  this 
character. 


ORIN  SPERRY  represents  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Blount  Township  as  a  farmer  of 
more  than  ordinary  shrewdness  and  practical 
ability.  He  has  met  with  marked  success  in  his 
chosen  calling,  and  has  a  large  farm  on  section  20, 
which  by  good  management  he  has  made  one  of 
the  most  valuable  estates  in  this  part  of  Vermilion 
County.      Mr.  Sperry  is  the  son  of  a  pioneer  fain- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPAICAL  ALBUM. 


287 


ilv,  was  reared  here  from  early  childhood,  and  has 

always  made  his  home  here. 

Mr.  Sperry  is  of  New  England  ancestry  on  his 
father's  side,  and  that  parent,  whose  name  was 
Wallace  Sperry,  was  born  in  the  good  old  State  of 
Connecticut.  Sarah  Watkins,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  came  of  Southern  parentage,  anil  she  was 
born  in  Maryland.  During  some  period  in  their 
lives  the  parents  went  to  Ohio,  in  the  early  days  of 
its  settlement,  and  there  he  was  born  in  Warren 
County  Sept.  4,1828,  the  sixth  of  nine  children. 
When  he  was  but  two  years  old,  in  1830,  they 
brought  him  to  this  State,  and  in  their  new  pioneer 
home  in  Blount  Township  he  was  reared  to  a  stal- 
wart, vigorous  manhood.  He  gleaned  a  practical 
education  in  the  district  schools,  and  his  parents 
trained  him  thoroughly  in  the  duties  of  life,  drill- 
ing him  well  in  all  that  pertains  to  a  farmer's  call- 
ing. When  lie  became  independent,  after  reaching 
man's  estate,  he  bought  a  Mexican  land  warrant, 
paying  $150  for  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  took 
up  on  section  20,  Blount  Township,  and  still  re- 
tains it  in  his  possession.  But  he  has  added  to 
it  as  he  became  more  prosperous  and  wealthy,  and 
now  owns  509  acres  of  as  fine  fanning  land  as  is  to 
be  found  within  the  limits  of  the  county.  He  has 
it  under  admirable  tillage,  and  has  a  comfortable, 
substantial  set  of  buildings,  and  everything  nec- 
essary to  carrying  on  agriculture  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage. 

Mr.  Sperry  has  been  twice  married.  He  was  first 
wedded  Sept.  2:5.  1852,  to  Mary  Stewart,  daughter 
of  William  and  Charlotte  Stewart,  who  at  that 
time  lived  in  Scotland,  but  afterward  came  to  this 
county.  Of  that  marriage  nine  children  were 
bom,  of  whom  the  following  four  are  living: 
Eli  S.,  wln>  married  Sueldo  Johnson;  Demna,  who 
married  Wesley  Smith;  Asa  and  Eben  are  yet  un- 
married. The  others,  who  died  when  quite  young, 
are  William  A.,  Charles  F.,  Clarissa  J.,  George  M., 
and  Jessie  G.  Aug.  30,  1883,  the  household  of 
our  subject  was  bereft  of  the  beloved  wife  and 
mother,  who  had  been  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
her  family,  and  was  in  every  respect  a  true  woman 
whom  to  know  was  to  respect. 

Mr.  Sperry  was  married  I"  his  present  amiable 
wife  Oct.  1 1,  1888.      She  is  a  good  housewife  and 


looks  carefully  after  the  comforts  of  the  inmates  of 
the  pleasant  home  over  which  she  presides.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Ellen  Cozatt,  and  she  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Nancy  Wood,  and  widow  of 
Terry  C.  Cozatt. 

Mr.  Sherry  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  one  in 
whom  his  fellow-citizens  place  the  utmost  confi- 
dence, lie  possesses  foresight,  thrift  and  sound 
discretion  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  they  have  been 
factors  in  his  prosperity.  In  him  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  finds  one  of  its  most  earnest  and  valued 
members,  who  carries  his  religion  into  the  every 
day  affairs  of  life.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  stanch 
Republican  since  the  early  days  of  the  formation  of 

the  party. 

.   orx>    . 


'   o&o  * 

'   1CHAEL    McCAUL.      There    are    many- 
greater  men  than  their  garb  would  indi- 


cate. We  find  in  the  person  of  this  gen- 
tleman a  classical  scholar  who  pursued  his 
youthful  studies  with  the  intention  of  becoming  a 
priest,  but  untoward  circumstances  compelled  him 
to  leave  college  and  engage  in  manual  labor.  This 
necessarily  changed  the  whole  course  of  his  life 
and  we  now  find  him  a  thorough-going  farmer, 
who  in  company  with  his  brother  owns  120  acres 
of  land  on  sections  1  and  6  in  Sidell  Township. 

Probably  Mr.  McCaul  is  the  only  man  in  his 
township  who  has  circumnavigated  the  globe. 
After  leaving  college  his  mother  was  unwilling  to 
have  him  come  to  America  on  account  of  the 
Civil  War,  so  he  went  to  Australia.  He  was  born 
in  County  Cavan,  Ireland,  in  August,  1844,  and 
pursued  his  early  studies  in  the  common  schools 
until  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  entered  the 
Larrah  Classical  School  in  the  same  count}-,  where 
he  pursued  his  studies  for  three  years  and  then  his 
lack  of  finances  compelled  him  to  withdraw.  In 
setting  out  for  Australia,  he  was  accompanied  by 
his  brut  her,  Bernard.  They  sailed  around  the  coast 
of  Africa,  doubled  Cape  Hope  and  arrived  at  Mor- 
ton Bay  Colony,  Queensland,  where  they  became 
employed  on  the  public  works,  principally  railroads 
for  five  years. 

At  the  expiration  of  this  time  the  McCaul 
brothers  determined  to    come    to    America  and  set 


288 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


>ail  from  Melbourne,  going  up  through  the  Pacific. 
doubling  Cape  Horn  and  landing  in  Liverpool, 
whence  they  embarked  on  a  steamer  to  the  prom- 
ised land.  They  arrived  in  New  York  in  the  early 
part  of  November,  1867,  and  thence  made  their 
way  to  Marshall  County,  this  State,  where  they  be- 
gan farming  together  and  operated  thus  several 
years. 

Our  subject  final!}*  removed  to  Woodford 
County,  where  he  sojourned  a  few  years,  then 
changing  his  residence  to  Champaign  County,  from 
which  he  came,  in  1880,  with  his  brother  to  his 
present  farm.  They  took  out  their  naturalization 
papers  in  1884.  Mr.  McCaul  believes  in  protection 
to  American  industries  and  consequently  has  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  cause  of  Ireland  and  a  warm 
admirer  of  Patrick  Egan,  Patrick  Ford  and  other 
who  are  endeavoring  to  free  their  country  from 
the  oppressions  of  British  rule.  He  has  signi- 
fied his  sympathy  in  a  substantial  manner,  donat- 
ing liberally  of  his  means. 

Tlie  parents  of  our  subject  were  Bernard  and 
Mary  (McEntee)  McCaul,  natives  of  County  Cavan, 
Ireland,  and  the  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
They  spent  their  entire  lives  upon  their  native 
soil,  each  living  to  be  sixty-three  years  old.  Their 
live  children  were  named  respectively,  Ann.  Ed- 
ward, Patrick.  Bernard,  and  Michael.  Ann  is 
the  vvidow  of  John  Reiley  and  resides  in  Sidell 
Township;  Edward  and  Patrick  remain  in  their 
native  Ireland.  Bernard  married  Miss  Mary 
Gulcheon,  a  native,  like  himself  of  County  Cavan. 
and  they  have  three  children — Mary,  Bernard,  and 
Maggie.  Michael,  our  subject,  continues  in  a  state 
of  single  blessedness. 


7RANKLIN  EMMET  ABLOTT.  well-known 
as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  of  the 
younger  farmers  of  Grant  Township,  was 
born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  Sept.  12,  18.59,  and 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  when  but  six 
years  of  age.  His  parents  were  Wilson  and  Sarah 
J.  (Brown)  Abbott,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio  and 
after  their  removal    to  Illinois,  coming   direct  to 


Vermilion  County,  they  settled  on  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 22  in  this  same  township  a  short  distance 
from  where  Franklin  E.  now  resides. 

There  the  family  lived  for  about  three  years  when 
they  removed  to  a  rented  farm  a  short  distance 
off.  and  a  year  later  Mr.  Abbott  bought  a  40- 
acre  farm  on  which  the  family  made  their  home 
for  many  years,  and  on  which  place  Wilson 
Abbott  died  on  Feb.  14,  1883  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life-time,  giving  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  the  work  pertaining  to 
his  farm,  and  having  no  desire  for  notoriety, 
as  far  as  possible  avoided  public  position,  never 
holding  any  office,  save  such  as  school  director,  or 
the  like,  that  he  could  not  evade.  He  was  known  as 
one  of  the  older  settlers  of  the  township,  which  was 
comparatively  new  when  he  located  here,  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  ago.  He  left  behind  him  a  splen- 
did record  as  a  man  and  as  a  farmer.  Mrs.  Sarah 
J.  Abbott  survived  her  husband  nearly  four  years, 
dying  in  the  house  of  her  son,  Franklin  E..  on  Dec. 
1G,  188G,  aged  fifty-two  years. 

Wilson  Abbott  and  wife  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  yet  living  as  follows: 
Frances  Evelyn,  is  the  wife  of  Martin  Davis,  a 
fanner  in  Grant  Township;  James  L..  is  married  to 
Miss  Maggie  Schoolcraft,  and  is  also  a  farmer  in 
Grant  Township;  Franklin  E.,  was  next  in  order 
of  birth;  Isodora  Albertine  is  the  wife  of  William 
Trueheart,  a  farmer  in  Mead  County,  Kan.;  Mary 
Luella  and  Cyrena  Belle,  make  their  home  with 
their  brother  of  whom  this  is  written,  and  Charles 
L.  is  unmarried  and  engaged  in  farm  work. 

Franklin  E.  Abbott,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
has  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  county  and  town- 
ship, where  he  now  lives,  since  he  was  six  years  old. 
Two  or  three  years  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
the  old  farm  was  sold  and  the  family  home  has 
since  been  where  Franklin  now  lives.  The  elder 
members  of  the  family  were  justly  regarded  as  the 
very  best  people  in  the  neighborhood  for  industry, 
intelligence  and  straightforward  conduct,  and 
the  younger  members  are  closely  following  the 
footsteps  of  their  parents.  Mr.  Abbott  is  unmar- 
ried, his  sisters  keeping  house  for  him.  He  hns 
been  School  Director  of  the  township,  and  all  of  the 
family  are   members    of  the   Christian  Church,    be 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


289 


being   treasurer  of  the  Sabbath-school  connected 
therewith. 

Mr.  Abbott  belongs  to  that  younger  element  of 
of  farmers  of  Illinois,  which  is  rapidly  coming  to 
the  front,  and  after  attaining  that  position  is 
sine  to  remain  there.  He  is  constructed  of  the 
material  that  make  a  useful  citizen  and  a  good 
farmer. 

\j]  OHN  E.  T1K  >M  PSON.     The  people  of  ( >ak- 

wood  Township  with  one  accord  declare 
that  this  is  -'one  of  the  finest  old  gentlemen 
within  its  precincts."  This  kindly  express- 
ion of  opinion  among  those  who  have  known  him 
long  and  well,  should  in  a  measure  compensate  him 
for  the  affliction  from  which  he  is  suffering,  he  hav- 
ing become  almost  blind  and  passing  many  days 
which  seem  long  and  dreary,  lie.  however,  has  a 
mind  to  direct  his  farming  operations,  and  is  en- 
abled to  live  comfortably  upon  his  little  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  besides  which  he  has  eight  acres  of 
timber.  He  raises  as  much  stock  as  the  place  will 
support  comfortably,  and  in  his  struggles  and  la- 
bors has  been  ably  assisted  by  his  estimable  wife — 
a  lady  possessing  all  the  womanly  virtues,  devoted 
to  her  family,  remarkably  industrious  and  frugal, 
and  who  has  ordered  the  ways  of  her  household  in 
the  most  admirable  manner. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  the  offspring  of  an 
excellent  old  family,  and  was  one  of  a  pair  of  twins 
born  March  5.  1821,  in  Clark  County,  Ohio.  His 
boyhood  days  were  spent  in  his  native  State,  where 
he  received  a  practical  education  in  the  common 
school,  and  when  reaching  his  majority  began  farm- 
ing for  himself.  When  twenty-five  years  old  he 
was  married  in  1811),  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Simpkins, 
and  the  young  people  lived  thereafter  for  three 
years  at  the  Thompson  homestead.  In  1802  they 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  first  in  Edgar  County, 
where  they  sojourned  live  years.  Their  next  re- 
moval was  to  their  present  farm,  which  was  then 
merely  a  tract  of  wild  land  with  not  a  stick  of  tim- 
ber or  a  shrub  upon  it. 

Our  subject  set  himself  industriously  to  work  for 
the  improvement  of  his  property  ably  assisted  by 
his  faithful  wife,  and  making  each  year  some  head- 


way toward  the  desired  end.  After  a  lapse  of  years 
six  children  were  embraced  in  the  family  house- 
hold, four  of  whom  arc  living:  Rowena  Harriet  is 
now  the  wife  of  Silas  Bean,  and  the  mother  of  one 
child  by  her  present  husband;  they  live  in  Hodge- 
man County,  Kan.  By  her  first  marriage  with 
Frank  Funk  she  became  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren; John  Henry  married  Miss  Emma  Royer; 
thej  live  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  have  two  chil- 
dren; Darius  S.  is  unmarried,  and  has  principal 
charge  of  the  home  farm,  and  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  -181).  I.  ().  ().  F.;  Charles  S.  married  Miss  Re- 
becca Hubbard,  and  lives  in  Pilot  Township,  hav- 
ing no  children. 

Mr.  Thompson  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Zachary  Taylor,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Old 
Whig  party  until  185G,  when  he  cast  his  lot  with 
the  Republicans  at  the  organization  of  this  party. 
He  has  officiated  as  Road  Overseer  in  Edgar  County, 
and  has  been  School  Director  in  his  present  dis- 
trict for  eight  years.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  Lodge 
No.  489  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  Fithiau,  in  which  he  has 
been  Right  Supporter  and  Outside  Guardian.  Mrs. 
Thompson  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Her  parents  were  D.  S.  and 
Rowena  Simpkins.  the  former  of  whom  was  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  and  later  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Ohio,  settling  in  Clark  County,  where  he  be- 
came prominent  and  well-to-do.  The  parental 
household  included  eight  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Thompson  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  She 
was  born  Nov.  G,  1828,  in  Maryland,  and  received 
an  excellent  education.  Her  parents  spent  their 
last  years  in  Clark  County,  Ohio. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Jeremiah  C. 
Thompson,  a  native  of  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  married  Miss  Susannah 
Wolfe,  a  maiden  of  his  own  township  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Wolfe,  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a 
prominent  man  of  his  time,  who  lived  till  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age.  From  the  Old  Dominion, 
about  a  year  after  their  marriage,  the  parents  of 
our  subject  emigrated  to  Clark  County,  Ohio,  set- 
tling among  its  earliest  pioneers.  The  father  in  due 
time  became  owner  of  nearly  400  acres  of  land  and 
was  prominent  in  the  community,  officiating  as 
.Jusiice  of  the  Peace  and  occupying  other  positions 


290 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOKRAPAICAL  ALBUM. 


of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  departed  this  life 
at  the  old  homestead  in  1851.  The  mother  had 
preceded  her  husband  to  the  silent  land  eleven 
years,  her  death  taking  place  in  1840.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  the  most  of  whom 
lived  to  mature  years,  and  were  scattered  through 
different  States. 


«  WILLIAM  CLIPSON,  deceased,  was  forrn- 
\rJIl  er*y  an  ll0110rec1  resident  of  Vermilion 
yystl  County,  with  whose  farming  interests  he 
was  identified.  Coming  here  with  his  family  when 
this  section  of  the  country  was  still  in  the  hands  of 
the  pioneers  and  purchasing  land  in  Catlin  Town- 
ship, he  was  actively  engaged  in  its  improvement, 
and  in  the  few  years  that  he  was  spared  to  the 
community  he  greatly  increased  the  value  of  his 
farm.  His  death  when  but  a  few  years  past  the  me- 
ridian of  life  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  township 
with  whose  interests  his  own  were  bound  up,  and 
his  name  and  memory  are  still  cherished  here  by 
those  who  knew  him  best. 

He  was  of  English  birth  and  breeding,  born  in 
Lincolnshire,  May  18,  1806,  and  reared  to  man- 
hood in  a  town  known  as  Minonsby,  where,  he 
lived  till  he  was  about  eighteen  years  old,  when  he 
went  to  Devonshire,  England.  He  was  first  married 
in  that  shire  to  Jane  Shaw,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children,  of  whom  only  two  lived  to  grow  up, 
Catherine  and  Jane.  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Mil- 
ligan  M.  Moore,  of  Georgetown,  111.  Jane  married 
John  Swanell,  and  died  in  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  in 
1859.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clipson  removed  to 
London,  and  there  his  wife  died  July  1,  1839. 
While  in  Devonshire  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the 
British  Army,  and  served  as  messman  to  King 
William.  After  his  removal  to  London  he  served 
on  the  police  force  of  that  city,  and  was  afterward 
inspector  for  the  London  Gas  Company  for  some 
ten  or  twelve  years,  and  at  the  same  time  was  en- 
gaged in  the  management  of  a  hotel.  He  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time  in  that  city,  his  union  with 
Miss  Matilda  Ann  Barker  being  solemnized  Nov.  5, 
1840.  She  was  born  in  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, Dec.  22,  1815.    Of  the  thirteen  children  born 


of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  the  following  six 
grew  to  maturity:  William  H.,  John  O,  James, 
Harriet  A.,  Richard,  Albeit.  William  married 
Mirantha  Tipton,  and  they  reside  in  Clarinda, 
Iowa.  John  C.  married  Margaret  Hutchinson,  and 
they  reside  in  Clarinda,  Iowa.  James  married  Cla- 
rissa Douglas,  and  they  reside  in  Catlin  Township. 
Albert  married  Ethlen  Sanford,  and  they  reside  in 
Catlin  Township.  Harriet  and  Richard  live  with 
their  mother  on  the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clipson  continued  to  live  in  Lon- 
don till  the  spring  of  1853,  when  they  emigrated  to 
America  with  their  family,  making  the  voyage  on 
a  sailing  vessel  in  six  weeks,  and  landed  in  New 
York,  whence  they  came  directly  to  Vermilion 
County.  They  settled  in  Catlin  Township,  east- 
ing in  their  lot  with  its  pioneers,  and  here  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  having  purchased  1G0  acres  of 
wild  land.  He  caused  a  good  house  to  be  erected, 
and  made  many  other  substantial  improvements, 
besides  getting  much  of  the  land  under  excellent 
cultivation,  and  was  continually  increasing  the 
value  of  his  farm,  when  death  closed  his  busy,  use- 
ful career  July  6,  1862.  He  was  a  man  of  varied 
experience  in  life;  intelligent  and  thoughtful,  and 
his  place  in  this  township  was  among  its  best  and 
most  desirable  citizens.  He  was  a  fair-minded 
man,  and  was  possessed  of  ripe  judgment,  tact  and 
sound  discretion,  and  was  always  found  to  be  faith- 
ful and  trustworthy  in  his  dealings,  so  that  his  life- 
record  is  without  stain.  His  venerable  widow  is 
still  making  her  home  on  the  old  homestead,  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  comforts  that  the  loving  care  of 
her  children  can  devise.  She  is  a  fine  lady-  of  well- 
known  English  stock,  is  hospitable  and  entertain- 
ing, and  with  her  family  occupies  a  high  position 
in  the  social  circles  of  the  community.  She  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  has  been  connected  with  it  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  her  conduct  in  the  daily  affairs 
of  life  show  her  to  be  possessed  of  a  truly  religious, 
Christian  nature. 

Richard  and  Albert  Clipson,  sons  of  our  subject, 
have  formed  a  partnership  and  are  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  stock  business.  Besides  having  the 
management  of  the  old  homestead,  theyr  own  and 
operate  360  acres  of  choice  farming  land.     They 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


291 


buy  and  ship  a  large  amount  of  stock,  having  sev- 
eral men  in  their  employ  who  are  engaged  all  Un- 
tune in  buying  for  them.  The  firm  is  well-known 
throughout  this  part  of  the  West  and  stands  high 
in  financial  circles,  as  the  Clipson  Bros,  are  known 
to  be  men  of  honor  who  are  always  fair  and  up- 
right in  their  dealings.  They  are  men  of  large  en- 
terprise, full  of  energy  and  push,  and  possess  a 
marked  talent  for  business,  which  they  conduct 
systematically  and  after  the  most  approved  meth- 
ods. Richard  Clipson  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
of  Catlin,  and  Albert  belongs  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  Camp  of  Catlin. 


*~=5*$--l 


<iW 


%.  UGH  WRIGHT  is  the  son  of  William,  whose 
|[f)jl  father,  Hugh,  was  a  native  of  Bourbon  Co., 
[jbp  K.V-,  where  he  married  Miss  Anna  Patter- 
■y0l  son.  After  their  marriage  they  removed  to 
Bourbon  County,  Kentucky,  where  they  located  on 
a  farm  and  reared  their  family  of  eight  children, 
viz.:  William,  John,  Hugh.  Thomas.  Margred, 
Polly,  Peggy,  and  our  subject's  father,  William. 
The  four  eldest  died  at  an  early  age;  Margred.  the 
fifth  child,  married  a  Mr.  Piper,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased, after  which  she  was  again  married  to  Eli 
Current,  of  Kentucky,  who  also  died.  She,  how- 
ever, continued  to  live  in  Kentucky.  Polly  and 
her  husband,  Mr.  Piper,  both  died  leaving  two  chil- 
dren; Peggy,  the  seventh,  married  .lames  Looman, 
who  died.  She  now  resides  in  Kansas.  The  sub- 
ject's father,  the  eighth  and  last  born,  was  married 
in  Kentucky,  to  Miss  Ellen,  daughter  of  Silas  and 
Margaret  (Duffy)  Waters. 

The  subject's  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia but  removed  to  Kentucky  when  the  children 
were  young.  In  1828  Hugh's  father  with  his 
family  came  to  this  county;  there  were  at  this  time 
but  three  children,  Hugh,  Silas  and  James.  The 
latter  was  born  in  Rush  County,  I  ml.,  where  the 
parents  lived  one  year  previous  to  coming  here. 
Those  born  here  are  John  A..  William  A.,  now  de- 
ceased, Margaret  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een vears,  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Rut- 
ledge.     Since   her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Rutledge 


has  lived  in  McLean  County.  The  first  settlement 
made  here  by  the  father  was  some  three  miles  north 
of  Danville.  At  the  time  of  his  location  here  there 
were  but  three  white  families  in  the  village,  this 
part  of  the  county  being  chiefly  occupied  by  In- 
dians. The  land  had  not  yet  come  into  market: 
he,  however,  ventured  to  settle  in  the  timber,  and 
reckoned  that  the  prairies  would  never  become 
populated.  The  first  house  was  made  of  logs,  and 
the  fireplace  was  concocted  of  a  substance  called 
stone-coal,  which  was  supposed  to  be  fire-proof. 
This,  however,  proved  to  be  a  mistake,  for  the  fire 
was  no  sooner  built  than  the  stone-coal  at  once  be- 
gan '  to  burn,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the 
cabin  itself  was  saved.  After  considerable  exertion 
the  flames  were  extinguished.  Immediately  after 
this  disaster  what  remained  of  the  coal  chimney 
was  torn  down  and  it  was  replaced  by  a  stick  and 
clay  one. 

The  little  log  cabin  was  soon  -surrounded  by  a 
nicely  cultivated  farm,  and  later,  in  its  stead  a 
pretty  house  might  be  seen.  There  the  family 
lived  for  ten  years.  During  this  time  the  vil- 
lage of  Denmark,  as  it  is  now  called,  was  started. 
It  was  a  rough  frontier  town  situated  near  to  the 
house  of  our  subject's  father.  On  account  of  the 
many  disadvantages  arising  from  their  nearness  to 
Denmark,  the  father  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to 
this  township,  which  was  better  suited  to  his  taste. 
Here  he  spent  his  last  days.  His  death  occurred  in 
1815.  His  wife  survived  him  by  thirty-six  years. 
She  died  at  Farmer's  City,  McLean  County,  in 
1881,  her  daughter  being  with  her  at  the  time. 

Hugh  Wright  was  married  first  in  this  county  to 
Miss  Manerva,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth 
Payne,  who  came  from  New  York,  their  native 
city,  to  be  pioneers  in  this  county.  Of  this  mar- 
riage there  were  six  children:  Margaret,  America. 
Mary.  Fannie,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Radyinaker,  Clarissa 
and  Frank.  Margaret  and  America  are  no  longer 
living;  Mary  is  now  Mrs.  Samuel  A.  Oliver,  and 
resides  in  Southern  Texas;  Clarissa  married  Mr. 
Staunton  Foster  and  lives  in  this  township;  Fannie 
and  her  husband  are  living  in  Armstrong.  The 
whole  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  which  the  father  was  a  Class- 
Leader  for  man}'  years.     Hugh  Wright's  first  wife 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


died  in  April,  1881.  After  seven  years  he  was 
again  married  to  Mrs.  Stacy  (Potts)  Wikoff.  This 
happy  event  took  place  in  Nov.  1888.  By  her 
first  husband  she  had  three  children:  Thomas. 
Ellen  and  James.  Wikoff  is  a  name  well  remem- 
bered among  the  old  families  of  Ohio. 

Mr.  Wright  is  the  proprietor  of  a  fine  farm  com- 
prising 400  acres  all  under  good  cultivation.  This 
he  has  made  his  home,  adding  yearly  to  it  all  the 
advantages  and  improvements  that  suggest  them- 
selves. An  important  feature  in  his  character  is 
his  business  accuracy  and  punctuality.  These 
enable  him  at  any  time  to  command  the  assistance 
of  any  bank  with  which  he  does  business.  Besides 
the  farm  on  which  he  lives,  he  is  the  owner  of  800 
acres,  all  fine  farms,  in  this  township.  His  mill 
has  been  improved  and  an  artesian  well  has  been 
supplemented  to  the  list  of  conveniences  on  his 
premises. 

Mr.  Wright's  father  seems  to  have  been  consti- 
tutionally destitute  of  fear.  He  was  made,  as  it 
were,  without  that  peculiar  faculty  which  makes 
people  take  danger  into  the  account  and  try  to 
keep  at  a  distance  from  it.  The  full  possession  of 
this  deficiency  (if  the  phrase  is  not  too  direct  a 
contradiction  in  terms)  is  now  quite  uncommon. 
It  was  therefore  without  trepidation  that  he  made 
a  friend  of  Wapanim,  the  chief  of  an  Indian  tribe. 
They  were  in  fact  on  such  friendly  terms  that  Mr. 
Wright  did  not  hesitate  to  allow  his  son  Hugh, 
who  was  then  a  child,  to  ride  on  the  Indian's  back 
through  the  woods.  The  tribe  was  at  that  time  a 
peaceful  one. 

One  daj'  while  talking  with  Mr.  Wright  the 
chief  requested  him  to  report  anything  that  a  mem- 
ber of  his  tribe  might  do  which  did  not  happen  to 
meet  with  Mr.  Wright's  approbation.  This  request 
was  soon  to  be  made  use  of.  The  occasion  was  as 
follows:  A  stalwart  Indian  came  to  the  house  and 
threatened  to  harm  our  subject's  mother  for  having 
refused  to  give  him  the  eggs  that  he  had  asked  for. 
This  fact  was  stated  to  the  chief,  who  had  the  In- 
dian whipped  most  severely.  The  lash  used  was  a 
stout  one  and  was  plied  by  a  strong  hand.  The 
result  was  that  the  poor  creature's  skin  was  broken 
and  the  raw  bleeding  flesh  exposed.  Still  the  pun- 
ishment was  continued  so  long  that  fully  a  pint  of 


M""<1  inusl  have  been  shed.  Mr.  Wright  and  his 
family   were  called  upon  to  witness  the  scene. 

This  little  incident  is  given  partly  to  direct  at- 
tention to  the  care  and  assiduity  with  which  this 
exceptionally  good  chief  guarded  the  interests  of 
the  white  families  against  the  barbarous  injustice  of 
his  own  men.  Wapinim  spoke  English  well,  and 
for  a  man  of  his  type  was  unusually  intelligent. 

Hugh  Wright  was  seventeen  years  old  when  he 
got  his  first  suit  of  store  clothes,  which  he  bought 
with  the  money  he  himself  had  earned  by  tramping 
out  some  oats  with  horses  and  hauling  them  to 
Chicago,  where  thej-  sold  at  ten  cents  per  bushel. 
Before  this  his  clothes  were  such  as  his  mother 
would  make  by  means  of  the  old  spinning-wheel. 
He  was  very  proud  of  his  new  apparel,  which  cost 
him  $10,  the  price  of  100  bushels  of  oats. 


GEORGE  WHEELER  JONES,  M.  ])..  one 
of  the  foremost  physicians  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, and  who  has  a  fine  professional  reputa- 
tion beyond  its  borders,  was  born  in  Bath,  Steuben 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  February,  1839.  Dr.  Jones'  father, 
John  S.  Jones,  also  a  physician,  was  born  in  High- 
land, Kings  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  his  father,  John  Jones, 
was  born  in  or  near  New  York  City.  They  were 
of  Welsh  ancestry.  Dr.  Jones,  father  of  George 
W.,  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  while  quite 
a  young  man.  and  was  graduated  from  the  medical 
college  at  Albany,  after  which  he  practiced  his  pro- 
fession in  New  Yrork  State  until  1847,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Covington,  practi- 
cing there  many  years.  He  removed  from  Coving- 
ton to  Danville,  where  he  died  in  the  fall  of  1871, 
but  a  few  months  after  his  last  removal.  Dr. 
Jones,  Sr.,  married  Charlotte  Wheeler,  a  native  of 
Steuben  County,  N.  Y.  Her  father,  George 
Wheeler,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  they 
trace  their  ancestry  to  England.  The  mother  of 
the  subject  of  this  article  still  resides  in  Danville. 
There  were  seven  children  born  to  her:  George 
W.,  James  S.  (deceased),  Lydia,  Frank  and 
Caleb  (deceased),  Mary  S.  and  Lottie  E.  James 
enlisted,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  the  63d  Indiana 
Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  as  private,  but  was 


/ 


■■— R„.^^ 


Residence  and  Farm  Property  of  John  Leemon  ,o\\\ 


'   'i 


"' 


a&fe5M^iBa>seeoi 


h  A.&.10.  (23=1E.)  and  Sec's^.^.-U.)  Vermilion  &.  I  roquois  Cos.. 


POKTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


297 


rapidly  promoted  through  different  grades  until  be 
reached  the  rank  of  Quartermaster.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  is  now  deceased. 

Dr.  G.  W.  Jones  attended  the  public  schools  in 
New  York  State  and  later  in  Covington,  and  anally 
completed  his  literary  studies  at  Wabash  College, 
and  also  began  the  stud}-  of  medicine  with  his 
father  and  uncle  Caleb  Jones,  at  Covington.  lie 
attended  several  courses  of  lectures  at  a  medical 
college  in  Chicago,  during  which  time  he  received 
private  instructions  from  Dr.  By  ford,  of  that  city. 
In  March.  1862,  he  was  graduated,  and  imme- 
diately entered  the  army  as  Acting  Surgeon  of  the 
2Gth  Illinois  Regiment.  After  a  few  month's  serv- 
ice in  that  capacity  he  was  tendered  a  commission 
with  the  rank  of  Major  and  Surgeon  of  that  regi- 
ment, but  preferred  to  be  with  his  brother  in  the 
(>3d  Indiana,  and  accepted  the  position  of  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  that  regiment,  where  he  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  For  two  years  he  was  one  of 
the  Surgeons  in  charge  of  the  field  hospital  of  the 
third  division  of  the  23cl  army  corps.  He  served 
with  Sherman  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  also  in 
the  operations  against  Hood's  army  in  Tennessee. 
He  carries  the  scars  of  the  wound  received  at 
Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  caused  by  the  explosion  of  a 
shell.  After  being  mustered  out  of  the  service  in 
1805  he  came  to  Danville,  and  at  once  inaugurated 
a  successful  practice.  Dr.  Jones  has  a  brilliant  war 
record,  and  one  of  which  he  can  justly  feel  proud. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  I860, 
to  Emelyn  K.  Enos,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Susan  Enos.  She  is  the 
mother  of  one  child,  Hubert  W.  Dr.  Jones  and 
wife  are  members  of  Holj'  Trinity  (Episcopal) 
Church.  Politically,  the  Doctor  is  a  standi  Repub- 
lican, and  for  many  years  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  Pension  Board,  a  position  he  has  filled  with 
marked  ability.  He  is  a  member  of  the  following 
medical  societies:  The  Vermilion  County  Medical 
Society,  The  Illinois  Central,  Chicago  Medical  So- 
ciety, Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  Mississippi 
Valley,  and  the  American  Medical  Association. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  meeting  of  the  Inter- 
national Medical  Congress  which  met  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  in  1888,  and  which  was  composed  of 
many  of  the  scientific  men  of  the  world.       While 


Dr.  Jones  stands  at  the  head  of  his  profession  in 
his  portion  of  the  country,  he  is  reckoned  as  one  of 
the  best  of  neighbors  and  citizens.  The  Doctor  is  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  G9,  I.  O.  ( ).  F.,  of  Danville, 
and  also  a  prominent  .Mason,  officiating  with  Ori- 
ental Consistory  of  Chicago,  and  several  other 
secret  societies. 


.;«.;.»> 


OHN  LEEMON.     The  man  who  has  flowing 
j    through   his  veins  the  blood   of  an   honor- 
able ancestry  has  occasion   for  being  proud, 

for  he  has  thus  been  endowed  with  thai 
which  is  better  than  silver  and  gold.  If  lie  has  like- 
wise been  endowed  with  the  wisdom  to  improve  his 
talent,  he  is  doubly  fortunate,  for  no  matter  what 
circumstances  surround  him,  he  is  usually  able  to 
fight  his  way  resolutely  to  success.  Some  men  are 
met  with  seemingly  more  than  their  share  of  ad- 
versity, while  the  course  of  others  is  comparatively 
smooth,  but  in  either  event  men  usually  have  about 
all  they  wish  to  contend  with  of  trouble  and  toil. 
Those  who  have  succeeded  in  breasting  the  waves 
are  naturally  looked  up  to  by  their  fellow-men, 
among  whom  they  become  captains  and  leaders. 

The   subject  of   this  notice  presents  a  fine  illus- 
tration  of    the   results  of  perseverance,  and   what 
man  may  accomplish   from  a  very   humble  begin- 
ning.    Commencing  in  life  without  other  resources 
than  his  own  energy  and   resolution,  he  climbed  his 
way  steadi^'    upward   until    he    is   now   a    man    of 
property  and   importance,  owning  one  of  the  finest 
farms   in  Central   Illinois.       This  comprises   1,080 
acres  in  one  body,  occupying  the  greater  portions 
of  sections   4    and  10,    township   23.  range   12,  the 
residence   being  on  4,  and   the  balance  in  Iroquois 
County  on    the    north,   in    township   24,   range    12 
In  Fountain  Creek  he  has  520   acres,  and  120  acres 
near  East  Lynn.     In  Scott  and  Christian  counties 
he  has  an  interest  in  1,785  acres.     The  home  farm, 
which  has  naturally  been    under   the  especial  over- 
sight of  the  proprietor,  has  been  brought  to  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  mainly  devoted  to  general 
farming  together  with  stock-raising.     The  residence 
with   its  surroundings,  which  are  represented  by  a 
lithographic   engraving  on   another    page,   give  it 


298 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  air  of  plenty  and  comfort  which  is  delightful  to 
contemplate.  The  buildings  and  machinery  are 
all  that -is  required  for  the  successful  prosecution 
of  agriculture. 

Mr.  Leemon  was  born  of  Scotch  parentage  in 
County  Armagh  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  May  8, 
1829,  and  emigrated  to  America  when  he  was 
twenty-two  years  old,  coming  directly  to  Illinois 
and  settling  in  Jersey  County.  He  worked  out  by 
the  month,  first  at  $12,  and  (luring  the  winter  sea- 
son husked  corn  at  fifty  cents  per  day  and  board. 
His  wants  were  few,  and  at  these  small  wages  he 
managed  to  save  a  little  money  until  he  had  enough 
to  buy  a  team.  This  accomplished,  he  rented  a 
tract  of  land  in  Jersey  County,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  until  1856.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
come  to  this  county  and  purchased  444  acres  of 
wild  land.  As  soon  as  possible  he  commenced  its 
improvement  and  cultivation  at  a  time  when  there 
was  not  a  house  in  that  vicinity,  excepting  the  one 
occupied  by  Mr.  Hoopes,  with  whom  he  boarded, 
going  back  and  forth  to  his  place,  two  and  one- 
half  miles,  night  and  morning. 

In  the  fall  of  1857  Mr.  Leemon  put  up  a  small 
house  on  his  farm,  and,  like  the  bachelor  of  old, 
"lived  by  himself,"  until  he  judged  it  prudent  to 
take  unto  himself  a  wife.  In  the  meantime  he 
planted  forest  and  fruit  trees,  set  out  a  goodly 
amount  of  hedge,  and  instituted  the  improvements 
which,  as  time  passed  on,  resulted  in  making  his 
farm  a  very  valuable  and  desirable  piece  of  prop- 
erty. He  has  now  two  windmills  and  a  feedmill. 
his  barn  being  underlaid  with  water-pipes  which 
lead  to  various  tanks  wherever  required  for  the 
convenience  of  stock.  The  wet  land  has  been 
thoroughly  drained  with  tiling,  which  was  con- 
veyed from  Bloomington.  When  Mr.  Leemon 
settled  here  wild  animalsof  all  kinds  were  plentiful, 
especially  deer  and  wolves.  He  has  seen  as  mam- 
as seventy-five  deer  in  one  herd,  while  men  fre- 
quently got  together  to  hunt  the  wolves,  which 
hunger  made  altogether  too  familiar  to  suit  the 
settlers,  sometimes  stealing  the  deer  meat  from 
their  doors. 

When  the  time  came  that  Mr.  Leemon  felt  that 
he  could  justifiably  assume  the  responsibility  of  a 
family,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lodema   . 


Brown,  of  Butler  Township,  the  wedding  taking 
place  at  Rossville  Aug.  26,  1865.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leemon  commenced  the  journey  of  life  together  in 
their  own  home,  and  in  due  time  they  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a 
daughter,  Izele.  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
The  survivors  are  Lida,  Robert  A.,  John  A.. 
Charles  N.  and  Edith,  and  they  are  all  at  home 
with  their  parents,  being  given  the  training 
and  education  which  will  fit  them  for  their  proper 
station  in  life,  as  the  offspring  of  one  of  the  first 
families  of  this  county. 

Upon  becoming  a  voting  citizen  Mr.  Leemon 
identified  himself  with  the  Democratic  party,  but 
in  local  or  State  politics,  votes  independently, 
aiming  to  support  the  men  whom  he  considers  best 
qualified  to  serve  the  interests  of  the  people.  He 
has  been  the  incumbent  of  nearly  every  office  in 
Fountain  Creek  Township.  He  served  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace  eight  years,  also  as  School  Director, 
and  Trustee,  and  Supervisor  for  four  years,  and 
has  uniformly  distinguished  himself  as  a  man  of 
progressive  and  liberal  ideas — one  willing  to  give 
his  time  and  influence  to  those  enterprises  calcu- 
lated for  the  general  good.  He  was  reared  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  During  the 
early  days  he  labored  early  and  late,  frequently 
plowing  all  night  long  and  resting  a  part  of  the 
day,  on  account  of  the  flies.  Notwithstanding  this  he 
took  good  care  of  his  health,  never  abusing  himself 
by  using  liquor,  and  is  consequently  still  a  well- 
preserved  man  and  able  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his 
labors,  now  that  he  is  in  a  condition  to  retire. 
Man}'  of  the  enterprises  of  Hoopestown  have  found 
in  Mr.  Leemon  a  substantial  friend  and  benefactor. 
He  is  Vice  President  and  Director  of  the  new  bank. 

Thomas  Leemon,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
likewise  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  to  which 
his  forefathers  had  been  driven  during  the  times  of 
religious  persecution  in  Scotland.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Thompson,  and  they  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children,  all  of  whom  followed  our  sub- 
ject to  America  in  1854,  three  years  after  his  arri- 
val here.  They  sojourned  for  a  time  in  Jersey 
County,  this  State,  then  removed  to  Christian 
Count}-,  where  the  father  died  in  1862.  The 
mother  survived    her    husband    some    years,    and 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


■20'J 


spent  her  last  days  with  her  son  John,  passing 
away  in  1883.  Samuel  and  William  Leemon,  the 
two  brothers  of  our  subject,  are  residents  of  Chris- 
tian County.  Mrs.  Leemon  was  born  near  Lock- 
port,  in  Niagara  County,  N.  Y.,  and  when  about 
seventeen  years  old  emigrated  with  her  parents  to 
Indiana,  where  she  lived  until  about  twenty-two 
years  old.  They  then  removed  to  East  Lynn,  this 
county.  Her  father,  John  Brown,  spent  his  last 
da\s  in  Marysville.  KastTenn.,  where  he  died  some 
years  ago.  The  mother,  Mrs.  Catherine  (Bears) 
Brown,  still  lives,  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 


*"* 


-fc— 


J  [JOHN  R.  THOMPSON.  Few  men  are  het- 
I  ter  known  throughout  Oakwood  Township 
|  than  Mr.  Thompson.  He  owns  a  good  farm 
I  of  COO  acres,  on  sections  24  and  25.  where  he 
has  effected  most  of  the  improvements  upon  it, 
erecting  the  barn  and  other  buildings,  and  himself 
clearing  150  acres.  He  has  made  a  specialty  of 
sheep-raising — Shropshires  and  Merinos — and  has 
probably  had  a  larger  experience  in  this  industry 
than  any  other  man  in  the  county.  In  this  he  has 
been  uniformly  successful,  and  maintains  that  the 
only  money  he  has  ever  made  and  saved,  he  has 
accumulated  in  this  manner.  He  has  also  dealt 
largely  in  cattle,  swine  and  general  farm  produce, 
and  cultivates  250  acres,  which,  from  its  soil  and 
location,  is  classed  among  the  best  land  in  the 
township.  He  is  a  lover  of  the  equine  race  like- 
wise and  has  four  fine  specimens  of  thorough-bred 
Kentucky  running  stock,  two  of  Harkaway,  one  of 
Gloster,  and  one  from  Laurence,  promising  young 
horses,  who  will  probably  make  a  fine  record.  Mr. 
Thompson  proposes  retiring  from  active  labor  in 
the  near  future,  which  he  can  well  afford  to  do, 
having  an  ample  competence. 

The  eighth  in  a  family  of  eighteen  children,  our 
subject  was  born  April  12,  1830,  in  Washington 
County,  Pa.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Nancy 
(Stoughton)  Thompson,  natives  respectively  of 
New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  native  of  Wales,  whence  he  erni- 
grated    to  America    at     an    earl)-    day.      Joseph 


Thompson  and  his  wife  spent  their  entire  lives  in 
their  native  State,  the  father  dying  in  L865,  and 
the  mother  in  1880.  Thirteen  of  their  children 
lived  to  mature  years,  and  ten  are  still  living,  mak- 
ing their  homes  mostly  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Illi- 
nois and  Kansas. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Mr.  Thompson  were  spent, 
in  his  native  county  and' his  education  was  acquired 
in  the  district  school,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
farm  work  until  1851.  Then,  having  reached  his 
majority,  he  started  for  the  farther  West,  landing 
in  this  count)-  and  for  six  years  thereafter  operated 
as  a  shepherd,  thus  gaining  his  knowledge  of  the 
proper  care  and  treatment  of  sheep.  He  watched 
his  Hocks  on  the  wild  prairie  when  the  settlers  were 
few  :\ni\  far  between  and  occupying  farms  within 
a  mile  of  the  timber.  In  coming  to  Illinois  Mr. 
Thompson  drove  a  flock  of  1,300  sheep  for  another 
man,  beini>-  sixty-six  days  on  the  way.  He  attended 
these  until  the  spring  of  1852  then  returned  to  his 
native  State  and  returned  with  a  flock  of  1,500  to 
this  county,  making  the  entire  distance  on  foot  and 
consuming  seventy-two  days. 

On  the  27  of  November,  1856,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  David  C.  Wright,  who  had  died  previously. 
The  young  people  commenced  the  journey  of  life 
together  on  a  rented  farm  which  they  occupied  three 
years,  Mr.  Thompson  still  maintaining  his  inter- 
est in  sheep,  which  he  began  to  raise  in  goodly 
numbers  and  which  brought  him  handsome  returns. 
In  due  time  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  adja- 
cent to  that  which  he  now  owns.  He  lived  upon 
this  four  years,  then  sold  it  and  purchased  190 
acres,  partly  improved  and  near  the  timber.  Three 
years  later  he  sold  out  once  more  and  purchased 
\\\<  present  farm. 

To  Mr.  and  Mr.  Thompson  there  were  born 
twelve  children,  one  of  whom  died  young.  The 
survivors  form  an  unusually  bright  and  interesting 
group,  of  which  the  parents  are  justly  proud.  The 
eldest,  Joseph  Morton,  married  Miss  Molly  Steen 
and  is  a  leading  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  of  Dan- 
ville. D.  Lincoln  married  Miss  Melissa  Hall  and 
is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Thompson  Bros., 
general  merchants  at  Fithian;  he  has  two  children. 
Annie,   Mrs.  Elijah    Board,  is    the   mother  of  one 


300 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


child  and  lives  in  Oakwood  Township;  Nellie  F., 
John  R.,  Gertie  K..  Clysses  S.,  Franciena,  Maude, 
Harrison  and  Dollie,  are  at  home  with  their  pa- 
rents. The  firm  of  Thompson  Bros.,  is  conspicuous 
for  its  admirable  business  abilities  and  has  fen- 
equals  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  children 
of  our  subject  have  all  been  given  an  excellent  edu- 
cation, four  of  the  six  eldest  receiving  first-grade 
certificates.  Joseph  M.  was  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  receiving 
special  instruction  from  Judge  Cooley. 

Mr.  Thompson  votes  the  straight  Republican 
ticket,  being  the  only  one  of  seven  brothers  who 
cast  his  lot  with  this  party— the  other  six  and  the 
the  father  being  staunch  Democrats.  He  has  offi- 
ciated as  School  Director  most  of  the  time  since 
coming  to  Oakwood  Township  and  has  been  Path- 
master  for  many  years.  Socially,  he  belongs  to 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  Fithian  and  has  passed  all  the 
Chairs  and  through  the  Encampment.  A  man 
never  idle  when  there  is  anything  to  do,  he  has 
made  for  himself  a  good  record  in  point  of  industry 
and  perseverance.  One  of  the  most  fortunate 
things  which  has  fallen  to  his  lot  is  his  estimable 
and  sensible  wife,  a  lady  greatly  esteemed  in  her 
community  for  her  excellent  qualities  of  character 
and  her  devotion  to  her  family. 

Mrs.  Thompson  was  the  eldest  child  of  her  pa- 
rents and  was  born  Dec.  26,  1837,  in  Champaign 
County.  111.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  her  pa- 
rents three  are  now  living,  one  residing  in  Iowa 
and  one  in  Nebraska.  Her  grandfather,  John  B. 
Wright,  of  Pennsylvania,  removed  first  to  Indiana 
ami  then  to  this  county  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers. 

WILLIAM  WILSON  BUCHANAN,  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Crimmins  &  Bucha- 
nan, is  with  his  partner  operating  the  liv- 
ery stable  at  Sidell,  and  is  highly  popular  among 
the  resident^  of  this  well-regulated  little  village. 
He  also  operates  considerably  as  an  auctioneer  and 
salesman.  He  is  a  man  of  undoubted  ability,  and 
fine  personal  appearance,  and  possesses  those  correct 
ideas  in  relation   to  both   public  and  private  life 


from  which  spring  the  better  elements  of  society. 
He  was  born  in  Gentry  County,  Mo.,  March  17, 
1859. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Enoch  and  Su- 
san (Beard)  Buchanan,  the  father  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  the  mother  of  Kentucky.  The  paternal  grand- 
father removed  from  the  Buckeye  State  and  settled 
in  Edgar  County,  Hi.  about  1845,  bringing  his 
family  with  him.  He  and  his  father  both  served 
in  the  war  of  1812.  The  Buchanan  family  is  of 
Scotch  ancestry  and  upon  coming  to  this  country, 
settled  in  Pennsylvania  where  they  carried  on  farm- 
ing. They  were  a  large,  muscular  set  of  people 
and  usually  thrifty  and  well-to-do.  Enoch  Bucha- 
nan was  reared  to  manhood  in  Edgar  County,  this 
State,  but  was  married  in  Vermilion  County, 
whence  he  moved  to  Missouri  about  1854,  settling 
on  a  farm  near  Fairview.  The  troubles  during  the 
Civil  War  induced  him  to  return  to  Illinois  and  in 
the  meantime  his  property  was  destroyed.  He  was 
thus  left  without  resources,  but  set  himself  to  work 
and  was  prospered,  finally  becoming  the  owner  of 
a  farm  in  Carroll  Township.  He  departed  this 
life  in  1878  after  an  active  career  of  fifty  years. 
The  mother  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject;  she  is  now  fifty-eight  years  old. 
Their  four  children  were  named  respectively,  Sarah, 
John.  William  Wilson  and  Elizabeth.  The  eldest 
daughter  is  a  resident  of  Carroll  Township;  John 
died  at  the  age  of  one  year;  Elizabeth  became  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Black,  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  Carroll,  Township. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon school  and  as  his  father's  business  called  the 
latter  away  from  home,  William  W.,  being  the 
only  son,  necessarily  assumed  the  responsibility 
of  looking  after  the  family,  although  but  twenty 
years  of  age.  In  1878  Mr.  Buchanan  engaged  in 
the  sewing  machine  business  which  he  followed  un- 
til the  spring  of  1889.  At  the  same  time  he  super- 
intended the  operation  of  his  farm.  He  was 
married  in  1881  to  Miss  Alice  C.  Gilroy  at  her 
home  in  Carroll  Township.  Mrs.  Buchanan  is  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Beard)  Gilroy, 
whose  parents  came  to  this  count}-  in  1845  and 
were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Carroll  Town- 
ship.      The   mother  is  still  living  and  makes  her 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


301 


home  in  Butler  County,  Kan.;  she  is  about  fifty- 
two  years  old.  Of  her  firs*t  marriage  there  was 
born  one  child  only — Mrs.  Buchanan.  After  i he 
death  of  her  first  husband  she  was  married  twice, 
having  three  children  by  the  second  husband  and 
one  by  the  third. 

Mrs.  Buchanan  was  reared  to  womanhood  in 
Carroll  Township,  this  county,  and  completed  her 
Studies  in  the  High  School  at  Indianola.  Other 
union  with  our  subject  there  have  been  bom  four 
children — Essie,  Leila,  Floy  E.  and  Elraa.  Mr. 
Buchanan,  politically,  votes  the  Democratic  ticket 
and  socially  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen 
Camp  at  Indianola.  The  firm  of  which  he  is  a 
member  was  organized  April  17,  1889,  but  not- 
withstanding the  business  is  comparatively  new,  is 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  good  patronage.  They  have 
put  in  an  excellent  stock  of  new  buggies  and 
harness,  have  good  horses,  and,  in  fact,  conduct 
their  enterprise  in  a  manner  which  makes  it  ex- 
tremely popular  among  the  people  of  this  region. 
They  are  consequently  justified  in  their  expectations 
of  the  future. 

Aside  from  his  livery  business  Mr.  Buchanan  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  auctioneers  of 
this  county,  operating  principally  along  its  south- 
ern line.  He  has  been  in  practice  for  the  last  five 
years,  his  "transactions  being  principally  in  live- 
stock deals.  He  is  thus  widely  known  throughout 
Western  Indiana  and  Northern  Illinois.  He  also 
officiated  as  Constable  of  Carroll  Township. 

<ffl  WILLIAM  DAVIS.  The  man  who  has  thought 
»\/W  much  and  studied  much,  and  whose  char- 
\j/vg  acter  has  commended  itself  to  his  fellow- 
men,  naturally  has  an  influence  in  shaping  their 
views  and  opinions;  and  this  influence  will  be  felt 
long  after  he  lias  been  gathered  to  his  fathers.  Here 
and  there  we  find  one  far  in  advance  of  his  age — 
one  whose  children  will  probably  live  to  see  the 
time  when  his  prophecies  will  have  been  fulfilled 
and  his  ideas  adopted  by  a  later  generation.  These 
thoughts  involuntarily  arise  in  contemplating  the 
career  of  Mr.  Davis,  who  is  a  man  of  more  than 
Ordinary  intelligence,  possessing  a  mind  filled   with 


those  broad  and  philanthropic  ideas  which  must 
necessarily  in  time  become  of  benefit  to  the  human 
race.  He  was  bom  with  a  natural  antipathy  to 
tyranny  in  all  its  forms,  believing  with  Patrick 
Henry,  that  death  is  preferable  to  oppression,  lie 
is  totally  averse  to  trusts  and  monopolies  and  when- 
ever opportunity  occurs  lifts  up  his  voice  against 
those  corporations  which  have  proved  the  ruin,  not 
only  of  individuals,  but  sometimes  almost  of  entire 
communities. 

Mr.  Davis  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
Vermilion  County  and  was  at  an  early  day  acknowl- 
edged as  one  of  its  leading  men.  He  was  born  in 
Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  Jan.  25,  181  Land  was  the 
third  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  the  offspring  of 
Henry  and  Rachel  (Polock)  Davis,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  father  born  in  Greene 
County.  The  paternal  grandfather,  also  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  State,  was  a  patriot  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  after  which  he  settled  in  Ohio,  reared 
two  families  of  twelve  children  each  and  departed 
this  life  about  1823.  Grandfather  Polock  died  in 
Guernsey  County  about  182Q.  This  branch  of  the 
Davis  family  was  of  Dutch  and  Welsh  descent  while 
the  Polocks  traced  their  ancestry  to  Ireland.  Henry 
Davis  occupied  himself  largely  as  a  fanner  and  was 
also  successfully  engaged  in  raising  tobacco. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  after  marriage  lived 
in  Pennsylvania  two  years,  then  in  1807  made  their 
way  to  the  young  State  of  Ohio,  accompanied  by 
grandfather  Polock,  and  settled  in  Guernsey 
County.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  Illi- 
nois in  1848.  The  father  survived  his  wife  five 
years,  dying  in  18.">3.  They  came  to  Illinois  in 
the  fall  of  1836.  Mr.  Davis,  prior  to  this,  had  vis- 
ited Illinois  four  times,  being  determined  to  settle 
here.  Five  of  their  children  are  still  living,  making 
their  homes  in  Illinois  and  Iowa. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
spent  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life  during 
the  early  settlement  of  Ohio  and  he  naively  states 
that  the  only  bear  hunt  he  ever  took  part  in  was 
when  he  was  five  months  old  and  his  father  killed 
the  bear.  He  attended  school  two  months  in  the 
winter  season  for  a  few  years,  and  after  reaching 
his  majority  began  making  arrangements  for  the 
establishment  of  a  home  of  his  own.      In  the  fall  of 


302 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1834,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  David  Hayes  of  Washington  Count}',  Pa.  The 
young  couple  thirteen  days  afterward  started  for 
Illinois  with  a  wagon  and  accompanied  by  an  uncle 
of  our  subject  and  his  brother  Azariah  with  his 
wife  and  child.  They  were  nineteen  days  on  the 
journey  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  walked  nearly  all 
the  way. 

Mr.  Davis  received  from  his  father  seventy-seven 
acres  of  land  in  Vance  Township,  this  county,  upon 
which  was  a  hewed  log  cabin.  The  newly  wedded 
pair  had  brought  with  them  a  couple  of  beds  and 
a  few  things  stowed  away  in  sacks,  while  Mr.  Davis 
had  his  ax  and  gun.  Two  hours  after  reaching  their 
destination  they  were  visited  by  prairie  wolves 
which  were  frequent  callers  for  many  years  after- 
ward. After  obtaining  some  wheat  which  had  been 
raised  on  his  place  the  year  before,  Mr.  Davis  re- 
paired to  Eugene,  Ind.,  and  selling  this  wheat. 
purchased  a  few  cooking  utensjls.  He  and  his 
wife  had  stools  to  sit  upon  and  a  table  made  by 
boring  holes  in  the  log  wall  of  their  dwelling,  driv- 
ing in  a  couple  of  pins  and  laying  a  few  slabs 
across. 

In  those  days  there  were  only  a  few  houses 
between  Catlin  and  Sidney.  Homer  was  not  in 
existence.  The  Wabash  Railway  track  was  sur- 
veyed in  1837.  Our  subject's  little  farm  was 
partly  broken  before  it  became  his,  his  father 
giving  him  the  deed  for  it  in  1837.  He  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  first  farming  operations,  although  he 
had  very  crude  implements  with  which  to  culti- 
vate the  soil  and  no  help  save  that  of  his  wife. 
He  struggled  along  in  the  new  country  and  grew 
slowly  with  it.  He  thinks  the  most  prosperous 
times  for  this  "section  were  between  1850  and  1860 
and  the  two  years  following  the  close  of  the  war. 

Ten  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Davis,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years.  Rachel  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Roudebush 
who  is  now  deceased;  she  has  four  children  and 
lives  near  Portland.  Ore.;  Edith  married  Ben- 
jamin Browning  and  became  the  mother  of  four 
children;  they  live  near  Sacramento,  Cal. ;  D.  Cook 
married  for  his  second  wife  a  Mrs.  Miller  of  Pen- 
field.  111.,  and  they  have  six  children;  Henry  is 
written  of  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Jemima  is  the 


wife  of  Sullivan  Cox,  lives  in  Dement  and  has  one 
child  ;  Lydia,  E„  the  wife  of  George  W.  Baird.  is 
the  mother  of  four  children  and  they  live  in  Vance 
Township. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Hayes)  Davis  departed  this  life 
at  the  homestead  in  the  fall  of  1861. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  al- 
liance Aug.  21,  1863,  with  Miss  Mary  C,  daughter 
of  Lawrence  T.  Catlett  and  sister  of  Hiram  and 
Harold  Catlett  of  Vance  Township.  Mrs.  Davis 
was  the  third  in  a  family  of  twelve  children  and 
was  born  Aug.  23,  1821,  in  Charlottesville.  Ya. 
She  attended  school  for  a  time  in  her  native  State 
and  completed  a  good  education  in  Ohio.  She  fol- 
lowed the  profession  of  a  teacher  for  some  years 
prior  to  her  marriage.  The  family  came  to  Illinois 
in  1846  and  Miss  Mary  taught  school  for  some 
time  in  this  county.  She  is  a  most  estimable  and 
worthy  lady,  kind,  generous  and  hospitable  and 
especially  attentive  to  those  in  affliction.  She  has 
always  been  interested  in  educational  matters  and 
donated  175  from  her  own  private  purse  to  the 
university  at  Upper  Alton.  She  also  gave  $50  to 
the  Baptist  Church  in  Danville  of  which  both  she 
and  her  husband  have  been  members  for  man}' 
years,  Mr.  Davis  serving  as  Deacon  and  Trustee 
and  both  laboring  earnest!}'  in  the  Sunday-school. 
The  health  of  Mrs.  Davis  for  the  past  two  years 
has  been  delicate,  preventing  her  from  pursuing 
this  good  work  as  she  would  have  liked. 

Mr.  Davis,  more  fortunate  than  many  of  his  com- 
peers, financially,  received  $2,500  fromhis  father  and 
had  the  good  judgment  to  take  care  of  it  and  add  to 
it.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  about  1,000  acres  of  land 
in  this  county  and  five  good  houses.  He  has  an 
interest  in  the  implement  firm  of  Davis  &  Stearns, 
and  also  in  a  large  grain  warehouse.  Besides  this 
he  owns  fifteen  or  eighteen  lots  in  Fairmount  and 
has  given  to  each  of  his  children  $3,500.  He 
donated  $1,000  to  the  Douglas  University  at  Chi- 
cago. $500  to  the  Wabash  Railroad,  $500  to  the 
university  at  Upper  Alton  and  has  always  been  a 
liberal  supporter  of  the  schools,  churches  and  other 
worthy  enterprises  in  this  County.  His  estate  is 
valued  at  $60,000.  While  busy  with  the  accumu- 
lation of  this  world's  goods  for  himself  he  has  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that   the  needy  have  never 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


:;n;; 


been  turned  empty  from  his  door.  He  sympathizes 
with  those  less  fortunate  than  himself  and  none  are 
more  ready  to  aid  those,  who  will  try  to  help  them- 
selves. 

The  first  presidential  vote  of  Mr.  Davis  was  cast 
in  1832  for  Andrew  Jackson,  and  he  has  been  a 
uniform  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party  until 
1870,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  Greenbacker. 
Taking  a  lively  interest  in  politics,  his  expressed  sen- 
timents have  always  been  pure  and  upright  and  could 
he  have  his  way  there  would  be  no  wire-working  and 
no  political  dishonesty.  During  the  election  of 
1888  he  supported  the  Union-Labor  nominee  and 
he  has  favored  the  election  of  a  Greenbacker.  He 
is  rather  opposed  to  secret  societies  and  has  held 
aloof  from  them.  He  served  as  School  Director 
many  years  and  for  several  terms  officiated  as 
Road  Overseer.  Few  men  have  kept  themselves 
more  conversant  with  matters  of  general  interest 
to  the  intelligent  citizen,  and  few  have  been  of  more 
essential  aid  in  supporting  the  various  worthy  en- 
terprises tending  to  elevate  society  and  benefit  the 
community. 


/^p^EORGE  1 
if  ,=:  there  mig 
A^JJi    way  aero 


IEORGE  HOAGLAND.  In  the  fall  of  1860 
light  have  been  seen  wending  their 
ross  the  new  country,  a  young  man 
with  his  wife  and  four  children,  intent  upon  mak- 
ing a  home  in  a  new  section,  and  practically  grow- 
ing up  with  the  country.  Few  men  had  settled  at 
that  time  in  township  23,  range  12,  where  our  sub- 
ject secured  120  acres  on  section  :i2.  Upon  this 
land  there  was  a  small  house,  into  which  he  moved 
his  family,  and  made  them  as  comfortable  as  pos- 
sible. Little  of  the  land  around  them  had  been 
fenced  or  cultivated,  while  deer,  wolves  and  other 
wild  animals  had  scarcely  learned  to  be  afraid  at 
the  approach  of  man.  The  nearest  trading  point 
was  at  Rossville,  and  for  anything  out  of  the  com- 
mon line  of  merchandise  Mr.  Hoagland  was  obliged 
to  repair  to  Danville.  Attica  or  Pax  ton,  twenty 
miles  away. 

( >ur  subject  came  a  long  distance  from  his  birth- 
place to  seek  a  permanent  home,  having  first  opened 
his  eyes  to  the  light  on  the   Atlantic    coast,   New 


Jersey,  May  I.".,  1802.  There  he  spent  the  Brst 
nineteen  years  of  his  life,  and  then  emigrated  with 
his  parents  to  Hamilton  County.  Ind..  where  they 
were  among  the  earliest  pioneers.  In  due  time  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Van  Zant,  who  died, 
leaving  one  child.  His  second  wife  was  Rachel 
Cushman,  and  to  them  there  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Jonathan  C,  who  lives  on  the  farm 
with  his  father,  is  the  only  survivor. 

Our  subject  first  cleared  eighty  acres  from  the 
wilderness,  then  sold  out,  and  purchased  that  which 
he  now  owns  and  occupies.  He  built-  this  up  from 
the  raw  prairie,  and  has  given  to  it  the  labor  of 
many  years  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  position, 
besides  a  generous  outlay  of  money.  Although 
now  quite  well  advanced  on  the  down  hill  of  life. 
he  retains  much  of  the  activity  of  his  former  years, 
and  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon  current  events, 
lie  voted  for  both  the  Harrisons,  and  no  man  lias 
rejoiced  more  in  the  results  of  the  war  which 
brought  about  freedom  and  preserved  the  Union. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  since 
1828,  and  is  of  that  kindly  and  genial  disposition 
which  has  made  him  friends  wherever  he  has  so- 
journed. 

Jonathan  C.  Hoagland,  the  only  living  child  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Indiana,  April  24,  1840, 
and  lived  there  until  coming  to  this  countv,  in 
1860.  Soon  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War 
he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  149th  Illinois  Infantry, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  Arm}- of  the  Tennessee. 
This  regiment,  however,  while  before  Atlanta  dur- 
ing the  siege  of  the  city,  was  not  called  upon  to 
do  any  active  fighting,  but  was  simply  assigned  to 
guard  duty.  They  received  their  honorable  dis- 
charge, and  were  mustered  out  in  1866.  Mr.  Hoag- 
land then  returned  to  this  count}-,  and  engaged  in 
farming  with  his  father,  and  has  since  remained  a 
resident  here. 

Jonathan  C.  Hoagland,  son  of  our  subject,  was 
married  on  the  24th  of  December,  1874,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Sanders,  of  Butler  Township.  The  three 
children  born  to  them — Rose  E.,  Mary  M.  and 
Flora  B. — are  all  living  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Jonathan  C.  Hoagland  has  been  School  Direc- 
tor in  his  district  several  terms,  and,  like  his  hon- 
ored father,  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  neighbors. 


304 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mrs.  George  Hoagland.  wife  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  July  30,  1815,  and  removed 
with  her  parents  to  Indiana  when  a  maiden  of  eigh- 
teen years.  She  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  her  marriage.  Her  father,  Thomas  Cushman, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  spent  his  last 
years  in  Indiana. 

Charles  Barcus,  the  grandson  of  our  subject,  and 
the  child  of  his  daughter,  Mary,  resides  at  the 
homestead.  John  Barcus,  his  father,  after  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Hoagland,  located  in  Grant  Town- 
ship, and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  one  older  than  Charles,  and  two 
younger. 

— ^^m- — 


]/  ENRY  LLOYD,  a 
\[  j'  wherein  he  did  lo\ 
ii^    country,  is  one  of 

H 


a  veteran  of  the  late  war. 
loyal  service  for  his  adopted 
;ry,  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Catlin  Township,  prominent  in  the  manage- 
ment of  its  public  affairs,  and  closely  identified 
with  its  material  interests  as  an  intelligent,  pro- 
gressive farmer,  stock-raiser,  and  stock-dealer. 
His  farm  on  section  34,  with  its  broad,  well-tilled 
acres,  its  orderly,  commodious  buildings,  and  pleas- 
ant dwelling  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  and  at- 
tractive places  in  this  part  of  Vermillion  County. 

Mr.  Llo}rd  is  of  good  English  stock,  and  is  him- 
self a  native  of  the  mother  country,  born  in  Berk- 
shire, April  5,  1841.  His  parents,  Richard  C.  and 
Susan  (Wicks)  Lloyd,  were  also  born  in  England, 
and  were  life-long  residents  of  the  old  country, 
dying  in  Berkshire.  They  were  people  of  sterling 
worth,  well  thought  of  by  their  neighbors,  and  they 
trained  their  seven  children  to  habits  of  useful- 
ness and  honesty. 

Henry  Lloyd  was  the  fourth  child  of  the  family 
and  the  years  of  his  boyhood  were  passed  among 
the  pleasant  scenes  of  his  native  land.  In  18;38, 
when  seventeen  years  of  age  he  left  his  old  home, 
ambitious  to  see  more  of  life  and  to  avail  himself 
of  the  many  advantages  offered  by  the  United 
States  of  America  to  the  poor  youth  of  other  coun- 
tries to  make  their  way  in  the  world  to  positions  of 
comfort  and  even  affluence.  After  landing  on 
these  shores  he  came  to  Catlin  Township,  of  which 
he  has    been  a    resident    since,    excepting   during 


the  trying  times  of  the  great  Rebellion,  when  with 
a  patriotism  not  exceeded  by  those  native  and  to  the 
manor  born,  he  bravely  consecrated  his  young  life 
to  the  defence  of  the  land  of  his  adoption.  In 
August,  1862,  tearing  himself  away  from  his  little 
family,  and  laying  aside  all  business  interests,  he 
enlisted,  and  in  the  following  September  he  was 
mustered  into  Company  G,  125th  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  was  in  the  army  until  after  the  war  closed. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles  of  Perryville, 
Mission  Ridge,  second  battle  of  Mission  Ridge, 
battle  of  Dallas,  and  was  with  Gen.  Sherman  in  his 
famous  march  to  the  sea.  During  two  years  of  his 
service  he  was  detailed  to  haul  ammunition.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  June  9,  1805,  and  re- 
turning to  Catlin,  resumed  his  former  vocation. 
The  first  four  years  after  coming  to  Catlin  Town- 
ship he  was  engaged  in  the  butcher  business,  but 
aside  from  that  he  has  been  occupied  in  farming  and 
in  raising,  buying  and  shipping  stock  quite  ex- 
tensively. He  owns  240  acres  of  choice  land,  all 
improved,  and  amply  supplied  with  excellent 
buildings  for  all  necessary  purposes  and  with  mod- 
ern machinery  for  facilitating  the  labors  of  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Lloyd  and  Miss  Sarah  Church  were  united 
in  marriage  in  Catlin  Township,  Dec.  20,  1860. 
and  nine  children  have  been  born  to  them — Edwin 
C,  who  died  when  ten  and  a  half  months  old; 
Maria  L.  is  the  wife  of  Abraham  Wolf;  two  who  died 
in  infancy;  Alice  E.,  Fred  R.,  Fannie  E..  Edwin 
II.,  and  William  R. 

Sirs.  Lloyd  is  like  her  husband,  a  native  of 
England,  born  in  London  Jan.  7,  1844.  In  1850, 
when  she  was  six  years  of  age,  her  parents,  Henry 
and  Sophia  (Puzey)  Church,  who  were  likewise  of 
English  birth,  brought  her  to  this  country.  They 
cast  their  lot  with  the  early  settlers  of  Catlin 
Township,  and  passed  their  remaining  days  here. 
They  had  seven  children,  Mrs.  Llo3'd  being  the 
youngest.  She  is  a  woman  of  a  happy,  amiable 
disposition,  is  well  liked  by  all  who  know  her. 
and  is  a  member  in  high  standing  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Mr.  Lloyd  is  a  frank,  open  hearted  man,  gifted 
with  rare  energy  and  stability  of  character.  His 
public  spirit  is  well  known,  and  any  good  scheme 


■ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


307 


that  will  in  any  way  promote  the  besl  interests  of 
the  township  is  sure  to  meet  with  his  cordial  ap- 
proval and  substantial  support.  His  fellow-citi- 
zens have  often  called  upon  him  for  advice  in 
weighty  matters,  and  as  a  public  official  he  has 
shown  his  disinterested  regard  for  the  welfare  of 
the  community.  He  has  been  Road  Commissioner 
three  years,  Township  Collector  two  years.  School 
Director  six  years,  and  Vice-President  of  the 
Vermilion  Agricultural  Society  seven  years,  lie 
is  connected  with  the  A.  P.  &  A.  M.  as  a  member 
of  Catlin  Lodge,  No.  285.  He  and  his  family  are 
people  of  high  social  standing  in  this  community, 
and  their  pleasant  residence,  situated  a  short,  dis- 
tance from  the  road  and  close  to  the  corporation 
of  Catlin,  is  the  centre  of  a  genuine  hospitality, 
the  graceful  and  kindly  courtesy  of  its  inmates 
making  friends  and  strangers  alike  feel  at  home 
within   its  walls. 


IRAM    YERKES.     The    firm   of    Yerkes  & 

^  Reese  conduct  a  first-class   meat-market  in 

Fairmount,   obtaining   their   supplies  from 

[gj;  the  farm  of  Mr.  Yerkes.  which  furnishes 
the  pure  article  so  essential  to  the  health  of  man- 
kind. The  firm  is  one  of  first-class  standing,  and 
enjoys  the  patronage  of  the  best  people  of  Fair- 
mount  and  vicinity.  The  subject  of  this  notice  is 
a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities,  with  a  thor- 
ough-going business  talent,  while  at  the  same  time 
he  is  whole-souled,  genial  and  companionable,  en- 
joying the  esteem  and  confidence  of  hosts  of  friends. 

The  Yerkes  family  originated  in  Germany,  from 
which  country  the  paternal  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject  emigrated  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War.  He  reared  a  fine  family,  and  among  his  sons 
was  Jacob  S..  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  adopted  the  business  of 
a  wagon-maker  and  farmer  combined.  He  was 
married,  in  his  native  State,  to  Miss  Ann  S.  Shoe- 
maker, who  was  horn  then',  ami  not  long  after 
ward  they  removed  to  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Yerkes 
followed  wagon-making  for  four  years.  Then  he 
removed  to  Indiana,  and   remained   a   resident  of 


the  Iloosicr  State  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  en- 
gaged in  wagon-making  and  agricultural  pursuits. 
There  the  parents  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  the  mother  dying  in  1882,  and  the  father  in 
the  lull  of  188G. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
eight  children,  only  four  of  whom  reached  their 
majority.  Iliram,  the  second  in  the  family,  was 
born  May  7,  1840,  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  mere  child 
when  his  parents  left  the  Buckeye  State  for  Indi- 
ana. In  the  latter  State  his  early  education  was 
conducted  in  the  primitive  log  schoolhouse,  the 
terms  being  very  short  and  far  between.  He,  how- 
ever, took  kindly  to  his  books,  and  gained  a  very 
good  knowledge  of  the  common  branches.  He  re- 
mained under  the  home  roof  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War,  and  in  August.  1 S62,  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  as  a  member  of  Company  II,  63d  In- 
diana Infantry,  which  regiment  was  organized  in 
Indianapolis,  first  commanded  by  Col.  Williams 
and  later  by  Col.  I.  N.  Stiles. 

Mr.  Yerkes  fought  in  sixteen  battles  and  fol- 
lowed his  regiment  in  all  its  marches,  participating 
in  all  the  hardships  and  vicissitudes  of  a  soldier's 
life.  The  records  indicate  that  he  was  one  of  the 
bravest  men  of  his  company,  and  while  at  the  front, 
in  some  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war, 
stood  at  his  post  without  fear  or  flinching.  He  was 
content  to  enter  the  ranks  as  a  private,  and  was 
first  promoted  to  the  post  of  Corporal,  and  after- 
ward to  Sergeant.  He  met  the  enemy  in  the  field 
at  Resaca,  Ga.,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  Tenn.,  At- 
lanta. Kenesaw  Mountain,  Jonesboro,  Cassville, 
Lost  Mountain,  Altoona,  Chattahoochie,  Town 
Creek,  Burnt  Hickory,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Ft.  Ander- 
son, Wilmington  and  Columbia,  N.  C. 

Although  experiencing  many  hairbreadth  es- 
capes,  Mr.  Yerkes  never  received  a  scratch.  He 
was  at  one  time  entirely  buried  in  the  dirt  plowed 
up  by  a  Rebel  cannon  ball,  escaping  by  a  miracle 
from  being  torn  to  pieces  by  the  deadl}'  missile. 
He  had  the  satisfaction  of  witnessing  the  sur- 
render of  the  rebel  Gen.  Johnston  to  Gen.  Sher- 
man, but  the  joy  of  the  Union  arm}'  was  soon  sad- 
dened by  the  news  of  Lincoln's  assassination. 
After  the  surrender  spoken  of,  they  remained  in 
Greensburg  until   .Inly.  1865,  when   the  regiment 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  discharged,  and  our  subject,  being  mustered 
out  at  Indianapolis,  returned  to  his  home  in  In- 
diana. 

On  the    21st  of  September,  in   the  above-men- 
tioned year,  our  subject  was    united    in    marriage 
with  Miss  Hester   E.  Prevo,  daughter  of  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Fountain  County,  Ind..  and   one  of 
the  most  lovely  young  ladies  of  that  region.      Mrs. 
Hester  E.  Yerkes  was  one  of  a  family  of  sis  chil- 
dren, and  was   born    in   Indiana,  in  October,  1839. 
Soon   after    their    marriage    Mr.  and    Mrs.  Yerkes 
came  to  Illinois,  arriving   in  this  county   Oct.  17, 
1865,  and  settling  upon  the  land  which  constitutes 
the  present  homestead  of  our  subject.     Of  this  con- 
genial   union    there  were    born    six    children,  the 
eldest   of   whom,   a   son,   Spencer    G.,  remains   at 
home   with   his   father.     Alice    M.  is    the  wife  of 
Charles  Price,  and  they  live  on  a   farm  two  miles 
northeast    of    Fairmount.      Ella    May,    Anna    L., 
Susie  and    Ilattie    are  at    home  with   their  father. 
The  mother  of  these  children   departed    this  life 
at    the    home    farm    in  Vance   Township,    on    the 
6th  day  of    September,    1877.       She  was   a    lady 
greatly  beloved  by  her  family  and  friends,  possess- 
ing those  estimable  qualities  by  which  she  was  en- 
abled to  illustrate  in  her  life  the  best  traits  of  the 
devoted  wife   and  mother,  the  kind   and  generous 
friend,  and  the  hospitable   neighbor.     Her  name  is 
held  in  tender   remembrance  by  all  who  knew  her. 
Our  subject,  in  January,  1878,  contracted  a   sec- 
ond marriage  with    Miss   Mary  Olive,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  J.  H.  Noble,  a  prominent  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.     This  union  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  four   children,  one  of  whom,   Pearl, 
died   in    infancy.     The   others  are  Hiram  N..  Lola 
(Land  Winnie    M.     The  boy  Hiram    is  especially 
bright,  very  attentive  to  his  studies  in  school,  and 
maintains    his    position   at   the    head   of    his   class, 
gaining   great   enconiums  from    his    teacher.      Mi-. 
Yerkes  has  officiated  as  Township   Supervisor  for 
five  years,  holding  the  office  during  the  erection  of 
the  County  Court  House  (at  Danville),  which  bears 
his  name  upon  its  corner-stone.    This  was  a  scheme 
in   which  he  was   intensely   interested,  and   it  was 
largely  through  his  efforts   that   the  edifice  was  fin- 
ished in  good  shape  and  without  involving  the  loss 
of  a  dollar  to  the  county.     So  judiciously  were  its 


affairs  managed  that  the  taxpayers  hardly  realized 
that  they  were  contributing  to  its  erection,  and 
never  missed  the  additional  sum  imposed.  The 
County  Jail  was  erected  about  the  same  time  and 
under  the  same  conditions. 

Our  subject  has  officiated  as  Highway  Commis- 
si) iner  three  years,  and  in  this,  as  in  all  other  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  responsibility,  which  he  has 
occupied,  bent  his  energies  to  effect  those  improve- 
ments which  would  benefit  the  people  and  at  the 
same  time  prevent  excessive  taxation.  While  hold- 
ing the  above-mentioned  office,  he  furthered  the 
introduction  of  the  system  of  stone  arch  bridges 
in  Vance  Township,  and  they  are.  without  question, 
the  cheapest  and  most  durable  bridge  which  can 
be  erected.  Sewer  drainage  for  the  small  streams 
instead  of  the  old  plank  culverts  was  also  adopted, 
through  the  persistent  efforts  of  Mr.  Yerkes.  He 
has  been  School  Director  in  his  district  for  many 
years,  and  so  well  has  he  performed  his  duties  in 
connection  therewith,  that  the  Board  is  about  to 
purchase  a  site  and  erect  a  new  building  at  a  cost 
of  about  $7,000. 

Politically,  Mr.  Yerkes  uniformly  votes  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  and  has  frequently  been  sent  as  a 
delegate  to  the  County  Conventions.  In  connec- 
tion with  this,  as  in  all  other  matters,  he  is  content 
with  no  halfway  measures,  and  has  thus  been  of 
effective  service  to  his  party  in  this  section,  being 
thoroughly  well-informed  and  alive  to  all  the  po- 
litical issues  of  the  day.  Both  he  and  his  estimable 
wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  Socially,  Mr.  Yerkes  be- 
longs to  Fairmount  Lodge  No.  590,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.. 
and  to  George  N.  Neville  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which 
he  was  once  Vice  Commander.  In  his  church  he 
officiates  as  Steward  and  Trustee,  and  for  the  past 
eighteen  years  has  been  one  of  the  most  efficient 
workers  in  the  Sunday-school,  officiating  as  Super- 
intendent nine  years,  as  teacher  of  the  Bible  Class 
the  same  length  of  time,  and,  when  not  chief  Su- 
perintendent, acting  as  assistant. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Yerkes  is  finely  situated  on 
section  9,  and  comprises  320  acres  of  land — all  in 
one  body.  Being  just  outside  the  corporate  limits 
of  Fairmount,  on  the  southwest,  it  is  naturally  very 
valuable.     Ihe  whole  is  in  a  productive  condition, 


PORTRAIT  AND   !'.!()( ;  KAI'IIK AL  ALBUM. 


309 


and  yields  abundantly  the  rich  crops  of  Central 
Illinois.  Mr.  Yerkes  feeds  ueai'ly  100  head  of 
cattle  eacli  year,  ami  about  seventy-five  head  of 
swine.  He  keeps  simply  enough  horses  to  operate 
the  farm.  He  has  recently  disposed  of  L 85  acres 
of  coal  land,  seven  miles  west  of  Danville. 

It  is  an  appropriate  testimonial  to  the  worth  of 
Mr.  Yerkes  that  his  portrait  should  occupy  a 
prominent  place  in  the  Album  of  the  county,  to  the 
material  advancement  of  which  he  has  so  largely 
contributed. 

FNJAMIX  FRANKLIN  SNOWDEN.    The 
fact  that  this  gentleman  is  successfully  oper- 

(r>ti)))'  at'n§  three  farms  in  Sidell  Township  is  suf- 
^&y  flcient  indication  of  his  ability  as  a  business 
man  and  agriculturist,  while  his  home  is  one  of  the 
most  hospitable  places  to  be  found  in  many  a  mile. 
Although  not  a  long-time  resident  of  the  town- 
ship, he  lias  established  himself  in  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  its  people,  and  is  recognized  as  a  citi- 
zen holding  no  secondary  place  in  point  of  sterling 
worth,  honesty  and  integrity.  lie  has  supervision 
of  the  Charles  Wright  farm — 220  acres  in  extent 
— upon  which  be  resides;  the  A.  J.  Baum  farm  of 
310  acres,  and  a  little  farm  of  seventy  acres,  be- 
longing also  to  this  estate,  all  of  which  comprises 
630  acres,  and  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of 
forty  acres,  is  under  the  plow.  The  land  is  largely- 
devoted  to  the  raising  of  corn  and  oats,  and  in  the 
operation  of  this  extensive  tract  there  arc  utilized 
thirteen  teams,  with  a  goodly  amount  of  machinery 
and  all  the  other  implements  required  for  success- 
ful agriculture.  The  firm  of  Snowden  A-  Sons  has 
become  generally  recognized  in  this  section  as  the 
synonym  of  reliability,  push  and  enterprise. 

William  Snowden.  the  father  of  our  subject,  with 
his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Martha  Pigg,  were  natives 
of  Clark  County,  Ky.,  where  the  paternal  grand- 
father, Joshua  Snowden.  was  also  horn  and  was  the 
son  Of  David  Snowden,  a  native  of  Virginia,  whos  ■ 
father  was  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion  and 
whose  grandfather  emigrated  from  England.  Joshua 
Snowden  served    as  a  soldier    in  the  War  of    1812, 


and  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  carried  a 
musket  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  Snowden 
family  is  noted  for  longevity,  many  of  them  reach- 
ing the  age  of   ninety  years   and  some  living  to  be 

overt hundred  years  old.     The    Pigg  family  in 

Virginia  owned  lands  and  slaves.  They  had  origin- 
ally settled  in  Kentucky,  and  several  of  the  male 
ancestors  of  our  subject  on  this  side  of  the  house 
likewise  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  our  subject  carried  on  fanning 
and  prosecuted  quite  an  extensive  trade  in  fine 
horses,  cattle  and  mules,  purchasing  them  in  Ken- 
tucky and  shipping  to  Virginia,  Missouri.  Illinois 
and  other  States.  Me  brought  about  the  first  Short- 
horn cattle  known  in  this  State,  landing  them  in 
Bloomington,  111.  He  was  born,  reared,  married 
and  died  in  Clark  County,  Ky..  where  he  was  a 
prominent  citizen,  well  known  and  highly  respected. 
His  business  relations  extended  to  Bourbon.  Fay- 
ette. Merritt,  Esther,  Powell,  and  other  counties  of 
that  State,  as  also  into  various  other  States  of  the 
Onion.  In  addition  to  his  extensive  private  in- 
terests he  served  as  Notary  Public  several  years, 
and  was  noted  for  his  public-spiritedness  and  gener- 
osity. He  became  quite  wealthy,  but  finally  became 
security  for  large  amounts  and  lost  the  whole  of  his 
property,  leaving  his  son.  our  subject,  almost  penni- 
less. His  death  occurred  April  17,  1884,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  years.  The  mother  only  survived 
her  husband  a  short  time,  her  death  taking  place 
July  1,  1883,  when  she  was  sixty-five  years  old. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  being  named  respectively:  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin of  this  sketch,  Thomas  J.,  William  N.,  John  W., 
Louisa,  Joshua.  Mary,  Melissa,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  years,  and  Nancy,  who  died  when  three 
years  old.  Thomas  J.  is  a  live-stock  commission 
merchant  at  the  Union  Stock  Yards,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio:  William  N.  is  farming  in  Clark  Count}',  Ky.; 
John  \\~ ..  a  physician  and  surgeon,  is  located  at 
Wade's  Mill  in  Clark  County.  Ky.;  Louisa  is  the 
wife  of  Taylor  Mansfield,  a  farmer  of  the  above- 
mentioned  county;  Joshua  is  farming  and  resides 
on  the  Parkville  homestead;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
David  P.  Duncan,  a  farmer  of  Madison  County, 
Ky. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  bom  Dee.  8,  1839, 


310 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fourteen  miles  east  of  Paris  in  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.  He  was  a  mere  child  when  his  father's  family 
removed  to  Clark  Count}',  where  he  developed  into 
manhood.  He  attended  the  subscription  schools 
before  the  days  of  public  schools,  and  engaged  in 
farming  and  shipping-  stock.  When  twenty-one 
years  old  he  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  F.  Craig 
of  Estill  County,  Ky.,  and  the  daughter  of  Olando 
Whitney  Craig,  one  of  the  first  Methodist  Episco- 
pal preachers  in  the  Blue  Grass  State.  Her  mother, 
Miss  Maria  (Bellis)  Craig,  was  a  native  of  Estill 
County.  Mr.  Craig  was  born  in  Montgomery 
County.  The  progenitors  of  both  removed  from 
Virginia  at  an  early  date.  The  great-grandfather 
Craig  whs  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Montgom- 
ery County,  locating  there  about  1821,  and  he  lived 
to  be  one  hundred  and  two  years  old.  He  also  was 
a  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His 
son,  William,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  spent 
his  entire  life  in  Montgomery  County. 

The  father  of  Mis.  Snowden  preached  at  various 
places  in  Kentucky — in  Montgomery,  Clark,  Estill 
and  Powell  counties — and  died  in  Estill  County  in 
1848,  when  only  forty  years  of  age;  the  mother 
survived  her  husband  several  years,  dying  in  1862 
at  the  age  of  forty-two.  Their  children,  six  in 
number,  were  named  respectively  William  T., 
Amanda  F..  Eliza  J.,  John  T.,  Mary  E.  and  Sarah 
E.  The  parents  were  excellent  and  worthy  people, 
and  the  father  especially  beloved  wherever  known. 

Mrs.  Snowden  was  born  in  Estill  County,  Ky., 
and  received  a  veiy  good  education.  She  finally 
began  teaching,  and  followed  this  three  years  prior 
to  her  marriage  and  for  some  time  afterward.  Mr. 
Snowden  in  the  meantime  engaged  extensively  as 
a  stock  dealer,  buying  and  selling  cattle,  horses 
and  mules.  He  also  carried  on  farming  in  Ken- 
tucky. In  the  spring  of  1887  he  came  to  this 
county  and  rented  the  Wright  farm,  where  they 
have  since  lived.  The  record  of  the  eleven  chil- 
dren born  to  them  is  as  follows:  Nancy  B.  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years;  John  W.  assists  his  father 
in  his  extensive  fanning  interests;  Thomas  J.  is 
also  at  home;  Martha  M.  is  the  wife  of  James  W. 
Young  of  Danville,  and  they  have  one  child,  Annie 
Laura;  William  M.,  Lena  Hi  vers.  Joshua  II.,  Mary 
E.  and    Nora  A.  are  at    home  with    their    parents. 


The  eighth  child.  Maggie  L.,  died  at  the  age  of 
nine  years  and  the  youngest  born,  Algan.  died 
when  seven  months  old. 

Mr.  Snowden.  politically,  affiliates  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  Socially,  he  beiongs  to  Estill  Lodge, 
No.  4G9,  of  Spout  Springs,  Ky.,  and  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Snowden  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  one  of  her  uncles  was  in  the 
Mexican  War.  Two  of  her  brothers  were  in  the 
late  Civil  War — William  in  the  Confederate  Army 
and  John  in  the  Union  Arm}*,  in  which  he  enlisted 
three  times.  The  old  home  of  Mr.  Snowden  is 
located  ten  miles  from  Boouesboro,  Clark  Co.,  Ky., 
and  was  formerly  the  home  of  Daniel  Boone,  the 
old  pioneer  of  Kentuck}'  and  of  historic  fame. 
Our  subject  is  well  acquainted  with  several  mein- 
bers  of  the  Boone  family,  and  speaks  of  them  as 
very  worthy  people,  prominent  in  local  affairs  and 
invariably  Hard  Shell  Baptists  in  their  religious 
views. 


(  Wn  Deut 
%J  Gen: 


ARL  C.  WINTER,  editor  of  the  Danville 
Deutsche  Zeitung,  was  born  in  Heidelberg, 
many,  April  21,  1841.  He  is  descended 
from  a  prominent  and  distinguished  ancestry,  who 
have  wielded  much  influence  in  their  native  land. 
Originally  the  family  came  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury from  the  coast  of  Holland,  near  Amsterdam. 
settling  first  at  Heilbronn,  whence  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject  removed  to  Heidelberg  in 
L807.  His  grandfather.  Christian  Frederick  Win- 
ter, was  for  many  years  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Hei- 
delberg, an  office  of  greater  honor  and  respectability 
in  that  country  than  in  this,  and  one  to  which  only 
prominent  men  are  chosen,  lie  was  for  many 
years  also  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  the 
Grand  Duchy  of  Laden,  and  exercised  a  wide  in- 
fluence in  its  affairs.  He  introduced  and  procured 
the  passage  of  the  bill  inaugurating  the  jury  system 
in  the  State,  and  securing  the  liberty  Of  the  press. 
He  was  afterward  Commissioner  of  the  Republic 
of  Baden  during  the  celebrated  Revolution  of 
1849,  in  Germany,  which  was  the  successor  of  the 
abortive  attempt  of  1848.     During    the    year    the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


311 


Independent  Republic  <>f  Baden  existed,  Mr.  Win- 
ter was  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  affairs  of 
the  new  State,  being  an  orator  of  great  power  and 
influence.  On  the  suppression  of  the  Republic  by 
the  Prussians,  Mr.  Winter  was  imprisoned  in  Ilei- 
dclberg,  and  was  compelled  to  indemnify  the  gov- 
ernment for  all  the  official  funds  in  the  treasury  at 
the  time  of  the  inauguration  of  the  Republic.  This 
cost  him  almost  all  his  large  private  fortune.  He  was 
apolitical  prisoner  for.  about  a  year  and  after  his 
release  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  business 
life,  and  for  several  years  prior  to  bis  death  was 
again  Mayor  of  Heidelberg.  lie  was  a  (dose  per- 
sonal friend  of  the  leaders  of  the  revolutionary 
movement, and  especially  of  Col.  Fritz  Hecker.  He 
was  alsoan  intimate  associate  of  Liebig,  the  chemist. 
Humboldt,  Goethe,  Fichte,  Schlegel,  and  Schlosser, 
the  celebrated  German  historian,  with  whom  he  was 
engaged  in  literary  correspondence.  He  was  the 
founder  of  the  great  publishing  house  of  C.  F. 
Winter,  which  printed  the  works  of  Dr.  Liebig,  of 
Bunsen,  the  chemist,  of  Haeusser,  of  Presenilis, 
Wohler's  "Annals  of  Chemistry,"  and  the  works  of 
many  other  world  renowned  writers. 

Christian  Frederick  Winter  died  in  1856,  and  his 
wife  in  1858.  Of  their  sons  several  became  prom- 
inent in  the  State  and  in  business  circles.  The  eld- 
est, Jonathan,  whom  in  his  admiration  for  this  free 
land  his  father  had  named  after  -'Brother  Jonathan," 
held  the  position  of  Under-Secretary  of  State  in 
Baden,  and  was  about  to  be  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  Minister  of  State,  when  he  died  in  1886,  in 
Carlsruhe,  being  then  in  the  prime  of  life.  Another 
son.  Christian  Frederick,  afterward  became  a  prom- 
inent publisher  in  Frankfort,  and  printed  many 
famous  works,  principally  on  theological  and  agri- 
cultural subjects.  He  died  in  Frankfort  in  1883. 
Carl  became  publisher  and  bookseller  in  his  native 
city  of  Heidelberg,  where  he  was  a  prosperous  and 
influential  citizen.  lie  died  in  1871,  leaving  a 
numerous  family  and  a  large  estate.  The  remain- 
ing son.  Anton,  was  the  father  of  our  subject.  He 
was  born  in  Heidelberg  in  1808,  and  received  his 
higher  education  in  the  celebrated  university  of 
that  city.  He  succeeded  to  his  father's  business, 
which  he  had  conducted  during  the  latter  part  of 
his  father's  life.     lie  maintained  the  national  repu- 


tation of  the  great  publishing  house  of  C.  F.  Winter 
fully  up  to  the  standard  which  had  been  reached 
by  its  founder.  After  his  lather's  death  he  removed 
the  establishment  to  Leipsic,  the  great  center  of  the 
book  trade  of  Germany,  and  there  he  conducted 
it  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1859. 

Anton  Winter  was  married  in  1840  to  Miss  Emily 
Broenner,  whose  father,  II.  L.  Broenner,  was  a  pub- 
lisher at  Frankfort.  She  was  born  in  that  city  in 
1820,  and  was  a  highly  educated  lady,  a  graduate 
of  the  Female  Academy  at  Rumperheim-on-the- 
Main.  She  died  in  December.  1887.  She  was  a 
lady  of  many  accomplishments,  a  fine  painter,  and 
well  versed  in  science,  literature  and  art.  Her 
union  with  Mr.  Winter  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
six  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest; 
Henrietta,  the  second  child,  died  in  Leipsic  in 
1885;  Ludwig  is  a  landscape  gardner  and  florist, 
and  has  an  establishment  of  world-wide  reputation 
at  Bordighera,  on  the  Riviera,  near  Nice,  Italy. 
He  was  educated  in  his  profession  at  Potsdam,  is 
royal  gardener  to  the  King  of  Italy,  and  holds  a 
position  in  his  art  second  to  none  in  the  world. 
Sophia  is  a  noted  teacher  in  the  Female  Academy 
of  Leipsic,  of  which  she  was  a  graduate;  Ferdi- 
nand is  a  merchant  in  London.  England,  being  a 
partner  in  and  manager  of  the  English  house  of 
the  Hamburg  Rubber  Company,  the  largest  hard 
rubber  establishment  in  the  world.  Clara  died  in 
childhood. 

Carl  C.  Winter,  our  subject,  passed  bis  boydiood 
amid  the  beautiful  scenery  in  and  around  the  city 
of  his  birth.  His  early  education  was  in  its  public 
schools,  and  he  was  carefully  trained,  both  mentally 
and  physically,  by  highly  cultured  parents,  who  left 
upon  him  impressions  deep  and  lasting.  He  was 
prepared  for  and  entered  the  Lyceum  at  Heidel- 
berg, then  under  the  direction  of  Professor  Hautz. 
He  was  thoroughly  prepared  for  the  University, 
which  lie  entered  at  the  unusually  early  age  of 
eighteen.  He  was  educated  especially  to  tit  htm 
for  the  business  of  publishing,  and  took  a  general 
historical  course  under  Prof.  Ludwig  Haeusser. 
author,  amongst  other  works,  of  an  exhaustive  his- 
tory of  the  Revolution  of  1849.  He  attended  a 
course  in  philosophy  under  Prof.  Kuuo  Fischer, 
ami  a  course  in  English  and  French  literature  under 


312 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Prof.  Dr.  Emil  Otto,  who  gave  him  private  lessons, 
a  distinction  shared  by  two  other  people  only.  On 
account  of  the  death  of  his  father  lie  left  the  Uni- 
versity to  assist  his  mother  in  settling  up  the  busi- 
ness of  the  estate,  and,  being  himself  too  j'oung  to 
carry  it  on,  the  publishing  business  was  sold  to  an 
association  of  capitalists,  who  still  continue  it  at 
Leipsic,  under  the  original  title  of  C.  F.  Win- 
ter. 

in  order  to  become  practically  acquainted  with 
the  printing  business,  our  subject  worked  in  several 
book  publishing  houses  in  Prague,  Bremen,  Mar- 
burg and  in  London,  England.  During  this  period 
he  contributed  many  articles  to  the  Illustrirte  Welt 
and  the  Illustrirtes  Familienbuch,  the  former  pub- 
lished at  Stuttgart,  and  the  latter  at  Trieste  and 
Vienna.  While  in  London,  he  decided  to  come  to 
the  United  States.  He  made  a  short  visit  to  his 
native  land  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  lSfiti,  and 
in  April  of  that  year  sailed  for  New  York,  landing 
there  about  the  first  of  May.  In  that  city  he  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  with  L.  W.  Schmidt,  bookseller 
and  publisher,  but  his  inclinations  being  toward 
literary  pursuits,  he  soon  became  city  editor  of  the 
New  York  Staats-Zeitung,  under  the  veteran  editor 
Oswald  Ottendorfer.  He  filled  that  position  for 
two  years,  at  the  same  time  contributing  literary 
articles  to  the  New  York  Herald,  and  articles  on 
German  and  French  literature  to  the  New  York 
Nation.  In  1868  he  resigned  from  the  Staats-Zei- 
tung, to  accept  the  position  of  editor  of  the  Lehigh 
County  Patriot,  published  at  Allentown,  Pa.  There 
he  remained  for  a  year,  and  in  that  time  wrote  for 
the  Nation  a  series  of  articles  on  the  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  dialect,  also  contributing  a  series  of  haters 
on  American  life  to  the  Daheim,  of  Leipsic,  Ger- 
man}'. 

In  186!)  Mr.  Winter  was  offered  and  accepted  the 
position  of  city  editor  of  the  Daily  Telegraph,  a 
German  paper,  published  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and 
remained  with  that  paper  until  1871,  when  he  re- 
ceived a  Haltering  offer  from  the  manager  of  the 
Louisville  Anzeiger,  tendering  him  the  position  of 
city  editor  and  literary  writer.  He  stayed  there  until 
1872,  when  he  was  re-engaged  by  the  Indianapolis 
Telegraph  to  conduct  its  city  department  during 
thcexeitingPresidenti.il  c -t  of  that  year.     He 


was  also  engaged  by  Elijah  Halford,  then  editor  of 
the  Indianapolis  Journal,  now  Pres.  Harrison's  pri- 
vate secretary,  and  also  by  the  managing  editor  of 
the  Indianapolis  Sentinel,  to  report  and  translate 
for  their  respective  papers  the  first  speech  in  that 
memorable  campaign  delivered  in  German  at  In- 
dianapolis by  Carl  Schurz.  Mr.  Winter,  after  writ- 
ing out  his  notes  for  the  German  paper,  began  the 
translation  into  English  for  the  two  other  journals, 
using  manifold  paper,  finishing  the  task  in  little 
over  two  hours,  the  speech  occupying  nearly  two 
columns  in  each  paper.  Each  of  the  editors,  after 
reading  a  few  pages,  paid  him  the  compliment  of 
sending  his  manuscript  to  the  printers  without  re- 
vision. Mr.  Schurz  afterwards  told  Mr.  Winter  it 
was  the  best  translation  ever  made  of  any  of  his 
German  speeches. 

Mr.  Winter  stayed  in  Indianapolis  until  1873, when 
lie  was  called  by  telegraph  to  accept  the  position 
of  city  editor  of  the  Westliche  Post,  the  German 
paper  published  in  St.  Louis  by  Carl  Schurz.  He 
managed  that  successfully,  and  while  there,  also  for 
two  years  contributed  literary  articles  to  his  Sunday 
edition,  and  several  times,  while  the  Missouri  Legis- 
lature was  in  session,  acted  as  its  correspondent  at 
Jefferson  City,  the  capital.  In  1875,  failing  eye- 
sight necessitated  a  cessation  of  night  work,  and 
Mr.  Winter  resigned  his  position,  and  went  to  Rock 
Island,  111.,  where  he  began  the  publication  of  the 
Volks  Zeitung,  a  semi-weekly  journal.  In  this  ven- 
ture he  was  very  successful,  and  he  conducted  the 
paper  until  1882,  when  he  sold  it.  He  then  bought 
an  interest  in  the  Champion  of  Personal  Libert;/,  a 
paper  published  in  Chicago  in  the  interest  of  indi- 
vidual freedom.  He  traveled  in  the  interest  of  this 
journal  as  correspondent  collector  and  agent  six 
months,  then  came  to  Danville,  where  he  bought 
the  good  will  of  the  journal  of  which  he  is  now 
the  editor,  and  which  had  by  mismanagement  been 
compelled  to  suspend  publication.  This  paper  he 
has  placed  upon  a  secure  basis,  and  it  has  acquired 
much  influence  among  the  German  speaking  resi- 
dents of  the  county,  by  whom  it  is  liberally  patron- 
ized. 

Another  literary  venture  of  Mr.  Winter's  was 
the  writing  of  a  four-act  comedy  in  German,  en- 
titled "Es  Stimmt,"  which    has    been    successfully 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


313 


performed  in  the  German  theaters  of.  Chicago. 
Davenport,  Moline,  Dayton,  Fort  Madison,  and  in 
several  other  places.     Mr.  Winter  submitted    it    to 

a  celebrated  critic  at  Leipsic,  who  spoke  highly  of 
it,  saying  it  was  a  very  dramatic  and  interesting  pic- 
ture of  German-American  life.  This  work  he  pro- 
duced in  1880,  while  he  was  publishing  his  paper  in 
Rock   Island. 

Since  taking  up  his  residence  in  Vermilion 
County.  Mr.  Winter  has  become  a  leader  in  its 
German-American  circles,  in  which  lie  wields  much 
influence.  He  was  United  States  Deputy  Collector 
for  the  eighth  district  of  Illinois  from  the  fall  of 
188.1  until  1887,  when  the  office  was  abolished.  He 
is  a  busy  man.  for  in  addition  to  conducting  his 
paper  he  perforins  the  duty  of  a  Notary  Public, 
attends  to- applications  for  United  States  licenses, 
is  a  fine  insurance  and  real-estate  agent,  procures 
steamship  tickets,  attends  to  European  collections 
and  is  the  Secretary  of  the  Germania  Building  As- 
sociation of  Danville.  Being  a  man  of  force  and 
executive  capacity,  he  drives  his  multifarious  busi- 
nesses, and  does  not  let  them  drive  him.  He  is  also 
correspondent  of  the  Chicago  Times. 

The  social  relations  of  Mr.  Winter  are  extremely 
pleasant,  lie  is  happily  married,  and  moves  among 
the  best  elements  of  German  society.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Feuerbach  Lodge,  No.  499,  I.  O.  0.  F., 
and  of  the  Danville  Turner  Society,  of  which  he 
has  twice  been  President,  and  also  Corresponding 
Secretary.  He  is  pleasant  and  genial  in  his  deport- 
ment, liberal  to  his  friends,  to  whom  his  hand  is 
ever  open,  and  is  deservedly  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him. 


^\z^.-v»lLeCrTtM@- . 


vfgtr&mm  -  -w» 


¥  OIIN  CESSNA  is  busily  engaged  in  tilling 
the  soil  and  raising  stock  on  his  well-man- 
aged, comfortably  improved  farm  on  section 
10,  Pilot  Township.  He  is  a  representative 
self-made  man.  and  by  industry  and  prudence  has 
succeeded  in  accumulating  a  competence  and  in 
building  a  cosy  home  where  he  may  pass  his  de- 
clining years  well  fortified  against  want  and  pov- 
erty.     .Mr.  Cessna  was  born  in  Cochocton  County, 


Ohio,  June  29,  1833,  his  parents  being  Jonathan 
and  Margaret  (Divan)  Cessna.  His  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1810,  his  mother  in  Bel- 
mont Count}-,  Ohio. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
accompanied  his  parents  to  another  home  near 
Toledo.  Ohio,  where  they  lived  but  a  short 
time.  They  then  went  down  the  Ohio  River 
on  a  trading  boat  to  Cairo,  111.,  where  the  father 
died  in  1844.  After  that  sad  event  the  subject 
with  his  mother  and  sister  returned  to  Coshocton 
County.  Ohio,  and  in  about  two  years  the  mother 
married  again,  becoming  the  wife  of  Joseph  Rich- 
ardson. In  1848  the  family  once  more  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  on  the  homestead  Mr.  Richard- 
son then  purchased  in  this  county,  and  now  occu- 
pied by  the  mother  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Cessna 
has  but  one  sister  now,  the  widow  of  Elisha  Grimes, 
living  on  her  husband's  homestead.  She  has  eight 
children,  namely:  John  M.,  Elisha  C,  William 
and  Jacob  (who  are  deceased),  Alvin,  Margaret, 
Ellen,  Charles  and  Belle. 

John  Cessna,  of  whom  we  write,  commenced 
life  as  a  farm  hand.  He  wisely  saved  his  earnings 
and  in  a  few  years  had  money  enough  to  buy  a 
good  farm.  In  18.">7.  smitten  with  a  desire  to  ac- 
cumulate wealth  still  faster,  he  went  to  California 
by  the  way  of  New  York  and  Panama.  In  the 
Golden  State  he  found  employment  on  a  ranche, 
and  was  well  paid  for  his  work  in  that  country, 
where  good  and  reliable  help  was  scarce.  Twenty- 
two  months  of  life  in  that  climate  satisfied  our  sub- 
ject and  he  retraced  his  steps  homeward,  and  on 
his  return  invested  some  of  his  capital  in  an  80-acre 
farm,  which  he  subsequently  disposed  of  at  a  good 
advance  price,  and  then  bought  his  present  home- 
stead, which  then  comprised  but  140  acres.  He 
has  kept  adding  to  his  landed  property  till  he  now 
owns  260  acres  of  fine  land,  with  excellent  im- 
provements, that  add  greatly  to  its  value,  and  he  is 
profitably  engaged  in  a  general  farming  business, 
raising'  cattle,  horses  and  hogs  of  good  grades. 

Mr.  Cessna  has  twice  married.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  first  wife  was  Ann  Rebecca  Truax.  She  was 
born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  in  1841,  and  died 
in  the  pleasant  home  she  had  helped  her  husband  to 
build  up,  in  1870.    Her  people  were  of  Irish  origin. 


314 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  seven  children 
were  born,  two  of  whom  are  dead  ;  those  living  are 
William,  Mary.  Charles  E.,  Lemuel  E.,  and  Eliza- 
beth. Mr.  Cessna  was  united  in  marriage  to  his 
present  wife  in  1877,  and  to  them  have  come  six 
children,  two  of  whom  are  dead,  Frank  and  Jona- 
than. The  others  are  Ann  R..  John  R..  Albert  B., 
and  Mont  P.,  all  being  at  home. 

Mr.  Cessna  has  been  a  hard  working  man,  but 
his  labors  have  been  amply  rewarded,  as  he  knows 
well  how  to  direct  his  energies  so  as  to  produce  the 
desired  results.  He  is  possessed  of  sound  sense, 
discretion  and  other  good  traits,  is  honest  and 
straitforward  in  his  manner  and  dealings,  and  is  in 
all  things  a  sensible  man.  He  and  hi.s  wife  are  es- 
teemed members  of  the  Christain  Church,  of  which 
he  is  one  of  the  trustees  at  the  lime  of  the  erection 
of  the  present  house  of  worship.  He  is  prominently 
connected  with  the  Masonic  order  as  Master  Mason. 

In  politics,  he  is  a  good  democrat,  and  is  loyal 
in  ever}'  fibre  to  his  country.  He  has  held  school 
offices  and  has  served  on  the  juries  of  his  county. 
Our  subject's  mother  died  since  the  above  was  writ- 
ten, her  death  occuring  June  30,  1889. 


Ijp^AMl'EL  ALBRIGHT.  The  subject  of 
^^^  this  notice  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  set- 
|l\/jj)  tie  in  Ross  Township,  along  Bean  Creek, 
taking  up  his  abode  there  on  the  11th  day 
of  October,  1855.  His  first  purchase  was  24b  acres 
of  land  where  he  built  a  small  house,  and  he  was 
the  first  man  to  stir  the  soil  with  a  plowshare. 
lie  did  a  large  amount  of  breaking  himself,  en- 
closed and  divided  his  fields  with  fencing,  put  out 
fruit  and  shade  trees  and  erected  buildings  as  his 
needs  multiplied  and  his  means  permitted.  He  was 
prospered  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  and  invested  his 
surplus  capital  in  additional  land  which  under  his 
wise  management  became  very  fertile  and  yielded 
handsome  returns.  His  property  lies  on  sections 
19,  30  and  31,  and  is  considered  as  including  some 
of  the  most  desirable  land  in  this  part  of  the 
county. 

About    1875,  the  first    humble   domicile  of    our 


subject  gave  place  to  an  elegant  residence,  while 
adjacent  is  a  very  fine  barn  flanked  by  the  other  ne- 
cessary buildings.  He  has  the  latest  improved  ma- 
chinery, including  an  expensive  windmill  and  an 
artesian  well  which  throws  a  running  stream  of  wa- 
ter two  feet  above  the  ground,  with  its  source  130 
feet  below.  In  his  stock  operations,  Mr.  Albright 
breeds  mostly  horses  and  cattle. 

Mr.  Albright  in  March,  1886,  rented  his  farm 
and  retiring  from  active  labor,  purchased  a 
pleasant  home  in  Rossville  where  he  now  resides. 
His  has  been  a  remarkably  busy  life,  as  in  addition 
to  his  farming  operations,  he  has  given  consider- 
able of  his  time  to  looking  after  the  local  interests 
of  his  township,  officiating  as  School  Director  and 
serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  seven  years. 
He  usually  gives  his  support  to  the  Democratic 
party  and  for  a  period  of  forty-five  years  has  been 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  lie 
has  been  at  two  different  times  the  candidate  of  his 
parly  in  this  county  for  the  Legislature,  but  being 
in  tin'  minority,  was  beaten  as  he   expected. 

Mr.  Albright  was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio. 
Sept.  12,  181(3.  and  lived  there  until  a  lad  of 
twelve  years.  lie  then  removed  to  Pickaway 
County  where  he  sojourned  until  his  marriage, 
which  took  place  four  miles  southeast  of  Circleville 
the  bride  being  Miss  Clemency  Morris.  ( )f  this 
union  there  were  born  two  children — lohn  M.  and 
Mary  Ellen,  the  latter  the  wifeof  WilliamMcMur- 
trie  of  Potomac,  and  is  the  mother  of  four  children. 
Mrs.  Clemency  (Morris)  Albright  died  at  her  home 
in  Ross  Township  in  1805. 

<  hir  subject  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  al- 
liance. Sept.  10,  1866,  with  Miss  Mary  M.  Davis. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children — 
Orrie  Lulu  and  Lilly  Belle.  The  elder  is  the  wife 
of  William  Cunningham  of  Rossville  and  the 
younger  remains  with  her  parents.  Mrs.  Mary  M. 
(Davis)  Albright  was  born  in  Muskingum  County, 
Ohio,  February,  I  836,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Am- 
aziab  Davis,  who  came  to  this  county  at  an  early 
day  and  became  one  of  its  most  prominent  farmers 
and  citizens. 

David  Albright,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  removed  to 
Ohio  when  quite  young.     He  was  there  married  to 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOOKAPIIICAL   ALBUM. 


31' 


Miss  Phebe  Newman  and  they  reared  a  family  of 
nine  children.  Upon  leaving  the  Buckeye  State 
they  settled  in  Frankfort,  Ind..  where  the  father 
died  some  years  ago.  The  mother  subsequently 
came  to  this  county  and  made  her  home  with  our 
subject  until  her  death. 


WILLIAM  II.  PRICE,  the  son  of  an  early 
settler  of  Vermilion  County,  may  also  be 
denominated  as  one  of  its  pioneers,  as  he 
had  a  hand  in  developing  its  great  agricultural 
resources  and  assisted  in  laying  the  foundations 
of  its  wealth  and  high  standing  among  its  sister 
counties.  lie  is  to-day  one  of  the  foremost 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Pilot  Township,  and  is 
a  man  of  considerable  importance  in  the  public  life 
of  this  community.  He  has  a  large  farm  of  over 
700  acres  of  well-improved  land,  comprising  sec- 
tions 8,  9  and  10,  whose  broad  fields  are  under  high 
eultivation.and  which  is  amply  supplied  with  roomy, 
conveniently  arranged,  well  made  buildings,  and 
all  the  appliances  for  facilitating  farm  work,  while 
everything  about  the  place  betokens  order  and 
superior  management. 

Mr.  Price  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Ohio,  July 
4,  1827.  His  father,  Robert  Price,  was  a  native  of 
Lexington,  Ky.,  born  of  pioneer  parents  July  29, 
1788.  The  grandparents  were  from  Wales  and 
England.  They  removed  to  Pike  County.  Ohio 
when  the  father  of  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  nine 
years,  and  there  he  grew  to  maturity  and  married 
Miss  Nancy  Howard,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Her  par- 
ents came  from  England  to  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement.  She  was 
born  Feb.  27,  1793  and  died  in  middle  life,  Dec.  22, 
1842,  some  years  after  the  removal  of  tin'  family 
to  this  county,  which  occurred  in  1830.  She  and 
her  husband  were  early  pioneers  of  this  section  of 
the  country. 

The  father  died  .Ian.  (J,  1850,  in  Vermilion 
County.  111.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  is  the  only  survivor. 
The  others  were  Lloyd  II.,  Drusilla,  and  Jerusha. 
Lloyd  married  Minerva  Howard,  of   Pike  County, 


Ohio,  whose  parents  came  to  Vermilion  County  in 
an  early  day.  ami  to  them  (Lloyd  and  wife)  were 
born  nine  children,  namely:  William.  Robert, 
Thomas,  Sarah,  Nancy.  Frank,  Lloyd.  May,  and 
( teorge.  Drusilla  was  the  wife  of  Joseph  Dalay,  of 
Vermilion  County,  now  deceased,  and  they  left  one 
child,  Nancy,  who  became  the  wife  of  David  Clay- 
pole,  a  farmer,  and  they  have  five  children.  Jeru- 
sha married  Franklin  Adams,  of  Vermilion  County, 
now  deceased,  and  they  have  three  children — 
John  L.,    William,  and  Samuel. 

When  our  subject  was  brought  to  this  county,  a 
child  of  three  years,  it  was  a  wild  waste  of  prairie, 
ami  the  settlers  at  that  time  thought  that  the  land 
■aw.i\  from  the  streams  where  the  timber  grew  was 
worthless  for  settlement,  so  they  confined  them- 
selves to  the  banks  of  the  creeks  and  rivers.  He 
grew  to  a  strong  manhood  in  the  pioneer  life  that 
obtained  at  that  day,  and  early  became  independ- 
ent and  self-supporting.  Having  determined  to 
make  farming  his  life  work,  he  entered  200  acres 
of  prairie  land  from  the  Government,  as  his  keen 
discernment  foresaw  the  worth  of  the  rich  and 
fertile  soil  to  the  intelligent  and  enterprising  3'oung 
farmer.  After  his  marriage  in  1*50.  he  erected  a 
house  and  commenced  the  task  of  upbuilding  his 
present  desirable  home.  He  is  still  living  on  the 
land  that  he  purchased  from  the  Government,  and 
has  added  more  to  it  as  his  means  have  allowed 
till  he  owns  one  of  the  largest  farms  in  the  ncigh- 
hood,  comprising,  as  before  mentioned  over  700 
acres  of  choice  land.  He  has  besides  belped  to 
establish  his  children  in  life  by  giring  them  land. 
He  does  a  general  farming  business,  raising  all 
kinds  of  stock,  making  a  speciality  of  breeding 
Short-horn  cattle,  of  which  he  has  a  herd  of  sixteen 
thoroughbreds,  besides  all  other  kinds  of  stock  us- 
ually found  on  a  model   farm. 

Mr.  Price  and  Mary  A.  Cazatt  were  united  in 
marriage  in  1850.  She  was  born  in  Mercer  County, 
Ky.,  July  4,  1838,  to  Henry  and  Susan  (Gritten) 
Cazatt,  native  of  the  same  county,  her  father  was 
born  about  1808  and  her  mother  Dec.  4,  1810. 
Mrs.  Prices's  grandparents  were  Irish  and  Dutch. 
They  were  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County,  coming 
here  in  1837,  and  here  they  spent  their  remaining 
years,  the  father  dying  in  1841,  and  the  mother  in 


318 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPAICAL  ALBUM. 


1878,  aged  sixty-three  years.  Mrs.  Price  has  one 
own  sister — Minerva  J.,  who  married  Otho  Allison, 
a  resident  of  this  county.  The  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the 
birth  of  six  children — Jerusha  J.,  Lloyd  IL,  Emily 
M.,  Charles  R.,  Alice  N..  EmmaB.,  the  latter  is 
deceased.  Jerusha  married  Henry  J.  Helmick,  a 
fanner  of  this  county,  and  they  have  two  children 
— Charles  and  William  E.  Lloyd  H.,  a  farmer, 
married  Mary  -T.  Snyder,  of  this  county.  Emily 
married  Guy  C.  Howard,  a  merchant  in  Armstrong, 
this  county.  Charles  R.,  a  farmer,  married  Delia 
Hatfield,  of  this  county,  and  they  have  one  child — 
Everett  Lloyd.  Alice  married  Berry  Duncan,  a 
farmer  of  this  county,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Lola. 

Mr.  Price  is  a  noble  type  of  our  self-made  men, 
who  while  building  up  a  fortune  for  themselves 
have  been  instrumental  in  advancing  the  material 
interests  of  the  county,  lie,  and  his  wife  are  lead- 
ing members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  he  has  held  the  office  of  Steward  and 
Trustee.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner for  twelve  years.  lie  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  order,  and  is  a 
Master  Mason.  In  politics,  he  is  a  thorough  and 
consistent  Republican.  He  has  served  with  credit 
on  the  juries  of  the  State  and  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  have  some  valuable  heir- 
looms, which  they  highly  prize,  in  the  old  bibles 
of  their  fathers  and  mothers. 

A  fine  lithographic  view  of  the  country  resi- 
dence and  surroundings  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price 
appears  in  the  Album,  and  represents  a  home 
of  which  the  owners  are  justly  proud. 


\|7  OTHER  TILLOTSON,  Supervisor  of  Pilot 
I  (®  Township,  and  one  of  its  most  intelligent 
,1—^Vi  and  influential  public  officials,  is  closely 
connected  with  its  material  interests  as  a  practical 
agriculturist,  owning  and  profitably  managing  a 
good  farm  on  section  30.  He  was  born  in  Warren 
County,  End.,  Aug.  13,  1849,  a  son  of  E.  B.  and 
Mary   A.    (Cronkhite)   Tillotson.     His   father  was 


born  in  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  8,  1811,  and  his 
father.  Luther  Tillotson,  was  a  native  of  New 
York.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Hamilton,  Ohio,  Dec.  26,  1816.  During  some 
period  of  their  lives  the  parents  of  our  subject 
settled  in  Indiana,  and  of  their  marriage  twelve 
children  were  born,  and  the  following  is  recorded 
of  the  nine  now  living:  Sarah  A.  married  Edward 
Foster,  a  farmer  living  near  Armstrong,  this  county, 
and  they  have  seven  children.  Rebecca  married 
Jeremiah  Butts,  who  lives  retired  in  Potomac,  and 
they  have  six  children.  James  M.,  a  stock  dealer 
and  farmer  in  Calcasien  Parish,  La.,  married 
Mary  J.  Goodwine,  and  they  have  three  children. 
Buell.  a  farmer  of  Pilot  Township,  married  Eliza- 
beth Wiles,  and  they  have  one  child.  Walter  B., 
a  farmer  of  Pilot  Township,  married  Lucetta  Endi- 
eott.  Frances  married  J.  A.  Knight,  a  farmer  of 
this  county,  and  they  have  four  children.  William 
M.,a  farmer  of  this  county,  married  Millie  French, 
and  they  have  three  children.  Mary  A.  married 
Frank  II.  Henry,  who  is  living  retired  in  Armstrong 
Village,  and  they  have  two  children.  Luther  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  [For  paiental  history 
see  sketch  of  Buell  Tillotson.] 

Our  subject  came  this  county  in  1856  with  his 
parents.  His  father  is  deceased;  his  mother  resides 
in  this  county.  Mr.  Tillotson  and  Mary  E.  Myrick 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  Sept- 
ember. 1871,  and  five  children  complete  their  happy 
household — Bertie,  Alden,  Cora  E.,  Luther  E.,  and 
Charles.  Mrs.  Tillotson  was  born  in  Illinois  Sept. 
15.  1853,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  P.  anil 
Susanah  (Firebaugh)  Myrick,  natives  of  Ohio  and 
Indiana  respectively.  They  came  from  the  Buck- 
eye State  to  this  and  settled  in  Pilot  Township  at 
an  early  day. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Tillotson  rented  land  for 
eleven  years  and  carried  it  on  to  such  good  advan- 
tage that  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  had 
money  enough  to  invest  in  eighty  acres  of  improved 
land,  which  forms  his  present  farm.  He  has  his  land 
well  tilled,  and  it  is  capable  of  yielding  large  crops 
in  repayment  for  the  care  bestowed  upon  it,  and 
Mr.  Tillotson  has  a  neat  and  well  ordered  set  of 
buildings  for  every  needful  purpose.  He  is  doing- 
well    from    a    financial   standpoint,    has    his    farm 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


310 


stocked  with  cattle  of  good  grade  as  many  as  it 
will  carry,  and  displays  commendable  enterprise  in 
the  management  of  his  interests. 

Mr.  Tillotson  brings  a  well  trained  mind  to  bear 
on  his  work  and  fully  understands  how  to  perform 
it  so  as  to  obtain  the  best  results,  which  is  the 
secret  of  his  success.  His  fellow-citizens,  feeling 
that  in  a  man  of  his  education,  of  sound  and  sensi- 
ble views  on  all  subjects,  the  township  would  find  a 
superior  civic  official  who  would  promote  its  high- 
est interests,  have  called  him  to  some  of  the  most 
responsible  otlices  within  their  gift,  and  his  whole 
course  in  public  life  has  justified  their  selection. 
He  has  been  Supervisor  for  six  years,  and  was  re- 
elected to  that  office  this  spring,  and  he  has  also 
been  Assessor  for  one  term,  besides  having  held 
the  ottice  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  eight  years. 
In  politics  he  is  a  true  Republican,  although  he 
performs  his  official  duties  without  regard  to  party 
affiliations. 


*-•!•- jg^- 


?ARON  DALBY.  The  late  Civil  War  de- 
veloped some  rare  characters,  the  depths 
of  which  would  probably  never  have  been 
disturbed  had  it  not  been  for  this  revolution 
which  shook  the  country  from  turret  to  foundation 
stone.  There  were  then  brought  to  the  surface 
that  God-given  quality — the  love  of  the  true  man 
for  his  native  land — and  the  extent  of  the  sacrifices 
which  he  was  willing  to  make  to  save  her  from  dis- 
memberment. Among  all  those  who  are  written 
of  in  this  volume  there  was  probably  no  truer  pat- 
riot during  the  war  than  Aaron  Dalby.  and  he 
justly  esteems  the  period  of  his  life  spent  in  the 
Union  Arm}-  as  one  of  the  brightest  spots  in  his 
whole  career.  We  give  this  matter  prominence  be- 
cause it  is  a  subject  dear  to  his  heart  and  he  has 
lost  none  of  the  patriotic  affection  which  enabled 
him  aquarter  of  a  century  ago  to  lay  aside  all  per- 
sonal ties  and  give  his  best  efforts  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union.  We  now  find  him  comfortably 
located  in  a  quiet  country  home,  embracing  a  well- 
regulated  farm  on  section  11,  in  Vance  Township, 


where,  since  the  war,  he  has  gathered  around  him 
all  of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of 
life. 

In  reverting  to  the  family  history  of  our  subject, 
we  find  that  his  father,  .lames  Dalby.  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  in  politics 
an  old  line  Whig,  lie  married  M  iss  Sarah  Sewell,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  April  1,  1820,  the  wedding  taking 
place  in  Clinton  County, that  State.  They  lived  there 
about  fourteen  years,  Mr.  Dalby  engaged  as  a  gro- 
ceryman,  a  farmer  and  an  hotelkeeper,  conducting 
the  old-fashioned  country  tavern  after  the  most 
approved  methods  of  those  times. 

About  this  time  the  lead  mines  near  Dubuque 
were  being  opened  up  and  the  demand  for  carpen- 
ters was  great,  so  the  father  of  our  subject  re- 
moved '.hither  with  his  family  in  1835,  purposing 
to  work  at  his  trade.  lie  found  the  times  very  hard 
and  the  country  peopled  largely  with  desperate 
characters,  among  whom  a  murder  was  committed 
nearly  every  night.  This  state  of  things  made  it 
impossible  for  him  to  remain  and  so  he  established 
himself  at  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  lived  three  years 
and  worked  at  his  trade.  He  then  returned  to 
( ihio,  where  he  sojourned  two  years  and  from  there 
removed  to  Peru  Ind.,  but  only  remained  there 
eight  months.  In  August,  1843,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  on  the  19th  of  October  following 
passed  from  earth  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years, 
lie  was  a  well  educated  man  and  especially  fine 
penman. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  survived  her  first 
husband  for  the  long  period  of  nearly  forty-eight 
years.  She  was  born  March  12,  1803,  and  died 
Feb.  2G,  1885,  when  nearly  eighty-two  years  old. 
The  parental  household  was  completed  by  the  birth 
of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Aaron, 
our  subject,  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  and 
was  born  in  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  April  2.">,  1  .s:!  I . 
He  attended  school  at  Quincy,  111.,  and  also  in 
Ohio  a  short  time  and  in  Indiana,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  time  to  avail  himself  of  instruction  in 
the  subscription  schools  here.  Being  the  eldest 
son,  he,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  naturally  in 
due  time  assumed  many  responsibilities,  and  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years  worked  out  for  $3  per  month, 
six  mouths,  from   spring  until  fall.     The  year  fol- 


320 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lowing  he  was  employer!  by  the  same  man,  with  an 
increase  of  salary  of  $1  per  month. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  married  a  second 
time  to  James  Elliott.  Our  subject  was  bound  out 
for  a  term  of  six  years  to  Alvin  Stearns.  Becom- 
ing dissatisfied  with  the  arrangement  he  served  out 
only  half  his  time  and  went  to  Ohio  to  learn  a 
trade.  He  came  back  to  Illinois,  however,  a  year 
later  and  employed  himself  at  whatever  he  could 
find  to  do,  being  at  one  time  the  partner  of  Aaron 
Hardin  in  splitting  rails  and  cord-wood.  Their 
best  week's  work  was  forty-eight  cords  of  wood, 
cut.  split  and  piled,  and  this  was  done  at  twenty- 
five  cents  per  cord,  when  rails  were  forty-five  cents 
per  100. 

The  next  most  important  event  in  the  life  of  our 
subject  was  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Dec.  23, 
1854,  with  Miss  Martha  E.  Custer.  The  newly 
wedded  pair  commenced  the  journey  of  life  to- 
gether at  the  old  Custer  homestead,  which  is  now 
the  property  of  our  subject,  and  Mr.  Dalby  there- 
after farmed  on  rented  land  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War.  In  L862  he  went  one  day  to  assist 
a  neighbor  with  his  work  and  when  he  came  back 
with  his  pitchfork  over  his  shoulder  his  attitude 
and  bearing  were  such  that  his  wife  exclaimed 
when  she  saw  him  coming,  "there,  I  bet  he  is  going 
to  the  war."  He  entered  the  house  and  asked  for 
some  clothing,  and  in  ten  minutes  was  off  for  Ho- 
mer, and  joining  some  of  his  comrades  repaired 
with  them  to  Camp  Butler  and  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  73d  Illinois  Infantry. 

Mr.  Dalby  accompanied  his  regiment  to  the 
front  and  first  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Perry  ville, 
Oct.  8,  18G2.  In  the  early  part  of  the  engage- 
ment he  was  in  the  front  line  of  battle  and  had 
only  discharged  six  or  seven  shots  when  a  rebel 
bullet  struck  him  in  the  right  side  of  the  abdomen, 
passing  through  the  upper  lobe  of  the  liver  and 
came  out  at  the  right  of  the  spine,  grazing  the 
point  of  one  of  the  vertebra'.  The  ball  before  en- 
tering his  body  struck  the  cap  box  on  his  belt, 
passed  through  the  box  and  his  belt,  through  his 
coat,  the  waistband  on  his  pants  then  through  his 
body  and  returning  cut  through  the  waistband  and 
"body  belt"  and  knocked  the  handle  off  the 
butcher  knife  on   his  belt,  leaving  the  blade  iu  itp 


scabbard  and  glanced  off  to  the  rear.  He  pulled 
out  of  the  wound  a  bunch  of  the  wood  from  his  cap 
box,  some  cotton-batting  from  his  coat  and  a  metal 
primer  which  he  carried  in  the  box.  He  was  taken 
to  the  field  hospital  and  a  rubber  tube  pulled 
through  his  body  twice:  He  was  then  conveyed  to 
the  Perry  ville  General  Hospital,  where  he  remained 
until  October  1863,  and  was  then  transferred  to 
New  Albany,  Ind.  He  was  discharged  from  the 
hospital  there,  Jan.  20,  1864. 

Mr.  Dalby  now  returned  to  his  family  and  al- 
though he  has  been  almost  wholly  disabled  for 
work  since  that  time  he  declares  he  is  ready  to 
fight  the  battle  over  again  if  the  occasion  arises. 
He  and  his  excellent  wife  have  no  children  of  their 
own.  but  have  performed  the  part  of  parents  to  a 
boy  and  girl,  the  former  the  son  of  a  comrade  of 
Mr.  Dalby,  who  was  discharged  from  the  army  for 
disability  and  died.  The  boy  Joe  II.  Summers,  be- 
came an  inmate  of  their  home  at  the  age  of  seven 
years  and  remained  there  until  twenty-one.  He  is 
now  married  and  lives  in  Mendon,  Neb.  The 
girl  Mary  J.  Custer  was  taken  by  them  when  but 
eleven  months  old  and  is  still  with  them,  now 
grown  to  womanhood. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  in  view  of  his  war 
record  that  Mr.  Dalby,  politically,  is  a  decided  Re- 
publican. He  had  two  brothers  in  the  army,  one 
of  whom,  Albert,  enlisted  in  Company  C.  25th 
Illinois  Infantry  and  at  Murfreesboro  was  wounded 
through  the  wrist  and  arm.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  first  term  of  enlistment  he  entered  the  veteran 
reserve  corps  from  which  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. Another  brother,  William  II.  II.,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  in  1840  and  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  63d  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
was  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  magazine  at  Co- 
lumbia, S.  C,  Feb.  19,  1865,  being  terribly 
mangled  and  blown  into  a  river.  He  had  strength, 
however,  to  swim  ashore  and  was  taken  to  the  hos- 
pital where  he  died.  He  had  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Sergeant.  Mr.  Dalby  has  officiated  as  Road 
Overseer  and  is  a  member  of  Homer  Post  No.  263, 
G.  A.  R. 

Jacob  M.  Custer,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Dalby,  was, 
with  his  wife  ,  Elizabeth  Ocheltree,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia,     They  came  to  Illinois  in  1819  settling  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


321 


this  enmity,  but  later  removed  to  Champaign 
County,  where  the  death  of  Mr.  Custer  took  place, 
Sept.  17.  1865.  His  widow  subsequently  married 
John  L.  Myers  who  has  since  died,  and  Mrs.  Myers 
is  dow  living  at  Homer  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine  children,  six 
of  whom  are  li  ving  and  of  whom  Mrs.  Dalby  was 
next  to  the  eldest.  She  was  born  Sept.  t.  1836,  in 
Fayette  County  Ohio,  received  a  fair  education  and 
was  married  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  She 
is  a  very  estimable  lad}'  of  more  than  usual  benev- 
olence and  is  a  member  of  the  Homer  Woman's  Re- 
lief Corps,  No.  69.  She  was  at  one  time  President 
of  this  body  ami  was  presented  with  a  very  fine 
gold  badge  as  Last  President  by  the  members  of 
her  corps  as  a  token  of  their  appreciation  of  her 
worth  and  services.  She  has  never  missed  a  meet- 
ing, either  regular  or  special  since  its  organization, 
in  April,  1887.  In  religious  matters,  she  belongs 
to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Dalby  during  the  days  of  his  early  manhood 
was  an  expert  hunter  and  has  brought  down  many 
a  deer  in  this  county.  He  is  naturally  possessed 
of  great  courage  and  bearing,  but  is  uniformly 
kind-hearted  to  all  except  the  enemies  of  his 
country. 


I 


OHN  COLE.  The  bold,  hardy,  intelligent 
sons  of  New  England  have  borne  a  prom- 
inent part  in  the  settlement  of  the  great 
Ittjsjjfi  West,  and  as  a  noble  type  of  these,  one  who 
was  a  pioneer  of  Vermilion  County  in  early  days, 
we  are  pleased  to  present  to  the  readers  of  this 
work  a  review  of  the  life  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  is  at  the  head  of  this  sketch. 

In  the  pleasant  spring  month  of  May,  1837,  just 
fifty-two  years  ago,  our  subject,  then  in  the  prime 
and  vigor  of  early  manhood,  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  left  his  native  home  among  the  beautiful  bills 
of  Vermont  to  see  if  life  held  anything  better  for 
him  on  the  broad  prairies  of  this  then  far  Western 
State,  animated  doubtless,  by  the  pioneer  spirit 
that  caused  some  remote  ancestor  to  leave  his  En- 
glish cot  and  seek  a  new  home  on  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  and  still  later  caused  one  of  his  descend- 


ants, in  turn,  to  journey  to  the  Green  .Mountain 
State  on  the  same  quest.  In  that  day  the  tripeon- 
templated  by  our  subject  was  a  great  undertaking, 
it  being  but  slow  traveling  before  railways  spanned 
the  continent,  anil  many  days  and  weeks  even 
passed  before  he  reached  his  destination.  He  went 
first  with  a  team  to  Troy,  and  thence  by  the  Erie 
(anal  to  Buffalo,  expecting  to  proceed  on  bis  jour- 
ney from  there  on  the  lakes,  but  the  ice  prevented 
further  passage  after  the  boat  had  gone  thirty  miles 
on  Lake  Erie.  His  next  course  was  to  hire  a  man 
to  lake  him  in  a  wagon  to  Chicago,  paying  him 
$10.  There  he  saw  a  little  city,  or  village,  rather, 
situated  in  a  low  swamp,  from  which  the  frogs 
would  venture  to  sun  themselves  on  the  narrow 
plank  walks  till  some  passing  pedestrian  disturbed 
their  repose  and  caused  them  to  jump  into  the 
water.  There  were  no  indications  that  one  day  that 
spot  was  to  be  the  site  of  one  of  the  largest  and 
finest  cities  on  the  continent.  From  there  Mr.  Cole 
proceeded  on  foot  to  the  fertile  and  beautiful  val- 
ley of  the  Fox  River,  and  after  tarrying  there  a 
few  days  to  visit  some  old  friends  he  walked  on  to 
Vermilion  County.  He  loaned  what  money  he  had 
taking  a  mortgage  on  a  piece  of  land  which  was 
encumbered  by  a  prior  mortgage,  and  he  soon  had 
to  buy  the  land  in  order  to  save  his  money.  The 
summer  of  1838,  was  noted  among  the  early  settlers 
as  the  sickly  season,  and  almost  everybody  was  ill, 
but  Mr.  Cole's  fine  constitution  withstood  the  at- 
tacks of  disease  and  he  remained  sound  and  healthy. 
( lur  subject  found  here  the  virgin  prairie  and  prim- 
eval forest  scarcely  disturbed  by  the  few  pioneers 
that  had  preceded  him;  there  were  still  traces  of 
the  aboriginal  settlers  of  the  country,  and  deer, 
wolves,  and  other  wild  animals  had  not  fled  before 
the  advancing  step  of  civilization.  Settlements 
were  few  and  scattering,  and  Chicago  and  New  Or- 
leans were  the  most  accessible  markets,  the  only  way 
lo  the  former  city  being  over  rough  roads  by  team, 
and  to  the  latter  by  flatboat,  via  the  Vermilion,  Wa- 
bash, Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  Mr.  Cole  fre- 
quently sent  produce  to  those  cities  but  did  not 
journey  there  himself.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
wool  growers  in  the  county,  but  experienced  much 
difficulty  in  raising  sheep  in  the  early  days  here  on 
account  of  the  wolves  that  would   frequently  kill 


322 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


some  of  his  flock  in  sight  of  the  house.  He  had  a 
small  horse  that  was  an  expert  jumper  and  mount- 
ed on  that  animal  Mr.  Cole  pursued  the  wolves 
and  killed  many  of  them.  He  commenced  with 
forty-nine  sheep  and  finally  had  a  large  flock,  num- 
bering 2,200  of  a  fine  breed.  He  invested  in  real 
estate  here  and  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  course 
of  years  met  with  more  than  ordinary  success  in 
his  calling  and  became  a  large  land  owner,  and 
now  has  1,3G0  acres  of  fine  land,  divided  into  three 
farms.  The  one  on  which  he  resides  on  sections 
19  and  20,  is  one  of  the  choicest  in  the  county. 

We  must  now  go  back  to  the  earl}'  history  of  our 
subject,  and  refer  to  his  birth  and  ancestry.  He 
was  born  in  the  pretty  town  of  Shaftsbury,  Ben- 
nington Co.,  Vt,.  May  27,  1815.  a  son  of  Uriah 
Cole,  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  town.  Par- 
ker Cole,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Rhode  Island,  of  English  ancestry.  When 
he  was  sixteen  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  the 
wilds  of  Vermont,  before  the  Revolutionary  War, 
the  removal  being  made  with  one  yoke  of  oxen 
and  one  cow,  they  were  guided  by  marked  trees  for 
twenty  miles,  the  road  from  Williamstown,  Mass., 
being  a  mere  trail.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject 
spent  his  remaining  days  in  the  Green  Mountain 
State,  buying  a  tract  of  timbered  land,  from  which 
he  cleared  a  farm,  and  he  at  one  time  owned  1,000 
acres  of  land.  For  some  time  the  nearest  market 
was  at  Williamstown,  Mass.,  twenty-  miles  away, 
and  Troy,  N.  Y.,  thirty-two  miles  distant  was  also 
a  market  town.  The  maiden  name  of  the  grand- 
mother of  our  subject  was  Mollie  Nash,  and  she  was 
also  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  .She  frequently  told 
her  grandchildren  the  story  of  their  removal  to 
Vermont,  and  how  when  she  forded  the  Connecti- 
cut River,  the  water  was  so  deep  that  the  pony  on 
which  she  rode  had  to  swim.  She  died  in  the  eighty- 
fourth  year  of  her  age,  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  now  lies  beside  her  husband  in  the  cemetery 
at  Shaftsbury.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared 
in  his  native  town,  and  after  he  had  grown  to  man's 
estate  his  father  gave  him  a  farm  in  Shaftsbury, 
and  he  bought  other  land  till  he  had  about  400 
acres.  He  spent  his  entire  life  in  his  birthplace, 
dying  there  wlien  about  sixty  years  of  age.  The 
maiden   name   of  his  wife,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 


ject, was  Nancy  Barton,  and  she  was  also  a  native 
of  Shaftsbury,  coming  of  good  old  New  England 
stock.  Her  father,  Garner  Barton,  was  a  native  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  in  early  life  was  a  sailor.  He 
was  a  pioneer  of  Shaftsbury  and  buying  land  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  also  built  and  operated  a 
tannery.  He  was  a  resident  there  till  his  demise  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety -six  years.  The  mater- 
nal grandmother  of  our  subject  died  on  the  home 
farm  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-four  years. 
She  was  a  Quaker.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
reared  and  spent  her  entire  life  among  the  green 
hills  of  Vermont  in  the  town  of  Shaftsbury.  There 
were  seven  children  born  of  her  marriage,  namely: 
Hiram,  living  in  North  Bennington,  Vt.;  John; 
Ahnira.  who  married  George  Clark,  and  died  two 
years  later;  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  infancy;  James 
P..,  living  in  Vermilion  County;  Mary,  wife  of  Jon- 
athan C.  Houghton,  of  North  Bennington,  Vt.; 
George  Byron  died  in  Shaftsbury. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man's  estate 
in  the  home  of  his  birth,  gleaning  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  and  as  soon  as  large  enough  he 
assisted  on  the  farm  until  he  came  West  as  before 
mentioned.  In  the  summer  of  1839  he  returned  to 
Vermont,  and  in  the  following  December  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Aurelia  Miranda  Huntington,  and 
at  once  started  with  his  bride  for  his  new  home  in 
the  Western  wilds;  traveling  with  a  horse  and  a 
covered  wagon,  they  arrived  in  Vermilion  County 
six  weeks  and  three  da3's  later.  There  was  an  un- 
finished frame  house  on  his  land  on  sections  29  and 
30,  Danville  Township,  and  in  that  he  and  his  bride 
commenced  housekeeping.  He  resided  there  about 
nineteen  years,  and  then  rented  his  farm  and  moved 
to  Elwood  Township  where  he  improved  a  large 
farm,  and  made  his  home  there  till  1877.  Then 
leaving  his  son  in  charge  he  went  to  Shelbyville, 
111.,  where  he  bought  property,  and  was  a  resident 
of  that  city  till  1882,  when  he  bought  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides  in  Danville  Township. 

Mr.  Cole  has  been  married  three  times.  The 
wife  of  his  early  manhood  died  in  January.  1SJ7. 
leaving  one  child,  Miranda  8.,  now  the  wife  of 
James  McKee,  of  Danville.  Mr.  Cole's  second  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  in  1850,  was  to  Miss  Nancy 
Weaver,  a  native  of  Brown  County,  Ohio,  a  daugh- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


323 


ter  of  Michael  and  Mary  Weaver.  She  died  about 
1«63.  leaving  one  son,  Henry  .1..  who  lives  Oil  the 
Ridge  farm  in  Klwood  Township.  Mr.  Cole  was 
married  to  his  present  wife  Sue  Patterson,  and  to 
them  have  come  one  child,  Mary  Edith. 

Our  subject  can  look  back  over  a  long  life  that 
has  been  wisely  spent,  and  his  record  is  that  of  an 
honorable,  upright  man,  whose  high  personal  char- 
acter lias  made  him  an  influence  for  good  in  the 
county  where  he  has  made  his  home  for  over  half 
a  century,  and  with  whose  interests  his  own  are  so 
closely  allied  that  in  acquiring  wealth  he  has  fur- 
thered its  material  prosperity.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat. 


'NDREW  J.  SINKHORN,  Supervisor  of 
Blount  Township,  with  whose  agricultural 
and  milling  interests  he  is  connected  as  a 
practical,  wide-awake  fanner  and  skillful 
miller,  owning  and  operating  a  sawmill,  is  a  fine 
type  of  the  citizen-soldiers  of  our  country,  who 
saved  the  Union  from  dissolution  in  the  trying 
times  of  the  Great  Rebellion,  and  since  then  have 
quietly  pursued  various  vocations  and  professions, 
and  have  been  important  factors  in  bringing  this 
country  to  its  present  high  status  as  one  of  the 
greatest  and  grandest  nations  on  earth.  In  the 
early  days  of  the  war  our  subject  went  forth  with 
his  brave  comrades  to  fight  his  country's  battles, 
he  being  then  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  a  stalwart, 
vigorous  youth,  and  he  consecrated  the  opening 
years  of  his  manhood  to  the  cause  for  which  he  was 
ready  to  give  up  even  life  itself,  if  need  be.  Not- 
withstanding his  3'outhf ulness,  he  displayed  the 
qualities  of  a  true  soldier,  and  in  course  of  time  was 
promoted  from  the  ranks. 

Andrew  Sinkhorn,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Virginia.  During  some  period  of  his  life 
he  went  to  Kentucky,  and  was  there  married  to 
Frances  Shannon,  a  native  of  that  State,  and  they 
began  their  wedded  life  there  in  Boyle  County, 
and  there  their  useful  lives  were  rounded  out  in 
death.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 


Dec.  3,  1842,  he  was  born  in  his  parents'  pleasant 
home  in  Boyle  County,  Ky.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
schools.  Aug.  12.  1861,  his  heart  beating  high 
with  youthful  ardor  and  patriotism,  he  entered 
upon  his  career  as  a  soldier,  enlisting  at  that  date  in 
Company  A,  4th  Kentucky  Infantry,  and  had  four 
years  experience  of  life  on  the  battlefield  or  in 
rebel  prisons.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Chicaumauga  and  Mill  Springs,  Ky..  and  in 
the  latter  contest  lost  a  part  of  his  index  finger. 
He  was  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  Mission  Ridge,  and 
Atlanta,  and  while  near  the  latter  city  he  was  cap- 
tured by  the  rebels,  and  was  held  for  seven  months, 
during  which  time  he  was  confined  in  Anderson  ville, 
and  later  in  Florence,  S.  C,  suffering  all  the  horrors 
and  hardships  of  life  in  rebel  prisons.  His  steady 
courage  and  heroic  actions  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 
and  his  obedience  to  his  superiors,  won  him  their 
commendation,  and  he  received  deserved  promo- 
tion from  the  ranks  to  the  position  of  Sergeant. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  mustered  out 
of  the  si  rvice  and  honorably  discharged. 

After  his  bitter  experience  of  military  life  Mr. 
Sinkhorn  returned  to  his  old  Kentucky  home  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Boyle  Count}'  the  ensuing 
two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  decided  that 
he  could  do  still  better  in  his  chosen  calling  on  the 
rich  soil  of  Illinois,  and  coming  to  Vermilion 
County,  he  settled  in  Blount  Township,  and  has  re- 
sided here  and  in  Ross  Township  since  that  time, 
engaging  both  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  mill- 
ing with  great  success,  and  he  is  justly  classed 
among  the  most  substantial  citizens  of  the  township. 

Mr.  Sinkhorn  has  been  three  times  married. 
He  was  first  married  in  his  native  county,  to  Je- 
mima Ann  Cozatt,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Boyle 
County.  After  the  birth  of  one  child  that  died  in 
infancy,  she  passed  away  in  her  native  county. 
Mr.  Sinkhorn's  second  marriage  was  to  Emily  J. 
Sexton,  they  having  been  wedded  in  Ross  Town- 
ship, this  county.  March  28,  1880,  she  departed 
this  life.  She  was  a  sincere  and  active  member  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Four  children  were  born  of 
that  marriage — William  11.,  Edward  E.,  Jesse  O., 
and  Anna  M.  The  maiden  name  of  Mr.  Sinkhorn's 
present    wife,   to  whom    he   was    united    in    Blount 


324 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Township,  was  Mary  E.  Pilkington,  and  she  was 
the  widow  of  John  Pilkington,  and  daughter  of 
William  Gritton.  Two  children  have  been  born  of 
this  marriage,  Ida  E.  and  Girtie. 

Since  coming  to  this  township  Mr.  Sinkhorn  has 
proved  a  useful  citizen,  and  a  valuable  addition 
to  the  citizenship  of  the  place.  He  takes  an  active 
part  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs,  and  in 
every  way  manifests  an  earnest  desire  to  promote 
the  highest  interests  of  the  community.  His  pleas- 
ant, genial  disposition  has  made  him  popular  with 
his  fellow-townsmen,  and,  what  is  better,  he  enjoys 
their  confidence.  He  was  elected  Constable  of 
Blount  Township,  and  served  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  constituents  seven  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1886  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  the  township, 
held  the  office  one  year,  and  in  the  spring  of  1889 
was  again  selected  for  this  important  office,  and  is 
still  an  incumbent  thereof.  He  has  a  deeply  re- 
ligious nature,  and  in  him  the  Free  Methodist 
Church  has  one  of  its  most  esteemed  members,  and 
at  the  present  time  he  is  Class-Leader. 


EV.  THOMAS  COX  was  born  Aug.  6,  1829, 
in  Lawrence  County,  Ky.  He  is  the  son 
'.  of  John  and  Polly  Cox,  the  former  of 
^jS};  whom  was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  June 
22,  1799,  while  his  wife,  Polly  (Markham)  Cox, 
first  saw  the  light  at  the  same  place  on  Feb.  17, 
1817.  John  Cox  served  in  the  War  of  1832  known 
as  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  was  the  father  of  six 
children,  Thomas  being  the  fourth  child. 

John  Cox  and  family  came  to  this  county  in 
1829,  settling  sjx  miles  west  of  Danville  on  the 
Middle  Fork,  where  he  followed,  with  a  large  de- 
gree of  success,  the  occupation  of  a  carpenter,  and 
also  owned  a  fine  farm.  He  died  on  May  23,  184G, 
universally  respected  by  all  his  acquaintances.  Po- 
litically he  was  a  Democrat.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
belonged  to  the  Baptist  Church;  the  latter  died  on 
Sept.  2,  1851.  This  couple  were  among  the  origi- 
nal settlers  of  this  county,  and  as  such,  went 
through  all  the  vicissitudes  that  surround  the  pio- 


neer. They  were  faithful  in  everything  they  un- 
dertook, and  with  them  life  was  not  a  failure. 

Thomas  Cox,  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written, 
came  to  this  county  with  his  father  when  he  was 
but  six  weeks  old,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  yens 
his  father  died  leaving  him  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world.  He  went  into  the  unequal  battle 
with  a  determination  to  win,  and  his  endeavors 
have  been  met  by  success.  He  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old 
when  he  commenced  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  occupation  he  followed  until  18G7,  when  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Newell  Township  and  where  he 
now  resides.  On  Nov.  28,  1850  he  was  married  to 
Susan  Orr,  daughter  of  John  and  Parthenia  Orr, 
natives  of  Kentucky.  They  came  to  Indiana  in  a 
very  early  day  and  were  united  in  marriage  in 
Fountain  County,  that  State.  Mrs.  Cox  was  born 
July  1,  1831,  she  being  the  fourth  child  of  a  family 
of  twelve.  She  resided  in  Indiana  until  she  became 
eighteen  years  of  age,  when  she  removed  to  Illinois 
with  her  parents,  both  of  whom  are  dead.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  are  the  parents  of  three 
children:  William  L.,  who  is  a  farmer  of  this 
county,  married  Miss  Kate  Robinson;  Martha  J.,  is 
the  wife  of  A.  Clapp,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Newell  Township,  while  David  M.  is  the  husband 
of  Miss  Sarah  Bell.  They  are  living  on  a  farm  in 
the  same  township. 

Mr.  Cox  is  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  good  land 
which  he  cultivates  with  a  large  degree  of  success, 
and  besides  this  he  has  given  all  his  children  a  farm 
and  has  educated  them  as  best  he  could  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  This  is  one  of  the  beauties  of  the  sys- 
tem of  American  farming  which  makes  if  possible 
for  the  parent  to  start  his  children  out  in  life  with 
land  enough  to  insure  their  comfort  and  even  com- 
petence, and  it  is  within  the  reach  of  every  provi- 
dent farmer  to  do  this  to  a  large  or  small  extent. 
The  industry  that  Mr.  Cox  inherited  has  been  the 
keynote  to  his  success.  In  1886  he  was  ordained 
as  a  regular  minister  of  the  gospel  of  the  Regular 
Baptist  Church.  Before  his  ordination  as  a  minis- 
ter, he  was  actively  and  intelligently  engaged  in 
religious  work,  a  fact  which  led  him  up  to  occupy 
a  pulpit. 

Mr.  Cox   has  served  his  township    as  a  Commis- 


o 


l^J^c   Us.  \Z^oo4^-£As 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


327 


sioner  of  Highways  and  School  Treasurer,  filling 
these  offices  with  rare  fidelity  and  intelligence.  He 
has  always  taken  great  interest  in  educational 
matters  and  lias  consequentlj  aided  his  neighbor- 
hood in  having  the  best  of  schools.  Politically 
he  acts  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  since  en- 
tering ministerial  work  he  dues  not  take  much 
interest  in  political  questions.  As  a  Christian 
worker  Mr.  Cox  is  very  zealous.  He  preaches 
every  Sabbath  either  at  home  or  on  a  circuit, 
which  comprises  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  Big  Shaw- 
nee and  Stony  Creek.  The  record  of  Mr.  Cox 
as  a  citizen  and  a  preacher  is  of  the  very  best. 


firOIIN  W.  TURNER,  M.D.,  Mayor  of  Fair- 
|  mount  and  a  practicing  physician  of  first- 
class  standing,  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
city  since  1881.  He  occupies  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  the  place,  ami  there  are  h-w 
men  more  widely  or  favorably  known  in  the  town- 
ship. He  has  been  prominent  in  politics  and  relig- 
ion—  a  leading  light  in  the  Republican  party  and 
an  earnest  laborer  in  the  Sunday  -school,  the  friend 
of  temperance  and  the  uniform  supporter  of  all 
those  measures  instituted  to  elevate  society  and 
benefit  the  people. 

In  referring  to  the  parental  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, we  find  that  he  is  a  son  of  John  T.  Turner,  a 
native  of  Maryland,  who  married  Miss  Catherine 
Shane,  a  native  of  Virginia.  Soon  after  marriage 
t lie  parents  settled  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  then 
removed  to  Clay  County,  Ind.  The  father  was  a 
wagon  manufacturer,  and  the  household  circle  in 
due  time  included  eight  children,  four  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Of  these  John  W.  was  the  seventh 
child,  lie  was  born  in  Clay  County,  Ind.,  March 
24,  18:ii),  and  there  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  pursuing  his  early  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools. 

The  subsequent  }'ears  of  Dr.  Turner  until  a  man 
of  twenty-six  were  occupied  mostly  as  a  medical 
student.  Then  determined  to  see  something  of  the 
country  in  which  he  lived,  lie  started  over  the 
plains  to  Oregon,  crossed  the  Mississippi  at  Omaha 


and  soon  afterward  bidding  farewell  to  the  haunts 
of  civilization,  journeyed  on  the  north  side  of 
the  I  Matte  River,  through  Nebraska.  Wyoming, 
Idaho  and  on  to  Oregon.  He  reached  Portland 
six  months  after  leaving  home.  During  the  trip 
the  party  had  numerous  engagements  with  the 
Sioux  Indians,  one    very  serious  among   the  Black 

Hills. 

Besides  the  Indians  the  Doctor  met  men  from 
most  all  parts  of  every  country  during  his  tour  in 
the  wild  West,  and  learned  many  interesting  facts 
in  connection  therewith  and  the  habits  of  life  on 
the  frontier,  besides  having  an  opportunity  to  view 
some  of  the  most  wild  and  romantic  scenery  in  the 
world.  We  next  find  him  officiating  as  a  peda- 
gogue in  Oregon  for  six  months.  He  had  already 
made  up  his  mind  to  adopt  the  medical  profession, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  this  time  entered  the  med- 
ical department  of  Willamette  University,  Oregon, 
from  which  he  wajs  graduated  with  honors  in  1872. 
He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Vancouver,  Wash.,  where  he  sojourned  four  years. 
Here  occurred  the  first  great  affliction  of  his  life  in 
the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  which  occurred  in 
1876.  Soon  afterward  he  returned  to  this  State 
and  was  located  in  Oakland,  Coles  Count}',  for  five 
years. 

In  1881  Dr.  Turner  took  up  his  residence  in 
Fairmount,  where  he  has  made  all  arrangements  to 
spend  at  least  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  has 
a  most  pleasant  and  attractive  home,  a  fine  and 
growing  practice  and  apparently  everything  to  make 
existence  desirable.  He  was  first  married  in  1861  to 
Miss  Harriet  N.,  daughter  of  Judge  William  E. 
Smith,  of  Toledo,  Cumberland  County,  this  state. 
Of  this  union  there  were  born  four  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  a  son.  Alva  M.,  married  Miss 
lMneba  A.  Reese,"and  is  employed  in  the  drug-store 
of  Lamon  &  Lamon,  of  Fairmount;  his  wife  died 
April  25.  188'.).  of  apoplexy;  Sharon  C.  is  doing 
a  large  business  as  a  contractor  at  Ocean  Beach, 
Pacific  Co.,  Wash.  He  is  unmarried;  Nancy  C. 
is  the  wife  of  Edward  Busby  and  lives  seven  miles 
south  of  Fairmount;  they  have  no  children;  Will- 
iam E.  was  accidentally  killed  on  the  railroad  track 
west  of  the  depot,  April  18,  1885,  at  the  age  of 
thirteen   years.     Mrs.   Harriet   N.  (Smith)   Turner 


328 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


departed  this  life  at  her  residenee,  in  Vancouver, 
Wash.,  in  January,  1876. 

Dr.  Turner  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
April,  1877,  with  Miss  Eliza  J.  Hoagland,  foster 
daughter  of  John  S.  Cofer,  of  Areola,  111.,  the  wed- 
ding taking  place  at  Paris.  This  union  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  two  children,  John  W.  and  Mary,  both 
living  with  their  father  and  attending  school.  The 
mother  died  April  30,  1884.  On  the  10th  of  July, 
1884,  the  Doctor  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Mills,  one  of  the  leading  lady  teachers  of  Vermilion 
County.  Mrs.  Turner  is  a  lady  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary accomplishments  and  stands  high  in  the  social 
circles  of  the  community.  The  Doctor  and  his 
wife  with  the  elder  children  are  all  connected  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Dr.  Turner  is  a 
member  of  the  Official  Board  and  Vice-president 
of  the  Township  Sunday-school  Association,  which 
latter  office  he  has  held  for  the  last  three  years. 
He  gives  much  time  to  the  religknis  instruction  of 
the  young,  a  subject  in  which  he  has  entertained  a 
lifelong  interest. 

At  the  last  election  for  the  city  offices,  Dr.  Turner 
was  reelected  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 
receiving,  with  the  exception  of  eleven,  all  of  the 
votes  cast  for  this  office.  He  is  a  pronounced  Re- 
publican with  broad  and  liberal  ideas,  and  belongs 
to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  being  Master  of  the  lodge  at 
Fail-mount  for  four  years  in  succession.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen,  in  which  Order 
he  is  Medical  Examiner  and  holds  the  same  position 
in  connection  with  eight  life  insurance  companies 
doing  business  in  this  state.  As  may  be  supposed, 
his  practice  and  his  official  duties  absorb  a  large 
portion  of  his  time,  but  he  still  finds  the  opportun- 
ity to  indulge  occasionally  in  hunting  and  fishing, 
in  which  he  is  an  expert  and  of  which  sports  he  is 
excessively  fond.  The  temperance  cause  finds  in 
him  one  of  its  firmest  advocates.  Genial  and  com- 
panionable by  nature,  he  is  one  naturally  making 
hosts  of  friends.  As  an  orator  he  possesses  talents 
of  no  mean  order,  and  is  frequently  called  upon  to 
address  political,  religious  and  other  meetings. 
There  are  always  a  few  men  who  must  lead  in  a 
community,  and  Dr.  Turner,  of  Fairmount,  is  an 
admirable  representative  of  this  class  of  the  com- 
munity.      Therefore  we   are    pleased    to     present 


t<>  the  readers  of  this  volume  a  splendid  por- 
trait of  Dr.  Turner,  as  perpetuating  the  features 
of  one  honored  and  esteemed  by  all,  and  the  pres- 
ent incumbent  of  the  most  important  official  posi- 
tion in   Fairmount. 


*«* 


/p^EORGE  W.  SMITH,  who  lives  on  section 
if  ^i"  31  '"  ^rant  Township,  Vermilion  County, 
^^41  has  resided  here  but  six  years.  He  for- 
merly resided  in  Champaign  County,  111.  He  was 
born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  July  11,  1833,  his 
parents  being  John  C.  and  Azenith  (Lewis)  Smith, 
the  former  a  native  of  Delaware  and  the  latter  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  parents  of  John  C.  Smith  died  in  Delaware 
when  he  was  quite  young,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,  in  1808,  he  emigrated  to  what  was  then 
considered  the  Far  West.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  and  located  at  what  is  now  the  capital  of 
Ohio,  Columbus,  then  known  as  Franklin.  There 
he  put  on  the  first  shingle  roof  ever  constructed  in 
that  locality.  He  was  still  there  when  the  War 
of  1812  broke  out,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  army 
under  Capt.  Sanderson,  of  Lancaster,  Ohio.  He 
served  during  the  entire  time  of  the  war,  and  re- 
ceived for  his  services  two  warrants,  each  entitling 
him  to  eighty  acres  of  land.  He  was  with  the 
army  at  Detroit,  and  there  endured  the  hardships 
suffered  b}-  that  part  of  the  army  during  that  try- 
ing period.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  war  Mr. 
Smith  returned  to  Lancaster,  staying  there  for  two 
or  three  years.  He  never  located  his  land  war- 
rants, which  he  did  not  receive  for  many  years, 
but  sold  them  to  another  party.  In  181!)  he 
settled  on  a  farm  on  the  line  that  separates 
Fairfield  and  Pickaway  counties,  Ohio,  and  there 
lived  for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  May  21, 
1857,  in  his  sevent3'-first  year,  having  been  born 
March  10.  1787.  He  was  married  in  Fairfield 
County,  in  1819,  to  Mrs.  Azenith  Julian,  widow  of 
Stephen  L.  Julian,  by  whom  she  had  three  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  yet  survives,  and  is  also  named 
Stephen  L.,  and  who  is  now  living  near  .Marion 
Grant   Co.,   lud.,  and    is    in    his    seventy -seventh 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


329 


year.  She  owned  and  lived  on  the  farm,  where  they 

afterward  both  died.  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  May 
24,  1788,  and  died  Sept.  24,  L852,  aged  sixty-four 
years  and  four  months.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  the  following  four 
being  deceased:  Rebecca  L.  was  the  wife  of  .lames 
M.  Stewart,  and  died  near  Logan,  Ohio;  Eliza  H. 
was  married  t < >  Henry  Dustman,  and  died  at  Leaver 
Dam.  Wis.;  Mary  W.,  who  was  the  wife  of  .lames 
S.  McDowell,  died  at  Tolona,  111.;  and  Elizabeth  S.. 
who  was  married  to  John  Burton,  died  also  at  that 
place.  The  survivors  are:  Hannah  A.,  the  wife  of 
L.  C.  Burr,  a  furniture  dealer  in  Tolona;  Martha 
J.  is  living  with  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  lat- 
ter being  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

George  W.  Smith  was  brought  up  on  the  home 
farm  at  Tarleton,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  he 
was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  Both  his  parents 
being  deceased,  he  sold  the  Ohio  farm  in  1858 
and  removed  to  Tolona,  111.,  where  he  bought  a 
farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  1  MS.'!,  when  he  sold 
it  and  removed  to  his  present  home.  His  birth- 
place was  in  a  hilly  country,  and  the  work  in  clear- 
ing and  cultivating  it  was  arduous.  He,  therefore, 
had  long  directed  his  attention  to  Illinois  as  a 
place  where  he  could  better  his  fortunes.  When  he 
came  to  Illinois  he  was  accompanied  by  his  three 
younger  sisters,  all  remaining  with  him  until  the 
the  marriage  of  the  two  eldest.  Mr.  Smith  was 
united  in  marriage  Feb.  14,  L865,  to  Miss  Julia 
II.  Lock,  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Escot) 
Lock,  natives  of  England,  where  Mrs.  Smith  was 
born  March  20,  1842.  Her  parents  emigrated  to 
Canada  when  she  was  seven  years  old,  and  in 
]si;i  settled  in  Champaign  County.  111.  Loth  arc 
now  deceased,  the  mother  dying  in  Canada  of  apo- 
plexy while  on  a  visit  to  a  son  living  there,  in 
187  1,  aged  sixty-eight.  Her  father  died  in  Cham- 
paign County,  in  1885,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year. 
Mr.  Lock  came  to  Canada  alone  in  1842,  and 
bought  a  farm  there,  and  then  returned  to  Eng- 
land, where  he  remained  for  seven  years,  and  then 
came  back  with  his  family.  He  made  several 
changes  there  before  coming  to  the  United  States, 
buying  considerable  property.  He  ultimately  be- 
came a  large  land-owner,  alone  owning  1,500  acres 
in    Champaign    County,    111.      Mr.   and    Mrs.  Lock 


had  eleven  children,  all  but  one  of  whom  are  now 
living.  William  is  a  farmer  in  Canada;  Louisa  i> 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Spettigue,  of  London,  Canada  : 
Henry  is  a  farmer  at  Belmont,  Canada;  Eliza 
was  the  wife  of  Corelia  Fields,  and  died  in 
Canada:  .lames  is  living  at  St.  Thomas,  Canada, 
where  he  is  a  boot  and  shoe  dealer;  Benjamin  lives 
in  Champaign  County.  111.  Mrs.  Smith  was  next 
in  older  of  birth,  then  Daniel,  a  farmer  in  Marshall 
County,  Kan.  John  is  also  a  farmer  at  Philo,  111.. 
4  and  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  M.  L.  Brewer,  a  farmer 
in  the  same  place.  Frank  was  drowned  while  swim- 
ming, when  eight  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  have  no  children,  but  the  child  of  his  sister 
Rebecca  L.,  Frank  L.  Stewart,  has  lived  with  them 
since  he  was  four  months  old,  having  been  adopted 
by  his  aunt,  Miss  Martha  J.  Smith.  He  Mas  born 
in  Logan,  Hocking  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  30,  1857. 

While  living  in  Champaign  County,  111.,  Mr. 
Smith  was  a  School  Director  for  twenty-four  years, 
and  also  Assessor  for  five  consecutive  terms.  He 
also  held  the  offices  of  Highway  Commissioner, 
Treasurer  and  Clerk  of  the  Board.  He  is  now  one 
of  the  School  Directors  of  Vermilion  County,  and 
has  been  since  the  first  year  of  his  residence  here. 
Mr.  Smith  has  always  sustained  the  character  of 
an  upright  man,  and  the  people  wdio  know  him 
best  are  those  who  admire  him  most  for  his  good 
qualities  as  a  man  and  a  neighbor. 

W  EWIS  HOPPER.  Among  the  notable 
I  (®  characteristics  in  the  makeup  of  this  gen- 
I ~ * V)  tleman  is  his  great  self-reliance  and  the  abil- 
ity to  take  care  of  himself,  which  was  evinced  at 
an  early  age  and  when  thrown  among  strangers. 
His  life  occupation  has  been  that  of  fanning,  in 
which  he  has  been  eminently  successful  and  from 
which  it  has  been  exceedingly  difficult  for  him  to 
make  up  his  mind  to  retire,  although  he  has  now 
done  so.  and  is  comfortably  established  in  a  pleasant 
village  home  at  Fairmount.  Among  the  other 
fortunate  things  which  befell  him  during  his  early 
manhood  was  the  careful  wife  and  mother  who  has 
stood   by  the  side  of  her  husband   for  these  many 


330 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


years,  encouraging  him  in  his  worthy  ambitions  and 
ably  assisting  him  in  the  struggle  for  a  competence. 
They  have  lived  happily  together  for  many  years 
and  are  now  reaping  a  mutual  enjoyment  from  the 
fruits  of  their  earl}'  toil  and  sacrifices.  Such  have 
been  their  lives  that  they  have  commanded  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  the  people  wherever  the}' 
have  lived,  bearing  that  reputation  for  solid  work 
and  reliability  of  character,  which  form  the  basis  of 
all  well  regulated  society. 

In  reviewing  the  antecedents  of  Mr.  Hopper  we 
find  that  his  parents  were  Beverly  and  Sarah 
(Miller)  Hopper,  natives  of  Virginia  and  the 
father  born  in  Culpeper  County.  They  lived  in 
the  Old  Dominion  after  their  marriage  until  1829, 
then  changed  their  residence  to  the  vicinity  of 
Newark  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio.  Later,  they  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  where  they  died  after  their  nine 
children  were  married  and  scattered.  Of  these 
our  subject,  was  the  youngest  born  and  six  are  still 
living.  He  first  opened  his  e3'es  to  the  light  in 
Virginia  on  the  13th  day  of  February,  1827,  and 
was  a  child  in  his  mother's  arms  when  they 
removed  to  the  Buckeye  State.  He  attended  the 
subscription  school  and  worked  with  his  father  on 
the  farm  until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years. 

Upon  reaching  his  majority  young  Hopper  be- 
gan learning  the  carpenter's  trade,  but  the  failure 
of  his  employers  soon  threw  him  out  of  business 
and  he  returned  to  the  farm.  He  was  married  in 
1847  to  Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kinsey, 
of  Peru.  Ind.,  and  lived  in  the  Hoosier  State  until 
August.  1853.  That  year  he  came  to  this  county 
with  his  little  family  and  settled  four  miles  north- 
east of  Fairmount,  residing  there  for  a  period  of 
eleven  years.  He  then  sold  out  and  purchased  a 
farm  five  miles  south-east  of  Fairmount  and  com- 
prising 160  acres  all  prairie.  He  turned  the  first 
furrow  there  and  effected  all  the  other  improve- 
ments which  finally  rendered  it  a  valuable  piece  of 
property,  and  occupied  it  until  their  removal  to 
the  village. 

The  six  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
first  wife  are  recorded  as  follows:  John  married 
Miss  Rebecca  A.  Carrington,  is  the  father  of  three 
children  and  lives  on  a  farm  four  miles  south-east 
of  Fairmount;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  English, 


lives  near  Peru,  Ind.,  and  is  the  mother  of  one 
child;  Susannah  married  George  Darr  and  is  the 
mother  of  four  children;  they  live  three  miles 
south-west  of  Fairmount;  Martha  Jane,  Mrs. 
Charles  Pemberton,  is  the  mother  of  four  children 
and  lives  six  miles  south  of  Fairmount;  Frank 
married  Miss  Cora  Hall,  is  the  father  of  one  child 
and  lives  six  miles  south  of  Fairmount;  Vina,  Mrs. 
James  Smith,  is  the  mother  of  three  children  and 
lives  near  Peru,  Ind.  Mrs.  Margaret  (Kinsey) 
Hopper  departed  this  life  at  the  home  farm  in  1870. 

Mr.  Hopper  contracted  a  second  marriage  March 
27,  1.S80  with  Mrs.  Lou  (Stansberry)  Olmstead, 
daughter  of  Bonaparte  and  Jane  (Wooden)  Stans- 
berry of  Catlin  this  State.  Mr.  Stansberry  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  the  parental  household 
included  six  children  of  whom  Mrs.  Hopper  was 
the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  She  was  born  at  Cat- 
lin. Jan.  27.  1812,  and  grew  up  amid  the  scenes  of 
pioneer  life,  her  parents  having  been  early  settlers 
of  that  region.  Mr.  Stansberiy  died  when  his 
daughter  Lou  was  a  young  child.  The  mother  is 
still  living  and  is  now  aged  seventy-seven  years; 
she  is  a  bright  and  intelligent  old  lady  and  takes 
delight  in  reviewing  the  scenes  of  her  early  life  in 
Illinois  to  which  her  father  came  as  early  as  1812. 
She  was  present  at  the  opening  of  the  first  court  in 
Vermilion  County. 

Mrs.  Hopper  attended  the  common  schools  dur- 
ing her  childhood  days  and  was  carefully  trained 
by  an  excellent  mother  in  those  housewifely  duties 
which  have  so  much  influence  upon  the  happiness 
and  comfort  of  a  home.  Although  not  belonging 
to  an}'  religious  denomination  Mr.  and  Mrs  Hop- 
per have  made  it  the  rule  of  their  lives  to  do  unto 
others  as  they  would  be  done  by,  and  among  their 
neighbors  and  friends  have  maintained  that  kindly 
Christian  character,  which  is  the  true  index  of  an 
unselfish  and  benevolent  heart.  Their  home  is 
pleasantly  situated  at  the  east  edge  of  Fairmount, 
where  they  have  five  acres  of  ground  and  a  neat 
residence,  erected  in  1887.  The  year  following 
Mr.  Hopper  put  up  a  fine  barn.  He  keeps  some 
stock  and  pays  special  attention  to  the  raising 
of  swine.  He  has  enough  to  keep  himself  com- 
fortably busy  without  overtaxing  his  energies. 
While  not  by  an}'  means  a  politician.  Mr.  Hop- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


331 


per  keeps  himself  well  informed  upon  .State  and 
National  events  and  votes  independently  of  any 
party.  He  has  officiated  as  School  Director  and 
Trustee  in  his  District,  also  as  Road  ( (verseer,  fulfill- 
ing the  duties  of  the  latter  office  in  an  especially 
creditable  manner.  He  identified  himself  with 
the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  fraternity  some  j'ears  ago,  and 
is  connected  with  Fairmonnt  Lodge  No.  590. 


VT'OHN  F.  McGEE  has  been  a  bighly  respected 
citizen  of  Blount  Township  since  1857,  and 
.  is  numbered  among  its  prosperous  farmers. 
((§£*//  He  has  a  good,  well-appointed  farm  on  sec 
tion  34,  comprising  eighty  acres  of  well-tilled  soil 
that  yields  him  rich  harvests  in  repayment  for  the 
care  and  skill  that  he  expends  in  its  cultivation. 
In  the  cosy  home  that  he  has  built  up  here  he  and 
his  wife  are  enjoying  the  comforts  of  life,  and  are 
well  fortified  against  want  and  privation. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  William  McGee,  was 
a  native  of  East  Tennessee,  born  in  one  of  its  pio- 
neer homes  in  the  year  1807.  He  was  bred  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer,  and  in  1831  assumed  the  responsi- 
bilities of  a  domestic  life,  marrying  Rebecca  Hes- 
sey,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Hessey.  Some 
time  after  they  removed  to  Missouri,  and,  after 
living  in  St.  Louis  awhile,  they  settled  in  Greene 
County.  Twelve  years  later  they  went  to  Scott 
County,  Ark.,  where  the  father  bought  a  farm. 
They  lived  there  only  two  years,  however,  and  in 
1852  departed  for  the  Lone  Star  State.  They 
staid  but  three  years  in  Texas,  in  Cook  County, 
when  they  again  found  themselves  on  the  move, 
and,  returning  to  Missouri,  they  settled  in  New- 
ton County,  on  Shoal  Creek,  eleven  miles  above 
the  Neosha  (New  Granby)  lead  mines.  March  .">. 
1856,  the  father  closed  his  earthly  pilgrimage  when 
scarce  past  the  prime  of  life.  His  wife  died  in 
October,  1882.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  that 
worthy  couple  seven  are  now  living,  and  he  of 
whom  we  write  was  their  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 
He  was  born  during  their  residence  in  St.  Louis. 
Mo.,  Dee.  19.  1839.  Shortly  afterward  his  parents 
removed  to  Greene  County,  that  State,  and  there, 


as  >oon  as  old  enough,  he  was  sent  to  a  subscrip- 
tion school,  which  was  conducted  in  a  rude  log 
cabin  without  a  floor,  and  with  rough  logs  for 
benches,  wooden    pins  in  the  ends   serving  ^s  legs. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  in  their 
various  removals  to  and  fro,  and,  being  a  lad  of 
intelligence  and  observation,  profited  by  what  he 
saw  of  the  country.  He  remained  an  inmate  of 
the  parental  household  till  the  year  of  his  fa- 
ther's death  (1856),  and  then,  in  1857,  came  to 
Vermilion  County  and  to  this  township.  Being 
pleased  with  the  country  around  here,  and  the  fa- 
cilities offered  to  an  industrious,  brainy,  3-oung 
farmer,  he  decided  to  locate  here  permanently, 
and.  with  that  end  in  view,  two  years  later  bought 
his  present  farm.  In  the  years  of  hard  labor  that 
have  followed  his  settlement  here  Mr.  McGee  has 
greatly  increased  the  original  value  of  his  farm, 
and  has  brought  it  under  good  cultivation.  He 
has  it  amply  provided  with  the  necessary  build- 
ings, and  everything  about  the  place  is  in  good 
order,  and  betokens  thrift  and  neatness  on  the  part 
of  the  owner. 

Mr.  McGee  has  been  twice  married.  In  1860 
he  was  wedded  to  Sarah  Jane  Watson,  daughter  of 
James  Watson.  She  was  a  truly  estimable  woman, 
and  made  a  good  wife  and  a  true  helpmate.  In 
1866  she  closed  her  eyes  iu  death,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren as  the  fruit  of  her  union — Rebecca  Jane,Joseph 
Thomas,  and  Precious.  The  marriage  of  our  sub- 
ject with  his  present  wife  took  place  in  1874.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Hessey,  and  she  is  a 
daughter  of  Abram  Hessey.  Mrs.  McGee  is  a 
true  helpmate  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  of 
her  pleasant  married  life  four  children  have  been 
born,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  names 
of  the  others  are  Mary  M.  and  Farrin  A. 

During  the  thirty-two  years  that  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Vermilion  Count}',  Mr.  McGee  has  won 
the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  about  him  by  his 
kind,  obliging  ways,  and  by  his  conscientious,  up- 
right conduct  in  all  the  affairs  of  life.  He  is  a 
hard  working,  capable  man,  and  by  persevering 
and  well-directed  labor  has  established  himself 
comfortably.  In  polities  he  is  a  sound  Democrat, 
and.  religiously,  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian    Church,    known    as     the    Campbellite 


332 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Chinch.  He  was  elected  Road  Commissioner  in 
188G,  and  again  in  1889,  and  is  performing  the 
duties  of  that  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  to 
the  advantage  of  the  township. 


•irsM 


i-..iW.V.V.V 


^ri-** 


yTLLIAM    JUDY.      This    gentleman    bears 
the  reputation  of   being  one  of    the  best 

^^  farmers  in  Middle  Fork  Township,  where 
where  he  has  resided  since  about  1851.  That  year 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county  from  Hardy 
County,  Ya.,  the  journey  being  made  overland  with 
teams  and  occupying  thirty-one  days.  The  father 
located  a  claim  upon  which  there  was  a  log  cabin, 
and  into  it  the  family  removed,  and  lived  there 
several  years.  William  was  then  a  lad  of  thirteen 
years.  Upon  reaching  manhood,  he  purchased  a 
half  section  of  land  in  sections  19  and  20,  and  by 
subsequent  purchase  100  acres  have  been  added  to 
the  original  purchase.  The  elder  Judy  and  his 
boys  improved  a  good  farm,  and  the  father  died 
in  1854,  at  the  age  of  about  sixty -two  years.  The 
mother  is  still  living,  making  her  home  with  her 
son  Samuel,  in  Iroquois  County,  this  State. 

Our  subject  during  his  boyhood  pursued  his 
studies  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  subscription  plan,  at- 
tending there  two  terms.  Afterwards  a  regular 
schoolhouse  was  built  at  Wallace  Chapel,  about 
two  miles  from  his  home,  which  he  also  attended 
for  a  time.  Later  he  prosecuted  his  studies  in 
Danville.  He  distinctly  remembers  the  time  when 
this  section  of  the  country  was  a  wild  prairie, 
thinly  settled,  when  deer  and  wolves  were  numer- 
ous, mill  and  market  far  away,  and  when  the  set- 
tlers endured  many  privations  and  hardships  in 
the  struggle  to  maintain  existence. 

Young  Judy'  remained  with  his  widowed  mother 
until  his  marriage,  in  18G2,  to  Miss  Nancy  A. 
Wood.  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Absalom 
and  Mclinda  (Copeland)  Wood,  and  the  grand- 
daughter of  Henry  A.  Wood,  a   native  of  Virginia, 

who  emigrated  to  this  county  and  settled  in  Grant 
Township,  when  there  was  scarcely  another  white 
man  within  its  limits.  (Further  notice  will  be 
found  in   the    biography   of   Samuel  Copeland  in 


another  chapter  of  this  book.)  Here  he  reared  a 
large  family  and  spent  his  last  days.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  industry,  and  improved  a 
good  farm  from  the  wilderness.  The  father  of 
Mrs.  Judy  was  his  eldest  child,  and  also  entered  a 
tract  of  land  from  the  Government,  from  which  he 
built  up  a  farm.  The  grandparents  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  Her  great-great-grand- 
father Wood  was  born  in  England  in  1739.  Grand- 
mother Wood's  maiden  name  was  Hoover. 

The  young  couple  took  up  their  abode  in  the 
humble  dwelling,  and  from  that  time  on  labored 
with  the  mutual  purpose  of  making  a  home  for 
themselves  and  their  children.  Their  toils  and 
sacrifices  in  due  time  met  with  a  reward,  and.  in 
addition  to  developing  his  first  land.  Mr.  Judy 
added  to  his  possessions  until  he  now  has  420 
broad  acres,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  enclosed 
with  beautiful  hedge  fencing,  neatly  trimmed,  and 
the  land  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  A  fine 
large  dwelling  has  supplanted  their  first  humble 
residence,  and  a  barn  and  other  necessary  out- 
buildings, a  flourishing  apple  orchard  and  the 
smaller  fruit  trees  form  a  most  attractive  picture 
in  the  landscape. 

There  came  in  due  time  to  the  fireside  of  our 
subject  and  estimable  wife,  twelve  children,  who 
were  named  respectively  :  Lizzie  Grant,  now  .Mrs. 
F.  M.  Slusher;  Frank  L..  J.  Milton,  Charles,  An- 
nettie,  Alia  May.  Robert  Earl,  Myrtie  Florence, 
Fanny  Clarinda,  Wilber  Wood,  Mary  Melinda  ant 
Grace  Ethel.  They  are  all  living,  and  form  a  re- 
markably bright  and  interesting  group.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Judy  are  members  in  good  standing  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  attending  Wallace 
Chapel. 

Two  brother  of  our  subject,  Ambrose  and  John, 
during  the  late  Civil  War  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
51st  Illinois  Infantry.  John  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  his  friends  have 
never  been  able  to  find  his  resting-place.  All  the 
male  members  of  the  family  uniformly  vote  the 
Republican  ticket.  The  father,  Nicholas  Judy, 
was  the  son  of  Martin  Judy,  who  reared  his  fam- 
ily in  Virginia,  the  State  of  his  birth. 

The  father  of  our  subject  passed  his  boy-hood 
and  youth  in  the  Old    Dominion,  and  was  married 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


:;;;:; 


t.i  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary  Skid- 
more.  T<>  them  was  born  a  family  of  seventeen. chil- 
dren: Jehu,  John,  Andrew,  Rebecca,  Isaac,  Ellen, 
Amos,  Elizabeth,  William  (our  subject),  Gabriel, 
Eve,  Ambrose,  Edward,  Nannie,  Samuel,  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy.  Eight  of  these  children  are 
living,  and  making  their  homes   mostly  in   Illinois. 

Our  subject's  grandfather,  Andrew  Skidmore, 
married  Miss  Mary  Stonestreet,  of  Virginia.  They 
were  both  born  in  that  State.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  stock  dealer,  and  was  the  owner  of  slaves,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Grandmother 
Skidmore  was  a  noble  woman,  and  taught  the  first 
Sabbath-school  ever  held  in  that  county. 

Grandfather  Martin  Judy  was  of  German  ances- 
try and  the  father  of  twelve  children,  six  boys  and 
six  girls.  He  was  also  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  lived 
and  died  in  Pendleton  Co.,  Va. 

Great-grandfather  John  Skidmore,  an  English- 
man by  birth,  married  a  German  lady,  Mary 
Hinkle. 

Grandfather  Stonestreet,  on  the  mother's  side, 
married  Miss  Williams,  an  Pjiiglish  lady. 


\t  ESSE  LEEKA,  M.D.  One  would  scarcely 
suppose  upon  meeting  this  gentleman  that 
lie  has  attained  to  nearly  his  threescore 
/  years,  for  he  is  still  young  looking  and 
more  than  usually  active.  This  has  been  the  re- 
sult of  a  correct  life  and  temperate  habits  and  ex- 
ercising good  care  over  "the  house  he  lives  in." 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  Oakwood  Village  since 
1886  and  is  numbered  among  its  most  successful 
and  prominent  physicians,  having  built  up  a  good 
patronage  and  accumulated  a  fair  amount  of  this 
world's  possessions. 

The  tirst  thirty  years  of  the  life  of  our  subject 
were  spent  in  Clinton  County.  Ohio,  where  he  was 
born  May  19,  1830.  He  received  a  common 
school  education  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years 
began  his  apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  a  cabinet- 
maker, at  which  he  worked  in  connection  with 
farming  for  many  years.    At  the  age  of  twenty-five 


he  was  married.  Fell.  2,  1855,  to  Miss  Rebecca  A.. 
daughter  of  Francis  B.  Macy,  of  Indiana,  and  now 
residing  in  Kokomo,    that    state.     Afterward    the 

|  newly  wedded  pair  settled  in  New  Vienna,  Ohio,  of 
which  the  Doctor  in  due  time  became  Mayor. 
Subsequently  lie  resided  in  Rush  County,  Ind., 
where  he  was  Constable  and  later  in  Howard 
County,  that  State,  where  he  held  the  office  of 
Coroner  two  terms.  After  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War,  he  on  the  12th  of  December,  1863,  en- 
listed in  Company  E.  9th  Indiana  Cavalry  and  was 
detailed  to  serve  in  the  Quartermaster's  depart- 
ment. He  was  with  his  regiment  all  through 
Hood's  campaign  and  in  the  engagement  at  Pulaski. 
He,  however,  saw  little  of  active  service  but  en- 
dured the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  life 
in  the  army,  was  afflicted  with  rheumatism  some 
time,  and  in  October,  181!  4,  had  a  severe  attack  of 
bilious  remittent  fever.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  received  his  honorable  discharge  with  the  regi- 
ment, Aug.  28,  1805,  at  Vicksburg,  Miss. 

Dr.  Leeka  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  the  spring  of  1876  at  Jerome,  Ind.  Later  he 
entered  the  medical  college  of  Indianapolis,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1878.  He 
has  practiced  in  Howard  County,  Ind.,  at  Fair- 
mount,  this  county,  whence  he  came  to  Oakwood, 
and  is  the  only  established  physician  in  this  place, 
where  he  has  property  and  a  pleasant  home. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Philip  Leeka,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  who  in  early  life  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Washington  County,  Tenn.,  where 
he  was  reared  to  manhood.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Christian  Leeka,  was  a  native  of  Germany 
and  crossed  the  Atlantic  as  one  of  the  body  of 
troops  employed  by  the  British  Government  to 
subjugate  the  American  Colonists.  Upon  his  ar- 
rival here  Grandfather  Leeka  was  ill  and  was  con- 
fined in  the  hospital  until  after  peace  was  declared. 
He  settled  in  Southern  Virginia  and  married  an 
American  lady  of  German  parentage.  In  1815 
they  removed  to  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  where  the 
grandfather  died  a  few  years  later.  Philip,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  the  fifth  of  his  seven 
children.  Two  of  the  older  boys  served  under 
General  Jackson  in  the  Seminole  War.  One  of 
them.  Christian,  Jr..  died  while  in   the  service  in 


334 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Florida.  The  other.  Henry,  after  leaving  t'.ie  army 
settled  in  Randolph  County,  Ind.,  where  he  became 
a  prominent  citizen  and  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  a  period  of  eighteen  j'ears.  He  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away  at  a 
ripe  old  age. 

Philip  Leeka  was  born  March  21,  1799,  and 
reared  to  farming  pursuits  He  acquired  a  good 
education  and  taught  school  considerably  after  his 
marriage.  He  maintained  a  warm  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters  and  officiated  as  a  School  Director 
in  his  district  from  the  time  of  settling  there  until 
his  decease.  He  was  married  in  Clinton  County. 
Ohio,  in  1821,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hodson,  who  was  of 
Quaker  parentage  and  was  born  in  North  Carolina 
in  1797.  The  Hodson  family  emigrated  to  Clinton 
County,  Ohio,  about  1814.  After  their  marriage 
the  parents  of  our  subject  settled  on  a  farm  in  that 
county,  poor  in  purse  but  with  strong  hands  and 
hopeful  hearts,  and  after  years  of  industry  and 
economy,  accumulated  agood  property  including  a 
fine  farm.  The  mother  passed  away  at  the  old 
homestead  in  1842.  Philip  Leeka  survived  his 
wife  forty  two  years,  his  death  taking  place  near 
New  Vienna,  in  1884.  when  he  was'quite  aged.  The 
household  circle  included  ten  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  still  living,  and  of  whom  Jesse,  our  sub- 
ject, was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

To  the  Doctor  and  his  first  wife  there  were  born 
five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter.  The  latter, 
Cora  A.,  died  when  an  interesting  girl  of  twelve 
years.  The  sons  are  all  living.  Francis  Edgar 
married  Miss  Sadie  Sisson,  and  lives  in  St.  Joe, 
111.;  Charles  Frederick  married  Miss  Ida  Ayles- 
worth,  and  they  live  in  Hebron,  Ind.  Of  the  four 
children  born  to  them  only  one  is  living.  William 
L.  married  Miss  Mary  Gibson,  is  the  father  of  three 
children,  and  lives  in  Durango,  Col.;  Daniel 
Cary  is  unmarried  and  a  resident  of  Danville. 
Mrs.  Rebecca  A.  Leeka  departed  this  life  April  14, 
is;::. 

( )ur  subject  contracted  a  second  matrimonial 
alliance  in  April.  1885,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Tim- 
raims.  formerly  of  Carroll  County,  Ind.  Her  father 
Elijah  Timmons  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  her  mother 
was  Mary  A.  (Bennett)  Timmons.  of  Pickaway  Co., 
Ohio.  This  lady  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children, 


five  boys  and  five  girls,  and  was  born  May  15.  1838. 
Seven  only  are  living.  The  Doctor  became  iden- 
tified with  the  Masonic  fraternity  thirty-six  years 
ago  and  has  always  taken  a  warm  interest  in  its 
prosperity.  He  is  Senior  Vice  Commander  of 
George  Morrison  Post.  No.  635  G.  A.  R.,  Depart- 
ment of  Illinois,  in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Surgeon.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  Temperance,  and  religiously  is  connected 
with  the  Society'of  Friends.  Mrs.  Leeka  finds  her 
religious  home  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Politically  the  Doctor  is  an  ardent  Republican,  tak- 
ing a  lively  interest  in  the  success  and  principles 
of  his  party  and  laboring  as  he  has  opportunity,  to 
advance  the  political  doctrines  which  he  believes 
are  the  surest  means  of  prosperity  to  one  of  the 
best  governments  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 


ENOCH  VANVK  KLE.  More  than  sixty  years 
have  gone  by  since  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
'  graphical  review,  then  a  stout,  manly  lad  of 
fourteen  years,  first  came  to  Vermilion  County 
witli  his  parents  from  his  early  home  in  the  Buck- 
eye State.  Here  he  grew  to  a  stalwart,  capable 
manhood,  and  has  since  been  identified  with  the 
development  and  prosperity  of  his  adopted  county, 
and  has  been  a  factor  in  promoting  its  agricul- 
tural interests,  with  which  he  is  still  connected, 
having  a  good  farm  on  section  35,  Blount  Town- 
ship, comprising  140  acres  of  as  fine,  tillable  land  as 
is  to  be  found  in  the  whole  precinct.  By  down- 
right, hard  and  persistent  labor  he  has  brought 
it  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  it  yielding  him  a 
good  income,  and  he  has  erected  suitable  buildings. 
His  parents  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  and  it  has  been  his  pleasure  to  witness  and 
assist  in  almost  its  entire  development  from  a  state 
of  nature. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Evert  Vanvickle,  was 
born  either  in  Pennsylvania  or  Virginia.  His 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  White,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  after  marriage  the 
parents  settled  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  from  there 
they    removed   to  Jennings  County,  Ind..  where 


AtrSftr  -affiSf  ft  -rtTy^waftaiii^-,  \bb  st-irsa  ->j .  rr-  t'  . .-  *  c^W-rr  fc  v : 


■  ^,^y^Y^^^^-W..«>M^^«^-'-  .■^V.^>lW^.>,-.J..-,-^.'/,,.^^.^^t^W^v  -V,  .,,  y:j.^..  .,t„T 


Residence  of  William  Kelly,  5ec.2.  Danville:  Township. 


.?-.-.        - 


Residence  or  Mrs.  Eliza  Cassel.Sec.it.CT^o-R  13)  Pilot  Township. 


w±— : ,  ,    ■ -i-^ ■MV-*--^'.«4^=T»aL g ./-■-■;^^--  -      .  ■-     ■  ■      ^fe&aasas*^^ 


Residence  of  B.C.Pate,Sec.21.(T.197R.12)  Catlin  Township. 


PORTRAIT  AND   151CK  i  RA  I'HIC  AL  ALBUM. 


337 


they  liveil  till  1828.  In  that  year  they  made  an- 
other move  westward  and  penetrating  to  the  wilds 
of  Illinois,  came  to  Vermilion  County  and  settled 
in  Blount  Township.  After  a  residence  here  of 
some  twenty  years  they  went  to  Holt  County.  Mo., 
where  their  remaining' years  were  passed.  To  that 
worthy  couple  were  born  five  sons,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  second. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  pioneer  home  of  his 
parents  in  Butler  County,  Ohio.  April  26,  1814. 
He  accompanied  his  parents  to  this  county  in  1828 
and  has  ever  since  been  an  honored  citizen  of  this 
place.  After  attaining  man's  estate  he  adopted  the 
calling  of  agriculture  to  which  he  had  been  reared 
and  for  which  he  had  a  natural  taste,  and  as  the 
years  have  rolled  by  he  has  acquired  a  comfortable 
competency,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  good  wife  he 
has  built  up  a  cozy  home,  in  which  they  arc  spend- 
ing the  declining  years  of  a  life  of  usefulness  in 
quietness  and  peace,  enjoying  the  full  respect  and 
affection  of  their  neighbors  and  friends. 

Mr.  Vanvickle  has  been  twice  married.  The 
first  time  in  Vermilion  County,  in  1837,  to  Miss 
Nancy  White.  Nine  children  were  the  fruits  of 
that  union,  of  whom  the  following  seven  grew  to 
maturity:  Ruth;  Andrew,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
army,  enlisted  from  Indiana,  and  gave  up  his  life 
for  his  country  at  Knoxville.  Tenn.;  Sarah,  Evert, 
Harriet,  John,  and  Enoch.  Mrs.  Vanvickle  de- 
parted this  life  in  her  husband's  home  in  Blount 
Township.  She  was  a  thorough!}'  good,  upright 
woman,  and  an  esteemed  member  of  the  Chris 
tian  Church.  Mr.  Vanvickle  was  married  a  second 
time  in  Blount  Township  to  Mrs.  Cynthia  (Souders) 
Cline.  She  is  a  native  of  Pike  County,  Ohio,  born 
April  11.  1823.  She  has  also  been  twice  married. 
Her  first  husband  was  Nathaniel  Cline.  He  was  a 
native  of  Gallatin,  Tenn..  and  took  part  in  the 
Rebellion,  enlisting  from  Danville,  111.,  in  Com- 
pany A,  125th  Illinois  Infantry.  He  died  at  Gal- 
latin, Tenn.  By  that  marriage  Mrs.  Vanvickle 
became  the  mother  of  eight  children — Amanda. 
Martha.  Mary,  Benjamin  F..  John  B..  Charles. 
Luketta,  and  Emma.  Amanda  and  Martha  are 
deceased. 

Our  subject  is  held  in  veneration  by  his  fellow- 
men  not  only  for  his  pioneer  labors  in  Blount  Town- 


ship, in  whose  welfare  he  has  always  taken  a  genuine 

interest,  but  for  those  honest  traits  of  mind  and 
heart  that  mark  him  as  a  good  man  and  a  desirable 
citizen.  He  is  one  of  the  few  survivors  of  the 
famous  Black  Hawk  War,  in  which  he  served 
about  thirty  days,  being  then  a  youth  of  eighteen 
years.  He,  and  his  worthy  wife  are  esteemed 
members  of  the  Christian  Church,  with  which  he 
connected  himself  some  twenty  years  ago.  and  she 
joined  thirty  years  ago.  Mr.  Vanvickle  is  a  true 
Republican,  and  in  him  the  party  finds  a  devoted 
follower. 


'  5S5 


^f!  AMES  DAVIS  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
influential  farmers  of  Vermilion  County, 
who  takes  great  pride  in  doing  all  things 
well.  His  father  was  Henry  Davis,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  removed  to 
Ohio  in  1808,  and  lived  there  twenty-eight 
years,  and  in  1836  settled  in  Illinois,  locating 
on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son 
James.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Rachael  Pollock,  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
Henry  Davis  lived  in  Pennsylvania  but  a  short 
time  after  his  marriage,  when  he  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
and  there  cleared  a  farm  of  200  acres.  After  his 
removal  to  Illinois  he  became  a  very  large  land- 
holder, owning  at  one  time  about  4.200  acres  of 
uncultivated  Illinois  prairie.  He  was  the  father  of 
ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living.  The 
mother  died  in  1848,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one,  while 
the  father  passed  away  in  November,  1855,  aged 
seventy-four  years.  James  was  the  youngest  of 
this  family  of  children,  his  birth  occurring  Jan. 
21,  1828,  in  Guernsey,  County.  Ohio.  He  received 
a  limited  education  in  the  old-fashioned  log  school- 
house,  and  his  boyhood  was  mostly  employed  at 
work  upon  the  farm.  In  those  days  he  spent  a 
great  deal  of  time  hunting  deer,  wolves,  and  other 
wild  game,  and  refers  to  these  times  as  the  hap- 
piest moments  of  his  life.  He  remained  at  home 
helping  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  when  he  married  America  J. 
Boggess,  Oct.  18,  1849.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
John  Boggess,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  Vermilion  County.  He  settled  at  Brooks' 
Point,  and  was  a  representative  farmer  of  his  time. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  him,  nine  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity.  He  and  his  wife  have  been 
dead  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Davis,  wife  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Brooks'  Point,  May 
3.  1833.  She  grew  to  womanhood  in  this  section, 
where  she  received  a  limited  school  education. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  located  on 
his  present  farm,  where  his  father  gave  him  397 
acres  of  as  good  land  as  there  is  in  the  county.  It 
will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Davis  had  a  competency  witli 
which  to  begin  life.  He  possesses  the  common 
sense  and  business  skill  necessary  to  keep  his  in- 
heritid  wealth  and  add  to  it.  He  is  a  first-class 
farmer,  and  raises  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  hogs. 
In  18G.J  Mr.  Davis  erected  a  fine  residence  at  a 
cost  of  $5,000,  and  since  that  time  has  added  to  it, 
and  made  many  improvements  in  its  surroundings. 
He  also  owns  a  good  house  and  lot  in  Danville. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  had  two  children:  .John 
T.,  the  elder  of  the  two,  is  married  to  Miss  Katie 
Thomas,  and  they  are  living  three  miles  southwest 
of  Fairmount.  He  is  the  father  of  one  son — James 
Roy — by  a  former  marriage.  Rachel  A.  married 
E.  H.  Danforth;  they  reside  in  Danville  with  their 
three  children — Jennie,  Annie  and  James. 

Mr.  Davis  has  held  many  of  the  local  offices  of 
his  township,  and  has  given  the  best  of  satisfac- 
tion in  conducting  them.  For  nine  years  he  held 
the  offices  of  Road  Commissioner  and  .School  Di- 
rector, and  is  now  a  Trustee  of  his  school  district. 
He  is  a  member  of  Homer  Lodge  No.  199,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M..  of  which  he  has  been  Senior  and  Junior 
Warden.  Junior  Deacon  and  Treasurer.  The  offices 
of  King  and  Scribe  have  been  held  by  him  in  the 
lodge  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  No.  94.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  commandery  at  Danville.  Mr. 
Davis  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
for  many  years,  and  he  takes  some  interest  in  poli- 
tics. He  was  born  and  reared  a  Democrat,  and 
continued  with  that  party  until  the  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion, when  he  changed  his  political  belief,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  invariably  voted  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  at  National  and  State  elections,  but  in 
local  affairs  he  casts  his  vote  for  the  best  man.  Mr. 
Davis  has  been  somewhat  of  a  traveler.     His  first 


trip  was  to  Chicago,  in  1842,  with  a  load  of  wheat, 
and  in  1848  he  took  a  second  trip  to  Chicago  -with 
a  load  of  apples.  In  1875  he  visited  California, 
and  made  an  extended  trip  through  that  State.  He 
attended  the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia  in  1876, 
and  on  that  journey  visited  many  different  States. 
Mr.  Davis  enlisted  in  Company  C,  71st  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  served  with  his  regiment  until  late  in 
the  autumn  of  1862,  when  he  was  discharged. 
There  is  no  farmer  in  this  section  of  the  country 
wdiose  judgment  is  better,  and  his  record  is  one  of 
the  best. 


<fjrfj|lRGIL  C.  T.  KINGSLEY,  M.D.  is  a  native 
Wi#  of  New  York  State,  having  been  born  near 

^7  Utica.  His  father,  Jedediah  S.  Kingsley, 
was  also  a  native  of  the  same  State  and  Utica  was 
his  home  for  a  great  many  years.  The  grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Obediah  Kingsley, 
was  a  native  of  New  England  and  traced  his  an- 
cestry to  England.  He  settled  in  Herkimer  County, 
N.  Y.  and  pursued  the  calling  of  a  farmer,  living  on 
his  first  homestead  for  nearly  a  half  century  and 
dying  there.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Herkimer  County,  and  early  in  the  century,  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  timber  land  from  which  he  cleared 
a  farm.  He  built  two  saw-mills,  was  an  extensive 
dealer  in  lumber  and  furnished  the  lumber  for  the 
large  asylum  at  Utica. 

Jedediah  S.  Kingsley,  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  followed  farming  for  some  time  after  his  mar- 
riage, when  his  health  gave  way  and  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  medicine,  a  profession  to 
which  he  was  eminently  adapted,  as  time  later  on 
demonstrated.  He  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Vermont,  at  Burlington,  when  he  immediately 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Rome, 
N.  Y.,  and  has  remained  there  since.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Angeline  Myers,  a  native  of 
New  York  State  and  to  whom  was  born  five  child- 
ren. 

Dr.  Kingsley,  of  whom  this  biography  is  written, 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Rome,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  High  School  there.  Early  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


339 


Life  he  concluded  that  he  was  adapted  to  the  pro- 
fession of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  following  that 
idea,  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
father,  after  which  he  attended  three  years  at  the 
medical  department  of  Michigan  University  at  Ann 
Arbor,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  '83.  After 
his  graduation  he  returned  to  Rome  and  commenced 
practice  and  pursued  his  profession  there  until  the 
spring  of  1884,  when  he  removed  to  Danville, 
where  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative 
practice.  The  doctor  makes  a  specialty  of  cancer, 
tumors  and  chronic  diseases,  and  has  been  eminently 
successful  in  pursuing  these  specialties.  Patients 
visit  him  from  many  different  states.  His  office  is 
well  filled,  a  greater  portion  of  the  time,  and  all 
curable  diseases  are  treated  with  success.  The 
Doctor's  pleasant  ways  and  professional  ability  are 
drawing  cards. 

Dr.  Kingsley  was  married  in  1884.  to  Miss  Ella 
Brown,  a  native  of  Oneida  County,  New  York 
State  and  daughter  of  Marv  Brown. 


ilMOTHY   PA RK,  who  lives  on  section   24, 
in  Grant  Township,  Vermilion  County, near 

the  Indiana  State  line,  was  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Ohio,  in  1844.  His  parents  were  Silas 
and  Mary  (Good)  Park,  both  of  Virginia.  They 
removed  to  Franklin  Count}-,  Ohio,  at  an  early 
day,  but  later  went  to  Delaware  County  in  the  same 
State,  where  both  died,  the  father  in  1877,  the 
mother  about  twenty  years  ago.  Silas  Park  was  a 
fanner  by  occupation,  and  a  plain,  hardworking 
man  who  never  took  any  part  in  public  affairs,  but 
attended  closely  to  the  business  of  making  a  home 
for  his  family,  and  he  succeeded.  The}-  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  namely:  Ezek 
iel,  William  and  Branson,  farmers  in  Delaware 
County,  Ohio;  Rose,  who  is  the  wife  of  William 
llazlett,  also  living  in  Ohio.  Those  deceased  were 
named  respectively:  Susanna,  Samantha,  Hardy 
and  Ashforth. 

Timothy  Park,  of  whom  we  write,  was  brought 
up  to  farming,  which  has  been  his  lifelong  occu- 
pation.      He  remained   in   Ohio  until   1869,  when 


he  came  to  this  county,  buying  a  farm  on  section 
25  in  Grant  Township,  one-half  mile  south  of  his 
present  home.  He  lived  there  but  a  year,  however, 
when  he  returned  to  his  native  State.  A  few 
months  later  he  came  back  to  this  count}',  was 
married  and  rented  a  farm  on  section  lit.  town- 
ship  23,  range  10  and  11,  and  there  he  and  his 
wife  lived  for  four  years,  when  he  bought  the 
farm  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  It  was 
then  but  a  tract  of  uncultivated  prairie,  without 
a  building,  fence  or  tree,  in  fact,  being  wholly 
destitute  of  the  work  of  man.  Now  he  has  all 
the  improvements  necessary  for  a  well  regulated 
farm,  his  house  being  neat  and  comfortable,  his 
buildings  ample  for  all  his  needs,  and  his  land 
more  than  ordinarily  well  cultivated,  the  trans- 
formation being  due  to  his  untiring  energy  and 
knowledge,  and  the  picture  of  his  broad  acres  with 

'their  fine  surroundings  is  one  on  which  he  can  look 
with  just  pride.  Eighty  acres  of  his  land  are  on 
the  section  on  which  his  house  stands,  while  another 
eighty  is  located  on  section  13,  adjoining  it  on 
the  north.  Mr.  Park  has  always  been  an  ardent 
advocate  of  thorough  drainage,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  to  build   tile   drains  in   this  part  of    the 

'county,  and  he  now  has  his  entire  farm  tiled  in  the 
most  thorough  manner.  On  the  northern  half  of 
his  farm  he  has  the  biggest  and  deepest  ditch  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  county,  and  the  results  of 
this  careful  attention  to  proper  drainage  and  till- 
age of  the  soil  are  apparent  in  the  splendid  con- 
dition of  his  land  and  his  usual  good  crops. 

Although  not  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  the 
county,  Mr.  Park  located  here  when  the  land  was 
new  and  sparsely  settled.  The  presence  of  large 
sloughs  and  much  low  land  in  the  neighborhood 
had  retarded  the  progress  of  this  section  of  the 
county,  and  he  has  witnessed  its  development  from 
its  wild  state  to  its  present  prosperous  condition, 
and  has  been  no  small  factor  in  assisting  its  growth, 
to  which  he  has  contributed  his  full  share.  The 
first  work  that  he  did  here  was  for  his  wife's  father, 
.lames  Budd,  who  was  largely  interested  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  broom  corn,  having  as  much  as  300 
acres  planted  at  one  time.  The  nearest  market  for 
the  product  was  at  Lafayette,  Ind.,  and  no  regular 
and  direct  roads  having  been  laid  out,  the  wagons 


340 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


had  to  go  the  best  way  they  could  around  the 
numerous  sloughs  and  across  the  prairies,  making 
the  distance  between  here  and  there  from  forty-five 
to  fifty  miles.  Often  Mr.  Park  has  started  long 
before  daylight,  sometimes  as  early  as  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  in  order  to  get  to  Lafayette  "by 
sundown,  which  could  only  be  accomplished  by 
hard  driving.  The  next  day  was  occupied  by  the 
return  trip.  Farmers  of  the  present  day  would 
think  this  an  overpowering  hardship,  but  such  trials 
as  this  the  pioneers  had  to  endure  in  their  efforts 
to  build  up  homes  on  the  prairies,  and  their  labors 
and  sacrifices  have  made  this  country  what  it  is. 
Without  them  railroads  would  not  so  soon  have  been 
built  to  cany  the  farmer's  produce  so  far  and  near, 
and  bring  the  articles  he  needs  almost  to  his  very 
door.  All  honor,  then,  to  those  brave  and  sturdy 
men  who  from  the  wild  and  bleak  prairies  have 
made  this  country  one  of  prosperous  farms,  dotted 
with  groves,  among  which  nestle  thousands  of 
comfortable  homes.  Theirs  were  the  toils  and  sac- 
riliccs,  while  we  in  comfort  and  ease  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  labors.  Among  these  true  men,  Mr. 
Park  is  justly  entitled  to  a  place.  When  he  settled 
here,  Hoopeston  was  not  thought  of.  and  he  men- 
tions as  an  interesting  fact  that  he  sold  the  first- 
dozen  brooms  ever  disposed  of  in  that  now  thriv- 
ing town.  Although  yet  a  young  man,  lie  is  to-day 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  living  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  count}^ 

On  April  16,  1876,  Mr.  Park  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  S.  Budd,  daughter  of 
.Tames  and  Susanna  Budd,  then  and  now  resi- 
dents of  Iroquois  County,  111.,  who  emigrated 
from  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Budd  was  largely  en- 
gaged in  the  occupation  of  sheep-raising.  He 
has  now  a  general  farm,  but  is  virtually  retired 
from  active  life,  being  seventy- -six  3'ears  of  age. 
Mrs.  Park  was  horn  in  Ohio,  1841,  and  is  the 
mother  of  one  child — Elnora  Jeanette,  a  bright 
young  miss,  now  attending  school.  Mr.  Park  is 
one  of  the  younger  farmers  of  Grant  Township, 
who  is  becoming  known  as  one  of  its  most  enter- 
prising and  go-ahead  citizens.  He  has  never  been 
an  applicant  for  public  office,  but  has  held  some  of 
the  minor  township  positions.  He  is  an  honest, 
trustworthy  man,  whose  neighbors  give  him  an  ex- 


cellent character  as  a  citizen,  and  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial sort  who  contribute  much  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  county.  Politically  he  is  a  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  State  and  national  affairs, 
but  in  local  matters  party  ties  rest  lightly  on  him, 
for  he  believes  in  voting  for  the  man  best  qualified 
for  the  position,  the  proper  way  for  those  who 
have  the  best  interests  of  the  community  at   heart. 


'*»•  ' 


^SHOMAS  KEPLINGER.  The  snug  and  wcll- 
t,  regulated  farm  occupied  by  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  comprises  120  acres  of  choice 
land,  located  on  section  29,  Grant  Township. 
This,  when  he  took  possession  of  it  in  1870  was  but 
slightly  improved,  only  a  little  breaking  having 
been  done  and  not  a  shrub,  post  or  tree  upon  it, 
being  all  open  prairie.  During  the  nineteen  years 
of  his  proprietorship  Mr.  Keplinger  has  effected  a 
great  transformation,  there  being  now  a  fine  resi- 
dence with  a  good  orchard  and  numerous  shade 
trees,  together  with  a  barn  and  the  other  outbuild- 
ings required  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  farm 
pursuits.  The  fields  are  enclosed  to  a  good  extent 
with  hedge  fencing,  and  by  a  process  of  underdraw- 
ing the  land  has  become  remarkably  fertile  and 
the  source  of  a  handsome  income. 

At  the  time  of  his  coming  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Kep- 
linger found  deer,  wolves  and  all  kinds  of  wild 
animals  in  abundance.  For  the  first  few  years  his 
farm  was  mostly  devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain  to 
which  it  seemed  best  adapted,  but  now  he  raises 
all  the  cereals,  besides  the  produce  required  for 
family  use  and  considerable  to  sell.  He  is  at  this 
writing  (April  1889)  completing  a  handsome  new 
residence,  the  main  part  occupying  an  area  of 
16x24  feet  with  an  "L"  15x20  feet  and  which  when 
finished,  set  in  the  midst  of  shrubbery  as  it  is, 
will  form  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  in  this 
region.  Everything  about  the  place  is  indicative 
of  thrift  and  prosperity,  cultivated  tastes  and  the 
refinements  of  modern  life. 

Mr.  Keplinger  was  born  in  Fountain  County,  Ind.. 
six  miles  east  of  Covington,  April  7,  1829,  and 
lived  there  until  a  man  of   thirty-two   years,      He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


341 


remained  a  member  of  the  parental  household  until 
the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  in  1859,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  The  mother  hail  died 
"hen  lie  was  a  lad  of  twelve.  On  the  10th  of  May, 
1800,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Shaffer  and 
the  year  following  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Sugar  Grove,  Champaign  County,  upon  which  he 
operated  ten  or  eleven  years.  In  1870  lie  came  to 
this  county  and  secured  the  land  which  lie  now 
owns.  Since  becoming  a  voting  citizen  he  has 
given  his  influence  and  support  to  the  Democratic 
party,  but  lias  carefully  avoided  the  responsibili- 
ties of  office. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keplinger  have  had  six  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  Nancy,  born  Feb.  5, 
18G0,  and  died  Aug.  2,  1862;  James  married  Miss 
Ella  Gunn,  is  a  resident  of  Hoopeston  and  is  the 
father  of  one  child ;  George,  Annie  and  Andrew 
are  at  home  with  their  parents;  Allie,  the  third 
child,  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Crane  and  lives  in  Ne- 
braska; they  have  two  children.  Mrs.  Keplinger 
was  born  in  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  Jan.  24,  1835) 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Shaffer,  a  farmer  of 
that  county.  She  received  her  education  in  the 
common  school  and  remained  with  her  parents 
until  her  marriage. 

Jacob  Keplinger,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Virginia  and  lived  there  until  a  man  of 
twenty-seven  years.  He  then  emigrated  to  Indiana 
and  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Dedimore.  To 
them  there  were  born  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters of  whom  only  three  are  living — Thomas,  our 
subject,  and  his  brother,  John. a  resident  of  Indiana 
and  a  sister  Martha,  who  resides  in  Iowa. 


LFRED    M.    DIXON. 


This    well-known 


gentleman,  who  owns  a  farm  on  section  10, 
in  Grant  Township,  was  born  in  Fayette 
County,  Pa.,  May  25,  1834,  his  parents 
being  William  and  Jane  (Montgomery)  Dixon, 
both  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  The  father 
was  a  fanner  in  the  county  where  his  son  was  born, 
and  there  he  died  when  the  latter  was  about  ten 
years  of  age.     Alfred  was  brought  up  to  faun  work 


from  an  early  age,  also  drove  cattle  to  market,  and 
worked  at  all  such  like  occupations  until  1801,  in 
which  year  he  removed  to  uear  Attica,  in  Fountain 
County,  Ind.,  making  that  his  home  for  two  or 
three  years,  but  spending  a  summer  during  that 
time  in  Vermilion  County,  in  which  he  settled  per- 
manently in  April,  1808,  at  a  place  known  as  Burr 
Oak  Grove,  in  Grant  Township.  There  lie  worked 
for  four  years,  when  he  remove:!  to  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives.  This  land  was  given  to  him- 
self and  wife  by  the  hitter's  father  and  was  then 
nothing  hut  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  land,  with  neigh. 
bors  few  and  far  between,  and  to  one  accustomed 
to  the  more  densely  populated  communities  of  the 
Eastern  States  it,  did  not  present  a  very  inviting 
appearance.  With  stout  hearts  and  willing  hands, 
assisted  by  the  labors  of  a  faithful  wife,  our  subject 
set  to  work  improving  his  land,  and  at  length 
brought  it  to  its  present  state  of  thorough  cultiva- 
tion. Wild  game  was  in  that  day  plentiful  in  this 
region,  and  Mr.  Dixon  mentions  that  he  counted  at 
one  time  seven  deer  at  a  small  creek  near  his 
house.  Wild  fowl  were  also  plenty;  ducks,  geese 
and  prairie  chickens  being  constant  and  not  always 
welcome  visitors  to  the  farmers'  grain  fields. 
Prairie  wolves  were  unpleasantly  numerous,  the 
farmers'  pig  pens  often  suffering  by  their  depra- 
dations. 

In  the  seventeen  years  that  have  elapsed  since 
Mr.  Dixon  settled  at  his  present  home,  great 
changes  have  been  wrought,  and  the  country  about 
has  been  thickly  settled.  His  own  place  shows  the 
work  of  an  industrious  and  thrifty  hand.  About 
nine  years  ago  he  put  up  a  new  frame  house  and 
his  outbuildings  are  all  that  the  necessities  of  his 
farm  require.  These  have  all  been  the  results  of 
his  own  labor,  and  the  comforts  he  is  now  enjoying 
are  deserved. 

In  October,  18G4,  Mr.  Dixon  was  married  in 
Fountain  County,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Serena  Dunkel- 
barger,  born  in  that  place  in  1845  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Fanny  Dunkelbarger,  whose  home 
was  in  the  county  named,  but  who  were  the  own- 
ers of  large  tracts  of  land  in  Vermilion  County, 
comprising  900  acres  in  all.  Both  of  Mrs.  Dix- 
on's parents  were  natives  of  Perry  County,  Pa., 
and   they  removed  to  Indiana    at     an    early   day. 


342 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  mother  died  a  few  years  afterward  and  Mr. 
Dunkelbarger  has  since  been  twice  married,  both  of 
his  later  wives  being  from  Indiana,  where  he  still 
resides. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dixon  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living,  four  dying 
.young.  The  survivors  are:  Fannie,  wife  of  Burn 
Deeten,  a  farmer  of  Grant  Township;  John,  who 
is  a  machinist  b}^  trade,  lives  in  Milwaukee,  Wis. ; 
Jennie,  Emma.  Ella  and  Dale  Wallace  are  yet  under 
the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Dixon  takes  an  active  interest  in  township 
affairs  and  has  held  several  offices.  He  is  now 
Highway  Commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  affiliated  with  Star  Lodge,  No. 
709,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  and  with  the  Hoopestou 
Chapter.  No.  181,  R.  A.  M.  In  every  position  Mr. 
Dixon  has  filled  he  has  discharged  the  duties  im- 
posed upon  him  with  such  fidelity  and  judgment  as 
to  win  the  good  opinion  of  all.  and  to-day  no  man 
stands  higher  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him  than  does  he. 


Jr)  OHN  H.  VAN  ALLEN.  In  noting  the  men 
I  of  prominence  who  are  residents  of  Oak- 
|  wood  Township  and  have  been  instrumental 
/  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  position,  the 
subject  of  this  notice  could  by  no  means  properly 
be  omitted,  and  those  who  in  the  future  may 
peruse  the  records  of  this  county  will  recognize  in 
him  one  of  its  representative  men,  who,  in  assist- 
ing to  develop  a  portion  of  its  soil  and  each  year 
turning  in  a  handsome  sum  to  the  county  treasuiy 
from  the  proceeds  of  his  taxable  property,  has 
borne  no  unimportant  part  in  establishing  its  repu- 
tation and  importance.  The  value  of  history  and 
biography  are  becoming  more  thoroughly  recog- 
nized each  year  among  the  intelligent  people  of  the 
great  West,  who  realize  the  fact  that  their  children 
and  their  children's  children  in  future  years  will 
reap  great  satisfaction  in  noting  the  names  of  their 
progenitors  among  those  who  contributed  to  the 
development  of  Central  Illinois. 

In  noting  the  events  of  the  life  of  a  prosperous 


and  respected  citizen,  the  mind  naturally  reverts 
to  those  from  whom  he  drew  his  origin.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  Stats  B.  Van  Allen,  a 
native  of  New  York  City,  who  learned  carpenter- 
ing when  a  young  man  and  iu  later  3'ears  operated 
quite  extensively  as  a  contractor.  The  family  is  of 
Scottish  descent,  and  was  represented  in  this  coun- 
try probably  during  the  colonial  days.  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet (Hill)  Van  Allen,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  and  the 
daughter  of  William  Hill,  who  was  born  in  Virginia, 
and  for  a  time  was  connected  with  the  iron  works 
in  Gilim's  Falls  as  foreman  of  a  forge.  He  also 
carried  on  farming.  He  spent  his  last  years  in 
Henry  County,  Ohio,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six. 

Stats  B.  Van  Allen,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
spent  his  last  3'ears  in  the  Buckeye  State,  dying  in 
February,  1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy.  The  mother 
is  still  living  there,  and  is  now  in  the  sixty-eighth 
year  of  her  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years.  John 
H.,  our  subject,  was  the  thiid  in  order  of  birth, 
and  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  Jan.  22,  1  S43, 
in  Licking  County,  Ohio.  His  boyhood  was  spent 
in  his  native  State,  and  he  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools.  He  remained  at 
home  with  his  parents,  turning  over  his  earnings 
into  the  family  treasury,  until  entering  the  army 
to  fight  the  battles  of  the  Union. 

Our  subject,  on  the  14th  of  August,  1862,  en- 
listed in  Company  G,  97th  Ohio  Infantry,  and 
served  one  year.  The  regiment  was  first  ordered 
to  Cincinnati  and  then  to  Louisville  to  follow  up 
Gen.  Bragg's  army.  At  Wild  Cat  Mountain  he 
received  a  very  severe  fall  and  was  sent  to  the 
hospital  at  Nashville,  where  he  was  confined  in  the 
Zollicoffer  House.  Being  very  discontented  here  he 
left  and  returned  to  his  regiment,  with  which  he 
remained  until  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro.  Thence 
he  went  to  Nashville,  and  finally  was  sent  to  Camp 
Denison,  Ohio,  where  he  was  obliged  to  accept  his 
honorable  discharge  on  account  of  disability. 

Mr.  Van  Allen  now  returned  to  his  father's  farm 
and  remained  there  about  one  year.  On  the  24th 
of  November,  1864,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  Morrison,  a  prom- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


343 


inent  fanner  of  his  locality  and  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  Licking  County.  Mr.  Morrison 
died  in  March.  1889,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years.  He  had  been  twice  married,  and  by  his  first 
wife,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Van  Allen,  was  the  father 
of  seven  children.  After  her  death,  which  occurred 
about  twenty-four  years  ago,  he  was  married  the 
second  time  and  there  were  born  to  him  two  more 
children. 

Mrs.  Van  Allen  was  the  second  child  of  her  par- 
ents and  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  1. 
184*2.  She  received  a  very  good  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  remained  a  member  of  the 
parental  household  until  her  marriage.  The  newly- 
wedded  pair  commenced  the  journey  of  life  to- 
gether in  Mt.  Sterling,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Van  Allen 
employed  himself  as  a  carpenter  for  two  years 
thereafter.  Next  he  engaged  in  teaming  three 
years,  hauling  principally  stoneware  and  crockery. 
Finally,  in  1869,  he  determined  to  seek  the  farther 
West,  and  coming  to  Illinois  with  his  family  located 
near  Glenburn,  where  he  established  a  pottery  which 
he  conducted  about  eighteen  months.  Then  aban- 
doning this  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  with 
which  he  has  since  been  occupied  and  lias  met  with 
flattering  success. 

The  property  of  Mr.  Van  Allen  embraces  205 
acres  of  choice  land,  mostly  in  one  body  and  nearly 
the  whole  under  a  thorough  state  of  cultivation.  It 
is  pleasantly  located  on  section  26.  The  residence 
was  put  up  in  1884,  and  comprises  a  neat  and  sub- 
stantial dwelling,  which,  with  its  surroundings  is 
indicative  of  the  enterprising  and  progressive  spirit 
of  the  proprietor.  Of  the  nine  children  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife,  seven  are  living 
and  all  at  home  with  their  parents.  They  were 
named  respectively :  Erne,  Charles  H.,  William  E., 
James  M.,  Jessie  F.,  Grade  M.  and  Robert  S. 

In  politics  Mr.  Van  Allen  is  a  Republican  both 
by  inheritance  and  a  most  decided  preference  for 
the  principles  of  this  party.  At  the  time  of  Gen. 
Garfield's  election  as  President  of  the  United  States 
the  father  of  our  subject  had  the  honor  of  casting 
eleven  votes  for  the  Republican  ticket,  nine  of 
these  being  for  his  own  sons  and  one  for  a  grand- 
son. Our  subject  has  served  as  School  Director 
for    the    last    twelve   years,  and   still   occupies  the 


office.  In  religious  matters  his  views  coincide  with 
those  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mrs. 
Van  Allen  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  I  lie 
Christian  Church.  Socially.  Mr.  Van  Allen  belongs 
to  Newtown  Lodge.  Xo.  714,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also 
to  George  Morrison  Post.  No.  635,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Glenburn. 


LEX  L.  WHITE,  a  highly  esteemed  old 
resident  of  Vance  Township,  is  without 
i  question  one  of  the  most  popular  men  of 
Fairmount,  where  he  has  spent  many  years 
and  with  whose  people  he  has  been  closely  identi- 
fied both  in  friendly  and  business  relations.  His 
wide  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  his  uniform- 
ly good  judgment  make  him  the  recipient  of  many 
confidences,  especially  among  the  old  people  of  the 
place,  who  often  solicit  him  for  advice  in  business 
matters,  and  he  seldom  fails  to  give  them  wise  and 
judicious  counsel. 

The  native  place  of  Mr.  White  was  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Logan,  Ohio,  and  the  date  of  his  birth  Nov. 
2,  1849.  His  early  education  was  conducted  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  he  made  such  good 
use  of  his  time  that  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
began  teaching,  and  followed  this  profession  at  in- 
tervals for  a  period  of  fourteen  years.  He  taught 
first  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  when  there 
were  but  two  male  teachers  out  of  a  corps  of  nine. 
At  one  time  he  was  Superintendent  of  the  Gore 
Coal  Mines.  Upon  coming  to  Fairmount  he  offici- 
ated as  Principal  of  the  schools,  and  in  1880  took 
the  census  in  Sidell  Township,  this  county.  The 
year  following  he  journeyed  to  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory and  became  superintendent  of  the  lumber 
business  conducted  by  Osgood  \  Haywood,  of 
Indianapolis,  being  stationed  in  the  Creek  Nation. 
In  the  spring  of  1882  Mr.  White  was  elected 
Assessor  and  Collector  of  Vance  Township,  and 
held  the  position  two  years.  In  1884  be  was  elected 
Township  Supervisor,  which  office  he  has  since  held 
by  re-election  each  year.     He  was  appointed  Post- 


344 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


master  of  Fairmount  in  1885,  retaining  the  position 
until  1889,  when  lie  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  Miss  Angeline 
E.  Noble  took  place  at  the  bride's  home  in  Fair- 
mount  July  20,  1876.  Rev.  J.  IT.  Noble,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  White,  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Illi- 
nois Conference  and  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Dan- 
ville district.  Later  he  was  stationed  at  Springfield. 
and  now,  after  an  active  service  in  the  Master's 
vineyard  of  over  forty  years,  contemplates  retir- 
ing from  his  arduous  duties.  He  is  a  strong  and 
eloquent  expounder  of  the  Word,  and  thousands 
have  listened  to  the  admonitions  which  have  fallen 
from  his  lips  and  borne  good  fruit.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  his  pious  duties  he  has  been  stationed  at 
Lincoln,  Mat  toon,  Shelbyville  and  Paxton  in  Illi- 
nois; and  in  Indiana  was  in  Greencastle,  New 
Albany  and  Indianapolis. 

Mr.  Noble  was  born  in  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1821, 
and  was  twice  married.  He  became  the  father  of 
thirteen  children,  ten  of  whom  are  living.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Angeline  Simmons,  and  his  sec- 
ond her  sister  Caroline. 

Mrs.  White  was  born  Aug.  3,  1857,  in  Indiana, 
and  received  an  excellent  education.  She  was 
married  to  our  subject  when  a  maiden  of  nineteen 
years,  and  is  now  the  mother  of  three  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Anna  Lee,  was  born  Jul}'  30,  1877. 
The  latter  is  a  bright  young  girl,  and  takes  a  re- 
markable interest  in  her  studies,  priding  herself 
upon  her  progress  therein.  The  second  daughter, 
Edna  Noble,  was  born  June  20,  1879,  and  the  only 
son,  Edgar  Paul,  April  14,  1885.  Mr.  White 
politically  is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  has  been  quite 
prominent  in  politics.  Several  of  his  male  rela- 
tives in  Ohio  occupied  prominent  positions,  one 
uncle  being  Clerk  of  the  County  Court,  another 
County  Commissioner,  and  two  others  Auditor  and 
Recorder  respectively,  all  holding  olfice  at  the  same 
time.  Leaving  Ohio  in  1873,  he  came  to  this  coun- 
ty, locating  in  Fairmount,  with  which  his  interests 
have  since  been  closely  identified.  For  the  last  six 
years  he  has  been  manager  for  the  firm  of  Davis 
&  Stearns,  dealers  in  lumber,  hardware  and  agri- 
cultural implements.  He  only  officiated  as  Post- 
master six  months,  and  when  sending  in  his  resig- 


nation Mrs.  White  received  the  appointment  and 
held  the  office  until  the  early  part  of  June,  1889. 
Mrs.  White  is  a  very  estimable  lady  and  a  member 
in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Our  subject  socially  has  been  Master  of 
Fairmount  Lodge.  No.  590,  for  the  last  three  years, 
and  still  holds  the  position. 

Mr.  White  was  the  third  child  of  his  parents, 
Darius  and  Esther  (McBroom)  White,  who  were 
also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  State,  and  the  father 
is  now  principal  owner  of  the  Logan  Manufacturing 
Plant.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  likewise 
natives  of  the  Buckeye  State.  Grandfather  Mc- 
Broom, also  a  native  of  Ohio,  served  in  the  War 
of  1812  and  died  in  1883,  when  over  ninety  years 
of  age.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
died  in  1  s.s2.  They  had  lived  together  for  the 
long  period  of  sixty-four  years.  To  Darius  White 
and  his  estimable  wife  there  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  living,  together  with  the 
parents — a  circumstance  seldom  equalled  the  world 
over,  death  having  not  yet  entered  this  interesting 
household  circle. 


«gf  LBERT  GIDDINGS.  One  of  the  largest 
and  best-appointed  conservatories  in  East- 
ern Illinois,  embracing  8,000  square  feet 
of  glass,  is  owned  and  conducted  by  the 
subject  of  this  notice,  who  commands  a  wholesale 
and  retail  trade  extending  into  most  of  the  States 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  As  a  florist  he 
cannot  be  excelled,  and  he  is  of  that  enterprising 
and  go-ahead  disposition  which  is  the  surest  guar- 
antee of  success.  His  life-long  interests  have  cen- 
tered in  Vermilion  County,  for  it  is  the  county  of 
his  birth,  which  took  place  in  Danville,  Dec.  3, 
1850. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  William  and  Caroline 
(Kitchener)  Giddings,  prominent  residents  of  this 
county,  and  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work  in  connection  with  that  of  John  W. 
Giddings.  their  son.  Albert  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  city,  although  spending  much 
of  his  time  at  the  farm  of  his  father,  where  he  con- 


ir 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


347 


tinned  until  the.  death  of  the  latter.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  trade  in  partnership  with 
W.  H.  Johns,  and  the  firm  of  Johns  &  Giddings 
existed  until  May,  1882.  Our  subjeel  then  dis- 
posed of  his  interests  in  the  business  li>  his  partner, 
and  the  year  following  established  himself  in  that 
in  which  lie  is  now  engaged. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Mary 
J.  Cromer  took  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride, 
Oct.  J.  1877.  .Mrs.  Giddings  was  horn  near 
Perryville,  End:,  in  February,  1859,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Francis  and  Isabelle  Cromer.  Mrs. 
Giddings  died  June  5,  1883,  and  our  subject,  on 
the  23d  of  March.  1887,  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ella  Dill,  of  Danville,  Ind.  This 
lady  was  horn  Jan.  1,  1863.  in  Clearmont,  Ind. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Giddings  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
Mr.  Giddings,  politically,  is  a  Republican.  Socially, 
he  belongs  to  olive  Branch  Lodge  No.  38,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.;  Vermilion  Chapter  No.  82,  R.  A.  M.; 
Athelstane  Cofnmandery  No.  to,  Knight  Temp- 
lar, and  Oriental  Consistory  of  Chicago.  lie 
is  a  man  intelligent  and  well  informed,  and  a  favoi  - 
ite  both  in  social  and  business  circles  among  the 
people  with  whom  he  has  grown  up  from  boyhoi  d. 


«  JMLLIAM  CAN  V.DAY,  Si:.  In  giving  their 
\/\/ll  just  due  to  the  pioneers  of  Central  Illinois, 
tyy  there  is  required  the  pen  of  the  historian. 
who  will  perpetuate  their  names  and  deeds  to  fu- 
ture generations,  who  as  time  passes  on  will  learn 
to  appreciate  them  at  their  full  value.  It  is  doubt- 
ful if  those  sturdy  characters  themselves  realized 
the  magnitude  of  the  work  which  they  had  begun, 
and  the  results  which  were  to  follow.  Nol  only 
did  their  labors  affect  themselves  personally,  but 
the  works  of  each  man  contributed  to  make  a  grand 
whole  in  the  development  of  a  rich  section  of  the 
country  which  is  looked  upon  with  pride  by  the 
people  to-day.  The  fact  that  Mr.  Canaday  came 
to  Elwood  Township  when  there  was  but  one  cabin 
within  its  limits  is  sufficient  to  establish  him  as  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  of  this  region,  and  the 


further  fact  that  he  has  labored  industriously  and 
lived  worthily,  forms  for  him  one  of  the  most  en- 
during monuments  which  can  be  elected  to  man. 

There  are  four  men  in  Elwood  Township  bearing 
the  name  of  William  Canaday,  and  of  these  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  most  prominent  and 
the  oldest.  Of  Southern  birth  and  parentage,  he 
was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  East  Tenn.,  Dec.  22, 
1809,  and  is  theson  of  Henry  Canaday,  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  who  removed  with  his  family  to 
Wayne  County.  Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1820  and  there 
spent  the  following  winter.  In  the  meantime  two 
Of  the  sons  came  to  this  county  and  put  up  in  El- 
wood Township  a  round  log  cabin  near  the  present 
residence  of  our  subject  and  on  the  same  section. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1821  the  family  took  posses- 
sion  of  the  cabin,  tin ly   house  in  this  region. 

Indians  were  numerous  and  often  visited  the  family 
to  beg,  trade  or  steal.  They  camped  on  the  banks 
of  the  Little  Vermilion  in  the  spring  of  the  year  to 
hunt  and  fish,  but  never  seriously  troubled  the 
settlers. 

The  Canadays  made  sugar  that  first  spring  and 
prepared  to  carry  on  farming,  but  finally  one  of 
the  sons.  Benjamin,  returned  to  Tennessee,  where 
lie  bought  a  farm  and  soon  afterwards  was  joined 
by  the  balance  of  the  family.  The  whole  family 
returned  to  this  county  the  following  fall,  having 
sold  their  Tennessee  property.  They  were  visited 
considerably  with  sickness  and  the  nearest  doctor 
was  at  Clinton.  They  had  to  go  to  the  mill  to 
Racoon  Creek,  in  Park  County,  Ind.,  and  Terre 
Haute  was  the  nearest  trailing  point.  They  had  no 
horses  and  broke  the  new  ground  with  oxen.  Wild 
game  was  plentiful — deer,  turkey  and  a  few  buffalo. 
In  the  fall  they  filled  the  .smoke-house  with  deer 
hams  ami  also  had  plenty  of  pork. 

When  returning  to  Tennessee'the  Canaday  family 
left  thirty  hogs  which  they  had  brought  from 
Indiana  and  which  they  could  not  well  take  with 
them  upon  going  back  South.  So  the  animals  ran 
wild,  and  for  years  thereafter  their  progeny  roamed 
through  the  woods  and  became  so  ferocious  that  a 
boar  would  sometimes  kill  a  cow.  The  Canaday 
family  occupied  the  small  log  cabin,  containing  one 
room,  for  some  time,  and  the  mother  did  the  cook- 
ing by  the  fire-place.     The  floor  was  of  puncheon, 


348 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  roof  of  clapboards  lipid  down  with  weight  poles 
and  the  stick  and  clay  chimney  was  built  on  the 
outside. 

About  the  second  year  of  their  residence  in  Ver- 
milion County,  Henry  Canaday.  the  father  of  our 
subject,  together  with  John  Haworth,  set  up  a 
"  meeting."  as  it  was  called  by  the  .Society  of 
Friends,  (or  in  common  parlance  organized  a 
church).  These  two  men  and  others  who  after- 
wards came  to  the  neighborhood  built  a  log  cabin 
and  worshiped  therein,  and  afterwards  built  a 
church  of  hewed  logs.  Sometimes  the  attendance 
was  so  small  that  Henry  Canaday  and  his  son  Ben- 
jamin would  go  to  "meeting"  and  sit  through 
the  hour  for  worship,  in  order  to  keep  up  the 
church  organization  as  per  the  discipline  of  that 
church. 

Mrs.  Matilda  (Barnard)  Canaday  was  a  native  of 
Nantuckett's  Island.  Mass.,  whence  she  went  to 
North  Carolina  with  her  parents  when  a  little  girl. 
Her  father,  Capt.  Benjamin  Barnard,  followed  the 
sea  for  many  years.  The  parental  family  consisted 
of  five  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Canaday  is  the  only 
one  living.  Her  brother  Benjamin,  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years;  John  died  when  about  fifty 
years  old;  Frederick  ami  Mary  were  each  about 
eighty-two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  their  de- 
cease. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  at  the  old 
homestead  and  grew  up  with  a  limited  education, 
there  being  no  schools  during  his  boyhood  in  this 
region.  His  father  established  a  tanyard  in  which 
young  Canaday  worked,  he  also  learned  saddlery 
and  harness-making.  Besides  his  tanyard  and  the 
farm  the  father  also  conducted  a  tin  shop.  William 
in  later  years  turned  his  attention  exclusively  to 
farming  and  stock-raising  and  operated  largely  as 
a  stock-dealer.  He  grew  wealthy  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  430  acres  of  land,  besides  having  given 
540  acres  to  his  children. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Mary 
Haworth  took  place  in  1831.  This  lady  was  born 
in  East  Tennessee  and  is  the  daughter  of  William 
Haworth,  a  well-known  resident  of  this  county. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  ten  children — 
seven  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Julia  A..  Mrs. 
Harold ;  G.  Franklin;    Richard   II. ;  James  A.;   Ma- 


tilda J.,  Mrs.  Brown;  Benjamin  F.  and  Alice,  Mrs. 
Morris.  Julia  married  Wilton  Harold,  of  Ridge 
Faun,  but  has  no  children;  Franklin  married  Miss 
Mary  Jackson,  who  lived  near  Homer,  and  they 
have  two  children — Gertude  and  Edwin;  Richard 
married  Miss  Catherine  Harold  and  occupies  part 
of  the  homestead,  he  has  one  child,  William:  James 
married  Miss  Drusilla  Diven.and  lives  at  Burr  Oak 
Grove,  in  Champaign  County;  they  have  four 
children— Mary  E.,  Dora,  Earl  and  Ora;  Matilda 
married  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Brown,  of  Elwood  Town- 
ship, and  has  two  children — M.  Alice  and  Oliver 
W.;  Benjamin  took  to  wife  Miss  Cornelia  Green, 
and  lives  in  Elwood  Township,  and  has  seven  chil- 
dren— Howard  W.,  Richard  A..  Anna  A..  Jesse, 
Mary,  Martha  and  an  infant  boy  unnamed.  The 
last  three  are  triplets;  Alice  married  Dr.  Charles  C. 
Morris,  of  Rockville,  Ind.,  and  they  have  three 
children— Jesse  C,  Estella  E.  and  Mary  H. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Haworth)  Canaday  departed  this 
life  in  the  fall  of  1855.  Our  subject  was  married 
the  second  time,  Oct.  30,  1873,  to  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Diament,  deceased.  She  was 
was  born  in  New  Jersey.  Oct,  2G,  182G,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Canaday 
was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Quakers,  to  which 
he  still  loyally  adheres.  In  politics  he  is  a  sound 
Republican  but  has  held  aloof  from  the  responsi- 
bilities of  office.  A  fine  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr. 
Canaday  is  shown  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


^^ 


r***— >wu* 


MOS  JACKSON  was  born  in  Clinton 
County,  lnd..  on  Sept.  15.  1837.  He  is 
IS  one  of  the  largest  land-owners  in  the 
township  of  Sidell.  His  father  and  mother 
were  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  Ohio, 
respectively.  By  his  first  marriage  his  father  had 
eleven  children,  of  which  Amos  was  the  tenth 
child  and  youngest  son.  The  first  wife  died  at 
Jefferson,  Ind.,  in  1840,  when  Amos  was  a  little 
over  two  years  of  age.  His  father  remarried  but 
died  soon  after  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Amos  was  left  mother- 
less at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half  years,  and  when 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


349 


he  was  ten  years  old  he  was  left  without  a  father, 
and  at  this  time  he  began  to  fight  the  battle  of  life 
alone.  His  father  left  a  farm  of  200  acres,  but  the 
administration  of  the  estate  left  but  little  for  the 
heirs.  As  before  related,  Amos  began  at  the  age 
of  ten  years,  to  work  for  his  board  and  clothes, 
and  under  these  circumstances  his  educational  ad- 
vantages were  necessarily  extremely  limited.  lie 
attended  school  about  eight  months  in  all  in  a  little 
log  school-house,  walking  two  miles.  He  continued 
to  live  in  Indiana  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age.  when,  in  1855,  in  company  with  his  uncle, 
Johnson  Hoss,  he  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and 
a~-i-t oil  his  uncle  in  elearing  up  a  farm.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  he  returned  to  Indiana  but  remained 
only  a  year  when  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  en- 
gaged at  brick-making  at  Indianola.  It  was  at 
this  place  he  first  met  his  wife.  Miss  .Sarah  Hesler. 
who  at  that  time  was  living  with  her  grandfather. 
John  Gilgis,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Indian- 
ola. Her  father  and  mother  were  born  in  Ohio 
and  Kentucky  respectively.  Mr.  Gilgis  was  a  mer- 
chant at  Indianola  and  a  man  of  considerable 
wealth.  Francis  Hesler,  father  of  Mrs.  Jackson. 
was  a  farmer  in  Douglas  County  and  the  father  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  six  were  girls.  He  was 
married  three  times  and  had  two  children  by  his 
first,  two  by  his  second  and  seven  by  his  third  wife. 
.Mrs.  Jackson's  mother  was  his  first  wife,  who  died 
when  Mrs.  Jackson  was  but  three  or  four  years  old, 
and  since  that  time  anil  till  her  marriage  she  re- 
sided with  her  grandfather.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson 
became  attached  to  each  other  while  very  young, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  recognizing 
the  fact  that  "love  laughs  at  locksmiths,"  quietly 
crossed  over  into  the  State  of  Michigan,  where 
they  were  married.  Returning  to  Indianola.  they 
were  of  course  forgiven  and  at  once  launched  out 
on  life's  highway  with  the  resolution  of  contradict- 
ing the  theory  that  marriage  is  a  failure.  And  in 
this  they  have  succeeded.  In  the  spring  of  I860 
Mr.  Jackson  rented  a  farm  north  of  Indianola  and 
commenced  work  in  earnest  to  earn  a  home.  Mrs. 
(iilgis  died  about  two  years  subsequent  to  their 
marriage  and  they  were  called  back  to  the  home  of 
Mrs.  Jackson's  grandfather,  and  when  he  died  he 
left  the  young  couple  eighty  acres  of  land.      After- 


ward Mi-.  Jackson  purchased  a  section  of  land,  640 
acres,  in  Sidell  Township,  for  which  he  agreed  to 
paj  120,000.  lie  sold  his  original  eights"  acres  for 
14,000,  this  leaving  him  in  debt  $16,000,  drawing 
ten  percent,  interest.  Through  prudent  manage- 
ment Mr.  Jackson  has  not  only  paid  for  that  land 
but  has  added  thereto  492  acres.  Beside  all  that 
he  had  made  many  valuable  improvements,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  5,400  rods  of  drain  tile. 
and  there  is  not  five  acres  of  waste  land  on  this 
immense  tract.  He  has  also  erected  a  splendid 
barn  for  general  purposes,  a  cattle  barn  66x100, 
a  granary  and  feed-mill  30x30,  and  the  other  nec- 
essary buildings  for  a  large,  well  regulated  farm. 
He  has  150  head  of  cattle  and  is  feeding  a  large 
number  of  hogs.  Of  late  years  Mr.  Jackson  has 
begun  breeding  running  horses  and  has  abandoned 
the  raising  of  Clydesdales.  He  is  a  great  lover  of 
the  Morgan  horse,  of  which  he  has  some  splendid 
specimens.  He  owns  the  celebrated  running  horse 
"King  Nero,"  who  took  the  four  first  prizes  on  a 
Chicago  track  in  the  fall  of  1887,  amounting  to 
$1,000.  He  is  said  to  be  the  best  bred  horse  in 
Illinois,  being  sired  by  -  Harry  Bassett,"  the  cele- 
brated Kentucky  horse.  As  a  stock-raiser  there  is 
none  who  stands  higher  in  Vermilion  County  than 
Amos  Jackson. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  are  the  parents  of  seven 
children:  John  L.j  Bertie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  months;  Jennie,  Laura,  Frank,  Ada  and  Lula 
B.  Politically  Mr.  Jackson  acts  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge. 
Mr.  Jackson  is  exceedingly  popular  with  his  neigh- 
bors, and  is  fully  entitled  to  enjoy  the  large  for- 
tune which  he  has  accumulated  by  his  energy  and 
good  management. 

\  OlIN  S.  CRANK,  a  resident  of  Vermilion 
County  for  more  than  twenty  years,  has 
lived  in  Grant  Township  since  the  spring  of 
1867,  and  on  his  present  place  for  sixteen 
years,  lie  is  a  native  of  Yoxford,  Suffolk  County, 
England,  and  was  born  Aug.  22,  1828.  lie  was 
brought  up  in  his  native  countj  .  learning  the  trade 


350 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  a  shoemaker,  in  which  lie  was  engaged  until  his 
removal  to  Illinois.  After  his  marriage  in  the  fall 
of  1852,  he  emigrated  to  Canada  accompanied  by 
his  parents.  They  started  from  London  for  New 
York,  and  on  arrival  there  at  once  left  for  Gault, 
in  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada.  There  the 
family  settled  and  John  S.  carried  on  business  in 
his  trade  as  a  manufacturer  and  dealer,  until  he  re- 
moved to  the  United  States.  His  parents  made 
their  permanent  home  in  Gault  where  they  were 
afterwards  joined  by  others  of  the  family  who 
emigrated  from  time  to  time. 

When  he  was  eighty-four  years  of  age,  Grand- 
father Crane  made  a  trip  to  America  alone  to  sec 
his  descendants.  Here  he  stayed  two  years  and  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  England  where  he  lived  to 
be  ninety-six  years  of  age.  The  parents  of  John 
S.  Crane  were  named  John  and  Mary  (Girling) 
Crane.  The  father  was  also  a  shoemaker  and  like- 
wise carried  on  business  on  his  own  account  until 
he  was  quite  old.  He  also  lived  to  be  an  old  man 
and  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  made  a  visit  to  his 
son  in  this  country.  He  died  four  years  afterward 
in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  His  wife  died  several 
years  prior  to  the  decease  of  her  husband,  aged 
about  seventy  -six.  Of  their  nine  children  six  are 
now  living,  a  record  of  whom  follows:  Harry,  who 
is  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  Oault ;  George  was  a 
]  lumber  and  painter  by  trade  in  London,  England 
and  is  now  a  farmer  in  Kanosh,  Utah;  William, 
also  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  Gault;  Caroline  is 
the  wife  of  John  Milligan,  a  graindealer  in  Ross- 
ville,  this  county  ;  Charles  is  also  a  resilient  of  Kan- 
osh, Utah,  and  is  largely  interested  in  sheep  raising 
and  is  President  of  the  Wool  Growers  Association 
of  Utah.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  Salt  Lake 
Tribune,  the  leading  paper  in  that  territory.  He 
was  learning  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  at  Lafa3'ette, 
Ind.,  when  the  war  broke  out  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  enlisted  in  the  10th  Indiana  Infantry 
for  three  months,  during  which  time  he  was  in  the 
battle  of  Rich  Mountain.  He  afterward  joined 
the  63d  Indiana  Infantry,  serving  until  the  close  of 
the  war  and  for  some  time  after  that  was  Govern- 
ment messenger  on  the  supply  trains  to  the  South. 
The  other  survivor  is  John  S. 

The  three  who  are  deceased  are  Clara,  who  was 


the  wife  of  James  McKendrick,  of  Gault,  and  died 
in  that  place  leaving  a  family  of  four  children. 
James  was  a  resident,  of  New  Orleans  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Rebellion,  and  being  a  Union  man 
made  his  escape  from  that  cit}'  intending  to  go  to 
Canada,  but  contracted  a  fever  and  died  on  reach- 
ing Lafayette,  Ind.,  where  his  brother  Charles  was 
then  living.  Adaline,  the  youngest  sister,  died  on 
her  way  to  America  and  was   buried  at  sea. 

John,  of  whom  this  sketch  was  written,  stayed 
in  Gault  until  1867,  when  lie  decided  to  give  up 
his  business  and  move  to  the  United  States.  He 
had  always  desired  to  become  a  farmer,  and  the 
year  prior  to  his  removal  came  to  Illinois  to  visit 
an  uncle  whom  lie  had  not  seen  for  many  years, 
and  being  much  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  the 
country  be  decided  to  make  this  State  his  home. 
Returning  to  Canada  he  sold  out  his  property  and 
in  the  spring  of  18G7  located  east  of  where  the 
thriving  city  of  Hoopeston  now  stands.  No  rail- 
road was  then  in  existence  here  and  the  site  of 
Hoopeston  was  an  open  prairie.  On  the  place 
where  he  first  settled  he  stayed  but  a  year,  when 
he  removed  to  a  farm  of  the  uncle  named,  situated 
on  what  is  known  as  the  Chicago  road.  Having 
bought  1 25  acres,  a  part  of  his  present  property, 
he  rented  a  farm  east  of  it  while  he  was  putting  up 
a  house  and  other  buildings.  The  farm  was  then 
all  wild  prairie  and  the  improvements  upon  it  have 
been  made  by  Mr.  Crane — all  the  buildings,  fences, 
trees,  etc.,  being  the  result  of  his  labors.  To-day 
it  is  as  fine  a  properly  of  its  size  as  there  is  in  this 
part  of  the  county,  and  comprises  in  all  217  acres. 

Mr.  Crane  was  united  in  marriage  in  England  in 
1852  with  Miss  Eliza  Garwood,  who  was  born  in 
Stratford,  St.  Mary,  that  county,  March  21,  LS30. 
She  was  the  only  one  of  the  family  to  come  to 
America.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  one  of  whom  Adeline,  died  in  Gault 
at  the  age  of  three  years.  The  survivors  are 
Oscar  G.,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Rossville,  this 
county;  Edith  is  the  wife  of  II.  A.  Hoover,  living 
near  Oskaloosa,  Iowa;  Charles  G.  is  at  home  with 
his  parents.  Mr.  Crane  is  a  gentleman  who  has,  by 
his  quiet,  unassuming  manners,  and  upright  living, 
won  the  respect  of  the  people  with  whom  he  has 
lived    for  now  more  than  a  score   of  years,  and   he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


351 


is  justly  counted  as  one  of  the  most  valued  citi- 
zens of  the  northeastern  part  of  Vermilion  County. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a 
member  of  star  Lodge  No.  709,  of  Hoopeston. 
lie  is  a  gentleman  of  domestic  habits  and  tastes 
ami  lias  never  aspired  to  office,  preferring  the 
quiet  of  his  own  home  to  the  worry  attending 
public  position.  In  his  comfortable  home  he  and 
Ii is  estimable  wife  dispense  hospitality  to  all  who 
visit  them,  and  they  are  justly  entitled  to  the  high 
measure  of  esteem  in  which  they  are  held. 


_^^^m^^ 


,,,  SA  PARTLOW  is  a  native  of  Danville, 
tJji  where  he  was  born  on  the  (ith  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1833.  His  father,  Rueben  l'artiovv, 
was  born  in  Virginia  and  his  grandfather, 
Samuel  Partlow,  was  a  native  of  the  same  State. 
The  latter  removed  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  in 
an  early  day  and  located  in  Nelson  County,  where 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  cleared  a  farm. 
In  1835,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  he  came  to  Ver- 
milion County  to  spend  the  winter  with  his  chil- 
dren, who  were  then  living  here.  The  journey  was 
made  on  horseback,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 
They  stopped  with  their  son  Samuel,  in  Middle 
Fork  Township,  where  the  old  gentleman  was 
taken  sick  and  died  during  the  winter.  In  these 
times  lumber  was  very  scarce,  there  being  no  saw- 
mills in  this  section  of  the  country  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  boards  could  lie  purchased  at  any 
price.  At  any  rate,  it  is  stated  that  not  enough 
lumber  could  be  had  to  construct  a  coffin  in  which 
to  bury  Mr.  Partlow.  His  sons  went  to  the  timber 
and  cut  down  trees  and  split  enough  off  them  to 
build  a  coffin,  and  in  this  manner  Mr.  Partlow  was 
interred.  Soon  after,  and  during  the  same  winter, 
his  wife  was  seized  with  illness  and  followed  her 
hushand  to  the  grave.  In  this  family  there  were 
nine  children,  seven  of  whom  came  to  this  county 
and  are  entitled  to  the  appellation  of  pioneers. 
There  were  four  sons — John.  James,  Reuben,  and 
Samuel,  and  three  daughters. 

Reuben    Partlow.    the   father  of   Asa,    was   very 
young    when    his    parents  removed    to    Kentucky, 


where  he  was  reared  and  resided  until  1831.  He 
married,  and  then  accompanied  by  his  wife,  came 
to  Vermilion  County,  making  the  journey  on 
horseback,  carrying  a  few  household  goods  with 
them.  lie  located  at  Danville,  and  being  a  wheel- 
wright and  c per,    he   worked    at    his   trade  until 

1834,  when  he  made  a  claim  in  Newell  Township, 
upon  which  he  built  a  Ion  house.  At  this  time 
stoves  were  possessed  only  by  thv  rich,  hut  fuel 
was  plenty,  and  their  old  fashioned  lire-place  was 
a  typical  one.  They  made  all  their  clothes  of 
homespun  cloth,  and  were  happier  than  many 
who  wear  their  fine  clothes  in  these  later  days. 
Mr.  Partlow  lived  there  about  a  year,  when  hedis- 
posed  of  his  claim  and  returned  to  Danville,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  for  a  while,  afterward  taking 
another  claim  in  Middle  Fork  Township.  "When 
this  came  into  market,  he  purchased  it  from  the 
Government,  and  this  tract  of  land  has  since  been 
the  old  homestead.  Of  course,  in  those  days  there 
were  no  railroads,  and  for  many  years  all  supplies 
were  drawn  by  horses  or  oxen  from  Perrysville 
and  LaFayette  and  also  from  Chicago.  At  one 
time  Mr.  Partlow  took  a  half  barrel  of  honey  to 
Chicago  and  supplied  the  whole  town,  returning 
home  with  a  good  portion  of  it.  He  was  a  resident 
of  the  old  homestead  until  1852,  when  he  returned 
to  Danville  and  lived  retired  until  his  death  which 
occurred  in  May.  1866,  aged  sixty-two  years.  His 
wife's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  H.  Humphrey, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  Her  father,  John  Hum- 
phrey was  born  in  Virginia  and  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Kentucky.  She  died  in  1865. 
She  was  the  mother  of  six  children — Asa,  Almira, 
who  married  Robert  Davidson  (now  deceased); 
John  II.  died  when  fourteen  years  of  age;  David 
is  also  dead;  Sarah  A.,  married  A.  I.  Draper,  and 
they  are  residents  of  Danville;  Elizabeth  married  Z. 
Morris,  of  Georgetown,  this  county,  wdio  is  now 
dead. 

Asa  Partlow,  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch, 
attended  the  pioneer  public  schools.  He  describes 
the  first  school-house,  which  he  attended,  as  having 
no  window,  but  simply  a  log  was  taken  out  where- 
with to  admit  the  light.  As  soon  as  he  was  large 
enough  he  was  compelled  to  assist  his  father  on  the 
farm,    but   at    the    age   of   seventeen    he  went    to 


352 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Georgetown,  where  lie  attended  a  seminary,  and 
after  that  taught  one  term  of  school.  In  1852  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  S.  A.  Humphrey  and  J. 
M.  Partlow,  under  the  firm  name  of  Humphrey  & 
Co.  They  prosecuted  a  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  financially  were  very  successful.  He  was 
in  the  trade  until  1873,  with  various  partners,  and 
in  that  year  he  sold  out  his  store  and  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business,  and  has  built  up  a  fine  trade. 
He  is  also  secretary  of  the  Equitable  Building 
and  Loan  Association. 

Id  1857  Mr.  Partlow  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  Murdock,  who  was  born  near  LaFayette, 
Ind.,  March  15,  1831.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
John  and  .lane  Murdock.  natives  of  New  Jersey, 
and  is  the  mother  of  the  following  children:  Harry 
G.  married  Stella  Doane  and  resides  in  Danville; 
Edwin  K.  and  Augustus.  Fannie  Mabel  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years;  Minnie  Ellen  died  at  the  age 
of  ten  months. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Partlow  are  members  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Part- 
low  has  been  steward  and  treasurer  for  a  long  time. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Danville  Lodge  No.  69, 
1.  O.  O.  F. 

■ — -*&m- — 


^RUMAN  WILLIAMS.  The  farming  com- 
munity of  Catlin  Township  has  no  more 
worthy  representative  than  this  venerable 
gentleman,  and  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  insert  a 
review  of  his  life  in  this  Biographical  Album.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  place  for  more  than 
forty  years,  and  during  that  time  has  improved  a 
good  farm  on  section  36,  and  has  built  up  a  cozy 
home,  in  which  he  and  his  estimable  wife,  who  has 
worked  by  his  side  for  more  than  half  a  century. 
arc  comfortably  spending  life's  declining  years,  en- 
joying the  respect  and  affection  of  all  about  them, 
Eli  Williams,  the  father  of  subject,  was  born  in 
the  good  old  New  England  State  of  Connecticut, 
as  was  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Martha  Aldermon.  They  first  settled  in  their 
native  State  after  their  marriage,  but  subsequently 
removed  from  there  to  Pensylvania,  and  from  (hence 
to  Onondago  County,    N.    Y.,  and  afterwards  to 


Genesee  (.unity.  Finally  they  returned  to  the 
Keystone  State  and  settled  in  Crawford  County, 
and  there  their  earthly  pilgrimage  ceased,  and  they 
were  gathered  to  their  fathers  at  a  ripe  old  age. 
Ten  children  were  born  of  their  marriage,  live  sons 
and  five  daughters,  and  of  these  our  subject  is  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  and  the  only  one  now  liv- 
ing. 

lie  was  born  in  Onondago  County,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
6.  1812.  Those  were  pioneer  times  in  that  part  of 
the  country,  and  our  subject  was  bred  to  a  hardy 
manhood  under  their  influence.  He  remained  an 
inmate  of  the  parental  household  till  he  was  twen- 
ty-six years  old,  and  then  married  and  established 
a  home  of  his  own.  his  marriage  with  Miss  Marga- 
ret Nelson  taking  place  in  Crawford  County,  Pa., 
Oct.  .".0.  1838.  Mrs.  Williams  was  bom  in  that 
county  Jan.  29,  1817,  the  third  child  in  the  family 
of  nine  children,  two  sons  and  seven  daughters  of 
James  ami  Sarah  (Sloan)  Nelson.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  when  he 
was  about  thirteen  years  old.  His  wife  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  after  their  marriage  they 
settled  in  Crawford  County  in  an  early  day  of  its 
settlement,  and  lived  there  till  death  closed  their 
earthly  career. 

After  marriage  our  subject  and  his  wife  contin- 
ued to  live  in  Crawford  County  until  the  fall  of 
1816,  and  then  with  their  little  family  of  children 
they  made  their  way  across  the  country  by  the  slow 
modes  of  traveling  in  those  days,  and  came  to  the 
still  wild  and  sparsely  settled  country,  embraced 
in  this  part  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  They  spent  the 
first  two  years  after  their  arrival  in  Danville  Town- 
ship, and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  located  on 
the  farm  where  they  still  make  their  home  in  Cat- 
lin Township.  Its  120  acres  are  under  good  til- 
lage and  many  valuable  improvements  have  been 
made,  so  that  as  a  whole  it  compares  very  favor- 
ably with  the  farms  around  it,  and  it  yields  fine 
harvests  in  repayment  of  the  care  bestowed  on  its 
tillage. 

Mr.  anil  Mrs.  Williams  are  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  as  follows:  Minerva;  Charles,  who  died 
when  about  six  years  old;  Nancy,  the  wife  of  John 
llarrin;  Clarissa,  who  was  the  wife  of  George  Jami- 
son, and  died  when  about  twenty-four  years  old- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


353 


Ann  died  when  about  ten  years  old;  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  John  Clones;  Nelson  married  Mrs.  [da 
(Childs)  Doran;  Charles  married  Luda  Torrant; 
Truman  married  Isadora  Valentine;  Maggie  is  the 
wife  of  George  Cook. 

Mr.  Williams  inherited  from  a  sterling  New 
England  ancestry  the  thrift  and  wisdom  that  have 
marked  his  course  and  the  honorable  traits  of  char- 
acter that  make  him  a  good  husband,  father,  neigh- 
bor, citizen.  He  has  borne  a  part  in  the  public 
affairs  of  his  township  and  has  served  very  accept- 
ably as  School  Director  and  in  minor  offices.  In 
politics,  he  firmly  adheres  to  the  Republican  party. 
Religiously,  both  he  and  his  wife  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  a  long 
term  of  years,  and  have  always  performed  the 
duties  incumbent  upon  them  in  a  true  Christian 
spirit. 


ILLIAM  WHITE,  a  veteran  of  thelate  war 
is  numbered  among  the  skilled  farmers  of 
Catlin  Township,  and  his  pleasantly  located 
farm  on  section  2,  with  its  well-tilled  fields  and  at- 
tractive buildings,  is  one  of  the  first-class  places  of 
this  locality,  and  from  its  cultivation  he  derives 
an  excellent  income  that  puts  him  among  the  weli- 
to-do  agriculturists  of  his  neighborhood. 

James  White,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Baltimore,  Md.,  while  his  mother,  Hannah  Rodg- 
ers,  was  a  native  of  Perrysville,  Vermillion  Co., 
Ind.  After  marriage  in  1839  these  people  settled 
in  Perrysville,  and  there  she  died  in  1845  while 
yet  in  life's  prime.  The  father  married  again  and 
in  1859  came  with  his  family  to  Vermilion  County, 
this  State,  and  settling  in  Catlin  Township,  he  made 
his  home  here  till  his  demise  July  fi,  1882.  He  was 
a  good  man,  who  led  an  upright  life,  and  was  well 
thought  of  by  the  neighbors  among  whom  he  had 
lived  for  so  many  years.  lie  was  the  father  of 
three  children  by  his  first  marriage,  as  follows: 
William,  Samuel  and  Hannah. 

William,  of  whom  this  sketch  was  written,  was 
born  in  Perrysville.  Vermillion  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  30, 
1841.  His  education,  conducted  in  the  common 
schools,  was  necessarily  somewhat  limited,  as  being 


the  eldest  of  the  family,  his  father  required  his  as- 
sistance, lie  accompanied  his  father  to  this  county 
in  1859,  and  has  since  been  a  useful  citizen  of  this 
community,  lie  had  not  attained  his  majority 
when  the  war  broke  out.  and  in  August,  1862, 
though  not  yet  of  age,  he  patriotically  resolved  to 
do  what  he  could  to  aid  the  cause  of  his  country, 
and  enlisted  in  Company  K.  125  Illinois  Infantry. 
To  his  regret  his  eyesight  became  impaired  so  much 
as  to  disable  him  for  a  soldier,  and  he  was  honora- 
bly discharged  in  October  of  the  same  year.  Since 
then  he  has  given  his  attention  wholly  to  farming 
and  stock-raising,  lie  owns  eighty  acres  of  highly 
fertile  land,  which  is  under  admirable  cultivation 
and  is  well  supplied  with  an  excellent  class  of  build- 
ing, including  a  substantially  built,  commodious 
residence,  lie  has  his  farm  well  stocked  to  its  full 
capacity  with  cattle  of  good  grades,  and  is  doing 
well  in  that  branch  of  agriculture. 

Mr.  White  has  been  twice  married.  He  was  first 
wedded  in  Danville  to  Miss  Susan  Cook,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children — Oscar,  James  and  Susan. 
March  19,  1872,  this  happy  household  was  bereft 
of  the  much  loved  wife  and  tender  mother  by  her 
untimely  death.  Mr.  White's  second  marriage, 
which  took  place  in  Georgetown  Township,  was  to 
Miss  Minerva  Bowen.  Three  children  blessed  their 
union — Elmer  who  died  when  about  a  year  old; 
Melvin  and  Dottie  15.  Jan.  11,  1889  the  dark 
shadow  of  death  again  fell  across  the  threshold  of 
the  dwelling  of  our  subject,  and  in  a  few  days  all 
that  was  mortal  of  her  who  had  been  the  home- 
maker  was  borne  to  its  last  resting  place.  In  her 
happy  wedded  life  she  had  been  all  that  a  true  wife 
and  mother  could  be;  devoted  to  her  husband's  in- 
terests, and  to  the  motherless  children  that  thus  fell 
to  her  charge  she  gave  as  much  care  and  love  as  if 
they  were  her  own,  and  in  her  death  the3'  have 
again  lost  a  good  mother,  while  her  own  darlings, 
the  youngest  a  dear  little  girl,  scarce  two  years 
old.  have  met  with  an  irreparable  loss. 

Mr.  White  has  succeeded  by  patient  toil  in  plac- 
ing himself  on  a  solid  basis  financially  speaking, 
and  since  becoming  the  owner  of  this  farm  has 
greatly  increased  its  value  by  wise  management 
ami  a  judicious  expenditure  of  money  for  improve- 
ments.    He  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  but  withal 


35 1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


has  that  force  of  character  that  enables  him  to  work 
with  a  purpose,  and  cany  his  plans  to  a  successful 
issue.  He  has  never  given  his  fellow-citizens 
cause  to  distrust  him,  but  has  always  aimed  to  do 
rightly  by  others.  In  politics,  he  affiliates  with 
the  Democrats,  and  is  ever  loyal  to  his  party.  For 
nearly  nine  years  he  has  held  the  important  office 
of  School  Director,  and  the  educational  interests  of 
the  township  with  which  he  has  thus  become  identi- 
fied have  not  suffered  at  his  hands. 


••O*O-@y^<^(93-0*O.- 


ylLMA.U     \\  II. 1. 1 
prising    the    hist 
'  WW      settlers  of   Venn 


TLLIAM  WILLIAMS.  In  a  record  com- 
listory  of  the  principal  old 
nnilion  County,  the  name  of 
Mr.  Williams  cannot  properly  be  omitted.  !!<■  es- 
tablished himself  in  township  -2.'!,  range  12.  in 
1871,  securing  a  tract  of  wild  land,  which,  after 
years  of  arduous  labor,  he  has  converted  into  a 
comfortable  homestead.  It  is  160  acres  in  extent, 
and  pleasantly  located  on  sections  18  and  19,  the 
dwelling  being  on  the  latter.  His  career  lias  been 
similar  to  that  of  many  of  the  men  around  him.  in 
which  he  has  labored  early  and  late  to  provide  for 
the  wants  of  coming  years,  and  in  all  respects  has 
conducted  himself  as  an  honest  man  and  a.  good 
citizen. 

.Mr.  Williams  is  a  native  of  the  Prairie  Stale, 
having  been  born  in  McLean  County.  Dec.  Li. 
1832.  lie  was  there  reared  to  farming  pursuits, 
and  remained  a  member  of  his  father's  household 
until  reaching  Ins  majority.  He  was  blest  with 
good  common  sense  and  excellent  health,  and  made 
the  most  of  his  opportunities  for  obtaining  a  prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  school.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years  he  began  the  battle  of  life  on 
hi-  own  account,  operating  first  on  rented  land,  and 
within  a  few  years  purchased  land  and  constructed 
a  farm  of  his  own. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  Mr.  Williams  took  possession 
of  the  land  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies,  at  a 
time  when  it  was  nothing  but  raw  prairie,  lie  has 
effected  all  the  improvements  which  we  now  behold, 
and  which  certainly  do  great  credit  to  his  taste  and 
industry.       He  made  it  his  business  at  an  early  day 


to  set  i .u i  n  grove  of  young  trees,  which  are  now 
crown,  and  furnish  a  delightful  shade  for  the  resi- 
dence and  surroundings.  Under  his  wise  manage- 
ment the  land  has  become  highly  productive.  Mr. 
Williams  at  first  purchased  eighty  acres,  and  sub- 
sequently added  to  it  until  he  is  the  owner  of  the 
quarter-section.  He  has  a  goodly  assortment  of 
live  stock,  and  the  necessary  conveniences  for  their 
care  and  keeping,  besides  the  required  machinery 
for  running  the  farm  in  a  scientific  and  profitable 
manner. 

Shortly  before  reaching  the  twenty  second  year 
of  his  age  Mr.  Williams  was  married,  Aug.  27. 
1854,  to  Miss  Abigail  Dean.  The  young  couple 
commenced  the  journey  of  life  together  on  rented 
land  in  a  manner  corresponding  to  their  means  and 
surroundings,  and  worked  with  a  mutual  purpose 
for  the  future.  In  due  time  the  household  circle 
included  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living: 
Elnora  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Umbanhowar;  they 
live  about  one-half  mile  east  of  the  Williams  home- 
stead, and  are  the  parents  of  five  children — Nellie, 
George,  Charles,  May  and  William,  .lames  ,1.  mar- 
ried Miss  Anna  Sellers,  and  lives  north  of  his 
father's  place  on  a  farm;  he  is  the  father  of  two 
children — Grace  and  Lula.  Mary  Evarilla,  usually 
called  Eva,  and  . Jonathan  Lee  are  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

Mrs.  Abigail  (Dean)  Williams,  the  wife  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Knox  County.  Ohio,  Nov.  20, 
1833,  and  is  the  daughter  of  J.  M.  Dean,  a  native 
of  Maryland.  Mr.  Dean  emigrated  when  a  young 
man  to  the  Buckeye  State,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Elwell.  They  removed  to 
McLean  County,  this  State,  when  their  daughter 
Abigail  was  a  maiden  of  seventeen  years,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm,  where  the  father  died  in  1872  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years,  and  the  mother  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1888,  aged  eighty-seven.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
and  residents  of  Illinois.  Kansas  and  Nebraska. 

William  Williams.  Si\,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  when  a  young  man 
came  to  .McLean  County.  111.,  where  he  took  up  a 
tract  of  raw  land,  and  began  farming  in  true  pio- 
neer style.  In  McLean  County  he  married  Miss 
Evarilla  Ilobsou.  and   they   became   the  parents  of 


Residence  ofW^.  Hawkins  ,Sec.7.,(T.18.  R.12.)  Catlin  Township. 


— 


Residence  of  Wm  Jurgensmeyer/Sec.23.(T.i8.-R.14.)  Vance  Township. 


PORTRAIT  AM)  liloCh'ArillCAI.  ALBUM. 


357 


one  child,  William,  our  subject.  Mr.  Williams 
died  when  a  young  man,  and  bis  widow  wa3  subse- 
quently married  to  J.  G.  Rayburn;  she  died  in 
i  848,  when  ber  son  William  was  a  youth  of  sixteen 
years.  She  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  when 
she  removed  with  ber  parents  to  Ohio,  and  from 
there  to  McLean  County,  where  ber  lather.  Joshua 
Hobson,  engaged  in  farming  and  spenl  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

Mr.  Williams,  our  subject,  cast  his  lirst  Presiden- 
tial vote  for  John  C.    r're t.  anil  while  not   niix- 

ing  any   with    political    a  flairs,  has    his  own  ideas  in 

regard  to  mailers  and  things,  and  gives  his  un- 
qualified support  to  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
one  of  those  solid  old  landmarks  whose  word  is 
considered  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  who  can  always 

he  depended  upon  to  do  as  he  says. 

41       MLLIAM  HAWKINS.    The  citizen-soldier, 

%/~\!/i  w''°  '"''  s"  ,,llu"'1  toward  saving  the  Union 
\jjy${/  from  destruction  in  the  I  ale  war,  has  since,  as 
is  well-known,  been  a  prominent  element  in  further- 
ing the  development  of  the  vast  resources  of  our 
country,  and  has  contributed  largely  to  its  material 
prosperity.  As  a  representative  of  that  element  if 
gives  us  pleasure  to  transcribe  to  these  pages  a 
brief  record  of  the  life-work  of  William  Hawkins. 
He  is  actively  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  and  raising 
stock  in  Vermilion  County,  having  on  section  7. 
Catlin  Township,  as  Bnely  improved  and  well  cul- 
tivated a  farm  as  is  to  be  found  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  this  rich  agricultural  region. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  his  birth 
taking  place  in  Wayne  County,  Jan.  I.  1831.  His 
parents.  Nathan  and  Sarah  (Wright)  Hawkins, 
were  also  horn  in  thai  county,  and  there  they  were 
reared  and  married,  and  in  turn  reared  a  family  of 
ten  children.  The  pood  mother  passed  away  from 
the  scenes  amid  which  her  entire  life  had  been 
passed,  stricken  by  the  hand  of  death,  but  theaged 
father  still  survives,  and  makes  his  home  in  the 
place  of  Ins  nativity. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  the  eldest  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  habits 


of  industry  and  frugality  were  early  taught  him  by 
precept  and  example.  He  engaged  in  farming 
tending  sawmill,  and   in  other  occupations  till  he 

had  obtained  man's  estate,  and  in  the  spring  of 
I860  sought  the  fertile  prairies  of  Vermilion 
County,  this  State,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
child,  with  a  view  of  establishing  a  home  here  per- 
manently.  He  has  since  been  a  valued  resident  of 
Catlin  Township,  with  the  exception  of  the  bitter 
years  spent  on  Southern  battlefields,  when  with 
true  patriotism  In1  heroically  pave  up  home  and 
tore  himself  from  his  loved  ones  to  aid  hiscountry 
in  the  time  of  her  greatest  trial.  He  enlisted  on  the 
Llth  of  August,  1862,  in  Company  G,  125th  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  for  three  long  and  weary  years  served 
faithfully  and  efficiently  through  many  hard  cam- 
paigns, and  suffered  the  hardships  and  privations  of 
a  soldier's  life  without  a  murmur.  He  took  part 
in  all  the  engagements  with  which  his  regiment 
had  anything  to  do,  with  the  exception  of  that  at 
Chickamauga.  At  Dallas,  Ga.,  while  on  picket, 
duty,  he  came  near  being  captured,  but  he  cun- 
ningly managed  to  elude  the  rebels.  Hisgallant 
conduct  in  the  face  of  (lie  enemy,  received  merited 
commendation  from  his  superior  officers  and  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  before  his 
honorable  discharge a1  Washington,  1).  ('. 

After  bis  experience  of  military  life  Mr.  Hawkins 
returned  to  this  county,  and  resumed  his  interrupted 
labors, and  has  since  given  his  entire  attention  to 
farming  and  Stock-raising.  lie  owns  170  acres  of 
choice,  well-tilled  land,  on  which  he  has  erected  a. 
line  set  of  buildings,  including  a  roomy,  substan- 
tially built  residence,  a  view  of  which  with  the 
surrounding  lawns,  beautified  by  lovely  shade  tree-, 
is  an  attractive  addition  to  this  volume. 

March  28,  1855,  Mr.  I  law  kins  and  Miss  Dnanali 
Burgoyne  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrii 
mony.  Mrs.  Hawkins  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Muskingum  County,  Aug.  20,  1835,  to  .lames  and 
Mary  (Miner)Burgoyne,  the  former  of  English  an- 
tecedents. The  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  (he  birth  of  four 
children,  namely :  Lizzie,  i  he  wife  of  ( teorge  Patter- 
son; Nora,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Church;  Ella;  Etta. 

Mr.  Hawkins  is  a  valued  member  of  this  com- 
munity,    and    his    loyalty    to    his    country    is   as 


358 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


marked  as  in  the  days  when  he  courageously  took 
his  life  in  his  hands  and  marched  forth  to  do  battle 
for  its  honor  and  the  preservation  of  its  integrity. 
In  him  the  Republican  party  finds  one  who  faith- 
fully upholds  its  principles  at  the  ballot  box.  lie 
and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church; 
and  are  zealous  workers  in  the  cause  of  religion, 
seeking  to  promote  the  moral  and  social  elevation 
of  the  community. 


y^ILLIAM  JURGENSMEYER.     The  career 
of  the  subject  of  this  biography  illustrates 

^^  in  an  admirable  manner  what  may  be  ac- 
complished by  a  man  beginning  at  the  foot  of  the 
ladder  and  by  force  of  persistent  industry  making 
his  way  upward  to  a  good  position  socially  and 
financially.  Upon  coming  to  this  county,  Mr. 
Jurgensmeyer  had  very  little  means  but  is  now 
quite  an  extensive  land  owner  and  has  a  homestead 
of  great  value  embellished  with  fine  buildings  and 
everything  to  make  life  pleasant  and  desirable. 
His  course  in  life  should  prove  an  encouraging  ex- 
ample to  the  young  man  starting  out  dependent 
upon  his  own  resources  and  with  nothing  but  his 
own  hands  to  pave  his  way  to  a  worthy  position 
among  his  fellow  men. 

The  Jurgensmeyer  family  originated  in  Prussia 
where  Gottlieb,  the  father  of  our  subject,  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Prussian  army  three  years,  hold- 
ing the  rank  of  Lieutenant.  He  was  married  in 
early  manhood  to  Miss  Caroline  Rohlfink,  a  native 
of  his  own  Province  and  whom  he  met  after  com- 
ing to  this  country  in  Lancaster,  Ohio.  In  that 
place  they  were  married  and  lived  about  ten  j-ears. 
Thence  they  removed  to  Hamburg  in  the  same 
county  and  five  years  later  changed  their  residence 
to  Mocking  County,  sojourning  there  also  five 
years.  Their  next  removal  was  to  Logan,  county 
seat  of  Hocking  Count}',  where  they  spent  their 
last  years  and  died  within  a  week  of  each  other,  in 
1870. 

The  father  of  our  subject  began  life  in  this 
country  without  means,  but  was  prospered  in  his 
labors  as  a  farmer  and    besides   comfortably  sup- 


porting his  family  of  ten  children,  managed  to 
accumulate  a  goodly  amount  of  property.  Nine 
of  these  children  lived  to  mature  years  and  seven 
are  now  living.  William,  our  subject,  was  the  sec- 
ond child  and  was  born  March  30,  1843,  in  Lan- 
caster, Ohio.  He  received  very  limited  schooling 
and  with  the  ax  and  mattock  assisted  in  digging 
out  two  big  farms  in  the  Buckeye  State.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  then,  in  1867,  left  home  for  Illinois,  coming 
directly  to  Fairiuount,  this  county.  Here  he  met 
an  acquaintance,  Jacob  Illes,  whose  brother  was 
well-known  to  his  father's  family.  He  staid  with 
him  about  a  week,  then  entered  the  employ  of 
.lames  Dickson  with  whom  he  worked  for  nine 
months.  Later  he  engaged  for  a  short  time  with  a 
threshing  machine  and  after  that  for  four  weeks 
earned  $18  per  week  cutting  corn. 

Our  subject  now  sent  home  for  money  and  pur- 
chased 160  acres  of  land  which  is  included  in  his 
present  farm  and  of  which  he  took  possession  in 
1868.  He  put  up  a  house,  then  returning  to  Ohio 
was  married  April  18,  1869,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hengst.  The  young  couple  shortly  afterward 
directed  their  steps  to  their  new  home  in  this 
county  and  began  laboring  hand  in  hand  with  a 
mutual  purpose  in  view.  The  3'oung  wife  had 
come  from  her  father's  homestead  well  supplied 
with  all  modern  conveniences,  to  a  new  country  and 
a  home  then  presenting  few  attractions.  It  required 
great  courage  and  perseverance  to  meet  the  diffi- 
culties with  which  they  had  to  contend,  as  they 
were  poor  and  at  one  time  they  could  not  raise 
enough  cash  to  mail  a  letter.  Mr.  Jurgensmeyer 
began  breaking  the  sod  and  preparing  his  land  for 
cultivation  as  rapidly  as  possible.  There  were 
fences  to  be  laid  and  buildings  erected  and  it  re- 
quired incessant  labor  to  make  both  ends  meet  and 
carry  on  the  desired  improvements  on  the  new 
farm. 

The  condition  of  things  since  that  time  have 
materially  changed  with  our  subject  and  his  indus- 
trious and  efficient  wife.  Their  estate  now  com- 
prises 640  acres  of  good  land  with  as  fine  a  resi- 
dence as  can  be  found  in  Vance  Township.  The 
main  barn  occupies  an  area  of  60  x  54  feet  with 
20-foot  posts,  being  built   in  that  solid  and  sub- 


PORTRAIT   AND   IUO<  ;  R  APIIICAL  ALBUM. 


359 


stantial  manner  which  will  insure  its  solidity  for 
the  greater  part  of  a  century  unless  some  very 
unusual  catastrophe  destroys  it.  A  line  apple 
orchard  of  thirteen  acres,  more  than  supplier  the 
needs  of  the  family  in  this  direction  while  there  is 
a  flourishing  vineyard  and  an  abundance  of  the 
smaller  fruits.  A  beautiful  grove  of  maple  trees 
stands  adjacent  to  the  residence  and  the  whole 
very  nearly  approaches  the  ideal  country  home, 
where  peace  and  plenty  abound.  A  view  of  their 
beautiful  residence  is  presented  on  another  page 
and  will  be  appreciated  by  all  the  readers  of  this 
volume. 

Stock-raising  forms  one  of  the  distinctive  feat- 
ures of  the  Jurgensmeyer  farm,  our  subject  having 
usually  about  155  head  of  high-grade,  Short-horn 
cattle,  twenty-four  head  of  horses  and  about  150 
swine.  It  is  conceded  the  world  over  that  the 
sons  of  the  Fatherland  have  especial  good  taste 
and  discretion  in  the  selection  of  their  draft  ani- 
mals and  in  their  enre  of  them.  Mr.  Jurgensmey- 
er's  favorite  breed  is  the  Clydesdales,  while  he  has 
some  line  roadsters  of  the  Gold  Dust  strain.  His 
sleek  and  well-fed  stock  are  at  once  an  ornament  to 
the  farm  and  a  matter  in  which  he  may  take  par- 
donable pride. 

Of  the  four  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife  only  two  are  living:  Mary  Eliza- 
beth was  born  Sept.  ItS.  1871,  and  lias  received  a 
good  education  completing  her  studies  in  the  schools 
of  Danville;  she  is  a  line  performer  on  the  piano 
and  has  an  elegant  instrument  which  adds  greatly 
to  the  home  recreations.  The  son.  Louis  V.,  was 
born  May  3,  1876,  and  is  a  bright  and  promising 
boy  still  pursuing  his  studies.  Mr.  Jurgensmeyer 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party  on  national  issues 
but  at  the  local  elections  aims  to  support  the  men 
best  qualified  to  serve  the  interests  of  the  people. 
He  has  served  as  School  Director  for  a  period  of 
fifteen  years,  and  with  his  excellent  wife  inclines 
to  the  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  Church  but  there 
being  no  organization  of  that  church  in  their  town- 
ship, they  have  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Chinch  and  are  greatly  interested  in  Sunday-school 
work. 

In  the  fall  of  186-1  Mr.  Jurgensmeyer  returned 
to  his  native  land  where  he   spent  several  months 


visiting  some  of  the  principal  cities  of  Germany — 
Hanover.  Bremen  and  Berlin,  also  going  into  Lug- 
land.  This  journey  was  a  source  Of  great  enjoy- 
ment and  much  useful  information,  and  Mr.  Jur- 
gensmeyer considered  the  time  and  money  well 
spent,  returning  with  enlarged  views  and  noting 
with  satisfaction  the  natural  changes  occurring 
among  an  energetic  and  progressive  people. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  is  the  daughter  of  Lewis 
Hengst,  who  with  his  estimable  wife  is  still  living 
in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  both  being  in  the  seven- 
tieth year  of  their  age,  having  been  born  the  same 
year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jurgensmeyer  in  addition  to 
their  own  children  took  into  their  home  and  under 
their  protecting  love  about  188;?, a  little  girl,  Edna 
Johnson,  whom  they  purpose  to  keep  until  she 
shall  have  attained  womanhood  and  goes  to  a  home 
of  her  own.  She  was  born  Aug.  27.  1 S 7  J .  in  Eu- 
gene, Vermillion  Co.,  Ind.,  and  will  be  given  a 
good  education  with  the  careful  training  which 
they  have  bestowed  upon  their  own  children. 
Mrs.  Jurgensmeyer  is  a  very  capable  and  intelligent 
lady  and  has  done  her  full  share  in  the  accumula- 
tion of  the  fine  estate,  the  taxes  upon  which  each 
year  add  handsomely  to  the  sum  in  the  county 
treasury. 

^ll'AMES  HAYS.  Here  and  lliere  upon  the 
dusty  highway  of  life  we  come  across  an 
individual  plentifully  moistened  with  the 
dew  of  human  kindness,  and  of  this  class 
Mr.  Hays  is  a  shining  light.  All  his  neighbors 
testify  to  bis  generosity  and  hospitality,  he  being 
one  who  is  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to 
those  in  need,  never  asking  or  expecting  any  re- 
turn. He  has  a  comfortable  homestead,  compris- 
ing a  good  farm  on  section  14  in  Vance  Township, 
where  be  pursues  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  letting 
the  world  wag  as  it  will  and  striving  to  do  good 
as  he  has  opportunity. 

In  referring  to  the  parental  history  of  Mr. 
Hays,  we  find  that  his  father.  Benjamin  Hays,  was 
a  native  of  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  and  born  March 
5.  1809.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  natives 
of  Kentucky,  and  two  uncles  of  our  subject  served 


360 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBFM. 


in   the  War  of  1812,  one  receiving    an    honorable 
wound  in  the  leg,  from  which  he  recovered. 

Benjamin  Hays,  in  1829,  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Thompson,  in  Fayette  Comity.  Ohio, 
where  he  operated  as  a  farmer  and  trailer,  and,  so- 
journed there  with  his  family  about  forty  years. 
Then,  emigrating  to  Illinois,  he  settled  on  320 
acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Sydney,  Champaign 
County,  200  acres  of  which  he  brought  to  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation.  The  journey  hither  was  made 
overland,  in  1850,  with  teams,  the  travelers  being 
thirteen  days  on  the  road.  The  family  included 
nine  children,  of  whom  only  three  are  living, 
.lames  being  the  eldest  of  these.  The  others  are 
Mrs.  Martha  Humes,  of  Sidney,  and  Mrs.  Maggie 
Harding,  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.  The  mother  died 
on  the  9th  of  August,  1870. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Benjamin  Hays 
broke  up  housekeeping,  sold  his  farm  and  pur- 
chased property  in  Sidney,  111.  Later,  he  went  to 
Ohio  on  a  visit,  which  he  prolonged  about  six 
years.  Upon  returning  to  Illinois,  he  took  up  his 
abode  with  his  son,  our  subject,  with  whom  he  has 
since  lived,  and  is  now  in  his  eightieth  year.  He 
rides  about  the  farm  on  horseback  every  day,  looks 
after  the  stock,  and  is  in  splendid  health,  playing 
his  violin  and  dancing  with  much  of  the  grace  and 
agility  of  his  earlier  years.  He  is  a  great  lover  of 
the  equine  race,  and  has  owned  some  valuable 
horseflesh,  among  which  was  -'Buck  Elk,"  a  Ken- 
tucky racer  of  phenomenal  speed,  and  ••Cherokee." 
a  very  fine  animal  which  he  purchased  of  Thomas 
Eads. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  second  child 
of  his  parents,  and  was  born  Dec.  II).  1830.  in  the 
same  house  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  wherein  his 
honored  father  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of 
day.  He  received  a  practical  education  in  the 
common  school,  mostly  under  one  teacher.  David 
Eastman,  who  died  about  fourteen  years  ago.  He 
made  his  home  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  assum- 
ing many  of  the  responsibilities,  until  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  the  business  of  life  for 
himself  by  breaking  prairie  with  seven  yoke  of 
oxen.  In  the  winter  of  1852-;".:!  he  fed  Kin  head 
of  cattle  for  Ilendrickson  &  Cowling.  In  the 
spring  of  1853,   April    16,   he   started    with   these 


cattle  on  foot  for  New  York  City,  where  he  ar- 
rived safely  on  the  11th  of  duly.  The  head  steer 
of  the  herd  was  led  by  Henry  White,  of  Cham- 
paign. This  errand  executed,  Mr.  Hays  returned 
home,  and  in  due  time  started  with  another  lot  of 
cattle  from  Parish's  Grove,  near  LaFayette,  Ind., 
driving  them  through  to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  being 
105  days  on  the  road.  Upon  returning  home,  he 
engaged  in  a  store  at  Old  Homer  for  two  years, 
and  in  the  meantime  shipped  a  load  of  cattle  to 
Chicago  for  his  father.  Afterward  he  handled  con- 
siderable stock  for  other  parties.  He  assisted  in 
removing  the  fust  house  from  Old  Homer  to  the 
present  town,  and  all  this  time  watched  the  growth 
and  development  of  Central  Illinois  with  that  abid- 
ing interest  which  is  only  felt  by  the  intelligent 
and  thoughtful  citizen. 

The  6th  of  May.  1858.  witnessed  the  marriage 
of  our  subject  with  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  .1. 
M.  Custer  and  sister  of  Mrs.  Aaron  Dalbey.  These 
were  the  only  girls  in  the  Custer  family.  Mrs. 
Hays  was  born  Oct.  10,  1838.  in  Fayette  County, 
Ohio,  and  was  ten  years  old  when  she  came  with 
her  parents  to  Illinois.  She  received  her  education 
in  both  States,  and  grew  up  a  very  attractive 
young  woman,  with  a  large  amount  of  practical 
good  sense.  After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hays  lived  in  Sidney  two  years,  removing  to  their 
present  home  in  1  8(11. 

The  neat  and  well-regulated  farm  of  our  subject 
bears  very  little  resemblance  to  the  uncultivated 
tract  of  land  upon  which  he  and  his  young  wife 
settled  upon  coming  to  this  county.  It  was  then 
an  open  prairie,  unfenced  and  without  buildings. 
Although  making  no  pretentions  to  elegance.  they 
live  comfortably,  and  probably  enjoy  more  solid 
happiness  than  many  who  make  a  greater  dis- 
play in  the  world.  The  five  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hays  are  all  living.  The  eldest,  Dollie 
E.,  is  the  wife  of  George  T.  Poage,  a  merchant  at 
Prairie  View,  and  they  have  two  children;  Mattie 
E.  married  Amos  C.  Harden,  who  is  now  deceased, 
is  the  mother  of  one  child,  and  lives  three  miles 
west  of  Fainnouiit;  William  S.,  Ella  and  John  M. 
remain  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mrs.  Hays  and  most  of  her  children  are  mem- 
bers in  good  standing  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


301 


terian  Church,  unci  Sir.  II..  although  not  identified 
with  any  religious  organization,  has  a  full  belief  in 
the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion.  He  main- 
tains a  lively  interest  in  politics,  and  keeps  himself 
well  posted  in  regard  to  those  questions  of  inter- 
est to  every  intelligent  citizen.  Upon  becoming  a 
voting  citizen,  he  identified  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  1  nit  in  1860,  when  Abraham  Lincoln 
had  steal  his  way  to  Washington  for  fear  of  assas- 
sination. Mr.  Hays  said  to  himself," James,  this  party 
is  not  your  right  place."  Since  thai  time  he  has  been 
a  decided  Republican.  He  is  a  strong  temperance 
man,  never  having  used  ardent  spirits, and  steadily 
opposes  their  manufacture.  Aside  from  serving  as 
a  Road  Overseer  in  1864,  lie  lias  steadily  declined 
becoming  an  office-holder.  Socially,  he  belongs  to 
Homer  Lodge  No.  1!»9,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  being  the 
oldest  member  but  one,  entering  the  lodge  after  its 
formation,  and  in  tins  he  officiated  only  as  Tyler. 
although  he  might  have  held  all  the  other  offices. 


^/\/^.-**i2££'.'©^g- 


■g?~a>OTZr>  „  -v.i^. 


^/*  ILLS  ODLE.    This  gentleman  is  one  of  the 
Hi      11'    nll,s'  prominent  and  bestknown  citizens  in 
I       15  the  northeastern  part  of  this    county.     He 
*  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ind.,  Dec.  26, 

1*11,  and  was  brought  up  to  farming,  receiving 
in  his  boyhood  such  education  as  could  be  obtained 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place.  His 
parents  were  Nathan  I!,  and  Frances  (Watkins) 
Odle,  the  father  a  fanner  in  the  place  where  his 
son  was  born.  Our  subject  remained  quietly  at 
the  home  farm  until  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion,  when  he  offered  his  services  to  his 
country  and  enlisted,  while  still  under  age,  on 
June  3,  L861,  in  Company  A.,  loth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, commanded  by  Col.  D.  G.  Wagner  and  on 
the  14th  of  the  same  month,  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  at  Lafayette,  Ind.  For  over 
three  years  the  young  soldier  did  valiant  service  in 
his  country's  cause.  His  regiment  was  first  en- 
gaged in  active  duty  in  West  Virginia  and  three 
months  after  being  mustered  in,  was  in  the  battle 
of  Cheat  .Mountain,  W.  Va-,  on  Sept.  12,  1861,  and 
on    Oct.  3,  following,  was  engaged  at    Greenbrier 


Springs,  W.  Ya..  both  being  Federal  successes.  In 
November.  1861,  the  15th  Indiana  was  transferred 
to  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  under  Gen.  Buell,  Nelson's 
division,  and  here  Mr.  Odle  took  a  part  in  several 
general  engagements,  lie  was  in  the  -'cut  battle 
of  Shiloh,  Tenn..  begun  on  April  6,  1862,  his  regi- 
men! taking  part  on  the  second  day.  when  the 
hardest  lighting  was  done.  Buell  arriving  on  the 
7lh  in  time  to  reinforce  Grant's  troops.  He  was 
under  fire  at  the  siege  of  Corinth.  Miss.,  and  after 
the  evacuation  of  that  place,  went  East  with  his 
regiment  to  Decatur,  Ala.,  and  later  from  there  to 
Tuscumbia,  Tenn.,  and  was  in  all  the  toilsome 
marches  and  maneuvers,  undertaken  to  prevent  the 
return  of  the  rebel,  Gen.  Bragg  to  Kentucky. 
Finally'  the  Union  army  fell  back  on  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  from  that  point  were  sent  to  Louisville, 
Ky.  The  first  open  battle  between  the  opposing 
forces  lighting  for  the  possession  of  Kentucky  was 
fought  at  Perryville  on  Oct.  8,  1862,  and  in  that 
the  15th  Indiana  were  active  participants.  They 
were  then  returned  to  Nashville,  where  they  slaved 
uunlil  Dec.  20,  1862,  when  they  were  hurried  to 
the  front,  and  were  engaged  on  the  last  day  of  the 
year  on  the  hotly  contested  field  of  stone  River. 
The  following  year  they  were  all  through  the  Tul- 
Lahoma  campaign,  and  were  afterwards  engaged  at 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga  on  Sept.  19,  and  in  the 
gnat  light  at  Mission  Ridge,  they  were  a  part  of  the 
army  that  marched  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  when 
it  was  beleaguered  by  the  enemy,  and  succeeding 
that  were  in  many  minor  battles  and  skirmishes. 
The  15th  Indiana,  were  no  holiday  soldiers,  but 
during  their  entire  term  of  service,  were  actively 
engaged,  marching  and  fighting,  and  in  all  their 
trials,  hardships,  battles,  and  skirmishes.  Mr.  Odle 
bore  himself  as  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier.  His 
term  of  service  having  expired,  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Indianapolis  on  the  30th  of  June,  1804. 
Returning  then  to  the  pursuits  of  peace  Mr.  Odle 
engaged  in  farming  in  his  native  county,  in  which  he 
remained  until  he  decided  to  make  his  home  in 
Vermilion  County.  111.  He  bought  120  acres  of 
land  on  section  3  in  Grant  Township,  now  a  part 
of  his  homestead,  and  to  that  place  removed  in 
March  1871,  and  there  his  home  has  since  been.  To 
this  property  he  has  added  by  subsequent  purchase. 


362 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


having  now  a  fine  farm  of  490  acres,  all  thoroughly 
improved  and  cultivated  with  a  good  house  and 
farm  buildings,  and  worth  probably  about  $18,000. 
In  addition  to  this  Mr.  Odle  is  the  owner  of  a  farm 
<if  :'i20  acres  in  Holt  County.  Neb.,  and  of  other  real 
estate,  and  personal  property,  and  all  has  been 
acquired  by  his  own  energy,  industry,  and  fore- 
sight.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  business  judgment, 
and  his  success  is  the  legitimate  reward  of  his  close 
attention  to  his  own  affairs. 

Although  always  a  farmer,  Mr.  Odle  has  been  a 
a  successful  merchant  as  well.  The  store  in  Che- 
ney ville,  in  this  township,  was  his  property,  and  on 
Dec.  1.  1886,  he  took  it  into  his  own  possession, 
and  under  his  own  immediate  care  and  direction 
he  successfully  carried  on  mercantile  business  there 
until  May  L889,  when  he  exchanged  it  for  a  West- 
ern farm. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried— first  on  Aug.  30.  1866  to  Miss  Susan  Hunter, 
who  was  born  Nov.  25.  1847  and  died  May  17, 
1870,  leaving  two  children.  Ella  Florence,  born 
Sept.  17,  1867,  and  Anna  Ross,  Oct.  18,1869.  The 
first  wife's  parents  are  both  living  in  Warren 
County.  Ind.,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy  years. 

Mr.  Odle  was  on  Jan.  12,  1872.  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Sarah  E.  Hunter,  born  Jan.  22,  1850. 
His  present  wife  was  a  daughter  of  John  Hunter, 
a  farmer  of  Warren  County.  Ind.  He  was 
a  native  of  Scotland,  and  came  to  this  country 
when  eighteen  years  old,  in  the  year  1836.  He 
staid  in  the  city  of  New  York  for  a  couple  of 
years,  and  then  emigrated  to  Warren  County.  Ind., 
of  which  he  was  a  very  early  settler.  There  he 
adopted  the  vocation  of  a  farmer.  He  died  Nov. 
18,  1880,  when  nearly  sixty-three  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  well-informed  man  and  took  considerable  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  but  never  held  office.  In 
politics  he  was  a  staunch  Republican,  and  through 
the  Civil  War  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Govern- 
ment. He  was  married  in  Warren  County,  Jan.  13, 
1842,  to  Miss  Jane  Montgomery,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  April  22.  1820.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  are  now  living.  Mrs.  Hunter 
lives  with  her  different  children  but  her  home  is 
with  Mrs.  Odle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Odle  have  five  children,  as  follows: 


Ilattie  Letitia,  born  Feb.  21.  1874;  John  Lindsay, 
Aug.  3,  1875;  Miles  Sherman.  Nov.  2.  1878;  Na- 
than W..  Nov.  2,  1880.  and  Frances  J..  Nov.  3. 
1883. 

Mr.  Odle  is  a  man  of  mark  and  influence,  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  and  his  sound  judg- 
ment leads  his  advice  to  be  sought  by  his  neigh- 
bors in  business  affairs.  From  comparatively  hum- 
ble beginnings,  he  has  raised  himself  to  the  position 
he  now  occupies,  and  the  competence  he  has  ac- 
quired he  is  justly  entitled  to.  For  a  number  of 
years  lie  has  been  a  School  Trustee  in  Grant  Town- 
ship, and  from  1885  to  1889,  was  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  is  a  member  of  Harmon  Post  No.  115, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Hoopeston.  and  in  politics  is  a  staunch 
adherent  of  the  Republican  party  in  all  State  and 
National  affairs. 


0RIN  M.  DANIEL  is  extensively  identified 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Vermilion 
County,  and  is  one  of  its  most  enterprising, 
energetic  and  able  farmers.  He  has  a  fine  farm  on 
section  20.  Danville  Township,  comprising  sixty 
acres,  pleasantly  located  on  the  Georgetown  Road, 
two  and  one-half  miles  from  the  court-house.  He 
also  leases  a  large  tract  of  land  from  the  coal  com- 
pany, and  has  1,000  acres  under  his  personal  super- 
vision, and  in  addition  has  the  contract  to  fur- 
nish timber  to  the  Grape  Creek  and  Consolidated 
Coal  Company. 

Mr.  Daniel  was  born  June  19,  1842,  in  Moores- 
ville,  Delaware  Co..  N.Y..  and  is  a  son  of  Aaron 
Burr  Daniel,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  who  was 
in  turn  a  son  of  Mathew  Daniel.  The  latter  was  a 
native  of  Scotland  who  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man.  and  so  far  as  known,  is  the  only  mem- 
ber of  his  farcify*  that  came  to  this  country.  He 
located  in  the  wilderness  at  Mooresville,  buying  a 
tract  of  limbered  laud,  from  which  he  cleared  a 
farm  and  resided  there  some  years.  He  then  sold 
that  place,  and  removing  to  Deposit  about  1840. 
bought  a  farm  there  on  which  he  made  his  home 
till  death  claimed  him.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife    was  Eunice  Sturgis,  who  is  thought  to  have 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


363 


been  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  her  last 
days  were  also  passed  on  the  homestead  in  Deposit. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  and  married 
in  his  native  county,  and  then  bought  a  farm  one 
mile  from  Deposit,  located  partly  in  Delaware  and 
partly  in  Broome  County.  He  resided  there  till 
1870,  prosperously  prosecuting  his  calling,  and 
then  came  to  Vermilion  County,  where  he  is  now 
passing  the  declining  years  of  a  bus}-,  honorable 
life.  He  has  been  twice  married,  and  is  the  father 
of  twelve  children,  seven  by  the  first  marriage  and 
five  by  the  second. 

Orin  M.  Daniel  of  this  brief  biographical  review- 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town,  and  from  his  father  received  a  sound,  prac- 
tical training  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  till  he  was  twenty- 
one,  and  then  in  the  pride  of  a  vigorous,  self-reli- 
ant manhood,  he  came  West  to  try  life  in  the 
Prairie  State,  rightly  thinking  that  its  rich  soil 
offered  many  inducements  for  one  who  intended 
at  some  time  to  become  a  farmer.  He  came  to 
Danville,  but  did  not  at  first  enter  upon  his  career 
as  a  farmer  but  was  employed  by  his  uncles  in  the 
coal  business.  He  subsequently  engaged  on  the 
Illinois  Central  Railway  in  some  capacity  for  two 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  returned 
to  his  native  New  York,  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  other  kinds  of  work  in  that  part  of  the 
country  till  1872.  In  that  year  he  came  back  to 
Illinois  and  obtained  employment  with  the  Ells- 
worth Coal  Company,  remaining  with  them  five 
years.  Since  first  coming  here  he  had  wisely  saved 
his  money,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  had 
enough  to  invest  in  a  good  farm  and  so  bought  the 
one  where  he  now  resides.  It  is  well  tilled,  is  sup- 
plied with  substantial, conveniently  arranged  build- 
ings and  all  kinds  of  machinery  for  conducting 
agriculture  in  the  best  possible  manner,  and  it  is 
indeed  a  model  farm.  We  have  referred  to  his 
other  interests  in  the  first  part  of  this  sketch. 

In  June  2,  1868,  Mr.  Daniel  took  unto  himself 
a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Jane  Thompson,  who 
has  proved  to  him  a  veritable  helpmate,  and  he  is 
indebted  to  her  for  aiding  him  to  become  prosper- 
ous. She  was  born  in  Delhi,  Delaware  Co..  N.Y., 
May  8,  1841,  to  Robert  and  Nellie  (Shaw)  Thomp- 


son. The  pleasant  household  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  is  completed  by  the  five  children  born  to 
them:  Orin,  Alvin,  Walter  P..  Perry,  Etlie. 

Mr.  Daniel  is  a  busy  man,  devoting  his  time  l., 
his  many  and  varied  interests,  and  while  so  doing 
has  done  much  to  promote  the  material  prosperity 
of  his  township  and  county.  He  is  prompt  and 
systematic  in  his  work  and  knows  how  to  conduct 
it  so  as  to  produce  the  best  results  financially.  He 
and  his  wife  are  esteemed  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  contribute  liberally  to  its  support, 
and  are  always  active  in  advancing  all  charitable 
and  benevolent  objects.  In  politics  Mr.  Daniel  is 
a  decided  Democrat.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
Vermilion  Camp.  No.  244  M.  W.  A. 


»-*-!* — «, 


ECBEN  JACK,  Notary  Public  and  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business  at  Fairmount,  is  a 
(Ai\\\  man  of  note  in  his  community,  possessing 
^P>  good  business  capacities  and  making  for 
himself  the  record  of  an  honest  man  and  a  good 
citizen.  He  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Ind., 
March  19,  1840.  and  was  the  eldest  child  of  Silas 
S.  and  Bashaba  (Elmore)  Jack  who  were  both  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  and  the  mother  belonging  to  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends.  They  left  their  native  State  in 
their  youth  and  were  married  in  Tippecanoe  County, 
Ind.,  in  1837. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  remained  residents  of 
Indiana  until  April,  1800,  then  came  to  this  county 
and  located  in  Fairmount.  Only  three  of  their 
children  lived  to  mature  years,  viz:  two  daugh- 
ters and  Reuben,  our  subject.  During  the  pro- 
gress of  the  Civil  War  the  father  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  73d  Illinois  Infantry  in  August,  18G2  and 
was  given  the  post  of  Orderly  Sergeant.  lie  soon 
afterward  contracted  a  fatal  disease  anil  died  in 
the  hospital  at  St.  Louis  on  the  11th  of  September 
following  The  mother  survived  her  husband  over 
twenty  years,  remaining  a  widow,  and  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1883. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon school  of  his  native  State  and  when  approach- 
ing   manhood     learned   the  trade  of  a   shoemaker 


364 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


which  lie  has  followed  continuously  until  quite  re- 
cently. He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  and  en- 
listed in  the  same  company  and  at  the  same  time 
with  his  father.  He  was  first  made  a  Corporal  and 
later  promoted  to  a  Sergeant.  lie  served  three 
years  and  engaged  in  all  the  marches  and  battles  in 
which  his  regiment  participated,  being  at  Stone 
River,  Chattanooga,  Mission  Ridge  and  all  the  bat- 
tles of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  including  Franklin  and 
Nashville.  Aside  from  the  natural  effects  of  hard* 
ship  and  exposure  on  his  constitution,  and  a  slight 
affection  of  his  eyes,  he  escaped  uninjured,  being 
neither  wounded  or  taken  prisoner,  lie  was  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Geoige  II.  Thomas,  Phil 
Sheridan,  Granger,  Hosecrans,  Sherman,  O.  <  >. 
Howard  and  Grant,  at  the  time  when  James  A. 
Garfield  was  Adjutant  General  of  Rosecran's  army, 
lie  received  his  honorable  discharge  with  his  regi- 
ment in  .Tune,  186.").  Like  thousands  of  others 
who  were  willing  to  offer  up  their  lives  as  a  sacri- 
fice to  their  country,  he  was  content  in  knowing 
that  he  had  done  bis  whole  duty,  standing  his 
his  ground  during  the  enemy's  fire  and  bearing 
with  fortitude  and  patience  the  vicissitudes  of  a 
soldier's  life. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  army  Mr.  Jack  resumed 
work  at  his  trade  and  on  the  9th  of  August,  1865, 
was  married  in  Fairmount  to  Miss  Mai}',  daughter 
of  Daniel  Shroyer.  This  lady  was  born  in  Indiana 
and  departed  this  life  in  Fairmount,  Feb.  20,  1869, 
leaving  no  children.  Our  subject  contracted  a 
second  matrimonial  alliance  June  15,  1870,  with 
Miss  Frances,  daughter  of  Charles  Ruling,  of  Del- 
phi, Ind.  Mrs.  Frances  Jack  departed  this  life 
March  7,  1871,   without  children. 

Mr.  Jack  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  form- 
lerly  Miss  Jennie  Fellows,  Sept.  17,  1872  Mrs. 
Jennie  Jack  was  born  in  Wells  County,  Ind.,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Fellows,  who 
are  now,  the  mother  in  Fairmount  the  father  de- 
ceased. This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two 
children— George  B.,  born  June  7,  1875.  and  Nellie. 
June  26,  1884.  They  are  a  bright  pair  and  will  be 
given  the  education  and  advantages  suited  to  their 
position  in  life. 

Mr.  Jack  has  been  quite  prominent  in    local  af- 


fairs, lie  was  elected  Assessor  and  Collector  of 
Vance  Township,  in  1884,  and  has  been  re-elected 
each  year  since  that  time.  In  1872  he  was  elected 
Township  Clerk,  holding  the  office  until  1881.  In 
1877  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  served 
eight  years.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Lincoln  and  has  ever  continued  a  staunch  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party.  As  an  ex-soldier  he  was 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  (i.  A.  R.  at 
Fairmount,  which  lias  recently  surrendered  its  char- 
ter. In  this  organization  lie  was  first  an  Adjutant 
and  later  a  Commander.  In  the  I.  <  >.  (>.  F.  he  is  a 
member  of  Homer  Lodge,  No.  252,  in  which  In-  i- 
l'ast  Grand.  He  formerly  belonged  to  the  Lodge 
at  Fairmount  in  which  be  held  all  the  offices,  until 
it  disbanded. 

<  >ur  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
Mr.  Jack  has  been  an  earnest  Sunday-school  worker 
for  years,  officiating  as  Superintendent  of  the  school 
and  Trustee  of  the  church.  A  man  of  domestic 
tastes  and  correct  habits,  he  makes  it  his  aim  and 
object  to  stand  on  the  right  side  of  all  questions 
and  give  his  support  to  those  projects  calculated  to 
benefit  the  community,  socially,  morally  and  finan- 
cially. In  connection  with  his  other  business 
already  spoken  of,  he  does  some  conveyancing  and 
represents  as  a  Fire  Insurance  Agent,  the  Phoenix  of 
Brooklyn,  the  Hartford  and  the  iEtna.  lie  is  gen- 
tlemanly, courteous  and  liberal,  and  while  not  pos- 
sessed of  great  wealth  manages  to  stand  square 
with  the  world  and  extract  a  large  measure  of  com- 
fort and  happiness  from  life. 


^p^UY  SANDUSKY.  The  surname  of  this 
gentleman  is  well-known  in  Vermilion 
County  as  that  of  a  pioneer  family  who  had 
a  share  in  its  earl}7  development  and  in  promoting 
its  later  growth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  his  sire  and  grandsire,  who 
planted  their  homes  here  when  the  surrounding 
country  was  a  wilderness,  and,  in  doing  so,  pur- 
chance  were  more  fortunate  than  they  at  first 
deemed  possible,  and  he  of  whom  we  write  is  en- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


367 


joying  the  result  of  their  labors,  as  well  as  of  his 
own  active  toil.  He  was  burn  Feb.  5,  1854,  on  the 
old  homestead  on  section  31,  Catlin Township, that 
he  now  owns  and  occupies,  and  here  he  has  erected 
a  handsome  residence,  one  of  the  most  attiactive 
homes  in  the  county.  He  is  carrying  on  agricul- 
ture and  stock-raising  with  great  skill,  and  from  his 
3()0-aere  farm  derives  a  substantial  income. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Josiah  and  Elizabeth 
(Sandusky)  Sandusky,  were  natives  of  Bourbon 
County,  Ky.,  where  they  married,  and  immediately 
came  to  this  township.  The  father  had  lived  in 
this  count}'  while  a  single  man,  having  removed 
here  with  his  parents  as  early  as  1811),  and  he  went, 
back  to  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  to  marry.  His 
father,  Isaac  Sandusky,  had  come  here  in  the  early 
days  of  its  settlement,  he  accompanying  him,  and 
had  made  a  claim,  and  before  his  death  accumu- 
lated quite  a  little  property.  In  1837  the  father 
and  mother  of  our  subject,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  in  this  county,  and  lived  at  Brook's  Point 
some  two  or  three  years,  and  then  Isaac  Sandusky, 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  dying,  the 
father  was  appointed  administrator  of  the  estate, 
and  coming  to  Catlin  Township  .vith  his  family,  he 
located  southwest  of  Catlin  Village  on  section  31. 
He  resided  with  his  wife  on  this  homestead  until 
his  demise  Sept.  15,  1868.  she  surviving  him  until 
Jan.  10,  1884.  Of  their  eight  children  four  lived  to 
maturity,  three  sons  and  a  daughter. 

Guy  Sandusky,  of  whom  we  write,  was  the  third 
child  of  the  family,  and  he  was  born  and  reared  on 
the  old  homestead  where  he  has  spent  his  entire  life. 
His  education  was  conducted  in  the  common 
schools,  and  was  supplemented  at  home  b}'  a  wise 
training  from  his  worthy  parents,  and  on  arriving 
at  years  of  discretion  he  chose  farming,  of  which 
he  had  a  thorough,  practical  knowledge,  as  the  pur- 
suit best  adapted  to  his  tastes.  He  has  a  good- 
sized  farm  that  is  complete  in  all  its  appointments, 
and  is,  indeed,  one  of  the  choicest  places  in  the 
whole  township.  It  is  amply  provided  with  a  con- 
veniently arranged  set  of  buildings  for  every  nec- 
essary  purpose,  and  with  all  kinds  of  machinery 
lor  lightening  the  labors  of  farm  life.  The  resi- 
dence is  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  county. 

Mr.   Sandusky    and    Miss    Ada    M.    Williamson 


were  united  in  marriage  Nov.  12,  1876,  and  to 
them  has  come  one  child,  Inez.  Mrs.  Sandusky 
is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Gray)  William- 
son, natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and 
now  residents  of  Linn  County,  Kan.  Mrs.  San- 
dusky was  born  about  ten  miles  northwest  of  Dan- 
ville Oct.  15,  1858. 

Mr.  Sandusky  possesses  an  abundant  and  never 
failing  supply  of  sound  sense  and  sharpness,  cou- 
pled with  a  faculty  of  doing  well  whatever  he 
attempts,  so  that  his  success  in  his  chosen  calling  is 
not  at  all  surprising.  The  Democratic  party  finds 
in  him  a  steadfast  supporter  through  fair  and 
through  foul  report.  He  is  a  valued  member  of 
Catlin  Lodge  No.  285,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 


^  AMES  CLIFTON.  The  results  of  persever- 
ance and  energy  have  been  admirably  illus- 
trated in  the  career  of  this  gentleman,  who 
is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  citizens  in  a 
prosperous  community,  who  has  been  the  architect 
of  his  own  fortune  and  is  in  the  enjo3'ment  of  a 
competence.  He  is  approaching  the  fifty-seventh 
year  of  his  age,  having  been  born  Oct.  8,  1832. 
and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Vermilion  County, 
III.,  in  Georgetown  Township  where  he  was  born. 
He  remembers  the  time  when  wild  animals  abounded 
in  this  region  and  killed  deer  within  the  limits  of 
this  township  as  late  as  twenty-five  years  ago. 

William  Clifton,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  married  Miss  Jane  Brown,  who 
was  born  in  Tennessee.  The  grandparents  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  about  1827,  when  the  parents  of 
our  subject  were  in  their  youth  and  the  latter  were 
married  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.  They  became 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  six  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  and  spent  their  last  years  in  Vermilion 
County,  111.,  the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven  and  the  mother  when  sixty-two  years  old. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  James  Clifton 
was  of  English  birth,  but  came  to  make  his  home 
under  our  Republican  form  of  government.  He 
was  married  and  became  the  father  of  two  children 


368 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Ohio.  A  short  time  before  the  birth  of  his  son, 
William  Clifton,  he  started  for  his  old  home  in 
England  and  was  never  afterward  seen  or  heard  of. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  con- 
ducted in  the  log  school  house  of  the  primitive 
times,  upon  the  subscription  plan  and  carried  on 
during  the  winter  season.  In  the  summer  he  as- 
sisted in  the  development  of  the  new  farm,  grub- 
bing out  the  stumps,  chopping,  breaking  prairie 
and  sometimes  flat-boating  on  the  river.  Hunting 
formed  his  chief  recreation — a  pastime  of  which 
he  was  extremely  fond.  He  served  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  cooper's  trade,  which  he  followed  mostly 
for  a  period  of  fifteen  yeai  s.  In  the  meantime  he 
was  married  .June  14.1 855,  to  Miss  Martha,  daughter 
of  Abraham  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Barnhard. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Clifton  removed  from  Ohio 
to  Indiana  at  an  early  date  and  in  that  State  Mrs. 
Clifton  was  burn,  reared  and  married.  Soon  after 
the  wedding  the  young  people  took  up  their  abode 
in  Georgetown  Township,  where  our  subject  occu- 
pied himself  at  his  trade  but  kept  steadily  in  view 
his  intention  of  becoming  owner  of  a  farm.  He 
accomplished  his  project  and  is  now  the  proprietor 
of  205  acres.  This  was  mostly  in  a  wild  condition 
when  he  assumed  possession,  but  now  forms  one 
of  the  finest  farms  in  the  township.  It  makes  a 
most  delightful  and  attractive  home  while  at  the 
same  time  it  is  the  source  of  a  handsome  income. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  to  our  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son, 
William,  died  when  four  months  old.  The  others 
are  Ella.  Stephen  A.  D.,  Olive,  Laura,  Alonzo,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  and  James,  Jr.  Ella 
is  the  wife  of  H.  G.  Canady.  and  resides  at  Ver- 
milion Grove  and  has  one  child,  Estella;  Stephen 
operates  a  fine  farm  of  305  acres  in  Georgetown 
Township;  the  other  surviving  children  are  at 
home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clifton 
are  prominently  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  our  subject,  politically,  is  one  of  the 
warmest  adherents  of  the  Democratic  party.  Pub- 
lic-spirited and  liberal,  he  is  ever  found  givino- 
his  cordial  support  to  those  enterprises  calculated 
to  benefit  his  community,  and  possesses  those  quali- 
ties of  character  which  have  made  him  a  universal 
favorite  both  in  social  and  business  circles. 


Among  the  most  valuable  features  of  this  volume 
is  a  fine  portrait  of  James  Clifton,  which  is  pre- 
sented elsewhere. 


K.  S.  A.  COFFMAN.  physician  and  sur- 
geon, is  the  pioneer  of  his  profession  in  the 
the  town  of  Allerton.  He  is  a  young  man 
of  more  than  average  ability  and  is  rap- 
increasing  his  practice.  The  growth  and 
development  of  his  adopted  town  command  his 
earnest  and  intelligent  attention. 

Dr.  Coffraan  is  a  native  of  Gallipolis,  Gal- 
lia Co.,  Ohio.  His  father.  Capt.  Josiah  Goffman, 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  river  captains  and 
pilots  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  his  ac- 
quaintance extending  from  Pittsburg  to  New  Or- 
leans. He  ran  his  first  barge  down  the  rivers  men- 
tioned to  New  Orleans,  when  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  and  at  that  time  began  his  popularity  as  a 
river  man.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  Gallia  County 
but  did  not  remain  long  in  the  business  of  agri- 
culture. His  last  boat  was  the  "  Pine  Ridge."  one 
of  the  largest  steamers  that  navigated  the  Ohio 
River.  He  died  in  1866  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
years.  His  wife  continued  on  the  farm  until  her 
death,  which  occurred  in  June  1879.  She  was  born 
at  Shelly  ville.  Ind. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Coffin  an,  had  twelve  chil- 
dren of  whom  eight  were  boys  and  nine  are  now 
living.  The  Doctor  was  born  on  May,  12,  1858  and 
was  but  seven  years  old  when  his  father  died.  Ik- 
was  reared  in  Ohio,  where  his  educational  advan- 
tages were  of  the  best.  He  first  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  at  home,  then  the  High  Schools.  He 
was  engaged  in  West  Virginia  for  two  years  in 
teaching.  From  his  boyhood  days  his  inclinations 
were  all  toward  the  medical  profession,  and  during 
the  time  he  was  teaching  he  was  studying  to  the 
end  that  he  might  some  day  enter  its  ranks.  His 
first  studies,  medically,  were  under  Dr.  T.  F.  Sien- 
cknecht,  of  Kingston,  Tenn..  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued his  studies  for  eighteen  months,  when  he 
became  destitute  of  means.  He  then  came  West, 
spending  one  year  in   Missouri   and  from  there  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIU'M. 


369 


went  to  the  Indian  Territory,  finally  landing  at  Os- 
sawottamie,  Kan.,  where  lie  engaged  in  the  hospital 
for  the  insane.  Here  his  preceptor  was  Dr.  A.  II. 
Knapp.  of  that  institution.  By  this  time  his  means 
were  sufficient  to  take  him  through  the  Beaumont 
Hospital  and  Medical  College  from  which  he  grad- 
uated March  15,  1888,  standing  near  the  head  of 
his  class.  He  was  married  in  Kansas  to  Miss  Ilat- 
tie  E.  Smith,  a  native  of  Columbus,  Wis.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Asa  and  Mary  Smith,  who  were 
pioneers  of  Sumner  County,  Kan.  Through  the 
influence  of  Dr.  Parks  and  others,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  induced  to  locate  at  Allerton.  which 
he  did  in  1887  and  where  he  is  achieving  success 
to  a  large  degree.  In  his  practice  he  has  met  with 
no  obstructions  but  has  steadily  gained  the  confi- 
dence of  his  clients.  The  Doctor  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, and  is  always  ready  to  do  anything  to  for- 
ward the  interests  of  his  part}',  that  lies  in  the  path 
of  honor.  He  is  examiner  for  the  Manhattan  Life 
Insurance  Company,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
St.  Louis  Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Coffman  was  one  of  twelve  children  whose 
names  follow:  Elizabeth,  Joseph  C,  William. 
Harriet;  Daniel  M.,  Cyrus  P.,  Thomas  J.,  Cunning- 
ham. Sylvan  G.,  Emma,  Sylvester  and  Ella.  Eliza- 
beth married  Henry  Irion,  a  farmer  of  Gallia 
County,  Ohio;  Joseph  C.  served  in  the  Union 
Army,  enlisting  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  com- 
ing out  of  the  service  with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant. 
After  the  war  was  over  he  was  commissioned  in 
the  regular  army  serving  at  Ft.  Riley,  Ark., 
and  at  Fort  Union,  N.  M.  He  resigned  from 
the  army,  when  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law,  graduating  at  Ann  Arbor  and  is  now  practic- 
ing at  Quincy,  111.  He  married  Miss  Carrie  Hawk; 
Harriet  married  the  Rev.  Rose,  who  is  her  second 
husband,  and  a  pastor  in  the  Methodist  Church  in 
Athens,  Ohio.  She  had  live  children  by  her  first 
husband,  James  Hamilton;  Daniel  M.  resides  at 
Rockwood,  Tenn.  He  is  an  attorney  at  law  and 
married  Miss  Romaine  Blazer,  they  have  one 
child;  Cyrus  P.,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years; 
Thomas  is  practicing  law  at  Hume,  111.  He  mar- 
ried Estasia  Kerns.  They  have  four  children; 
Cunningham  died  in  Texas  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight;  William,  who  was  a  twin  brother  to  Joseph, 


died  when  one  year  old;  Emma  is  a  resident  of 
Anoka,  Minn.;  she  married  J.  C.  Willey,  a  railroad 
contractor  and  has  three  children;  Ella  resides  in 
St.  Paul,  and  is  the  wife  of  W.  Thornley,  who  is  a 
contractor  in  that  city. 


OHN  C.  SALLADAY.  The  life-long  career 
of  this  gentleman  is  one  which  his  children 
will  love  to  contemplate  in  future  years.  In 
{&£Jj)  his  make  up,  he  is  possessed  of  modesty, 
good  manners,  sound  sense  and  high  principles. 
He  has  all  the  qualities  of  a  good  citizen,  is  a  kind 
husband  and  father  and  in  all  respects  approaches 
the  ideal  of  the  Christian  gentleman.  We  find  him 
situated  in  a  comfortable  home,  the  possessor  of  a 
pretty  farm,  and  his  family  relations  leave  little  to 
be  desired.  His  property  is  pleasantly  located  on 
Section  3  in  Vance  Township. 

Mr.  Salladay  was  the  eldest  child  of  his  parents 
and  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  April  16, 
1831.  When  a  little  lad  of  three  years  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Ohio  and  acquired  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  the  Buckeye 
State,  pursuing  his  studies  mostly  during  the  win- 
ter season  until  twent}'  years  of  age.  In  the  mean- 
time he  became  familiar  with  farming  pursuits  and 
remained  a  member  of  the  parental  household  until 
reaching  his  majority. 

In  December,  1855,  our  subject  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Daniel  A. 
Rich  of  Ohio,  a  prominent  farmer  in  his  commu- 
nity. There  were  four  children  of  whom  Mrs.  Sal- 
laday  was  the  second  and  she  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1833.  Her  childhood  and  youth  passed  quietly 
and  uneventfully,  during  which  time  she  attended 
the  common  school  and  received  careful  home- 
training  from  her  excellent  parents.  The  young 
people  after  their  marriage  settled  on  the  home 
farm  of  the  Salladay's,  our  subject  working  it  upon 
shares  with  his  father  until  1860.  He  then  purchased 
fifty  acres  of  land  and  made  his  home  upon  this 
until  186  1  when  he  sold  out  and  set  his  face  toward 
the  farther  West. 

Upon  coming  to  Illinois  .Mr.   Salladay  purchased 


370 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  bind  constituting  his  present  farm  and  com- 
menced at  first  principles  to  build  up  a  homestead. 
He  was  prospered  in  bis  labors  as  a  tiller  of  the 
soil  and  added  to  bis  real  estate  until  he  lias  now 
163  acres  in  the  home  farm  and  100  acres  in  Powe- 
shiek County,  Iowa.  In  connection  with  general 
agriculture,  he  is  considerably  interested  in  stock- 
raising,  keeping  a  good  grade  of  cattle  and  shipping 
each  year  to  the  eastern  market. 

Five  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  good  wife,  one  of  whom  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years.  Salina  and  George  D.  remain 
with  their  parents;  Florence  is  the  wife  of  J.  H. 
Bowen  and  lives  three  miles  south  of  the  home 
farm;  John  B.  remains  at  the  latter.  Mr.  Salladay 
cast  bis  first  presidential  vote  for  John  P.  Hale  and 
is  one  of  the  most  active  members  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  this  section.  He  keeps  himself  well 
posted  in  relation  to  current  events  and  votes  with 
bis  party  upon  the  national  issues.  In  local  mat- 
ters be  aims  to  support  the  man  best  qualified  for 
office,  irrespective  of  party.  He  has  officiated  as  a 
delegate  to  the  county  conventions  and  is  a  School 
Director  in  his  district  which  office  be  has  held  for 
twenty  years,  lie  lias  been  Highway  Commissioner 
for  six  years.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  find  their 
religious  home  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  in  which  Mr.  Salladav  has  been  an  Elder 
six  years  and  when  a  younger  man  labored  actively 
in  the   Sunday-school. 

Our  subject  is  the  offspring  of  an  excellent  fam- 
ily, being  the  son  of  George  and  Rebecca  (Craft) 
Salladav.  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  of 
German  descent.  Grandfather  John  Salladay  emi- 
grated from  the  Fatherland  at  an  early  period  in 
the  history  of  this  country  and  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Upon  the  coming  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  he  was  a  baggage  muster  in  the  Continental 
Army  from  the  beginning  to  its  close.  The  ma- 
ternal grandparents  of  our  subject  were  born  in 
Pennsylvania  but  were  of  German  descent.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Salladav  were  married  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  the  mother  died  in  1833,  leaving  two 
children — our  subject  and  a  younger  brother.  The 
father  subsequently  remarried,  and  in  1834  removed 
to  Ohio  where  he  sojourned  for  a  period  of  thirty 
years.  Thence  be  came  to  this  county  in  the  spring 


of  1864,  residing  here  until  1877.  His  next  re- 
moval was  to  Homer,  Champaign  County,  where 
he  lived  eleven  years,  dying  in  September,  1888. 
The  mother  survives  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Bennett,  near  Homer  and  is  now 
seventy-six  years  old.  Both  the  Craft  and  the 
Salladay  families  were  people  of  note  in  their  com- 
munity, distinguished  for  the  high  principles  and 
sturdy  industry  which  were  among  the  character- 
istics of  their  German  nationality.  They  were 
uniformly  well-to-do,  industrious  and  frugal  and 
uniformly  exercised  a  good  influence  upon  the  va- 
rious communities  in  which  they  resided.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  worthiest  of 
their  descendants,  perpetuating  the  name  with  dig- 
nity and  honor. 


■j&t^- 


■*&■ 


^IfLBERT    G.  OLMSTEAD  is  a  worthy   de- 
scendant   of     Puritan    ancestry,   bis    fore- 
fathers having  been   numbered  among  the 
d*  early  settlers  of  New  England.     In  a  later 

day  and  generation  his  grandparents  and  parents 
became  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County,  and  here  the 
most  of  his  life  has  been  passed.  He  has  not  only 
been  a  witness  of  the  marvelous  growth  of  this 
section  of  the  country  in  the  fifty  years  that  he  has 
lived  here  as  boy  and  man.  but  it  has  been  his  good 
fortune  to  aid  in  its  upbuilding.  For  many  years 
he  has  been  intimately  connected  with  the  material 
prosperity  of  Catlin  Township  as  a  progressive 
and  skillful  agriculturist,  and  as  one  of  its  most  in- 
fluential public  officers.  lie  owns  a  farm  on 
section  23,  that  in  all  its  appointments  and  improve- 
ments is  equal  to  any  other  in  this  locality,  and 
here  he  and  his  wife  have  an  attractive  home,  to 
which  they  welcome  many  friends,  as  they  have  a 
warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  entire  commu- 
nity. 

Stanley  Olmstead,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  to  George 
Olmstead,  Sr.,  and  bis  wife,  Hannah  (Roberts)Olm- 
stead,  natives  of  New  England.  They  came  to 
Vermilion  County  from  Ohio  in  1839,  and  he  died 
here  two  years  later.  His  wife  did  not  long  survive 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


371 


him,  dying  in  September,  1843.  Their  son,  Stanley, 
married  Almira  Green,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and 
they  began  the  journey  of  life  together  in  James- 
town, Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  V..  where  he  was 
busily  engaged  for  several  years  in  constructing  a 
farm  from  the  primeval  forests  of  that  section  of 
the  country.  He  subsequently  removed  from  there 
with  his  family  to  Marietta.  Washington  Co., 
Ohio,  but  after  living  there  five  years,  he  came 
with  them,  in  1839,  to  Vermilion  County,  making 
the  journey  down  the  Ohio  River,  up  the  Wabash 
River  to  I'erry.-ville.  and  thence  going  to  what  is 
now  known  as  ISalestown,  and  settling  in  that  vi- 
cinity among  the  pioneers  that  hud  preceded  them 
to  this  then  wild,  sparsely  settled  country.  The 
father  operated  a  sawmill  known  as  Olmstead  Mill, 
ami  hesides  manufacturing  lumber,  engaged  in 
building  flatboats,  that  being  the  only  mill  where 
such  boats  were  built,  and  the  most  of  those  that 
were  made  in  this  section  of  the  country  were 
built  there.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  quite  a  prominent  man  in  his  commu- 
nity, and  his  death,  in  1848,  was  considered  a  loss 
to  the  township.  His  widow  was  re-married  about 
ten  years  afterwards,  becoming  the  wife  of  Thomas 
W.  Douglas,  and  is  still  living  in  Catlin  Township 
at  an  advanced  age.  She  holds  to  the  Presbyter- 
ian faith,  and  is  a  sincere  Christian. 

Of  the  ten  children  that  blessed  the  union  of 
Stanley  Olmstead  and  wife,  our  subject  was  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth.  He  was  born  in  the  vicinity 
of  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  14, 
1831.  He  was  a  lad  of  about  eight  years  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  and  grandparents  to  this 
county,  and  the  remaining  years  of  his  boyhood 
and  his  youth  were  passed  in  Danville  anil  Catlin 
townships.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  old 
Ion  schoolhouse  of  those  early  days.  He  early  be- 
wail life  for  himself,  as  he  was  but  seventeen  years 
of  age  when  his  father  died,  and  the  main  charge 
of  the  family  devolved  upon  him,  he  renting  land 
and  working  at  farming  to  support  those  depend- 
ent upon  him.  When  he  was  twenty-four  years 
old  he  married  and  rented  a  farm  in  Catlin  Town- 
ship the  ensuing  seven  years,  the  place  belonging 
to  Harry  Sandusky.  After  that  he  bought  a  small 
place  in  Catlin  Village,  and  continued  renting  land 


for  three  years.  The  second  year  after  the  pur- 
chase of  the  County  Farm  in  18G7.  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  it,  find  he  was  found  to 
be  the  right  man  in  the  right  place,  faithfully  and 
conscientiously  discharging  the  duties  of  that  oner- 
ous position,  by  his  skillful  farming  improving  the 
land,  and  treating  the  poor  people  under  his  charge 
with  firmness  and  kindness,  lie  retained  that  office 
eight  years,  and  then  tendered  his  resignation,  as 
he  desired  to  invest  some  of  his  money  in  land  and 
go  to  farming  on  his  own  account.  Soon  after  he 
took  possession  of  the  land  he  now  owns  and  op- 
erates, it  having  been  the  homestead  of  the  parents 
of  Mrs.  Olmstead, of  which  she  inherited  a  portion. 
The  balance  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Olmstead.  His 
present  farm  consists  of  180  acres  of  land,  exceed- 
ingly rich  ami  productive,  and  he  has  been  con- 
stantly making  improvements  till  the  place  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  has  erected  a  good  set  of  farm  buildings  and  a 
pleasant  residence,  finely  located  somewhat  back 
from  the  highway. 

This  homestead  formerly  belonged  to  Mrs.  Olm- 
stead's  parents,  Thomas  N.  and  Mary  Brown  (San- 
dusky) Wright,  early  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County, 
and  here  she  was  born  and  bred,  and  on  this  spot, 
under  an  apple  tree  in  the  yard,  her  marriage  with 
our  subject  was  solemnized  .Inly  22, 1855,  and  here 
her  life  has  thus  far  been  spent  happily  and  se- 
renely. She  has  never  been  very  far  from  this 
home  of  her  birth,  and  has  never  ridden  in  the 
cars,  or  been  beyond  the  limits  of  the  county.  Mrs. 
Olmstead  is  a  notable  housekeeper,  and  is  well 
versed  in  the  art  of  making  those  about  her  com- 
fortable, and  every  one  who  crosses  her  threshold 
is  sure  of  a  cheerful  welcome.  Her  parents  were 
born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,and  when  the  father 
was  nineteen  years  old  and  the  mother  twenty, 
they  came  to  Vermilion  County,  and  were  united 
hi  marriage  six  weeks  later,  in  the  year  1831,  near 
Indianolia.  and  immediately  settled  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Olmstead.  Mr.  Wright  built  a 
log  cabin,  and  in  that  humble  abode  they  began 
their  wedded  life.  May  31,  1851.  Mrs.  Wright 
died,  leaving  five  children,  of  whom  Elizabeth 
Ann.  Mrs.  Olmstead,  was  the  eldest.  The  father 
was  afterwards  married  to   Nancy   Dougherty,  and 


372 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


he  died  Nov.  18,  1872,  on  the  homestead  that  lie 
had  eliminated  from  the  wild  prairies.  Mrs.  Olm- 
stead  was  born  Sept.  22,  1832.  In  this  home  of 
her  girlhood  and  womanhood  five  children  have 
blessed  her  wedded  life  with  our  subject,  namely: 
Mary  B.,  the  wife  of  John  H.  Palmer;  Charles,  who 
married  Agnes  Emmett,  who  died  Nov.  17,  1887; 
William  C,  who  married  Miss  Eva  Beck;  George 
E.;  and   Albert  C. 

Mr.  Olmstead  has  been  a  valuable  citizen  of  this 
section  of  Vermilion  County  since  attaining  man- 
hood, as  he  is  a  man  of  good  personal  habits,  is 
just  and  honest  in  his  dealings,  wise  and  safe  in 
counsel,  and  has  always  exerted  his  influence  to 
advance  the  interests  of  his  community  morally, 
socially  and  educationally.  He  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  public  life  of  this  township,  has  held 
the  office  of  Supervisor  two  terms,  and  for  eleven 
years  was  School  Trustee.  lie  is  a  valued  member 
of  Catlin  Lodge,  No.  285,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  lias 
been  Master  of  the  lodge.  In  politics  he  sides 
with  the  Democrats,  and  is  a  strong  supporter  of 
partj-  principles.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  faithful 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  acts 
of  their  daily  lives  show  them  to  be  consistent 
Christians. 

A  fine  lithographic  view  of  the  handsome  home 
and  surroundings  of  Mr.  Olmstead  is  shown  else- 
where in  this  volume. 


-ME* 


*  IfelLLIAM  CESSNA,  Sr.,  who  is  well  known 
\fij//  throughout  Vance  Township  as  one  of  its 
Wyl  most  prosperous  men  financially,  is  now 
approaching  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  hav- 
ing been  born  Nov.  7,  1822.  He  is  a  native  of 
Bedford  County,  Pa.,  where  his  father,  Evan 
Cessna,  was  also  born.  The  latter,  when  approach- 
ing manhood,  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith. 
Later  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  became  owner  of  a  good  farm.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Motelena  Fenstermaker,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Keystone  State,  and  whose  ancestors 
were  from  Germany. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  continued  residents  of 


Pennsylvania  for  several  years  after  their  marriage. 
The  father  carried  on  blacksmithing  and  farming 
combined,  and  operated  with  fair  success.  He 
finally  decided  upon  a  change  of  residence,  and  in 
1842  set  out  for  Ohio  with  his  family,  settling  in 
the  Western  Reserve  in  what  was  then  Trumbull 
but  was  afterward  changed  to  Mahoning  County. 
There  the  parents  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  The  household  circle  originally  comprised 
nine  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years, 
and  six  of  whom  are  now  living.  William  was  the 
third  child  of  the  family,  and  like  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  acquired  a  limited  education  by  attendance 
in  a  log  school-house,  under  a  system  of  instruc- 
tion in  keeping  with  that  time  and  place.  Upon 
approaching  manhood  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
tanner,  also  that  of  a  brick  and  stone  mason.  Since 
a  bey  of  twelve  he  has  been  mainly  dependent 
upon  his  own  resources,  and  assisted  his  father  con-' 
siderably  until  his  marriage.  Evan  Cessna  was 
very  nearly  blind  for  many  years,  having  a  cata- 
ract over  each  eye,  and  losing  the  sight  of  one  en- 
tirely. 

The  18th  of  May,  1850,  marked  an  interesting 
epoch  in  the  life  of  our  subject,  as  on  that  day  he 
was  wedded  to  Miss  Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Hawkins,  a  farmer  and  mechanic  of  Stark 
County,  Ohio.  The  young  couple  commenced  the 
journey  of  life  together  in  a  manner  corresponding 
to  their  means  and  surroundings,  and  Mr.  Cessna  for 
several  years  thereafter  followed  his  trade  in  Mahon- 
ing County.  Finally  lie  removed  to  Stark  County, 
sojourning  there  probably  two  years,  and  then,  in 
1856,  changed  his  residence  to  Marshall  County, 
Ind.  In  the  latter  place  also  he  followed  his  trade, 
and  purchased  300  acres  of  land,  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  which  he  carried  on  until 
1868. 

During  the  above  mentioned  year  Mr.  Cessna 
moved  into  Champaign  County,  111.,  and  about 
twelve  months  later  purchased  the  farm  upon  which 
his  son  William  now  lives,  in  Vermilion  County. 
Later  he  added  forty  acres  to  it,  then  traded  forty 
acres  for  that  which  he  now  occupies.  Upon  this 
he  has  lived  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years,  and  ef- 
fected very  many  improvements,  planting  a  10- 
acre  orchard,  putting  the  fences  in  repair,  and  add- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


373 


ing  the  necessary  buildings.  He  has  invested  bis 
surplus  capital  in  additional  land,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  500  broad  acres.     His  possessions  are  the 

result  of  bis  own  industry  and  perseverance,  and 
be  lias  delved  from  the  soil  an  ample  competence 
for  bis  declining  years. 

Mrs.  Sarah  .lane  (Hawkins)  Cessna  departed  this 
life  Sept.  15,  1864,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three 
years,  four  months  and  eleven  days.  Of  her  union 
with  our  subject  there  were  born  five  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living:  John  W.  married  Miss 
Myra  Nichols,  who  is  now  deceased;  be  is  the 
father  of  five  children,  and  lives  in  Mineral  Point, 
Kan.;  Sarah  Amelia  is  the  wife  (if  Wallace  A. 
Ya/.el;  they  live  four  miles  northwest  of  Homer, 
and  have  five  children;  Martha  Ellen  married 
Marion  Tibbetts,  and  is  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren; they  live  four  and  one-half  miles  southwest 
of  Fairmount;  William  L.  1  >.  married  Miss  Sally 
O'Shea;  they  have  one  child,  and  live  one  mile 
west  of  Mr.  Cessna. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  Jan. 
29,  1865,  with  Mrs.  Lucina  Melser,  who  was  the 
mother  of  two  children  by  her  first  husband.  The 
result  of  this  union  was  three  children — Rosa  I., 
Charles  M.  and  Mary  M.,  who  are  all  living  at 
home  witli  their  parents.  Mr.  Cessna  has  always 
taken  a  lively  interest  in  politics,  and  keeps  himself 
fully  posted  upon  all  matters  of  national  interest- 
He  is  one  of  the  warmest  supporters  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  believing  it  the  party  of  progress  and 
reform,  and  the  party  upon  which  the  prosperity 
of  America  depends.  In  Indiana  he  served  as 
Path  master  three  years,  and  in  the  district  where 
he  now  lives  has  been  a  School  Director  nine  years. 
Formerly  he  belonged  to  the  I.  0.  O.  F. 

Mr.  Cessna,  with  wise  forethought  and  care  has 
furnished  us  with  a  portion  of  the  family  record, 
which  we  append  as  follows.  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  (Haw- 
kins) Cessna  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Fa., 
May  1,  1811.  John  W.,  her  eldest  son.  was  horn 
in  Mahoning  County,  Ohio,  Sept.  7,  1851.  Artlissa 
A.,  the  eldest  daughter,  was  born  Feb.  19,  1854, 
and  died  in  Ohio.  Sarah  A.  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  Feb.  11,  185(i.  Martha  Ellen  was 
born  in  Marshall,  Ind..  April  21.  1858.  William 
L.  D.  was  born  in  Marshal!  County,   Ind..  Oct.  23, 


1861.  Rossa  Ilora  was  born  in  Marshall  Count}', 
Ind.,  May  28,  1806;  Charles  M.  was  horn  in  Cham- 
paign County,  III.,  Jan.  20,  1809.  Mary  Matilda 
was  born  in  Vermilion  County.  III..  Oct.  27,  1872. 
Evan  Cessna,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died  July 
29,  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  year's.  His 
wife,  Mary  Motelena,  died  Jan.  20,  1876,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years. 


•i~   ■» 


^  AMl'EL  STARK,  of  Sidell,  is  numbered 
among  its  most  useful  and  praiseworthy 
citizens,  and  performed  no  small  part  in 
the  early  settlement  of  the  place  with 
whose  growth  and  development  he  has  ever  main- 
tained a  warm  interest.  In  1885  he  purchased  the 
Cleveland  Hotel  and  from  a  small  beginning  built 
up  a  good  patronage  and  became  popular  among 
traveling  men  generally.  In  connection  with  this 
be  operated  excavating  machines  such  as  the  Mould 
Ditcher,  the  Plow  Ditcher  and  Road  Grader,  and 
graded  several  miles  of  road  in  Vance,  Sidell  and 
Carroll  townships,  making  an  excellent  thorough- 
fare which  is  greatly  appreciated  by  those  most 
nearly  concerned. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Stark  were  John  and  Mary 
(Cassadyj  Stark,  who  were  of  Kentucky  birth  and 
parentage  and  came  to  this  county  during  its  early 
settlement,  locating  on  its  southern  line.  Their 
family  comprised  fourteen  children,  eleven  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Samuel  was  born  in  Indiana 
and  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits.  He  received 
a  limited  education  in  the  primitive  schools  and 
developed  into  a  strong  and  healthful  man,  sound 
in  mind  and  bod}'  and  well  fitted  for  the  position 
which  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  as  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  his  community.  lie  was  married  in  Au- 
gust, 1875,  to  Miss  Christina  Rawlings,  and  the 
young  people  commenced  their  wedded  life  toge- 
ther on  the  Amos  Jackson  farm.  Later  Mr.  Stark 
was  connected  with  several  farms  as  general  over- 
seer, among  them  being  the  well-known  Allerton 
farm,  formerly  the  property  of  John  Sidell.  In 
1881  they  look  up  their  abode  in  Danville,  Mr. 
Stark  having    purchased  the  furniture   in    the  Me- 


374 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Cormick  House  of  that  city.  Eight  months  later 
they  again  removed  to  a  farm  at  Garrett  Grove, 
where  they  remained  four  years.  Their  subsequent 
movements  we  have  ahead}-  indicated.  On  mov- 
ing to  Sidell  Mrs.  Stark  assumed  charge  of  the 
Cleveland  House,  which  she  has  since  conducted 
with  marked  success  and  hns  become  veiy  popular 
with  the  traveling  public.  She  seems  admirably 
adapted  to  her  responsible  position  and  possesses  a 
great  deal  of  tact,  generosity  and  kindness,  having 
the  faculty  of  making  welcome  all  who  come  within 
her  doors.  She  is  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary 
business  abilities,  and  is  increasing  her  patronage 
perceptibly  each  year. 

A  native  of  Lee  County,  Va.,  Mrs.  Stark  was 
born  Jan.  19,  1855,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Sampson 
B.  Rawlins,  also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and 
who  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Sanford,  of  his  own 
State.  Both  were  of  English  descent.  They  were 
married  in  Virginia,  whence  the}'  removed  to  Clay 
County,  Ky.,  about  18G0.  The  father  prosecuted 
farming  for  three  years,  but  in  18G3  again  changed 
his  residence,  settling  this  time  near  Paris.  Edgar 
County,  this  State.  Ten  years  later  they  came  to 
this  county  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Sidell  Town- 
ship. Finally  selling  this  also,  they  removed  to 
Fairmount  and  conducted  the  Hall  House  one  year. 
Afterward  Mr.  Rawlings  engaged  in  the  hoot  and 
shoe  business  of  that  place  about  a  year.  He  re- 
moved to  Sidell  in  1885  and'in  1887  established  a 
store  of  general  merchandise  at  Archie.  After  a 
time  he  was  burned  out,  suffering  a  loss  of  $8,000. 
He  is  now  employed  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  a 
grocery  house  in  Chicago. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Stark  departed  this  life 
March  19,  1888,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years  eight 
months  and  twenty-eight  days.  Her  family  con- 
sisted of  nine  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Nancy, 
is  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Jackson,  a  farmer  of  Sidell 
Township,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children; 
Christina,  Mrs.  Stark,  was  the  second  child  of  the 
family;  James  W.  H.  II.,  married  Miss  Ida  Patter- 
son and  operates  as  a  carpenter  and  builder  in 
Sidell;  he  is  the  father  of  one  child.  Zarilda  mar- 
ried George  B.  Baum,  of  Sidell,  who  operates  as  a 
farmer  and  liveryman,  and  they  have  two  chil 
dren;  Bertha  is  the  wife  of  Austin  Jones,  a  business 


man  of  Mt.  Carmel,  and  they  have  one  child; 
Sarah  J  is  at  home  with  her  father;  John  F.  is 
farming  in  Sidell  Township;  Dora  is  a  saleslady  at 
Cerro  Gordo,  111.;  Fanny  M.  lives  with  her  father 
and  sister. 

Mrs.  Stark  thus  in  her  youth  lived  in  three  dif- 
ferent States,  Kentucky,  Virginia  and  Illinois.  She 
attended  the  common  school  and  at  an  early  age 
evinced  an  aptitude  for  business  details.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  years  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Stark. 
She  has  contributed  her  full  quota  to  the  rapid  and 
thrifty  growth  of  the  village  of  Sidell,  in  the  ex- 
cellent management  of  her  house  and  in  attracting 
to  it  a  class  of  well-to-do  and  intelligent  people. 

A  large  force  of  builders  is  now  (June,  1889) 
actively  engaged  in  enlarging  the  Cleveland  House, 
which  when  completed  a  month  hence,  will  accom- 
modate a  large  number  of  guests  and  prove  an  or- 
nament to  the  village.  Mrs.  Stark  patronizes  the 
worthy  enterprises  established  in  the  village, 
among  them  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
whose  erection  she  took  a  warm  interest.  She  is  a 
lover  of  music  and  all  those  things  which  contrib- 
ute to  the  comfort  and  satisfaction  of  the  people 
who  may  sojourn  under  her  roof.  She  is  a  lady  of 
decided  views  and  sympathizes  witli  the  Demo- 
cratic party..  The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  finds  in 
her  one  of  its  efficient  members.  To  her  and 
her  husband  have  been  born  four  children : 
Callie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mary  Alice;  an  infant 
who  died  unnamed;    and  Forest  E. 


|ENJAMIN  ZEIGLER.  This  gentleman  is 
^  the  oldest  settler  in  the  eastern  half  of 
if©))))  Grrat;  Township,  in  this  county,  having 
lived  there  more  }'ears  than  any  other  per- 
son now  residing  within  its  borders.  He  was  born  in 
Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  March  5,  1830,  and  when 
twenty  years  old  came  to  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
with  his  elder  brother,  John,  making  the  journey 
the  entire  distance  in  a  two-seated  wagon  drawn 
by  one  horse.  They  came  from  Carlisle,  in  their 
native  county,  to  Indianapolis,  Ind..  over  the  road 
then  known  as  the   National   Pike,  and  thence  to 


Residence  or  John  Pollard, 5cc  21.  Carroll  Tr  Verm i  i 'ion  en 


feam^mwffiiifirfT':" 


EBfitMBeimiafiafiSiSfe^ 


ResidenceofW^  H. Sconce, 5ec, 16.  SidellTp.  Vfrmii  ion  Co! 


^tore  and  Residence  of  Michael Fi5her,Indianola,Vermi lion  Co. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBI'M. 


377 


their  stopping  place,  now  named  Reitersburgh,  then 
known  as  Cbambcrsburg.     The  trip  occupied  two 

weeks  and  four  days,  but  it  can  now  be  made  be- 
tween those  two  points  in  sixteen  hours!  .John 
Zeigler  had  spent  the  previous  year  in  Indiana, 
and  our  subject  made  the  journey  West  with  him 
simply  as  an  adventure.  But  lie  liked  the  looks  of 
the  country,  and  determined  to  stay,  especially  as 
he  found  he  could  get  twice  as  much  for  his  labor 
there  as  be  could  in  the  East.  Accordingly  be 
located  in  Fountain  County  and  began  working  out 
by  the  month.  He  made  his  home  there  until 
18.")6,  when  having  by  this  time  secured  a  life 
partner,  he  came  to  Vermilion  County  and  for 
two  years  worked  for  bis  father-in-law.  Having 
saved  a  little  money  be  bad  in  1852  bought  320 
acres  of  Government  land  on  section  1 5  in  Grant 
Township,  and  it  is  on  this  place  Ids  home  now 
stands.  He  was  too  poor,  however,  to  build  on  it 
or  cultivate  it.  and  be  let  it  lie  idle  until  1 858, 
when  be  managed  to  get  a  house  built  on  it,  but  was 
yet  unable  to  get  it  "  broke,"  and  therefore  for  the 
following  two  years  he  farmed  what  is  known  as 
the  "Ann  Brown"  place,  of  1G0  acres,  one  and 
one-half  miles  east  of  his  house.  In  this  way  be 
accumulated  some  small  means,  and  the  following 
year  be  broke  forty  acres  of  his  own  land  with  a 
team  of  four  yoke  of  cattle  and  a  twenty-four  inch 
plow. 

His  industry  and  energy  soon  made  themselves 
felt,  and  each  successive  year  saw  Mr.  Zeigler  a  little 
better  off.  Gradually  more  aud  more  land  was 
brought  under  cultivation,  fences  and  hedges  were 
made  and  planted,  farm  buildings  were  erected,  and 
after  the  lapse  of  years  more  land  was  bought,  and 
to-day  our  subject  owns  an  excellent  farm  of  540 
acres  in  one  body,  well  fenced,  drained,  cultivated 
and  with  good  and  sufficient  buildings,  and  as  he 
looks  around  over  his  broad  acres  he  can  reflect 
with  satisfaction  upon  the  fact  that  this  is  all  the 
work  of  his  own  bands.  When  be  first  bought 
this  land  it  was  all  bare  open  prairie,  not  a  tree  or 
shrub  was  on  the  ground.  Now  it  presents  to  the 
eye  a  typical  American  western  scene.  The  house 
stands  back  some  distance  from  the  road  and  is  ap- 
proached from  the  front  through  an  avenue  lined 
on  either  side  with    well  grown    maple    trees;    the 


buildings  are  all  that  are  needed,  fur  the  large  farm, 
the  growing  crops  and  the  contented  cattle  grazing 
in  the  enclosed  fields,  all  bespeak  thrift  and  com- 
petence. All  this  is  the  work  of  Mr.  Zeigler's  own 
hands.  The  finegrove  of  maples  which  surrounds 
bis  house  was  raised  by  himself  from  seed  and  cov- 
ers nine  acres,  and  an  apple  orchard  of  four  acres, 
also  of  his  own  planting.  The  country  when  he 
first  came  here  was  wild  and  unsettled,  and  his 
nearest  neighbor  for  some  time  was  two  miles  away, 
and  from  the  rising  ground  near  his  house,  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  see,  there  were  less  than  a  dozen 
houses.  Prairie  wolves  were  numerous,  compelling 
the  settler  to  house  his  stock  at  night,  wild  game 
was  plentiful,  and  deer,  ducks,  geese  and  prairie 
chickens  were  in  such  abundance  that  dogs  were 
kept  and  trained  to  keep  them  from  the  farmer's 
grain  fields,  and  the  pioneer's  table  was  well  sup- 
plied with  delicacies,  the  fruit  of  his  gun.  But 
one  road  was  then  laid  out  hereabouts,  the  settlers 
making  their  way  across  the  prairies  by  following 
tracks  made  by  others  who  had  gone  before.  Not 
a  fence  was  up,  and  to  leave  the  beaten  path  was 
to  run  the  risk  of  being  lost  on  the  prairie.  Trad- 
ing was  done  mostly  at  Attica,  Ind.,  thirty  miles 
away,  the  trip  to  store  and  back  consuming  two 
days.  Mr.  Zeigler  says  it  was  bis  custom  when  re- 
turning, if  overtaken  by  darkness,  to  tie  his  lines 
and  let  his  horses  take  their  own  way,  they  never 
failing  to  bring  him  safely  home  when  human 
eyesight  was  of  no  avail  in  finding  the  road. 

Now  how  different  the  scene.  Public  highways 
are  laid  out  in  all  directions.  The  country  about 
is  thickly  settled,  and  half  a  mile  from  Mr.  Zeigler's 
door  is  the  village  of  Cheneysville,  a  station  on 
the  Lake  Erie  and  Western  Railroad.  Around  his 
home  is  a  thickly  settled  and  prosperous  commun- 
ity, with  evidence  on  every  hand  of  comfort, 
schools  and  churches  are  easy  of  access,  and  all 
the  appliances  of  civilization  are  at  the  farmer's 
door.  This  change  has  been  brought  about  by 
the  toils  and  sacrifices  of  such  men  as  our  subject. 
and  to  such  all  honor  is  due. 

Mr.  Zeigler  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Fountain 
County.  Ind.,  Jan.  3.  1851.  with  Miss  Verlina. 
Brown,  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Brown, 
early  settlers  in  that  part  of   Indiana.     The  former 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  born  in  Perry  County,  Pa.,  and  the  latter  in 
Dauphin  County  in  the  same  state.  After  mar- 
riage they  emigrated  to  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Brown 
improved  a  large  number  of  farms,  certainly  as 
many  as  twenty,  selling  as  soon  as  he  could  get 
advance  on  his  property.  In  this  way  he  made 
considerable  money  and  during  the  latter  years 
was  quite  well-to-do.  He  died  in  Hoopeston 
in  the  winter  of  1884-85.  His  wife  had  passed 
away  some  years  previously  at  Otterbein,  Benton 
County.  End.  Mrs.  Zeigler  was  born  in  Fountain 
County,  Ind..  March  27,  1834.  By  this  marriage 
nine  children  were  born,  all  except  one,  who  died 
in  childhood,  being  now  living:  Cyrus  A.,  the  eld- 
est, farms  a  portion  of  the  homestead  half  a  mile 
e.i-t  of  his  father's  house,  and  is  married  to  Miss 
Cyrenia  Leverton,  and  they  have  one  child  and 
one  is  deceased;  Peter  M.  is  married  to  Susan 
Labaw,  has  one  child,  and  lives  two  miles  east  of 
his  birthplace  on  a  farm  belonging  to  his  aunt, 
Catherine  A.  Brown;  John  1!.  is  married  to  Jose- 
phine Stufflebcam.  and  lives  on  a  rented  farm 
in  the  northeastern  corner  of  Grant  Township; 
George  B.  is  married  to  Mary  Ann  Labaw,  and 
has  two  children  and  lives  on  a  part  of  his  father's 
farm;  Benjamin  Franklin,  Mary  Amanda.  Rachael 
Mahala  and  William  .1.  are  unmarried  and  are  yet 
under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Zeigler  has  witnessed  and  participated  in  the 
growth  and  increasing  prosperity  of  this  part  of 
Vermilion  County.  When  he  came  within  its 
borders. growth  had  hardly  been  begun  in  this  part 
of  the  county.  The  site  of  the  flourishing  city  of 
Hoopeston  was  a  barren  prairie  which  he  could 
have  bought  from  the  Government  at  $1.2.3  per 
acre,  but  he  thought  it  dear  at  that,  when 
prospecting  for  a  site,  as  the  land  was  low  and  wet, 
and  therefore  bought  where  he  is,  where  the  land 
lies  higher.  On  such  small  things  does  fortune 
sometimes  hinge.  Yet  he  has  no  reason  to  com- 
plain. Starting  from  an  humble  station  and  from 
small  beginnings  he  has  achieved  a  competence, 
and  what  is  still  better,  has  gained  the  universal 
respect,  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  community, 
a  just  tribnte  to  the  moral  and  upright  life  of  the 
man  and  to  his  entire  trustworthiness  of  character. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  compelled   by  his  fel- 


low-townsmen to  accept  office  at  their  hands,  hav- 
ing been  School  Director.  Town  Trustee,  Road 
Overseer,  etc.,  and  he  is  now  Assistant  Supervisor, 
and  among  the  worthy  citizens  of  Vermilion 
County  none  stands  higher  in  the  estimation  of 
those  who  know  him  than  does  Benjamin  Zeigler, 
the  pioneer. 


•    OC55- 

yfclLLIAM  THOMAS  SANDUSKY  has  for 
more  than  twenty  years  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  leading  farmers  and 
stock  growers  of  Vermilion  County,  a  shrewd,  in- 
telligent set  of  men,  and  in  that  time  he  has  been  an 
important  factor  in  extending  its  great  agricul- 
tural interests.  He  has  a  farm  on  section  36,  Cat- 
lin  Township,  of  some  over  400  acres,'  which  is 
well  cultivated,  and  on  which  he  has  erected  a 
substantial,  roomy  set  of  buildings,  and  has  all  the 
needful  machinery  and  appliances  for  carrying 
on  agriculture  with  facility  and  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage. 

Our  subject,  although  a  Kentuckian  by  birth, 
was  reared  in  Illinois,  and  has  passed  the  most  of 
his  life  here,  his  parents  having  been  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Shelby  County.  His  father, 
William  Sandusky,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
while  his  mother,  Julia  (Earp)  Sandusky,  was  born 
in  Virginia.  They  were  married  in  Kentucky,  and 
there  commenced  their  wedded  life,  but  in  1829, 
when  our  subject  was  a  small  infant,  they  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Shelby  Count}-. 
In  the  following  spring  Mr.  Sandusky's  earthly 
career  was  cut  short,  while  he  was  yet  in  life's 
prime,  by  his  premature  death.  The  wife  survived 
him  ten  years,  when,  in  1840,  she  too  passed  away. 

Of  a  family  of  three  children,  our  subject  was 
the  second  child  and  the  only  son.  He  was  born 
in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  March  11,  1829.  and  was 
consequently  but  a  few  months  old  when  his  par- 
ents brought  him  to  this  State.  He  was  bred  to  a 
fanner's  life  in  Shelby  County,  and.  amid  the  pio- 
neer influences  that  surrounded  his  early  life,  be- 
came strong,  manly,  self-reliant  and  energetic.  In 
the  spring  of  1848  he  left  the  place  where  his  life 
had  been  mostly  passed  hitherto  aud  came  to  Ver- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


379 


milion  County,  having  in  his  charge  a  drove  of 
cattle,  which  he  herded   here  till    the    fall  of  the 

year,  when  he  proceeded  with  them  toward  New 
Fork.     He  only  went  as  far  as  Sandusky, however, 

when  he  disposed  of  his  cattle  at  a  good  price,  lie 
then  returned  to  Vermilion  County,  and  for  sonic 
years  after  that  was  engaged  in  farm  work  and  in 
in  tending  cattle.  In  the  spring  of  lH.r>.">.  ambi- 
tious to  accumulate  money  faster  than  he  was 
doing,  he  determined  that  he  would  seek  the  gold 
mines  of  California,  and  going  there  by  the  way 
of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  he  pursued  mining  on 
the  Pacific  Coast  with  fair  success  till  the  fall  of 
1855.  Tiring  of  the  rough  life  of  the  camps,  he 
turned  his  face  homeward,  and,  coming  to  Ver- 
milion County  once  more,  was  soon  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  business  of  buying  stock,  continuing 
that  till  the  spring  of  1859.  At  that  time  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  hotel  business,  having  gone 
to  Greencastle,  Putnam  Co..  hid.,  in  June,  and 
building  a  hotel  known  as  the  Junction  House.  He 
was  profitably  engaged  in  its  management  till  the 
spring  of  186G,  when  he  sold  out,  returned  to 
Vermilion  County  and  bought  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  having  decided  to  turn  his  attention 
once  more  to  the  calling  to  which  he  had  been 
reared,  and  for  which  he  has  a  natural  aptitude. 
He  now  gives  his  attention  wholly  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  for  several  years,  besides  managing 
his  farm,  was  extensively  engaged  in  buying  and 
shipping  stock,  and  still  continues  to  raise  a  goodly 
number  of  cattle  and  hogs. 

November  30,  1859,  was  an  important  dale  in 
the  life  of  Mr.  Sandusky  as  it  was  the  occasion  of 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Emily  A.  Clements,  who 
has  been  to  him  all  that  an  intelligent,  refined, 
capable  woman  can  be  to  the  man  by  whose  side 
she  walks  the  journey  of  life,  making  his  home 
pleasant  and  attractive,  and  a  welcome  retreat 
from  the  cares  of  business.  She  is  a  wise  and 
tender  mother  to  their  children,  of  whom  they  had 
four,  as  follows:  Ada,  who  died  in  infancy;  Charlie. 
who  died  at  the  age  of  five  months;  Maggie  and 
Kate,  wha  are  left  to  brighten  the  household  by 
their  presence.  Mrs.  Sandusky  was  born  in  Shel 
byville,  III..  May  28,  1839.  a  daughter  of  John 
and    Emily  (Livers)  Clements,    natives  of   Mar}- 


land.  Her  parents  were  among  the  earlj  settlers 
of  Shelby  County,  and  there  the  father  died.  '1  he 
mother  is   living  in  Shelby  County.  III. 

Mr.  Sandusky  is  a  man  of  much  experience, 
gifted  with  firmness,  sagacity,  and  foresight  to  a 
marked  degree,  which  traits  have  no  doubt  been 
instrumental  in  gaining  him  a  position  among  the 
first  citizens  of  Catlin  Township  as  a  substantial, 
well-to-do  farmer.     He  is   very   Liberal,  and  never 

hesitates  to  spend  his  money  where  it  will  do  g 1 

or  relieve  suffering.  lie  has  a  mind  of  his  own, 
and  is  very  tenacious  in  his  opinions.  This  is  es- 
peclally  true  in  regard  to  his  political  views,  he 
being  a  very  strong  Republican,  active  in  political 
affairs,  and  giving  material  support  to  his  party, 
lb'  has  not  mingled  much  in  public  life,  having 
devoted  himself  Strictly  to  his  own  private  affairs, 
hut  he  has  been  School  Director  for  a  long  term 
of  years,  interesting  himself  greatly  in  educational 
matters. 


6HARLES  HILLMAN.     There  are  few  mort 
,   industrious     or     more     conscientious     and 
worthy    men    in    Oakwood     Township    than 
the    subject    of   this    notice,  who  is  located    upon    a 

well-improved  farm  upon  section  21.  His  property 
is  the  result  of  his  own  unaided  industry  and  has 
been  accumulated  by  years  of  arduous  labor  and 
close  economy.  Modest  and  retiring  in  disposition 
he  is  a  man  making  very  little  show  in  the  world, 
but  one  whom  his  friends  recognize  as  possessed  of 
high  principle  and  sound  common  Sense,  and  one 
whose  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his  bond.  A 
patriot  during  the  late  Civil  War.  he  contributed 
his  quota  in  assisting  to  preserve  the  Union  and  it 
is  hardly  necessary  to  say.  uniformly  votes  the 
Straight  Republican  ticket.  He  has  ever  been  the 
advocate  of  temperance,  practically  and  theoretic- 
ally and  with  his  estimable  wife  is  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  the  .Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  which  he  has  officiated  as  Steward  and  Class- 
Leader  ami  held  other  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility. 

The    offspring  Of  a  good    family,  our    subject  is 
the    son   of   Edward    Hillman.    a    native   of     Eng- 


380 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


land  and  a  tailor  by  trade  which  he  followed  for 
some  time  in  London,  Province  of  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, to  which  he  emigrated  when  a  young  man. 
His  mother,  who  was  of  Scotch  descent,  died  when 
a  young  woman,  and  when  her  son  Charles  was 
scarcely  more  than  nine  years  old.  Charles  and  his 
eldest  sister  were  afterward  taken  to  the  home  of 
Mr.  John  Bateman,  of  Ontario,  with  whom  he  lived 
until  coming  to  Illinois  in  October,  1857,  when  a 
youth  of  seventeen  years. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
four  children,  Charles  being  the  eldest.  He  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  March  8,  1840  and  re- 
ceived very  few  opportunities  for  an  education.  He 
attended  school  for  a  time  after  coming  to  this 
Slate  but  had  his  own  living  to  make  and  was 
mostly  employed  on  a  farm.  lie  saved  what  he 
could  of  his  earnings  as  years  passed  on.  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-seven  was  owner  of  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Oakwood  Township,  and  some  personal 
property. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Hill- 
man  that  same  year  enlisted  in  Company  I,  35th 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  with  his  regiment  in 
the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Perry  ville  and  Chicka- 
mauga.  At  the  latter  he  was  wounded,  Sept.  1'.). 
18(33,  being  shot  through  the  left  thigh  in  a  pecu- 
liar and  dangerous  manner.  His  recovery  was  long 
and  tedious,  he  tying  in  the  hospital  until  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  at  which  time  expired  his  term  of  en- 
listment and  he  received  his  honorable  discharge. 
Upon  his  recovery  he  again  entered  the  ranks,  Feb. 
1,  1865,  as  a  member  of  Compan}'  K,  150th  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  served  with  his  regiment  in  Georgia 
and  Tennessee  some  months  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  receiving  his  second  and  final  discharge,  Feb. 
1.  1866,  and  now  draws  a  pension  from  the  Gov- 
ernment. He  went  into  the  service  as  a  private 
and  on  account  of  fidelity  to  duty  and  bravery  in 
limes  of  danger,  was  first  promoted  to  Sergeant 
and  afterward  to  Second  Lieutenant,  with  which 
rank  he  was  mustered  out. 

The  8th  of  October,  1867,  witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Hilliary  and 
the  newly  wedded  pair  settled  at  once  upon  the 
farm  which  they  now  own  and  occupy.  This  em- 
braces 202^  acres  of  land  all   in   one   body,  132^ 


acres  under  cultivation  and  embracing  property 
formerly  owned  by  Martin  Oakwood.  The  four 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hillman  are  named 
respectively  Edward  J..  Bertha,  George  F.  and 
Mary  E.  They  are  all  at  home  with  their  parents, 
are  well  educated  and  form  a  most  intelligent  and 
interesting  group.  Mr.  Hillman  has  officiated  as 
School  Director  in  his  district  for  a  period  of 
twelve  years,  and  has  been  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways three  years.  Stock-raising  forms  a  leading 
feature  of  his  farming  operations,  an  industry 
which  is  very  profitable  in  Central  Illinois.  As  an 
ex-soldier  our  subject  is  identified  with  George 
Morrison  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Glenburn. 

Mrs.  Hillman  was  born  March  15,  1849,  in  Ver- 
milion County,  111.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  George 
Hilliary,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county 
and  who  died  about  1876.  His  widow  is  still  liv- 
ing being  now  seventy-five  years  old  and  making 
her  home  in  Oakwood. 


^r 


^jr^-v 


LINTON  D.  HENTON.  M.  D.,  a    popular 

physician  of  Vermilion  County,  was  born 
in  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  on  the  3d  day  of 
August,  1831.  His  father,  Evan  Ilenton,  it  is  be- 
lieved, was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  was  married 
in  Ohio  and  in  an  early  day  moved  to  Indiana  and 
settled  in  Fountain  County,  where  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  four  miles  from  Attica.  He  resided 
here  until  1838,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  re- 
turned to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Highland  County, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  one  and  a  half  miles 
from  Hillsboro,  and  there  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1856.  His  wife's  maiden  name 
was  Maria  Inskeep,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Inskeep.  She  died  on  the  home 
farm  in  1876.  She  was  the  mother  of  seven  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood and  whose  names  follow:  Eliza,  Clinton, 
Rachael.  Colman,  Samuel  and   Mary. 

Dr.  Henton  was  a  lad  of  six  years  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  received  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  also  at- 
tended Hillsboro  Academy.     At   the  age   of  six- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


381 


teen,  he  commenced  teaching  and  taught  and  at- 
tended school  alternately.  In  the  meantime  he 
became  anxious  to  study  medicine,  and  pursued  his 
studies  in  this  direction  all  through  the  time  cov- 
ered by  teaching  school.  In  July,  1853  he  came 
to  Vermilion  County  and  inaugarated  a  successful 
practice  of  his  profession,  but  being  anxious  to 
further  post  himself  he  went  from  Myersville, 
where  he  lived,  to  Chicago,  where  he  attended  Rush 
Medical  College,  graduating  therefrom  in  1861. 
lie  returned  to  Myersville  and  practiced  until  May, 
1872,  when  he  came  to  Danville,  where  he  has  been 
a  successful  practitioner  since.  In  1855  he  mar- 
ried Susan  Gundy,  who  is  a  native  of  Ross  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  adaughter  of  Joseph  Gundy, 
(a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears  in  another  part  of 
this  volume.) 

Dr.  Ilenton  is  a  member  of  Olive  Branch  Lodge 
No.  38,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  of  Vermilion  Chap- 
ter No.  82,  R.  A.  M.  The  Doctor  and  wife  are 
communicants  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Professionally  Dr.  Ilenton  has  been  very  successful, 
and  as  a  citizen,  his  reputation  is  one  of  the  high- 
est. He  keeps  well  read  up  on  current  events,  and 
is  what  the  world  calls  a  well -posted  man. 


*l-HH.<^^tJ:>JJ!^H- 


|IKD  C.  PATE  is  numbered  among  the 
worthy  citizens  of  Vermilion  County  who, 
j  natives  of  its  soil,  have  for  many  years  been 
active  in  developing  and  extending  its 
great  agricultural  interests,  and  while  so  doino- 
have  placed  themselves  in  independent  and  pros- 
perous circumstances.  He  was  born  and  reared  in 
Catlin  Township,  and  since  attaining  man's  estate 
has  been  a  practical  member  of  its  farming  com- 
munity, owning  and  busily  engaged  in  the  man- 
agement of  a  good  farm  of  200  acres  of  fertile  land 
on  section  2 1 . 

Adam  Pate,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia.  When  he  established  himself 
in  life  he  married  Elizabeth  Owens,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  They  commenced  their  wedded  life  in 
Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  but  in  1820  they  made 
their  way  through    the    rude    and    sparsely   settled 


country  to  Vermilion  County,  and  became  early 
settlers  in  this  vicinity,  locating  at  first  about  three 

miles  north-west  of  Catlin,  and  then  removing  to 
this  farm,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  our 
subject.  Here  their  remaining  lives  were  spent 
in  the  toil  necessary  to  improve  a  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, and  now  that  they  have  passed  away,  their 
memory  will  be  cherished  with  that  of  other  pio- 
neers who  labored  and  sacrificed  that  they  might 
build  up  comfortable  homes,  and  in  so  doing 
aided  in  building  up  this  commonwealth  of  Ill- 
inois. The  father  died  Feb.  24,  1 80 7,  aged  seventy- 
four  years,  two  months  and  five  days.  The'mother 
died  Oct.  8,  1874,  aged  eighty  years,  nine  months 
and  twenty-six  days.  They  were  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  of  whom  Bird  was  the  thirteenth. 
He  was  born  in  Catlin  Township,  July  12,  1830, 
and  grew  to  manhood  amid  the  primitive  surround- 
ings of  those  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  I  he 
county,  and  on  the  homestead  where  he  was  reared 
he  has  spent  his  entire  life  thus  far,  and  has  de- 
voted himself  exclusively  to  farming. 

To  the  lady  who  presides  over  bis  pleasant  home 
and  helps  him  to  dispense  its  abundant  hospital- 
ities to  whosoever  comes  under  its  sheltering  roof, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  in  Vermilion  County, 
Dec.  21,  1857.  Her  maiden  name  was  Rebecca 
Tanner,  and  she  was  born  in  this  county,  July  30, 
1839  to  William  and  Lucinda  (McKinsey)  Tanner, 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  Six  children  have  blessed 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  of  whom 
five  are  living — Lafayette  P.  married  Rebecca 
Jones,  and  is  engaged  in  the  coal  business  north  of 
Catlin;  Horace  M.  is  unmarried  and  resides  in  Gar- 
vanza,  Cal.;  Asa  married  Jennie  Alexander,  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  this  township ;  Cla3T  and  Clara 
O.,  the  two  latter  reside  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents. Their  eldest  child,  George  W..  died  when 
about  four  years  old,  and  thus  early  taken  from  this 
weary  world,  he  is  "safe  from  all  that  can  harm, 
safe,  and  quietly  sleeping." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pate  are  very-  pleasant  people, 
kindly  and  generous  in  their  dealings  with  their 
neighbors,  by  whom  they  are  much  liked.  Mr. 
Pate  has  been  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Di- 
rector, holding  the  latter  office  twenty-one  years, 
and  in  both  capacities  has  served  the  public  effici- 


382 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ently.  He  is  a  sound  Republican  and  earnestly 
supports  the  principles  promulgated  by  his  party. 
He  is  a  man  of  correct  moral  habits,  and  though  a 
member  of  no  religious  society  yet  takes  an  active 
part  in  the  affairs  of  the  church  and  does  what  he 
can  for  its  welfare.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  Catlin  Lodge,  No.  285. 

A  fine  lithographic  view  of  the  homestead  and 
surroundings  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Pate  is  shown 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 


—5 #«# *— 

\f  UDGE  OLIVER   LOWNDES  DAVIS.       It 

I  is  seemingly  natural,  at  least  it  is  easier,  for 
mankind  to  wander  into  crooked  paths 
than  to  follow  the  straight  road  of  recti- 
tude and  honor;  but  he  who  fortunately  con- 
fines himself  to  the  latter,  must  have  some  realiza- 
tion of  the  homely  and  ancient  adage  that  "virtue 
brings  its  own  reward."  Men  do  not  realize  the 
truth  of  this  so  much  as  in  life's  decline,  when  the 
shadows  of  the  great  change  which  is  soon  to  come 
are  already  visible;  then  fortunate  is  he  who  may 
humbly  feel  that  his  life  labors  have  not  wholly 
been  in  vain.  These  thoughts  involuntarily  arise 
in  contemplating  the  career  of  Judge  Davis,  which 
has  been  perhaps,  like  that  of  a  deep  stream,  little 
disturbed  at  the  surface,  but  with  an  under-current 
whose  strength  has  been  clear  and  decided.  A 
native  of  New  York  City,  he  was  born  Dec.  20, 
1819,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Olivia  (Thomp- 
son) Davis,  who  were  natives  respectively,  of  Sar- 
atoga, N.  Y.,  and  Connecticut.  After  their  re- 
moval to  the  metropolis  the  father  was  for  many 
years  engaged  with  varying  success  as  a  shipping 
merchant. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  pursued  his  first  studies 
in  a  select  school  in  his  native  city,  afterward  en- 
tered Hamilton  Academy,  and  later  was  a  student 
at  the  academy  in  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.  After  lay- 
ing aside  his  books  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
American  Fur  Company,  which  was  founded  by 
John  Jacob  Astor  and  which  was  at  that  time  un- 
der the  presidency  of  Ramsey  Crookes.  He  con- 
tinued with    this    company    until    1811.    and  then, 


having  determined  to  make  his  home  in  the  West, 
came  to  this  count}-  and  settled  in  Danville,  where 
he  now  lives. 

Early  in  life  Judge  Davis  had  looked  forward  to 
the  time  when  he  could  enter  the  legal  profession 
and  now  in  keeping  with  his  long  cherished  desire, 
he  placed  himself  under  the  tuition  of  Isaac  P. 
Walker  and  began  the  study  of  law.  By  close 
application  and  untiring  diligence  he  made  rapid 
progress  in  his  studies  and  on  the  15th  day  of  De- 
cember, 1842,  was  admitted  to  the  liar.  Soon 
afterward  opening  an  office  on  his  own  account,  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  but  contin- 
ued his  studies  and  in  due  time  established  him- 
self as  a  reliable  practitioner  and  was  regarded 
as  an  able  advocate  who  signalized  himself  as  ex- 
ceptionally honorable  and  high-minded. 

In  18G1  upon  the  formation  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Circuit  Court,  Mr.  Davis  was  elected  Judge 
and  was  appointed  by  Judge  Treat  as  United 
States  Commissioner.  On  the  1st  of  July,  follow- 
ing, he  was  reelected  to  the  former  office,  which 
he  held  until  Jul}'  10,  1866,  when,  owing  to  the 
meagreness  of  the  salary  he  resigned  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he  continued 
with  marked  success  until  1873.  He  was  then 
elected  Judge  of  the  Fifteenth  Judicial  Circuit 
which  office  he  held  until  1879,  and  in  that  year  he 
was  elected  and  commissioned  Judge  of  the  Fourth 
Judicial  Circuit. 

In  the  meantime,  on  the  25th  of  September, 
1877,  our  subject  was  appointed  by  the  Supreme 
Court  as  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Appellate  Court 
— an  office  to  which  he  was  twice  subsequently  re- 
appointed and  in  which  he  served  with  great  wis- 
dom and  discretion  for  twelve  years  and  at  the  end 
of  the  second  appointment  retired  from  the  bench. 
He  is  particularly  distinguished  for  his  legal  acumen 
and  honesty,  together  with  great  purity  of  motive, 
while  his  equitable  rulings  and  gentlemanly  bearing 
have  secured  him  the  high  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  had  dealings.  As  a  lawyer,  he  has  honored 
his  profession,  while  as  a  Judge,  he  holds  the  un- 
qualified respect  of  both  bench  and  bar. 

In  politics,  Judge  Davis,  was  oiiginally  a  Demo- 
crat, but  upon  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  became    identified  with   that    body.     He 


' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


383 


was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  first  in  1851,  and 
again  in  1857.  Aside  from  tliis  he  has  declined 
political  preferment,  finding  more  satisfactory  oc- 
cupation in  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession. 
In  his  religious  views,  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  having 
united  with  that  church  in  1870. 

Judge  Davis  was  married  Dec.  5,  1844,  to  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Cunningham,  a  daughter  of  Hezekiahand 
Mary  (Alexander)  Cunningham,  who  were  natives 
respectively  of  Virginia  and  Georgia.  In  the  lat 
tir  State  were  many  members  of  the  Alexander  fam- 
ily who  rose  to  eminence,  and  were  particularly 
gifted  with  the  traits  of  an  illustrious  ancestry.  Mrs. 
Davis  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  was  born  Sept. 
3,  1827.  To  the  Judge  and  his  accomplished  wife 
there  were  born  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— Mary  married  Charles  .1.  Palmer;  Lucy,  mar- 
ried .1.  B.  Mann;  Jennie,  married  S.  M.  Millike n; 
Nellie,  Henry  Harmon,  and  Fannie.  E. 


«*-*- 


T 


AMES  E.  WHITE  is  industriously  pursuing 
the  calling  of  afarmer  on  section  10,  Catlin 
Township,  where  be  owns  a  good  farm 
whose  well-tilled  acres  yield  him  an  income 
that  enables  him  to  support  his  family  in  comfort. 
He  was  born  in  Perrysville,  Ind.,  Sept.  4,  1851,  a 
son  of  James  and  Frances  Ann  (Sanders)  White. 
The  former  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Hannah  Rogers,  the  mother  of  William  White,  of 
whom  a  brief  account  is  given  on  another  page  of 
this  work. 

Our  subject  is  the  oldest  living  son  of  his  father 
and  mother,  and  was  a  lad  of  eight  years  when  his 
parents  came  to  Vermilion  County,  this  State,  and 
here  the  remaining  years  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
were  spent,  and  when  it  became  time  for  him  to 
settle  upon  some  calling  by  which  to  earn  a  living, 
he  selected  agriculture  as  the  one  for  which  he  was 
the  best  fitted.  He  has  been  quite  successful  thus 
far  and  has  already  placed  his  160-acre  farm  under 
excellent  tillage  and  has  made  many  good  improv- 
ments. 

June  3,  1874.  was  the  date  of  one  of  the  most 
important  events  that  ever  occurred  in  the  life  of 


Mr.  White,  our  subject,  as  at  that  time  he  was 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Miss 
Emily  Eliza  Browne,  who  is  faithfully  co-operating 
with  him  in  his  work.  Seven  children  have  come 
to  brighten  their  home,  as  follows:  Henry  W. 
Eliza  F.,  Mirriam  R.,  Frederic  J.,  Alice  E.,  who 
was  taken  from  the  home  circle  Feb.  2,  1888;  Jes- 
sie L.,  and  Minnie  E. 

Mrs.  White  is  a  native  of  Catlin  Township,  and 
was  born  Dec.  2:!,  1852,  to  William  and  Eliza 
(Jones)  Browne,  natives  of  England.  The  latter 
was  born  Feb.  3,  1829,  and  became  the  wife  of 
William  Browne  May  l(i,  18,50.  and  with  him  set- 
tled in  Catlin  Township  On  the  24th  day  of 
March,  1851,  he  was  suddenly  removed  by  an  ac- 
cidental death,  from  the  sphere  of  his  usefulness 
while  yet  in  life's  prime.  On  that,  day  he  was  un- 
loading hay  from  a  wagon  near  the  residence  of 
the  late  Henry  Jones,  on  the  road  between  Catlin 
and  Danville.  He  was  on  the  ground  at  the  rear 
of  the  load  unloosening  the  pole  that  bound  the 
hay,  and  the  horses  becoming  frightened  started  to 
run  away,  and  while  he  was  trying  to  catch  them 
he  was  struck  by  the  hay  ladder  of  the  rack,  across 
the  heart,  and  in  less  than  a  half-hour  was  dead. 
He  was  the  father  of  two  children — Eliza  and  Em- 
ily E.,  (Mrs.  White).  Eliza  died  when  about  fif- 
teen months  old.  The  widow  of  William  Browne, 
and  mother  of  Mrs.  White  was  afterward  again  mar- 
ried, this  time  being  united  with  Frederic  Tarrant, 
a  native  of  England.  Mr.  Tarrant  was  born  at 
Stanford  in  the  Vale,  County  of  Berks,  old  Eng- 
land, his  birth  occurring  May  15,  1821.  He  left 
his  native  land  in  June,  1 853,  coming  almost  im- 
mediately to  the  great  and  growing  West. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tarrant  became  the  parents  of  a 
large  family  of  children,  whose  names  are  given 
below:  Sarah  Louisa,  born  Fell.  (1,  1857,  married 
Charles  P.  Williams,  Sept.  1,  1875:  Frederic  Rich- 
ard, born  Jan.  1.  1859,  and  died  May  17.  1859; 
Miriam  Whitfield,  born  Feb.  10.  I860,  and  mar- 
ried Nov.  1,  1882,  to  Robert  White;  Ellen  Eliz- 
abeth, born  Dec.  18,  18(51,  and  died  May  7,  1862; 
Arthur  Heniy,  born  May  20,  1863.  and  married 
June  G,  1888.  to  Annie  Estella  l.udy;  Jessie  Bent- 
ley,  born  Dec  20,  18C5,  and  married  March  31, 
I<ss7,   to   Thomas  J.    Dale;    Thomas   Alfred,    born 


384 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Feb.  11,  1868;  Alice  Bertha,  June  21,  1870,  and 
Elsie  Kate,  born  Feb.  10,  1873,  and  died  Dec.  14, 
1874. 

Mr.  White  is  an  honest,  sober,  hard  working  man, 
and  is  regarded  as  a  useful  member  in  the  commu- 
nity. He  has  served  his  township  faithfully  as 
School  Director.  He  and  his  wife  are  people  of 
religious  views  and  habits,  and  belong  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  White  is  identified 
with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  as  a  member  of  the  C'atlin 
Lodge,  No.  285.  In  politics,  he  is  a  follower  of  the 
Democratic  party. 


tfl  WILLIAM  W.  CURRENT  occupies  a  prom- 
\/sJ/l  'uent  position  among  the  progressive,  en- 
W$fl  terprising  citizens  of  Newell  Township, 
his  native  place,  of  which  he  is  Supervisor,  and 
with  whose  agricultural  interests  he  is  closely  iden- 
tified. He  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  war,  in  which 
he  won  an  honorable  record  as  a  brave,  faithful 
soldier,  ready  to  do  or  die  for  his  country. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Henry  B.  Current,  is 
a  native  of  Virginia,  while  his  mother,  Martha 
Srout,  was  born  in  Ohio.  [For  parental  history 
see  sketch  of  Henry  B.  Current].  The}'  had  eight 
children,  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  and  William 
of  whom  we  write,  was  the  eldest  of  the  family. 
He  was  born  in  this  township  Nov.  27,  1842.  He 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  count}',  re- 
ceiving common  educational  advantages  in  the 
public  schools.  When  he  was  sixteen  3rears  old, 
an  independent,  self-reliant  youth,  he  left  the 
shelter  of  the  parental  roof  to  learn  the  trade  of 
harness  and  saddlery  making,  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship of  two  years.  But  after  that  he  did  not 
follow  the  trade,  but  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry 
goods  and  clothing  house  in  Danville,  and  was 
there  for  three  years.  During  that  time  he  had 
been  watching  the  progress  of  the  great  civil  war 
that  was  then  raging  so  fiercely,  and  he  then  deter- 
mined to  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  noble  defenders  of 
the  stars  and  stripes  and  fight  with  them  his  coun- 
try's battles.  Accordingly  in  the  prime  and  vigor 
of  young   manhood   he  enlisted   in   the    spring  of 


1864  in  Company  K,  37th  Illinois  Infantry,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  J.  C,  Black,  afterward  Gen. 
Black.  He  did  good  service  on  Southern  battle- 
fields for  about  a  year,  but  the  hardships  and  pri- 
vations of  a  soldier's  life  told  on  his  naturally 
strong  constitution,  and  after  the  war  ended  he 
was  discharged  on  account  of  disability. 

After  his  experience  of  military  warfare  Mr. 
Current  returned  to  his  native  county  and  engaged 
as  switchman  in  the  Danville  yards  for  the  Wabash 
Railway.  He  acted  in  that  capacity  about  a  year 
and  was  then  transferred  to  the  freight  office  where 
he  was  employed  some  six  or  seven  years.  When 
the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railway  was  com- 
pleted he  was  appointed  conductor  of  a  freight 
train  running  from  Chicago  to  Danville.  A  year 
and  a  half  afterwards  he  gave  that  up  to  accept  a 
position  in  the  Chicago  office.  After  working 
there  one  winter  he  returned  to  Danville  and  in 
June  took  charge  of  the  yard.  A  year  and  a  half 
later  he  abandoned  railroading,  and  then  engaged 
in  the  grocer}'  business  in  Danville  about  three 
years  and  then  in  farming.  In  the  month  of 
August,  1886  Mr.  Current  returned  to  Newell 
Township  where  his  early  life  had  been  passed,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming  here  at  the  old 
homestead  of  his  father,  farming  on  shares. 

Mr.  Current  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
first  wedded  in  this  county,  in  Catlin  Township,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Ellsworth,  a  native  of  the  county. 
She  bore  him  three  children — Oscar  E.,  Harry  S., 
Ida  M.  July  10,  1878,  the  devoted  wife  and 
mother  was  called  to  a  higher  life,  leaving  many 
friends  to  sympathise  with  her  afflicted  household. 
Mr.  Current  was  married  to  his  present  estimable 
wife  in  Newell  Township,  Feb.  15,  1880.  She  is, 
like  himself,  a  native  of  this  place,  born  June  8, 
1858,  her  maiden  name  Mary  A.  Makemson.  Her 
parents,  Hiram  and  Prudence  (Campbell)  Makem- 
son, are  residents  of  this  township. 

Mr.  Current  is  an  ambitious,  wide-awake  man, 
skilled  in  his  calling,  and  his  ability  and  well- 
known  integrity  have  been  duly  recognized  by  his 
fellow-citizens,  who  have  twice  called  him  to  the 
responsible  office  that  he  now  holds  as  Supervisor 
of  Newell  Township,  electing  him  first  in  the 
spring  of  1888,  and  re-electing  him  in  the  spring 


Jr^/ov-ru  /^^y^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


387 


of  1889.  While  living  in  Danville  he  was  City 
Clerk  for  one  year.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  Olive  Branch  Lodge,  No.  38,  Vermilion 
Chapter  at  Danville  and  Athelstan  Commandery, 
No.  45,  at  Danville.  He  is  a  man  of  sincere  reli- 
gious principles,  and  an  active  worker  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has  been 
an  officer,  and  he  heartily  cooperates  with  his 
fellow  members  in  whatever  will  promote  the  best 
interests  of  the  church  and  of  society  at  large. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


AJOR  WILSON  BURROUGHS.  Among 
the  self-made  men  of  Vermilion  County 
none  deserve  greater  credit  than  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  who  is  in  possession  of  a 
comfortable  amount  of  this  world's  goods,  obtained 
by  downright  hard  labor  and  wise  management.  At 
the  beginning,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self, he  made  it  a  rule  to  live  within  his  income, 
and  this  resolve  closely  followed  has  given  him 
that  independence  than  which,  there  is  no  more 
comfortable  feeling  in  the  world.  In  possession  of 
a  fine  home  and  a  splendid  family,  together  with 
the  respect  of  his  fellow  men,  he  surely  has  much 
to  make  life  desirable.  His  occupation  through 
life  has  been  principally  agriculture,  but  he  is  now 
retired  from  active  labor  and  has  wisely  determined 
to  spend  his  remaining  years  in  the  comfort  and 
quiet  which  he  so  justly  deserves. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Major  were  Southern  peo- 
ple mostly,  and  his  father,  Jesse  Burroughs,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  1803.  Early  in  life  he 
was  married  May  8,  1823,  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Wilson 
who  was  born  in  1804  in  Pennsylvania,  the  wedding 
taking  place  in  Deaborn  County,  Ind.,  to  which  place 
the  young  people  had  emigrated  with  their  parents. 
They  resided  in  that  county  for  sixteen  years,  then 
coming  to  Illinois,  in  1839,  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Catlin,  this  county,  where  they  lived  a  number  of 
years,  then  changed  their  residence  to  Fainnount. 
The  father  died  on  the  5th  of  March,  1880,  aged 
seventy-six  years,  ten  months  and  sixteen  days. 
The  mother  survived  her  partner    less  than  a  year. 


passing  awaj-  Feb.  25,  1881,  aged  seventy -six  years, 
three  months  and  twenty- four  days. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  nine 
children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  five  of  whom 
are  living,  and  of  whom  Wilson  was  the  second 
child.  He  was  born  Nov.  21,  1825,  in  Dearborn 
County,  Ind.  His  early  education  was  conducted 
in  a  log  school-house  with  greased  paper  for  win- 
dow panes  and  the  other  finishings  and  furnishings 
common  to  the  buildings  of  that  place  and  time. 
It  was  never  his  privilege  to  attend  a  higher  school. 
He  had  the  ordinary  experience  of  a  farmer's  boy 
in  a  new  country,  assisting  in  the  development  of 
the  farm,  plowing,  sowing  and  reaping,  becoming  in- 
ured to  hard  work  at  an  early  age.  There  were 
very  few  settlers  in  this  region  at  the  time  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Burroughs  family,  there  being  a  few 
Indians  and  French  on  the  Sault  fork  of  the  Ver- 
milion River. 

Four  days  before  attaining  the  nineteenth  year  of 
his  age  young  Burroughs  was  married  Nov.  17, 
1844,  to  Miss  Martha  Ann  Thompson,  daughter  of 
John  and  Esther  (Paine)  Thompson,  who  came  to 
Illinois  from  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  in  1830,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Vance  Township,  this  county. 
Their  family  included  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living  and  of  whom  Mrs.  Burroughs  the 
second  child,  was  born  May  11,  1827,  in  Dearborn 
County,  Ind.  Her  early  education  was  conducted 
in  a  similar  manner  to  that  of  her  husband,  and  her 
father  officiated  as  a  pedagogue  for  several  years. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burroughs  set- 
tled on  a  rented  farm  near  Catlin,  and  like  their 
neighbors  frequently  had  difficulty  to  make  both 
ends  meet.  There  was  an  abundance  of  labor  and 
with  but  very  little  return.  They  raised  their  own 
flax  and  wool,  and  Mrs.  Burroughs  spun  and  wove 
and  fashioned  the  garments  for  her  family.  Mr. 
Burroughs  often  thinks  of  the  time  when  he  went 
to  church  dressed  in  home-made  linen  shirt  and 
pants  and  a  straw  hat.  He  maintains,  however, 
that  those  were  happy  days,  during  which  mutual 
affection  and  mutual  purposes  enabled  them  to  bear 
with  courage  the  burdens  of  life  and  sustain  their 
hopes  for  the  future. 

( >ur  subject  operated  five  years  upon  rented  land 
to  such    good  advantage  that    at  the  expiration  of 


388 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


this  time  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  100  acres — 
eighty  acres  of  prairie  at  $5  per  acre  and  twenty 
acres  of  timber  at  $4  per  acre.  lie  paid  cash  down 
for  the  timber  but  was  obliged  logo  in  debt  for  the 
other.  He  put  up  a  frame  house  and  hauled  the  fin- 
ishing lumber  for  it  from  a  point  east  of  Eugene, 
Ind.,  the  trip  occupying  three  days.  He  lived  at 
this  place  seven  years  then  traded  it  for  a  tract  of 
raw  land,  three  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
Fairmount.  Removing  to  this  he  went  through 
the  same  process  as  before,  bringing  the  new  soil  to 
a  state  of  cultivation,  putting  up  another  house  and 
hauling  the  lumber  as  before  from  the  same  place. 
This  continued  the  home  of  our  subject  and  his 
little  family  until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  late 
Civil  War. 

Although  there  was  much  to  engross  the  time  and 
thoughts  of  Mr.  Burroughs  in  connection  with  his 
personal  interests  he.  nevertheless,  responded  to  the 
call  of  his  country  and  in  August,  1862,  entered  the 
army  as  Captain  of  Company  E,  73d  Illinois  Infan- 
try. He  participated  with  one  exception,  in  all  the 
battles  of  his  regiment,  being  prevented  by  illness 
from  taking  part  in  the  fight  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 
On  the  18th  of  December,  1864,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Major.  Although  in  many  of  the  im- 
portant engagements  which  followed  he  was  never 
wounded  except,  as  he  expressed  it,  "  in  the  hat." 
He  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  battles  of  Perry- 
ville.  Chickainauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Rocky  Face, 
Burnt  Hickory,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy's  Station, 
Franklin,  the  two  days  at  Nashville  and  the  fight  at 
Dalton  and  Resaca.  After  Lee's  surrender  he  was 
mustered  out  in  June,  1865,  at  Camp  Butler,  III. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  army  Major  Burroughs 
returned  to  his  farm  which  he  occupied  until  1867. 
Then,  removing  to  Fairmount,  he  purchased  a  home 
and  has  since  lived  retired  from  active  labor.  Af- 
ter giving  to  his  two  children  each  a  farm  he  still 
has  324  acres  left.  There  were  born  to  him  and  his 
excellent  wife  four  children,  of  whom  Melissa,  the 
eldest  daughter,  became  the  wife  of  I.  N.  Wilcox, 
who  died  Sept.  19,  1887,  leaving  his  widow  with 
one  child,  Harry  B;  Elsworth  Thompson  Burroughs, 
the  eldest  son  of  our  subject,  married  Miss  Laura 
Custer,  and  is  the  father  of  two  children — Fred  and 


Frank — living  near  Westville;  Esther  M.,  is  the 
wife  of  William  P.  Witherspoon  and  the  mother  of 
three  children — Stella,  Wilson  W.  and  Myrtle;  they 
live  in  a  home  adjoining  that  of  Mr.  Burroughs. 
The  youngest  child  Newton  W..  remains  at  home 
with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Burroughs  usually  votes  the  straight  Repub- 
lican ticket  but  further  than  this  takes  no  active 
part  in  polities  and  has  avoided  the  responsibilities 
of  office,  although  serving  as  Director  and  Trustee 
in  his  district.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Town  Council  and  as  an  ex-soldier,  belonged  to 
George  N.  Neville,  Post.  G.  A.  R.  until  its  discon- 
tinuance. Major  and  Mrs.  Burroughs  together 
with  all  their  children,  are  members  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  at  Fairmount.  This 
was  organized  in  1869  and  the  Major  has  been  one 
of  its  Elders  since  that  time.  He  has  always  enter- 
tained an  active  interest  in  the  Sunday-school  in 
which  he  has  held  the  office  of  Superintendent  many 
years.  He  ranks  among  the  foremost  temperance 
men  of  this  communit}'  and  in  all  his  dealings  has 
preserved  that  honest  and  upright  course  in  life 
which  as  been  the  surest  guarantee  of  a  substantial 
success  and  paved  the  way  to  a  position  in  the 
front  ranks  among  the  responsible  men  of  this 
community.  He  knows  by  what  toil  and  struggle 
his  posessions  were  accumulated,  and  has  a  faculty 
of  investing  his  capital  to  the  best  advantage. 

A  portrait  of  Major  Burroughs,  which  appears 
in  this  volume  will  be  valued  by  his  many  friends 
in  the  county,  and  especially  by  his  comrades  in  the 
G.  A.  R. 


*£a-= 


P~€^-i 


II  LBERT  VOORHES,  a  prominent  and 
well-to-do  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Cat- 
lin  Township,  numbered  among  its  most 
benevolent  and  public-spirited  citizens,  is 
a  fine  type  of  our  self-made  men,  who  while  work- 
ing hard  to  establish  themselves  in  the  world  have 
materially  added  to  the  wealth  of  this  county. 
When  he  and  his  wife  began  life  together,  they 
had  to  commence  in  the  humblest  way,  having  no 
means,  but  by  their   united  labors,  with  wise  econ- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


389 


only  and  prudent  management,  they  have  secured  a 
competence,  and  have  built  up  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive homes  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Yoorhes  is  a  native  of  the  good  old  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Washington  County  Dec. 
26,  1833,  the  fourth  child  in  the  family  of  twelve 
children,  five  sons  and  seven  daughters,  belonging 
to  Andrew  W.  and  Mary  (Crockard)  Yoorhes. 
1 1  is  father  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  his  mother 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  after  marriage,  they  made 
their  home  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  there 
their  entire  wedded  life  was  passed,  and  there  death 
found  them  well-prepared  for  its  summons.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser. 

Their  son  Albert,  the  subject  of  this  biograph- 
ical review,  was  reared  to  manhood  in  the  home  of 
his  birth,  remaining  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  till  he  married  and  established  domestie 
ties  of  his  own.  That  important  event  in  his  life  took 
place  in  his  native  county  Sept.  12,  1857,  on  which 
date  he  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony 
to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Baker.  Mrs.  Voorhes  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Enoch  and  Margaret  (Speers)  Baker,  who 
were  natives  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  the  fa- 
ther spending  his  entire  life  there.  The  mother  is 
still  living  at  an  advanced  age.  Mrs.  Voorhes  is 
the  eldest  of  the  eight  children,  three  daughters 
and  five  sons,  born  to  her  parents,  and  she  lirst 
saw  the  light  of  day  amid  the  pretty  scenes  sur- 
rounding her  early  home  Dec.  19,  1839.  She  was 
reared  to  womanhood  in  Washington  County,  and 
carefully  trained  in  all  the  duties  of  caring  for  a 
household,  and  was  thus  admirably  fitted  for  the 
part  of  wife  and  mother  that  she  has  performed  so 
well.  To  her  and  our  subject  ten  children  have 
been  born,  of  whom  the  following  is  recorded: 
Emery  A.,  died  when  he  was  six  months  old:  Sam- 
Del  W..  died  when  he  was  twenty-one,  his  deatii 
having  been  caused  by  a  horse  kicking  him; 
Charles  L.,  married  Miss  Cora  A.  McDonald;  Lin- 
nia  I.,  married  Wallace  Acree;  Albert  N..  died 
when  four  months  old;  Delia  J.  married  Albert 
Fisher;  Henry  II.,  Florence  B.,  Kimbro  E.,  and 
Earl  F..  are  at  home. 

In  the  fall  of  1857.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Voorhes,  then 
recently  married,  left  their  old  Pennsylvania  borne, 
and   coming  to   Illinois,   settled  in  Edgar  County 


about  eight  miles  west  of  Paris.  After  living 
there  two  years,  they  came  to  Vermilion  County 
where  they  have  ever  since  made  their  home.  Mr. 
Voorhes  lias  a  farm  of  243  acres  on  section  1. 
(atlin  Township,  and  eighty  acres  in  Vance  Town- 
ship two  miles  south  of  Fairmount,  on  which  he 
has  erected  a  fine  set  of  buildings,  and  has  made 
other  valuable  improvements,  besides  putting  the 
land  under  good  cultivation,  and  has  a  place  of 
which  lie  may  well  be  proud.  At  one  time  Mr. 
Voorhes  moved  to  Fairmount  with  his  famil}'. 
and  lived  in  retirement  there  for  two  years. 

Mr.  Voorhes  possesses  in  a  large  degree  the 
rugged  honesty,  truthfulness  and  steadfast  char- 
acter that  mark  the  man  of  all  men  in  whom  to  place 
implicit  confidence.  He  has  good  natural  abilities, 
and  knows  well  how  to  work  to  the  best  advantage, 
hence  his  prosperity.  He  and  his  wife  are  people 
of  warm  hearts  and  genial,  social  dispositions,  so 
that  they  r\re  much  loved  in  this  community  with 
whose  people  they  have  dwelt  in  amity  and  peace 
these  many  years.  They  are  devoted  members  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he 
has  been  an  Elder  for  more  than  twenty  years. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Voorhes  is  a  sturdy  Democrat  of 
the  .lacksonian  style.  He  takes  a  lively  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and  has  done  his  township  good  ser- 
vice as  Road  Commissioner,  which  office  he  has 
held  for  the  last  six  years;  and  as  School  Direc- 
tor, he  having  acted  in  that  capacity  a  long  term 
of  years. 


•£S*g^ 


WILLIAM  P.  VAN  ALLEN.  The  subject 
of  this  notice  deserves  more  than  a  passing 
mention  in  noting  the  events  in  the  lives 
of  the  prominent  men  of  Vermilion  County,  to 
whom  it  owes  in  a  large  measure  its  uniform 
prosperity  and  steadily  increasing  growth,  both 
morally,  socially  and  financially.  We  find  this 
representative  agriculturist  pleasantly  situated  on 
■a  line  farm  occupying  a  part  of  section  3G  in  Oak- 
wood  Township,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  homestead 
which  he  has  built  up  by  his  own  industry  and  perse- 
verance. He  came  to  this  county  like  many  of  his 
compeers,  with  limited  means,  but  was  possessed  of 


390 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


those  invaluable  qualities  of  persistence  and  energy 
which  are  usually  attended  by  success.  He  was 
soon  recognized  as  a  valued  addition  to  the  com- 
munity, and  from  time  to  time  was  placed  in  vari- 
ous positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  the  duties 
of  which  he  has  uniformly  discharged  with  honesty 
and  fidelity. 

In  the  biography  of  John  II.  Van  Allen,  on 
another  page  in  this  Album,  will  be  found  the  pa- 
rental history  of  our  subject,  who  is  a  child  of  the 
same  family.  He  was  born  Dec.  20,  1840,  in  Lick- 
ing County,  Ohio,  and  there  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  receiving  a  practical  education  in  the  com- 
mon school.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
carpenter  trade  with  his  father  and  worked  at  this 
until  reaching  his  majority.  After  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  War  he  entered  the  Union  Army,  Aug. 
14,  1862,  as  a  member  of  Company  G,  07th  Ohio 
Infantry,  with  which  he  served  three  years  and  un- 
til the  close  of  the  conflict.  He,  like  his  brother, 
met  the  enemy  first  in  battle  at  Perryville,  and 
later  was  at  Wild  Cat  Mountain,  Crab  Orchard 
and  Nashville,  where  his  regiment  was  placed  un- 
der the  command  of  General  Rosecrans  and  subse- 
quently fought  at  Stone  River.  They  spent  the 
winter  at  this  point,  in  the  meantime  engaging  in 
several  skirmishes  and  then  proceeded  to  Talla- 
homa,  Tenn.,  and  to  Chattanooga,  following  up  the 
rebel  general,  Bragg.  The  97th  Regiment,  was, 
with  others  of  the  brigade,  ordered  in  company 
with  Gen.  Wilder's  Mounted  Infantry  to  march 
ten  miles,  pulling  the  artillery  by  hand  up  the 
mountain,  and  opened  fire  on  Chattanooga  on 
Waldon  Ridge  for  ten  days.  This  was  in  order  to 
allow  Gen.  Rosecrans  with  his  army  to  cross  at 
Stevenson,  forty  miles  below. 

Our  subject  with  his  comrades  was  now  con- 
stantly under  fire,  and  the  97th  was  the  first  regi- 
ment to  enter  Chattanooga.  They  did  provost 
duty  there  during  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and 
later  participated  in  the  fight  at  Mission  Ridge, 
where  the  regiment  lost  over  140  killed  and 
wounded.  Soon  afterward  they  were  ordered  upon 
a  forced  march  to  relieve  Gen.  Burnside,  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  and  later  our  subject  with  his  com- 
rades was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Gen.  O.  O. 
Howard.      After    this   he    fought  at   the    battle  of 


Dandridge.  The  regiment  then  retreated  back  to 
Knoxville.  They  guarded  the  railroad  in  that 
vicinity  during  the  winter.  On  the  3d  of  May, 
1864,  they  concentrated  at  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  pre- 
paring for  the  memorable  march  to  the  sea. 

At  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  on  the  22d 
of  June,  Mr.  Van  Allen  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  right  thigh  by  a  minie  ball.  He  was  sent  first 
to  the  hospital  at  Nashville  and  subsequently  trans- 
ferred to  Louisville,  from  which  point  his  father 
took  him  home.  When  sufficiently  recovered  he 
reported  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  was  sent  to  Camp 
Dennison,  where  he  received  his  honorable  dis- 
charge in  1865.  He  had  his  full  share  of  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  army  life,  and  has  never 
fully  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds  and 
the  drain  upon  his  constitution  caused  by  hard 
fare,  the  forced  marches  and  the  sojourn  among 
the  malarial  districts  of  the  South. 

Upon  returning  home  Mr.  Van  Allen  served  an 
apprenticeship  at  the  potter's  trade  and  followed 
it  about  three  years.  In  the  meantime  he  was 
married,  Nov.  21,  1866,  to  Miss  Caroline  V.  Kiger, 
who  was  the  only  child  of  her  parents,  and  was 
born  in  Virginia,  in  1847.  The  young  people  so- 
journed in  the  Bucke3'e  State  until  1869,  then 
came  to  Illinois,  and  a  year  later  Mr.  Van  Allen 
purchased  land  and  began  the  construction  of  a 
farm.  He  put  up  a  fine  residence  in  1879  and  is 
the  owner  of  112  acres  under  a  thorough  state  of 
cultivation.  Stock-raising  forms  a  leading  feature 
in  his  operations,  and  he  makes  a  specialt}'  of 
Poland-China  swine,  while  he  has  nearly  twenty 
head  of  draft  horses  and  a  few  equines  not  quite 
so  valuable. 

Mr.  Van  Allen  takes  a  pardonable  pride  in  the 
fact  that  his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  voted  for  Benjamin 
Harrison  with  equal  enthusiasm  early  upon  election 
day  in  1888.  He  is  a  sound  Republican  with  clear 
and  decided  ideas  as  to  the  reason  of  the  faith 
within  him.  He  at  an  early  date  became  identi- 
fied with  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  been  Commander 
of  George  Morrison  Post,  No.  635,  at  Glenburn, 
since  its  organization.  He  is  likewise  connected 
with  Newtown  Lodge,  in  which  he  has  been  Treas- 
urer  for  years.     He  represented  Oakwood  Town- 


PORTRAIT  AND   lillli  1 1{  A  PII1CAL  ALBUM. 


391 


^1 1 i | >  in  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  two  years, 

was  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years  and  has  been 
School  Director  nine  years.  Probably  no  man  in 
the  township  has  contributed  in  a  more  effectual 
manner  to  its  steady  growth  and  uniform  pros- 
perity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Allen  are  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  living: 
Walter,  Frank,  Stats,  Bertie,  John,  Mary,  Etta, 
Nellie  and  Vida.  The}'  are  being  carefully  reared 
and  educated  in  a  manner  fitting  them  for  their 
future  station  in  life  as  the  offspring  of  one  of  the 
representative  families  of  Central  Illinois. 


i^m^^^- 


HOMASC.  McCAUGHEY,  M.  D.  The  rnecl- 
«gs»  ical  profession  of  Vermilion  County  num- 
bers among  its  members  some  very  able  and 
conscientious  men,  and  among  them  may  be  classed 
the  subject  of  this  notice.  He  has  distinguished 
himself  as  a  conscientious  practioner,  both  of  med- 
icine and  surgery  and  has  been  located  in  Hoopes- 
ton  since  1871.  He  is  well  known  as  the  junior 
partner  of  the  firm  of  Peirce  &  McCaughey,  the 
druggists  of  Main  street. 

Dr.  McCaughey  is  a  gentleman  in  the  prime  of 
life,  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  having  been 
born  Jan.  20,  1841,  in  Sharon  Center,  Medina  Co., 
Ohio.  He  spent  his  youthful  days  there  and  at 
Fredericksburg,  Wayne  County.  His  father,  Rob- 
ert McCaughey,  conducted  an  hotel  and  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits.  Thomas  C.  completed  his 
education  at  Fredericksburg  and  soon  afterward, 
the  Civil  War  being  in  progress,  he  enlisted  as  a 
Union  soldier  in  Company  II,  I02d  Ohio  Infantry. 
This  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
and  our  subject  participated  in  all  the  engagements 
of  his  regiment,  serving  three  years  without  wound 
or  capture  while  half  of  his  comrades  were  killed 
or  wounded.  He  was  frequently  in  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  and  upon  several  occasions  his  escape 
seemed  nothing  less  than  a  miracle.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  was  mustered  out  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  r<  ceived  his  honorable  discharge  July  8,  I860. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  army  our  subject  visited 


his  home  for  a  brief  time,  then  came  directly  to 
Pax  ton,  this  Stale,  where  In'  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  under  Drs.  Kelso  and  Randolph,  with 
whom  he  remained  two  years.  Next  he  entered  the 
medical  department  of  Michigan  University  at  Ann 
Arbor,  being  a  member  of  the  class  of  1.SG7.  This 
was  followed  by  another  course  in  Rush  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  after  which  he  received  his  di- 
ploma and  established  himself  in  Ford  County,  near 
the  present  town  of  Rankin,  where  his  rides  ex- 
tended over  a  large  section  of  country. 

In  1871,  soon  after  the  laying  out  of  Hoopeston, 
Dr.  McCaughey  came  to  this  place,  being  the  first 
physician  to  establish  himself  here.  In  1881  he 
associated  himself  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Peirce. 
For  over  twelve  years  he  has  been  surgeon  for  the 
Chicago  ifc  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Company.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  surgery  and  in  his  office  may 
be  seen  the  latest  instruments  and  appliances  in 
keeping  with  the  progress  of  this  science.  He  has 
been  a  close  student  and  avails  himself  of  every 
opportunity  for  information  in  connection  with 
this  most  important  calling.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Pension  Examiners  and  of  the  Board 
of  Health  in  Hoopeston.  He  has  for  some  years 
been  connected  with  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  which  he  is  an  Elder  and  has  officiated 
as  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  seven- 
teen years.  He  has  always  maintained  a  warm  in- 
terest in  its  prosperity  and  given  to  it  a  liberal  sup- 
port, lie  has  no  political  aspirations,  but  thor- 
oughly believes  in  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Johnson,  of  Rankin,  became  the 
wife  of  our  subject  Jan.  l'4.  1871,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  three  children, — Cora  Etta,  Mary 
Isie  and  Robert  S.  ( )f  these  Cora  Etta  is  dead  and 
the  last  two  are  living  and  are  aged  fifteen  and 
thirteen  respectively.  Cora  Etta  was  the  first  child 
born  in  Hoopeston.  It  is  the  intention  of  their 
parents  to  bestow  upon  them  all  the  social  and 
educational  advantages,  befitting  their  station  in 
life.  Mrs.  McCaughey  was  born  near  Bellefon- 
taine,  Ohio,  Sept.,  1845  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Stanton  and  Jane  (Stevenson)  Johnson,  who  settled 
in  the  vicinity  of  Rankin,  where  the  father  pur- 
Chased  land  from  which    he   built    up   a  good  farm 


392 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  there  his  daughter,  Mary  E.,  lived  until  her 
marriage.  The  father  is  deceased.  The  mother  is 
still  living  and  is  now  quite  aged. 

Robert  McCaughey,  the  father  of  our  subject,  in 
early  manhood  engaged  in  general  merchandising, 
being  located  on  the  road  between  Medina  and 
Akron,  Ohio,  where  also  was  situated  his  hotel  and 
where  he  lived  until  Thomas  O,  our  subject,  was  a 
lad  of  ten  years.  He  then  removed  to  Doyleston 
where  his  deatli  took  place  in  1853.  Politically, 
he  was  an  old  line  Whig. 

S7  EVIN  VINSON.  In  the  life  of  the  subject 
I  (?e»  of  this  notice  there  are  illustrated  the  re- 
jl^vs  suits  of  a  strong  will  under  adverse  circum- 
stances, and  that  which  may  lie  accomplished  by 
steady  perseverance  in  an  honest  purpose  and  fol- 
lowing the  impulses  of  a  worthy  nature  stirred  to 
continuous  action,  together  with  the  promptings 
which  fill  a  man  with  a  desire  to  be  able  not  only 
to  respect  himself,  but  to  secure  a  like  sentiment 
from  his  fellow-citizens.  There  are  few  men  who 
have  warmer  or  truer  friends  than  Mr.  Vinson, 
who,  without  making  any  great  stir  in  the  world, 
has  fully  established  himself  in  the  confidence  of 
those  who  know  him,  and  who  is  designated  as 
having  a  tender  heart  under  a  rough  exterior.  The 
place  which  he  holds  in  this  community  has  not 
been  secured  by  the  amount  of  his  wealth,  but  by 
the  possession  of  those  qualities  which  are  better 
than  silver  and  gold. 

The  Vinson  family  were  first  represented  in  this 
country  in  Maryland,  whence  they  emigrated  to 
Kentucky,  where  Ileuson  Vinson,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  and  engaged  in  fanning  pursuits. 
Upon  reaching  manhood  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Abigail  McDowell,  likewise  a  native  of  the  Blue 
Grass  State,  whence  they  removed  to  Park  County, 
Ind.  They  sojourned  there  until  1841,  then  com- 
ing to  Illinois,  settled  in  this  county,  and  the  father 
died  seven  years  later,  in  1848.  His  widow  is  still 
living  in  this  county,  and  has  now  arrived  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  They  are  the 
parents  of  niue  children,  six  of  whom    are   living. 


The  subject  of  this  notice  was  the  fourth  child 
of  his  parents,  and  was  born  in  Park  County,  Ind., 
Feb.  20,  1829.  He  received  a  very  limited  educa- 
cation,  which  was  mosth  obtained  before  he  reached 
the  age  of  twelve  years.  He  remained  at  the  farm 
working  for  his  father  until  twenty  years  old,  then 
purchased  320  acres  of  wild  land  through  a  sol- 
dier's land  warrant,  which  proved  to  have  been  a 
forgery,  and  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  ICO  acres. 
When  approaching  the  twenty-first  year  of  his  age, 
he  was  married,  Nov.  12.  1849,  to  Miss  Naomi  Lig- 
get,  daughter  of  Jesse  Ligget,  who  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  young  people  commenced  their  wedded  life 
under  favorable  auspices,  and  though  their  little 
farm  was  undeveloped,  they  were  blest  with  good 
health,  cheerful  hearts  and  willing  hands,  and 
united  in  a  mutual  purpose  to  built  up  a  home  for 
themselves.  They  still  live  in  the  house  which 
was  built  thirty-five  years  ago,  and  Mr.  Vinson  is 
now  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  thorougly  cultivated 
land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vinson  have  never  had  children  of 
their  own,  but  have  raised  two  others.  The  eldest, 
whom  they  named  Edwin  Vinson,  is  now  a  man  of 
thirty-three  j-ears.  He  married  Miss  Annie  Rogers, 
lives  on  a  part  of  the  farm,  and  is  the  father  of 
five  children.  The  other  boy  was  sent  to  Illinois 
from  a  New  York  juvenile  asylum  when  seven 
years  of  age,  was  then  taken  by  Mr.  Vinson,  and 
is  now  a  promising  youth  of  seventeen,  a  good,  in- 
dustrious boy,  who  has  been  susceptible  to  good 
training,  and  bills  fair  to  make  a  worthy  citizen 
and  a  first-class  farmer. 

In  1862, during  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War,  our 
subject,  in  company  with  his  brother  John,  raised  a 
company  of  men, which  was  made  a  part  of  the  125th 
Illinois  Infantry.  Of  this  Mr.  Vinson  was  elected 
Captain,  and  served  as  such  for  nearly  two  years, 
commanding  his  company  at  the  battle  of  Perry  - 
ville  and  during  the  campaign  about  Nashville. 
During  the  last  five  months  of  the  service  he  was 
quite  ill  and  finally  obliged  to  resign  his  position 
and  return'  home.  He  votes  the  straight  Republi- 
can ticket,  and  has  served  as  School  Director  and 
Road  Commissioner.  Socially  he  belongs  to  New- 
town Lodge,  No.  7 14,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


393 


been  Treasurer  for  several  years.  He  is  likewise 
identified  with  the  G.  A.  R..  as  a  member  of  George 
Morrison  Post,  No.  685,  at  Glenburn  in  which  he 
has  been  Quartermaster  since  its  organization.  Mrs. 
Vinson  has  been  connected  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  the  last  thirty-five  years,  and 
when  a  younger  lady  was  greatly  interested  in 
Sunday-school  work,  officiating  as  a  teacher  and 
otherwise  looking  after  the  religious  interests  of 
the  young. 

The  paternal  grandmother  of  our  subject  lived 
t<>  be  one  hundred  and  seven  years  old,  and  was 
twice  married,  her  second  husband  being  Mr.  Gib- 
bons, of  Maryland.  At  the  age  of  one  hundred 
she  went  out  and  held  a  prairie  plow  to  which  eight 
yoke  of  oxen  were  attached,  and  followed  it  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  During  the  last  five  years  of 
her  life  she  made  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arinson. 


ENHY  V.  DAVIS  owns  and  operates  a 
splendid  farm  in  Vance  Township.  As 
r/.v  earl}'  as  the  year  1835  he  located  in  Illinois, 
igy  coming  from  Ohio.  He  and  his  brother 
A I  nam  came  with  their  father  to  put  in  a  crop. 
They  remained  here  while  the  father  returned  to 
Ohio  to  close  up  his  business.  When  he  returned 
he  made  the  largest  entry  of  land  that  is  on  record 
at  the  Danville  land-office  in  one  man's  name — 
over  3,000  acres. 

Mr.  Davis,  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written,  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  primitive  schools  in  the 
pioneer  days  of  Illinois.  When  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age  he  left  the  schoolroom  and  gave  his 
attention  to  work  on  his  father's  farm,  continuing 
to  Labor  in  this  way  until  after  he  was  married. 
On  Feb.  IS,  1842,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Copeland,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Copeland,  a  farmer,  who  lived  seven  miles  north- 
west of  Danville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  who  lived  beyond  infancy. 
Samuel  II.,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  Sept.  5,  1844, 
and  when  the  war  broke  out  he  enlisted,  Aug.  22, 
18G1.  in  Company  F,  26th  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
remained  with  his  regiment  until  .lune,  1862,  when 


he  was  taken  sick  and  died,  his  death  occurring  at 
Darlington,  Tenn.,  June  9,  1H(>2.  He  was  interred 
at  the  above  named  place.  William  E.  a  farmer 
who  lives  in  Nebraska,  married  Mrs.  Lilly  M.Lucas, 
daughter  of  Samuel  King,  and  widow  of  Rob- 
ert Lucas.  Sarah  Elizabeth  married  George  R. 
Gamble,  a  photographer  of  Champaign,  III.;  the}' 
have  two  children.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  Sept.  6,  1858.  Mr.  Davis  continued  house- 
keeping after  the  death  of  bis  wife,  and  May  25, 
1859,  he  remarried,  taking  for  bis  second  wife 
Catherine,  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Mary  Calla- 
han, of  Canada.  Mr.  Callahan  was  a  farmer  and 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Davis  was  the 
eldest,  having  been  born  March  11,  18.'!:!.  She  re- 
ceived her  early  education  in  Canada,  and  com- 
pleted it  in  Union  Seminary,  located  at  Danville, 
III.  She  was  a  very  successful  school  teacher,  and 
is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Oscar 
Harmon  married  Clara  II.  Brown;  he  is  a  farmer 
living  in  Minnesota.  They  are  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Ira  Grant,  the  second  son,  married  Mary 
Elizabeth  Palmer.  They  are  residing  on  the  old 
homestead  and  are  the  parents  of  one  child — Mallie 
Leona,  who  was  born  on  Christmas  Day.  1888; 
George  W.  is  unmarried  and  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Davis  owns  426  acres  of  land  in  this  county, 
and  514  in  Champaign  County;  a  half-section  in 
Minnesota,  and  a  house  and  four  lots  in  Cham- 
paign, where  he  lived  thirteen  years  for  the  purpose 
of  educating  his  family.  As  a  farmer  Mr.  Davis 
has  been  eminently  successful,  and  to  his  children 
he  has  given  much  land  and  other  property.  All 
of  the  home  farm  is  under  excellent  cultivation  ex- 
cepting about  fifty  acres.  This  place  he  rented  in 
1854  and  removed  to  his  Champaign  County  farm, 
where  he  remained  a  year,  returning  to  the  old 
homestead.  In  1852  he  sold  a  lot  of  mules  with 
the  intention  of  reinvesting  the  money  in  the  same 
kind  of  properly,  but  instead,  he  entered  982  acres 
of  land,  and  he  never  has  regretted  it.  His  father 
gave  him  400  acres  to  begin  life  with,  and  he  has 
added  to  that  until  he  now  owns  nearly  2,000 acres 
of  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  worship  at  the  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  he  has  been  Trustee  and    Deacon 


394 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


for  a  long  time.  He  gave  $  1,000  to  aid  in  the 
erection  of  the  Baptist  University  at  Chicago,  the 
site  for  which  was  given  by  Stephen  A.  Douglas. 
AVlijle  Mr.  Davis  does  not  take  an  active  part  in 
politics,  he  always  attends  elections,  and  the  last 
Democratic  ballot  cast  by  him  was  for  Franklin 
Pierce.  The  troubles  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
made  him  a  Republican,  and  he  has  since  voted  for 
the  nominees  of  that  party.  Mr.  Davis'  ability  for 
accumulating  land  and  other  propert}',  is  an  evi- 
dence of  his  cleverness  as  a  sound  business  man 
and  a  progressive  farmer. 


«~-\/v-<vti2je£/S)-}@» 


®(.aZW5»»Wv. 


t 


1  OHN  BRADY,  a  veteran  of  the  late  war,  is 
a  representative  of  one  of  the  early  settlers 

j  of  Vermilion  County  who  bore  an  honora- 
(Kjsj^/  ble  part  in  the  development  of  its  immense 
agricultural  resources.  He  is  a  native  of  Danville 
Township,  born  Feb.  1,  1837,  and  the  old  home- 
stead which  was  his  birthplace  is  still  in  his  posses- 
sion, and  he  derives  a  good  income  from  its  rental. 
He  is  now  living  in  retirement  in  the  village  of 
Tilton,  having  accumulated  a  handsome  compe- 
tence by  shrewd  management  and  judicious  in- 
vestments. 

His  father,  also  named  John,  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  county,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
whence  he  was  taken  when  he  was  very  young  to 
Ohio,  his  parents  then  becoming  early  settlers  of 
Brown  County.  There  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
married,  but  instead  of  settling  there  he  decided  to 
come  further  west,  making  the  journey  hither  at 
first  on  horseback  to  prospect.  He  was  so  pleased 
with  the  country  that  he  went  back  to  Ohio  for  his 
family,  and  they  returned  here  with  team.  This 
section  of  the  country  was  very  sparsely  settled  at 
that  time,  and  the  most  of  the  land  was  owned  by 
the  Government,  and  was  for  sale  to  whomso- 
ever cared  £o  buy  it,  at  $1.25  an  acre.  Mr. 
Brady  very  soon  made  a  claim  to  a  tract  of  land 
three  miles  southwest  of  the  city  of  Danville, 
or  of  its  present  site,  and  entered  it  from  the 
Government  at  the  land  office  at  Palestine.  He 
first   built  a  round  log  house  on   the  place  for  a 


temporary  residence,  but  soon  afterward  put  up  a 
more  substantial  hewed  log  house,  in  which  dwell- 
ing the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  A  short 
time  after  he  erected  a  frame  house,  which  is  still 
standing,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  frame  houses  in 
existence  in  the  county.  The  frame  of  this  house 
was  first  put  up  in  South  Town  by  a  man  who  in- 
tended it  for  a  hotel.  He  failed,  however,  before 
it  was  completed,  and  the  father  of  our  subject 
bought  the  frame  and  erected  it  on  his  homestead. 
The  sideboard,  casings,  window  frames,  in  fact,  all 
the  finishing,  was  made  of  black  walnut.  Mr. 
Brady,  Sr.  improved  a  good  farm,  and  was  a  resi- 
dent thereon  till  death  closed  his  useful  career. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife,  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  Rosanna  Kratzer,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Ohio.  Her  father,  Henry  Kratzer,  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Marion 
County.  He  developed  a  farm  from  the  wilderness 
about  one  mile  from  Indianapolis,  and  resided 
there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  died  on  the  old  homestead.  She  and  her 
husband  were  people  of  sterling  worth  and  were 
influential  in  their  neighborhood,  all  regarding 
them  with  esteem  and  respect. 

He  of  whom  we  write  remembers  well  the  inci- 
dents of  pioneer  life  here  and  the  primitive  style 
of  living  necessitated  by  the  distance  from  the 
centres  of  civilization.  He  grew  to  be  a  stalwart, 
manly  lad,  fond  of  the  chase,  and  as  soon  as  large 
enough  to  shoulder  a  rifle  he  often  went  hunting 
and  killed  many  a  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other 
game  that  were  a  welcome  addition  to  the  home 
larder.  He  gleaned  his  education  in  the  pioneer 
school  which  was  held  in  the  old  log  school  house, 
with  rude  home-made  benches  for  seats.  He  re- 
sided with  his  parents  till  after  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  and  in  July,  1862  he  answered  his  coun- 
try's call  for  her  brave  and  patriotic  citizens  to  aid 
in  suppressing  the  rebellion,  and  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  125th  Illinois  Infantry.  The  first  impor- 
tant engagement  in  which  he  took  an  active  part 
was  the  battle  of  Perrysville.  He  afterward 
fought  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  was  with 
Sherman  in  his  campaign  from  Chattanooga  to  At- 
lanta, engaging  in  all  the  important  battles  on  the 
march.     After  the  siege  and  capture  of  Atlanta  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


.597 


followed  his  gallant  leader  to  Savannah,  and  thence 
by  the  way  of  Richmond  to  Washington,  and  was 
present  at  the  grand  review.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  with  his  regiment  at  Chicago,  having 
proved  a  brave  and  efficient  soldier,  willing  to  face 
all  danger,  and  never  shirking  his  duty,  and  ar- 
rived here  on  the  3d  of  July,  1865. 

After  leaving  the  array  Mr.  Brady  resumed 
farming  on  the  old  homestead  which  he  now  owns. 
In  1883,  having  accumulated  a  fine  property  by 
years  of  steady  industry,  he  retired  from  farming 
and  removed  to  Tilton,  where  he  purchased  his 
present  residence  and  has  since  made  his  home 
here. 

Mr.  Brady  was  married  in  February,  1859,  to 
Miss  Mary  Conlin,  a  native  of  the  .State  of  New 
York,  and  they  have  four  children  living — Mar- 
garet, John.  Charlie,  Edith.  Margaret  married 
William  Martin,  a  resident  of  Tilton,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Mary  and  William. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brady  are  very  estimable  people 
and  are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  know 
them.  He  is  a  man  of  sound  discretion  and  sober 
judgment,  a  safe  counsellor,  and  one  who  kindly 
and  unostentatiously  extends  a  helping  hand  to  the 
needy  and  suffering  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact. He  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Congregational  Church. 


JOHN  N.  ENGLEMANN  is  entitled  to  rep- 
resentation in  this  Biographical  Album  as 
an  intelligent,  practical  member  of  the 
farming  community  of  Vermilion  County. 
He  is  classed  among  our  self-made  men,  as  he  be- 
gan life  with  no  capital  but  a  sturdy,  self-reliant, 
capable  manhood,  and  has  become  independent 
and  prosperous,  and,  as  old  age  approaches,  finds 
himself  in  possession  of  a  comfortable  competence 
and  well  fortified  against  want  and  poverty. 
His  farm  on  section  22,  Catlin  Township,  is  pro- 
vided with  an  excellent  class  of  buildings,  and  its 
soil  is  admirably  tilled,  yielding  abundant  harvests 
in  repayment  for  the  labor  and  money  bestowed 
on  it. 

Our  subject  was  born  in   Prussia,  July  29,  1828, 


and  is  the  son  of  John  Nicholas  and  Margaret 
(Kimmel)  Englemann.  The  wife  died  in  Ger- 
many. The  father  subsequently  emigrated  to  this 
country,  and  after  a  time  removed  to  Du  Quoin, 
111.,  where  he  died.  The  boyhood  and  youth 
of  our  subject  were  passed  in  his  native  coun- 
try, but  in  the  early  years  of  his  manhood  he 
determined  to  cross  the  Atlantic  and  seek  in 
the  United  States  of  America  the  prosperity  de- 
nied him  at  home.  In  March,  1854,  he  left  the 
beloved  Fatherland  on  an  American-bound  vessel, 
and  twenty-eight  days  later  the  ocean  was  between 
him  and  the  familiar  scenes  amid  which  he  had 
been  reared.  He  disembarked  at  New  York  and 
made  his  way  from  that  city  to  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  digging  coal,  which 
employment  he  had  followed  in  the  old  country. 
He  lived  in  different  places  in  Ohio  till  1857,  when 
he  came  to  Vermilion  County  to  avail  himself  of 
the  many  advantages  it  offered  a  poor  man  to 
make  his  way  to  comparative  affluence.  Liking 
the  country  here,  he  decided  to  remove  his  family 
to  this  county  and  settle  here  permanently.  At 
first  they  lived  in  Danville  Township,  but  a  year 
later  Mr.  Englemann  came  to  Catlin  Township  with 
his  wife  and  children,  and  rented  a  farm  five 
years;  and  at  the  same  time  he  worked  in  the  coal 
mines  in  the  winter,  carrying  on  his  farming  opera- 
tions during  the  other  seasons  of  the  year.  In 
1864  he  had  been  so  prudent  and  industrious  that 
he  had  managed  to  save  up  quite  a  little  sum  of 
money,  and  was  enabled  to  purchase  eighty  acres 
of  land,  which  is  included  in  his  present  farm. 
In  the  busy  years  that  followed  he  made  many  val- 
uable improvements,  erecting  a  substantial,  well- 
built  dwelling,  a  good  barn  and  other  necessary 
outbuildings,  and  placed  his  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  devoting  himself  entirely  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  bought  more  land,  and 
his  farm  now  comprises  120  acres  of  fine  farming 
land  that  compares  in  fertility  and  productiveness 
with  the  best  in  the  township. 

During  these  years  of  toil  Mr.  Englemann  has 
not  been  without  the  assistance  of  a  good  wife, 
who  has  been  to  him  all  that  a  faithful  helpmate 
could  be.  They  were  united  in  marriage  in  their 
native    Prussia,  in   September,  1853.     Her  maiden 


:;:is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


name  was  Maria  Schuetz,  and  she  was  born  Dec. 
18,  1834.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Maria  (Graser)  Schuetz.  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  were  buried  in  this  township.  Their 
happy  wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Englemann  by  the  birth  of  eight  children,  as 
follows:  Nicholas,  Jacob,  Mary  F.,  Margaretta  S., 
John  W.,  Sophia,  Charles  and  Elizabeth;  all  arc 
living. 

In  our  subject  his  fellow- townsmen  find  these 
desirable  qualities  and  manly  traits  of  character 
that  make  him  a  useful  citizen  and  a  good  neigh- 
bor, one  in  whom  they  may  place  their  trust  with 
a  surety  that  it  will  not  be  abused.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  faithfully  supports  his  party 
at  the  polls.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  ex- 
emplary members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and 
carry  their  Christian  faith  into  their  everyday- 
lives. 

A  fine  lithographic  view  of  the  handsome  resi- 
dence, farm  and  outbuildings  on  the  place  of  Mr. 
Englemann  is  shown  elsewhere  in  this  work. 


|EORGE  M.  VILLARS,  one  of  the  best 
lents  of  this  county  and  the 
fine  property,  was  born  in  Dan- 
ville Township,  Oct.  16,  1832,  and  is  consequently 
but  little  past  the  prime  of  life.  He  is  the  off- 
spring of  a  good  family,  being  the  son  of  the  Rev. 
John  Villars,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Pa.,  Eeb.  14,  1797. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
James  Villars,  who  it  is  believed  was  also  a  native 
of  Jefferson  County,  Pa.,  and  who  was  born  July 
28,  1774.  His  father  was  a  native  of  England, 
and  it  is  supposed  spent  his  last  years  in  the  Key- 
stone State.  Grandfather  James  Villars  was  there 
reared  to  man's  estate  and  married  Miss  Rebecca 
Davison,  April  19,  1796.  In  April,  1806,  they 
removed  to  Ohio  by  means  of  a  flat-boat,  which 
landed  them  at  Cincinnati,  then  but  a  hamlet. 
They  settled  in  what  is  now  Clinton  County,  where 
grandfather  Villars  purchased  quite  a  large  tract 
of    land   and   improved    the  farm,  upon  which  he 


resided  until  his  death.  In  1812  he  put  up  a  sub- 
stantial double  hewed-log  house  with  a  large  stone 
chimney  in  the  center  of  the  building  and  a  huge 
fireplace  on  each  side.  This  structure  stood  for  a 
great  many  years  and  was  a  fitting  monument  to 
the  character  and  enterprise  of  its  builder. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  piously  inclined 
from  his  youth  and  when  a  young  man  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  1823  he  was 
given  a  license  to  exhort,  and  from  that  time 
labored  as  a  local  preacher.  In  the  fall  of  1830  he 
came  to  this  county  with  his  family,  making  the 
journey  overland  with  teams,  camping  and  cook- 
ing by  the  wayside  and  sleeping  in  the  wagons  at 
night.  He  had,  however,  visited  the  country  prior 
to  his  removal  here  and  had  entered  a  tract  of  land 
upon  which  he  had  a  log  house  built  ready  for  the 
family  upon  their  arrival.  From  that  time  on,  in 
addition  to  his  ministerial  labors,  he  carried  on 
the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  his  land,  living 
there  until  1857. 

In  the  year  above  mentioned  the  father  of  our 
subject  decided  to  seek  another  home  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  and  emigrated  to  Nemeha  County, 
Neb.,  where  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  and  to 
which  he  made  the  journey  overland  as  before. 
He  lived,  however,  only  until  the  following  year, 
his  death  taking  place  in  March,  1858.  He  had 
been  twice  married,  the  first  time,  March  14,  1811!, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  McGee.  This  lady  was  born 
Sept.  25,  1797,  and  died  in  Vermilion  County, 
April  22,  1848.  His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Campbell,  and  they  were  married  Oct.  10,  1849. 
She  was  a  native  of  Harrison  County,  Ya.,  and 
born  Sept.  2,  1816.  Of  the  first  marriage  there 
were  born  ten  children  and  of  the  second  marriage 
three.  The  father  left  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  after  a  time  and  identified  himself  with  the 
United  Brethren  and  was  a  preacher  in  the  latter 
Church  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  life 
member  of  the  American  Bible  Society  and  be- 
queathed to  it  the  sum  of  $6,000. 

Our  subject  still  retains  a  vivid  recollection  of 
many  of  the  incidents  of  pioneer  life  in  Illinois, 
when  deer,  wolves  and  other  wild  animals  abounded, 
together  with  Indians  who  were  often  to  be  seen 
in  roving  bands  going  across  the  prairie.     He  ac- 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3  9  9 


quired  his  education  in  the  primitive  schools,  the 
first  of  which  was  taught  in  a  log  house.  The 
scats  and  floor  were  made  of  puncheon,  and  writing 
desks  were  manufactured  from  planks  with  wooden 
pegs  for  legs.  As  soon  as  old  enough,  young  Vil- 
lars  began  to  assist  his  father  in  the  various  labors 
of  the  farm  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  the  time  of  his  marriage.  He  then  settled  on 
a  tract  of  land  which  his  father  had  given  him  and 
upon  which  were  two  log  cabins.  In  one  of  these 
our  subject  and  his  bride  commenced  their  wedded 
life.  Their  home  consisted  of  one  room  sixteen 
feet  square,  and  in  this  they  lived  a  number  of 
years  and  until  they  were  able  to  put  up  their 
present  residence.  The  furnishing  of  this  humble 
dwelling  was  in  keeping  with  the  fashion  of  that 
day,  but  they  probably  experienced  as  much  hap- 
piness and  content  as  the  young  people  who  now 
commence  life  upon  a  grander  scale. 

Mr.  Villars  has  been  a  life-long  farmer  and  still 
owns  the  land  upon  which  he  settled  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage.  He  has  now  186  acres,  located  five 
miles  east  of  Danville,  on  sections  7  and  12  of  Dan- 
ville Township.  It  has  all  been  brought  to  a  good 
.-late  of  cultivation,  is  well  stocked,  and  upon  it 
Mr.  Villars  has  erected  a  good  set  of  frame  build- 
ings. His  marriage  with  Miss  Amanda  Srouf  was 
celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in  this  township, 
Oct.  20,  1853,  and  there  have  been  born  to  them 
eleven  children,  of  whom  the  record  is  as  follows: 
John  W.  married  Martha  Marble,  and  is  a  resident 
of  Warren  County,  Ind.;  George  Henry  married 
Martha  Brewer,  and  lives  at  Fort  Belknap,  Mont.; 
Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of  William  P.  Lynch,  of 
this  county;  Rachel,  Mrs.  Presley  Martin,  lives 
in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.;  William  married  Ida 
Shaffer,  and  is  a  resident  of  this  county;  Ruth.  Mrs. 
Charles  Elder  resides  in  State  Line  City,  Ind.; 
Mary  Frances  is  the  wife  of  John  Elder,  of  Terre 
Haute.  Ind.;  Augusta  is  the  wife  of  William 
Gnaden,  and  they  live  in  Danville  Township;  Ella 
married  William  F.  Shaffer,  and  resides  in  Warren 
County.  Ind.;  Sophia  and  Janet  remain  with  their 
parents. 

Mrs.  Villars  was  born  near  Hanover,  Hancock 
Co..  Ind..  Feb.  7.  1832,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Se- 
bastian Srouf,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  July  2.3, 


1796.  Her  paternal  grandfather,  John  Srouf,  it  is 
believed,  was  a  native  of  either  North  or  South 
Carolina,  and  his  father,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Villars,  was  a  native  of  Germany.  John 
Srouf  removed  from  one  of  the  Carolinas  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  an  early  pioneer,  then  moved 
on  into  Ohio,  locating  in  Brown  County  during 
its  early  settlement.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812 
and  spent  his  lust  years  in  the  Buckeye  State. 

Sebastian  Srouf,  father  of  Mrs.  Villars,  was  born 
July  25,  1796,  and  was  a  young  child  when  his 
parents  settled  in  Ohio,  where  be  was  reared  to 
manhood,  and  was  married  Sept.  11.  1817,  to  Vall- 
yrier  Parker.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  the  dale 
of  her  birth  was  June  25,  1796.  In  1830  they  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  settling  in  Hancock  County, 
where  they  lived  until  1834.  That  year  they  came 
to  this  county,  making  the  journey  overland  with 
teams,  locating  in  what  is  now  Newell  Township. 
The  parents  remained  residents  of  this  township 
until  their  decease,  the  mother  passing  away  Oct. 
29,  1874,  and  the  father  less  than  a  year  later, 
Feb.  12.  1875. 

There  were  born  to  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Villars 
eleven  children,  viz.:  Nancy,  Martha,  George. 
Mary,  Wilson,  Sarah,  Jane,  Amanda,  Arie,  John 
and  Christiana.  Four  of  these,  Mary.  John.  Arie 
and  Christiana,  died  young.  Our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  Pleasant  Grove, 
in-which  Mr.  Villars  has  served  as  Class-Leader  and 
labored  in  the  Sunday-school.  In  politics  at  large 
he  is  a  sound  Democrat,  but  in  local  affairs  votes 
independently,  aiming  to  support  the  men  whom  he 
considers  best  qualified  for  office.  We  invite  the 
attention  of  our  numerous  readers  to  a  fine  engrav- 
ing of  the  handsome  home  and  surroundings  of 
Mr.  Villars,  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 


6f^  FORGE  M.   SPRY,   prominent   among    the 

if  <W  k°yS  '"  ^ue'  wll0se  name  deserves  to  be 
^^!l  recorded  in  history  is  the  name  of  the  per- 
son at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in 
Vermillion  County,   Ind.,  three-fourths  of    a   mile 


too 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


from  the  Illinois  Line,  on  Jan.  5,  1846.  His  father, 
David  Spry,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and 
was  reared  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  principally 
the  latter.  The  Spry  family  was  prominently  iden- 
tified with  Colonial  history  and  were  very  active  in 
the  struggle  for  independence. 

Early  in  life  David  Spry  was  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources,  but  by  his  great  force  of  character 
he  made  a  success  in  life.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Patsey  Cummings  in  Clark  County,  Ky.  She  was 
born  in  that  State  as  were  also  her  parents.  The 
elder  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spry,  removed  to  Perrysville, 
Iud.,  two  years  after  their  marriage,  which  was  in 
the  fall  of  1829.  They  settled  on  their  farm  in 
1830,  where  they  resided  until  1857,  when  Mr. 
Spry  retired  from  active  life  and  moved  to  Perrys- 
ville, where  he  has  since  lived.  His  wife  died  on 
the  farm  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  her  death 
occurring  in  1854.  She  became  the  mother  of 
twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  manhood 
and  womanhood.  Their  record  is  herewith  given: 
Catherine  married  Talt  Parish,  who  is  a  farmer;  she 
died  in  1855.  Joseph  W.  is  a  carpenter  and  is 
living  at  Turner,  Ind.;  he  enlisted  in  the  125th 
Illinois  Infantry,  serving  three  years;  he  married 
Debora  Paggett.  Hester  married  William  Hughes, 
a  wealthy  farmer,  who  is  living  near  Gessie,  Ind.; 
they  have  six  children  :  Ella,  Anna,  David.  Charles, 
Albert  and  Ora.  Nancy  A.  married  Henry  Caru- 
thers;  she  died  in  1863,  leaving  three  children — 
William.  Albert  and  Marintha.  Judia  married 
Elijah  Lowe;  she  died  in  18(33.  Caroline  is  the 
wife  of  Almond  Hunt,  a  prosperous  farmer  who 
lives  near  Gessie,  Ind.;  they  have  one  child, 
Albert, 

George  M.  Spry  passed  his  early  childhood  on 
his  father's  farm  at  first  attending  the  common 
schools,  afterwards  studying  at  the  High  School  at 
Perrysville,  Ind.,  where  he  was  at  the  time  of  his 
enlistment  in  the  army.  He  joined  Company  D,  of 
the  57th  Indiana  Infantry  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Among  other  engagements  in 
which  he  took  part  arc:  Pulaski,  Columbia,  Spring 
Hill,  Franklin  and  Nashville.  From  the  latter 
place  he  assisted  in  driving  Hood  over  the  Tennes- 
see River,  after  which  his  regiment  proceeded  to 
Huntsville,  Ala.,  where   it  remained  from  Jan.  5, 


to  March  26,  1865.  From  here  it  was  transported 
via  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville  through  Bulls  Gap 
to  Blue  Springs  and  Greenville,  Tenn.,  where  it 
was  expected  to  aid  in  the  opposition  of  Lee's  ad- 
vance westward.  But  at  this  place  they  received 
the  news  of  the  collapse  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy. Mr.  Spry  was  slightly  wounded  by  a  ball 
which  struck  his  breast- plate  at  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, and  Nov.  30,  1864,  received  two  slight 
wounds  at  Franklin,  Tenn.  He  was  seriously 
injured  at  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  by  a  wagon  running  over 
his  right  instep,  but  this  did  not  prevent  him  from 
missing  more  than  two  or  three  roll  calls.  He  was 
at  Blue  Springs  when  the  sad  news  of  Lincoln's 
assassination  was  received.  Returning  to  Nash- 
ville his  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  Southwest  via 
New  Orleans  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  They  went 
to  Victoria,  Tex.,  to  correct  some  disorders  which 
were  prevalent  there  at  the  time.  Here  on  Oct. 
20,  1865,  after  fourteen  months  of  hard  service, 
Mr.  Spry  was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  He 
arrived  home  on  the  18th  of  the  following  month 
and  immediately  took  up  his  studies.  In  the  spring 
of  1866  he  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise 
business  at  Perrysville,  Ind.,  doing  a  very  large 
business,  but  on  account  of  the  depression  in  the 
value  of  goods  he  closed  out,  paying  100  cents  on 
the  dollar.  When  he  wound  up  his  affairs  he  found 
that  his  capital  amounted  to  just  ten  cents.  He 
next  directed  his  attention  to  the  hedge  planting 
industry,  starting  a  nursery  on  the  "  Shady  Nook" 
farm,  and  continued  in  that  business  for  two  sea- 
sons, in  the  meantime  carrying  on  a  farm.  From 
1876  to  1878  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  teaching, 
when  about  this  time  he  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Chapman  Bros.,  publishers  of  Chicago,  in  whose 
employ  he  entered  and  where  he  has  worked  with 
a  large  degree  of  success  since.  The  publishers 
wish  to  take  this  opportunity'  in  expressing  their 
satisfaction  of  the  services  rendered  by  Mr.  Spry. 
He  has  proven  a  most  valuable,  reliable  and  effi- 
cient agent  in  the  discharge  of  whatever  duties 
imposed  upon  him.  During  these  years  he  has 
been  placed  in  many  responsible  positions  and 
always  acquitted  himself  manfully. 

In  1868  Mr.  Spry   was  married   to  Miss  Martha 
A.  Gray,  daughter  of  Harvey  M.  and  Susan  Gray. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


401 


Mrs.  Spry  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  Ind.,  com- 
ing to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when  she  was  ten 
years  of  age.  Her  father,  Mr.  II.  Gray,  was  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  Sidell  Township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Spry  have  become  the  parents  of  six  children : 
Edith  died  when  she  was  three  months  old.  Amy 
is  also  deceased,  dying  at  the  age  of  four.  Zua  is 
a  successful  teacher  of  Vermilion  County.  Daisy, 
Raymond  M.  and  Mabel  are  at  home  attending 
school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spry  are  living  happily  in 
their  unpretentious  home,  where  they  are  always 
ready  to  dispense  hospitality.  In  choosing  their 
home  they  have  exhibited  good  judgment  in  locat- 
ing in  the  charming  and  enterprising  village  of 
Sidell.  Mrs.  Spry  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  the  two  oldest  daughters  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
also  of  the  Ladies  Aid  Society.  Mr.  Spry  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  No.  252  at  Homer,  111., 
and  belongs  to  the  encampment.  He  is  identified 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  with  Post  No. 
536,  G.  A.  R.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 


— V 


-*¥•■ 


THORNTON  K.  HAGLFY.  On  section  24, 
ff(^^  Newell  Township,  lies  a  line  farm  whose  fair 
^22^  fields  yield  abundant  harvests  to  careful  and 
skillful  cultivation.  The  gentleman  whose  name  is 
at  the  head  of  this  biographical  sketch  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  this  desirable  estate  comprising  153  acres, 
and  here  he  and  his  family  are  enjoying  all  the 
comforts  of  life  in  the  cosiest  of  homes. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  the  place  of  his 
birth  in  Pickaway  County,  and  the  date  thereof 
Nov.  7,  1833.  His  father,  John  .1.  Ilagley,  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  after  his  migration  to  this 
country  he  married  Rebecca  Kendrick,  a  native  of 
Virginia.  After  marriage  they  settled  in  Pickaway 
Count}',  Ohio,  among  its  pioneers.  From  there  they 
subsequently  removed  to  Covington,  Fountain  Co., 
Ind.,  and  were  early  settlers  there.  Their  remain-1 
ing  years  were  passed  in  Fountain  County  in  peace 
and  contentment  till  death  closed  their  eyes  to  the 
scenes  of  earth.   To  those  worthy  people  were  born 


five  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  young- 
est. He  was  five  years  old  when  his  parents  estab- 
lished a  home  in  the  wilds  of  Southern  Indiana, 
and  his  boyhood  and  youth  after  that  were  passed 
in  Fountain  County  till  he  was  nineteen  years  of 
age.  Then,  ambitious  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world,  he  resolved  to  seek  the  wonderful  gold  fields 
in  California,  whose  discovery  a  few  years  before 
had  caused  such  intense  excitement  throughout  the 
world.  He  tried  life  in  the  mines  of  the  Golden 
State  four  years,  meeting  with  fair  success,  and 
then  tiring  of  the  rough,  wild  life  of  the  frontier 
he  retraced  his  steps  to  the  more  civilized  regions 
of  this  part  of  the  country,  and  resided  in  Foun- 
tain County,  Ind.,  till  the  spring  of  1864.  In  that 
season  he  removed  to  Warren  County,  Ind.,  close 
to  the  Illinois  State  line,  where  he  lived  the  ensu- 
ing seven  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
came  to  Vermilion  County  and  invested  some  of 
his  capital  in  the  farm  where  he  now  makes  his 
home,  and  has  ever  since  that  time.  He  owns  153 
acres  of  land  that  is  not  surpassed  by  any  in  the 
locality  in  point  of  fertility  and  cultivation.  There 
is  a  substantial  set  of  buildings  and  everything 
about  the  place  wears  an  air  of  thrift  and  order- 
liness. 

Jan.  13,  1859,  Mr.  Ilagley  took  an  important 
step  in  his  life  by  marriage  with  Miss  Melinda  J. 
Diffenderfer,  whereby  he  secured  a  good  wife  who 
looks  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household  and  cares 
tenderly  for  the  comfort  of  its  inmates.  Her  par- 
ents, Gotleib  and  Mary  Ann  (Rogers)  Diffenderfer, 
were  born  respectively  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio. 
After  their  marriage  they  settled  in  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio,  and  from  there  removed  to  Foun- 
tain County,  Ind.,  where  he  died.  She  still  sur- 
vives at  an  advanced  age.  They  had  ten  children, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Ilagley  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth.  She  was  born  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
Dec.  28,  1843.  Her  wedded  life  with  our  subject 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Clara  A.,  who  died  when  seven 
years  old;  William  \\\,  who  married  Minnie  By- 
ers;  they  live  in  this  township;  Ida  M.,  who  died 
when  twenty-one  months  old;  Albert  G.,  a  young 
man  aged  eighteen.  Sorrow  has  come  to  our  sub- 
ject and  wife  in  the  death  of  their   little   girls,  but 


402 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


they  are  not  without  comfort  in  the  thought  of 
what  those  innocent  children  may  have  been 
spared  by  being  so  early  removed  from  the  cares 
and  stains  of  this  weary  work-a-day  world. 

"The  sun  comes  up,  and  the  sun  goes  down 

On  sorrow,  and  sin,  and  aching, 
And  to  all  the  evil  that's  in  the   world, 

Their  darlings  will  know  no  waking; 
The)'  are  wrapped  in  that  dream  of  sweetness  and 
calm 

That  will  know  no  cruel  waking." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hagley  stand  well  in  this  commu- 
nity as  people  of  kind  hearts  and  sound  heads,  who 
do  what  in  them  lies  to  promote  the  moral  and  ma- 
terial advancement  of  their  township.  Mr.  Hagley 
has  taken  quite  an  interest  in  school  affairs,  and 
while  holding  some  of  the  offices  has  done  much  to 
forward  the  advance  of  education  in  this  locality. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  stanchly  supporting 
his  party  at  all  times. 


~-*7~ 


^-^ 


-*<~ 


S/SAAC  V.  GOINCS.  an  ex -soldier  of  the  Union 
Army,  and  who  was  obliged  to  accept  his  hon- 

[\  orable  discharge  for  disability  Feb.  14,  18G3, 
has  been  since  that  time  able  to  do  but  little 
manual  labor  and  has  his  farm  operated  by  other 
parties.  This,  however,  yields  him  a  comfortable 
income  and  he  receives  a  pension  from  the  govern- 
ment. He  is  thus  comfortably  situated  and  is  of 
that  sanguine  disposition  which  enables  him  to  ex- 
tract considerable  happiness  and  content  from  life. 
He  takes  a  lively  interest  in  politics,  votes  the 
straight  Republican  ticket,  and  has  been  Constable 
in  Catlin'for  two  years  and  an  Elder  in  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  for  the  long  period  of 
twenty  years.  He  thus  presents  a  very  fair  record 
and  is  generally  respected  among  the  people  of  his 
community. 

A  native  of  Hardy  County,  now  West  Virginia, 
our  subject  was  born  Nov.  7,  1822,  and  was  the 
fourth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children,  only  three 
of  whom  are  living.  His  parents,  Shadraek'  and 
Hester  (Sears)  Goings,  were  natives  respeetivelv  of 
Virginia  and^Monongahela  County,  I'a.  The  pater- 


nal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, and  upon  coming  to  America  settled  in  the 
Old  Dominion  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade  and  died  in  1862.  The  mother  preceded 
her  husband  to  the  silent  land  a  number  of  years, 
her  decease  taking  place  in  1847. 

The  earl)-  education  of  Isaac  V.  Goings  was  con- 
ducted in  the  subscription  schools  of  his  native 
.State  and  he  made  his  home  with  his  parents,  work- 
ing for  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-three  years 
old,  and  in  the  meantime  learning  the  trade  of 
a  blacksmith.  After  leaving  home  he  became 
overseer  of  negroes  for  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Gabriel  Fox,  by  whom  he  was  employed  four  years. 
The  two  years  after  that  were  spent  in  the  employ 
of  a  Mr.  Cunningham  at  the  same  business.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  Mr.  Goings  emigrated  to 
Ohio  where  he  first  worked  on  a  farm  and  then  be- 
gan feeding  stock,  prosecuting  this  business  two 
years.  He  was  married  in  the  Buckeye  State,  Sept. 
15,  1854,  to  Miss  Frances,  daughter  of  John  Price, 
of  Madison  County,  Ohio,  and  who  was  bom  in 
that  State  in  June,  1838. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goings  came 
directly  to  this  county.  Mr.  Goings  rented  a  farm, 
purchased  a  team  on  credit  and  thus  began  life  in 
Illinois  on  a  limited  scale.  He  carried  on  agricul- 
ture for  a  number  of  years  on  different  farms  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  On  the  3d  of  July, 
180 1,  he  entered  the  ranks  of  the  Union  Army  as  a 
member  of  Company  I,  35th  Illinois  Infantry,  en- 
listing as  a  private,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  Cor- 
poral. The  regiment  was  first  sent  to  the  Marine 
Hospital  at  St.  Louis,  after  which  they  repaired  to 
Wilson's  Creek,  at  Springfield.  Mo.,  where  the)'  had 
a  skirmish  with  the  rebels,  the  Color  Bearer  of  the 
regiment  was  shot  down  and  Mr.  Goings  was  or- 
dered to  rescue  the  colors  and  take  them  to  the 
top  of  the  court-house,  pulldown  the  rebel  flag  and 
put  in  its  place  the  Union  ensign.  He  picked 
up  the  banner  and  commenced  the  ascent  and  after 
considerable  difficulty,  hauled  down  the  rebel  flag 
just  as  the  enemy  began  to  drive  back  the  Union 
troops.  Our  hero  soon  saw  the  position  in  which 
he  was  placed  and  waved  the  stars  and  stripes  back 
and  forth  from  the   top   of   the  court-house  to   en- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in.; 


courage  the  hoys.  It  had  the  desired  effect  and 
the  Union  troops  rallied  and  soon  drove  the  rebels 
from  the  town.  It  must  be  remembered  that  this 
feat  was  performed  in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire 
from  the  enemy,  who  aimed  their  guns  at  the  in- 
trepid Unionist  and  sought  to  dislodge  him  from 
his  retreat. 

The  next  engagement  of  the  35th  was  at  Pea 
Ridge,  and  after  this  they  went  to  Booneville, 
where  Mr.  Goings  was  knocked  down  by  the  butt 
of  a  rebel  musket  but  sustained  no  serious  injury. 
They  left  Cape  Girardeau  by  steamer  and  reaching 
Hamburg  handing  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Corinth,  Miss.,  after  which  followed  the  battle  of 
Stone  River.  At  this  point  Mr.  Goings  was  taken 
ill  and  sent  to  a  hospital  where  he  languished  two 
weeks  and  was  then  transferred  to  a  hospital  at 
Quincy,  111.,  from  which  he  was  finally  discharged. 

At  Booneville  Mr.  Goings  and  a  part  of  his  reg- 
iment, including  the  Colonel,  were  taken  prisoners 
by  the  rebels  and  marched  about  one  mile  when 
the  latter  were  obliged  to  take  off  their  picket 
guard  and  place  them  over  the  prisoners.  Mr. 
Goings  saw  an  opportunity  to  escape  and  breaking 
away  ran  for  his  life  while  the  whole  force  of  rebels 
opened  tire  upon  him.  He  pursued  a  zigzag  course 
as  much  as  possible,  but  one  buckshot  passed  en- 
tirely through  his  right  forearm  and  he  received  a 
scalp  wound.  The  only  part  of  his  gun  left  in  his 
hand  when  he  reached  the  Union  camp  was  the 
metal  barrel. 

Upon  another  occasion,  while  assisting  in  guard- 
ing a  bridge  across  a  river  in  Missouri,  Mr.  Goings 
and  his  comrades  were  attacked  by  the  rebels  and 
driven  off.  They  finally  rallied  and  compelled  the 
rebels  to  run.  and  during  the  skirmish  Mr.  Goings 
received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  side  just  be- 
low his  heart.  lie  was  given  up  for  dead  and  left, 
upon  the  ground  but  later  rallied  and  partially  re- 
covered, but  he  still  suffers  from  acute  heart  dis- 
ease or  valvular  affection  of  the  heart. 

Upon  one  occasion  Mr.  Goings  fought  a  duel 
with  a  Texas  Ranger.  He  and  his  foe  were  sta- 
tioned on  opposite  sides  of  a  large  tree  and  each 
endeavored  to  use  his  gun  upon  the  other.  Finally 
by  accident  Mr.  Goings  remembered  that  he  had  a 
navy  revolver  in  his  belt  and  drawing  it  he  sprang 


out  and  shot  the  Texan  through  the  body,  the  ball 
breaking  his  watch  chain.  Mr.  Goings  secured  the 
watch  from  his  dead  foe.  but  it  was  afterward  taken 
from  him  by  the  Commissary  Sergeant.  He  was 
certainly  not  lacking  in  courage  during  those 
troublous  times  anil  he  takes  a  pardonable  pride 
in  recalling  the  scenes  of  other  days  which  often 
"  tried  men's  souls." 

Mr.  and  .Mis.  (loings  have  no  children  of  their 
own  but  several  years  ago  took  into  their  hearts 
and  home  a  little  girl  (Lizzie  Doss)  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Edwin  Burroughs,  (the  license  was  issued 
in  the  name  of  Lizzie  D.  Goings)  but  who  still  lives 
with  her  foster  parents.  Mr.  (ioings  is  a  member 
of  Homer  Post  G.  A.  R. and  enjoys  a  wide  acquain- 
tance with  the  people  of  this  section.  His  estima- 
ble wife  is  a  very  intelligent,  capable  lady  highly- 
esteemed  in  her  community. 


-  ♦>•■:>«•' — -s 


— ■•-^k;-<»  - 


/p^EORGE  W.  MILLER  has  been  a  resident 
iff  <=,  of  Vermilion  County  for  forty-four  years. 
^SsJjj  L"e  was  born  in  Vermillion  County,  hid.. 
Nov.  26,  1841,  his  parents  being  Andrew  J.  and 
Catherine  (Moyer)  Miller.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky  and  the  mother  of  Ohio.  The 
Millers  had  been  residents  of  Kentucky  for  several 
generations,  and  Andrew  Miller  had  been  brought 
to  Indiana  by  his  parents  when  twelve  years  old. 
There  he  lived  until  a  few  years  after  his  marriage 
when  he  removed  to  this  county,  living  the  first 
year  near  Alvan.  and  then  coming  to  where  his 
son  now  lives.  His  first  house  was  a  log  structure 
in  which  he  lived  for  several  years  before  he  built 
the  fine  roomy  residence  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road  located  on  section  9,  which  is  now  owned  by 
his  widow.     There  he  died  on  Aug.  23,  1 873. 

When  he  first  came  to  this  county,  Andrew  Mil- 
ler was  a  poor  man,  having  the  means  to  buy  only 
forty  acres  of  land,  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  horse. 
He  worked  faithfully  and  soon  began  to  accumu- 
late property,  gradually  adding  to  his  possessions 
until,  before  his  death,  he  was  the  owner  of  sev- 
eral farms   in    this  county,  and  atone  time   haviii" 


404 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1.500  acres  and  when  he  died  he  left  over  1,000 
acres,  as  he  bought  and  sold  whenever  he  could 
with  advantage.  His  first  start  in  life  was  ob- 
tained by  hauling  produce  to  Chicago  with  his  ox- 
team.  In  this  slow  and  laborious  way  he  began, 
and  his  success  well  illustrates  the  capacity  and 
energy  of  the  man.  When  he  first  settled  in  Vermil- 
ion County  in  1845,  this  was  an  entirely  new  coun- 
try and  he  witnessed  its  rapid  growth  and  prosper- 
ity, in  which  he  was  no  small  factor,  and  which  was 
brought  about  by  just  such  men  as  he.  At  this 
time  there  was  only  one  house  in  sight  of  his  cabin, 
that  being  another  log  house  about  three  miles 
north  'of  his,  and  where  the  thriving  village  of 
Rossville  now  stands  was  another  cabin.  Hard 
work  and  plenty  of  it  was  the  lot  of  the  pioneer 
and  his  family,  and  they  literally  earned  their 
bread  by  the  sweat  of  {their  brows.  Breaking 
prairie  was  the  first  thing  in  order,  and  to  the 
struggling,  poor  pioneer  was  no  easjr  task.  Grad- 
ually it  was  accomplished  and  he  soon  had  his 
forty  acres  under  cultivation.  Fencing  it  was  a 
necessity,  but  it  had  to  be  delayed  for  some  time. 
George  W.  being  the  eldest  of  the  children,  at  an 
early  age  learned  what  hard  labor  was, which  contri- 
buted largely  to  his  own  success.  Not  only  was 
hard  work  necessary  in  reclaiming  the  land  but  it 
was  imperative  that  the  pioneer  guard  against  dan- 
ger from  wild  animals,  the  wolves,  especially 
being  very  numerous  and  daring,  compelling  him 
to  shelter  his  live  stock  and  poultry  every  night. 
Andrew  J.  Miller  and  Catherine  Moyer  were 
married  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  and  became 
the  parents  of  twelve  children.  The  first  two 
died  in  infancy  before  being  named;  the  next  was 
George  W.;  then  Cornelius,  who  was  a  farmer  of 
Ross  Township,  this  county;  Tabitha,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Jesse  Tomlinson,  after  whose  death 
she  married  Jonathan  Prather;  Nancy  also  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  James  U.  Prather;  Mary  Isabelle, 
John  T.  and  Enoch  died  when  young;  Joseph  S. 
is  a  farmer  in  Ross  Township,  this  county;  Cather- 
ine is  the  wife  of  Maxwell  lieekett,  also  a  farmer 
in  Ross  Township;  and  Mildred  is  married  to  Mor- 
ton Langsdon  a  farmer  of  the  same  place.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Miller  were  well  known  to  the  old  settlers 
of  this  county  and  greatly    respected.     He  was  a 


temperate  and  moral  man,  noted  for  his  destnsta- 
tions  of  obscenity  and  profanity,  which  he  never 
failed  to  check  if  uttered  in  his  presence.  He 
refused  to  accept  office  of  any  kind  though  often 
pressed  to  do  so,  preferring  to  devote  all  his  time 
and  attention  to  his  own  affairs.  His  widow,  now 
in  her  sixty-fourth  year  is  in  good  health  and 
strength,  and  makes  her  home  with  her  youngest 
daughter,  Mildred. 

George  W.  Miller  in  his  youth  endured  the 
hardships  and  privations  inseparable  from  the  life 
of  a  pioneer.  His  first  reccollections  are  of  the  log 
cabin  which  sheltered  him  when  he  was  a  boy. 
There  his  initiation  into  the  rudiments  of  an  edu- 
cation was  received,  the  first  school  in  this  localit}' 
being  held  in  his  father's  house,  when  the  settlers 
became  numerous  enough  to  hire  a  teacher  for  their 
children.  It  was  a  good  many  years  before  a  dis- 
trict school  was  established,  and  that  was  on  the 
subscription  plan.  In  this  way  the  children  of  the 
first  settlers  grew  up  but  although  their  actual 
'•schooling"  was  little,  they  learned  how  to  become 
good  men  and  women  and  useful  members  of  soci- 
ety. They  early  imbibed  from  their  parents  those 
lessons  of  industry  and  frugality,  which  were  the 
general  characteristics  of  the  pioneer.  George 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  thirty 
years  old  when  he  married  and  settled  on  a  part  of 
the  same  tract,  on  which  he  now  has  his  home,  and 
which  he  subsequently  bought  from  his  father's 
estate.  In  the  spring  of  1 873  he  went  to  Nebraska 
with  the  intention  of  making  that  State  his  home, 
but  the  last  illness  of  his  father  caused  his  return. 
In  less  than  three  months  after  he  came  back  his 
father  died,  and  he  settled  the  estate  and  built  for 
himself  the  house  in  which  he  now  lives.  His  pres- 
ent property  was  partly  bequeathed  to  him  and 
partly  purchased  from  the  other  heirs.  When  he 
got  it  there  was  only  one  building  of  any  kind  on 
the  place,  the  present  buildings  have  been  erected 
by  him.  He  has  since  added  more  land  by  pur- 
chase of  adjoining  property  and  has  now  410  acres 
in  all.  A  creek  runs  through  a  part  of  the  farm 
making  that  portion  especiall}-  desirable  for  stock- 
raising  purposes  to  which  it  is  devoted.  Mr.  Mil- 
ler having,  on  an  average,  about  fifty  head  of  cat- 
tle and  generally  raising  about  100  hogs  each  year. 


-mmt 


Jt&swiJLd    ^JS^-h^Uo^ 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


107 


His  principal  crops  are  corn  and  oats,  a   greater 

porti f  which  is  consumed  on  the  farm. 

On  Feb.  15,  1*72.  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Vienna  Catherine  Hawes, daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Louisa  (  Miller)  Ilawes,  both  of  whom 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  this  county,  locating 
first  in  Danville  and  afterward  removing  to  a  farm 
near  Rossville.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, her  birth  occurring  on  Nov.  7,  1852.  Mr. 
ami  Mrs.  Miller  are  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
one  died  in  infancy  and  the  rest  are  at  home  and 
are  named  as  follows:  Louisa  Catherine,  Andrew 
I)..  Samuel  J.,  Mary  E.,  George  H.,  Elsie  May,  and 
Annie  Maud.  Mr.  Miller  belongs  to  the  young 
enterprising  and  progressive  class  of  farmers  and 
is  deservedly  achieving  success.  Almost  his  en- 
tire life  has  been  spent  on  the  place  which  he  now 
lives  and  he  is  known  by  every  one  in  this  section 
of  the  country,  being  as  widely  respected  as  he  is 
known.  He  has  held  several  township  offices  and 
is  at  present  Highway  Commissioner. 


jy|  RS.  NANCY  AMIS.  It  can  hardly  be 
questioned  that  women,  although  called, 
with  reason  or  without,  the  weaker  half  of 
humanity,  have  always  done  a  full  share 
of  the  world's  work.  In  the  opening  up  of  the 
Great  West,  especially  worthy  of  note  is  the  part 
that  has  been  taken  by  the  wives  and  daughters  of 
the  pioneers  who  have  cleared  the  timber  and 
plowed  the  prairie.  Here  as  elsewhere  the  co-oper- 
ation of  husband  and  wife  has  produced  some  of 
the  best  results  of  modern  civilization,  homes 
which  are  the  seat  of  intelligence  and  refinement, 
a  society  where  good  morals  are  the  rule,  not  the 
exception.  One  of  these  true  helpmates  is  the 
subject  of  the  sketch  now  before  us,  the  widow  of 
Mr.  James  T.  Amis — late  resident  of  Danville 
Township,  a  man  of  character  and  integrity — and 
the  daughter  of  Abraham  Ilessey,  of  Virginia.  It. 
is  said  that  the  father  of  Mr.  Hessey  came  to  Amer- 
ica from  Ireland  when  a  young  man,  the  vessel  in 
which  he  sailed  being  wrecked  and  he  being  one  of 
the    few    passengers     saved.       Settling     in    Cooke 


i  ounty,  Va.,  he  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  His  son  Abraham  lived  in  Virginia  till  the 
death  of  his  parents,  and  then  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.  and  bought  a  tract  of  wooded  land,  a 
part  of  which  was  in  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  a 
comfortable  log-cabin,  his  home  as  long  as  he  lived. 
Here  our  subject  was  born.  Her  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Sarah  McCorinick,  was  a  native 
of  Nelson  County,  Ky.,  daughter  of  Andrew  Mc- 
Cormick,  a  pioneer  of  that  county  from  Ohio. 

Nancy  Hessey  was  six  years  old  when  her  mother 
died  and  fifteen  when  her  father's  death  occurred. 
Mr.  Hessey  having  contracted  a  second  marriage, 
she  was  brought  up  by  a  step-mother,  and  became 
accomplished  in  the  housewifely  arts  of  the  period, 
learning  to  spin  both  wool  and  flax.  Her  cards  and 
spinning  wheel  are  still  preserved  as  precious 
mementos  of  early  clays.  In  1853  her  brother, 
Andrew  Hessey,  being  out  of  health  and  a  change 
of  climate  being  considered  desirable,  she  came 
with  him  to  Illinois,  accompanying  a  familj',  who, 
in  the  absence  of  railways,  were  making  the  jour- 
ney with  a  team.  Her  first  home  in  this  State  was 
with  her  cousin,  William  Ilessey,  in  Pilot  Town- 
ship. Being  a  prairie,  this  region  had  not  been 
settled  as  early  as  some  other -parts,  and  was  still 
but  partially  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness ;  deer  yet 
roamed  at  will.  The  marriage  of  Nancy  Ilessey 
and  James  T.  Amis  took  place  Sept.  16,  1855. 

Mr.  Amis  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  June 
18,  1831.  His  parents,  William  and  Fanny  (Davis) 
Amis,  natives  of  Tennessee,  were  early  settlers  of 
Hardin  County,  and  later  of  Vermillion  County, 
Ind.  Mr.  Amis  was  a  young  man  when  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Indiana,  and  he  there  grew  to 
maturity  and  was  educated  in  the  pioneer  schools. 
He  came  to  this  county  in  1853,  and  settling  in 
Pilot  Township,  lived  there  till  1868,  when  he 
bought  the  present  family  home  in  Danville. 
When  he  came  here  the  estate  was  but  little  im- 
proved. He  labored  diligently  and  successfully  in 
reclaiming  and  cultivating  the  land,  and  in  1883 
built  a  fine  brick  house  in  a  modern  style  of  arch- 
itecture. The  place  is  now  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved in  the  township  and  a  monument  to  his 
wise  forethought  and  untiring  industry.  He  con- 
tinued a  resident  there  till  his  death  June  8,  1884. 


408 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Amis  was  a  man  of  exemplary  habits  and  t>f 
sound  judgment,  a  kind  husband  and  father,  an 
obliging  neighbor,  a  good  citizen,  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  in  Pilot  Township,  as 
was  also  his  wife,  a  woman,  be  it  said,  in  every 
way  worthy  of  such  noble  companionship.  The 
homestead  is  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Amis  and  her 
four  children — Hania  Edward,  William  I).,  .lames 
A.,  and  Lizzie  Hessey. 

A  portrait  of  the  late  husband  of  Mrs.  Amis  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  work  and  will  be 
highly  valued  by  those  with  whom  he  was  wont  to 
associate,  but  from  among  whom  he  has  now  gone 
forever. 


THOMAS  WILLIAMS.  The  fact  of  a  man 
being  well  spoken  of  by  those  with  whom 
he  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  is 
a  sufficient  indication  of  his  character,  and  thus  Mr. 
Williams  may  be  mentioned  as  a  representative 
of  the  best  (lenient  of  his  community — a  man  of 
the  strictest  integrity  and  one  who,  by  a  life  of 
industry,  and  the  exercise  of  economy  and  a  wise 
judgment  has  obtained  for  himself  a  competence. 
He  is  now  living  retired  from  active  labor,  in  a 
pleasant  home  at  Hoopeston.  He  settled  in  this 
town  during  its  infancy  and  has  been  one  of  those 
who  assisted  the  most  largely  in  giving  to  it  its  pres- 
ent importance. 

The  first  nineteen  3'ears  of  the  life  of  our  subject 
were  spent  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born  Nov.  29,  1828.  lie  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  school  and  lived  with  his  wid- 
owed mother  until  the  age  mentioned,  when  with 
the  natural  desire  of  youth  for  change,  he  left 
home  and  went  to  work  for  his  uncle,  Thomas 
Hoopes,  in  Marion  County.  Ohio.  (A  sketch  of 
Mr.  Hoopes  appears  elsewhere  in  this  Album).  He 
worked  by  the  month  for  his  uncle  Thomas  seven 
years,  and  then  taking  100  sheep  on  the  shares,  he 
started  onfootand  drove  them  through  from  Marion 
County.  Ohio,  to  Hoopeston,  this  county,  a  distance 
of  400  miles,  being  thirty  days  on  the  road.  lie 
reached    his   destination    Oct.    20.    1853,  and  made 


his  home  that  first  winter  with  old  "Uncle"  Samuel 
Gilbert.  He  spent  the  time  looking  after  his  sheep, 
feeding  them  down  in  the  timber,  and  in  thespring 
went  on  to  a  farm  owned  by  Mr.  Hoopes,  on  sec- 
tion 1 1.  northwest  of  the  present  site  of  the  town. 
At  that  time  the  nearest  house  was  two  and  one- 
half  miles  south,  on  the  farm  which  our  subject  now 
owns,  and  the  next  one  was  eight  miles  north;  so 
there  was  no  one  but  himself  and  a  hand  to  keep 
the  wolves  away  from  the  sheep,  although  his  dogs 
would  chase  the  wolves  for  a  short  distance;  then 
the  latter  would  run  the  dogs  back  to  the  house,  so 
Mr.  Williams  had  to  be  on  his  guard  all  through 
the  day  and  at  night  sleep  with  one  eye  open,  al- 
though he  had  a  wolf-proof  pound  for  his  sheep  at 
night. 

Mr.  Williams  thus  operated  for  two  years  and  the 
second  winter  his  flock  was  increased  by  the  addition 
of  400  more.  The  bad  weather  and  the  rattle  snakes, 
however,  made  sad  havoc  with  his  live-stock 
and  he  was  obliged  to  turn  his  attention  in  another 
direction.  He  purchased  five  yoke  of  oxen,  together 
with  a  breaking  plow,  and  followed  breaking  for 
three  years,  being  usually  able  to  make  *1<»0  per 
month  in  the  summer  time.  When  the  weather  was 
suitable  he  could  turn  an  eighteen  or  twenty-inch 
furrow.  In  the  meantime  he  preempted  160  acres 
of  land  in  Iroquois  County.  This  he  lived  upon  a 
short  time,  effecting  considerable  improvement 
prior  to  his  marriage. 

The  above  interesting  event  in  the  life  of  our 
subject  took  place  on  the  9th  of  June,  1859,  the 
bride  being  Miss  Lavina  McFarland  of  Iroquuis 
County,  111.  Mr.  Williams  about  this  time  put  up 
a  small  frame  house  and  added  to  it  a  house  stand- 
ing near,  thus  forming  quite  a  comfortable  abode 
for  those  times  and  which  the  newly  wedded  pair 
occupied  until  Christmas.  About  that  time  the}' 
removed  to  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Hoopeston, 
the  same  on  which  Mr.  Williams  had  first  herded 
his  sheep.  He  rented  this  until  1868  and  later  pur- 
chasing seventy-five  head  of  cattle,  established 
himself  southeast  of  what  is  now  the  town,  where 
he  lived  on  the  creek  about  six  years.  Then  he 
purchased  the  Churchill  Board  man  farm,  consisting 
of  500  acres,  and  which  was  partially  improved. 
Our  subject  now  began   stock-raising  in  earnest, 


PORTRAIT  AND   P.lOO  RAPII1CAL  ALBUM. 


409 


and  prosecuted  tliis  industry  until  the  construction 
of  the  railroad  through  this  section,  after  which 
he  engaged  more  generally  in  farming.  In  1870 
he  met  wiih  an  accident  which  resulted  in  the 
breaking  of  his  leg  and  accordingly  leaving  the 
farm,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Hoopeston,  where  he 
commenced  buying  grain  and  operated  the  elevat- 
ors in  partnership  with  A.  T.  Catherwood.  He  was 
thus  occupied  for  a  period  of  seven  years,  the  last, 
two  years  operating  with  twelve  different  elevators, 
then  retired  from  active  business.  During  these 
years,  he  became  the  half  owner  of  1,525  acres  of 
land,  near  Ambia.  in  Benton  County,  Ind.,  which 
is  now  largely  devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain,  1,000 
acres  alone  being  planted  in  corn  and  250  acres  in 
oats.  Mr.  Williams  visits  this  farm  every  week  in 
summer,  while  Mr.  Catherwood  attends  to  it  during 
the  winter  season.      See  sketch. 

Mr.  Williams  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon 
current  events  and  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party.  Socially,  he  is  a  Knight  Tem- 
plar and  in  religious  matters  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
versalist  Church.  Upon  first  coming  to  Hoopeston 
he  purchased  ground  on  Second  street,  where  he 
lived  four  years  and  later  purchased  property  at 
tin'  corner  of  Penn  and  Fifth  streets,  where  he  has 
resided  for  the  past  six  years.  He  was  the  first 
man  in  company  with  others  to  experiment  with 
the  sugar  cane  here  and  later  became  interested  in 
the  canning  factory,  putting  up  the  corn  produced 
from  900  acres  the  first  year,  but  only  prosecuted 
this  two  seasons. 

Miss  Lavina  McFarland  of  Marion  County.  Ohio, 
became  the  wife  of  our  subject.  June  9.  1859.  she 
was  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Sarah  McFarland, 
who  in  1857  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Iro- 
quois County  where  Mrs.  Williams  lived  under 
the  parental  roof  until  her  marriage.  Of  her  union 
with  our  subject  there  were  born  six  children,  of 
whom  only  three  are  living — Charles  C,  Walter 
W.  ami  Frank.  The  first  mentioned  is  occupied  as 
a  bookkeeper  at  Omaha,  Neb.;  the  others  remain 
at  home  and  will  be  given  the  educational  advan- 
tages suitable  to  their  position  in  life. 

Nathan  Williams,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Bedford  County.  Pa.,  and  when  a  young 
man  emigrated  to  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  where  he 


taught  school  two  years.  He  had  prior  to  this 
learned  the  tailor's  trade.  In  Ohio  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  near  Georgetown  from  which  he  con- 
structed a  good  farm.  He  married  Miss  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Nathan  lloopes.  Ten  children  came 
to  bless  this  union,  of  whom  Thomas,  our  subject, 
was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  The  father  died 
when  a  comparatively  young  man,  in  1811.  The 
mother  kept  her  home  in  Ohio  until  the  children 
were  grown  to  mature  years,  then,  although  retain- 
ing her  property  there,  she  came  to  the  home  of  her 
son  in  this  county,  where  her  death  took  place  in 
1881,  when  she  was  seventy-nine  years  old,  having 
been  born  in  1S02.  She,  like  her  husband,  was  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 


J ^  AMES  M.  STINE,  Postmaster  of  Fail-mount, 
is  without  question  the  most  popular  man 
in  this  community.  The  fact  that  his  ap- 
pointment as  Postmaster  was  endorsed  by 
two  of  the  Democratic  papers  in  1889f  he  being  a 
Republican,  is  sulficient  indication  of  the  estima- 
tion in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens.  His 
early  educational  advantages  were  limited,  but 
good  sense  and  energy  have  proved  his  valuable 
stock  in  trade.  Under  favorable  circumstances 
he  might  have  made  for  himself  a  reputation  in 
the  literary  field,  as  he  has  been  a  frequent  con- 
tributor both  of  prose  and  poetry  to  the  local 
press.  He  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  late 
Civil  War,  and  among  other  duties  commanded 
the  flatboat  which  carried  the  rock  to  build  the 
dam  constructed  by  Col.  Bailey  in  the  Red  River, 
to  float  down  the  gunboats  at  the  time  of  Banks' 
expedition  up  that  river.  His  career  has  been  es- 
sentially that  of  a  self-made  man,  who  in  early  life 
was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and  whose  ex- 
perience served  to  develop  within  him  a  most 
admirable  character. 

( )ur  subject  conies  of  excellent  stock,  being  the 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Winn)  Stine,  who  were 
natives  respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 
They  became  residents  of  Ohio  in  their  voulh.  and 
were   married    in    .Muskingum    County,    thai    State. 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


where  they  lived  until  1865.  Thence  they  came 
to  this  county  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Dan- 
ville, where  the  father  prosecuted  farming-  and 
died  in  1871.  The  mother  preceded  her  husband 
to  the  silent  grave,  dying  in  1870.  Their  house- 
hold included  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living  and  making  their  homes  mostly  in  Illinois. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  seventh  child 
of  his  parents,  and  was  born  April  26,  1843,  in 
Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  He  learned  what  he 
could  in  the  common  schools  prior  to  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  War,  and  made  a  visit  to  Illinois  in 
1860,  working  in  this  county  on  a  farm  for  about- 
one  year.  Then,  returning  to  Ohio,  he,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1861.  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Com- 
pany D.  16th  Ohio  Infantry,  which  was  organized 
in  Wooster  and  soon  afterward  proceeded  to  the 
South.  Young  Stine  was  then  but  eighteen  years 
old,  but  he  performed  all  the  soldierly  duties  of  a 
full-grown  man,  and  engaged  in  all  the  battles  in 
which  his  regiment  participated,  being  at  Cumber- 
land Gap,  Tazewell,  Tenn.,  Chicasaw  Bayou,  Port 
Gibson,  Raymond,  Champion  Hills,  Black  River, 
the  siege  of  Yicksburg;  was  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  and 
in  the  Red  River  expedition.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  was  mustered  out 
with  his  comrades  at  Morganza  Bend,  in   October, 

1864.  Although  experiencing  many  hairbreadth 
(.■•capes,  he  came  out  without  a  scratch,  and  re- 
mained at  home  that  winter.     In    the    spring    of 

1865,  being  unable  to  content  himself  at  home 
while  many  of  his  comrades  were  stdl  fighting  in 
the  field,  he  enlisted  a  second  time,  in  Company  B, 
1,96th  Ohio  Infantry,  and  went  with  his  regiment 
to  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  remaining  there  until 
the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomattox.  Soon  after- 
ward they  repaired  to  Baltimore,  and  thence  to 
Camp  Chase,  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out  in  October,  1865. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  the  second  lime,  Mr. 
Stine  joined  his  parents  in  this  county,  and  on  the 
12th  of  August,  1866,  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza 
Bates,  a  daughter  of  Joel  Bates,  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Danville  Township.  Mrs.  Stine  has  an 
uncle,  James  O'Neal,  who  was  the  first  male  white 
child  born  in  this  count}',  and  who  now  resides  six 
miles  south  of  Danville.      Mr.  Stine    worked    on    a 


farm  for  two  years  after  his  marriage;  then,  in 
1X70,  removing  to  Kentucky,  was  a  resident  of  the 
Blue  Grass  State  for  the  following  six  years.  We 
next  find  him  in  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  where  he  was  en- 
gineer in  a  rolling-mill  for  one  year.  His  next 
removal  was  to  this  county,  of  which  he  has  since 
remained  a  resident.  For  the  last  four  years  he 
has  been  a  butter-maker  in  the  creamery  at  Fair- 
mount. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were 
born  five  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living,  a 
daughter,  Mary  Belle,  who  was  born  Oct.  5,  1876. 
Miss  Mary  is  an  apt  scholar  in  the  High  School  at 
Fairmount,  and  possesses  more  than  ordinary  musi- 
cal talent,  being  a  fine  performer  on  the  violin. 
They  have  a  very  pleasant  and  comfortable  home, 
situated  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  and  enjoy  the 
friendship  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  Mr. 
Stine  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political  matters, 
and  is  familiarly  known  as  "Old  Baldy  No.  2." 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  Central  Com- 
mittee during  the  late  campaign,  has  been  Village 
Trustee  two  years,  and  the  second  year  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board.  As  an  ex-soldier  he  was  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post,  which  was  disbanded 
in  1888,  and  of  which  he  was  Post  Commander  one 
year.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  Stine  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  the  daughter  is  prominently  connected  with 
the  Sunday-school.  The  family  is  well  known 
throughout  Vance  Township,  and  are  amply  worthy 
of  representatation  in  a  work  of  this  kind. 

,/^^USTAVUS  C.  PEARSON  was  born  in  Ra- 
venna, Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  Jul}-  17,1827.  His 
father,  the  Hon  John  Pearson,  was  born  in 
Avon,  N.  Y..  Jan.  23,  1802.  The  Pearsons  are  de- 
scendants of  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pearson  of  York- 
shire, England  and  came  to  America  in  1639,  and 
whose  son,  also  Abraham  Pearson,  was  the  first 
President  of  Yale  College. 

The  grandfather  of  Gustavus  went  from  Elling- 
ton, Conn.,  to  New  York  State,  when  a  young  man 
and  was  married  in  Schenectady,  Jan.  4,  1789.  to 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


411 


Rebecca  (Waterous)  Hull.  He  located  in  Duanes- 
burg,  where  he  lived  on  patent  land  until  1796. 
Hi'  then  concluded  to  build  a  home  which  he  could 
call  his  own,  where  the  fee  of  the  laud  could  lie 
obtained  and  free  of  all  incumbrance,  and  therefore 
went  to  the  wilds  of  Western  New  York  and  loca- 
ted at  Hartford  (now  Avon),  in  company  with  his 
mother-in-law,  Canada,  purchasing  400  acres  of 
land  there.  He  first  erected  a  log  cabin  but  later 
built  the  firsl  frame  house  in  the  neighborhood, 
which  was  called  "John's  Industry  and  Rebecca's 
Economy."  He  brought  a  grindstone  with  him 
in  to  the  country  which  the  Indians  soon  found 
would  sharpen  their  tomahawks.  Knowing  the 
fear  of  the  family,  they  would  strike  the  hatchets 
into  the  logs  and  give  an  Indian  whoop.  They 
however  became  civil  and  docile  afterwards.  He 
also  built  a  store  and  engaged  extensively  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  This  was  long  before  there  were 
either  railroads  or  canals,  and  his  goods  which  were 
bought  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
were  transported  by  pack  horses.  He  used  to  take 
cattle,  horses  and  sheep  in  exchange  for  goods,  and 
these  he  drove  to  market  at  Philadelphia  or  New 
York,  the  journey  occupying  from  four  to  six 
weeks.  His  death  occurred  in  Avon,  Dec.  23, 
IS  1 2,  while  his  wife  survived  him  many  years,  dy- 
ing in  Vernon  Township,  Pa.,  Dec.  10,  1861,  lack- 
ing but  three  years  of  rounding  out  a  full  century. 
The  father  of  Gustavus,  the  Hon.  John  Pearson, 
was  graduated  from  Princeton  College  in  Septem- 
ber, 1821,  when  he  began  the  study  of  law  with 
the  Hon.  George  Hosmer,  at  West  Avon.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Ravenna,  Ohio,  in  the  spring 
of  1832,  from  which  place  he  went  to  Detroit, 
Mich.,  and  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  bound 
for  Chicago.  Maj.  Whistler  then  commandant  of 
Ft.  Dearborn  was  a  friend  of  the  Pearsons,  and  in- 
vited them  into  the  fort  where  the  family  remained 
while  the  father  started  out  to  seek  a  location, 
as  Chicago  was  then  considered  unsafe  on  account 
of  the  Indians.  In  the  month  of  July  of  that 
vear,  the  first  steamer  that  ever  floated  on  Lake 
Michigan,  landed  at  Chicago,  bringing  Gen.  Scott's 
troops  and  an  unwelcome  visitor,  the  cholera.  Mr. 
Pearson  soon  removed  his  family  to  Danville  on 
account  of   there  being  a  company  of  rangers  sta- 


tioned there  which  seemed  to  insure  safety  for  the 
settlers.  In  183G,  he  was  elected  Presidential  elec- 
tor on  the  Van  Buren  ticket  and  was  selected  as 
messenger  to  return  the  vote  of  Illinois  to  Wash- 
ington City.  During  the  same  year  he  was  elected 
Circuit  Judge  and  removed  his  residence  to  Joliet. 
His  circuit  included  all  of  Cook,  Will,  DuPagc, 
Kane,  DeKalb,  and  other  contiguous  counties.  He 
held  the  office  of  Judge  until  he  was  elected  State 
Senator.  In  1849,  he  went  to  California,  making 
the  journey  across  the  plains.  He,  however,  did 
not  make  a  lengthy  stop  there,  but  returned  East 
Locating  in  New  York  City,  where  he  practiced 
law  for  a  time.  He  shortly  returned  to  Chicago 
and  thence  to  Danville,  where  he  had  large  real 
estate  interests,  and  here  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  June,  1875. 

Judge  Pearson,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  in  his  day  did  more  for  the  upbuilding  of 
Danville  than  any  other  man.  To  people  who  would 
agree  to  build  on  lots,  he  gave  them  away,  a  policy 
which  showed  great  wisdom.  Judge  Pearson  will 
remain  in  the  memories  of  many  people  as  an  up- 
right and  able  man.  His  kindness  to  the  poor  was 
proverbial. 

Judge  Pearson  was  twice  married.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  first  wife,  and  the  mother  of  Gustavus, 
was  Catherine  Tiffany,  daughter  of  Judge  George 
S.  Tiffany.  She  was  a  native  of  New  York  and 
her  death  took  place  June  4,  1842.  She  was  the 
mother  of  three  children,  Gustavus  being  the  eld- 
est, and  Elizabeth  who  is  the  wife  of  Col.  William 
C.  McReynolds.  George  is  deceased.  The  second 
wife  of  Judge  Pearson  was  Catherine  Passage,  of 
Princeton,  N.  J.  She  became  the  mother  of  two 
children:  Fannie,  wife  of  Dr.  Morehouse  of  Dan- 
ville, and  Hattie,  wife  of  Mr.  Knox,  of  St.  Paul, 
;    Minn. 

Gustavus  C.  Pearson,  of  whom  this  sketch  is 
written,  is  in  every  sense  of  the  word  an  old  set- 
tler. He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  when 
not  five  years  old,  and  he  recalls  the  incidents  oc- 
curring during  the  residence  of  the  family  at  Ft. 
Dearborn,  the  Indian  dances  and  the  cholera  scare, 
which  caused  a  temporary  depopulation  of  the  fort. 
He  attended  the  pioneer  schools  of  Danville  and 
later  the  Jubilee  College   in  Peoria  County.     He 


412 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


also  attended  at  Allegheny   College  in   Meadville, 

Pa.,  from  which  place  lie  went  to  New  York  and 
clerked  in  a  store  for  a  short  time,  afterwaid  re- 
turning to  Danville,  where  he  began  the  study  of 
law  with  Judge  McRoberts.  This  occupied  one 
year,  when  he  went  to  Joliet  and  engaged  with 
Gov.  Matteson  as  clerk,  and  by  hard  work  be- 
came, in  course  of  time,  general  manager  of  his  bus- 
iness, and  so  valuable  were  young  Pearson's  ser- 
vices, that  Gov.  Matteson  offered  him  the  profits 
of  a  one-half  interest  in  the  business,  without  capi- 
tal, if  young  Pearson  would  remain  in  his  position 
and  not  go  to  California.  Here  he  remained  until 
1849,  when  he  started  for  California,  having  fitted 
out  one  team  with  three  yoke  of  oxen,  with  others. 
In  their  journey  across  the  plains  they  encountered 
vast  herds  of  buffalo  and  especially  in  the  vicinity 
of  where  Lincoln,  Neb.,  is  now  situated.  Guards 
were  mounted  every  night  after  crossing  the  Mis- 
souri River.  Along  this  dreary  and  lonely  route 
every  variety  of  personal  property  was  scattered, 
from  St.  Joseph  to  California,  by  emigrants  going 
to  the  Eldorado.  At  Salt  Lake  City,  where  the 
Mormons  had  settled,  the  part}'  was  induced  by 
Brigham  Young  and  others  to  stop,  it  being 
represented  by  the  great  apostle  that  the  surround- 
ing country  was  fully  as  rich  in  minerals  as  Cali- 
fornia. The}'  accordingly  staid  there  about  three 
months,  when  Brigham  declared  that  those  Gentiles 
wlio  would  not  unite  with  the  Mormon  Church 
should  leave  at  once  for  California,  and  that  in  go- 
ing they  should  make  themselves  useful  to  the 
the  Mormons  by  opening  a  new  trail.  Young 
knew  that  it  was  too  late  for  them  to  go  by  the 
Northern  or  Humboldt  route,  and  thought  to  make 
them  useful  to  his  own  people.  Thus  the  party 
was  obliged  to  start  and  make  their  way  GOO 
miles  across  a  country  without  any  trail.  Mr. 
Pearson's  wagon  was  the  first  one  that  ever  went 
through  Cahon  Pass  on  wheels,  but  prior  to  reach- 
ing this  Pass,  his  part}',  composed  of  ten  young 
men  who  had  left  their  teams  at  Armagosa  or  Bit- 
ter Waters,  traversed  a  desert  of  113  miles,  arriv- 
ing at  Prudom's  Ranch  in  an  almost  famished 
condition.  Capt.  Hunt  had  the  previous  year  gone 
through  the  Pass  eastward,  but  had  taken  his  wagon 
to  pieces,  aud   packed  it  on    the  backs   of   mules. 


The  party  stopped  at  Prudom's  Ranch  for  a  few 
weeks  and  from  there  went  to  Los  Angeles,  thence 
to  San  Pedro,  where  they  embarked  in  a  sailing 
vessel,  and  arriving  at  San  Francisco  pitched  their 
tent  on  the  beach.  A  number  of  the  company 
had  perished  en  route.  At  this  period  San  Fran- 
cisco was  composed  of  a  few  adobe  houses  and  a 
great  mauy  tents.  The  party  remained  there  a 
few  weeks,  when  Mr.  Pearson  went  to  the  mining 
regions  and  engaged  in  digging  for  gold  until 
1852,  and  the  money  thus  accumulated  was,  in 
1850,  sent  to  Pennsylvania  and  loaned  at  six  per 
cent.  He  then  returned  home  by  the  Nicaraugua 
route.  In  1853  he  again  visited  California,  and  es- 
tablished the  first  grape  ranch  on  the  red  lands, 
southeast  of  Sacramento;  this  land  is  since  celebrated 
as  the  best  vineyard  land  m  the  State,  and  among  the 
finest  in  the  United  States.  The  land  was  then  de- 
clared worthless  by  the  Spanish  and  Gen.  Sutter. 
During  the  summer  of  1855,  the  weather  was  so  dry 
that  mining  was  neither  pleasant  nor  profitable,  so 
Mr.  Pearson  in  company  with  nine  others,  formed 
a  party  and  started  on  a  hunting  expedition.  It 
was  this  company  that  first  explored  and  laid  claim 
to  the  Yosemite  Valley  and  made  its  wondrous 
beauties  known  to  the  world.  Mr.  Pearson  re- 
turned East,  and  in  1859,  commenced  operating  on 
the  Board  of  Trade  in  Chicago,  which  he  contin- 
ued until  18G9,  when  he  went  again  to  California, 
and  in  Yallejo  erected  the  first  elevator  ever 
built  on  the  Chicago  plan  in  that  State.  He  was 
also  associated  with  A.  D.  Starr,  as  Pearson  &  Starr, 
in  building  fiouring-inills  at  South  Vallejo,  which 
are  at  the  present  time  the  largest  in  the  world, 
having  a  capacity  of  9,000  barrels  a  day.  He 
remained  a  resident  of  California,  and  aided  in 
establishing  the  San  Francisco  Board  of  Trade,  but 
in  the  year  1880  returned  to  Danville,  where  he 
has  since  lived,  retired  from  active  life.  He  erected 
a  beautiful  residence  on  the  land  which  his  father 
purchased  in  183  I. 

Mr.  Pearson  was  married  Sept.  13,  18G4.  to  Hat- 
tie  P.  Brown,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  William  and 
Mary  J.  (Pearson)  Brown,  natives  of  New  York 
State.  Her  father  was  a  resident  of  Ogdensburg. 
where  he  was  for  many  years  County  Judge,  and 
was   always    prominently    identified    with  the   up- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


U3 


building  of  that  city,  where  lie  spent  his  last  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearson  have  three  children :  John  A., 
Frances  N.,  and  Nomen  N. 

Mr.  mid  Mrs.  Pearson  are  members  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  (Episcopal)  Church.  Mr.  Pearson  lias 
always  been  greatly  interested  in  publie  affairs  and 
in  politics  has  ever  been  arrayed  against  the  mo- 
nopolists, lie  was  largely  instrumental  in  organ- 
izing the  Grange  Revolution  in  California,  of 
which  he  was  a  prominent  member  for  many  years. 
lie  drafted  the  California  Warehouse  law.  and  suc- 
ceeded in  having  it  passed  after  ten  years  of  per- 
sistent effort,  which  regulated  warehouses,  and 
makes  their  receipts  available  for  business  purposes. 
The  entire  grain  trade  of  the  Pacific  Coast  had 
been  controlled  until  then  by  an  individual  operator, 
lie  has  been  a  contributor  to  the  Journal  <;/'  Com 
merce,  in  Chicago,  and  also  the  Pacific  Rural  Press, 
and  other  newspapers.  Mr.  Pearson  has  attained 
high  success  as  a  business  man,  and  this  can  be 
attributed  to  his  strict  probity  and  his  sagacity.  In 
1880,  he  returned  to  Danville  for  the  purpose  of 
educating  his  children.  Our  subject  is  a  member 
of  the  Old  Settler's  Society  of  Chicago,  and  is  also 
numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  California,  being 
one  of  the  settlers  of  '49. 


^ 


^f/OHN  W.  BREWER,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Vermilion  County,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Danville  July  7,  1*37.  His  father,  William 
Brewer,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  and  was  born  in  Virginia  or  Ohio.  The 
grandfather  of  John  W.,  whose  name  was  John 
Brewer,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
Dutch  ancestry,  the  name  being  formerly  spelled 
Brower.  The  latter  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Virginia,  and  thence  to  Ohio,  where  he  spent  his 
last  years  in  Miami  County.  William  Brewer,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  in 
Ohio,  and  when  a  young  man  started  for  the  West, 
going  to  Lafayette,  End.,  and  there  married.  In 
about  1832  he  came  to  Vermilion  County,  locating 
in  Dr.r.ville.  Soon  after  coming  here  he  entered 
Government  land,  which  was  situated   in  Danville 


and  Xewell  Townships;  part  of  this  land  is  now  in- 
cluded in  the  city  of  Danville.  Parly  in  manhood 
he  had  learned  the  cabinet-maker's  trade,  and  after 
coming  to  Danville,  he   labored  as  a  carpenter,  and 

has    the   I >r   of    being   the    builder    of    the    first 

frame  house  erected  in  the  city.  The  timbers  were 
hewn,  and  the  weather  boards  rived  or  split,  by 
hand,  lie  resided  here  until  1840,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Clay  County,  where  he  lived  eight  years, 
then  returned  to  this  county.  His  death  occurred 
in  1857  in  Newell  township.  The  maiden  name  of 
his  second  wife,  and  the  mother  of  John  W.,  was 
Sarah  Switzer,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  daughter  of 
Peter  and  .Mary  Switzer,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
She  was  married  a  second  tone  to  II.  B.  Current. 

John  W.  Brewer  had  five  brothers  and  one  sister 
who  lived  to  maturity:  Mary  A.  married  W.  H. 
Rod  rick;  she  is  now  deceased.  Abraham  lives  in 
Danville;  Richard  is  a  resident  of  Oakwood  Town- 
ship, while  Peter  and  Isaac  are  deceased.  John  W. 
attended  the  pioneer  schools  of  this  county  in  the 
old-fashioned  log  school-houses,  furnished  with 
primitive  seats  and  desks.  The  benches  were  con- 
structed by  splitting  small  logs,  hewing  oue  side, 
and  inserting  wooden  pins  for  legs.  The  method 
of  securing  an  education  in  those  early  days,  com- 
pared to  that  of  these  times,  is  a  practical  illustra- 
tion of  the  inarch  of  civilization  in  the  nineteenth 
century.  He  resided  with  his  parents  until  his 
father's  death,  when  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  in  which  business  he  had  received  previous 
instructions  from  his  father.  Immediately  after 
his  marriage  he  located  on  the  farm  that  he  now 
owns  and  occupies.  This  contains  180  acres  of 
well-improved  land,  the  greater  part  being  located 
in  Danville  Township,  about  five  miles  from  the 
city.  He  was  first  married  in  1858,  to  Harriet  Kester. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  died  in  1862,  leaving 
one  child,  George.  His  second  marriage,  which 
occurred  in  1867,  was  to  Sarah  Oliver,  a  native  of 
Vermilion  County,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Oliver.  Of  this  union  there  are  seven 
children:  Albert  Prank,  Edmund,  Perry,  Ben, 
Etlie,  Clara  and  Ettie. 

Mr.  Brewer  is  a  member  of  the  Pleasant  Grove 
United  Brethren  Church,  of  which  he  has  been 
Steward  one  year.     He  has  always  taken  an  interest 


414 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  educational  affairs,  and  has  served  as  Clerk  of 
the  School  Board.  Mr.  Brewer  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  reliable  citizens  of  his  neighborhood. 
In  polities,  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat. 


V 


TLLIAM  KELLY,  a  talented  business  man 
:ind  able  financier.is  classed  among  the  fore- 
most citizens  of  this  part  of  Vermilion 
County.  He  is  a  coal  operator, and  is  also  extensively 
en,raoed  in  farming'  and  stock  raising,  owning  and 
personally  superintending  a  large  farm  on  section 
2,  Danville  Township.  Here  he  has  one  of  the 
finest  country  seats  in  Illinois,  comprising  a  hand- 
some and  commodious  brick  residence  of  a  modern 
and  pleasing  style  of  architecture,  tastefully  fur- 
nished and  replete  with  all  the  comforts  and  luxur- 
ies that  make  life  worth  living,  with  grounds 
around  it  beautifully  and  artistically  laid  out.  The 
representation  of  such  a  beautiful  home  as  this  is 
certainly  a  pleasing  and  attractive  addition  to  a 
book  of  this  character  and  will  be  appreciated  by 
all  readers. 

Mr.  Kelly  was  born  in  County  Meath,  Ireland, 
Nov.  1,  1842.  His  father  Michael  and  his  grand- 
father, Bernard  Kelly,  the  latter  a  fanner,  were 
life-long  residents  of  the  same  county,  the  father 
dying  in  Dec.  23,  1888.  The  maiden  name  of 
the  grandmother,  a  native  of  the  same  count}-,  was 
Shaw.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Kate  Gleniian.  also  a  native  of  County 
Meath,  and  there  she  died  in  1859.  There  were 
eleven  children  in  the  family  of  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and  five 
of  them  came  to  the  United  States,  as  follows: 
Michael;  Kate,  who  married  Morace  Mitchell; 
Margaret,  who  married  Thomas  Gerahty;  Ann. 
who  married  Edward  Oaks;  all  are  residents  of 
Danville. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  reared  in  his 
native  land,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  the 
intelligent,  ambitious  youth  determined  to  see  what 
life  held  for  him  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
the  goal  of  so  many  of  li is  countrymen,  and  going 
to  Liverpool  he  embarked    in  a   vessel  bound  for 


these  shores,  and  landed  in  New  York  City  after 
an  uneventful  voyage.  He  had  about  $30  in 
cash  at  that  time,  his  only  capital  with  which  to 
begin  life  in  a  new  country.  He  went  to  West- 
chester County,  N.  Y..  and  there  did  his  first  work 
on  American  soil,  finding  employment  on  a  farm 
at  ¥12  a  month.  Six  months  after  that  he  made 
his  way  to  Vermilion  County,  and  the  ensu- 
ing nine  months  worked  in  Danville,  and  then, 
with  characteristic  enterprise  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  account  as  a  coal  operator  by  leasing  a 
bank.  The  first  few  months  he  did  all  the  wink 
himself,  but  was  so  successful  in  his  venture  from 
a  pecuniary  standpoint  that  he  was  soon  enabled 
to  employ  men,  and  is  still  carrying  on  the  busi- 
ness, often  having  as  many  as  thii-ty-  men  at  work. 
In  1873  Mr.  Kelly  turned  his  attention  in  another 
direction,  desiring  to  expend  some  of  his  super- 
fluous energies  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he 
purchased  in  that  year  the  farm  which  is  still  in 
his  possession  and  under  his  management.  It  eon- 
tains  400  acres  of  choice  land,  under  splendid  cul- 
tivation and  yielding  large  harvests,  and  amply 
supplied  with  roomy,  conveniently  arranged  build- 
ings, including  his  handsome  residence  which  he 
erected  in  1888,  and  has  all  the  modern  machinery 
and  appliances  for  facilitating  farm  labors.  Mr. 
Kelly  raises  stock  quite  extensively,  and  has  Que 
herds  of  blooded  cattle,  horses  and  hogs. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Tyiall  was  solemnized  in  1864.  Shi'  is  a  native  of 
County  Meath,  Ireland,  and  a  daughter  of  Garrett 
1'yrall.  She  is  a  woman  of  fine  character  and 
warm  heart,  and  unites  with  her  husband  in  making 
their  beautiful  home  attractive  to  their  many 
friends  or  to  the  stranger  within  their  gates,  by  a 
genial,  gracious  hospitality.  Their  pleasant  house- 
hold circle  is  completed  by  the  seven  children  born 
unto  them,  namely:  Kate,  Margaret,  Lizzie,  Annie, 
Emma,  Lulu,  Bertie. 

Mr.  Kelly  is  a  distinguished  representative  of 
our  self-made  men  whose  industrious,  methodical, 
business-like  habits,  combined  with  a  steadfast 
purpose  and  great  executive  talent,  have  led  them 
on  to  fortune.  It  is  to  such  men  of  large  enter- 
prise and  liberal  spirit  that  Vermilion  County  is 
indebted    for   her  high  standing  as  a  prosperous, 


;V 


I  - 


m 


!*>,. 


'Residence off.  M.OLEhXSee.  10.  ^Danville  Township*  \fermilion  County? 


Residence  of  W.  V.  F?  I C  KA  RT  See,  S.  Itoss  Township,  \errn  Man  Ootf/tt\  r 


PORTRAIT  AM)    BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


117 


wealthy  community,  with  flourishing  agricultural, 
mining,  manufacturing,  ami  commercial  interests. 
Our  subject  possesses  great  weight  and  influence  in 
this  locality,  where  he  is  looked  up  to  as  a  wise,  far 
sighted,  noble  minded  citizen,  and  his  hand  is  felt 
in  all  schemes  that  are  in  any  way  calculated  to 
benefit  the  township  or  county. 


«  MLSON  V.  RICKART.  There  are  few 
\/\I/l  homesteads  in  this  county  more  attractive 
yfyy  or  more  valuable  than  that  owned  by  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Without  ostentation  or  any 
great  amount  of  display,  it  is  the  synonym  of  com- 
fort and  plenty,  with  all  the  evidences  of  cultivated 
tastes  and  the  refinements  of  modern  life.  The  large 
and  well  cultivated  farm  has  been  brought  to  its 
present  condition  only  by  the  exercise  of  the  most 
unflagging  industry,  together  with  wise  judgment 
and  economy,  which  has  enabled  the  proprietor  to 
invest  his  capital  where  it  would  yield  the  best  re- 
turns. He  is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  a 
skillful  and  progressive  farmer,  prompt  in  his  busi- 
ness transactions  and  in  all  respects  a  valued  mem- 
ber of  his  community. 

Next  in  importance  to  a  man's  own  person- 
ality is  the  record  of  those  from  whom  be  drew 
his  origin.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  .John 
Kickart  and  his  paternal  grandfather  was  Leon- 
ard Rickart,  the  latter  probably  a  native  of 
North  Carolina.  It  is  known  that  John  Kick- 
art  was  born  in  that  State  and  was  one  of  five 
brothers,  all  of  whom  signalized  themselves  as 
efficient  soldiers  in  the  War  of  LSI  2.  They,  how- 
ever, became  separated  during  the  vicissitudes  of 
that  war  and  never  metagain.  John  emigrated  to 
Ohio  when  a  young  man  and  was  married  in  Butler 
County  to  Miss  Nancy  Clem,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. His  parents  also  removed  to  Ohio,  where 
they  spent  their  last  days. 

Twelve  children  completed  the  household  circle 
of  John   Rickart  and    his   excellent   wife,  eight  of 

\\1 1  were  born  in  Ohio:  .Susan  married   William 

Allen  and  came  with  her  husband  to  this  county  at 
an  early   day,  where    her    death    took    place   about 


1850;  Mary  J.  became  the  wife  of  George  Cope- 
land  and  also  died  in  this  county;  Lucinda  married 
Kesa  M.  Davis,  and  resides  in  this  county;  Julia 
A.  is  the  wife  of  T.  15.  Blecvcns.  of  this  county ; 
Leonard  is  deceased;  Nancy  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Howard,  and  they  live  in  Labette  County,  Kan.; 
Maria  is  the  wife  of  Robert  I).  Kinman,  of  Poto- 
mac, this  county.  These,  with  Wilson  V..  our  sub- 
ject, were  natives  of  the  Buckeye  State.  The 
younger  children,  Jacob,  Frances  M.,  Samuel  C. 
and  Elmira,  were  born  in  this  county.  The  latter 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to  Illinois  in 
the  fall  of  1  .s;i(S,  making  the  trip  overland  by  team 
and  located  in  Blount  Township  about  nine  miles 
northwest  of  Danville.  The  father  purchased  of  a 
Mr.  Skinner  a  tract  of  land  upon  which  some  im- 
provements had  been  made  and  built  lip  a  good 
home,  where  he  and  his  estimable  wife  spent  their 
last  days.  He  was  very  successful  as  a  tiller  of  the 
soil  and  the  old  home  farm  was  considered  one  of  the 
best  in  that  region.  The  mother  departed  this  life 
in  November,  1871,  when  about  sixty-six  years  old. 
Mr.  Rickart  survived  his  wife  less  than  a  year,  dy- 
ing in  June,  1872,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  They 
were  people  honest  and  upright  and  enjoyed  the 
highest  respect  of  all  who  knew  them. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  distinctly  remembers 
that  at  the  time  of  coming  to  this  county  deer, 
wolves  and  other  wild  animals  were  plentiful,  so 
that  whatever  else  the  family  larder  lacked  they  al- 
ways had  an  abundance  of  wild  meats.  During  his 
boyhood  days  the  nearest  market  was  at  Chicago, 
which  was  then  an  unimportant  village.  On  his 
first  trip  to  the  place  in  company  with  a  party  of 
neighbors,  they  encamped  the  first  night  near  the 
present  site  of  Hoopeston,  and  the  wolves  came  and 
howled  within  thirty  steps  of  their  camp,  keeping 
them  awake  by  their  noise,  but  doing  no  further 
damage  than  to  frighten  them  considerably.  When 
a  family  needed  a  fresh  supply  of  provisions  they 
would  kill  a  hog  of  about  200  pounds  weight,  sell- 
ing it  for  wdiatever  they  could  get.  sometimes  $10 
and  sometimes  &5,  and  calculated  that  this  must 
furnish  them  with  groceries  for  the  year.  On  his 
first  trip  to  Chicago  young  Rickart  took  a  load  of 
wheal,  and    when    within    forty    miles   of  the  place 


418 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


met  a  party  of  men  returning  who  reported  wheat 
worth  $1  per  bushel.  The  day  following  it  was 
iiuoted  at  fifty  cents.  Upon  his  arrival  there  the 
price  had  risen  a  little  again  and  he  obtained 
fifty- five  cents.  There  were  then  three  elevators 
in  operation,  but  others  were  in  process  of  con- 
struction. There  was  only  one  street  south  of  the 
river  and  none  of  the  streets  were  paved.  A  wagon 
would  sink  in  the  sand  and  mud  to  the  depth  of 
about  eight  inches. 

About  eight  years  later  Mr.  Rickart  hauled  grain 
to  Chicago,  when  there  was  about  seven  miles  of 
town  south  of  the  river.  A  hotel  had  been  built 
several  miles  south  on  the  open  prairie,  where  dro- 
vers stopped  over  night  and  their  cattle  grazed 
upon  the  prairie  grass.  Upon  his  second  trip  Mr. 
Rickart  found  the  city  had  extended  to  a  point 
near  the  hotel.  After  the  building  of  the  railroad 
to  Danville  there  was  a  good  market  at  that  place, 
and  farm  produce  was  accordingly  shipped  there. 

One  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  life  of 
our  subject  was  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Dec. 
29,  1859,  in  Blount  Township,  this  county,  with 
Miss  Hester  A.,  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Hannah 
(Watkins)  Crawford.  Mis.  Rickart  was  born  in 
Hocking  County,  Ohio,  November,  183G.  Her  pa- 
rents were  natives  respectively  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  whence  they  removed  to  Ohio  prior  to 
their  marriage.  Thence  in  1838  they  came  to  this 
county,  locating  not  far  from  the  home  of  the  Rick- 
art family.  They  likewise  opened  up  a  farm  from 
the  wilderness,  and  there  the  mother  died,  March 
21,  1860,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years.  Mr. 
Crawford  is  still  living  at  the  old  homestead.  Five 
of  their  ten  children  are  also  living:  (Sarah  .1.  mar- 
ried Vinton  Lane,  of  this  county;  William,  Hester 
A.  and  Benjamin  are  the  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Mary  L.  married  William  Blankenship,  of  this 
county;  Minerva  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years; 
Samuel.  James,  Elmira  and  Lucinda  died  prior  to 
the  decease  of  the  mother.  The  latter  was  a  lady 
of  many  estimable  qualities  and  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rickart  belong  to  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

The  Rickart  homestead  comprises  560  acres  of 
land,  which  was  chiefly  wild  and  uncultivated  when 


coming  into  the  possession  of  our  sub}ect.  Under 
his  careful  management  it  has  become  exceedingly 
fertile,  yielding  him  a  handsome  income.  He  set- 
tled upon  it  in  the  spring  of  I860,  and  for  many 
years  has  made  a  specialty  of  stock-raising,  chiefly 
cattle.  He  uniformly  votes  the  Democrat  ticket 
and  has  held  the  various  township  offices,  includ- 
ing that  of  Constable  and  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways. The  first  school  attended  by  our  subject  was 
taught  in  a  little  frame  house  b}'  Miss  Emma 
Palmer,  of  Danville,  and  conducted  on  the  sub- 
scription plan.  The  next  teacher  was  Samuel  Hum- 
phrey, who  subsequently  studied  medicine  and  con- 
ducted a  drug  store  in  Danville,  where  he  practiced 
and  died  several  years  later.  Another  teacher 
whom  Mr.  Rickart  remembers  was  a  Mr.  Robison, 
an  old  sailor.  Later  Elder  William  Webster,  who 
now  lives  in  Danville,  officiated  as  the  first  peda- 
gogue under  the  free  school  law.  The  prairie  grass 
in  those  days  grew  to  a  height  of  five  or  six  feet, 
and  the  yellow  blossoms  of  the  weeds  would  fre- 
quently hide  a  team  and  wagon  completely  out  of 
sight.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rickart  have  only  two  chil- 
dren living,  Hattie  J.  and  Ella  V.  The  first  men- 
tioned is  the  wife  of  John  V.  Lane,  and  they  live  at 
the  homestead.  The  second  child,  Emma  C,  died 
at  the  age  of  six  years.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Rickart,  William  Crawford,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812.  Grandfather  William  Watkins 
hired  a  substitute  for  the  same  war. 

We  take  pleasure  in  inviting  the  attention  of 
readers  to  a  fine  view  of  the  country  residence  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rickart  on  another  page  of  the 
volume. 


STF=W  M.  OLEIIV.  On  section  10,  Danville 
— ©)  '^owusn'Pi  about  a  mile  outside  of  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  city,  lies  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  this  part  of  the  county,  owned  by  the 
gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of  this 
sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  Vermilion  County,  born 
in  this  township  May  3,  1837,  and  a  son  of  one  of 
its  early  pioneers. 

His   father,    Dennis   Olehy,    was  of     Irish   des- 
cent and  bori.    near  Portsmouth,   Ohio.     He  was 


PORTRAIT   AMI    BIOGR  Al'illCAI.   ALBUM. 


H9 


quite  young  when  his  parents  died  so  that  nothing 
is  known  of  their  history.  He  was  reared  in  his 
native  State  to  a  sturdy,  self-reliant  manhood,  mar- 
ried, and  resided  there  until  [830.  He  Mien  stalled 
for  the  far  West,  journeying  with  a  team  to  Ver- 
milion County,  and  here  made  a  claim  to  a  tract 
of  land  in  what  is  now  Danville  Township.  The 
greater  part  of  the  land  in  this  State  was  then  in 
the  hands  of  the  Government,  ludiansstill  lingered 
around  their  old  haunts,  deer  and  other  wild  game 
were  plentiful  in  the  then  sparsely  settled  country 
which  showed  but  few  signs  of  the  coming  civil- 
ization. Mr.  Olehy  erected  a  pole  shanty  as  a  tem- 
porary shelter  for  his  family,  and  they  lived  in  it 
till  he  could  put  up  a  round  log  house,  the  same  in 
which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  The 
father  continued  to  live  on  his  homestead  till  bis 
demise,  which  occurred  March  2.  1877.  lie  occu- 
pied an  honorable  place  among  the  brave,  self-sac- 
rificing pioneers  of  the  county,  and  left  to  his  chil- 
dren the  precious  legacy  of  a  life  well-spent.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife,  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  Elizabeth  Glaze,  she  was  of  German  descent, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  John  Glaze,  a  pioneer  of  Vermilion 
County.  Her  deatli  took  place  on  the  old  home- 
stead in   1  8  15. 

Dennis  Olehy,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
twice  married;  his  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Glaze, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  viz:  Nancy  be- 
came the  wife  of  Joseph  Martin,  she  is  now  de- 
ceased; Rachel,  wife  of  John  <,).  Yillars;  Mary  A., 
wife  of  Martin  Current;  F.  M.,  our  subject;  Isaac 
Newton,  (deceased),  married  Sarah  Emily;  James 
died  when  a  boy;  Perry  died  in  the  army  while 
serving  as  a  Union  soldier  of  the  late  war. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Dennis  Olehy 
married  Sarah  Ann  Jones,  by  whom  he  had  ten 
children.  Those  who  lived  to  maturity  are — Jane 
married  Henry  Olehy;  Adeline  married  Marion 
I'agins;  Elizabeth  married  Herbert  Hall;  Martha 
married  Job  Marble;  Ruth  A.,  deceased,  married 
Thomas  Hathaway;  Joshua  married  Rosa  liclle 
Jones;  Ellen  married  John  Marble,  and  is  deceased: 
Alice  married  Sherman  Waits;  Martin  and  William 
died  when  they  were  small  boys. 

The   subject    of     this    sketch    was    educated     in 


the  primitive  pioneer  schools  of  the  early  days  of 
the  settlements  of  Illinois,  which  with  their  rude 
slab  benches,  dirt  and  stick  chimneys  with  open 
fireplaces  for  heating  purposes,  were  not  much  like 
the  line  educational  institutions  where  the  youth  of 
to-day  are  trained.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to 
shoulder  a  gun  he  took  pleasure  in  hunting  and  be 
shot  several  deer  in  the  course  of  bis  boyhood, 
lie  assisted  on  the  farm,  living  at  borne  till  bis 
marriage,  and  occasionally  accompanied  Ins  father 
to  the  nearest  markets  at  Perrysville,  Compton  or 
Lafayette,  on  the  Wabash  River,  quite  a  distance 
from  home,  with  produce,  and  once  in  a  while  he 
made  a  trip  to  Chicago,  125  miles  distant.  He 
continued  to  live  in  Danville  Township  for  a  time 
after  marriage,  then  went  to  Warren  County,  Ind., 
where  be  rented  land,  and  also  leased  some  land 
near  Burr  Oak  Grove.  In  1868,  he  returned  to 
this  place  with  his  family  and  located  on  the  farm 
that  be  now  owns.  This  homestead  comprises  190 
acres  of  choice  land,  whose  finely  tilled  fields  yield 
a  handsome  return  in  repayment  of  the  labor  and 
care  spent  upon  it.  It  is  furnished  with  a  good 
set  of  frame  buildings  which  he  has  erected  and  he 
has  otherwise  greatly  increased  the  value  of  his 
property  since  it  came  into  his  possession. 

Mr.  Olehy  and  Miss  Minerva  J.  Martin  were 
united  in  marriage  Sept.  9,  1858,  and  they  have 
four  children  living,  namely:  Mary  the  wife  of 
John  Yillars.  of  Champaign  County,  111.;  William 
D.;  Albert  and  Minnie  are  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents; George  M.,  died  at  the  age  of  about  four 
months.  Mis.  Olehy's  father,  George  Martin,  was 
born  in  Beaver  County,  Ohio,  near  Georgetown, 
Oct.  18,  1809.  His  father,  Hudson  Martin,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  his  father,  George  Martin, 
Mrs.  Olehy's  great-grandfather,  spent  his  entire 
life  in  that  State.  Hudson  Martin  moved  to  Ohio 
when  a  young  man.  and  was  married  there  to  Mar- 
tha Lay  cock,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  daughter 
of  William  Laycock,  who  moved  from  his  native 
Virginia  to  Ohio  among  the  first  settlers  of  Brown 
County,  lie  took  up  a  tract  of  land  there,  im- 
proved a  farm,  and  erected  good  buildings,  only 
to  find  that  he  had  labored  for  nothing  as  he  lost 
his  land  by  some  one  else  having  a  prior  claim. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Harper,  and  she 


420 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


came  of  an  old  Virginia  family  that  owned  Har- 
per's Ferry  and  gave  it  its  name.  Mrs.  Olehy's 
grandfather  Hudson  resided  in  Ohio  many  years, 
but  subsequently  moved  to  Ripley  County,  Ind., 
whence  he  came  to  Vermilion  County  in  1827,  the 
removal  being  made  with  teams  to  bring  the  fam- 
ily and  household  goods,  while  the  stock  was  driven 
along  at  the  same  time.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county,  locating  in  what  is  now 
Newell  Township,  making  a  claim  and  entering 
land  from  the  Government.  Mr.  Martin  at  once 
commenced  the  improvement  of  a  farm,  on  which 
he  resided  many  years.  He  finally  sold  it  and 
moved  to  "Washington,  where  his  last  years  were 
spent.  Mrs.  Olehy's  grandmother  died  at  the  home 
of  her  daughter  in  Newell  Township. 

Mrs.  Olehy's  father  was  in  his  eighteenth  year 
when  he  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents,  and 
can  remember  well  the  incidents  of  their  early  life 
here.  Two  years  after  coming  here  he  returned 
to  Indiana  and  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers  about  four  3'ears.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Vermilion  County  and  established  him- 
self as  a  farmer.  He  worked  by  the  month  or  day 
for  awhile,  and  at  the  time  of  marriage  rented  land, 
and  later  bought  some,  and  was  a  resident  here  till 
1875.  In  that  year  he  went  to  California  on  ac- 
count of  ill  heal  Lb  and  was  gone  two  years.  He 
then  came  back  to  the  old  homestead,  which  is  lo- 
cated in  Danville  Township,  two  miles  from  the 
court  house.  Feb.  23,  1 837,  was  the  date  of  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  McKee.  She  was  born 
in  Fleming  Count}',  Ky.,June  2, 1812.  Her  father 
William  McKee,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Jan.  18, 
1783,  and  was  a  son  of  Guian  McKee,  who  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  a  native  of  Scotland,  whence 
he  came  to  America  in  colonial  times  and  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  from  there  a  few  years  after  the  Rev- 
olution he  went  to  Kentucky  and  was  a  pioneer  of 
Fleming  County.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land, 
cleared  a  farm,  and  was  a  resident  there  till  his 
death.  Mrs.  Martin's  father  was  young  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  there  he  was 
reared.  He  learned  and  followed  the  trade  of  a 
wheelwright  some  years,  and  then  bought  a  tract 
of  timber  land  and  built  a  lou;  house  in  which  Mrs. 


Martin  was  born.  In  1832,  he  sold  out  his  prop- 
erty ill  his  Kentucky  home,  and  coming  to  Ver- 
milion County,  located  on  the  place  where  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Martin  now  reside.  It  consisted  at  that  time 
of  160  acres  of  wild  land,  and  he  improved  it  into 
a  good  farm  before  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb. 
21.1 872.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Hes- 
ter Adams.  She  was  born  either  in  Kentucky  or 
Ohio  Aug.  12,  1785,  and  died  on  the  home  farm 
here  Dec.  1.  18(J6. 

Mr.  Olehy  is  a  man  of  good  habits  and  sterling 
principles,  and  is  a  credit  to  his  native  county. 
He  is  a  hard  worker  and  uses  good  judgment  in  the 
management  of  his  affairs,  so  that  he  has  acquired 
considerable  property,  and  is  numbered  among  the 
well-to-do  citizens  of  the  township.  Politically, 
he  associates  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  an 
earnest  supporter  of  its  policy.  A  fine  lithographic 
view  of  the  handsome  farm,  residence  and  out- 
buildings of  Mr.  Olehy  is  shown  on  another  page 
of  this  work,  anil  we  invite  the  reader's  attention  to 
the  same. 


hENRV  .1.  OAKWOOD.  It  is  said  of  this 
|]  jovial,  practical,  genial  and  companionable 
gentleman  that  "he  is  the  youngest  looking 
old  man  you  will  find  in  six  States,",  and 
that  "he  has  not  a  single  enem}'  on  earth."  It  is 
evident  by  this  that,  notwithstanding  partial  friends 
may  look  upon  him  through  rose-colored  glasses, 
he  is  a  man  of  no  ordinary  stamp,  and  has  ex- 
ericised  in  a  marked  degree  the  rare  qualities  of 
discretion,  good  judgment  and  temperance  of 
speech  and  action,  which  have  gathered  around  him 
many  warm  personal  friends.  His  business  quali- 
fications are  fully  equal  to  the  other  distinguishing 
traits  of  his  character,  he  having  been  uniformly 
successful  and  accumulating  a  competence. 

A  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  Mr.  Oakwood 
was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  March  7,  181!), 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  when  a  youth 
of  fourteen  years.  His  education  was  completed  in 
Oakwood  Township,  in  an  old  log  school-house  on 
the  land  which  he  now  occupies,  and  later  he  taught 
school  for  three  years  in  succession.      In  due  time 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


421 


he  built  a  log  cabin  upon  his  own  land,  and  eom- 
menced  farming  for  himself.  In  lH.r)0  he  took 
unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate,  Miss  Abigail 
Smith,  but  the  young  wife  only  survived  until  the 
following  year,  dying  in  1851,  leaving  one  child. 
This  child,  a  son,  James,  came  to  his  death  by 
drowning  in  the  Middle  Fork  when  four  years  old. 
In  1852  Mr.  Oakwood  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Priscilla  Sailor,  and  continued  to 
reside  at  the  same  place,  which  by  degrees  he  added 
to,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  750  acres  of  land,  all 
in  Oakwood  Township,  which  was  organized 2 after 
he  came  to  this  county,  and  was  named  in  his 
honor.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  founding 
the  village  of  Oakwood.  and  contributed  no  small 
amount  of  money  as  an  inducement  to  have  it  lo- 
cated upon  its  present  site.  He  at  one  time  owned 
the  ground  occupied  by  the  south  half  of  the  town. 
He  put  up  his  present  residence  in  1877,  and 
through  his  careful  supervision  and  good  manage- 
ment, he  has  one  of  the  best  regulated  farms  in  this 
part  of  the  county.  Adjoining  it  on  the  east  is 
the  largest  coal  Meld  in  the  State,  belonging  to  the 
Consolidated  Coal  Company  of  St.  Louis.  The 
farm  is  largely  devoted  to  stock-raising.  Mr.  Oak- 
wood  keeping  about  thirty  head  of  cattle,  forty 
head  of  horses  and  100  head  of  swine,  of  excellent 
grades.  Adjacent  to  the  residence  are  the  barns 
and  various  outbuildings,  conveniently  arranged 
for  the  shelter  of  stock  and  the  storage  of  grain. 
The  latest  and  most  improved  machinery  is  utilized 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  land,  and  everything 
about  the  premises  indicates  the  supervision  of  the 
thorough  and  progressive  agriculturist.  To  our 
subject  and  his  present  wife  there  have  been  born 
nine  children,  one  of  whom  died  when  about  one 
month  old.  William,  the  eldest  child  living,  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  Longstreth,  is  the  father  of  three 
children,  and  lives  on  a  farm  adjoining  Oakwood 
on  the  northeast;  Morgan  married  Miss  Julia 
Trimmell,  lives  south  of  Oakwood.  and  has  two 
children;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Smith,  and 
the  mother  of  one  child;  they  live  three  miles 
northwest  of  Fithian.  Thomas  married  Miss  Ftta 
Longstreth,  is  the  father  of  two  children,  and  lives 
a  half  mile  westof  the  homestead  ;  Mat-tie,  Harvey. 
Charles  and  Stella  remain  at   home  with  their  par- 


euts.  All  the  children  of  Mr.  Oakwood  have  ob- 
tained a  good  education  in  the  district  school, 
being  more  than  ordinarily  bright  and  intelligent, 
and  taking  kindly  to  their  books. 

Both  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are 
chinch  members,  the  former  belonging  to  the  Pres- 
byterian and  the  latter  to  the  Methodist,  and' their 
children  attend  Sunday-school  regularly.  Mr, 
Oakwood,  politically,  has  been  a  stanch  Republican 
since  reaching  his  majority,  and  has  officiated  as 
Director  in  his  school  district  for  the  long  period  of 
twenty-one  years.  He  was  Road  Overseer  six 
years,  Commissioner  of  Highways  seven  years,  and 
represented  Oakwood  Township  in  the  County 
Hoard  of  Supervisors  eight  years.  At  peace  with 
all  mankind,  enjoying  good  health,  and  in  possess- 
ion of  a  happy  home  and  an  intelligent  family,  it 
would  seem  that  he  has  little  more  to  ask  for  to 
make  him  contented  with  life. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Henry  Oakwood, 
a  native  of  East  Tennessee  and  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. In  early  manhood  he  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Remley,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a  daughter 
of  Henry  Remley,  of  Pennsylvania,  who  emigrated 
to  the  Blue  Grass  regions  at  an  early  period,  ami 
sojourned  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Henry 
Oakwood  took  an  active  part  in  the  War  of  1812, 
was  with  Hull's  army  at  the  surrender  of  Detroit, 
as  a  member  of  the  Kentucky  Mounted  Troops, 
under  the  command  of  Col.  R.  M  Johnson.  The 
parents  were  married  in  Kentucky,  where  they 
lived  for  a  time  afterward,  then,  removing  to  Ohio, 
purchased  the  farm  and  remained  there  until  the 
fall  of  1833.  Then  coming  to  this  county,  they 
settled  on  section  2  1,  in  what  is  now  Oakwood 
Township,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  engaged  in  the  peaceful  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. Indians  encamped  on  the  place  now  occupied 
by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  for  a  year  after  the 
family  came  here. 

The  Oakwood  family  experienced  all  the  priva- 
tions and  hardships  of  pioneer  life  upon  coming  to 
this  county,  being  the  first  settlers  in  their  neigh- 
borhood, before  the  time  of  railroads  or  even  a 
well  defined  wagon  track.  Mr.  Oakwood  became 
the  prominent  man  of  his  community,  holding 
many  of  the  offices,  serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 


122 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  and  Township  Treas- 
urer for  nearly  the  same  length  of  time.  After  a 
life  well  spent  he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers,  in 
1854,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  The  mother 
survived  her  husband  until  1881,  dying  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-seven.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  only  four  of 
whom  are  living,  and  of  whom  Henry  J.,  our  sub- 
ject, was  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 


-ssss— 


LVIN  STEARNS.  Among  the  men  of  this 
county  who  have  risen  from  a  small  be- 
ginning to  an  eminent  position  in  the  esti- 
mation of  their  neighbors,  is  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  initiates  this  biography.  To  be  a 
a  self-made  man  means  something.  It  indicates 
that  the  man  who  has  earned  the  honor  of  being 
so  called,  has  passed  through  many  hardships,  and 
had  seen  the  dark  clouds  of  adversity  when  per- 
haps despair  was  but  a  step  ahead,  but  by  persever- 
ance and  intelligence  has  emerged  in  the  sunlight 
of  prosperity. 

Harvey  Stearns,  the  father  of  Alvin,  was  born 
in  Vermont,  but  afterward  removed  to  New  York, 
and  was  there  married  to  Fanny  Lockwood.  a  na- 
tive of  New  York.  Thence  he  removed  to  Ohio, 
in  1814,  where  he  bought  a  small  farm,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1832.  He  then  located  on  the 
site  of  Alvin  Stearns'  present  home,  building  a  log 
house  and  becoming  a  full-fledged  citizen  of  Illi- 
nois. At  that  time  there  were  scareely  half-a- 
dozen  houses  between  his  farm  and  Danville,  where 
the  Government  had  stationed  some  troops  to  keep 
the  Indians  in  subjection.  Harvey  Stearns  and 
his  wife  were  respected  by  all  their  acquaintances 
for  their  sterling  qualities.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  He  died 
Nov.  30,  1847,  aged  fifty-six  years,  while  the 
mother  survived  until  Aug.  1,  1877,  passing  away 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 

Alvin  Stearns  was  the  eldest  of  the  family,  and 
was  born  Nov.  28,  1815,  in  Ohio.  He  was  sixteen 
years  of  age  when  his  father  located  in  Illinois. 
He  and   his   brother  Calvin  walked    the  entire  dis- 


tance from  Ohio  to  Illinois,  driving  cows,  sheep 
and  hogs.  Mr.  Stearns  obtained  his  education 
partly  in  his  native  State,  but  finished  it  in  Illi- 
nois. He  attended  subscription  schools,  and  his 
learning  was  secured  in  the  usual  manner  of  the 
early  pioneer  days.  He  was  very  studious,  and  al- 
ways aimed  to  be  at  the  head  of  his  class — a  posi- 
tion he  generally  secured.  Being  the  oldest  son. 
and  his  father  being  in  poor  health  most  of  tin' 
time,  he  was  obliged  to  take  the  lead  in  the  work 
of  the  farm.  Many  times  he  has  gone  thirty  or 
forty  miles  to  mill,  and  often  was  obliged  to  go 
to  Danville  in  the  night,  sixteen  miles  distant,  to 
call  a  physician  for  his  father.  In  those  days  the 
farmers  in  this  section  transported  their  wheat  by 
team  to  Chicago,  bringing  back  supplies.  Mr. 
Stearns  remained  at  home  until  he  was  past  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  aiding  his  father. 

Mr.  Stearns  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Lee,  April 
12,  1837.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William  H.  and 
Rebecca  Lee,  who  came  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in 
1829,  and  located  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Mr. 
Steam's  present  home.  Mr.  Lee  was  a  prominent 
and  prosperous  citizen  of  the  early  days,  and  the 
father  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom,  except  one, 
are  now  dead,  and  the  father  and  mother  have 
long  since  passed  to  their  reward.  Mrs.  Stearns 
was  the  eldest  child,  born  in  181  :i.  and  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage  was  nineteen  years  of  aye.  Mr. 
Steams  located  on  a  part  of  his  father's  place  im- 
mediately after  his  marriage,  where  he  built  a  log 
house  and  commenced  seriously  the  battle  of  life. 
When  his  father  died  he  purchased  the  interest  of 
the  other  heirs,  except  that  belonging  to  his 
mother.  The  old  farm  consists  of  COO  acres,  and 
he  has  given  each  of  his  children  a  quarter  section 
of  good  land,  and  to  one  of  them  a  house  and  lot, 
which  cost  $6,000.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage 
Mr.  Stearns  did  not  possess  850.  but.  aided  by  his 
most  estimable  wife,  he  has  long  since  passed  the 
mark  that  divides  poverty  from  wealth.  He  has 
now  a  handsome  and  costly  residence,  which  is 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stearns  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Lawson  married 
Amanda  Izard,  and  the}'  are  residing  in  Homer, 
III.,  with  their  three  children;  Ersom  is  unmarried. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


123 


and  resides  in  Homer;  Rocella  .1.  is  the  wife  of  T. 
B.  Craig.  They  :ire  living-  on  the  next  farm  east 
of  the  old  homestead,  and  have  five  children.  Mrs. 
Stearns,  the  mother  of  these  children,  died  .Ian.  23, 
1887,  aged  sixty-seven  years,  nine  months  and 
four  days.  Mr.  Stearns  has  been  an  administrator 
for  many  estates,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
those  of  his  father  and  the  Lee  estate,  also  Aaron 
Hardin's,  William  Clutter's,  Alfred  Harden's  and 
the  immense  estate  that  belonged  to  Mr.  Vount.  lie 
has  successfully  administered  all  these  large  trusts, 
and  with  satisfaction  to  each  of  the  heirs,  all  of 
which  constitutes  a  most  remarkable  record  in  this 
line.  For  twelve  years  Mr.  Stearns  has  been  As- 
sessor and  Collector,  and  for  six  years  has  held  the 
office  of  Road  Commissioner.  He  has  also  been 
School  Director  for  twenty  years. 

Politically.  Mr.  Stearns  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
and  always  votes  for  the  candidates  of  that  party. 
His  first  ballot  was  cast  for  William  Henry  Harri- 
son, and  he  heard  that  distinguished  gentleman  de- 
liver two  speeches — one  at  Wilmington,  and  the 
other  at  Lebanon,  Ohio.  It  is  unnecessary  to  state 
that  his  last  vote  was  cast  for  the  other  Harrison. 
Mr.  Stearns  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  for  the  last  thirty  years,  and  the  fact  that 
he  has  been  chosen  to  adjust  so  many  estates  is 
evidence  that  he  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of 
his  fellows. 


^p^lEORGE  N.  NEVILLE.  The  preservation  of 
J|  __  choice  blood  in  the  human  species  has  as 
^ss4l  much  to  do  with  the  characteristics  of  an  in- 
dividual, asdoes  careful  breedinginthe  animal  king- 
dom in  determining  the  fine  points  of  that  portion 
of  creation ;  and  he,  who  can  look  back  upon  his 
ancestry,  tracing  its  lines  through  generations  of 
high-minded  and  honorable  people,  has  something 
of  which  to  be  truly  proud.  The  ancestry  of  Mr. 
Neville  is  traced  back  to  the  Land  of  the  Thistle, 
his  paternal  grandparents  emigrating  from  Scotland 
to  Virginia,  in  time  for  his  grandfather,  Joseph 
Neville,  to  take  part  as  a  brigadier-general  on  the 


side  of  the  colonists  in  their  greal  struggle  for  lib- 
erty. Unlike  many  of  those  who  crossed  the 
Atlantic  at  that  time,  he  came  fortified  with  ample 
means  which  he  invested  largely  in  land,  comprising 
a  valuable  plantation,  worked  by  slaves  whom 
he  liberated  at  his  death. 

Among  the  sons  of  grandfather  Neville  was 
George,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  in 
Moorefield,  W.  Va.,  and  was  the  youngest  of  a 
family  of  twelve  children.  He  studied  law  at 
Winchester,  Ya.,  under  Abrarn  Lock  and  was 
duly  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  first  and  last  case 
in  court  was  one  in  which  his  client,  an  old  man, 
in  a  fit  of  insanity  killed  his  wife,  after  they  had 
lived  a  long  and  apparently  happy  life  togetherand 
raised  a  large  family  of  children,  who  had  married 
and  settled  in  homes  of  their  own  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  old  man  was  arrested  and  tried  on  the 
charge  of  murder,  (ieorge  Neville  undertook  to 
defend  him  and  made  a  vow  to  clear  him  or  never 
practice  again.  The  prisoner  was  found  guiltv  and 
sentenced  to  be  hung  which  sentence  was  carried 
out  to  the  letter  of  the  law.  Mr.  Neville  kept  his 
vow,  immediately  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
and  practiced  that  as  long  as  he  lived,  his  decease 
taking  place  in  1822. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Wolfe)  Neville,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  the  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Cathe- 
rine Wolfe,  natives  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to 
America  and  settled  in  Winchester,  Va.,  where  the 
father  became  a  very  prominent  man  and  was  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  They  reared  a  large  family  of  children  and 
gave  them  an  exceptionally  fine  education.  One 
son,  Thomas,  was  a  pupil  in  one  of  the  German 
Universities,  and  another  son,  Lewis,  developed 
into  a  promising  lawyer,  becoming  a  leading  poli- 
tician and  representing  his  district  in  the  State 
Legislature.  One  daughter  married  a  brother  of 
of  Wade  Hampton,  Sr. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Win- 
chester, Va.,  in  1  7H8  and  removed  thence  to  Moore- 
field, where  the  father  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  The  mother  in  1S37  removed  to  Indiana  and 
died  there  in  1843.  Their  seven  children  included 
two  daughters  and  live  sons  and  bul  two  of  the 
family  survive — our  subject,  and  his  brother,  Joseph 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


B..  a  resident  of  Sumner  County,  Kan.  George  N. 
was  the  youngest  child  of  his  parents  and  was  born 
Feb.  2,  1820  at  Moorefield,  Hardy  Co.,  W.  Va. 
He  received  a  very  good  education  in  the  common 
schools,  attending  until  a  youth  of  sixteen. 
About  that  time  the  family  came  north  and  George 
N.  remained  a  member  of  his  father's  household 
until  his  marriage. 

The  above  mentioned  interesting  event  in  the 
life  of  our  subject  took  place  Sept.  24,  1840,  the 
bride  being  Miss  Mary  S.,  a  daughter  of  Warner 
Throckmorton,  a  leading  lawyer  of  Romney, 
Hampshire  Co.,  Va.  The  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Neville.  William  Throckmorton  by  name,  emigrated 
before  the  War  of  the  Revolution  from  the  old 
county  of  Gloucester,  Va.,  to  Jefferson  County,  Va. 
The  Throckmorton  family  had  been  often  and  hon- 
orably named  in  the  pages  of  history,  before  they 
became  residents  of  the  United  States.  Very  few 
of  their  descendants  now  reside  in  the  old  home; 
indeed  all  of  that  name  have  removed  therefrom, 
and  collateral  descendants  alone  remain  of  a  former 
influential  family.  Grandfather  Throckmorton  was 
born  and  reared  to  man's  estate  in  Jefferon  County, 
Va.  He  studied  law  with  his  uncle.  John  Dixon, 
one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  and  most  talented  man 
in  the  State.  Under  his  friendly  counsel  Mr. 
Throckmorton  acquired  legal  ability,  and  rapidly 
rose  in  the  profession  until  he  occupied  a  very 
prominent  position  among  members  of  the  bar  in 
his  own  State  and  country.  He  died  in  the  prime 
of  life,  being  forty-two  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neville  began  their  wedded  life 
on  a  farm  eight  miles  south  of  La  Fayette,  Ind., 
where  they  lived  until  1854.  That  year  they  came 
to  this  county,  settling  on  the  north  half  of  section 
10  in  Vance  Township,  when  there  were  but  a  few 
people  located  outside  of  the  towns  and  prior  to 
the  laying  out  of  Fairmount.  Mr.  Neville  evolved 
a  good  farm  from  the  virgin  soil,  the  land  becom- 
ing highly  productive,  and  upon  which  he  made 
excellent  improvements.  Here  with  his  excellent 
wife  he  lived  and  labored  until  advancing  3'ears 
admonished  him  it  would  be  wise  to  lay  aside  some 
of  the  sterner  duties  of  life,  and  accordingly  in 
1884  he  left  the  farm  and  established  himself  in 
Fairmount,  where,  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of 


a  pleasant  and  attractive  home,  he  is  spending  his 
later  days  in  peace  and   quiet. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neville  there  were  born  ten 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living.  The  eldest 
son  ,  George  Warner,  during  the  Civil  War  en- 
listed in  the  25th  Illinois  Infantry.  At  the  battle 
of  Kenesaw  Mountain  he  was  severely  wounded 
and  was  removed  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga 
where  he  died  on  the  1 1  th  of  July,  18G4,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  six  months  and  twenty- 
one  days.  The  G.  A.  R.  Post,  organ ized  at  Fair- 
mount  subsequently  adopted  the  name  of  this  gallant 
boy,  who  was  a  general  favorite  among  his  young 
associates.  Miss  Anna  C.  Neville  became  the  wife 
of  Alvin  A.  Taylor,  of  Fairmount,  and  they  have 
one  child;  Norbourn  married  Miss  Lizzie  Price, 
and  they  live  on  the  home  farm;  they  have  no 
children.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Henry  Col- 
lins, a  member  of  the  Illinois  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  they  have  one 
child;  Frank  married  Miss  Margaret  Cannon,  is 
the  father  of  three  children  and  lives  five  miles 
south  of  Fairmount;  Sally  Virginia  remains  at 
home  with  her  parents;  Ada  is  the  wife  of  Rev. 
D.  W.  Calfee,  a  member  of  the  California  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  they 
have  three  children;  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Walter 
G.  Owen,  living  at  Fort  Smith,  Ark.,  and  they  have 
two  children. 

Mr.  Neville  has  held  the  office  of  Inspector  of 
Elections  and  School  Treasurer  in  Indiana,  and  in 
Illinois  held  the  latter  office  for  seven  years,  unti 
resigning.  He  has  been  Road  Commissioner  for 
fifteen  years,  also  School  Director.  Although  not 
an  active  politician,  he  takes  a  lively  interest  in 
the  success  of  the  Republican  party,  of  which  he 
has  been  a  member  since  its  organization,  and  al- 
though born  and  reared  in  the  Old  Dominion,  was 
strongly  opposed  to  the  institution  of  slaver}',  his 
views  upon  this  question  assuming  definite  form  at 
the  early  age  of  fifteen  years  and  experiencing  no 
change  thereafter. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neville  are  devout  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  with  which  Mr.  Ne- 
ville has  been  identified  since  a  youth  of  nineteen 
years,  and  for  many  years  he  has  officiated  as  Stew- 
ard and  Trustee.   He  has  always  maintained  a  warm 


V7 


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1 


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t.jfi~*f 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


429 


interest  in  Sunday-school,  mission  and  temperance 
work,  to  which  hehas  given  largely  of  his  time  and 
means  and  labored  as  he  had  opportunity,  to  ad- 
vance the  moral  and  social  status  of  the  people 
around  him.  His  life  has  been  one  of  large  experi- 
ence during  which  hehas  learned  well  from  men  and 
things,  and  he  possesses  a  fine  fund  of  information 
which  makes  him  a  gentleman  with  whom  it  is 
most  pleasurable  and  profitable  to  converse. 


<%**%*& 


EZRA 
il.v  1 
I  port 


<jfp^ZRA  J.  BANTZ.  The  preservation  of  fam- 
history  is  beginning  to  assume  due  im- 
portance in  the  minds  of  the  intelligent 
people  of  the  present  day,  as  the  biographer  finds 
here  and  there  one  who,  like  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  has  carefully  preserved  whatever  informa- 
tion he  could  obtain  concerning  the  lives  of  his 
ancestry.  He  has  given  to  this  matter  considerable 
thought  and  attention,  and  next  to  his  personal  his- 
tory and  that  of  the  Bantz  family,  esteems  in  im- 
portance everything  connected  with  the  history  of 
his  native  land.  He  is  one  of  those  patriotic  spir- 
its who  appreciate  the  advantages  of  living  in  an 
enlightened  country,  and  who  realize  what  efforts 
have  been  put  forth  to  bring  it  to  its  present  posi- 
tion among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  The  fact  that 
patriotism  is  beginning  to  be  taught  in  the  public 
schools  speaks  well  for  the  civilization  of  the  pres- 
ent day.  and  none  are  in  more  earnest  sympathy 
with  this  movement  than  lie  with  whose  name  we 
introduce  this  biographical  record. 

We  find  Mr.  Bantz  pleasantly  located  on  a  well- 
regulated  farm,  occupying  a  part  of  section  17  in 
Oakwood  Township.  He  made  his  first  purchase 
herein  1864,  and  the  year  following  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  in  this  county.  He  has  now 
230  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  located  one  mile 
south  of  Muncie,  partly  prairie  and  partly  timber, 
and  nearly  all  in  productive  condition.  Mr.  Bantz 
proposed  the  name  of  Muncie  for  the  above-men- 
tioned town,  and  out  of  respect  for  him  it  was  duly 
adopted. 

Our  subject  was  born  Jan.  12,  1827,  in  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  and  was   the  eldest  of  ten   children, 


the  offspring  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Brenner) 
Bantz.  the  former  a  native  of  Frederickstown,  Md., 
born  in  1805.  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  1807.  Joshua  Bantz  was  a  fanner  by  occupa 
lion,  anil  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of  seventy 
years,  departing  hence  in  1875.  The  mother  had 
preceded  her  husband  to  the  silent  land  in  1863. 
The  paternal  grandfather.  John  Bantz,  a  native  of 
Germany,  died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
His  father  and  brothers,  Solomon  and  Felty,  emi- 
grated to  America  from  Prussia  at  an  earlv  day, 
and  settled  in  Maryland.  Grandfather  Bantz  took 
an  active  part  in  the  defence  of  Baltimore  during 
the  War  of  1812.  He  married  Miss  Byerly  ,of 
Maryland,  who  was.  like  himself,  of  German  de- 
scent. He  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  but  after  his 
marriage  removed  to  Preble  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  purchased  120  acres  of  land,  and  thereafter  oc- 
cupied himself  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  spent 
his  last  da3rs  upon  the  farm  which  he  opened  up 
from  the  wilderness.  Grandmother  Bantz  sur- 
vived her  husband  a  few  years,  dying  at  the  age 
of  about  seventy-five. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
John  Brenner,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  whose 
father  emigrated  from  Germany  during  the  first 
settlement  of  the  Blue  Crass  State.  He  built  a  log 
cabin  in  the  wilderness  among  the  Indians,  and  had 
a  little  square  window  in  the  rear,  which  also 
served  as  a  port  hole,  through  which  he  thrust  his 
gun  in  time  of  danger  and  defended  himself  against 
his  enemies.  He  owned  a  negro  slave  named  Ned. 
One  morning  the  master  was  aroused  by  the  ap- 
parent cry  of  a  wild  turkey,  and  arising  from  bed 
took  down  his  gun,  and  was  on  the  point  of  leav- 
ing the  house  to  shoot  the  game  when  Ned  jumped 
up,  crying  out:  "Hold  on,  Massa;  let  me  shoot 
that  turk."  The  master  gave  him  the  gun,  and 
Ned  going  out  by  the  front  door,  made  a  wide 
circle  around,  and  in  a  short  time  grandfather 
Brenner  heard  the  report  of  a  rifle  in  the  rear  of 
the  cabin.  Directly  Ned  came  in  with  the  head  of 
an  Indian  stuck  on  a  pole.  "Here,  .Massa,  here  is 
your  turkey."  The  negro  understood  the  coming 
of   the  Indian  that  time  better  than  his  master. 

After  a  time  grandfather    Brenner   emigrated   to 
Ohio,  and  died  there  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 


430 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


five  years.  His  wife  was  in  lier  girlhood  Miss 
Sarah  Warren,  of  Massachusetts,  and  died  before 
reaching  her  three-score  years.  Her  father,  John 
W.  Warren,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  from 
the  beginning  to  the  close,  on  the  side  of  the  col- 
onists. He  was  a  native  of  England  and  a  cousin 
of  the  lamented  (Jen.  Joseph  Warren,  who  fell  at 
Bunker  Hill.  John  Warren  also  participated  in 
that  battle,  and  was  at  Brandywine  when  so  many 
British  were  killed  and  fell  into  the  creek  that  the 
Americans  could  cross  dry-shod  over  their  dead 
bodies.  He  died  about  1830  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  <  )hio 
about  1825.  Six  of  their  ten  children  are  still  liv- 
ing, being  residents  mostly  of  Indiana.  The  family 
removed  to  Indiana  in  1835,  where  Ezra  J.  received 
a  practical  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
grew  up  an  admirable  young  man  of  excellent 
habits,  sound  principles, and  a  well-informed  mind. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  walked  from 
eastern  Indiana  through  the  woods  to  Logans  port, 
and  at  that  point,  on  the  10th  of  March,  1848,  en- 
listed in  the  15th  Regiment  of  Regulars  for  the 
War  with  Mexico.  They  started  for  the  field,  but 
the  war  was  over  by  the  time  the  company  of  our 
subject  had  reached  Newport,  Ky.  He  there  re- 
ceived his  discharge,  and  returning  to  Indiana, 
resumed  work  on  the  farm  of  his  father  until  his 
marriage. 

The  above  mentioned  event  in  the  life  of  our 
subject  took  place  Nov.  9,  1  848,  the  bride  being 
Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  Eli  and  Elizabeth  (Forbes) 
Thornburg.  After  the  marriage  Mr.  Bantz  and 
his  young  wife  settled  in  Delaware  County,  Ind. 
Mr.  Bantz  obtained,  from  the  land  warrant  given 
him  by  the  Government,  land  in  the  Indian  Reserve 
in  Indiana,  but  not  long  afterwards  sold  out  and 
purchased  land  in  Eastern  Indiana,  adjoining  a 
farm  already  owned  by  his  wife.  This  they  occu- 
pied until  1*65,  and  in  that  year,  as  already  stated, 
came  to  Illinois,  of  which  they  have  since  been 
residents. 

( )f  the  six  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife,  four  are  living.  Daniel  J.  married 
Miss  Sarah  Boss,  is  the  father  of  six  children,  and 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Champaign  County;  James  mar 


ried  Miss  Addie  Dalbey,  is  the  father  of  four  chil- 
dren, and  occupies  the  farm  north  of  the  Bantz 
homestead;  Louisa  E.  became  the  wife  of  Erastus 
Dow,  and  they  live  in  Texas;  Mary  M.,  the  wife 
of  William  Ellis,  is  the  mother  of  four  children, 
and  they  are  also  residents  of  the  Lone  Star  State. 
Mr.  Bantz  east  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen. 
Cass,  and  has  been  a  uniform  supporter  of  Demo- 
cratic principles.  He  enjoys  a  pension  on  account 
of  his  proffered  services  during  the  Mexican  War. 
Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
in  religious  matters  is  liberal.  His  estimable  wife 
and  their  children  are  members  in  good  standing 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  Our  subject,  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Indiana,  otliciated  as  Township  Trustee, 
and  in  his  present  district  has  been  School  Director 
and  Road  Overseer.  He  is  one  of  the  solid  and 
reliable  men  of  Oakwood  Township — one  who  has 
contributed  materially  to  her  advancement  and 
prosperity. 

As  representatives  of  the  worth  of  Vermilion 
County,  we  present  elsewhere  in  this  Album  fine 
portraits  of  Mr.  Bantz  and  his  wife,  which  will  be 
highly  prized  by  all  their   friends. 

—^ -HfHN* "*~ 


RA  BABB  was  born  in  the  house  he  now  occu- 
pies, Nov.  2,  1842.  His  father  Levi  Babb, 
It,  was  a  native  of  Greene  County,  Tenn..  and  his 
birth  occurred  Oct.  26,  1788.  The  senior  Babb 
came  to  Vermilion  County  in  October,  1826,  stop- 
ping near  Yankee  Point  for  a  short  time  and  then 
settling  in  December  of  the  same  year  on  section 
14,  range  11,  Elwood  Township,  about  one  mile 
northeast  of  Ira's  present  residence.  He  remained 
there  about  three  years  and  a  half,  entering  the 
west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  section 
named,  when  he  built  the  house  in  which  his  son 
Ira  now  lives,  in  1830. 

During  the  time  before  specified,  Levi  Babb, 
entered  the  following  tracts  of  land  all  situated  in 
township  17,  north  of  range  11,  west  of  the  second 
principal  meridian,  viz:  the  east  half  of  northwest 
quarter  and  the  west  half  of  northeast  quarter  of 
section  24,  entered  March  20,  1827.      Also  the  west 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


431 


half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  13,  on  samp 
date.     The  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section    23,    Due.   8,    1827.      The  cast   half  of    the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  24.  Dee.    1,  1830,  and 
the  west,  half  of  northeasl    quarter   of  section  26. 
June     6.     1831,  also  other  smaller  tracts  amount- 
ing in   all  to  about  GOO  acres.     The   Indians   had 
their    camping    grounds    where     the    old    home- 
stead    is     now     situated.        The     sulijeet     of     this 
sketch   lias  picked    up  many   flint  arrow   heads  on 
his     land     and    he    also    has     in   his    possession   a 
stone    axe    discovered    there    also.       His    father, 
in  the  earl}-  days    was    obliged    to  go   to   Racoon 
and   Sugar   Creeks.    Parke   County,    Ind.,   to    mill. 
He  endured   many  hardships   and  privations,   and 
when    he    emigrated    to    this  county  his  means  of 
transportation  was  a  five  horse  wagon,  in  which  he 
and    his    family  rode  a  distance  of  650  miles.     He 
taught  a  son  of  one  of  the  Indian  chiefs  to  plow  and 
in  many  other  ways  did  things  which  made  the  In- 
dians his  friends  forever,  and   he  also  spoke  the  In- 
dian  language  fluently.     Levi  Babb  was  a  tireless 
worker  and    in  everything    that  pertained   to    his 
farm  be  spared   no  pains  to  procure   the   best.      He 
used   to   haul  his  produce  to   Chicago  and   return 
with  salt  and  groceries  and  was  at  that  place  when 
the  first  warehouse   was    being    built.      He  was  of- 
fered forty  acres  of  land  fur  a  yoke  of  oxen,  where 
Chicago   now    stands,    but  declined   as  he  thought, 
the   land    would   never  be  worth   anything.        He 
owned  at  one  time  600  acres  of  land  and  left  nearly 
that  amount  at  the  time  of  his  death.    He  was  mar- 
ried  twice,    bis    first    wife  being   Susannah    Dillon, 
and  by    her  he  had  ten    children,  two  of   whom  arc 
living:  Jonathan   and    Levi.     She   was   born  July 
10,    1788.   in  Greene  County,   Tenn.     Levi   Babb 
married  for  his  second  wife.  Elizabeth  Prevo.    The 
ceremony   occurred   on   Nov.   21,   1839.     She   was 
born  in    North    Carolina   Oct.  31.  1801.    near  Ash- 
boro,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Han- 
nah  Prevo.    who  emigrated   to   Fountain    Count}-, 
Ind.,  in  an  early  day.     She  was  the  mother  of  three 
children:  Ira.  Hannah  and  Allie.  the   two  latter  be- 
ing deceased.      Allie  was  the  wife  of   William  Ilot- 
lel.  of   this   township.      She  died   Jan.    13,    1887.  at 
the  age  of  forty  and  was  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land   Presbyterian   Church.     Father   Babb  died  at 


the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years,  four 
months  and  twenty-seven  days,  his  death  occur- 
ring March  23,  1872.  while  his  wife  passed  away 
on  Feb.  3,  of  the  same  year,  aged  sixty-seven  years 
three  months  and  two  days. 

Ira  Babb  has  always  lived  on  the  old  homestead. 
He  owns  10',)  acres  of  land  here  and  twenty-two 
acres  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.  He  is  engaged 
in  general  farming,  and  in  the  manufacture  of 
drain  tile.  His  stock  consists  of  Short-horn  cattle 
and  Poland -China  hogs,  all  of  a  high  grade,  and 
general  purpose  horses.  He  erected  his  tile  fac- 
tory in  1887.  It  is  a  fine  frame  structure  20x60, 
two  stories  high,  with  an  L  of  the  same  dimensions. 
He  is  manufacturing  tile  from  three  to  twelve 
inches  in  diameter,  and  also  brick  of  a  fine  quality. 
The  factory  is  driven  by  a  twenty-live  horse-power 
engine,  which  is  supplied  with  steam  by  a  Hadley 
&  Wright  boiler,  which  is  forty-four  inches  in  di- 
ameter and  ten  feet  long.  The  tile  made  at  this 
factory  is  of  the  very  best  quality  and  in  great 
demand. 

On  Sept.  28,  1882,  our  sulijeet  was  married  to 
Miss  Minerva  E..  daughter  of  Elihu  Canaday. 
Mrs.  Babb  was  born  in  Clarke  County  Nov.  1!>, 
1845.  Elihu  Canaday.  Mrs.  Babb's  father,  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  McCowan.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  viz:  Adam,  Sarah  J., 
Henry  D..  Annie  M.,  Mary  Jemima,  Minerva  E., 
and  Rebecca  J.  Elihu  Canada}-  died  Oct.  4,  1848. 
Elizabeth  (McCowan)  Canaday  died  in  April,  1863. 
Annie  M.  Canaday  who  was  born  April  1  1.  1838. 
when  two  years  old  went  blind.  She  was  a  sister 
of  Mrs.  Babb.  This  child  died  at  the  Blind  Insti- 
tute at  Jacksonville,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 
The  grandparents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
Thomas  and  Martha  (  Ewing)  Babb,  emigrated 
from  Winchester,  Va.,  to  Greene  County,  Tenn..  in 
the  early  settlement  of  the  latter  State,  locating  in 
Babb'-  Valley.  They  had  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren who  are  scattered  throughout  the  west  and 
Northwest,  while  some  remained  in  Tennessee. 
Their  son.  Levi,  the  father  of  Ira,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  also  had  two  brothers.  David 
and  Caleb,  who  served  in  the  army  at  the  same 
time,  all  being  under  (Jen.  Jackson.  A1  one  time 
they  were  in  a  party  of  soldiers  that  chased  the  In- 


43'2 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


dians  for  sis  days  and  nights  with  nothing  to  eat 
save  a  little  spoiled  flour,  some  hickory  nuts  and 
sweet  hickory  roots,  and  this  incident,  so  Mr.  Babb 
says,  is  what  gave  the  name  of  "Old  Hickory"  to 
Gen.  Jackson,  as  he  too  partook  of  the  nuts  and 
n  >ots. 

Mr.  Babb  has  never  sought  official  honors.  He 
is  a  pronounced  and  enthusiastic  Democrat,  lie 
is  proud  of  llie  record  his  father  has  made  and  is 
in  all  respects  a  praiseworthy  citizen.  Mi'.  Babb 
has  in  his  possession  a  portion  of  two  almanacs, 
dated  respectively  1828  and  1829,  also  implements 
and  relics  of  "ye  olden  tyme,"  such  as  a  sickle, 
and  pitchfork  over  one  hundrd  years  old  and  many 
other  tilings. 


THOMAS  A.  TAYLOR,  a  prominent  resilient 
of  Catlin  Township,  is  a  man  whose  well 
trained,  vigorous  mind  and  progressive 
views  place  him  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  en- 
lightened, wide-awake  agriculturists  of  Vermilion 
County.  He  lias  a  huge  farm  of  nearly  600  acres. 
whose  broad,  fertile  fields,  room}'  substantial 
buildings  and  well  ordered  appearance  generally, 
mark  it  as  one  of  the  best  managed  and  choicest 
estates  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  here  on  sec- 
lion  ~i  he  has  creeled  a  handsome  residence  that  is 
replete  with  all  the  modern  comforts. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  County, 
Ind..  April  25,  1847.  a  son  of  Thomas  A.,  and  [vea 
(Allen)  Taylor,  natives  respectively  of  Ohio 
County  and  Shelby  County,  Ky.  After  marriage 
his  parents  began  their  wedded  life  in  Tippecanoe 
County.  Ind.,  near  Lafayette,  where  he  followed 
bis  trade,  that  of  a  tanner,  living  there  till  1852, 
where  they  came  with  their  family  to  Vermilion 
County  to  settle  among  its  pioneers,  taking  up 
I  heir  abode  in  Catlin  Township.  The  father  died 
here  in  September,  1876,  and  an  upright  anil  hon- 
ored citizen  was  thus  lost  to  the  community  with 
whose  highest  interests  his  own  had  been  identical 
from  the  first  hour  of  his  settlement  here.  He  was 
a  man  of  sincere  piety  and  a  worthy  member  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  His  wife 
still  survives  and  makes  her  home  in  Catlin  Town- 


ship. She  is  a  truly  good  woman  and  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
They  had  eight  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was 
the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

He  was  five  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Vermilion  County,  and  the  remainder  of 
his  life- has  since  been  passed  here.  He  was  given 
the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  obtaining 
the  basis  of  it  in  the  public  schools,  and  he  then 
became  a  student  at  Lincoln  University  in  Logan 
County  and  subsequently  took  an  excellent  course 
of  study  at  Mt.  Zion  Academy,  Macomb  County,  111., 
his  studies  being  of  a  practical  character  such  as 
would  be  of  benefit  to  him  in  his  business  relations 
and  in  his  work.  After  leaving  school  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  teacher's  profession  for  nine  years, 
meeting  with  great  success  in  that  vocation  and  by 
his  intelligent  methods  placing  himself  in  the  fore- 
front of  the  best  educators  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try. He  has  resided  in  Catlin.  and  aside  from 
teaching  has  given  his  attention  wholly  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  owning  and  managing  one  of  the 
largest  and  finest  farms,  in  this  region,  as  before 
mentioned. 

Mr.  Taylor  frankly  acknowledges  that  he  is 
greatly  indebted  for  much  that  is  good  in  his  life 
to  his  amiable  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
Catlin  Township,  March  11,  1869.  She  is  in  every 
respect  a  true  Christian,  possessing  much  intelli- 
gence and  capacity,  and  a  model  housewife,  and 
fills  the  perfect  measure  of  wife,  mother,  friend, 
than  which  no  higher  eulogy  can  be  pronounced. 
In  her  the  Christian  Church  finds  one  of  its  most 
consistent  members.  Mrs.  Taylor's  maiden  name 
was  Mary  C.  Acree,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Joel  and  Elvessa  (Yount)  Acree,  known  and 
honored  as  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Catlin 
Township,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  his 
death,  Nov.  27,  1880.  The  father  was  born  in 
Alabama,  and  the  mother  in  Shelby  County,  Ky. 
They  married  and  settled  in  Catlin  Township  in 
early  pioneer  times.  He  was  a  valued  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  a  thoroughly  upright 
man.  The  mother  is  still  living  in  Catlin  Town- 
ship, and  she  is  also  a  respected  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  They  had  two  children  who 
lived  to    grow    up,    Mrs.  Taylor    being  the  eldest, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


133 


and  she  was  born  in  Catlin  Township,  Nov.  12, 
L848.  T<n  of  the  twelve  children  that  have  glad- 
dened the  happy  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  are  still  with  them,  two  having  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  names  (if  the  survivors  are  Clemmer, 
Gailen  II..  Elvessa,  Joel,  Benjamin,  Robert,  Mag- 
gie, Lois,  Whittier  and  Catherine.  Our  subject  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
and  its  councils.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  & 
A.  M..  Catlin  Lodge.  No.  285,  Vermilion  Chapter 
and  Athelstan  Commandery  at  Danville. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  endowed  with  a  keen,  resolute 
nature,  and  by  prompt,  systematic  methods  and 
other  exeellent  business  habits,  has  accumulated  a 
valuable  property  and  is  one  of  the  moneyed  men 
of  Catlin  Township.  He  is  a  man  of  earnest  relig- 
ious feelings,  and  in  him  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  has  one  of  its  most  aetive  workers 
and  influential  members,  he  having-  united  with  it 
early  in  life,  and  for  twenty  years  or  more  he  has 
been  one  of  its  Elders.  He  interests  himself  greatly 
in  the  Sunday-school,  and  has  been  Superintendent 
for  many  years. 

R.  J.   R.  LTTLE,   physician    and  surgeon 

'■   of    Rankin,  is   enjoying  an  extensive  and 

lucrative  practice  in   this  village  and   the 

surrounding  country,  and  he  has  already- 
won  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  skillful,  well-read 
and  finely  educated  member  of  the  medical  profes- 
sion of  Vermilion  County.  He  is  active  in  public 
and  political  matters,  and  is  a  valued  civic  official 
of  this  village,  in  which  he  takes  a  deep  interest, 
using  his  influence  to  advance  its  status,  education- 
ally, religiously  and  socially. 

He  comes  of  good  old  Pennsylvania  stock,  and 
is  himself  a  native  of  the  Keystone  Slate,  bom  in 
Armstrong  County  Dec.  2.  1850.  His  father, 
John  Lytic,  was  born  near  Smicksburg,  Indiana 
Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  1 8,  1808.  His  early  manhood  was 
spent  in  clearing  for  himself  a  farm  in  what  was 
then  a  forest  near  Dayton.  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.  He 
resided  on  this  farm  until  18(30,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  the  place  he  now  occupies  near 


Chambersville,  Indiana  County,  lie  is  of  English 
ancestry,  is  well  endowed  intellectually  and  phys- 
ically, and  although  he  has  attained  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-one  years,  he  still  retains  his  mental 
faculties.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  La- 
vinia  Reed.  She  was  born  dan.  2(i,  1816,  near 
Ligonier  in  Westmoreland  County.  Pa., and  wasof 
Scotch-Irish  lineage.  Feb.  '-'I.  1889,  she  passed 
away  from  the  joys  and  cares  of  earth,  leaving  be- 
hind to  those  who  loved  her  the  precious  memory 
of  a  good  and  virtuous  life.  Six  children  were 
born  of  her  marriage — Catherine.  Robert  J.,  John 
P.,  .lames  R.,  S.  Jennie,  and  Mattie  A.  Robert  J., 
residing  in  Altoona,  Pa.,  is  a  carpenter  for  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  During  the 
war  he  served  almost  three  years  in  Company  K. 
14th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  lie  married  Sarah 
Fleming  of  Indiana  County,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
had  two  children — Frank  Elmer  and  Myrtle,  the 
hitter  is  deceased;  John  and  Jennie  live  on  the 
old  homestead  near  Chambersville,  Pa.  He  mar- 
ried Debbie  Reeder,  of  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  a  family  of  children;  Catherine  is  the  widow 
of  Ferguson  Speedy,  of  Indiana  County,  Pa.,  where 
she  is  still  residing;  Mattie  A.,  married  McCloud 
Brady,  of  Westmoreland  County.  Pa.,  and  he  is 
now  engaged  at  his  trade  in  a  shoe  factory  in  La- 
trobe.  Pa. 

Dr.  Lytic  was  reared  in  the  home  of  his  birth, 
and  was  given  good  educational  advantages,  pur- 
suing an  excellent  course  of  study  at  Dayton  Acad- 
emy, and  after  leaving  school  he  engaged  awhile  in 
teaching.  He  was  desirous  of  becoming  a  physi- 
cian, and  entered  upon  his  studies  for  that  purpose' 
with  Dr.  Thomas  McMullen  of  Greenville,  Indiana 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1 879,  attended  medical  lectures. 
lie  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1884,  from  Rush 
Medical  College,  Chicago,  111.,  and  at  once  opened 
an  office  in  Paxton,  this  State,  remaining  there  two 
\  ears.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to 
Vermilion  County  and  established  himself  at  Ran- 
kin, where  he  still  practices,  lie  has  a  large  num- 
ber of  patients  and  is  very  popular  with  all  classes. 

The  Doctor  was  married  to  Lauretta  M.  Burrell, 
of  Marshall  County.  111.,  June  30,  1881.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  and  Mary  (Withrow) 
Burrell.  of  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.      Her  father 


434 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


died  in  L883.  Her  mother  now  makes  her  home 
with  her.  She  is  the  mother  of  six  children— 
.lames  W.,  Joseph  II.,  J.  G.,  Amos,  (deceased), 
Nannie  and  Mrs.  Lytle.  James  was  a  soldier  for 
the  Union,  surviving  the  horrors  of  Southern  pris- 
ons, and  is  now  a  carpenter,  residing  in  La  Prairie, 
Marshall  Co..  111.  He  married  Mary  Butler,  of 
Johnstown,  Pa.,  and  they  have  six  children;  J.  G., 
an  architect  and  builder,  married  a  Miss  Johnson 
of  Monmouth,  III.,  and  they  have  two  children; 
Joseph  married  Miss  Sarah  Vont.  and  is  living  at 
Thayer.  Iowa;  Amos  was  a  soldier  who  gave  up 
his  life  in  the  late  war,  having  received  an  injury, 
from  which  he  died  just  after  his  return  home  on  a 
furlough;  Nannie  married  William  Bitner,  of  West- 
moreland County,  Pa.,  now  a  resident  of  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  a  meal  market. 
Although  Dr.  Lytic  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
village  only  a  very  few  years,  he  is  already  prom- 
inently identified  with  its  highest  public  inter- 
ests, and  is  found  to  be  a  wise  and  safe  counsel- 
lor. As  Village  Trustee,  he  is  active  in  promoting 
all  feasible  schemes  for  the  advancement  of  Rankin 
in  every  way  posible.  In  politics,  the  Republican 
party  has  in  him  one  of  its  truest  and  most  intelli- 
gent upholders. who  keeps  himself  well-posted  on  all 
political  issues  and  other  matters  of  interest  concern- 
ing the  welfare  of  the  Nation.  Both  he  and  his 
amiable  wife  are  influential  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  an  Elder 
for  some  years. 


M\  RS.  EMMA  C.  McDOWELL,  is  an  exten- 
sive land  owner  of  Sidell  Township,  and 
one  of  its  leading  residents.  She  also  owns 
land  in  Carroll  Township,  upon  which  is 
situated  a  tile  factory.  Her  father,  William  Porter, 
was  born  fifteen  miles  from  Lexington,  Ky.,  while 
her  mother  is  a  native  of  Pickaway  County.  Ohio. 
Her  grandfather,  Samuel  Porter,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  as  was  also  his  wife.  They  removed  to 
Kentucky  and  from  there  came  to  Vermilion 
County  in  1836,  where  they  remained  until  their 
death.     Her  maternal    grandfather,  Capt.   William 


Swan.';,  was  >  native  also  of  Maryland,  while  her 
maternal  grandmother  was  born  in  Virginia.  Her 
great  grandfather  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  and 
his  wife  was  left  with  a  large  family  of  small  chil- 
dren. The  Porter  family  were  closely  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  Virginia.  Capt.  William 
Swank  -was  an  officer  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was 
married  in  Ohio  and  came  to  Vermilion  County,  in 
1820,  bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  two  children. 
He  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers  of  the  county. 
and  located  close  to  Butler's  Point,  at  a  place  then 
called  Indianola.  where  the  old  salt  works  were  lo- 
cated. 

Mrs.  McDowell's  mother  was  one  of  the  two 
children  referred  to.  She  used  to  relate  many  in- 
cidents of  the  early  pioneer  history  which  was 
thrilling  in  the  extreme,  and  to  the  people  of  this 
day  seemed  almost  incredible.  The  hardships  that 
these  old  pioneers  went  through  >s  the  basis  upon 
which  is  founded  this  splendid  State.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Dowell's grandfather  went  to  mill  in  the  early 
days  to  the  Big  Racoon  River,  a  journey  which  oc- 
cupied an  entire  week's  time.  Capt.  Swank  became 
well-to-do,  owning  000  or  700  acres  of  land  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  laid  out  one  of  the  earliest 
town  sites  in  Vermilion  County,  which  was  then 
called  Dallas,  later  he  also  laid  out  the  town  of 
Indianola.  He  was  associated  in  this  last  enter- 
prise with  Mr.  William  Beard.  The  Captain  died  in 
1851  and  was  buried  in  the  Weaver  Cemetery  east 
of  Indianola.  The  Swanks  also  belonged  to  lead- 
ing families  in  Virginia,  and  were  of  English 
descent. 

Grandfather  Porter  came  to  Vermilion  County 
in  1837,  and  settled  about  one  ami  a  half  miles 
east  of  Indianola,  where  he  died  in  is  is.  Mrs. 
McDowell's  father  was  born  in  1813  and  was  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  resided  upon  the  orig- 
inal homestead  for  some  years.  After  selling  this  he 
removed  to  Indianola  where  his  wife  died,  which 
occurred  in  1886,  since  which  time  he  has  lived 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  McDowell.  He  was  the. 
father  of  seven  children:  Rosa.  Mary,  Emma  C. 
William  E.,  Cordelia.  Minerva  and  Samuel.  Rosa 
resides  in  Ellwood  Township,  this  county,  and  is 
the  wTife  of  Mr.  W.  Hayworth.  Thev  have  three 
children;    Mary     married    A.    H.    Mendenhall,    a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1 35 


farmer  of  Carroll  Township.  They  are  the  parents 
of  six  children;  William  E.  married  Zetta  Black; 
Cordelia  died  in  1874.  She  was  the  wife  of  Paul 
Meiriam.  She  died  in  Missouri  where  they  re- 
moved after  their  marriage;  Minerva  married  Mar- 
shal Cummings,  a  contractor  of  Indianapolis.  They 
have  four  children;  Samuel  is  unmarried. 

Mrs.  McDowell  was  born  in  Carroll  Township, 
one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Indianola,  on  April  3, 
1849.  At  the  time  of  her  birth  the  town  was 
called  Chillicothe.  Here  is  where  she  spent  her 
girlhood  days  and  attended  school  in  the  little  log 
structure  that,  answered  to  the  name  of  school- 
house,  her  first  teacher  being  Miss  Parks,  who  is 
remembered  as  a  very  genial  and  pleasant  lady. 
She  attended  school  for  three  or  four  years,  when  she 
was  promoted  to  the  first  frame  school  house 
erected  at  Indianola.  and  in  this  edifice  she  pursued 
her  studies  so  dilligently  that  she  passed  a  success- 
ful examination  to  enter  the  profession  of  teacher. 
She  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years, 
and  was  very  successful  as  an  educator.  She  be- 
came acquainted  with  her  husband,  Mr.  McDowell, 
when  she  was  a  young  girl  and  in  lHG'.l  was  married 
to  him. 

John  A.  McDowell  was  born  also  in  Carroll 
Township,  not  far  from  the  present  homestead.  He 
was  the  son  of  John  B.  and  Eleanor  (Yarnell)  Mc- 
Dowell, who  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  They  re- 
moved from  their  native  State  to  Palestine,  and  a 
few  years  later  came  to  Vermilion  County,  where 
they  became  a  prominent  family.  Mrs.  McDowell's 
husband  was  born  Nov.  16,  1841,  and  was  the 
fourth  of  a  family  of  five  children.  lie  was  born 
and  educated  in  Vermilion  County,  and  while  yet 
a  boy  he  exhibited  strong  inclinations  for  business 
and  began  to  deal  in  live  stock,  a  business  he  con- 
ducted all  his  days.  His  generosity  was  one  of  his 
salient  characteristics,  and  when  he  was  called  away 
he  was  not  only  mourned  sincerely  by  his  relatives 
and  friends,  but  by  the  poor  people  of  his  commu 
nity  as  well.  No  deserving  poor  man  ever  came 
to  him  and  went  away  empty-handed.  He  was  ac- 
tive in  matters  pertaining  to  education  and  for  the 
general  developement  of  the  community. 

Mr.  McDowell  was  emphatically  a  self-made  man 
and  when  he  died  was  well-to-do.      lie  was  entirely 


domestic  in  his   tastes,  and   his  home   was  sweel  to 

him.     He  was  an  h red  member  of  the  Masonic 

fraternity,  and  his  obsequies  were  perhaps  more 
largely  attended  than  any  other  similar  event  that 
ever  occurred  in  Vermilion  County.  He  left  behind 
him  a  beautiful  home  and  every  thing  to  make  life 
comfortable.  His  death  occurred  on  Oct.  9,  1886. 
He  left  seven  children  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  truly 
noble  father.  Their  names  are:  Gracie,  Jennie. 
Carrie,  Fred.  Ray,  Cullom.  and  Ned.  But  these 
children  are  under  the  guidance  of  a  good  mother 
who  will  rear  them  to  be  good  men  and  women. 
Mrs.  McDowell  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Indianola. 

v  ERRY  O'NEAL  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the 
native  born  citizens  of  Vermilion  County, 
his  birth  occurring  Jan.  16,  1*25,  on  the 
homestead  once  owned  by  his  father,  on 
section  27,  Georgetown  Township.  He  is  a  son  of 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  county,  who  was 
quite  a  prominent,  man  in  his  time  and  did  consid- 
erable to  advance  its  interests.  He  is  noted  as  hav- 
ing established  the  very  first  manufactory  of  any 
kind  in  the  county,  a  tannery,  which  he  operated 
successfully  several  years. 

Thomas  O'Neal,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Nelson  County,  Ky.,  a  son  of  John  O'Neal. 
whose  early  history  is  unknown,  although  he  was  a 
pioneer  of  Kentucky,  and  there  spent  his  last  years. 
The  father  of  our  subject  vvas  reared  in  his  native 
State,  and  when  a  young  man  started  out  to  seek 
his  fortune  in  the  young  State  of  Indiana,  and  lo- 
cating in  Madison  lefferson  County,  lie  worked  at 
his  trade  of  tanner,  married  there,  and  in  182(1  re- 
moved to  Edgar  County.  But  he  did  not  remain 
Uric  long,  coming  in  the  following  year  to  what  is 
now  Vermilion  County,  and  taking  a  claim  in  what 
is  now  Georgetown  Township.  Hebuilta  log  house 
on  the  place  for  the  shelter  of  his  family,  and  the 
land,  which  was  part  timber  and  part  prairie,  he 
commenced  to  prepare  for  cultivation.  The  land 
was  owned  by  the  government  and  had  nottlun 
come  into  the  market.     As  soon  as  it  was  for   sale 


430 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


he  sent  n  man  to  the  land  office  to  enter  and  pay 
for  it.  hut  lie  failed  to  enter  the  land,  and  another 
man  bought  it.  Mr.  O'Neal  then,  in  1826,  came  to 
Danville  Township  anil  entered  eight}'  acres,  in- 
cluding .the  eastern  half  of  the  southwestern  quar- 
ter of  section'  27.  It  was  heavily  timbered  land  at 
the  time,  and  lie  felled  trees  and  erected  a  hewed 
log  house.  He  soon  established  a  tannery,  the  first 
manufacturing  industry  within  the  limits  of  the 
county.  He  continued  its  management  several 
years,  and  in  the  meantime  cleared  a  part  of  his 
land  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  comfortable 
home  that  he  built  up  by  his  unremitting  and  well 
directed  toil  his  eyes  closed  to  the  scenes  of  earth, 
and  a  long  and  busy  life  was  brought  to  an  honor- 
able end.  His  wife  also  died  there,  surviving  him 
only  two  years,  and  they  who  had  walked  the  path 
of  life  together  more  than  forty  years  were  not 
long  divided  in  death.  Her  maiden  name  was  .Sarah 
Howard,  and  she  was  born  in  Nelson  County,  Ky., 
in  171)4.  Her  father,  Samuel  Howard,  was  a  pio- 
neer of  that  State,  and  moving  from  there  to  Mad- 
ison, Jefferson  Co.,  Ind..  he  spent  his  last  years  in 
that  place.  Four  of  the  children  born  to  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject  grew  to  maturity,  as  follows: 
James,  living  in  Georgetown  Township;  Perry; 
Nancy,  wife  of  Lewis  Ballah,  a  resident  of  Dan- 
ville Township;  Cynthia,  wife  of  Joel  Bates,  of 
Batestown.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  was  gifted  with 
a  just,  well  balanced  mind,  was  wise  in  council, 
and  held  a  prominent  place  among  his  fellow  pio- 
neers. In  1840  he  was  elected  Coroner  of  the 
county,  and  held  that  office  many  years  to  the  en- 
tire satisfaction  of  all  people  and  classes.  In  earl}' 
life  he  was  a  Whig  with  liberal  views,  and  he  was 
always  bitterly  opposed  to  slavery,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  Republicans.  He  was  well  acquainted  with 
Lincoln  and  with  other  men  of  note. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  spent  his 
entire  life  here  in  his  native  county,  and  has  been 
a  witness  of  the  greater  part  of  its  development, 
from  the  wilderness  to  its  present  advanced  state 
of  civilization.  He  remembers  well  when  the  abo- 
riginal settlers  of  the  soil  made  their  home  here, 
and  when  deer,  turkeys  and  other  kinds  of  wild 
game  were  plenty.    Lafayette  and  Perrysville  were 


llit'  early  markets,  but  after  Chicago  was  founded 
his  lather  made  an  annual  trip  to  that  city  with  a 
team,  taking  wheat  which  he  exchanged  for  house- 
hold supplies.  The  mother  of  our  subject  used  to 
card  ami  spin  wool  and  flax,  and  made  all  the  cloth 
and  clothes  used  in  the  family,  even  making  the 
thread  with  which  the  clothes  were  put  together. 
Perry  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  attended 
the  early  schools  that  were  taught  on  the  subscrip- 
tion plan  in  a  log  house,  with  rude  benches  made 
of  slabs  with  wooden  pins  for  legs.  In  1852  he 
commenced  to  work  a  tract  of  land  in  Vance  Town- 
ship, which  he  and  his  father  had  entered  from  the 
government.  He  built  a  good  frame  house  and 
improved  100  acres  of  land,  and  during  that  time 
making  his  home  on  the  old  homestead.  He  now 
lias  180  acres  of  land  under  admirable  tillage  anil 
capable  of  producing  large  crops,  and  lie  has  erected 
a  substantial,  roomy  set  of  frame  buildings,  and 
has  everything  about  the  place  in  good  order,  de- 
noting that  he  has  been  prospered  in  his  calling, 
and  is  now  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

Mr.  O'Neal  is  a  man  of  thrift}*,  industrious  hab- 
its, and  these  with  other  notable  traits  have  en- 
abled him  to  lay  up  a  competence,  so  that  as  old 
age  draws  on  apace  it  finds  him  well  fortified  against 
material  want.  lie  is  numbered  among  the  most 
estimable  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  his  na- 
tive county,  in  whose  development  he  has  had  a 
hand,  and  he  merits  the  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 
In  his  early  years  he  was  a  Whig  and  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Gen.  Taylor.  Since  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party  he  has  been  a  firm  advocate  of 
its  principles. 


— V 


•*&*■ 


l  [TCHELL  B.  GOSSETT,  is  a  leading,  pros- 
\\  perous,  and  energetic  farmer  of  Sidell 
Township.  His  farm  consists  of  160  acres 
on  section  34,  and  there  is  not  one  that  is 
better  tilled  in  Vermilion  County.  He  purchased 
this  farm  in  1881,  when  but  partially  improved, 
and  the  condition  that  it  is  now  in  speaks  well  for 
the  owner. 

His  father  and  mother,  G.  B.  and  Julia  Gossett, 


rJZat  of<^arm 

in  Sec?  23.24. 25.  (T.SI-  RJ2.) 
AND Stc.  19  (  TZ3.-R.ll.) 
740.JCRES. 

Grant    Tonwship. 
Vermilion  Co.  III. 


BcNzmcT,  Dec 


"Meadow  Brook- Farm!' Residence  of  Watts  Finley,Se< 


5.  24.  25.(123.  R.I 2.)  and  Sec.I9.(T.23.  R.11.)  Grant  Tp. Vermilion  Co. 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


Ill 


are  natives  of  Highland  County,  Ohio,  where  Ihey 
were  married.  In  1859  they  removed  to  Edgar 
County.  III.,  where  they  are  still  residing,  enjoying 
good  health  at  a  hale  and  hearty  old  age.  The 
maternal  grandfather  served  with  distinguished 
ability  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  the  ancestry  on 
both  sides  of  the  house  is   an  honorable  one. 

Mitchell  Gossett  was  born  in  Highland  County, 
Ohio,  July  21,  IS  is.  His  early  childhood  was 
spent  iii  his  native  county,  and  there  he  began  at- 
tending school.  His  first  work  was  on  a  farm  in 
Edgar  County.  111.,  where  he  finished  his  education. 
He  remained  at  home  until  the  year  before  he  was 
married,  which  ceremony  occurred  March  1J.  1882, 
the  bride  being  Miss  Josephine  Mark,  a  native  of 
Edgar  County.  Her  parents,  Antony  and  Ellen 
(Hoppus)  Mark,  removed  to  Edgar  County  from 
Ohio,  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Edgar 
Township,  of  that  county.  They  are  both  living, 
and  are  looking  back  upon  a  record  of  which  they 
can  be  proud. 

Mr.  Gossett  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, belonging  to  Broadlands  Lodge,  of  which  he 
is  a  charter  member.  He  believes  that  the  Demo- 
cratic party  is  one  which  embodies  correct  political 
principles,  and  consequently  he  is  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  candidates  of  that  organization.  In 
business  affairs  Mr.  Gossett  exhibits  rare  sense  and 
good  judgment,  and  the  condition  of  his  farm  and 
its  surroundings  is  an  exhibition  of  the  fact  that 
in  the  race  of  life  he  has  won.  His  home  is  always 
filled  with  cheerfulness,  and  everything  in  it  de- 
notes the  intelligence  of  those  who  occupy  it.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gossett  are  uniformly  in  the  front  rank 
in  anything  that  will  lead  to  the  betterment  of  so- 
ciety, and  are  ever  willing  to  aid  the  unfortunate 
in  any  manner  they  can. 


\ 


A  ITS    FINLET. 


A    residence    of   over 


\/iJ/l  ''fty-four  years  in  one  county  is  usually 
Ww  considered  long  enough  to  establish  a  man's 
character  and  standing  among  his  fellow-citizens. 
and  he  naturally  becomes  a  part  and  parcel  of  the 
community,  with  which,  if  he  is  at  all  worthy,  it 
can  scarcely  dispense.  If,  as  in  the  case  of  .Mr. 
Finley.  he  has,   by  his  industry   and   energy,  accu- 


mulated enough  property  to  considerably  swell 
the  amount  of  internal  revenue,  he  should  be  con- 
sidered of  no  small  importance  as  a  tax-payer,  and 
a  prominent  and  useful  citizen.  A  farm  of  7  It) 
acres  located  on  sections  23,  21,  and   25,  township 

23,  ranges  11  and  1  2,  indicates  the  manner  in  which 
Mr.  Finley  has  improved  his  time  and  talents.  His 
residence  is  on  section  24,  and  his  land  is  largely 
devoted  to  stock-raising,  including  cattle,  horses 
and  swine. 

Our  subject  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light 
near  Lawrenceburg,  in   Ripley  County,    hid.,  Nov. 

24,  1833,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  following 
year,  when  about  six  months  old.  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  this  county,  they  settling  on  a  tract 
of  laud  south  of  Danville.  He  remained  a  member 
of  the  parental  household  until  some  time  after  the 
parents  passed  away,  they  dying  not  many  weeks 
apart,  in  1853.  In  the  spring  of  1855,  in  company 
with  his  brother,  Miller  T.,  and  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Capt.  Frazier,  he  came  to  the  farm  which  the  for- 
mer now  occupies,  and  where  he  lived  four  years. 
In  185:).  April  17th,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  Davis,  and  with  his  young  wife  took  up 
his  abode  at  his  present  homestead,  having  then 
purchased  210  acres  of  wild  land.  (If  this  union 
there  have  been  born  three  children,  of  whom  but 
two  are  living — Mary  and  Charles.  The  former  is 
the  wife  of  Aha  M.  Honeywell,  formerly  of  [ro- 
quois  County.  The  son  remains  at  home  with  his 
parents. 

It  has  required  no  small  amount  of  labor  and 
money  to  bring  the  valuable  Finley  homestead  to 
to  its  present  condition,  and  this  has  been  effected 
solely  by  the  present  proprietor,  who  has  aimed  to 
excel,  and  it  cannot  be  denied,  has  very  nearly  at- 
tained to  the  realization  of  his  ambition.  lie  has 
carefully  avoided  the  responsibilities  of  political 
Office,  although  a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican 
principles.  Among  his  neighbors  and  fellow- 
townsmen  he  is  well  spoken  of,  which  fact  is  as 
much  to  his  credit  as  anything  which  can  be  said 
by  the  biographer.  Ever}' peaceable  and  law-abid- 
ing citizen  who  has  aided  in  the  development  of 
this  county,  deserves  recognition  and  the  perpetua- 
tion of  his  name  in  its  history. 

Mrs.  Margaret  (Davis)  Finley  was  born  in  Ohio. 


442 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


April  16,  1834,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Amaziah 
Davis,  who  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Vermil- 
ion County  during  the  period  of  its  early  settle- 
ment, lie  made  farming  his  life  occupation,  and 
departed  this  life  at  his  homestead  about  the  year 
1881.  Mrs.  Davis  is  still  living  and  a  resident  of 
Rossville. 

David  Finley,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  married  Miss  Nancy 
Miller,  either  in  Ohio  or  Indiana.  They  lived  for 
-oinc  years  m  the  Miami  bottoms,  then,  in  1834, 
came  to  this  county  and  located  near  the  present 
site  of  Catlin.  He  died  in  1853  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-three years.  The  wife  and  mother  passed 
away  when  sixty-six  years  old.  A  handsome 
lithographic  engraving  of  Mr.  Finley's  residence 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


*§~m^* 


FSSE  LIGGET.  This  veteran  of  eighty- 
four  years  retired  some  time  since  from  the 
active  labors  of  farm  life,  and  is  situated  in 
a  comfortable  home  in  Muncie,  where  he 
often  reviews  the  scenes  of  the  past  and  the  ardu- 
ous labors  of  a  long  life,  during  which  he  has  prob- 
ably performed  more  downright  hard  work  than 
any  man  within  the  precincts  of  Oakwood  Town- 
ship. He  received  no  educational  advantages 
during  his  youth,  having  to  bend  his  energies 
toward  making  a  living,  but  has,  from  first  to  last, 
maintained  the  principles  of  honest}'  and  integ- 
rity, able  to  stand  up  before  the  world  like  Long- 
fellow's Village  Blacksmith  "for  he  owes  not  any 
man." 

A  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Mr.  Ligget  was 
born  in  1805,  and  the  following  year  his  parents 
removed  to  Ohio,  which  had  only  been  converted 
from  a  Territory  into  a  State  four  years  before. 
The  country  was  in  its  primitive  condition,  the 
settlers  being  few  and  far  between,  and  the  fam- 
ily endured  all  the  hardships  and  difficulties  of 
life  on  the  frontier.  Our  subject  was  orphaned 
when  a  lad  of  twelve  years  by  the  death  of 
both  parents,  who  died  in  the  same  year,  and 
without   a    guardian    or    assistance    of    any    kind, 


he  was  thrown  upon  his  own   resources,  and  after- 
ward made  his  own  way  unaided  in  the  world. 

John  Ligget.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  married  a  maiden  of  his  own 
county.  Miss  Susannah  Bennett.  They  became  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  and  Jesse,  our  subject, 
is  the  only  survivor  of  the  family.  After  their 
settlement  in  Ohio,  they  were  greatly  annoyed  by 
the  Indians.  It  was  never  their  lot  to  accumulate 
property,  and,  although  they  worked  hard,  they 
possessed  little  of  this  world's  goods. 

Mr.  Ligget  never  went  to  school  a  day  in  his  life, 
but  he  grew  up  very  industrious  and  frugal,  and 
when  eighteen  years  old  purchased  an  old  farm  on 
credit,  and  four  years  later  had  it  all  paid  for.  He 
was  then  married  to  Miss  Polly  Coddington.  who 
was  born  in  Maryland,  and  who  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage  was  only  fifteen  3'ears  old.  They  be- 
gan housekeeping  on  their  little  farm,  worked  hard 
and  lived  happily  together  until  her  death.  There 
were  born  to  them  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  still  living. 

Wilson  Ligget,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject, 
married  Miss  Amanda  Dysert;  they  live  three 
miles  northeast  of  Muncie.  and  have  four  chil- 
dren; Benjamin  married  Miss  Mary  Hughes,  lives 
seven  miles  northeast  of  Muncie,  and  has  eight 
children;  Samuel  married  Miss  Mary  Barrickmau; 
they  live  two  and  one-half  miles  west  of  New- 
town, and  have  one  child;  Jesse,  Jr.,  married 
Miss  Sadie  Warner,  and  lives  on  the  Middle  Fork; 
they  have  four  children:  Naomi  is  the  wife  of 
Levin  Vinson,  anil  they  live  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Hall;  they  have  no  children.  Mary  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Hugh  Lounian,  who  died,  leaving  his 
widow  with  two  children;  she  was  then  married  to 
Johnson  Gammel,  and  lives  in  Danville;  of  this 
union  there  have  been  born  four  children;  Susan, 
the  wife  of  John  McVicker,  lives  in  Danville,  and 
has  three  children;  Anna,  Mrs.  Asbury  Young, 
lives  in  Indiana,  and  has  four  children. 

The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Ligget  was  Susan  Dy- 
sert, who  died  about  1880  without  children.  In 
1881  he  was  married   to   Mrs.  Mahala  Bloom  field. 

Our  subject  came  to  Illinois  in  1836,  and  lo- 
cated on  eighty  acres  of  land  one  mile  northeast  of 
Newtown.     In  due    time    he  purchased  160  acres, 


PORTRAIT   AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


I  13 


tlicn  :it  two  different  times  added  forty  acres  to 
his  farm,  later  purchased  another  quarter-section, 
and  finally  was  the  owner  of  600  acre.-..  He  has 
given  all  of  hi*  boys  and  two  of  his  uirls  forty  acres 
each,  besides  other  property,  and  is  still  the  owner 
of  Hit)  acres,  all  in  Vermilion  County.  He  raises 
cattle  and  swine  in  goodly  numbers,  and  derives 
therefrom  a  handsome  income.  In  his  old  age  he 
is  situated  in  a  comfortable  residence  at  .Muncic. 
and  takes  great  satisfaction  in  reviewing  the  scenes 
of  other  years. 

Mr.  Ligget  cast,  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Jackson,  and  continued  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party  until  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
made  the  candidate  of  the  Republicans.  Being 
personally  acquainted  with  honest  old  Abe,  and 
greatly  admiring  his  character,  he  could  not  very 
well  do  otherwise  than  vote  for  him.  and  since 
that  time  has  been  identified  with  the  party  which 
made  Lincoln  President.  He  has  served  as  School 
Director  in  his  district,  and  been  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church  since  1830.  Prior  to  this  he  had 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
has  met  with  some  severe  accidents  during  his 
battle  with  the  world,  having  once  had  his  feet 
badly  mashed,  his  leg  broken  twice,  and  his  left 
ankle  broken  twice.  This  has  left  him  a  cripple, 
but  has  not  impaired  the  activity  of  his  mind, 
which  is  still  capable  of  recalling  many  of  the  in- 
teresting events  of  other  days. 


-'V* — «4£j2/©-£3- 


§&®sdTJVr~  -v/w. 


*HOMAS  GUTHRIE.     The  early  pioneers  of 

lis  county  will  be   held    in  grateful  remem- 


brance long  after  they  have  been  gathered 
to  their  fathers.  The  hardships  and  privations 
which  they  endured  during  the  first  settlement  of 
this  county,  and  the  result  of  their  labors,  are  at 
the  present  day  receiving  greater  recognition  than 
ever  before,  as  the  fact  is  becoming  evident  that 
they  are  passing  away,  and  what  we  learn  of  them 
musl  be  gathered  at  once,  and  put  in  a  shape  which 
may  be  preserved  for  future  generations.  The 
sturdy  old  veteran  with  whose  name  we  introduce 
this  sketch,  is  a  man  of  sixty-seven  years,  and  one 


of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Illinois,  living  in  Edgar 
County  before  locating  in  Sidell  'Township,  this 
county,  of  which  lie  is  now  a  resident.  The  Story 
of  his  life  is  one  of  remarkable  interest,  ami  the 
scenes  which  he  has  witnessed  during  his  sojourn  in 
the  West,  could  they  lie  told  by  himself,  would 
make  a  most  readable  volume. 

A  man's  antecedents  are  always  of  interest,  espe- 
cially in  the  case  of  him  who  has  distinguished 
himself  as  a  citizen  of  more  than  ordinary  merit. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  were  George  and  Mar- 
garet Guthrie,  natives  of  the  town  of  Inniskillen, 
County  Fermanagh,  Ireland.  They  emigrated 
to  America  when  quite  young,  settling  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  the)-  were  married  and  after- 
ward made  their  home,  thirty  miles  south  of  Pitts- 
burg, in  Washington  County.  There  they  became 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  viz:  William,  John. 
Christine,  Thomas,  Mary,  Andrew,  Eliza;  Cather- 
ine, who  died  at  the  age  of  twrenty-eight  years; 
James,  who  died  when  thirty  years  old;  Sarah  J. 
and  tieorge.  The  last  mentioned  son  went  to  New 
Mexico,  where  lit  lived  five  years,  and  became  a 
leading  merchant  at  Richmond,  in  Grant  County. 
The  station  of  Guthrie,  on  the  the  Lawrenceburg 
&  Clifton  Railroad,  was  named  after  him.  He  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  in  the  course  of 
his  duties  rendered  judgment  against  a  desperado 
who  afterward  murdered  him  in  his  store.  There 
was  a  requisition  for  the  assassin  from  Arizona,  to 
which  place  he  was  taken  and  hungfora  murder  com- 
mitted in  that  territory.  George  Guthrie  was  mar- 
ried, and  left  his  widow  with  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Ettie. 

Miss  Eli/.a  Guthrie  became  the  wife  of  Robert 
Black,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fort}'  years,  in  this 
county,  leaving  six  children — Maggie,  Clara,  John, 
William,  Samuel  and  George.  A  sketch  of  An- 
drew Guthrie,  the  next  child,  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  volume;  Mary  became  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Metcalf,  and  died  when  about  twenty -seven 
years  old.  in  Mohican  County,  Ohio,  leaving  one 
child.  James;  Christine  married  Samuel  Marshall, 
and  died  at  Palermo,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years, 
leaving  two  children.  Abner  .1.  and  Maggie;  John 
died  in  Sidell  Township  in  1884,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren—Maggie,   Mary,    Rcnna,  Charles,    Irving  and 


Ill 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Emma,  by  his  second  wife,  and  one  child.  Samuel. 
by  his  first  wife;  William  died  in  Effingham 
County,  this  Slate,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years, 
leaving  three  children — Thomas.  William  and  Mar- 
garetta;  Sarah  .1.  is  the  wife  of  George  Powell, 
and  they  have  four  children — Irving,  Mary,  Ilattie 
and  Oscar. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Aug.  11, 
I  K22,  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  where  he  received 
a  limited  education,  and  was  reared  to  man's  estate. 
Upon  reaching  his  majority  he  commenced  working 
out  by  the  month,  and  later  wisely  devoted  a  por- 
tion of  his  earnings  to  adding  to  his  fund  of  learn- 
ing, attending  the  academy  at  Merrittstown,  Pa., 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  with  such  good  suc- 
cess that  he  became  fitted  for  a  teacher,  and  fol- 
lowed this  profession  four  years  in  Washington 
County,  and  one  year  in  <  Jreene  County.  Later  he 
engaged  as  a  drover,  buying  stock  in  Western 
Pennsylvania,  and  driving  through  to  New  York 
and  Philadelphia,  He  also  handled  a  great  many 
sheep,  selling  them  principally  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pa. 

In  1854,  desirous  of  establishing  a  home  of  his 
own,  Thomas  Guthrie  was  married  to  Miss  Chris- 
tian Keys,  of  Fayette  County,  Pa.  Subsequently 
he  engaged  to  drive  1,600  sheep  to  Danville,  this 
county,  which  trip  lie  made  successfully,  and  he  has 
continued  to  handle  stock  since  that  time,  being 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  business  in  this  section, 
and  making  of  it  an  art  and  a  science.  In  the 
meantime  he  has  operated  extensive!}' as  a  grain- 
raiser,  and  has  shipped  hundreds  of  car  loads  of 
both  grain  and  stock  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Chicago, 
III.,  and  Indianapolis.  Ind.  lie  resided  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  near  Palermo,  in  Edgar  Count}',  and 
shipped  from  Hume.  In  the  meantime  he  was 
quite  prominent  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  Assessor 
and  Collector  seven  years.  He  takes  r.  warm  in- 
terest in  politics,  and  is  well  known  as  an  active 
member  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  solved 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  three  terms  in  Edgar  County, 
and  one  term  in  this  county. 

During  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War  .Mr.  Guth- 
rie enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company  K, 
125th  Illinois  Infantry,  being  mustered  into  serv- 
ice at  Danville  Oct.  2,  IMG 2   for  three  years.      The 


boys  comprising  Company  K,  were  mainly  from 
Catlin  and  Carroll  townships.  Mr.  Guthrie  en- 
listed as  a  private,  drilled  at  Covington,  Ky.,  and 
met  the  enemy  in  battle  at  Chaplin  Hill,  and  at 
Mm  frees boro  in  January,  1863.  After  the  first 
mentioned  he  was  promoted  to  Sergeant,  and  later 
served  with  the  Provost  Guards  at  Nashville. 
Mr.  Guthrie  was  sent  out  as  a  scout  nine  miles 
south  of  Nashville  to  a  place  called  Brentwood, 
where  he  received  an  injury  from  a  shot,  and  suf- 
fered greatly  for  some  time,  when  it  was  thought 
he  would  never  recover.  He  received  his  honora- 
ble discharge  at  Nashville  Oct.  30,  1863,  on  ac- 
count of  his  wound. 

The  three  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guthrie — 
George  B.,  Hugh,  and  Sarah  J. — are  all  at  home 
with  their  parents.  The  latter  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  Sidell  Town- 
ship, in  which  Mr.  Guthrie  is  an  Elder  and  Trustee, 
also  an  active  Sunday-school  worker,  and  contrib- 
uted liberally  to  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice. 
He  officiates  as  guardian  of  the  children  left 
by  the  decease  of  Dr.  Keys,  of  Hume,  and  has  offi- 
ciated as  administrator  of  other  estates  of  Dr.  Keys- 
He  has  also  been  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  his  de- 
cisions have  been  uniformly  sustained.  A  simple, 
plain,  straightforward  man,  his  object  in  life  has 
been  to  do  good  as  he  has  had  opportunity.  He  is 
one  who  has  made  many  warm  personal  friends, 
and  one  who,  in  both  his  public  and  private  life, 
bears  an  irreproachable  character. 

OSEP1I  P..  COOK.  This  well-to-do  and  en- 
terprising citizen,  still  on  the  sunny  side  of 
forty,  owns  and  operates  a  well-regulated 
farm  on  section  13,  in  Elwood  Township,  of 
which  lie  is  a  native  and  where  he  has  thus  far 
spent  his  life.  He  was  orphaned  by  the  death  of 
his  parents  when  ho  was  quite  young,  and  is  thus 
not  as  familiar  with  the  history  of  his  progenitors 
as  he  would  desire.  Nature  endowed  him  with 
those  qualities  of  character  by  which  he  has  been 
enabled  to  attain  to  a  worthy  manhood  and  secure 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


145 


Our  subject  w:is  born  Sept.  2'J,  18.51.  and  is  the 
sun  of  J.  Riley  Cook,  who  was  bora  in  this  county. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Zimri  Cook,  was  one  of 

tlif  pioneers  of  Central  Illinois,  and  here  spent  his 
last  days.  J.  Riley  Cook  departed  this  life  when 
Joseph  1!..  our  subject,  was  a  lad  of  live  years. 
The  mother  of  the  latter  hail  died  when  he  was  an 
infant.  He  was  then  taken  into  the  home  of  his 
uncle,  Joshua  Thornton,  the  husband  of  his  mother's 
sister,  and  .Mr.  Thornton  died  when  young  Cook 
was  a  lad  of  fifteen  years. 

Our  subject,  after  the  death  of  his  mule  Thorn- 
ton, began  working  for  himself,  arid  afterward,  de- 
sirous of  adding  to  his  store  of  knowledge,  attended 
Bloomingdale  Academy,  under  the  instruction  of 
Prof.  Hobbs,  in  1870-71.  In  ls7:>-7<;  he  attended 
Vermilion  Grove  Academy  and  afterward  turned 
his  attention  to  farming  pursuits.  He  is  the  owner 
of  fifty -one  acres  of  good  land,  and  lias  charge  of 
forty  more  belonging  to  bis  mother-in-law.  He 
was  married  April  o,  1883,  to  Miss  Sicily  E., 
daughter  of  David  and  Miriam  (Mills)  Hawortb, 
the  former  deceased  and  the  latter  living  in  Elwood 
Township.  John  Mills,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Cook,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and 
removed  to  Ross  Creek,  East  Tenn.,  prior  to  the 
War  of  1812.  There  his  daughter  Miriam  was 
born,  June  12,  1809,  and  came  witli  her  parents  to 
this  county  in  1822,  arriving  here  the  day  she  was 
thirteen  years  old. 

The  Mills  family  settled  in  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  23,  range  12,  township  17,  Elwood 
Township,  after  a  journey  attended  with  many  dif- 
ficulties. There  were  various  swamps  along  the 
route,  and  when  four  or  five  miles  south  of  Quaker 
Point  the  teams  were  unable  to  proceed.  Miriam, 
with  two  of  her  sisters,  together  with  Ann  Ilaworth 
and  Nancy  Biggs,  all  young  girls,  left  the  wagons 
and  walked  to  the  Point,  while  the  teams  and  the 
men.  women  and  little  children  were  left  to  follow 
as  best  they  could.  They  reached  Jonathan  Ila- 
worth's  about  dark.  He  was  located  near  Quaker 
Point,  just  across  the  State  line,  in  this  county.  In 
due  time  the  travelers  extricated  themselves  and 
proceeded  on  their  journey. 

John  Mills  settled  among  the  Indians  and  wild 
animals,  and  entered  four  and    one-fourth    sections 


of  land,  where  he  put  up  a  round-log  Cabin,  with 
a  puncheon  floor,  a  huge  fireplace  in  one  end  of 
the  room,  with  a  Stick-and-clay  chimney  outside 
and  a  clapboard  roof.     The  house  contained  only 

one  room,  but  there  was  a  loft,  in  which  the  boys 
slept.  The  nearest  trading  point  was  at  Terre 
Haute,  Ind..and  the  pioneers  went  to  mill  on  Sugar 
Creek,  in  Parke  County,  1  ml.,  with  os  teams.     Deer 

were  numerous,  the  settlers  being  enabled  to  kill 
them  almost  at  their  own  door.  The  wolves  made 
night  dismal  with  their  howling,  and  the  chickens. 
pigs  ami  sheep  had  to  be  securely  housed  in  order 
to  save  them.  The  woods  were  full  of  bee  trees 
and  there  was  an  abundance  of  wild  fruit.  This 
section  of  the  country  at  that  time  was  almost  lit- 
erally a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  but 
there  was  much  sickness.  The  death  of  Hannah 
Mills  was  the  first  which  occurred  in  the  township. 
She  died  in  the  summer  of  1X23,  and  her  remains 
were  the  first  to  be  buried  in  what  is  now  Vermilion 
( irove  Cemetery. 

The  first  wedding  in  Elwood  Township  was  that 
of  Andrew  Wagerman  and  Tabitha  Lyons.  There 
came  with  the  family  of  John  Mills,  Mr.  James 
Haworth  and  his  family,  to  whose  son.  David  A., 
Miss  Miriam  was  married,  and  became  the  mother 
of  eleven  children.  These  all  lived  to  mature 
years,  and  were  named,  respectively:  Wilison, 
Clayborne,  Maria  (deceased),  James  W.,  Elvin, 
John  (deceased),  Mary  J.,  Beriah,  Horace,  Sicily 
and  Linley.  Mr.  Haworth  died  about  fifteen  years 
ago;  Mrs.  Haworth  makes  her  home  with  her  chil- 
dren, and  is  remarkably  active  and  healthy  for  one 
of  her  years.  She  has  been  a  life-long  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  to  which  Mr.  Cook,  our 
subject,  and  his  wife  also  belong. 

OBERT  M.  KNOX.  Hoopeston,  soon  after 
being  laid  out,  became  the  home  of  a 
U\l  goodly  number  of  solid  and  substantial 
P  men,  to  whom  it  owes  its  progress  and 
prosperity.  Among  them  came  Mr.  Knox,  in  Sep- 
tember of  1871,  a  young  man,  active  and  enter- 
prising, and  who  has  proved  one  of  its  most  valued 


446 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


citizens.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate, 
loan  and  insurance  business,  and  has  become  well- 
known  to  a  large  portion  of  the  people  of  this  lo- 
cality. He  is  regarded  as  a  man  who  can  be  de- 
pended upon  in  all  his  transactions  for  honesty  and 
integrity,  and  lias  a  well-equipped  office  located  on 
Market  street. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  in  Salt 
Creek  Township,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his  birth 
occurred  Jan.  14,  1810.  He  there  spent  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  attending  the  public 
school,  and  later  pursued  his  studies  at  Hayesville 
Institute,  in  Ashland  Count}'.  Upon  leaving  school 
he  commenced  learning  the  trade  of  carriage-maker 
and  was  occupied  at  this  business  until  the  second 
year  of  the  Rebellion.  On  the  7th  of  August, 
1862,  under  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for '"300- 
000  more,"  he  enlisted  in  Company  II,  102d  Ohio 
Infantry,  and  served  most  of  the  time  in  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  He  remained  in  the  army  two 
years,  and  then,  on  account  of  disability,  was 
obliged  to  accept  his  honorable  discharge  in  De- 
cember, 1864. 

['pon  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Knox  for  a  time 
resumed  his  studies  in  the  institute  before  men- 
tioned. Thence  he  came  to  Paxton,  Ford  County, 
this  State,  in  I860,  and  was  engaged  in  teaching 
one  year.  Subsequently  he  taught  in  winter,  and 
farmed  in  the  summer  season.  He  also  traveled  a 
part  of  the  time  for  the  Illinois  Central  Insurance 
Company,  of  Decatur,  and  was  thus  occupied  until 
coming  to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1871.  He  now 
became  interested  in  grain,  and  associated  himself 
with  a  partner,  and  they,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Given  &  Knox,  began  operations  when  there  were 
only  four  or  five  buildings  upon  the  present  site  of 
Hoopeston,  and  when  thirty  or  forty  men  were 
obliged  to  sleep  in  a  large  store  room  in  pro- 
cess of  construction,  making  their  beds  upon  the 
shavings  as  there  were  no  other  lodgings  to  be 
had.  This  firm  was  the  second  of  the  kind  in  the 
place.  Before  winter  set  in  there  had  been  erected 
enough  buildings  to  accommodate  all  the  people. 

An  estimate  of  the  rapid  progress  of  business  in 
the  embryo  village  of  Hoopeston  at  this  time,  can 
be  had  when  it  is  learned  that  the  Cost  day  the 
weighing  scales  were  in  operation   there  was  a  train 


of  wagons  waiting  for  three  blocks,  as  thick  as 
they  could  stand,  sometimes  as  many  as  100  in 
a  day,  and  from  that  time  on  the  grain  business  es- 
pecially was  prosperous.  Our  subject  and  his 
partner,  after  making  a  snug  little  sum  of  money, 
sold  out,  and  Mr.  Knox  became  interested  in  real 
estate,  which  kept  him  very  busy  as  long  as  tow  11 
lots  were  in  demand.  Later  he  began  operating  as 
a  money  lender.  He  also  has  charge  of  property 
of  many  who  are  non-residents.  He  has  meddled 
very  little  in  political  affairs,  otherwise  than  to 
give  his  support  to  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican and  Prohibition  parties.  He  has  for  many 
years  Lad  charge  of  the  Cemetery  Association,  of 
which  he  is  Secretary,  and  officiates  in  the  same 
capacity  for  the  Building  Association.  Whether 
in  connection  with  these  or  any  other  body,  lie  has 
a  thorough  contempt  for  wire  working,  and  for 
any  corporation  which  shall  take  advantage  of  the 
people. 

Nearly  twenty-four  years  ago,  in  October,  1865, 
our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
.J.  Given,  and  to  them  there  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living — Lulu  B.  and  Ed- 
ward. The  daughter  is  at  Monmouth,  Col.,  and 
the  son  is  at  home  with  his  father.  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Knox  departed  this  life  at  her  home  in  Hoopeston, 
Aug.  10,  1875.  She  was  born  near  New  Concord. 
Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
David  Given,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of 
1864. 

Mr.  Knox,  in  June,  1880,  contracted  a  second 
marriage  with  Miss  Jennie  M.  Bruce,  of  Wooster, 
Ohio,  who  was  born  in  1849.  Of  this  union  there 
are  two  children,  a  son,  Robert  K.,  and  an  infant 
daughter.  Andrew  J.  Knox,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  in 
1818,  and  was  there  reared  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  J.  Richards,  about  1837.  They 
lived  on  a  farm  in  that  county  probably  ten  3'ears, 
the  father  in  the  meantime  also  operating  as  a 
blacksmith.  lie  is  now  retired  from  active  labor, 
and  makes  his  home  in  Fredericksburg,  Ohio.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  while  a  young  woman,  in 
1844,  leaving  three  children.  The  elder  Knox  was 
subsequently  twice  married.  He  has  officiated  as 
an  Elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  nearly  half  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


447 


century,  and   as  a   Sunday-school  Superintendanl 
twenty-five  years. 

Robert  M.  Knox,  like  his  father  before  him,  has 
been  diligent  in  church  work,  holding  the  office  of 
Elder  in  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  at  Hoop- 
eston,  and  being  connected  with  the  Sunday-school 
as  Superintendent  and  Assistant  for  many  years. 
He  is  quiet  and  unassuming  in  his  manners,  and 
avoids  placing  himself  before  the  public  in  an  os- 
tentatious way.  perferring  to  transact  li is  business 
with  little  noise  or  display.  He  has  occupied  many 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  in  connection 
with  property  matters,  and  enjoys  in  a  marked 
degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  had  dealings. 


A.MUEL  DALBEY.  In  every  community 
there  are  lives  which  run  still  but  deep. 
the  lives  of  men  who  perhaps  make  but  lit- 
tle stir  in  the  world,  and  yet  who  are  pos- 
sessed of  those  qualities  which  have  a  sensible  in- 
fluence upon  the  people  by  whom  they  arc  sur- 
rounded, and  an  influence  uniformly  good.  The 
fact  that  Mr.  Dalbey  probably  has  not  an  enemy  in 
this  community  speaks  well  for  his  general  charac- 
ter, habits  and  disposition,  and  he  is  recognized  as 
a  member  of  society  who  has  contributed  to  its 
best  interests  as  he  has  had  opportunity,  a  father 
who  has  been  faithful  in  the  training  and  educa- 
tion of  his  children,  and  a  neighbor  uniformly 
kind,  generous  and  obliging.  He  is  conservative 
in  politics  on  National  questions,  casting  his  vote 
with  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  local  elections  is 
not  governed  by  party  lines,  aiming  to  support  the 
men  whom  he  considers  best  qualified  to  serve  the 
interests  of  the  people.  In  his  younger  years  he 
was  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  various 
Democratic  conventions  and  did  some  good  work 
for  the  advancement  of  his  party.  "The  boys"  as 
he  calls  his  brothers,  are  equally  divided  between 
the  two  great  political  parties. 

The  biographer  found  Mr.  Dalbey  pleasantly  lo- 
cated cm  a  snug  farm  occupying  a  part  of  section  5 
in  Oakwood   Township,  and  comprising  160  acres 


<if  finely  improved  hind  besides  fifteen  acres  of 
timber.  He  has  himself  erected  st  of  the  build- 
ings and  effected  nearly  all  of  the  improvements 
on  the  place.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  fine  draft 
horses,  and  in  company  with  his  son.  Verner  R., 
owns  the  imported  horse.  '-Plowshare,"  a  son  of  the 
celebrated  "Plowboy,"  of  England,  which  was 
brought  over  in  .March.  1887,  and  is  registered  in 
the  English  stud  book.  They  have  in  all  about  forty 
head  of  horses  and  a  herd  of  thorough-bred  Short- 
horn cattle. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Randolph 
County,  Ind.,  Oct.  12.  1829,  and  is  the  sou  of 
Aaron  and  Nancy  (Wright)  Dalbey.  who  were  na- 
tives respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  Indiana,  the 
father  born  in  17(J7,  and  by  trade  a  mill-wrighl 
and  general  mechanic.  He  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1831,  from  Randolph 
County,  Ind.  He  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  George  Jones,  and  the  year  later  later  purchased 
300  acres  of  land  comprising  the  present  farm  of 
John  McFarland  and  lived  there  until  his  decease, 
which  took  place  in  1855.  He  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  community  and  erected  the  old  mill  lo- 
cated on  South  Fork.  He  was  three  times  mar- 
ried, having  five  children  by  the  first,  two  by  the 
second,  and  four  now  living  by  the  third  wife. 
Our  subject  was  the  child  of  his  second  marriage, 
and  is  the  only  one  living  of  that,  union.  Mrs. 
Nancy  (Wright)  Dalbey,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
died  in  this  county  in  1833. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent 
mostly  in  this  county  to  which  his  parents  came 
where  he  was  a  mere  child.  He  studied  his  firsf 
lessons  in  the  old  log  school  house  with  its  stick 
chimney,  slabs  for  seats  and  desks  and  greased  pa- 
per for  window  panes,  and  therein  learned  the 
mysteries  of  reading,  writing  and  ciphering,  lie 
attended  school  only  about  three  months  in  the 
winter  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  The 
country  was  very  thinly  settled  and  Indians  still 
roamed  over  it.  Our  subject  remained  on  the  (arm 
and  worked  with  his  father  a  year  after  reaching 
his  majority.  He  was  married  Dec.  28,  1851.  to 
Miss  Sarah  C.  Watts,  then  rented  his  father's  farm, 
one  year  and  afterward  rented  a  farm  one  mile 
north  of  the  present  site  of    l-'ithian,  at  a  time  when 


148 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBI  M. 


there  was  but  one  house  between  him  and  Burr  Oak 
1 .1  nve. 

Industry  and  economy  on  the  part  of  our  sub- 
ject soon  bore  their  legitimate  fruits,  and  in  due 
time  lie  was  enabled  to  purchase  120  acres  of  land, 
the  farm  upon  which  Owen  McKnight  now  lives. 
Two  years  later,  however,  he  sold  it,  and  hi*  father 
having  died,  returned  to  the  old  homestead  and 
lived  with  his  step-mother  for  two  years.  In 
lx.">7.  crossing  the  Mississippi  with  his  family,  he 
took  up  his  residence  in  Lawrence.  Kan.,  during 
the  curly  struggles  in  that  Territory  and  <-:i>t  bis 
vote  for  the  admission  of  Kansas  into  the  L'nion  as 
a  free  State.  lie  returned  through  Illinois  and  in 
the  fall  of  that  same  year  settled  in  Warren  Count}-. 
Ind.,  but  a  year  later  came  back  to  Illinois  anil 
purchased  the  interest  of  one  of  the  (ass  heirs  in 
the  well-known  farm  of  that  name,  which  he  occu- 
pied four  years  and  which  is  situated  near  the  ('a*- 
School-house.  Upon  selling  that  property  he  pur- 
chased his  present  farm. 

To  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Dalbey  there  have  been  born 
seven  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son,  Franklin 
married  Miss  Seals;  they  have  four  children,  and 
live  one  mile  north  of  Fithian.  Theresa  A.  R.,  is 
the  wife  of  .lames  Bantz;  the}-  have  four  children, 
and  live  just  south  of  Muncie.  Verner  R..  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Lucas,  is  the  father  of  five  children 
and  lives  on  the  Fox  farm;  Mary  I'...  remains  at 
home  with  her  parents.  The  next  born  were  twins 
Ophelia  and  Otis.  The  former  is  at  home;  Otis 
married  Miss  Franie  Henry,  is  the 'father  of  one 
child  and  lives  southeast  of  Muncie:  Rosa,  the 
youngest,  continues  under  the  home  roof.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dalbey  and  all  their  children,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Dalbey 
officiates  as  Deacon,  and  all  are  actively  interested 
in  the  Sunday-school.  In  his  district  Mr.  Dalbey 
has  served  as  School  Director  and  Trustee,  and 
socially  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  be- 
ing  a  member  of  Newtown  Lodge. 

Mrs.  Dalbey  was  the  second  child  of  her  parents 
— John  and  Nancy  (Jones)  Watts,  and  was  born 
Sept.  5,  1829.  Her  father  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation in  Fountain  County,  lnd..  and  died  when 
his  daughter,  Sarah  C  was  a  mere  child.  The 
seven    children  comprising  the  parental  household 


all  lived  to  mature  years.  Sarah  like  her  brothers 
and  sisters,  acquired  her  education  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  and  developed  into  a  teacher,  follow- 
ing this  profession  some  years  before  her  marriage 
in  Indiana.  In  due  time  she  came  to  Illinois  on  a 
\  isil  to  her  uncle  Joseph  Jones,  who  was  a  pioneer  of 
this  count\-  and  owned  the  farm  where  the  village 
of  Muncie  is  now' located.  After  his  death  his 
widow  sold  the  property  to  Edwin  Corbley.  In 
the  meantime  Mrs.  Dalbey  was  married  to  our  sub- 
ject. 

The  house  of  Aaron  Dalbey  in  those  days  was  the 
besl  structure  of  the  kind  in  the  neighborhood 
and  the  only  one  for  years  which  had  glass 
window  panes.  It  was  a  struggle  for  the  farmers 
to  support  their  families  and  make  both  ends  meet, 
as  con.  in  the  crib  would  onh  sell  for  six  and  a 
fourth  cents  per  bushel  on  a  year's  time.  Our  sub- 
ject has  hauled  shelled  corn  to  Fairmount  for  six- 
teen cents  per  bushel. 


"1  HUN  I.  MCDOWELL  is  one  of  the  leading 
young  men  of  Sidell  Township.  He  is  the 
son  of  Archibald  McDowell,  one  of  the  early 

settlers  of  Vermilion  County,  and  is  the 
worthy  son  of  a  worth}-  sire.  He  has  many  ster- 
ling qualities  that  place  him  in  the  front  rank  in 
point  of  popularity.  It  always  speaks  well  of  any 
man  in  a  community  who  is  spoken  of  by  name  in 
an  endearing  manner,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  known  as  '-Johnnie"  .McDowell,  which  appella- 
tion exhibits  the  popularity  he  enjoys  with  the  cit- 
izens of  Arcliie  and  Sidell.  and  in  fact  in  all  this 
portion  of  Vermilion  County,  as  well  as  apart  of 
Edgar  County. 

Mr.  McDowell  was  born  Nov.  -_':;.  1861,  on  the 
old  homestead,  and  is  the  first  child  by  his  father's 
second  wife.  His  parents  are  both  living,  whose 
biography  appears  in  another  part  of  this  AlBUM. 
He  received  his  early  impressions  of  business  on  a 
farm,  and  was  taught  that  if  a  thing  is  worth  doing 
at  all.  it  i-  worth  doing  well,  and  this  principle  has 
been  his  guiding  star.  lie  obtained  his  education 
at  the  common  schools,  and  being  a  bright  scholar, 


.JQXP.&J 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


451 


soon  advanced  to  the  head,  until,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  he  became  a  Vermilion  County 
teacher,  conducting  his  first  school  in  District  No. 
I,  in  Sidell  Township.  Here  he  was  remarkably  suc- 
cessful, as  his  kind  waj'8  and  persuasive  methods 
eud eared  him  to  all  his  pupils.  When  be  became 
of  age  he  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  bus- 
iness at  Archie,  and  from  the  start  has  enjoyed  a 
large  and  profitable  trade,  a  distinction  he  lias 
reached  by  reason  of  his  fair  dealings  and  manly 
methods.  It  would  not  be  exaggeration  to  say  li is 
store  was  as  well  patronized  as  any  other  for  miles 
around.  But  a  disastrous  fire  which  was  attended 
with  considerable  loss  destroyed  his  store  building 
and  stock,  and  since  this  he  has  directed  his  atten- 
tion to  teaching  during  the  winter  months  and 
assisting  on  the  old  homestead  in  summer  time, 
a  fact  which  illustrates  his  capacity  for  turning 
to  anything  which  circumstances  throw  in  his  way. 
Mr.  McDowell  is  a  member  of  Peace  Dale 
Lodge,  I.  0.  O,  F.,  which  is  located  at  Sidell,  and 
is  an  enthusiastic  Odd  Fellow.  In  his  political 
views  lie  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  an  ardent  advocate 
of  anything  that  will  honorably  promote  the  inter- 
ests of  his  party.  Being  public  spirited  and  popu- 
lar it  is  a  safe  prediction  to  make  that  John  I.  Mc- 
Dowell is  a  rising  man. 


"•■«+<*itt>*- 


:m^t  Ll'IIOXSO  T.  ARBUCKLE,  A.  M.,  M.  D., 
S^LJ,  I).  D.  S.,  one  of  the  nest  established  phy- 
sicians anil  surgeons  of  this  county,  was 
born  in  Symmes  Township,  Edgar  County, 
this  State,  Dec.  20,  1856,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel 
Ross  Arbuckle,  a  native  of  Knox  County,  Ohio. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Ross  Arbuckle, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  West  Virginia  and  was  the  son  of 
Samuel  Arbuckle.  a  native  of  Scotland.  The  latter 
emigrated  to  America  at  an  early  day,  when  a  young 
man.  and  settling  in  the  Old  Dominion  was  there 
married  to  a  lady  whose  name  was  Elizabeth  Berry. 
He  engaged  in  farming  pursuits  and  became  the 
father  of  seventeen  sons  and  three  daughters.  His 
son,  Samuel  R.,  Sr.,  was  reared  in  his  native  county 
and  married    Miss  Rebecca   Meacher,  a   native    of 


that  State  and  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  They  em- 
igrated to  Ohio  during  the  pioneer  days  of  Knox 
County,  anil  sojourned  there  until  1*27.  They 
then  changed  their  residence  to  Symmes,  Hamilton 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  Grandfather  Arbuckle  kept  a  ho- 
tel known  as  the  ••Sixteen  Mile  Stand." 

This  property  is  now  owned  by  our  subject. 
There  were  then  no  railroads  in  Ohio,  and  Grand- 
father Arbuckle  engaged  in  teaming  from  Cincin- 
nati to  Logansport  and  Indianapolis,  driving  six 
horses  to  a  vehicle,  and  transporting  general  mer- 
chandise. He  died  in  1875  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  Many  and  great  were  the 
changes  which  he  witnessed  in  his  adopted  State 
where  he  lived  to  see  the  country  developed  from  a 
wilderness  into  farms,  villages  and  cities,  with  the 
iron  horse  rushing  across  the  hills  and  valleys, 
which  when  he  settled  among  them  had  been  scarcely 
disturbed  by  the  foot  of  a  white  man. 

Grandmother  Arbuckle  passed  away  one  year 
prior  to  the  decease  of  her  husband,  dying  in  1874. 
They  reared  nine  children — four  sons  and.  five 
daughters — and  Samuel  Ross,  Jr.,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  six  years  old  when  they  took  up 
their  abode  in  Hamilton  County,  Ohio.  He  was 
there  reared  to  man's  estate  and  in  1854  came  to 
Edgar  County,  111.,  where  he  lived  one  year,  then 
removed  to  Macon  County,  sojourning  there  two 
years;  at  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  returned 
to  Edgar  in  limited  circumstances,  the  removal 
having  been  made  overland  with  teams,  to  Symmes 
Township,  Edgar  Co..  111.  There  the  father  of  our 
subject  purchased  a  sawmill  which  he  operated  while 
clearing  the  timber  from  his  land.  At  the  time 
of  his  settlement  in  Illinois  there  was  but  one  store 
upon  the  present  site  of  Paris.  He  put  up  a  log 
house  containing  one  room  and  in  that  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born.  The  father  is  still  living 
and  is  a  resident  of  Embarrass  Township,  Edgar 
County,  III.  He  now  owns  a  farm  of  520  acres, 
embellished  with  fine  buildings  and  well  stocked 
and  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose  will  spend 
his  declining  years  amid  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

Mrs.  Lamanda  ( Yandervert  )  Arbuckle,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  CS2t)  in  Fayette 
County.  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  .lames  and 
.Margaret  Vaiiderverl.    Her  family  consisted  of  five 


452 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


children:  The  eldest  daughter,  Medora,  became  the 
wife  of  Zolora  Green,  and  they  reside  in  Oakland. 
Coles  Co.,  111.  Alphonso  T..  our  subject,  was  the 
second  born;  Byron  E.,  occupies  the  home  farm  in 
Edgar  County,  111.;  .lames  L.,  is  a  traveling  sales- 
man; Walter  V.  is  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  Wes- 
leyan  University  at  Bloomington,  III. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  his  native  county  ami 
acquired  his  classical  education  in  Paris,  111.,  being 
a  graduate  from   the  High  School    there    in    1870 
with  the  degree  of  A.  M.     There  also  he  began  the 
study   of  medicine   in    1 88 1    with   Dr.  William   II. 
Tenbroeek,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years.     He 
next  entered  Rush    Medical  College.  Chicago,  from 
which,  after  a  three  years'    course,  he  graduated  in 
1886.     Two    years    of    this   time    he   practiced    in 
Cook  County  Hospital,  and  in    the  winter  of    188a 
and    188(5  gave    his  attention    especially   to  dental 
surgery   and  was   graduated.      He   commenced  the 
practice   of  his    profession    at  Sidell  on  the  8th    of 
March,   of  that    year,   and  eighteen   months   later 
came  to  Danville,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  res- 
ident and  where  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  practice.     He  is  popular  among  all  classes 
and  gives  that   conscientious  attention  to    the    de- 
tails of  his  calling  which  invariably  brings  success. 
Dr.  Arbuckle  was    married  Dec.  14.  1877,  at  the 
bride's  home  in  Sidell  Township,    this    county,    to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Rowand.       Mrs.   Arbuckle  was  born 
near  Springfield,  Ohio,  in  1861,  and    is  the  daugh- 
ter   of  Rev.    Edward   and   Margaret    Rowand,  the 
former    deceased,  while  the    mother  still  survives. 
and  lives    in    Sidell.     The     Doctor  and  his    wife 
occupy   a   neat   home  at   No.   821    East    Fairchild 
street,  and  enjoy  the  acquaintance  of  the  best  people 
of    the   city.      Our   subject    is    a   member    of    the 
Medical  Alumni  Association  of  Chicago,  and  occu- 
pies a  position  in   the  front  ranks  of  the    fraternity 
in  this  part  of  the  State.       He   meddles  very    little 
with  political  matters,   aside  from   casting  his  vote 
for  the  man  of  his  choice. 

.Mrs.  Arbuckle  is  considered  one  of  the  most  ac- 
complished ladies  in  Danville,  being  a  graduate  of 
a  literary  school,  in  which  she  ranked  among  the 
best  of  the  pupils,  being  ambitious  in  her  studies 
anil  quick  to  learn,  while  her  retentive  memory 
easily    retained  what  it  once  grasped.      She  is    also 


considered  an  expert  in  all  kinds  of  fancy  work, 
and  is  a  graduate  of  a  fine  art  school.  She  occu- 
pies a  front  rank  in  the  best  society  of  the  town  she 
makes  her  home,  and  is  welcomed  into  the  most 
select  circles,  which  her  education  and  refinement 
fit  her  to  adorn. 

Mr.  Arbuckle  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume  by  a  fine  portrait,  which  perpetuates  the 
features  of  a  man  well-known  and  highly  respected 
among  the  entire  community. 


f^  ALVIN  STEARNS  is  one  of  the  good  citi- 
j|(  zens  and  prudent  farmers    whose    industry 

^^{  and  perseverance  have  placed  him  in  an  en- 
viable position  in  his  community.  lie  is  the  third 
child  of  Harvey  and  Fannie  (Lockwood)  Stearns 
and  was  born  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  Oct.  28, 
1820,  and  when  he  was  twelve  years  of  age  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Ver- 
milion County,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

In  those  early  days  education  was  considered  a  sec- 
ondary necessity.  If  the  parents  of  the  pioneer  boy- 
had  no  work  for  him  to  do.  he  was  sent  to  school, 
but  on  the  other  hand,  if  he  was  needed  at  home 
for  anything  at  all,  the  school  was  neglected.  Mr. 
Steams  was  a  typical  pioneer  boy.  His  limited 
schooling  was  received  in  the  old-fashioned  log 
school  house  and  under  the  inspiration  of  the  ever 
present  birch  rod.  But  despite  all  these  difficulties 
he  has  accumulated  knowledge  enough  to  entitle 
him  to  be  called  a  fairly  educated  man.  The  elder 
Stearns  built  a  sawmill  on  Salt  Fork,  and  there 
Calvin  worked  until  he  left  home,  which  was  at 
the  time  of  his  marriage — in  1813 — taking  for  his 
wife  Miss  Priscilla  Lee,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Lee, 
and  a  sister  to  Mrs.  Alvin  Stearns.  The  young  couple 
began  house-keeping  in  a  small  frame  house  on  the 
old  homestead,  where  his  father  gave  him  eighty 
acres  of  timber.  Mrs.  Stearns  died  June  10,  1850, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Eveline.  In  1853  Mr. 
Stearns  took  for  his  second  wife  Mary  Rogers.  He 
then  purchased  his  present  place  and  improved  it 
by  building  a  house  and  the  necessary  outbuild- 
ings, and  planting    trees.     By    his  last  union    Mr. 


PORTRAIT  AM)    BIOC  R  A  I'll  HAL   ALBUM. 


453 


Stearns  was  the  father  of  a  daughter — Mary  II.. 
who  married  Francis  Cronkhite,  who  lives  inn  miles 
and  a  half  northeast  of  Muncie,  III.  They  have 
five  children.  Mr.  Stearns' second  wifedied  in  Octo- 
ber, 1859  and  lier  mother  lived  with  him  as  house- 
keeper until  his  third  marriage,  which  occurred  in 
1867  to Clarinda Cronkhite.  By  this  marriagehe  i> 
the  father  of  two  children — one  boy  and  one  girl. 
William  C.  and  Lilley  M.,  both  of  whom  are  un- 
married ami  live  at  home. 

Mr.  Stearns  cultivates  eighty  acres  of  fine  prai- 
rie land  and  owns  nineteen  acres  of  timber.  His 
farm  is  a  model  one.  though  not  extensive,  and 
everything  connected  with  it  denotes  thrift  and  in- 
telligence, lie  has  been  a  sufferer  financially  by 
reason  of  his  good  nature  in  indorsing-  a  note  for  a 
friend  who  betrayed  his  confidence,  and  while  he  has 
had  a  hard  time  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  this 
swindle,  he  nevertheless  is  prospering.  The  olliee 
of  School  Director  has  been  held  by  him,  a  position 
in  which  he  has  given  satisfaction.  Mr.  Stearns  is 
a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  Church  and  his 
wife  also  worships  in  the  same  faith.  lie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Homer  Lodge  of  Masons,  and  politically  is 
conservative,  but  always  votes  the  Republican 
ticket  at  the  National  elections,  and  in  local  affairs 
chooses  those  for  the  office  whom  he  knows  are 
good  men,  regardless  of  political  affiliations. 


NT1IONY  LEK  ANKRUM  is  a  genial, 
whole-souled  fanner  and  stock-raiser  of 
Elwood  Township,  where  he  owns  a  line 
farm  on  section  2',».  His  father,  David, 
was  born  in  Virginia,  whence  he  removed  to  Bel- 
mont County.  Ohio,  in  the  early  days  of  the  Re- 
public, lie  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  his  specialty 
being  table  linen,  coverlets,  etc.  Anthony  still  has 
some  of  the  coverlets  his  father  manufactured  and 
which    he  considers  very  valuable  as  heirlooms. 

The  grandfather,  Archibald  Ankrum.  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  north  of  Ireland  and  emigrated  to 
America  when  a  young  married  man.  Anthony's 
uncle.  George  Ankrum,  was  a  soldier  who  made  a 
good  record  in  the  warof  1812.     The  grandfather 


had  three  sons,  George,  David  and  John.  The  lat- 
ter went  to  New  Orleans  and  was  never  heard  from. 
Anthony's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  l'.oak, 
and  her  name  was  Abigail.  She  was  the  mother 
of  thirteen  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living: 
George  W.,  Anthony  Lee,  John,  Elwood,  David, 
Wesley  and  Harrison.  One  son,  Asa,  whose  biog- 
raphy is  printed  in  this  work,  died,  leaving  a  fam- 
ily; another  son,  Allen,  passed  away  in  his  nine- 
teenth year;  the  good  mother  died  on  Feb.  18, 
1857,  while  the  father  survived  until  Feb.  lfi, 
18G7. 

Anthony  L.  Ankrum  was  born  in  Belmont 
County,  Ohio,  on  Sept.  18,  1828.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Lydia  A.  Smith,  on  Aug.  31,  1854.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Smith,  a  native  of 
Greene  County,  East  Tennessee,  and  a  prominent 
citizen  of  his  county.  He  was  born  in  Berkley  Co., 
Ya.,  Feb.  18,  1832.  Her  mother  was  Martha  Boss, 
daughter  of  Fnos  Ross.  He  went  out  on  the  first 
boat  that  ever  floated  on  the  Ohio  River.  The 
vessel  was  lost  and  Mr.  Ross  was  never  heard 
from. 

Mrs.  Ankrum's  parents  have  seven  children: 
William  and  Mary  (deceased),  David,  Hannah, 
John,  Mrs.  Ankrum  and  Isaac.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ankrum  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living:  Martha  E.  and  William  15.;  one 
daughter,  Allie  B.,  died  after  she  had  attained  ma- 
turity; she  was  married  to  Charles  Foster,  and  left 
one  child,  who  has  since  died.  ( (neson,  Harry  L.died 
in  his  twenty-first  year;  he  was  physically  disabled 
and  a  graduate  of  the  Ridge  Farm  High  School;  he 
had  just  begun  teaching  school,  having  taught  one 
term  when  he  died.  Martha  married  James  Fletcher 
( for  a  record  of  her  children  see  sketch  of  John 
Fletcher).  William  B.  married  Alice  Barker;  he 
lives  with  his  father  and  assists  in  managing  the 
old  homestead. 

Mr.  Ankrum  owns  186  acres  of  land  and  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
has  on  his  farm  a  fine  herd  of  graded  cattle  and 
also  a  lot  of  Poland-China  hogs,  each  one  of  which 
would  be  a  prize  winner.  He  takes  great  pride  in 
raising  and  feeding  his  stock,  ami  out  of  them  he 
makes  a  great  deal  of  money.  His  farming  opera- 
tions have  been    very   successful,  and    since    he   has 


454 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


come  here  he  has  been  devoted  to  his  business. 
His  first  place  of  settlement  was  with  his  parents, 
in  1S38,  at  Yankee  Point,  in  Klwood  Township, 
where  he  has  resided  continuously  since.  His  wife 
emigrated  to  this  township  in  1836,  locating  near 
Georgetown,  where  her  parents  both  died.  Her 
father  passed  away  when  he  was  fifty-two  years 
old,  while  her  mother  died  in  December,  1871. 

Mr.  Ankrum  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in  politics, 
though  he  never  has  sought  office  of  any  sort.  He 
has  held  the  position  of  Road  Overseer  and  with 
satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  The  office  of 
Treasurer  in  the  Masonic  Lodge  has  been  held  by 
him,  and  he  has  also  been  a  Trustee  and  Steward  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Ridge  Farm. 
Vermilion  County  contains  no  better  citizen  than 
Anthony  Lee  Ankrum. 


!>HOMAS  ]',.  HUMPHREYS.  Few  men  in 
Ross  Township  are  more  widely  known  than 
this  honorable  pioneer  anil  none  are  more 
generally  respected.  He  is  a  man  plain  in  speech 
and  manners,  contented  with  plain  and  comfortable 
surroundings,  but  a  thorough  and  skillful  fanner, 
and  owns  200  acres  of  the  most  valuable  and  fertile 
land  in  this  vicinity.  Under  his  careful  manage- 
ment it  produces  in  abundance  the  rich  crops  of 
the  Prairie  State,  yielding  to  the  proprietor  a  gen- 
erous income  and  enabling  him  like  Longfellow's 
"Blacksmith,"  to  "look  the  whole  world  in  the 
face,"  as  not  owing  any  man. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
Humphreys  by  name,  was  a  native  of  North  Car- 
olina where  it  supposed  he  was  married  and  reared 
his  family  and  where  undoubtedly  his  son,  Jonathan 
B.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born.  The  latter 
when  reared  to  man's  estate  was  married  about  1*15, 
to  Miss  Nancy  Johnston  and  to  them  there  was  born 
one  child,  a  daughter,  Deborah,  before  their  removal 
to  the  North.  About  1817,  they  changed  their  lo- 
cation to  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  settling  on  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  woods  and  where  their  son, 
Thomas  B.,  our  subject,  was  born  June  27,  1818. 
It  was  probably  four  years  later,  about  1822,  when 


they  removed  from  Harrison  to  Putnam  County, 
Ind  .  settling  in  the  heavy  limber  where  the  chief 
amusement  of  Thomas  B..  in  his  boyhood  was  pick- 
ing up  and  burning  brush,  alternated  occasionally 
with  the  recreation  of  fishing.  He  assisted  his 
father  in  the  clearing  of  the  farm  at  a  time  when 
bears  and  wolves  roamed  through  the  forest,  and 
the  latter  often  made  night  hideous  near  the  cabin 
of  the  pioneer. 

The  mother  of  the  family  spun  and  wove  wool 
and  tlax  and  manufactured  most  of  their  clothing. 
In  bis  boyhood  our  subject  much  of  the  time  wore 
••bather  breeches,"  made  from  the  skins  of  deer. 
His  first  pair  of  boots  were  purchased  when  he  was 
nearly  a  man  grown,  for  $2.50.  Prior  to  this  the 
father  had  made  the  shoes  worn  by  the  family. 
The  Indians  had  not  then  left  Putnam  County,  and 
were  frequently  seen  skulking  through  the  f<  rest 
stealing  when  they  could,  but  offering  no  particu- 
lar molestation  to  the  family.  The  father  of  our 
subject  died  in  Putnam  County,  Ind.,  about  1832. 
He  had,  prior  to  this  time  come  to  this  county  and 
purchased  a  farm,  building  upon  it  a  log  house  for 
future  occupancy,  but  upon  returning  to  his  fam- 
ily, was  soon  afterward  seized  with  the  fatal  illness 
which  terminated  in  his  death.  The  mother  and  chil- 
dren then  remained  in  Indiana  until  the  latter  were 
nearly  grown,  coming  to  this  county  in  1838.  A 
few  years  later  the  mother  died  leaving  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Deborah,  Thomas  B.,  our  subject, 
Barbara  A.,  Mary  J.,  and  Margaret  B.,  of  whom 
three  are  living.  She  and  her  husband  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  old  home  farm  of  the  Humphreys  family 
was  in  Blount  Township,  this  county,  from  which 
they  hauled  their  grain  and  drove  their  stock  to 
Chicago  to  market.  Some  times  they  would  drive 
their  hogs  to  Wabash,  Ind..  and  have  them  slaugh- 
tered there,  receiving  two  and  one-half  to  three 
and  one-half  cents  per  pound. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  Dan- 
ville, this  county,  in  1842,  to  Miss  Rachel,  daugh- 
ter of  Albert  Cossart,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
of  this  county.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  two 
sons — Albert,  now  a  resident  of  Barber  County, 
Kan.;  and  Samuel,  who  operates  the  home  farm. 
Mrs.  Rachel    Humphreys   departed   this  life  in  De- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


455 


ccinber,  L877.  She  was  a  lady  possessing  many 
excellent  qualities  and  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Humphreys  has  160 
acres  in  the  homestead  proper,  besides  forty  acres  of 
timber  formerly  belonging  to  the  old  home  farm 
of  his  father.  He  has  given  to  each  of  his  sons  a 
part  of  his  original  purchase.  The  home  of  Mr. 
Humphreys  is  one  to  which  the  people  of  the 
neighborhood  love  to  resort.  Although  mak- 
ing no  pretentions  to  style  or  elegance,  there  is 
about  the  dwelling  an  air  of  comfort  and  hospi- 
tality which  invariably  goes  to  the  heart. 


ANFORD  S.  DICKSON,  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  business  men  of  Muncie  and 
its  leading  grain  merchant,  is  numbered 
among  its  most  prominent  citizens  and  is 
very  popular  both  in  its  business  and  social  circles. 
( ienial.  gentlemanly  and  possessing  more  than  or- 
dinary abilities,  he  is  following  up  a  career  which 
thus  far  has  been  excessively  prosperous  with  a 
fair  outlook  for  the  future.  He  has  an  attractive 
home,  an  accomplished  and  amiable  partner,  and 
apparently  everything  around  him  to  make  life 
pleasant  and  desirable. 

In  reverting  to  the  family  history  of  our  subject 
we  find  that  he  is  the  son  of  Simon  A.  Dickson,  a 
native  of  this  county  and  was  born  in  18o3.  The 
Dickson  family  was  originally  from  Kentucky, 
from  which  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1824,  settling  near 
Indianola,  this  county.  In  this  vicinity  Simon 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War.  In  1802  he  enlisted  in  Company 
(',  125th  Illinois  Infantry,  participating  in  the  bat- 
tle at  Perryville  and  shortly  afterward  was  taken 
ill  with  pneumonia  and  died  in  the  hospital  at 
Nashville.  Tenn..  June  2.  18G3. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood 
.Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Hiram  C.  Catlin,  a 
native  of  Parke  County,  Ind.  He  laid  out  the  town 
of  Catlin  which  was  named  in  his  honor,  and  died 
in  1  v71  at  the  advancer!  age  of  nearly  ninety  years. 
He  carried   on   farming,   and    became  a   prominent 


man  in  his  community.  After  the  death  of  Simon 
A.  Dickson,  his  widow  was  married  to  Dr.  Samuel 
T.  Smith  in  (866,  and  they  now  live  in  Hernando 
County,  Fla.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there 
were  born  four  children — Wilbur  T.,  Oliver  P., 
Hiram  ('..  and  Sanford  S.,  all  of  whom  are  Living. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  the  eldest  child  of 
his  parents  and  was  born  in  Indianola,  this  county, 
July  22,  1855.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the 
district  school,  which  he  attended  mostly  winters 
until  about  eighteen  years  old.  He  commenced 
his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  John 
Littler  at  Fithian,  where  he  remained  about  one 
year,  then  took  a  position  under  Mr.  J.  A.  Cowles, 
who  had  bought  out  Mr.  Littler.  On  the  1st  of 
January,    1877,   he    became    a    partner    of  his  em- 

I  ployer  and  on  the  27th  of  that  month  they  re- 
moved their  stock  of  goods  to  Muncie  establishing 
the  first  store  of  general  merchandise  in  the  place. 
On  the  1st  of  January,  1886,  the  firm  was  dissolved, 
Mr  Dickson  purchasing  the   interest    of  his  partner 

1    and  since  that  time   has  carried   on    business  alone, 

1  making  of  it  a  pronounced  success.  He  carries  a 
full  stock  of  all  the  articles  required  in  the  city 
ami  country  household  and,  as  the  most  extensive 
grain  dealer  in  this  part  of  the  county,  handles 
thousands  of  dollars'  worth  of  this  commodity 
each  year.  He  owns  a  three-fourths  interest  in  a 
farm  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of  Fithian, 
which  is  operated  by  a  tenant  and  comprises  ICO 
acres  of  good  land.     He  also  has  the  county  agency 

!  for  the  Davis  Sewing  machine,  keeping  two  wagons 
and    two  men  on   the  road  all   the  year  round. 

Mr.  Dickson  started  out  in  life  for  himself  at  the 
early  age  of  sixteen  years  and  is  one  of  the  fore- 
most young  business  men  of  Vermilion  County. 
He  was  married  Jan.  29,  1879,  to  Miss  Olive, 
daughter  of  M.  W.  Selby,  of  West  Virginia,  the 
wedding  taking  place  in  Fithian.  The  Selby  fam- 
ily came  to  Illinois  in  1866  and  settled  four  miles 
north  of  Catlin,  this  county,  where  they  lived  five 
years.  Thence  they  removed  to  Fithian,  where 
Mr.  Selby  became  connected  with  the  mercantile 
business  of  Hooker  &  Littler,  and  has  followed 
merchandising  since  that  time.  The  Selby  family 
for  the  last  nine  years  have  been  residents  of 
Muncie.     Of  their  five  children  only  two  are  living 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


—Mrs.  Dickson  and  her  brother,  Calvin,  the  latter 
of  whom  is  a  resident  of  Vance  Township. 

Mrs.  Dickson  was  the  fourth  child  of  her  parents 

and  was  born  in  Palatine.  Marion  Co..  W.  Va., 
Sept.  5,  1856.  She  received  the  rudiments  of 
of  a  good  education  in  her  native  State  and  com- 
pleted it  in  the  schools  of  this  county.  She 
was  a  bright  and  ambitious  girl  and  after  leaving 
school  was  for  a  time  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a 
store  in  Muncie.  She  possesses  considerable  liter- 
ary ability  and  for  the  last  four  years  has  been  the 
regular  correspondent  from  Muncie.  of  the  Dan- 
ville Neivs.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
have  been  born  three  children,  one  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  The  eldest,  Lola  M.,  is  attending 
school  at  Muncie.  Fred  C.  is  a  promising  little 
lad    eight  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Dickson  was  Postmaster  at  Muncie  from 
1879  to  1885  and  was  the  Assistant-postmaster  after 
resigning  the  chief  position.  He  was  elected  Super- 
visor of  Oakwood  Township  in  the  spring  of  1888 
and  re-elected  in  1889.  lie  lias  officiated  as  School 
Director  in  his  district;  politically,  uniformly  votes 
the  straight  Republican  ticket,  with  which  party  he 
has  been  identified  since  reaching  majority.  Soci- 
ally, h(  belongs  to  the  I.  ().  O.  F.  and  with  his 
estimable  wife  inclines  to  the  doctrines  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  there  being  no 
society  of  this  denomination  in  Muncie  they  attend 
upon  other  services. 

Magruder  W.  Selby,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Dickson, 
enlisted  on  the  25th  of  February,  1864  as  a  private 
in  Company  L,  6th  West  Virginia  Cavalry.  He 
was  first  promoted  to  Quartermaster,  then  to  Ser- 
geant and  in  April,  1864,  to  the  rank  of  Second- 
Lieutenant.  In  October  following  he  was  promoted 
to  First-Lieutenant.  The  regiment  was  stationed 
for  a  time  at  Moorfield,  Va.,  and  later  at  New 
Creek.  Some  of  the  men  including  Lieut.  Selby 
were  captured  by  the  enemy,  but  the  latter  made  his 
escape.  They  fought  with  the  bushwhackers  in  the 
vicinity  of  Beverly  and  for  a  time  were  stationed 
in  Cumberland,  Md.,  guarding  the  railroad.  Prior 
to  Lee's  surrender  the  regiment  had  been  ordered 
to  Richmond,  ami  afterward  it  was  sent  to  Camp 
Relief  at  Washington.  D.  C.  Here  they  were  de- 
tailed as  mounted  patrol  of  the  city,  in  which  they 


remained  until  aftei  the  grand  review.  Thence  they 
were  ordered  to  Ft.  Leavenworth.  Ivan.,  and  later 
crossed  the  plains  to  Ft.  Casper,  Dak.,  arriving 
therein  October,  1805  and  were  stationed  as  a 
guard  along  the  American  telegraph  lines  over  the 
old  Pony  Express  Route.  They  had  several  skir- 
mishes with  the  Black  Feet,  Sioux  and  Cheyenne 
Indians. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1866,  Lieut.  Selby  was 
made  Assistant-Quartermaster  and  Commissary  on 
the  staff  of  lien.  Whealon,  and  on  the  1st  of  April 
following  they  were  ordered  back  to  Ft.  Leaven- 
worth, where  they  arrived  May  14  and  remained 
about  two  weeks.  The  regiment  was  then  mus- 
tered out  ami  ordered  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  where 
they  received   their   final  discharge  June   1,   1866. 


5~*  W  ^ 


<mnAKL 


IIARLFS  YV.  BAUM,  of  Carroll  Township, 
offspring  of  an  old  and  prominent 
family  which  three  generations  back  was 
of  the  royal  blood  of  Poland.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Charles  W.  Baam,  a  native  of  Poland,  was 
banished  from  his  birth-place  during  the  troubles 
of  that  unhappy  country  and  fled  to  Germany 
where  he  sojourned  until  coming  to  America, 
during  the  colonial  days  and  about  the  lime  of  the 
Revolutionary  War.  It  is  not  known  just  how 
long  he  sojourned  in  the  Fatherland,  but  he  learned 
to  speak  and  lead  the  German  language  fluently, 
although  it  is  possible  that  he  had  also  been  taught 
this  in  his  native  country,  as  being  of  high  birth, 
he  received  a  thorough  education. 

After  coming  to  America,  Grandfather  l'.aum 
served  as  a  militia  man  on  the  reserve  force  in  the 
American  army,  protecting  the  frontier.  During 
that  period  he  won  and  wedded  Miss  Barbara 
McDonald,  a  relative  of  Gen.  McDonald  of  Mar- 
ion's staff,  lie  served  several  years  as  a  soldier 
and  the  year  after  Gen.  (Mad  Anthony) 
Wayne's  treaty  with  the  Indians,  removed  from 
Bucks  County.  Pa.,  to  the  farther  West.  Sailing 
down  the  Ohio  River  and  landing  near  the  mouth 
of  Bullskin  Creek,  he  made  the  first  settlement  in 
Ohio.       From    him  sprang  the  Baums  of  America 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOOKAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


457 


and  the  first  representative  of  the  family  in  this 
<i  hi  lit  \ .  was  Samuel  llama,  a  brother  of  the  subjocl 
of  this  sketch. 

Charles  W.  Baum,  the  third  of  the  name  and  the 
the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  burn  in  Clermonl 
County,  Ohio,  April  1,  1815,  and  was  the  sixth  in 
a  family  of  ten  children  who  were  named  respect- 
ively, Samuel;  John;  Mary,  Mrs.  Weaver;  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Vantreese;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Patterson;  Charles, 
our  subject;  Susan.  Mrs.  Sandusky;  Elizabeth,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  Gideon  N.  and 
Eliza.  Mrs.  Carter.  Charles  \V..  like  his  brothers 
and  sisters,  was  reared  on  the  farm,  received  a 
i imon-school  education  and  was  trained  to  hab- 
its of  industry  and  economy.  His  father  was  a 
man  of  more  thin  ordinary  enterprise  and  although 
of  German  parentage,  learned  to  speak  and  read 
the  English  language  and  gave  much  attention  to 
the  education  of  his  children. 

Samuel  Baum  in  making  his  journey  to  Illinois 
was  accompanied  by  his  wife's  father,  old  Michael 
Weaver  and  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say.  made  the 
journey  overland  by  team,  starting  from  Ohio. 
Oct,  12,  1827,  and  arriving  in  this  county  on  the 
12th  of  November  following.  They  bad  stopped 
for  a  short  time  in  Parke  County.  Ind.,  having  in- 
tended to  settle  there,  but  Mr.  Weaver  did  not  like 
the  appearance  of  things  in  that  region  and  so  they 
pushed  on  further  westward,  settling  among  the 
Alexanders  and  McDonalds  of  this  county.  In 
due  time  they  were  joined  by  Charles  W..  our  sub- 
ject, who  was  the  second  Baum  to  conic  West.  He 
made  the  journey  alone  on  horseback  and  was  about 
eighty  days  on  the  road,  arriving  at  the  house  of 
his  brother  Samuel,  Dec.  26.  lH.'iO. 

Our  subject  soon  took  up  100  acres  of  land  from 
the  Government  and  made  subsequent  purchases 
until  at  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  1660  acres 
besides  2DI)  acres  given  his  wife  by  her  father. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  he  came  to  this  region 
with  very  Little  means  it  must,  be  acknowledged 
that  he  was  remarkably  successful  in  the  accumula- 
tion of  property.  After  coming  to  this  county  he 
was  married  March  11.  L839,  to  M  iss  Catherine 
Weaver,  who  was  the  fourth  daughter  and  sixth 
chihl      i  a  family  of   twelve  children. 

Mr-.  Baum  like  her    husband    was  born  in  Cler- 


mont County.  Ohio,  June  28,  1818,  and  when  an 
infant  of  six  months  her  parents  removed  to  Brown 
County,  that  state.  Mr.  Weaver,  a  very  energetic 
and  industrious  man.  improved  several  farms  and 
became  quite  wealthy.  lie  bore  the  reputation  of 
ureal  honesty  and  integrity  with  a  stern  sense  of 
justice,  and  loaned  large  sums  of  money  at  six  per 
cent,  interest. steadily  refusinga  highei  rate  although 
he  might  easily  have  secured  it.  lie  sold  his  corn 
at  twenty  five  cents  per  bushel  although  he  could 
have  obtained  fifty  cents,  his  motto  being  "live  and 
let  live."  lie  put  his  own  shoulder  to  the  wheel 
and  was  One  of  the  hardest  workers  of  his  time. 
When  more  than  sixty  years  old  lie  made  three 
trips  a  year  to  Chicago,  engaged  in  hauling  bacon 
and  other  produce.  lie  was  a  man  who  attracted 
to  himself  many  warm  friends  and  he  lived  to  be 
a  few  months  over  one  hundred  years  old.  His  birth- 
place was  Washington  County,  Md..  and  he  was 
the  son  of  a  rich  planter  who  was  excessively  patri- 
otic and  enlisting  in  the  army  rendered  efficier.t 
service.  lie  died  when  Michael  was  but  four  years 
old,  at  the  age  of  ninety-six  years.  He  had  been 
married  on  the  \fvy  farm  whereon  was  fought  the 
battle  of  Antietam  during  the  late  Rebellion.  His 
wife.  Mary  Spessard.  also  a  native  of  Washington 
County,  Md..  lived  to  be  ninety  years  old  and  she 
had  a  brot  her  who  lived  to  the  great  age  of  one 
hundred  and  five  years. 

The  childhood  days  of  Mrs.  Baum  were  spent  in 
her  native  county  where  she  attended  school  and 
became  proficient  in  the  common  branches.  Al- 
though quite  young  when  the  family  came  to  this 
Stale  she  still  remembers  many  of  the  incidents  of 
tin'  journey  and  the  old  Alexander  school-house 
which  was  the  first  of  its  kind  within  the  limits  of 
Carroll  Township.  It  was  a  large,  log  structure, 
18x24  feetsquare  with  a  "cat  and  clay"  chimney 
and  the  other  finishings  of  that  primitive  time 

Of  the  twelve  children  born  of  this  union  the 
eldest,  Celestine  A.,  is  the  wife  of  William  T. 
Hunt,  and  they  reside  in  the  Indian  Territory;  Jas- 
per N.,  married  a  Miss  Stewart  and  owns  over  6C0 
acres  of  land,  his  residence  being  in  Young  Amer- 
ica Township;  they  have  four  children,  Blanche, 
Georgia.  Dollie  and  Weaver,  the  two  latter  twins* 
Charles    Cyrus  married   first  a  Miss  (J  ilk  v.  and  be- 


458 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


n  e  the  father  of  one  child — Lelia  K.  His  wife 
died  and  he  was  then  married  -to  Miss  Josie  Bauni 
and  they  live  on  a  large  farm  in  Carroll  Township; 
A.  Jacob,  a  resident  of  Sidellj  owns  a  farm  in  Si- 
dell  Township  and  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding- 
fine  horses;  lie  married  a  Miss  Rowand  and  they  have 
five  children — Charles.  Lelia  C,  Spessard  and 
Estelle  (twins)  and  George  Roy.  Gideon  P.  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Lucas  and  is  the  father  of  two  children 
— Lulie  W.  and  Karl  L;  lie  operates  a  large  farm  in 
Carroll  Township.  George  B.  McC.  married  a  Miss 
Rawlings  and  is  the  father  of  two  children — Opie 
and  Wilbert;  he  conducts  a  livery  stable  in  Ridge 
Farm  and  owns  a  farm  in  Carroll  Township.  The 
deceased  children  are  Marcus  I).,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years;  Orintha,  who  died  when  ten 
years  old ;  James  IL,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  two  infants  who  died  unnamed,  and  John 
W.  who  died  when  two  years  old. 

To  each  of  his  children  who  have  started  out  in 
life  for  themselves  Mr.  Banm  has  given  a  good 
farm.  They  have  been  provided  with  a  practical 
education  and  are  well  fitted  to  make  their  own 
way  in  the  world.  The  present  homestead  of  our 
subject  and  his  estimable  wife  was  given  to  the 
latter  by  her  father.  Michael  Weaver.  Although 
mixing  very  little  with  political  affairs  Mr.  Bauni 
keeps  himself  posted  upon  matters  of  general  in- 
terest and  uniformly  supports  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  part}'. 


ENRY  J.  BENNETT.     The  man  of  nerve 
,  and    muscle  and    perseverance,  who   bends 


his  energies  to  the  scientific  tilling  of  the 
soil,  is  one  of  those  forming  the  bone  and 
sinew  of  the  industrial  community  without  which 
the  world  could  make  little  progress.  Here  and 
there  we  find  one  who  ennobles  his  calling, 
adding  dignity,  wealth  and  strength  to  the  nation. 
The  subject  of  this  notice  operates  in  a  skillful  and 
intelligent  manner  a  good  farm  of  160  acres  in 
Sidell  Township,  where  he  is  held  in  the  highest 
respect  by  all  classes  of  citizens.  He  possesses 
more   than   ordinary  intelligence,  energy  and  fore- 


thought, and  has  the  best  wishes  of  hosts  of  friends 
for  continued  prosperity. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  born  in  Catlin  Township,  this 
county,  and  is  the  son  of  Philander  and  Sarah  Ann 
(Wolfe)  Bennett,  who  are  natives  respectively  of 
New  York  State  and  Virginia.  The  mother  was  a 
member  of  the  old  well-known  Wolfe  family  which 
was  represented  in  America  at  an  early  day.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bennett  came  unmarried  to  this  county. 
Grandfather  Wolfe  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
here  and  located  on  the  banks  of  South  Fork  Creek, 
where  he  established  a  home  in  the  wilderness 
some  time  prior  to  the  tide  of  immigration,  which 
redeemed  the  wilderness  around  from  its  original 
condition.  He  had  many  a  battle  with  the  Indians, 
also  with  wild  animals.  He  made  some  improve- 
ments on  his  land,  which  subsequently  became  fa- 
miliarly known  as  the  old  Wolfe  homestead.  Our 
subject  has  seen  forest  trees  and  some  apple  trees 
which  were  undoubtedly  planted  by  the  hand  of 
his  grandfather,  the  former  of  which  now  form  a 
dense  thicket. 

After  their  marriage  the  parents  of  our  subject 
settled  in  Catlin  Township,  where  the  father  occu- 
pied himself  as  a  millwright,  putting  up  the  old 
Harris  Mill  and  several  other  structures  of  the 
kind  in  this  county.  Both  he  and  his  estimable 
wife  are  still  living  on  a  farm  in  Edgar  County, 
the  lather  being  seventy-three  years  old  and  the 
mother  sixty-four.  They  have  seven  children 
living:  Ann  E..  Henry  J..  DeWitt-  C.  Mary  E. 
Jacob  1-'..  Ma  M.  and  Allie  M. 

Henry  J.  Bennett  was  born  Feb.  10,  1817.  in 
Catlin  Township,  where  he  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm  and  was  never  outside  the  county  until  be- 
coming of  age.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he 
began  working  out  by  the  month  for  that  well 
known  citizen,  John  Sidell,  with  whom  he  remained 
six  years  —  a  fact  which  speaks  well  for  both. 
After  this  he  operated  considerably  as  a  carpenter. 
In  the  meantime  he  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss 
Melissa  A.,  daughter  of  John  Stark,  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Sidell  Township,  where  Mrs.  Ben- 
nett was  bom.  They  have  three  daughters:  Wash- 
tella.  Era  and  Sarah  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  are 
members  in  good  standing  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.     Our  subject  is  a  charter  member  of  the 


&uC  ■  -s  mrm*  ■  mirth""  TlfifV.  ltLlTf^f  H'/.f  .::~~  r  •''"  ^^'  ' 


-*M-^*«^i— j«- 


^RESIDENCE  OP  V\^J.  MANN.  §EeJ1.(T18  =  R  13  )(BATl2lNTR,VERMIbION  (BOUNTY^ 


__ — __ — 


-- .  _  „-7,-.^.,.;,___-      .-,:   ,;.•-■*<::■"■•,.. 


t,^ 


■      ■ 


ReSIDEN@EOF   W™    SMITH.  SEe.1.(T.18  =  R.14)VANeEen?,YERMIMON@OUN5Fi^ 


1'OKTKAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


4  CI 


Modern  Woodmen  Camp  at  Nidell  and  :it.  the  time 
of  its  organization  was  installed  its  first  banker. 
He  served  his  term  and  was  then  elected  Advisor. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Peace  Dale  Lodge,  No. 
225,  I.  0.  0.  P.,  at  Sidell. 

Mrs.  Bennett  was  born  in  Carroll  Township  and 
grew  to  womanhood  on  her  father's  farm,  being 
married  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  Her  pa- 
rents were  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  the  mother, 
formerly  Miss  Mary  A.  (Cassady),  was  born  in 
Bourbon  County,  Ky.  They  were  married  in  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  where  their  two  eldest  children 
were  born.  Thence  they  came  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled near  the  place  which  was  named  Mark's  Grove 
ill  honor  of  the  father.  He  became  well-to-do. 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years;  the  mother  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-nine.  Their  fourteen  children 
were  named  respectively,  Jerry,  Jefferson,  Henry 
(who  died  young),  Madison.  William,  Hannah, 
Joel.  Belle,  Samuel,  Monroe,  Henry,  Robert,  Me- 
lissa A.  and  Josephine  W. 


-{~HM3*S?>l-i~!- 


ylLLIAM  SMITH  is  one  of  the  solid,  in- 
fluential farmers  of  Vance  Township.  His 
^5HP  parents  came  to  Illinois  in  the  Fall  of  1829. 
His  father's  name  was  James  Smith,  and  he  was 
a  native  of  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Sewell,  was  also  born  in  the  same  State. 

When  the  parents  of  Mr.  Smith  removed  to  Ver- 
milion County,  three  other  families  accompanied 
them,  but  there  are  none  of  their  representatives 
living  in  this  county  except  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  His  father  was  the  first  to  settle  in  this 
immediate  neighborhood,  where  he  entered  800 
acres  of  land  and  during  his  life  improved  nearly 
all  of  it.  giving  each  of  his  children  a  portion. 
James  Smith  was  a  very  careful  man  and  settled  up 
all  his  affairs  before  his  death.  lie  was  the  father 
of  five  children,  four  boys  and  one  girl,  of  whom 
there  are  three  now  living.  He  died  in  1872,  his 
wife  preceding  him  to  the  grave  ten  years. 

William  Smith  was  the  third  child  of  his  family 
and  was  born  June  12.  1827,  near  Springfield,  Ohio, 


and  when  he   was  bul    tWO  year.-    of  age,    his  pareiils 

removed  to  Illinois,  lie  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  an  old  log  school-house,  situated  on  his 
father's  land.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  of  Hge 
he  ceased  going  to  school  and  remained  at  work 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one.  The 
fall  after  he  hail  attained  his  majority,  he  drove  a 
team,  in  company  with  sixteen  others,  to  Austin. 
Tex.,  the  journey  occupying  ninety  days.  This 
was  forty  years  ago  and  be  remained  there  until 
March  1,  1849,  when  he  walked  from  Austin  to 
Houston,  Tex.,  took'  passage  on  a  boat  to  Galves- 
ton, from  there  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  on  a 
steamer  to  New  Orleans,  thence  up  the  Mississippi 
to  the  mouth  of  theOhio,  ascending  that  stream  to 
where  the  Wabash  intersects  it,  then  to  Perryville, 
Ind.  lie  then  walked  to  Danville  and  from  there 
home.  In  the  winter  of  1848-49  the  cholera  was 
raging  and  four  deaths  occurred  on  the  same  boat 
that  brought  him  up  the  Mississippi   River. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  May  'J,  184i»  to  Miss 
Lucy  A.  Saddler,  daughter  of  William  and  Ke/.iah 
(Brooks)  Saddler,  natives  of  Richmond,  Va.  They 
settled  in  this  county  in  an  early  day  and  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  two  of  these  being  from 
Mr.  Saddler's  second  marriage,  Mrs.  Smith's  mother 
having  died  shortly  after  locating  in  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  the  fifth  child  of  this  family,  and  was 
born  June  8,  182!),  near  Richmond,  Va.  She  at- 
tended school  in  a  log  bouse,  about  three  miles 
from  her  present  home.  Her  father  died  in  1864. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Smith  removed  to  the  farm  he 
now  owns  and  occupies;  it  then  belonging  to  his 
father  who  gave  each  of  his  children  120  acres  of  land 
with  which  to  start  in  life.  Mr.  Smith  has  made 
four  trips  to  and  from  Texas,  three  by  team,  and 
one  by  railroad.  On  one  of  these  journeys  the 
trip  was  made  on  horseback.  In  1876  be  visited 
the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia,  and  March  1.  1889 
was  present  at  Harrison's  inauguration,  and  while 
on  that  trip,  visited  Mt.  Vernon;  be  has  been  a 
great  traveler  and  has  visited  nearly  all  [joints  of 
interest  in  this  country. 

Mr.  Smith  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of 
320  acres  in  one  body,  and  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  raises  horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  and 
conducts  a  general  farming  business.       Some   very 


4B2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fine  horses  of  the  Norman.  Clydesdale  and  English- 
shire  draft  horses,  and  also  Short-horn  cattle  may 
lie  seen  on  this  splendid  farm.  On  the  whole,  Mr. 
Smith  has  been  a  very  successful  farmer.  Four 
boys  and  two  girls  constitute  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith's 
family,  .lames  Everett  married  Laura  Price,  who 
died  in  1887,  leaving  three  little  buys  to  mourn 
her  loss;  William  E.,  is  now  living  in  Iowa,  and 
his  son,  Lester,  is  now  living  with  his  grandfather, 
Smith;  Byron  married  Emma  Black,  they  reside  on 
the  old  homestead  and  are  the  parents  of  two  girls; 
Abraham  L.  married  Cora  Baldwin,  and  they  also 
reside  on  the  father's  old  homestead;  Mary  Belle 
is  the  wife  of  Andy  Yount;  Sadie  Jane  lives  at 
home.  Mr.  Smith  has  two  brothers  living,  his  oidy 
sister  dying  in  1850.  His  brother  .Tames  is  living 
in  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  while  David  is  a  farmer  in 
Guthrie  County,  Iowa;  his  brother  John  died  last 
summer  in  Dallas  County,  Iowa,  leaving  live  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  have  grown  to  maturity. 

Mr.  Smith  has  retired  from  active  farming  and 
by  his  industrious  and  intelligent  manners  has 
earned  a  competency  and  is  entitled  to  the  rest  he  is 
now  enjoying.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics  and  has  invariably  voted  the  Re- 
publican ticket  since  the  organization  of  that  party. 
The  offices  of  School  Director  and  Road  Over- 
seer have  been  filled  by  him  in  his  usual  pains-taking 
manner.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  is  temperate  in  all  things.  In  the  commu- 
nity, where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  lived  sixty 
years,  they  command  the  universal  respect  of  all 
their  neighbors. 

As  representing  one  of  the  beautiful  homes  in 
this  county,  a  view  of  the  residence  of  our  subject 
and  his  family  is  given  on  another  page  of  this 
volume. 


•*§&£*■ 

f  I  LLIAM  J.  MANN.  Catlin  Township  has 
no  better  representative  of  its  agricultural 
W^l  and  manufacturing  interests  than  this  gen- 
tleman, who  has  long  been  identified  by  the  shrewd, 
intelligent  farmers,  owning  and  managing  a  valua- 
ble farm  on  section  11.  and  for  some  time  he  has 
been  actively  engaged  in   the    manufacture  of  tile. 


V 


He  comes  of  fine  old  stock,  and  was  born  in  what 
is  now  West  Virginia,  in  Monroe  County,  Oct.  20, 
1824.  His  father,  likewise  named  William,  was  a 
native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  one  of  the  F.  F.  Vs., 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rhoda 
Stodghill,  was  also  a  Virginian  by  birth.  The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  began  their  wedded  life  in  their 
native  State,  living  amid  its  beautiful  scenery  till 
1856,  when  they  sought  to  establish  a  new  home  in 
the  Praiiie  State,  and  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  in  Sidell  Township,  where  he  died  March 
16,  1858,  and  she  March  10.1878.  They  left  to 
their  children  and  children's  children  the  precious 
legacy  of  an  honorable  name,  and  the  memory  of 
exemplaiy  lives.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest  son  and  the 
fourth  child  in  order  of  birth. 

He  remained  at  home  till  he  was  twenty-one,  and 
the  following  year  went  to  Alabama.  Having  prior 
to  that  time  learned  dentistry,  he  followed  that  pro- 
fession in  that  State  for  some  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  returned  to  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley  in  Eastern  Virginia,  and  passed  the 
ensuing  eight  years  there,  actively  engaged  at  his 
profession.  He  then  returned  to  his  native  county, 
and  after  remaining  there  two  years,  he  sought 
green  fields  and  pastures  new  in  the  West,  and 
making  his  way  to  Monroe  County,  Mo.,  opened 
an  office  for  the  practice  of  dentistry  there.  Two 
years  after  that,  in  1859,  he  came  to  Vermilion 
County,  this  State,  and  established  himself  as  a 
dentist  at  Fairmount,  continuing  there  till  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  he  gave  his  attention 
wholly  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  afterward  re- 
turned with  his  family  to  Virginia  on  account  of 
his  wife's  ill-health,  the  entire  journey  being  made 
in  a  private  conveyance,  and  they  remained  there 
three  years.  After  his  return  to  this  State,  Mr. 
Mann  resumed  farming,  and  now  owns  a  farm  of 
205  acres,  that  is  well  tilled,  and  supplied  with  a 
substantial  set  of  buildings,  including  a  handsome 
dwelling  beautifully  located  on  section  1 1 ,  on 
Blue  Mound.  A  view  of  this  attractive  farm  resi- 
dence appears  on  another  page,  and  adds  much  to 
the  value  of  the  Album.  The  place  is  amply  sup- 
plied with  all  the  machinery  and  appliances  for 
facilitating    farm    labors.       In    1881    our    subject 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


163 


formed  a  partnership  with  David  Vaughn  toengage 
in  the  manufacture  of  tile,  and  he  also  operated  a 
sawmill  with  him.  They  n  mained  together  till 
1884,  when  Mr.  Vaughn  withdrew  from  the  linn, 
and  Mr.  Mann  bus  since  carried  on  the  business 
alone.  He  manufactures  a  superior  kind  of  tile, 
which  commands  a  large  sale  on  its  own  merits, 
and  is  reaping  great  profits  therefrom. 

Mr.  Mann  was  married  to  .Miss  Elizabeth  F. 
Thompson  April  2,  1851,  in  Augusta  County.  Yu. 
.Mrs.  Mann  was  a  native  of  that  county,  her  birth 
taking  place  there  in  1*21.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Heard)  'Thompson,  who 
died  in  that  county.  Five  children  were  born  of 
the  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his  amiable  wife  : 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Rev.  Luther  Hendrick;  William 
T..  who  married  Miss  Lizzie  Farrin;  Walter; 
George,  who  married  a  .Miss  C'onklin;  Emma  and 
an  infant  son,  Ellis,   deceased. 

Aug.  30,  18*7,  death  crossed  the  threshold  of  the 
happy  home  of  our  subject,  and  she  who  was  the 
home-maker,  the  loved  wife  and  mother,  was  taken 
from  the  stricken  family.  She  was  a  woman  of 
deep,  noble  character,  in  whom  the  Christian  vir- 
tues were  exemplified.  She  was  kindness  itself,  and 
her  charity  knew  no  bounds,  her  large  heart  over- 
flowing' with  tender  sympathy  toward  the  needy 
and  .suffering.  She  was  one  of  the  most,  active  and 
prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  in  early  life  was  a  Sunday-school  teacher; 
the  church  and  society  at  large  sustained  with  her 
family  an  irreparable  loss. 

Mr.  Mann  is  a  true  gentleman,  ever  courteous 
and  genial  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  and  his 
frank,  kindly  nature  has  won  him  a  warm  place  in 
the  hearts  of  his  neighbors  and  numerous  other 
friends.  In  his  career  in  life  he  has  met  with 
assured  success  in  the  various  vocations  that  he 
has  pursued,  and  is  numbered  among  the  moneyed 
men  of  his  township,  as  well  as  one  of  her  most 
trustworthy  citizens.  He  is  a  man  of  earnest  relig- 
ious feelings,  and  has  long  been  connected  with  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  at  Fairmount, 
of  which  he  is  Deacon,  and  his  fellow-members  al- 
ways find  him  ready  to  aid  in  carrying  out  any 
plan  for  the    moral    or    the    social    elevation    of  the 

community.     Politically,  he  is  a  loyal  supporter  of 


the  Democratic  party,  lie  has  held  various  school 
offices,  and  takes  considerable  interest  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  as  all  intelligent,  public-spirited  cit- 
izens ought  to  do. 


/jps^Ol'IRE  II.  E.  P.  TALBOTT  is  one  of  the 
^^L  most  influential  men  in  Sidell  'Township, 
(lL^_)j)  where  he  owns  and  operates  a  large  farm. 
His  father  and  mother,  Augustine  and  Jo- 
sella  (Parker)  Talbott,  were  natives  of  Bourbon 
County,  Ky.  'The  father  was  a  merchant  at  M il- 
lersburg,  that  State,  for  several  years,  but  having 
become  security  for  other  people  too  largely,  he 
failed  in  business,  when  in  1826,  he  removed  to 
Madison  County.  Ohio,  and  there  began  the  race 
of  life  anew  by  teaching  school  in  a  log  house,  on 
the  subscription  plan.  He  died  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-eight,  a  poor  man,  leaving  a  widow  and  three 
children:  John  Mason,  Hugh  A.  and  Henry  Ed- 
war  I  Parker.  The  mother  was  married  a  second 
time  in  Madison  Count}-.  Ohio,  to  Marcus  Garrett, 
a  farmer  of  that  county,  by  whom  she  was  the 
mother  of  seven  children. 

In  1851  the  stepfather,  mother  and  all  the 
children  but  Henry,  who  was  serving  out  an  ap- 
prenticeship, removed  to  Carroll  'Township,  which 
is  now  Sidell  in  this  county.  'They  prospered 
fairly  well,  but  the  mother  died  in  1864  at  the  age 
of  fifty-five  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  Aug.  7,  1831,  near  London.  Madison  Co., 
Ohio.  His  early  life  was  passed  in  much  the  same 
manner  as  that  of  any  farmer's  boy,  receiving  his 
education  under  difficulties.  He  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  working  for  his 
stepfather  on  the  farm.  At  that  age  he  began  to 
learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  served  an  appren- 
ticeship covering  three  years,  anil  during  this  time 
he  saw  the  need  of  an  education,  and  therefore  he 
attended  the  common  schools  in  the  winter,  work- 
ing at  his  trade  during  the  summer  time.  He  came 
out  to  visit  his  folks  in  Illinois,  remaining  here  but 
a  short  time  when  he  went  to  Indianapolis,  and 
there  worked  at  his  trade  for  nine  years  prior  to 
his  enlistment   in    the    army.       In    18oG,   he   began 


464 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


taking  contracts  and  erected  n  number  of  city  and 
country  residences,  and  as  a  contractor  he  was  very 
successful. 

Up  to  the  year  last  mentioned  his  sympathies 
had  been  with  the  Whig  party,  but  at  the  birth  of  the 
Republican  party  lie  joined  its  ranks  and  has  con- 
tinued to  act  with  that  organization  until  the  pres- 
ent day. 

When  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for  300,000  troops, 
he  laid  aside  his  hammer  and  saw,  and  took  up  the 
musket.  He  enlisted  in  Company  G,  79th  Indiana 
Infantry  in  Aug.  1862  and  was  mustered  into  the 
service  at  Indianapolis  as  a  corporal.  Here  they 
were  drilled  for  three  weeks,  when  they  were  or- 
dered to  Louisville,  and  there  learned  further 
duties  of  the  soldier.  The  first  engagement  in  which 
Mr.  Talbotl  was  engaged  was  the  battle  of  Perry - 
ville.  Ky..  in  the  fall  of  1862  and  during  their 
pursuit  of  Bragg  to  Nashville,  he  was  taken  ill  and 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  that  place,  and  after  lying 
there  for  one  month,  he  was  discharged  in  the 
spring  of  1863,  when  he  returned  to  Indianapolis. 
.After  coming  out  of  the  army  he  was  for  a  long 
time  unable  to  perform  physical  labor.  In  1865 
he  removed  to  Illinois  and  engaged  at  his  trade  at 
Catlin,  building  several  houses  that  summer.  In 
1867  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  E.  Utterback,  a 
native  of  Rolls  County,  Mo.,  and  daughter  of  Har- 
mon and  Lovin:i  (Falls)  Utterback.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Kenton  County,  Ky.,  while  her 
mother  was  born  in  Indiana.  Her  parents  had  ten 
children,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Missouri.  Mrs. 
Talbott  came  to  Vermilion  County  for  the  purpose 
of  attending  school.  She  had  relatives  here  who 
had  no  children  and  therefore  lived  with  them. 
After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Talbott  settled  on 
their  present  farm,  where  they  have  resided  contin- 
uously since.  They  have  had  three  children:  Au- 
gustin  Mason;  II.  Hugh  and  Sarah  E.  Hugh  died 
at  the  aye  of  twelve  years  and  six  months,  and  the 
other  children  are  living  with  their  parents  at 
home. 

Mr.  Talbott's  grandfather  was  born  in  Maryland, 
of  English  ancestry.  His  grandmother,  maternally, 
was  a  Sandusky  and  of  the  same  family  after  which 
the  Ohio  city  was  named.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  three  brothers  came  over  from 


Poland,  one  of  whom  settled  in  Ohio,  and  founded 
the  city  of  Sandusky,  another  locating  in  Mary- 
land, while  Mr.  Talbott's  ancestor  settled  in  Ken- 
tucky. His  paternal  grandmother  was  a  Mason  and 
a  lineal  descendant  of  the  surveyor  Mason,  who  in 
company  with  Dixon,  settled  a  dispute  between 
Lord  Baltimore  and  William  Penn  by  agreeing  on 
the  present  State  line  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland,  popularly  known  as  Mason  and  Dixon's 
line,  and  surveyed  by  them  in  colonial  times.  The 
name  of  Mason,  therefore,  will  lie  perpetuated  in 
the  Talbott  family. 

Mr.  Talbott  has  served  as  School  Treasurer  for 
ten  years  and  as  Director  for  seven  years.  He  has 
also  taught  two  terms  of  school  in  the  district 
where  he  lives.  In  1872  he  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace  and  has  served  with  distinguished  ability 
in  that  office  since,  and  in  the  course  of  that  time 
has  had  a  great  many  cases  appealed  to  the  higher 
courts,  but  his  decisions  have  been  invariably  sus- 
tained. In  1870  he  was  elected  Supervisor,  and 
with  the  exception  of  one  year,  has  served  for  nine 
years  consecutively.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
and  was  the  first  commander  of  Sidell  post  No. 
536.  He  was  an  active  man  in  organizing  it,  and 
was  one  of  its  charter  members.  Mr.  Talbott  is  an 
uncompromising  and  stalwart  Republican  and  has 
served  on  the  central  committee  of  his  county  for 
several  years.  When  the  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  was 
started  at  Sidell  in  1886,  he  was  one  of  its  charter 
members  and  its  first  presiding  officer  and  he  has 
represented  his  lodge  in  the  grand  body.  Our 
subject  joined  the  Odd  Fellows  Ma\  22,    1857. 

ANIEL  GURLEY.  Few  who  look  upon 
this  hale,  hearty,  bright  and  intelligent 
old  gentleman  would  suppose  that  he  has 
passed  the  eighty-first  year  of  his  age.  His 
has  been  a  familiar  figure  among  the  older  resi- 
dents of  this  county  for,  lo,  these  many  years,  and 
since  the  spring  of  1 864  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Danville.  He  commenced  in  life  at  the  foot  of 
the  ladder  without  other  resources  than  the  excel- 
lent qualities  of  mind,  heart  and   disposition  with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


165 


which  nature  lias  endowed  him,  but  these  proved 
an  invaluable  capital,  from  which  he  has  built  up 
for  himself  a  goodly  position  among  his  fellow- 
men. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rupert, 
Bennington  Co.,  Yt..  March  3,  1808.  and  is  the 
son  of  Nahum  Gurley,  a  native  of  Glastonbury, 
Conn.,  and  of  substantial  Scotch  ancestry.  Nahum 
Gurley  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  State, 
from  which  he  removed  to  Vermont,  and  was  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  town  of  Rupert.  He 
had  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  his  youth. 
but  after  settling  in  Vermont,  purchased  land  and 
devoted  a  part  of  his  time  to  its  improvement  and 
cultivation.  At  the  same  time  he  carried  on  black- 
smithing,  but  in  1820  disposed  of  his  interests  in 
the  Green  Mountain  State  and  made  his  way  to 
Western  New  York,  before  there  was  either  a  canal 
or  railroad  in  that  region.  The  journey  was  made 
with  ox  teams,  and  the  father  of  our  subject  set- 
tled with  his  family  in  the  vicinity  of  Albion,  Os- 
wego County,  where  he  was  a  pioneer.  He  purchased 
a  partially  improved  tract  of  land,  engaged  in 
farming  and  also  worked  at  his  trade.  He  there 
spent  his  last  days,  passing  away  about  1858. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  maiden- 
hood .Miss  Nellie  Goodrich,  and  she,  like  her  hus- 
band, was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  The  simple 
story  of  her  life  was  that  of  a  pioneer  wife  and 
mother  who  stood  bravely  by  the  side  of  her  hus- 
band in  his  labors  and  struggles,  and  set  before  her 
children  the  example  of  virtue,  thrift  and  industry, 
she  spun  wool  and  tlax,  and,  besides  manufactur- 
ing the  cloth  for  the  family  use,  made  the  garments 
as  well.  She  departed  this  life  prior  to  the  decease 
of  her  husband  at  the  old  homestead,  in  Oswego 
County,  N.  Y. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad  of  twelve 
years  when  his  parents  removed  from  Vermont  to 
New  York  State,  and  he  still  distinctly  remembers 
many  of  the  incidents  connected  with  the  long 
journey,  especially  through  the  wilds  of  New  York. 
As  soon  as  old  enough,  he  was  taught  to  make 
himself  useful,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith of  his  father.  At  that  early  day  plows  and 
axes  were  made  by  hand,  and  young  Gurley  has 
turned  out  many  of   these   in    connection   with   the 


other  general  work  at.  the  forge.  Aloug  in  the 
thirties  he  determined  to  see  something  more  of 
the  world,  mid  made  his  way  to  Ypsilanti,  Mich.. 
:iiid  worked  at  his  trade  then  and  at  Auburn  nearly 
a  year  and  until  winter,  when  he  Started  for  home. 
He  crossed  the  river  at  Detroit  and  walked  the 
entire  distance,  passing  through  the  Sparsely  set- 
tled portions  of  Canada,  and  finally  arriving  in 
safety  at  his  destination. 

Soon  after  his  return  home,  Mr.  Gurley  opened 
a  shop  at  Albion,  where  he  prosecuted  blacksmith- 
ing  until  1863.  He  then  returned  to  Michigan, 
and  in  Quincy,  Branch  County,  purchased  ground 
and  [nit  up  a  shop.  The  year  following  he  sold 
out.  and,  coming  to  this  county,  purchased  prop- 
erty in  Danville.  lie  erected  one  among  the  firsl 
store  buildings  put  up  on  Vermilion  street,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  bide  and  leather  business  about  a 
dozen  years.  He  was  quite  prosperous  in  this 
enterprise,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  men- 
tioned retired  from  active  business,  and  has  since 
occupied  himself  in  looking  after  his  property. 

Mr.  Gurley  was  firsl  married,  in  Albion.  N.  Y., 
to  Miss  Lydia  Rich,  a  native  of  Middlefield,  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y..  and  a  daughter  of  Col.  Moses  Rich. 
She  became  the  mother  of  four  children,  and  died 
Aug.  4,  L856.  Their  eldest  son.  Franklin,  is  now 
a  resident  of  Runnels  County.  Tex.  Hewitt  re- 
sides in  La  Crescent,  Minn.;  Jerome  is  a  resident 
of  Wisconsin,  and  Nahum  lives  in  St.  Louis.  The 
second  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  March,  1858,  was  Mrs.  Leonora  ( Hall) 
Reed,  a  native  of  Ellisburg,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  the  daughter  of  Rufus  Hall.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Belleville,  Jefferson  County,  and  was  the 
son  of  Giles  Hall,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
county,  who  owned  several  large  tracts  of  land  and 
was  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  there.  He 
silent  his  last  years  at  Ellisburg.  His  wife  was 
Rachel  Pier,  a  native  of  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  and 
who  died  in  Belleville. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Gurley  was  reared  in  Jeffer- 
son County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith.  About  1845  he  removed  to  Oswego 
County,  where  he  carried  on  blacksmithing  and 
farming  combined,  and  where  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of    his   life.      His    wife.    Mrs.    Harriet  (Taylor) 


4GG 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


Hall,  was  born  in  Balston  Spa,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Her  father,  James  Taylor,  removed  finally  from 
Saratoga  to  Oneida  County,  and  later  to  Oswego 
County,  where  he  died,  and  where  also  the  death  of 
the  mother  took  place.  Miss  Hall  was  first  mar- 
ried, in  the  twentieth  year  of  her  age,  to  Benjamin 
F.  Reed,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Reed  was  a  printer 
by  trade,  at  which  he  worked  in  Oswego,  and 
where  his  death  took  place  Oct.  7,  1855.  Of  this 
marriage  there  were  born  two  children — one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  and  a  son,  William  Reed 
Gurley,  resides  in  Danville.  Mrs.  Gurley  has  been 
in  all  respects  the  suitable  partner  of  her  husband, 
and  is  still  spared  to  be  his  stay  and  comfort.  She 
is  a  lady  highly  respected  wherever  known,  and 
both  number  their  friends  by  the  score  in  this 
county.  They  occupy  a  comfortable  and  pleasant 
home  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city. 


fOHN  GRIFFITH  CLARK,  J.  P.,  a  veteran 
merchant  and  early  settler  of  Sidell,  has 
been  one  of  the  men  most  closely  identified 
!{j*^/''  with  the  interests  of  this  vicinity,  for.  lo, 
these  many  years,  and  has  dispensed  justice  in  his 
bailiwick  for  the  past  four  years.  He  is  of 
that  stanch  and  substantia]  character  which  was 
most  needed  in  the  early  settlement  of  Central 
Illinois,  and  has  borne  no  unimportant  part  in  the 
development  of  his  township  and  the  establishment 
of  the  various  enterprises  which  have  made  it  a 
desirable  location  for  an  industrious  and  intelli- 
gent class  of  people. 

The  scenes  of  the  first  recollections  of  our  sub- 
ject were  in  tiie  township  of  Hamilton,  Warren 
Co..  Ohio,  where  his  birth  took  place  -July  4.  1819. 
Six  or  seven  years  later  his  father  removed  to 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  which  was  then  in  its  infancy, 
there  being  only  five  or  six  frame  houses  and  a 
few  log  cabins  upon  the  present  site  of  that  now 
important  city.  The  early  education  of  young 
Clark  was  carried  on  under  many  disadvantages, 
he  attending  the  free  schools  two  and  one-half 
months,  and  later  a  ••rate"  SCllOOl.  After  working 
hard    during    the   day,    he  would   take  his  book  at 


evening  and,  by  the  light  of  a  dip  candle  and  the 
fireplace,  extract  such  knowledge  as  he  could. 
During  those  days  he  wore  buckskin  breeches  and 
morocco  hats.  He  plowed  in  the  field  when  a  boy 
of  eleven  years,  anil  made  himself  generally  useful 
about  the  farm  from  that  lime  on  until  approach- 
ing manhood. 

After  reaching  his  majority,  young  Clark  began 
teaching  school  in  Indiana,  and  followed  this  pro- 
fession twenty -one  months  at  one  place,  when  he 
resigned,  much  against  the  wishes  of  the  School 
Board,  who  fully  appreciated  his  faithful  services. 
In  1840,  the  State  of  Kentucky  now  having  estab- 
lished a  free  school  at  Alexandria,  our  subject  re- 
paired thither,  and  by  a  course  of  study  qualified 
himself  still  further  for  the  duties  of  his  chosen 
profession.  Later,  he  taught  the  first  school  ever 
conducted  under  the  free  school  system  in  Indi- 
ana, holding  certificate  No.  1  and  being  examined 
by  Joshua  Stevens  and  Samuel  Merrill,  the  latter 
subsequently  becoming  the  first  President  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Indiana.  Upon  his  second  applica- 
tion for  examination  by  Miles  De  Couiey.  the  lat- 
ter issued  him  a  certificate  upon  the  strength  of 
his  former  one.  While  teaching  at  Alexandria,  he 
met  his  first  wife.  Miss  Ann  Benedict,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky.  They  were  married  in  1842, 
and  settled  near  Alexandria. 

Our  subject  continued  teaching,  and  also  carried 
on  farming  several  years  in  Kentucky,  becoming 
the  owner  of  a  farm  there.  He  also  mixed  con- 
siderably in  politics,  ami  in  due  lime  was  dubbed 
'•the  leader  of  the  Democratic  party  in  Campbell 
County."  He  served  on  the  County  and  State 
Central  Committees  several  times,  and  on  the  latter 
in  the  campaign  of  1864.  Finally,  becoming  dis- 
gusted with  the  canvass  of  that  campaign,  he  re- 
tired from  the  field,  although  serving  later  in  the 
same  capacity  as  before. 

Of  the  first  marriage  of  Squire  Clark  there  were 
born  nine  children — Elizabeth.  Sarah  A..  William, 
John  T.,  Nancy  J.,  Hester  E.,  and  three  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  mother  of  these  departed  this 
life,  at  New  Richmond,  in  1857.  Our  subject 
married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Mary  Battles,  a 
native  of  Campbell  County,  Ky.,  who  was  born  on 
the   29th  of   April,  1816,  and  was  the  daughter  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


167 


John  and  Ellen  (Gillham)  Fuller.  Of  her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Battles  there  were  born  seven  children,  anil 
Of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  there  are  two 
daughters — Carrie  B.  and  Alice  II. 

Leaving  Kentucky  in  1ST  I.  our  subject  came  to 
lhi>  county  and  settled  on  a  farm  five  or  six  miles 
northwest  of  Sidell.  He  lived  thereuntil  1882, 
then,  coming  into  town,  purchased  a  stock  of 
merchandise,  the  first  ever  exhibited  at  this  place. 
and  established  himself  as  a  pioneer  merchant.  He 
keeps  a  well-assorted  stock  of  everything  required 
in  the  village  or  country  household,  and  has  built 
up  a  thriving  trade.  He  and  his  family  occupy  a 
rjood  position  in  social  circles,  and  the  Squire  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  America  Missionary  Baptist 
Church. 

After  the  marriage  of  Miss  Gillham  and  Mr. 
Battles,  they  settled  in  Hancock  County,  this 
State,  but  later  removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where 
the  death  of  Mr.  Rattles  occurred.  Their  seven 
children  were  named  respectively:  Mary  E..Reuben, 
.John  Stephen.  America,  Sarah  E.,  Louisa  and 
Nancy  .lane.  Mrs.  Rattles  after  the  death  of  her 
husband  returned  to  her  native  State  of  Kentucky, 
where  she  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Clark. 
They  came  to  Sidell  before  the  completion  of  the 
Chicago,  Danville  &  Ohio  Railroad,  and  boarded 
some  of  the  laborers  during  its  construction.  Mr. 
Clark  was  the  first  Postmaster  of  Sidell,  and  its 
first  grain  buyer — purchasing  the  first  load  of 
grain  ever  shipped  from  the  place.  One  day. 
while  at  Allerton  holding  an  inquest,  an  accident 
happened  which  crippled  him,  and  he  now  gets 
about  with  the  assistance  of  crutches.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Martin  Van  Biiren  in 
is  |u.  and  since  then  has  never  missed  voting  at  a 
Presidential  election.  While  living  in  Kentucky, 
he  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Alex- 
andria Precinct  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Caleb  and 
Elizabeth  (Griffith)  Clark,    the  father    a    native  of 

Greene  County,  Pa.,  and  the   mother  of  Campbell 

County.  Ky.  They  were  married  in  the  latter 
place.  Caleb  Clark  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  upon  removing  from  Kentucky  settled  in 
Warren  County,  Ohio,  where  he  sojourned  five  or 
seven  years,  and  then   removed  with  his  family  in 


Marion  C> ty,   lnd.     He  was   one  of  the  promi- 

ment  lights  of  the  Democratic  party  in  that-  region, 

and  a  member  of    the    State    Central  Committee    in 

1840-44.     He  accumulated  a  very  " 1  property, 

but  was  finally  disabled  by  a  stroke  of  palsy,  anil 
for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  was  incapable  of 
labor,  and  died  a  poor  man,  in  1869,  in  the  seventy- 
fifth  year  of  his  age. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  after  the  death  of  her 
husband  removed  to  the  home  of  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Parker,  in  this  State,  where  she  died, 
in  1872,  at  the  age  of  seventy. three  years.  Of  the 
twelve  children  in  the  parental  family  six  grew 
to  mature  years,  ami  four  are  now  living,  John 
G.,  our  subject,  being  the  eldest.  Hannah.  Mrs. 
Parker,  is  the  mother  of  ten  children,  and  lives  in 
Catlin,  this  county;  William  R,,  a  butcher  of  Si- 
dell. is    married  and  the  father  of   three  children 

Hannah,  John  and  J.  V. ;  Mary  A.,  Mrs.  Reddick, 
is  a  resident  of  Indiana,  and  has  a  family. 

Caleb  Clark,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the 
first  man  that  volunteered  in  the  city  of  Cincin- 
nati in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  captured  by  the 
British,  but  soon  afterward  paroled.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Griffith,  served  four  years  in 
the  Revolutionary  "War.  and  was  in  several  battles 
under  the  direct  command  of  Gen.  Washington. 
The  Griffiths  traced  their  ancestry  to  Wales. 


RANCIS  MARION  ALEXANDER,  a  thor- 
ough, skillful,  careful  and  prosperous  farm- 
er of  Georgetown  Township,  owns  and 
Occupies  a  snug  homestead  of  eighty  acres  with 
good  buildings,  on  section  (!.  He  is  known  to 
most  of  the  people  of  this  region  and  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  reliable  members  of  his  commun- 
ity. His  course  has  been  marked  by  honesty  and 
uprightness,  and  in  all  his  worthy  ambitions  he  has 
received  the  aid  and  encouragement  of  one  of  the 
best  of  wives.  Mrs.  Alexander  deserves  especial 
mention  as  having  performed  her  share  in  preserv- 
ing the  reputation  of  the  family  and  assisting  in  the 
accumulation  of  the  property  which  has  secured 
them    against  future    want.      We     find   them    sur- 


4G8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


rounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life  and  those  evi- 
dences of  taste  and  refinement  which  are  so  pleasant 
to  the  eye.  Our  subject  was  named  after  Gen. 
Francis  Marion,  who  was  a  relative  on  subject's 
grandmother's  side. 

A  native  of  Fountain  County.  Ind.,  our  subject 
was  born  Nov.  4,  1831,  and  was  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  seven  children,  the  offspring  of  Robert 
and  Margaret  (Hawkins)  Alexander,  who  were  na- 
tives of  South  Carolina.  They  emigrated  to  Indi- 
ana with  their  respective  parents  in  their  youth, 
and  were  married  in  Fayette  County,  that  state. 
Later  they  removed  to  Fountain  County,  where 
the  mother  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-five  years. 
The  elder  Alexander  was  married  a  second  time. 
but  died  soon  afterward  at  the  age  of  fifty-five. 
Their  children  were  named  respectively:  .lames. 
William,  John,  Francis  M.  our  subject,  Hester,  Re- 
becca and  Martha  A.     Five  of  these  are  living. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  his  father  our  subject 
weut  to  live  with  William  T.  Stevens,  who  had 
married  his  sister,  Martha  Ann,  and  in  1848  began 
working  on  a  farm  in  Georgetown  Township,  Ver- 
milion County.  Later  he  operated  rented  land  on 
his  own  account.  When  twenty-two  years  old 
he  was  married,  Nov.  4,  1856,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
McCorkle,  who  was  a  native  of  Indiana  and 
a  daughter  of  Charles  McCorkle.  She  became 
the  mother  of  five  children  and  departed  this 
life  at  the  homestead  in  1875.  Their  eldest 
daughter,  Mary  E.,  is  now  the  wife  of  John 
Girard,  a  merchant  of  Westville.  and  the  mother 
of  one  child.  Bertie  F. ;  Martha  E.  was  married  to 
II.  G.  McMillan  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  leaving  one  child,  Clarence  E.,  who  soon 
followed  the  mother;  Matilda  A.  is  the  wife  of  H. 
T.  Parker,  who  has  charge  of  the  Alexander  farm, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  a  son,  Jones  N. ;  Mar- 
garet E.  married  I).  E.  Beebe,  a  stock-man  and 
farmer  near  Huron,  Dak.,  and  they  have  one  child, 
a  daughter,  Blanche;  Minnie  D.  is  unmarried  and 
remains  with  her  father. 

Our  subject  in  1878  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  E.  Parker,  who  was  born  in 
Marion  County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Hannah  (Clark)  Parker,  both  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky.     Mrs.    Alexander   was  simply   a  child  when 


her  parents  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  first  on  a 
farm  in  Carroll  Township,  Vermilion  County. 
They  are  now  residents  of  Catlin  Township.  Miss 
Mary  lived  at  home  with  her  parents,  receiving 
careful  training  from  an  excellent  mother  until  her 
marriage.  She  attended  the  common  school,  and 
grew  up  to  a  modest  and  worthy  womanhood, 
greatly  esteemed  by  her  young  associates.  Siie 
has  fulfilled  the  promise  of  her  youth,  and  has 
proved  in  every  way  the  suitable  partner  of  a  good 
man's  home.  Religiously  inclined,  she  is  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Fairview,  while  Mr.  Alexander  finds  his  religious 
home  in  the  Christian  Church,  in  which  he  is  Elder. 
Politically  our  subject  advocates  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  has  served  several  terms 
asSchool  Director  and  Road  Supervisor.  Beyond 
this  he  carefully  avoids  the  responsibilities  of 
ollice,  finding  his  chief  satisfaction  in  looking  after 
his  farm  and  family.  When  our  subject  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  went  to  Iowa  and  pur- 
chased land  near  Des  Moines;  then  went  into  mer- 
chandising, continuing  in  that  threeyears;  then  re- 
turned to  Westville  and  went  into  business  at  that 
place;  sold  that  and  bought  his  present  place. 

JIDMAS  HA  WORTH,  who  departed  this 
life  May  4.  1885,  at  his  homestead  in  El- 
wood  Township,  was  esteemed  as  one  of 
its  best  citizens  and  in  his  death  it  suffered  an  irre- 
parable loss.  lie  was  born  in  this  township  July 
12,  1845,  and  was  the  son  of  Joel  Haworth.  a  native 
of  Tennessee,  who  came  to  this  county  when  a 
boy,  settling  among  the  Indians  and  wild  animals, 
as  early  as  1825,  and  in  common  with  other  pio- 
neers ot  that  period  his  career  was  made  an  item  of 
history  in  the  published  records  of  this  county 
some  years  since. 

Young  Haworth,  as  may  be  supposed,  received 
only  limited  school  advantages  during  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  but  his  naturally  bright  mind  and 
habits  of  observation  conspired  to  make  him  a  very 
intelligent  and  thoroughly-well  informed  man.  Hi' 
assisted  his  father  in  the   opening  up  of   the  home- 


(^yinM^b 


CUVl 'OA^^rXA 


1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


17.", 


stead  from  the  wilderness  and  upon  approaching 
manhood  learned  the  trade  of  a  plasterer  which  he 
followed  several  years.  Later  he  abandoned  this 
for  the  more  congenial  pursuits  of  agriculture.  Ele 
w:is  married  when  nearly  thirty-three  years  of  age. 
March  28,  1878,  to  Mrs  Hannah  M.  Spray,  widow 
of  Jesse  Spray,  who  died  in  Indianapolis,  Feb.  22, 
1876. 

Mrs.  II:i worth  was  born  in  Hendricks  County, 
[nd.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  David  Mendenhall, 
who  is  long  since  deceased.  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Haworth  she  was  married  to  Silas  Mendenhall, 
March  1  I.  1889.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Mendenhall  ap- 
pears on  another  page  in  this  Aliuji.  Mr.  Haworth 
was  a  liberal  and  public-spirited  citizen  and  in  re- 
ligions matters  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends. 
He  wasa  man  of  the  most  kindly  Christian  charac- 
ter, beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him 
and  none  can  point  to  an  unworthy  or  dishonest 
act  associated  with  his  life. 

BRAHAM  SANDUSKY  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  Carroll  Township,  and  was 
'Mi  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ivy.,  March  24, 
1833.  His  father,  also  named  Abraham, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  was  born 
March  29,  1793.  His  mother,  Jane  (McDowell) 
was  born  there  also,  her  birth  occurring  Dec.  10, 
1792. 

The  grandparents  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Kentucky,  and  were  there  at  the  time  the  Indi- 
ans were  very  troublesome.  This  family  traces  its 
ancestry  back  to  Poland's  royalty.  They  came  to 
America  in  1756,  and  as  foreigners,  were  at  first 
looked  upon  with  suspicion,  but  their  true  charac- 
ter becoming  known,  they  were  soon  in  great  favor 
with  the  people  Of  the  colonics,  and  since  that  time 
there  have  been  no  more  loyal  Americans  than  the 
Sandusky  family.  The  original  forefather  became 
an  Indian  hunter  and  trader,  and  by  them  was 
killed. 

Of  the  eight  children  born  to  the  parents  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Abraham  was  the  sixth.  He 
was   the  last  one  wdiose  nativity   was   in    Kentucky 


and  he  was  broughl  to  Illinois  in  his  mother's 
arms,  a  babe  of  six  months.  He  has  a  good  claim 
to  the  title  of  pioneer,  and  nobly  does  he  sustain 
that  title.  His  schooling  was  gained  at  the  public 
schools  of  the  days  of  his  boyhood  but  his  greatest 
lessons  were  gleaned  from  his  father  and  mother, 
who  taught  him  industry  and  honesty.  He  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  until  he  was  married,  Dec.  Hi, 
1  8G9  to  Miss  Ellen  Baird,  a  native  of  Carroll  Town  ■ 
ship.  He  purchased  his  first  land  in  1802,  and 
since  that  time  has  dealt  steadily  in  real  estate,  in 
this  way  accumulating  a  great  deal  of  wealth.  He 
speculated  in  cattle,  horses  and  live-stock  generally, 
and  during  the  war  when  values  were  much  in- 
flated, and  fortunes  so  easily  gained,  he  did  partic- 
ularly well.  He  became  connected  with  the  Ex- 
change Bank  and  was  interested  in  the  corporation 
to  the  extent  of  one-fourth  interest.  This  institution 
transacted  a  general  banking  business  for  some  four 
or  five  years,  when  the  railroad  was  projected  from 
Paris  to  Danville.  This  bank  undertook  the  build- 
ing and  operating  of  the  road,  a  bonus  of  $500  a 
mile  being  voted  for  its  construction  by  the  sev- 
eral towns  through  which  it  passed.  The  bonded 
stock  of  this  company  amounting  to  $1,500,000,  at 
one  time  could  have  been  sold  for  eighty  per  cent. 
The  road  was  sold  at  forced  sale,  and  being  pur- 
chased by  the  Wabash,  it  consequently  forced  Mr. 
Sandusky  into  bankruptcy,  this  occurring  in  1873 
and  sweeping  bis  whole  fortune  away.  At  that 
time  he  was  worth  1300,000  in  money  that  he  had 
accumulated  by  his  own  efforts.  Just  here  the 
nobility  of  Mr.  Sandusky's  character  asserted  it- 
self, and  while  many  others  attribute  his  great 
losses  to  the  delinquency  of  another  man,  yet  Mr. 
Sandusky  remains  mute,  and  simply  says  that  the 
money  was  lost.  His  farm  was  bought  in  by  his 
brother,  William,  and  through  industry  and  per- 
severance Abraham  has  been  able  to  regain  600 
acres  of  it. 

Through  all  his  trials  and  losses  Mr.  Sandusky 
has  sustained  his  honor,  always  appearing  what 
he  really  is,  a  public-spirited  ami  generous  citizen. 
Nearly  every  church,  and  all  other  enterprises  de- 
signed for  the  public  good,  have  felt  the  strength  of 
his  liberality.  Mr.  Sandusky  is  now  following 
general  or  mixed  fanning,  and  Ins   Short-horn  cat- 


474 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tie  are  the  best  specimems  of  their  breed  in  this 
country.  Politically,  he  is  .1  strong  uncompro- 
mising Republican,  and  never  omits  an  opportun- 
ity to  aid  his  party.  He  is  .1  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  while  his  wife  is  a 
Baptist. 

Nancy  Ellen  Baird,  the  wife  of  Abraham  .San- 
dusky, was  born  in  Carroll  Township.  Her  father. 
Joseph,  and  mother  Lydia  (Mendenhall)  Baird,  were 
early  settlers  of  Vermilion  County.  The  father  was 
born  in  Kentucky  and  the  mother  in  Ohio.  She  came 
here  with  her  parents  when  she  was  eleven  years 
old,  while  Mr.  Baird  was  a  young  man,  when  he 
arrived  in  this  county.  After  their  marriage  they 
settled  upon  their  farm  where  they  became  the 
parents  of  eight  children:  John  G.,  David  A., 
Nancy  Ellen.  Elizabeth  A.,  Lydia  Jane.  Emily  F., 
William  S..  and  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Baird  is  residingon  the  old  Mendenhall  homestead 
with  her  son,  Silas,  and  is  in  good  health  at  the  age 
of  seventy -seven  years.  Her  husband  died  in  1 86i> 
nearly  seventy  years  old. 

Fine  lithographic  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mis.  San- 
dusky are  shown  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  repre- 
sent people  of  fine  family,  prominent  social  position 
and  philanthropic  spirit.  It  is  the  wish  of  the 
A 1, hum  as  well  as  its  many  readers  that  they  may 
remain  for  many  years  among  those  who  love  them. 


^at„ 


-ET 


(, 


fif.  OSEPH  F.  COOK.  Somebody  has  said  that 
the  man  who  loves  a  good  horse  is  generally 
a  good  citizen.  The  converse  of  this  propo- 
sition in  certainly  true  that  a  man  who 
abuses  this  noblest  of  all  animals  is  certainly  a  bad 
citizen.  If  there  is  anything  in  this  world  that 
Mr.  Cook  likes  better  than  another  it  is  a  good 
horse.  He  is  especially  proud  of  the  fact  that  he 
is  the  owner  of  as  fine  horses  as  can  be  found  in 
Vermilion  County.  He  is  a  man  who  possesses 
great  intelligence  and  uses  his  talents  freely  in  his 
business  of  putting  on  the  market  splendid  horses. 
His  financial  success  in  this  direction  fully  attests 
the  fact  that  he  has  not  failed  to  make  for  himself 
an  enviable  reputation  as  a    fair,  capable  and  relia- 


ble business  man.  I  lis  excellent  judgment  has  led 
him  to  select  Cleveland  Bays  and  Mambrino  strains 
as  the  most  superior  breeds  for  the  class  of  animals 
he  deals  in. 

Mr.  Cook  was  born  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind., 
about  two  miles  from  his  present  home  on  Oct.  25, 
1859.  His  father.  Dr.  Joseph  C.  Cook,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia  and  came  with  his  father — and  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch — William 
Cook,  to  Parke  County,  Ind.,  where  the  latter  set- 
tled on  new  land.  At  this  time  the  country  was 
overrun  with  wild  animals  and  wilder  Indians,  but 
they  were  bound  to  make  a  home  and  in  this  de- 
termination they  were  successful.  Dr.  Cook  lo- 
cated in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  soon  after  his 
marriage,  which  was  about  forty  years  ago  and  his 
capital  at  that  time  consisted  of  only  fifty  cents.  lie 
also  owned  a  horse,  saddle  and  bridle,  but  above 
all  possessed  no  little  ambition  to  make  a  name  and 
accumulate  property.  He  became  one  of  the  most 
eminent  physicians  in  this  country,  and  when  he 
died  he  was  the  owner  of  1.700  acres  of  land  beside 
having  $48,000  in  accounts  on  his  books  as  well  as 
notes  and  other  property.  No  call  from  the  sick  ever 
went  unanswered  by  him  and  the  afflicted  poor  re- 
ceived as  much  attention  as  those  that  were  wealthy. 
One  feature  of  his  philanthrophy  was  the  giving  of 
*600  a  year  to  the  worthy  poor.  He  died  in  Ver- 
million Township,  Jan.  22,  1875,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  the  entire  community.  His  widow  who 
was  Margaret  J.  Dallas,  before  her  marriage,  is  now 
living  on  the  old  homestead,  and  is  the  mother  of 
twelve  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  William 
C,  Charles,  Joseph  F.  Addison  W.  and  Bertie  C. 
Joseph  F.  Cook  received  his  education  at  the 
common  schools,  and  nearly  all  his  life  has  been 
spent  in  the  occupation  of  farming.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Drusilla  P.,  daughter  of  James  Camp- 
bell, who  was  an  early  settler  of  this  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cook  are  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Nettie  P..  Roy  F.,  May  D.  and  Bertie  C.  Mr. 
Cook's  farm  is  situated  on  section  36,  range  1 1.  El- 
wood  Township,  where  he  owns  a  quarter  section  of 
splendid  land.  As  before  indicated  he  is  a  breeder 
of  fine  horses.  He  owns  the  Duke  of  Cleveland,  an 
imported  Cleveland  Bay,  four  years  old.  which 
weighs  1,400  pounds  and  is  sixteen  and  one-fourth 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


475 


bauds  high.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  Roy  Davis, 
whose  grandsire  is  old  Dr.  Hurr,  of  Paris,  sired  by 
Mambrino  Davis,  m  brother  of  Joe  Davis,  the  noted 
trotter  thai  made  a  record  i>f  2:17  a  few  years  ago. 
The  dam  of  Hoy  Davis  is  Senorita  Parepa.  corrected 
from  volume  1.  page  2.~>">,  of  .1.  II.  Wallace's 
American  Trotting  Register,  making  Roy  Davis  a 
thoroughbred. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  arc  devoted  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  arc  always 
found  ready  to  extend  financial  help  lo  any  be- 
nevolent project.  Mr.  Cook  is  a  wealthy  man  and 
and  is  especially  proud  of  the  record  of  liis  father 
as  a  physician  and  philanthropist. 


~*V 


AMES  SYLVESTER  CLING  AN,  a  retired 

farmer  and  a  resident  of  Westville,  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  body  of  improved  land  in 
Catlin  Township,  which  is  operated  hy  his 
sons,  lie  is  in  comfortable  circumstances  and  has 
been  blessed  with  a  life  partner  of  more  than  ordin- 
ary worth,  who  has  been  his  efficient  helpmate  in 
the  accumulation  of  their  property  and  has  con- 
tributed largely  in  maintaining  the  dignity  and 
reputation  of  the  family.  They  are  people  held  in 
high  esteem  and  are  classed  among  the  best  ele- 
ments of  their  community. 

In  glancing  at  the  antecedents  of  our  subject  we 
find  that  he  was  born  in  Miami  County,  eight  miles 
southwest  of  Troy.  Ohio,  Dec.  15,  1830,  and  is  the 
son  of  William  and  Nancy  (Ramsey)  Clingan,  the 
former  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  bis  son  and 
the  mother  born  near  Susquehanna.  Pa.  The  latter 
descended  from  substantial  old  Pennsylvania  stock, 
while  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
James  Clingan.  by  name  was  a  native  of  Ireland. 
The  parents  were  married  in  Dayton.  Ohio,  and  the 
father  carried  on  farming  in  that  vicinity  until 
1845.  That  year  they  came  to  Illinois,  settling  -ix 
mile>  east  of  Danville  and  one-half  mile  from  the 
State  line,  where  the  elder  Clingan  commenced 
openiug  up  a  farm  from  the  wilderness,  but  was 
called  away  by  death  two  years  after  his  arrival 
here.      The  eighty  acres  of  land  which  he  had  se- 


cured was  only  partially  paid  for  and  two-thirds  of 
it  had  lo  he  sold.  Our  subject,  then  a  youth  of 
seventeen  years,  began  working  out  by  the  month 
and  assisted  his  mother  until  she  no  longer  required 
his  filial  services.  She  passed  away  Sept.  111.  L851. 
The  parental  household  consisted  of  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  William,  .lames  Sylvester,  our  sub- 
ject, John.  Robert,  Joshua,  Mason.  Sarah,  and 
( reorge. 

When  twenty-four  years  of  age  our  subject  was 
married,  in  1855  to  Miss  Alvira,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Olehy.  The  young  people  com- 
menced their  wedded  life  together  on  a  rented  farm 
in  Danville  Township,  where  they  lived  seven 
years,  and  then  Mr.  Clingan  purchased  part  of  the 
estate  of  his  wife's  father.  Later  he  sold  this  and 
bought  120  acres  of  land  in  Catlin  Township.  He 
subsequently  added  to  this  and  is  now  the  owner 
of  200  acres  which  is  largely  devoted  to  the  raising 
of  grain  and  stock  and  which  yields  handsome 
returns. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clingan  there  have  been  born 
four  children:  The  eldest.  John  W..  a  farmer  of 
Georgetown  Township,  married  Miss  Mary  Nesbitt, 
and  is  the  father  of  two  children — Dennis  A.  and 
Edna  A.;  Dennis  R.,  who  resides  on  the  home  farm, 
married  Miss  Louisa  Graves;  Mary  10.,  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years;  Luther,  a  resident  of  George- 
town Township,  married  Miss  Martha  Graves  and 
is  the  father  of  two  children — Blanche  and  Hersch- 
ell.  Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  left  the 
farm  in  November,  188G,  and  took  up  their  abode 
in  Westville.  where  they  purpose  living  retired 
from  the  arduous  labors  with  which  they  were  em- 
ployed during  their  younger  years.  Mr.  Clingan 
politically  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party,  but 
has  never  sought  office  and  has  mingled  very  little 
with  public  affairs,  with  the  exception  of  serving 
as  a  School  Director  in  Ids  district  for  a  perod  of 
nine  years. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Clingan  were  natives  re- 
spectively of  Virginia  anil  Kentucky.  They  were 
married  in  Ohio  where  their  two  eldest  children 
were  born  and  came  lo  Illinois  in  1833,  settling 
three  miles  east  of  Danville.  There  the  birth  of 
Mrs.  Clingan  took  place  in  18.'!.").  Only  four  of 
the  fourteen  children  born  to  the  parents  are  living. 


47G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  eldest.  Louisa,  is  the  wife  of  Dennis  House  of 
Danville.  Alvira,  Mrs.  Clingan,  is  the  next  eldest; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Herman  Civilian,  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Georgetown  Township;  Rebecca  Jane,  is  the  wife 
of  George  Watson,  a  farmer  of  Pilot  Township. 


p^LIZA   (SNYDER)   CASSEL  is  the  relict  of 
[W]      the   late  John   Cassel,  a   former   prominent 


F 

/|j-— .J1  citizen  of  Pilot  Township  and  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  this  part  of  Vermilion  County, 
owning  a  large  farm  and  carrying  on  stock-raising 
quite  extensively  during  many  years  of  a  busy  and 
useful  life.  Our  subject  makes  her  home  on  this 
farm,  which  she  helped  her  husband  to  place 
among  the  best  and  most  desirable  estates  in  this 
locality  in  point  of  size,  cultivation  and  style  of 
buildings. 

Mrs.  Cassel  is  a  native  of  Muskingum,  County, 
Ohio,  born  in  May,  1827.  Her  parents,  John  and 
Mary  (Blunt)  Snyder,  were  natives  of  Virginia, 
and  pioneers  of  Ohio,  and  subsequently  early  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  coining  here  in  1831  and  lo- 
cating in  Blount  Township.  The  father  died  in 
1848.  thus  ending  a  life  of  usefulness,  and  leaving 
a  name  that  is  held  in  respect  by  his  descendants. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  of  Irish  antecedents. 
The  latter  died  in  1872  at  a  venerable  age.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living,  as  follows:  our  subject,  of  whom  we  will 
speak  further;  Cenith.  living  in  New  Pontiac,  111., 
a  widow,  who  has  been  twice  married,  Mr.  Alfred 
Lane  being  her  first  husband  and  Isaac  Norman 
her  second  husband,  she  having  three  children  by 
her  last  union — John,  Charles  and  Wesley:  John, 
a  farmer,  married  Rachel  Robinson,  and  is  the 
father  of  ten  children;  Charles  married  Margaret 
Olhand.  of  this  county,  and  they  have  eight  chil- 
dren; Wesley,  living  retired  in  Danville,  married 
Mary  Cunnigan,  anil  they  have  seven  children. 
Margaret  married  James  Gillen,  a  farmer  in  Chero- 
kee County,  Kan.,  and  they    have   twelve  children. 

Our  subject  was  a  small  child  of  scarcely  four 
years  when  her  parents  brought  her  to  Vermilion 
County,  therefore  she  can  have  but  little  recollec- 


tion of  any  previous  home,  and  here  she  was  reared 
amid  the  pioneer  scenes  of  those  early  days  of  the 
settlement  of  this  section  of  the  country  to  a 
strong,  self-reliant,  useful  womanhood.  When 
quite  young  she  assumed  the  responsibilities  of 
married  life  by  uniting  her  fate  with  that  of  Henry 
Bailey,  a  young  farmer  of  the  neighborhood,  his 
parents  coming  from  South  Carolina  in  early  days 
and  settling  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county. 
Three  children  blessed  our  subject  and  her  hus- 
band, namely:  Melissa,  Mary  and  William.  Me- 
lissa married  F.  M.Ogle  of  this  county,  now  living 
in  Linn  County,  Kan.,  and  they  have  ten  children; 
Mary  married  James  Goff,  of  this  count}-,  now 
living  in  Wilson  County,  Kas..  and  they  have  six 
children;  William  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1861, 
and-gave  up  his  life  to  his  country,  dying  at  the 
battle  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  in  1862.  Mr.  Bailey  de- 
parted this  life  about  1848. 

Our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  to  John  Cas- 
sel in  1850.  He  was  born  in  Georgia,  his  parents 
being  John  and  Martha  (Dark)  Cassel.  Of  this 
marriage  ten  children  were  born,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing is  recorded:  Columbus,  a  farmer  in  Gray 
County,  Kan.,  married  Eva  Clark,  of  Champaign 
County,  111.,  and  they  have  three  children;  Caro- 
line married  Allen  Kirkpatrick,  a  farmer  of  this 
county,  and  they  have  Ave  children;  Ann  married 
James  Nichols,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and  they 
have  two  children;  Charles  is  at  home,  unmarried; 
Alice,  Frank  and  Martin  are  deceased;  Martha 
married  Harry  Canaday,  of  Champaign  County, 
111.,  now  a  merchant  in  Gray  County.  Kan.,  and 
thejT  have  two  children;  Rosa  married  John  MeAl- 
ister,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and  the}'  have  two 
children. 

Mr.  Cassel  came  to  this  county  when  a  young 
man,  and  commenced  life  on  his  own  account,  lie 
had  absolutely  nothing  to  depend  on  but  the  labor 
of  his  own  hands,  but  in  the  course  of  a  life  of  ex- 
traordinary industry  he  accomplished  a  great  deal, 
and  placed  himself  among  the  men  of  wealth  and 
solid  standing  in  the  county.  He  owned  (i  111  acres 
of  valuable  land,  all  well  improved,  with  substan- 
tial buildings,  and  all  the  appointments  of  a  well- 
managed  farm. 

In  the  death  of  Mr.  Cassel,  which  occurred  July 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


477 


15,  1880.  Pilot  Township  sustained  a  severe  loss. 
as  be  was  in  every  way  a  fine  man  and  a  desirable 
citizen,  who  had  taken  a  strong  interest  in  the 
township  and  had  done  a  great  deal  to  advance  its 
material  prosperity.  He  was  a  considerate  bus- 
band,  a  loving  father  and  a  good  neighbor,  ever 
just  and  upright  in  his  dealings,  lie  was  a  sound 
Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  in  working 
fur  the  good  of  his  party  deemed  that  he  was  pro- 
moting the  highest  interests  of  his  country.  He 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  contributed  liberally  to  the  support  of  the 
Gospel,  and  was  prominent  in  the  management  of 
the  affairs  of  his  church,  holding  its  various  offices. 

Mrs.  Cassel  has  shown  herself  to  be  in  every  way 
worthy  of  her  husband.  She  is  a  quiet,  unobtru- 
sive lady,  who  has  conscientiously  done  her  duty 
in  the  various  departments  of  life  that  she  has 
been  called  on  to  till  as  wife,  mother  ami  friend, 
and  her  place  in  this  community  is  among  our  best 
ami  most  warmly  esteemed  people.  -She  possesses 
excellent  judgment  and  sound  common  sense,  and 
is  a  wise  manager,  so  that  her  husband's  estate  has 
not  diminished  in  value  since  it  came  into  her 
hands. 

A  view  of  her  pleasant  home  is  given  on  another 
page  of  this  volume,  and  is  a  good  representation 
of  (me  of  the  most  comfortable  country  residences 
in  the  county. 

-  <yx>   - 

"    oCx>    * 


5  RCHIBALD    McDOWELL,    an    honored 
citizen  and  early  pioneer  of  this  section   of 


I!  the  State  of  Illinois,  is  now  passing  his  ad- 
vanced years  in  the  quiet  of  his  home, 
looking  back  upon  a  long  record  of  usefulness  that 
perhaps  is  not  equaled  by  any  of  his  compeers.  He 
was  born  in  Todd  County,  sixteen  miles  from  Hop- 
kinsville,  Kv.,  Sept.  1,  181:3.  William  and  Mollie 
Nancy  (Thompson)  McDowell  were  his  parents 
anil  were  born  in  Greenbrier  County,  Va.  Shortly 
after  their  marriage  they  removed  to  what  was 
then  called  Christian  County  (later  Todd)  Ky., 
where  all  of  their  children  were  born,  whose  names 
follow:  Josiah,  Margaret,  John  I)..  Eliza,  James, 
Archibald,    Robert    and    William.     All    of    these 


came  to  Illinois  with  their  parents  in  1826.  and  of 
whom  now  only  two  are  living,  Archibald  and  Wil- 
liam. 

William  McDowell  was  t  he  owner  of  a  large  plan- 
tation in  Kentucky,  but  a  desire  seized  him  to  em- 
igrate to  Illinois,  a  move  which  he  never  regretted. 
The  journey  was  made  by  the  means  of  one  wagon 
and  a  cart,  which  were  drawn  by  oxen.  Ik'  started 
with  thirty  head  of  cattle  and  thirteen  head  of 
horses.  On  the  road  the  cattle  were  all  seized  by 
an  epidemic,  as  were  also  the  horses,  and  when  they 
landed  at  their  destination  an  inventory  of  their 
stock  exhibited  the  fact  that  they  had  one  cow,  one 
ox,  and  one  horse.  He  settled  in  Crawford  County, 
four  miles  from  Palestine,  where  he  lived  six  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Vermilion  County.  It  was 
under  these  early  circumstances  and  environments 
that  Archibald  McDowell  grew  to  manhood.  The 
country  for  a  few  years  after  his  father's  arrival  in 
Illinois  was  entirely  destitute  of  educational  privi- 
leges, and  when  alleged  school-houses  were  erected, 
the  advantages  to  obtain  an  education  were  not 
very  much  better.  The  teachers  of  those  days  were 
not  chosen  for  their  especial  literary  qualifications, 
but  for  their  physical  ability.  'I he  schools  lasted 
only  four  to  six  months  in  the  year. 

About  two  years  after  William  McDowell  re- 
moved to  this  county  he  desired  to  return  to  Ken- 
tucky to  settle  up  some  affairs,  which  he  did.  On 
his  return  trip  to  Illinois  he  was  seized  with  a  ma- 
lignant fever  and  died.  Several  members  of  the 
family  who  went  to  see  him,  were  also  taken  ill 
with  the  same  disease  which  carried  off  two  of  the 
children,  the  mother  and  one  brother  recovering 
after  a  long  siege  of  illness.  Archibald,  William 
and  one  of  the  younger  sisters  were  the  only  ones 
of  the  family  who  were  not  ill.  The  following 
season  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  William 
planted  the  crops  alone  and  from  that  day  Archibald 
became  the  head  of  the  household. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Mr.  McDowell  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  llildreth,  who  is  a  native  of 
Bourbon  County,  Ky.,and  reared  in  Illinois.  Her 
parents  came  to  this  State  in  1833.  After  Mr.  Mc- 
Dowell's marriage  he  settled  on  11.")  acres  of  land 
which  belonged  to  his  mother  and  the  heirs.  His 
energy  and  industry   united   with    his  speculative 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


genius  in  handling  land,  soon  placed  him  compara- 
tively well-off.  His  first  wife  lived  fifteen  years 
after  marriage,  when  she  died,  leaving  six  children: 
Columbus.  Louisa.  Margaret  A..  William,  Nancy  A. 
and  Melissa.  Mr.  McDowell's  second  marriage  oc- 
curred in  1859  to  Miss  Cynthia  Ann  Seals,  who  was 
born  in  Clark  County.  111.  She  is  still  living  and  is 
the  mother  of  the  following  children:  John  I..  Alice 
J. .George,  Amanda,Thomas,  Cyrus,Ora  and  Odbert. 
Mrs.  McDowell  is  the  daughter  of  Ivan  and  Nancy 
Seals,  the  former  being  born  in  Virginia,  while  the 
latter  is  a  native  of  Kentucky.  This  couple  had  five 
children  who  grew  to  maturity:  Henry,  .lane, 
William.  Cynthia  and  Taylor.  Henry,  William  and 
Taylor,  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army  and  only  one 
of  the  trio  returned  from  the  war.  William  is  now- 
fanning  near  Preston,  Kan.;  .lane  married  William 
Craig.  They  are  living  four  miles  east  of  Oak- 
land, 111. 

Mrs.  McDowell  was  reared  in  Clark  County,  111., 
and  came  to  Edgar  County,  when  she  was  eighteen 
years  old,  where  her  parents  died,  the  father  in 
187SaU;he  age  of  sixty-six  years  and  the  mother  in 
1876  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  Mr.  Mc- 
Dowell has  held  several  places  of  responsibility,  es- 
pecially those  pertaining  to  educational  advance- 
ment, he  having  served  for  sixteen  years  as  a 
School  Director.  Politically  he  is  in  sympathy 
with  the  labor  movement,  although  raised  in  the 
Democratic  faith. 

The  Chicago  A:  Ohio  River  Railroad  was  built  in 
1881.  when  Mr.  McDowell  gave  that  corporation  the 
right  of  way  through  his  land.  A  depot  was  erected 
upon  his  premises  and  the  station  was  named  Archie 
in  honor  of  the  owner  of  the  land.  The  Post-office 
also  goes  by  the  same  name. 


VfOHN  P.  CLOYD,  M.  D.,  the  leading  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  of  Georgetown,  and  a  very 
able  practitioner,  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
place  since  18(i9.  A  conscientious  attention 
to  business  and  a  more  than  ordinary  understand- 
ing of  the  duties  of  his  calling  has  resulted  in  the 
building  up  of  a  fine  patronage,  while  at  the  same 


time  he  i-  liberal-minded  and  public-spirited,  and 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  popular  men  of 
the  place.  In  personal  appearance  he  is  of  fine 
stature,  with  a  pleasing  address  and  an  ever  ready 
wit.  and  is  welcomed  as  a  general  favorite  in  the 
social  circles.  As  a  busiuess  man  his  career  has 
been  irreproachable. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  the  old  home  of  An- 
drew Johnson,  in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  June  28,  1838, 
and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Julia  (Northington) 
Cloyd,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton County,  Tenn.,  and  was  the  son  of  a  native  of 
Virginia,  who  carried  a  musket  in  the  War  of  1812. 
The  great-grandfather,  William  Cloyd,  was  born  in 
Bellemony,  Ireland,  and  was  of  pure  Scotch  ances- 
try, followers  of  the  Protestant  religion.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
whence  she  removed  with  her  parents  to  East  Ten- 
nessee when  a  young  lady.  The  Northingtons  were 
of  Scotch-Irish  blood,  while  the  maternal  grand- 
mother of  our  subject,  formerly  a  Miss  Crouch,  was 
of  English  stock.  The  Cloyds  were  represented  in 
this  country  during  the  colonial  days  and  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  Grandfather  James  B.  Cloyd  was  in 
the  War  of  1812  under  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  and 
also  fought  the  Creek  Indians  in    Alabama. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  East  Tennessee,  where  they  spent  their 
entire  lives.  The  father  carried  on  a  wagon  manufac- 
tory, turning  out  the  celebrated  old  schooner-bed, 
six-horse  wagon,  numbers  of  which  were  afterwards 
seen  making  their  way  slowly  to  the  Great  West, 
over  the  trackless  prairie.  He  was  a  very  indus- 
trious and  energetic  man  and  accumulated  a  good 
property.  He  died,  however,  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty  years,  after  a  short  illness  of  pneumonia,  in 
1848.  lie  left  his  widow  with  three  children:  John 
Patton,  our  subject,  David  Northington  and  Ja- 
nus W. 

After  our  subject  had  attained  manhood  his 
mother  contracted  a  second  marriage,  and  there  was 
born  one  child.  She  died  at  Greenville,  Tenn.,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  John  Patton  Cloyd 
received  a  common  school  education,  and  as  soon 
as  old  enough  began  assisting  his  father  in  the 
wagon  shop.      Later  he  entered  Rhea   Academy   at 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


479 


Greenville,  where    be  completed   the   preparatory 

course,  and  about  this  time  decided  upon  entering 
the  medical  profession.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  became  a  student  in  Washington  County.  Last 
Tenn..  but  on  account  of  limited  means  was  obliged 
to  abandon  Ins  studies  and  engage  in  teaching.  At 
the  close  of  his  first  term  he  set  out  for  Indiana, 
and  halting  in  Vermillion  County  taught  school 
two  years,  and  in  1859  came  to  Illinois. 

Here  our  subject  followed  the  profession  of  a 
pedagogue  until  1864.  In  the  meantime  he  em- 
ployed his  leisure  hours  in  the  study  of  medicine, 
which  he  had  begun  when  a  youth  of  eighteen.  In 
1864  he  repaired  to  Chicago,  and  entering  Rush 
Medical  College  took  two  courses  of  lectures,  and 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1869.  In  the  mean- 
time, however,  he  had  begun  the  practice  of  his  cho- 
sen profession  at  Yankee  Point,  three  and  one-half 
years  prior  to  receiving  his  diploma  from  Rush. 
After  leaving  the  college  Dr.  Cloyd  established 
himself  in  Georgetown,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained, lie  has  suffered  nothing  else  to  distract 
his  attention  from  the  duties  of  his  profession,  and 
besides  being  the  oldest  practitioner  in  the  place,  is 
the  most  skillful  and  successful. 

In  1859  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Hannah  Golden,  a  native  of  this  county,  and 
the  daughter  of  .lacob  and  Alcie  (Frazier)  Golden: 
they  also  were  from  Last  Tennessee  and  numbered 
among  the  pioneers  of  Flwood  Township,  this 
county.  Of  this  union  there  have  been  born  five 
children:  Richard.  Belle,  Frazier,  Grace  and  John, 
the  latter  now  a  bright  lad  of  ten  years ;  Richard 
has  chosen  his  father's  profession,  and  is  a  student 
at  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  in  the  class  of 
".10.  Prior  to  entering  there  he  was  graduated  from 
the  Eastern  Illinois  College,  and  has  taught  school 
live  years  in  this  county;  Belle  is  the  wife  of  Rev. 
I).  G.  Murray,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  .Jacksonville,  and  they  have  one  child. 
Rose;  Frazier  is  following  the  profession  of  a 
teacher  in  this  county  ;  Grace  and  John  are  at  home 
with  their  parents.  The  family  residence  is  pleas- 
antly situated  in  the  central  part  of  the  village  and 
is  the  frequent  resort  of  its  best  people. 

'I'll''  Doctor,  socially,  belongs  to  Russell  Lodge 
No.  1 04,  A.  F.  A-  A.  M..  at  Georgetown,  and  is  also 


a  member  of  Athelstan  Commandery  at  Danville. 
He  has  been  Master  In  his  lodge  at  Georgetown 
since  the  time  of  his  first  election  in  1873,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years.  He  is  a  charter  member 
of  the  Medical  Association  of  Vermilion  County, 
and  one  of  its  brightest  lights.  Politically,  he  affil- 
iates with  the  Democratic  party. 


aHARLFS  COOPER.  There  is  probably  no 
more  popular  or  more  promising  young 
'  citizen  of  Carroll  Township  than  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice.  Nature  has  endowed  him  with 
those  admirable  qualities  which  constitute  the  basis 
of  all  good  society  and  upon  which  the  wellbeing 
of  a  community  depends.  He  is  fully  in  sympathy 
with  the  broad,  free,  independent  life  of  a  farmer, 
and  is  comfortably  established  at  a  neat  homestead, 
160  acres  in  extent  and  pleasantly  located  on  sec- 
tion 7.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  line  cattle  ami 
horses  and  is  able  to  exhibit  some  of  the  handsom- 
est specimens  of  these  to  be  found  in  the  county. 
His  farm  is  finely  located  near  the  village  of  Indi- 
anola,  and  the  dwelling  is  just  far  enough  from  the 
highway  to  insure  quiet,  seclusion  and  cleanliness. 
In  its  appointments  and  surroundings  it  very 
nearly  realizes  the  modern  idea  of  the  country 
home. 

Our  subject,  a  native  of  this  county,  was  born 
in  Georgetown  Township.  Dec.  30,  1857,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  E.  Cooper,  a  Virginian  b}'  birth, 
who  upon  leaving  his  native  state  emigrated  to 
Ohio  and  in  1840  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Georgetown  Township,  this  county,  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Cook,  and  after  establishing  a  home  of 
his  own,  set  himself  to  work  to  gain  a  competence 
and  become  a  man  among  men.  He  was  prospered 
in  his  labors  and  in  due  time  became  one  of  the 
foremost  men  of  his  town  and  the  owner  of  640 
acres  of  land.  He  kept  himself  thoroughly  posted 
with  regard  to  the  new  methods  of  farming  pro- 
duced from  time  to  time,  and  purchased  and  used 
the  first  steel  plow  ever  brought  to  this  county. 

The  old  Cooper  homestead  is  a  familiar  feature 
in  the  landscape  to  most  of  the  older  residents  of 


480 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


this  region.  Tlie  farm  is  embellished  with  a  large 
brick  mansion  four  stories  in  height,  with  an  ob- 
servatory  wliose  roof  is  reared  fifty-nine  feet  from 
the  ground.  John  E.  Cooper  and  his  excellent 
wife  were  both  consistent  Christians  and  members 
in  good  standing  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  father  departed  this  life  at  the  old 
homestead  in  1885  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years; 
the  mother  is  still  living  and  is  now  aged  sixty- 
one.  The  nine  children  comprising  the  household 
circle  are  recorded  as  follows:  George  B.,  the  eldest, 
and  John  W.,  the  second  son  and  third  child,  are 
conducting  in  partnership  a  large  livery  establish- 
ment at  Greencastle,  Ind.;  George  married  Miss 
Carrie  Moreland,  and  is  the  father  of  three  children, 
Opie,  Effort  and  Glenn;  .John  married  Miss  Nora 
Hill,  and  they  also  have  three  children.  Elmo, 
Elgin  and  Jennie;  Miss  Jennie  Cooper  married 
Russell  . bines,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Carthage.  Mo.,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Beit;  Sally  was  married  to  John  A.  Gilkey,  who  is 
now  deceased,  and  she  has  two  children.  Signal 
and  Ora;  they  reside  at  the  Cooper  homestead  with 
the  mother;  Annie  is  also  at  home;  Lizzie  became 
the  wife  of  Will  Moreland,  and  died  leaving  one 
child.  Johnnie;  Kate  married  J.  P.  Jones,  a  whole- 
sale and  retail  merchantof  Ft.  Scott.  Mo.;  < J n in  I,. 
is  unmarried  and  operates  the  old  Cooper  home- 
stead . 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  little  lad  of  four 
years  when  his  father  purchased  the  land  which  he 
afterward  constructed  into  one  of  the  finest  farms 
of  this  region.  He  there  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  assisting  his  father  in  the  development  of 
the  land  and  acquiring  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon school.  He  remained  a  member  of  the  parental 
household  until  twenty-four  years  old,  and  was 
married  in  September,  1882,  to  Miss  Kate,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Catherine  T.  ( Hedges)  More- 
land,  who  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  They  came 
to  Illinois  at  an  early  day  and  Mrs.  Cooper  was 
born  in  Carroll  Township,  this  county,  in  18G0. 
The  first  year  after  his  marriage  our  subject  rented 
the  did  Moreland  Farm  and  then  moved  upon  that 
which  he  now  occupies.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
mad  horses  and  is  in  the  habit  of  carrying  off  the 
blue  ribbons   at  the  Danville  and  Catlin  fairs.      In 


c:iitl  •  his  favorite  breed  is  the  Short-horn,  of  which 
he  has  some  excellent  specimens  with  registered 
pedigree.  In  1881  he  rented  the  Hedges  farm 
which  he  has  since  conducted  with  success. 

Two  bright  children  grace  the  family  cirele, 
Fleda  and  Luie,  who  are  aged  three  and  five  re- 
spectively. Although  having  little  time  to  give 
to  politics.  Mr.  Cooper  is  a  man  of  decided  ideas 
and  gives  his  unqualified  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  The  beautiful  Woodlawn  Cemetery  is 
within  sight  of  Mr.  Cooper's  home  and  in  which  was 
built  the  Cooper  family  vault,  largely  through  the 
instrumentality  of  the  elder  Cooper,  whose  remains 
now  repose  within  it.  This  vault,  a  tasteful  and 
substantial  structure,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  11.900 
and  adds  greatly  to  the  appearance  of  the  cemetery, 
which  is  frequently  visited  by  the  sight-seers  of 
this  region. 


,/*g|<  ASSIUS  M.  HESTER,  a  young  man  ap- 
\l\  (i,  Proaching  tae  twenty-eighth  year  of  his 
^^^(J  age.  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county  and  was  born  at  his  father's  old  homestead 
in  Elwood  Township.  Dec.  15,  1861.  A  sketch  (if 
his  father,  William  Hester,  will  be  found  on  an- 
other page  in  this  Ai.r.i  \i.  The  latter  is  a  man  of 
note  in  his  community  and  the  son  has  apparently 
inherited  many  of  the  excellent  ((utilities  of  his 
sire. 

Our  subject  studied  his  first  lessons  in  the  .schools 
of  his  native  district  and  later  attended  Vermilion 
Academy.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  started 
out  to  see  the  world  and  going  to  Colorado,  in 
1876,  worked  on  a  farm  four  months,  then  engaged 
in  teaming  between  Fountain  City- and  Colorado 
Springs.  He  also  engaged  in  hauling  hay  and 
whatever  else  he  could  find  to  do.  He  returned 
home  in  the  summer  of  1877  and  remained  on  the 
farm  until  his  marriage. 

The  above-mentioned  interesting  event  in  the 
life  of  our  subject  occurred  on  the  3d  of  Septem- 
ber. 1885.  the  bride  being  Miss  Rosa,  daughter  of 
Rev.  James  Haworth.  Mr.  llaworth  was  formerly  of 
Quaker  Hill,  Ind..  but  is  now  in  Ackworth.  Warren 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


183 


Co.,  [pwa,  where  lie  is  preaching  the  Gospel  in  the 
Friend's  (lunch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hester  were  the 
parents  of  one  child  which  was  taken  from  the 
borne  circle  in  infancy.  Our  subject  like  his  fore- 
fathers belongs  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  is 
Recorder  of  births  and  deaths  in  the  Church  at 
Vermilion  Grove  in  which  he  also  officiates  as 
Treasurer.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  lights  among 
his  religious  brethren  and  a  young  man  who  is  a 
favorite  generally  in  the  social  circles  of  his 
community. 


— *-    0£Cv'<»  ■ 


/UFA)    TILTON.      Could    the    pioneers   of 

\  forty  years  ago  have  been  given  the  power 
to  discern  the  result  of  their  long  and  ar- 
duous Labors  upon  first  coming  to  this  section  of 
country,  they  won  hi  have  had  everything  to  en- 
courage them,  and  there  would  have  been  little 
excuse  for  any  failure  which  they  might  have 
made.  As  it  was,  many  of  them  were  giving- the 
besl  part  of  their  lives  to  an  experiment. as  it  were, 
hoping  indeed  that  their  labors  would  be  rewarded, 
but  not  being  entirely  assured  of  the  fact.  Too 
much  credit,  therefore,  cannot  be  given  them  for 
the  manner  in  which  they  persevered  under  many 
difficulties,  and  to  them  is  the  present  generation 
indebted  for  the  blessings  which  they  to-day  enjoy, 
the  comforts  of  life  and  many  of  its  luxuries. 

Among  those  who  were  willing  to  risk  their  labor 
and  their  capital  on  ;i  new  soil  during  the  early 
settlement  of  this  county,  was  he  whose  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  anil  who  was 
then  at  the  beginning  of  life's  journey.  He  had 
little  capital  but  his  own  strong  hands  and  resolute 
will,  but  he  entered  upon  the  task  before  him  with 
that  high  courage  which  distinguished  so  many  of 
his  compeers.  As  he  now  looks  over  his  fine  farm 
of  400  acres,  the  toils  and  labors  of  those  first  years 
seem  to  melt  away  in  the  reward  of  the  present. 
His  home  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  29,  town- 
ship 23,  range  12.  lie  purchased  his  land  from  the 
Government  in  the  fall  of  1852,  paying  therefor 
|1.25  pel-  acre.       It  was  then  a  raw  prairie,  which 


the  plowshare  had  never  touched,  and  there  WHS 
not  a  tree  or  shrub  upon  the  whole  area. 

The  flrsl  business  of  our  Subject  after  purchasing 
his  land  was  to  provide  a  shelter  for  himself  and 
family.  He  purchased  a  small  house  in  1  Iiggins- 
ville.  which  he  had  removed  to  his  farm,  and  then 
put  in  his  first  season's  crops,  after  which  he  began 
those  improvements  naturally  suggested  to  the  in- 
telligent and  enterprising  farmer.  The  only  wagon 
road  through  this  part  of  the  country  at  this  time 
was  the  old  Chicago  road,  and  wild  animals  were 
plentiful,  so  that  the  family  never  lacked  for  meat. 
A  number  of  years  passed  before  the  land  was  all 
brought  to  a  state  of  cultivation,  but  in  due  time 
it  began  to  assume  the  proportions  of  a  well-re- 
gulated farm,  with  substantial  fences  and  good 
buildings.  Mr.  Tilton  has  set  out  good  shade  and 
fruit  trees,  and  has  the  latest  improved  machinery 
for  the  tilling  of  the  toil.  lie  is  looked  upon  as 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  township,  and 
one  who  has  contributed  his  full  share  in  develop- 
ing  its  resources. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near  the 
town  of  Sherbrook,  Canada,  March  5,  1821,  and 
lived  there  until  a  youth  of  fourteen  years.  His 
parents  then  removed  to  Ohio,  whence  they  came 
to  this  county  in  1836.  They  settled  at  Danville, 
where  the  father  established  a  brick  kiln,  and  also 
operated  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  among 
other  work  constructed  a  dam  across  the  Vermil- 
ion for  the  mill  built  by  Amos  Williams,  who  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  millers  in  this  part  of 
the  State.  Fred  assisted  his  father  in  his  labors, 
and  in  1838  was  engaged  in  hauling  stone  for  the 
abutments  of  the  Wabash  Railroad,  which  was 
being  built  by  the  State.  He  also  that  year  for  a 
time  carried  the  mail  from  Danville  to  Joliet,  a 
distance  of  110  miles  with  about  seven  offices  be- 
tween. There  was  not  a  bridge  between  the  two 
places,  and  the  trip  occupied  two  days.  Many  a 
time  he  made  it  with  not  a  thing  in  the  mail  bag. 
A  huge  number  of  people  in  this  region  were  then 
suffering  from  ague,  and  not  able  even  to  get  out 
and  cut  the  feed  for  the  horses,  so  the  mail-carrier 
had  to  do  it  himself.  Young  Tilton  was  thus  in 
the  employ  of  Uncle  Sam  until  the  fall  of  1840, 
and  then,  settling   upon  a  tract  of  land    in  Middle 


484 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Fork  Township,  about  ten  miles  north  of  Danville, 
began  farming  on  his  own  account. 

In  due  time  our  subject  by  dilligent  labor  was  in 
a  condition  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  and  in 
May.  1846,  look  unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate, 
Miss  Affa  K.  Horton.  Shortly  afterward  they  re- 
moved to  North  Fork  Township,  where  Mr.  Tilton 
rented  land  of  Alvin  Gilbert,  and  as  soon  as  other 
land  in  that  region  came  into  market  he  purchased 
160  acres.  One  of  the  first  tasks  to  which  he  set 
himself  on  his  new  farm  was  to  plant  a  grove  of 
biicst  trees,  and  as  the  result  of  this  he  has  now  cut 
from  this  his  own  fire  wood  for  the  last  five  or  six 
years.  Ac  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  720  acres 
Of  land,  all  of  which  he  brought  to  a  state  of  cul- 
tivation. Finally  he  turned  his  attention  to  stock- 
raising,  which  yielded  him  handsome  profits.  He 
has  seen  the  time  when  a  large  hog  dressed  sold  for 
*l  to  $1.25,  and  a  small  one  at  seventy-five  cents, 
and  under  these  circumstances  Mr.  Tilton.  like 
many  of  his  neighbors,  naturally  met  with  some 
difficulty  in  making  both  ends  meet. 

Mr.  Tilton,  in  reviewing  a  career  which  has  been 
remarkably  successful,  acknowledges  that  lie  has 
been  greatly  assisted  by  his  intelligent  and  sensible 
wife,  who  stood  by  him  through  sunshine  and  storm, 
and  by  her  careful  management  of  her  household 
expenses,  proved  a  most  wise  and  efficient  help- 
mate. 

As  the  farm  of  our  subject  grew  in  dimensions 
and  value,  so  also  the  household  circle  enlarged, 
and  eight  of  the  ten  children  born  to  him  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  still  living:  Mary,  the  eldest 
daughter,  is  now  the  wife  of  Wesley  Blackford; 
they  live  in  Butler  Township,  and  have  two  chil- 
dren; George  was  first  married  to  Miss  Mary  Judy. 
who  died  after  becoming  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, lie  was  then  married  to  Miss  Florence 
Clemens,  and  lives  on  his  160-acre  farm  given  him 
by  his  father,  lying  east  of  the  homestead.  Sarah 
is  unmarried  and  remains  with  her  parents;  Charles 
occupies  a  120-acre  farm  given  him  by  his  father; 
James  is  cultivating  eighty  acres  of  his  own  land; 
Alice  is  a  milliner  by  trade  and  does  business  at 
Potomac;  Jane  is  the  wife,  of  Perry  Fowler,  of 
Red  Lake  Falls,  Minn.,  and  the  mother  of  one  child; 
Jesse  G.  is  at  home  with  his  father.      The  children 


of  Mr.  Tilton  have  been  carefully  trained  and  edu- 
cated, and  thoroughly  fitted  for  their  future  sta- 
tions, as  the  representatives  of  one  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies in  the  township. 

Mrs.  Affa  K.  (Horton)  Tilton  was  bom  in  Haber- 
sham' County,  Ga.,  April  16,  182-1,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  David  Horton,  who  was  a  prominent 
local  politician,  and  remained  in  Georgia  during  the 
Confederate  days.  His  daughter  came  north  with 
her  future  husband.  Mr.  Tilton,  riding  600  miles 
on  horseback  aud  being  on  the  road  twenty-one 
days.  She  lived  with  her  aunt  in  Blount  Township 
until  her  marriage;  her  father  is  still  living  in 
Georgia,  and  is  quite  well  advanced  in  years. 
Abial  F.  Tilton,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire  late  in  1700.  and  when 
leaving  his  native  State,  removed  first  to  Vermont, 
and  later  to  Canada.  In  the  Dominion  he  married 
Miss  Cynthia  Thompson,  of  Massachusetts,  and 
they  reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  six  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Finally  coming  West,  he  settled 
in  Danville,  this  county,  at  an  early  day,  but  after- 
ward moved  to  Middle  Fork  Township,  and  began 
farming.  He  departed  this  life  in  1866.  His  wife 
had  die'  in  1838.  Mr.  Tilton  is  an  Independent  in 
politics,  but  of  late  years  has  voted  the  Prohibition 
ticket.  He  served  as  Township  Supervisor  two 
years,  also  officiated  as  Township  Trustee,  and  has 
occupied  other  positions  of  trust.  He  is  a  man 
uniformly  esteemed  and  respected  by  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  is  considered  a  representative  of  the 
best  elements  of  his  community.  A  lithographic 
view  of  Mr.  Tilton's  residence  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 


+*» 


Ip_  ENRY  COTTON,  familiarly  known  through- 
ill)))  out  Westville  and  vicinity,  as  '-Uncle 
'l^y     Harry"  and   "The  Squire,"   is  one   of   the 

■i^)  most  popular  men  of  the  place,  and  an 
especial  favorite  with  the  "boys."  There  is  not  a 
more  genial  or  companionable  individual  in  this 
region,  and  he  has  the  faculty  of  preserving,  under 
all  circumstances,  that  equable  temperament  and 
serene  countenance,  which  is  one  of  man's  best 
gifts.       He  occupies  himself  as  a  general  merchant 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


185 


and  without  being  wealthy  is  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances, enjoying  a  fair  income  and  a  modest 
home.  Ele  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  tins  section 
and  has  been  prominent  from  the  start,  serving  as 
Postmaster  and  occupying  other  positions  of  trust 
and  res| sibility. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Decatur  County,  Ind., 
March  19.  1822.  His  father.  Robert  Cotton,  was 
born  in  the  vicinity  of  Beardstown,  Ky.,  and  emi- 
grated to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1822,  during 
the  period  of  its  earliest  settlement  and  when  few 
white  men  had  ventured  onto  the  frontier.  Henry 
was  then  an  infant  of  six  months  and  is  therefore 
one  of  the  oldest  living  settlers  of  the  county. 
Mrs.  Hannah  (Howard)  Cotton,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place  as  her  hus- 
band and  was  there  reared  and  married  and  became 
the  mother  of  two  children  in  the  Blue  < '<  rass  State. 
Upon  leaving  Kentucky  they  removed  to  Switzer- 
land County,  hid.,  and  not  long  afterward  to  De- 
catur County,  whence  they  came  to  this  county. 
The  Cottons  trace  their  ancestry  to  the  stanch  old 
Puritan  slock  of  Massachusetts,  where  John  Cot 
ton,  one  of  its  first  representatives  in  this  country, 
settled  at  a  very  early  date  and  figured  conspic- 
uously in  public  affairs. 

The  father  of  our  subject  only  lived  twoyears  after 
coming  to  this  count}',  dying,  when  a  young  man, 
in  1824.  He  left  his  widow  with  a  family  of  seven 
children  of  whom  Henry  was  next  to  the  youngest. 
He,  like  his  brothers  and  sisters,  grew  up  amid  the 
wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life  at  a  time  when  wild  ani- 
mals abounded  in  this  region,  deer  being  especially 
plentiful,  and  wolves  howled  around  their  cabin 
door  at  night.  Frequently  the  broad  and  unhab- 
ited  prairie  covered  with  wild  dry  grass,  was  lighted 
up  by  a  conflagration,  started  perhaps  by  sonic  un 
wary  traveler  dropping  a.  spark  from  his  pipe, 
when  the  smoke  and  flames  would  sweep  perhaps 
for  miles  destroying  animal  life  to  a  great  extent 
and  threatening  that  of  human  beings.  Every 
level-headed  settler  made  it  his  first  business  to 
protect  himself  from  this  catastrophe  by  plowing 
around  his  dwelling  and  thus  destroying  the  food 
or  the  flames  which  could  be  forestalled  in  no 
other  way. 

The  education  of  the  Cotton   children    was  con- 


fined to  a  few  months  instruction  each  year  in  a 
log  school-house,  with  puncheon  floor,  seats  and 
desks  made  from  unplancd  slalis.  the  window 
panes  of  greased  paper,  a  huge  lire-place  extending 
nearly  across  one  end  of  the  building  and  the  chiin- 
ne\  built  outside  of  earth  and  sticks.  The  system 
of  instruction  corresponded  with  the  time  and 
place,  little  being  required  of  the  teacher  except  to 
be  able  to  read,  write  and  ••cipher."  Henry  Cot- 
ton, however,  availed  himself  of  these  meager  ad- 
vantages and  in  is  II  began  leaching  and  followed 
this  during  the  winter  season  for  two  or  three  years. 
In  the  meantime  on  the  Kith  of  January,  1845,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Getty,  a  descendant 
of  the  well-known  Getty  family  of  Pennsylvania, 
from  which  the  town  which  gained  historic  fame 
during  the  Rebellion  was  named. 

Upon  reaching  manhood,  our  subject,  leaving  the 
farm  took  to  the  river  and  followed  the  life 
of  a  flatboatman  during  which  he  made  eighteen 
trips  to  and  from  New  Orleans.  It  was  upon  one 
of  these  trips  that  he  met  his  future  wife  at  Vin- 
cennes,  Ind.,  where  in  due  time  they  were  married 
and  began  housekeeping,  residing  at  Vincennes 
eight  years.  When  not  on  the  river  Mr.  Cotton 
occupied  himself  as  a  carpenter.  Upon  coming  to 
this  county,  he  began  fanning  in  Danville  Town- 
ship and  was  on  the  highway  to  prosperity,  having 
comfortable  means  and  last  but  not  least,  a  family 
of  four  interesting  children.  This  happy  state  was 
broken  in  upon  by  the  notes  of  war,  and  in  response 
to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  300,000  men 
for  three  years,  our  subject  enlisted  July  '.>.  1862, 
in  Company  G,  125th  Illinois  Infantry.  lb;  was 
mustered  into  service  at  Danville,  where  the 
company  remained  drilling  for  a  time,  then  was 
ordered  to  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  and  from  there  to 
Louisville,  Ky.  They  drilled  also  at  the  latter 
place  and  then  proceeded  to  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  where 
during  the  arduous  duties  assigned  him.  Mr.  Cotton 
was  over-heated  and  suffered  so  long  thereafter 
from  illness  that  he  was  obliged  to  accept  his  hon- 
orable discharge  in  February.  1863. 

In  the  tall  of  the  year  above  mentioned  Mr. 
Cotton  changed  his  residence  to  Knox  County, 
Ind.,  where  lie  sojourned  ten  years.  His  next  re- 
moval was  to   Clay    County,    this  State,  and  from 


4SG 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


there  he  returned  to  this  county  in  1882  and  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  at  Westville.  On 
April  30,  1883  his  store  and  stock  was  destroyed 
by  lire  but  he  rebuilt  and  in  time  attained  to  his 
old  footing  financially.  He  was  appointed  Post- 
master  of  Westville  under  President  Arthur  and 
served  three  years.  For  four  years  he  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  has  discharged  tha  duties 
of  this  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction 
to   all  concerned. 

Mr.  Cotton  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Henry  Clay  in  1844,  being  a  member  of  the  old 
Whig  party.  Upon  its  abandonment  he  cordially 
endorsed  Republican  principles  and  has  since  given 
his  undivided  support  to  this  party.  Socially  he 
is  a  prominent  member  of  Kyger  Post,  G.  A.  R.  at 
Georgetown.  He  is  the  father  of  six  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Robert  I).,  died  Aug.  13,  1888  and 
left  two  children.  William  I.,  the  second  son,  was 
also  married,  became  the  father  of  two  children  and 
died  Feb.  29,  1881;  John  H.  died  Sept.  30,  1888; 
Mary  J.  died  in  infancy;  George  Flmer  is  a  well- 
to-do  farmer  of  McLean  County,  this  State,  and  the 
father  of  one  child;  Ellen,  the  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily, is  at  home  with  her  parents.  Both  Mr.  Cotton 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ins:  of  the  Christian  Church. 


S7  AWRENCE  V.  MANNING,  the  veteran 
I  ((§  threshing  machine  man  of  Sidell  Township, 
1^^-,  established  himself  at  this  business  in  Ver- 
million County.  Ind.,  as  early  as  1863  and  with 
the  exception  of  eight  years  spent  at  Fairmount 
has  since  been  engaged  therein.  He  has  worn  out 
several  machines,  at  first  using  horses,  but  as  time 
passed  on  availed  himself  of  the  modern  improve- 
ments in  connection  with  this  business  and  now 
has  one  of  the  latest  and  most  improved  machines 
in  use,  the  Hubert  Thresher,  which  is  operated  by 
a  12-horse  power  engine,  with  the  Shrieves  Stacker. 
This  has  a  capacity  of  3,300  bushels  of  oats  in 
nine  hours,  as  demonstrated  by  Mr.  Manning,  who 
has  performed  with  it  some  of  the  biggest  day's 
work  in  this  line  on  record  in  Vermilion  County. 


Personally,  the  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  fine  appearance,  large,  symmetrical  and 
well  developed,  and  with  mental  powers  equal  to 
his  stature  and  muscular  system.  As  a  business 
man  he  has  uniformly  displayed  superior  judgment, 
investing  his  capital  wisely  and  has  thus  acquired 
a  handsome  property.  Politically,  he  is  a  strong 
Republican  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  members 
of  his  party  in  this  section.  A  native  of  Tomp- 
kins Count}',  N.  Y.,  he  was  born  June  24,  1836,  and 
is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Harriet  (Austin)  Manning, 
also  natives  of  that  county.  The  Manning  family 
is  of  Scotch  and  English  blood  and  crossed  the 
Atlantic  at  an  early  day,  settling  in  New  England, 
where  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
born.  Both  he  and  Grandfather  Austin  were  early 
pioneers  of  Tompkins  County,  N.  Y.  Secretary 
Manning  belonged  to  the  same  family. 

The  father  of  our  subject  learned  the  carpenter 
trade  earl}-  in  life  and  was  married  in  Tompkins 
Count}-,  N.  Y.,  whence  he  removed  in  1839  to  Ber- 
lin, this  State,  where  he  began  working  at  his  trade, 
but  died  that  same  year,  leaving  his  widow  with 
three  children — John,  Jeremiah  and  Lawrence  Van 
Cleark.  The  latter  was  but  three  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death.  The  mother  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time  to  J.  SI.  Rogers  at  Springfield 
and  removed  from  there  in  1845  to  Vermillion 
County,  Ind.,  settling  in  Parisville,  where  Mr. 
Rogers  prosecuted  his  trade  of  cooper  and  firially 
became  owner  of  a  farm.  Of  this  marriage  there 
were  born  five  children. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the 
farm  of  his  stepfather  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind., 
where  his  time  was  filled  in  with  hard  work  and  no 
education  whatever,  he  being  seventeen  years  old 
before  he  could  read  or  write.  At  this  time  he 
started  out  for  himself  without  a  dollar,  and  when 
the  clothing  on  his  back  would  not  have  brought 
this  sum  if  put  up  and  sold  to  the  highest  bidder. 
He  had,  however,  been  trained  to  habits  of  industry 
and  honesty-  and  it  was  his  good  fortune  to  enter 
the  employ  of  one  Mr.  Lewis,  a  school  teacher  for 
whom  he  worked  in  summer  and  under  whose  in- 
struction he  attended  school  winters,  working  nights 
and  mornings  for  his  board.  By  faithful  applica- 
tion to  lits  books  he  learned  the  common   branches 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


is: 


and  tbc  methods  of  transacting  general  business, 
lie  saved  whal  be  could  of  his  earnings  and  in  due 
time  was  enabled  to  buy  a  team. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  years  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Armilda  J.  Swisher  who  was  born 
in  Danville,  this  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Hathaway)  Swisher.  Mr.  Swisher 
was  a  fanner  by  occupation  and  his  family  con- 
sisted of  seven  children,  namely:  Armilda,  Cerilda, 
Alex,  Orilla,  Savilla,  Thomas  and  Lawrence.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Manning  after  their  marriage  settled  on 
the  J.  M.  Rogers'  farm  where  they  lived  two  years, 
then  removed  to  Daniel  Schutze's  farm  where  tbey 
lived  seven  years.  In  1869  Mr.  Manning  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  which  was  improved 
and  considered  the  best  farm  in  that  region  of 
country  and  which  formed  the  nucleus  of  his  pres- 
ent homestead,  which  embraces  200  acres.  He 
labored  early  and  late  in  tilling  the  soil  and  carry- 
ing forward  the  improvements  upon  it  until  1874, 
then  having  contracted  a  painful  disease,  he  left  the 
farm  and  removing  to  Fairmount  engaged  in  the 
hardware  and  agricultural  implement  business  in 
which  he  made  large  sales, but  found  difficulty  in  col- 
lecting and  thus  suffered  a  loss  approaching  $2,500. 
Withdrawing  from  this  venture  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  live-stock  and  subsequently  shipped  thou- 
sands of  dollars  worth.  In  the  meantime  he  also  con- 
ducted a  restaurant  one  year  and  had  been  operat- 
ing his  threshing  machine  as  before  stated. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manning  there  have  been  born 
ten  children:  the  eldest,  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of 
Will  Sanders,  a  farmer  of  Sidell  Township  and 
they  have  two  children  —  Adelbert  and  Bessie. 
Ella  married  George  Reese,  a  farmer  of  Fairmount 
Township  and  they  have  two  children — Nellie  and 
Fred.  The  other  children — Grant,  Sherman,  Mar- 
ion, Lilly,  Eva,  Fanny.  Louis  and  Oscar  are  at 
home  with  their  parents.  In  1887  Mr.  Manning 
erected  a  handsome  and  commodious  residence,  two 
stories  in  height,  32  x  34  feet  and  which  is  finished 
and  furnished  in  modern  style  and  forms  a  most 
attractive  home.  He  believes  in  extracting  all  the 
enjoyment  possible  from  life  and  in  giving  to  his 
children  the  advantages  which  shall  make  of  them 
Hood  ami  useful  citizens.  He  allows  education,  art 
and  music  to  occupy  an  important  pail  of  his  home 


life  and  gives  his  chief  attention  to  the  comforts 
and  happiness  of  his  family.  Both  he  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  are  members  of  the  New  Light  Church 
at  Danville,  in  which  Mr.  Manning  has  officiated 
as  chorister,  possessing  much  musical  talent  and 
having  a  clear,  strong  voice  for  singing. 

While  keeping  himself  well  posted  upon  political 
matters  Mr.  Manning  has  little  ambition  for  the 
emoluments  of  office,  although  serving  as  School 
Director  in  his  district  a  number  of  years  and  he  is 
at  present  a  Trustee.  His  home  is  one  of  the  most 
hospitable  in  this  region  and  no  man  is  more  kind 
or  attentive  in  time  of  sickness  or  trouble  among 
his  neighbors.  He  possesses  considerable  skill  as  a 
physician  and  is  frequently  called  upon  instead  of 
the  regular  practitioner,  having  excellent  judg- 
ment and  quite  an  extensive  experience  in  treating 
various  ailments. 


"..~>*j2£CrSM©.  -^ 


i@f®.OT?r>..<\/<^. 


bENRY  F.  CANADAV.  The  family  of 
this  name  has  been  prominent,  in  this  county 
since  its  pioneer  days  when  they  first  came 
(§§)!  within  its  limits  and  from  a  wilderness 
built  up  good  homes,  acquiring  valuable  property 
and  taking  no  unimportant  part  in  its  advance- 
ment, socially,  morally  and  financially.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  has  a  fine  estate  on  section  34  in 
Klwood  Township,  and  which  in  all  its  details  gives 
evidence  of  the  supervision  of  a  well-regulated 
and  intelligent  mind — the  mind  of  a  man  possess- 
ing energy  and  enterprise  in  a  marked  degree. 
He  was  born  at  Vermilion  Grove,  this  county.  Dec. 
12,  1840,  and  is  consequently  approaching  the  fif- 
tieth year  of  his  age  although  he  would  pass  for  a 
man  many  years  younger.  His  life  is  a  fine  illus- 
tration of  temperance  and  the  correct  habits  which 
form  the  basis  of  good  citizenship. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Fred  Canaday, 
late  of  Elwood  Township  who  entered  land  within 
its  limits,  about  1821-22,  and  built  up  a  valuable 
homestead  upon  which  he  spent  his  last  years.  He 
was  born  in  New  Market.  East  Tenn.,  and  left  his  na- 
tive State  in  the  fall  of  1820,  coming  to  this  county 
and   settling  in   the  wilderness  among  the  Indians 


488 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  wild  animals.  His  father,  Henry  Canaday, 
brought  his  family  North  that  same  fall  and  settled 
near  the  present  city  of  Terre  Haute  whence  lie 
came  to  this  county  the  following  spring.  Henry 
brought  with  him  over  14,000  in  gold  and  silver, 
carrying  it  in  a  box  in  the  front  part  of  his  wagon  as 
he  traveled  overland  with  a  team.  During  that 
journey  they  camped  upon  the  present  site  of  In- 
dianapolis  when  there  was  nothing  to  mark  the 
spot  of  a  future  great  city.  The  wagon  was  drawn 
by  a  six-horse  team  driven  by  one  Robert  E.  Bar- 
nett  and  in  attempting  to  make  a  short  turn  it  was 
tipped  over.  The  precious  box  burst  and  the 
money  was  spilled  out  into  a  little  creek.  They, 
however,  after  much  labor  succeeded  in  rescuing  it 
from  the  mud  and  water  and  proceeded  on  their 
journey. 

The  Canaday  family  for  several  generations  had 
been  born  and  reared  in  the  Quaker  faith  and  had 
the  natural  abhorrence  of  slavery  peculiar  to  that 
peaceable  and  liberty-loving  sect  and  they  deter- 
mined to  get  away  from  the  slave  country.  Henry 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  upon  coming  to 
this  county  entered  several  hundred  acres  of  land 
which  he  sold  to  the  settlers  as  they  slowly  came 
in.  He  was  recognized  the  county  over  as  one  of 
its  benefactors  and  here  spent  bis  last  days. 

Mrs.  Charity  (Haworth)  Canaday,  the  mother  of 
our  subject  was,  like  her  husband,  a  native  of  New 
Market,  Tenn.,  where  they  were  married  one  day 
and  the  next  day  started  on  horseback  for  Vermil- 
ion County.  Seven  of  the  ten  children  born  to 
this  pair  are  still  living — Jane,  Mrs.  Patterson,  is  a 
resident  of  Vermilion  County;  Mary  A.,  Mrs.  Isaac 
Larrance,  lives  in  Topeka,  Kan.;  Henry  F.,  is  the 
next  in  order  of  birth;  Isaac  lives  in  Vermilion 
County;  Sarah,  Mrs.  George  Ankrum,  lives  in 
Ridge  Farm;  John  sojourns  in  Vermilion  County*. 
The  mother  died  while  still  a  young  woman,  in 
1840,  and  Frederick  Canaday  was  subsequently 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Haworth,  in  1849.  He 
died  Nov.  6,  1886. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  completed  his  studies  at 
Vermilion  Grove  Academy  under  the  instruction 
of  Gen.  John  C.  Black.  From  his  youth  up  he 
has  been  familiar  with  farming  pursuits  and  chose 
these  for  his  vocation.     After  the  outbreak  of  the 


Civil  War  he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a  member 
of  Company  A,  2.5th  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  he 
served  two  years  and  was  in  many  of  the  import- 
ant battles  which  followed;  viz :  Pea  Ridge,  Spring- 
field, .Mo..  Stone  River,  Crab  Orchard  and  subse- 
quently served  two  years  in  Company  E,  12th 
Kansas  Mounted  Infantry,  being  in  the  Red  River 
campaign  and  various  other  engagements.  Aft°r 
the  war  closed  he  returned  to  the  peaceful  pursuits 
of  agriculture. 

When  ready  to  establish  domestic  ties  of  his  own 
our  subject  was  married  Sept.  26,  1875,  to  Miss 
Maggie  S.  Brewer.  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of 
John  Brewer,  deceased,  late  of  Parke  County,  Ind.. 
and  was  horn  in  Gurnsey  County.  Ohio.  She 
came  with  her  parents  to  Vermillion  County.  Ind.. 
when  a  small  child  and  later  they  removed  to  Parke 
County.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parents 
of  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living.  Gov- 
ern II.,  who  was  born  June  3,  1886. 

The  farm  of  our  subject  comprises  1  10  acres  of 
choice  land  anil  he  also  has  an  interest  in  his  fa- 
ther's old  homestead.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  continues  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  never 
sought  office  but  as  an  ex-soldier  receiving  an 
honorable  discharge,  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Woodmen  of  America.  Mrs.  Canaday  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
for  the  past  twenty  years. 

John  Brewer,  the  father  of  Airs.  Canaday.  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  the  son  of  Jacob 
Brewer.  Jr.,  also  a  native  of  the  Ke3'stoiie  Slate. 
The  paternal  great-grandfather  was  Jacob  Brewer. 
Sr.,  who  spelled  his  name  "Brower"  and  who  was  a 
native  of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  the  son  of 
Swybrant  Brower,  a  millionaire  of  Amsterdam. 
John  Brewer  married  Miss  Minerva,  daughter  of 
John  Priest  and  his  wife,  Mary  A.  Mercer,  the  lat- 
ter a  daughter  of  John  Jacob  Mercer.  The  last 
named  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1770.  His  grandfather  was 
Gideon  Mercer,  a  very  wealthy  man  who  spent  his 
entire  life  in  the  Fatherland.  John  Jacob  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Govver,  of  Hagerstown,  Bid.,  and 
they    had     one    child — Mary     Ann.    who    married 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


is:  i 


John  Priest  in  1804.  These  families  represented 
a  wide  and  eminently  respectable  following  who 
were  people  generally  well-to-do  and  prominent 
and  influential  citizens.  Both  of  Mrs.  Canaday's 
grandparents  on  the  father's  side  were  descendants 
of  King  Philip  III. 


OHN  E.  BOLDEN.  When  the  Emancipa- 
tion Proclamation  of  Lincoln  was  made,  it 
oroke  the  shackles  of  3,000,000  of  human 
beings.  These  slaves  had  remained  in  ig- 
norance for  generations,  and  their  masters  had  con- 
sidered that  learning  was  dangerous  to  a  colored 
man.  When  their  freedom  became  one  of  the  logi- 
cal sequences  of  the  great  Rebellion,  the  question 
arose.  Will  they  make  good  citizens?  Statesmen  of 
all  shades  of  opinion  have  finally  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  slavery  is  wrong,  and  that  in  all  races 
there  arc  men  who  have  made  a  failure  in  life,  but 
that  the  negro  would  in  time  assimilate  with  his 
white  brother.  Those  who  have  so  willed,  and 
have  grasped  their  new  condition  with  intelli- 
gence— other  things  being  equal — have  solved  the 
problem  of  life  as  well  as  a  majority  of  other  races. 
The  man  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this 
biography  is  one  of  those  who,  born  in  slavery,  has 
made  for  himself  an  honorable  place  among  men. 

John  E.  Bolden  is  a  blacksmith  at  Ridge  Farm, 
where  he  enjoys  a  good  patronage.  He  was  born 
in  Bedford  County,  Va.,  March  :S,  1836,  his  father 
and  mother  being  also  slaves.  Mr.  Bolden  was 
reared  on  a  plantation  by  William  Iludnel.  who 
sold  him  in  1863  to  one  Charles  Miller,  at  Blacks- 
burg,  Montgomery  Co.,  Va.  During  Gen.  Stone- 
man's  raid,  in  February,  1865,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  ran  away  from  slavery,  and  was  taken  in  by 
Company  M..  12th  Ohio  Cavalry.  He  remained 
with  this  company,  doing  his  duty  well,  until  June. 
1865,  when  he  went  to  East  Tennessee  for  the  pur- 
pose of  entering  the  United  States  Army  in  a  col- 
ored regiment,  but  he  was  too  late.  He  then  en- 
caged at  work  at  his  trade,  in  Rheatown.  Tenn.. 
when'  he  continued  to  labor  until  1S70.  when  he 
came  to  Ridge  Farm,  and    has   there   since    worked 


industriously  at  his  trade,  owning  both  his  shop 
and  residence.  This  property  he  has  accumulated 
by  steadfastly  minding  bis  own  business,  working 
hard  and  being  economical. 

On  Feb.  6,  ISC"),  Mr.  Bolden  was  married  to 
Ann  E.  Oble,  just  a  few  days  before  he  ran  away. 
He  left  his  young  wife  in  Virginia,  and  while  in 
Tennessee  he  sent  for  her.  He  is  the  father  of 
twelve  children,  seven  of  whom  arc  living — Laura 
A.,  Yinnie  A.,  John  II.  W.,  Florence  I..,  Mabel  D., 
Joshua  W.  and  an  infant  girl.  Laura  married 
Frank  Davis,  the  barber  of  Ridge  Farm.  Mr.  Bol- 
den has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  here  for  fourteen  years,  and  his  wife  wor- 
ships at  the  same  church,  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
colored  Masonic  Lodge  at  Danville,  and  is  a  man 
who  is  highly  respected  by  all  his  acquaintances 
for  his  many  sterling  qualities.  The  dreams  of 
Garrison,  Wendel  Phillips,  Garrett  Smith  and  John 
G.  Whittier  are  fully  illustrated  as  realities  in  the 
person  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  They  hail 
always  maintained  that  the  colored  man  would 
some  day  take  his  place  among  the  men  of  the 
earth,  and  their  predictions  have  come  true.  Of 
course,  the  color  line  still  exists  in  some  portions 
of  this  great  country,  but  the  time  is  fast  approach- 
ins  when  it  will  be  obliterated. 


>&££&ft^ 


<v*—> 


ffiOHN  BLAKENEY.  This  genial  old  pio- 
neer of  Vermilion  County,  although  ap- 
proaching his  three-score  and  ten  years 
IfiSw  presents  the  picture  of  a  green  old  age.  the 
culmination  of  a  well-spent  life,  during  which  he 
has  marked  his  course  uprightly,  lived  at  peace 
with  his  fellow- men  and  gained  in  a  high  degree 
their  unqualified  esteem.  The  picture  of  the  Sturdy 
oak,  which  has  withstood  the  storms  of  time  and 
maintained  its  strength  and  honor,  may  lie  well 
compared  to  the  life  of  Mr.  Blakeney.  He  has  al- 
ways been  willing  to  "live  and  let  live."  has  helped 
a  fallen  brother  whenever  in  his  power,  and  has 
been  satisfied  in  the  accumulation  of  sufficient  of 
this  world's  goods  to  insure  him  against  want  in  his 
declining  years.     He  owns  and  occupies  a  comfort- 


490 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


able  home  comprising  seventy-seven  acres  of  g 1 

farming  land,  lying  on  sections  land  5  in  George- 
town Township. 

A  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State,  our  subject 
was  born  in  Bourbon  County  April  26,  1820,  and 
lived  there  until  a  lad  of  nine  or  ten  years.  Then 
leaving  Kentucky  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ver- 
milion County,  111.,  in  September,  1829,  and  com- 
pleted his  education  as  it  had  been  begun,  in  a  log 
school-house.  His  father,  John  Blakeney,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  mother,  who  in  her 
girlhood  was  Sarah  Oliver,  was  born  in  Virginia. 
The  Blakeney  family  was  noted  for  its  strong  men, 
who  were  almost  without  exception  finely  devel 
oped  physically,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  spent  their  last  years  in 
Georgetown  Township.  John  Blakeney,  Sr.,  lived  to 
be  seventy-seven  years  old,  and  the  mother  was  six- 
ty-five years  old  at  the  time  of  her  decease.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  namely:  Mar- 
tha, William,  Hezekiah,  Nancy,  John,  Thomas, 
Sarah  J.,  Polly  A.,  Melinda,  Hugh,  James  and 
Angeline. 

Young  Blakeney  grew  up  amid  the  wild  scenes 
of  life  on  the  frontier,  assisting  in  the  development 
of  his  father's  farm,  and  also  followed  the  river 
transporting  produce  from  Danville  to  New  Or- 
leans. He  remained  a  bachelor  until  approaching 
the  twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  was  then 
married  Feb.  10,  184  8,  to  Miss  Angeline,  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Mary  (Ashby)  Bowen,  of  Bourbon 
County,  Ky.  Mrs.  Blakeney  was  a  mere  child  when 
coming  to  Illinois  in  1829.  Her  father  secured  a 
tract  of  land  in  Georgetown  Township,  Vermilion 
County,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  years, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  The  mother 
died  when  comparatively  a  young  woman  and 
when  Mrs.  Blakeney  was  but  a  child,  leaving  four 
children:  Angeline,  Nancy,  John  and  James 
Henry. 

Mrs.  Blakeney,  after  her  mother's  death,  was 
taken  into  the  home  of  her  maternal  grandfather, 
with  whom  she  remained  until  his  death,  then  re- 
turned to  her  father,  who  was  twice  married  after 
the  death  of  his  first  wife.  Of  his  second  union 
there  were  born  six  children  and  none  by  the  third. 
Mrs.  Blakeney  still  retains  a   faint   recollection  of 


her  native  county  in  Kentucky.  Of  her  union  with 
our  subject  there  were  born  ten  children,  namely: 
James  H..  Martha  J..  Wesley.  Mary  C,  who  died 
when  one  year  old ;  Francis,  who  also  died  at  the 
age  of  one  year;  Alwilda,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three;  Lincoln,  who  died  when  a  promising  lad  of 
fourteen  years;  Thomas  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years;  Lura,  who  died  when  one  year  old, 
and  an  infant  who  died  unnamed. 

Both  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are 
members  in  good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mi-.  Blakeney,  politically,  was  a  Whig  until  the 
abandonment  of  the  old  party,  and  is  now  a  strong 
Republican. 

James  II.  Blakeney,  the  eldest  son  of  our  sub- 
ject, married  Miss  Charlotte  Bennett,  and  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Summit  Grove,  Ind.,  and  the  father  of  two 
children,  Nellie  and  Hazel;  Martha  J.  married  John 
Lacy,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Vermilion  County,  this 
State.  They  have  four  children — Hardy.  Elbert, 
Goldie  and  Minnie;  John  married  Josephine  Hinds, 
and  they  have  one  child,  a  sou,  Freddie;  they  are 
residents  of  Georgetown  Township.  Mr.  Blakeney 
has  lived  on  his  present  farm  for  the  long  period 
of  thirty-two  years,  and  has  naturally  become  one 
of  the  old  landmarks,  whose  name  will  be  held  in 
kindly  remembrance  long  after  he  lias  been  gath- 
ered to  his  fathers. 


r  ILLIAM  F.  BANTA,  Ji;  ,  proprietor  of  the 
Ridge   Farm   Flouring   Mill   and   dealer  in 


grain  and  hay,  occupies  a  leading  position 
among  the  business  men  of  Ridge  Farm,  among 
whom  he  has  been  known  from  boyhood.  Me  was 
born  in  El  wood  Township,  Dec.  9,  1857,  and  is  the 
son  of  James  II.  Banta,  a  well  known  and  prominent 
citizen,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Our  subject  remained  with  his  parents  on  the 
farm  until  twelve  years  old,  then  the  family  re- 
moved to  Ridge  Farm.  He  received  a  limited  ed- 
ucation, but  by  keeping  himself  posted  upon  cur- 
rent events,  is  at  once  recognized  as  an  intelligent 
and  well  informed  man.  He  served  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  miller's  trade  and  followed  this  business 


Jtfmw  JOC/yy,  diA  JJ&, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


493 


until  1882,  when  be  purchased  the  mill  propertj 
which  he  uow  owns  and  which  is  operated  under 
his  supervision  by  other  parties.  The  building  was 
put  up  in  1*71  by  Davis  &  Co  and  was  formerly 
operated  by  burr  machinery.  Ii  is  uow  equipped 
with  u  full  set  of  rollers,  operating  by  the  gradual 
reduction  process,  and  in  which  is  utilized  Nor- 
dyke,  Marmon  &  Co's  system  of  milling,  together 
with  the  Eureka  Separator  &  Smith's  Purifier.  A 
Burroughs  engine  of  seventy-five  horse  power 
drives  the  machinery,  and  the  boiler  is  of  steel 
from  the  Atlas  Engine  Works  of  Indianapolis. 
This  boiler  is  16  inches  by  11  feet  in  dimensions 
and  contains  sixty-two  flues.  The  mill  has  a  ca- 
pacity of  100  barrels  in  twenty-four  hours.  It 
turnsoul  the  very  best  of  flour,  the  Peerless  brand 
being  especially  fine  and  pure.  The  Ridge  Farm 
Mills  is  steadfastly  growing  in  popularity,  and  the 
proprietor  evidently  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree 

the  secret  of  success. 

Mr.  Banta,  in  connection  with  his  milling  opera- 
tions, owns  and  inns  the  elevator  at  Ridge  Kami. 
besides  a  huge  steam  hay  press,  lie  usually  ships 
about  700  car-loads  of  grain  annually  and  300  cars 
of  baled  hay.  He  gives  employment  to  a  number 
of  men  and  has  been  no  unimportanl  factor  in  ad- 
vancing the  business  interests  of  his  town.  He  has 
without  question  inherited  from  his  ancestors  those 
qualities  of  character  which  are  inseparable  from 
the  successful  business  man  and  the  useful  citizen, 
lie  is  not,  married. 


AMKS  SANDUSKY.  It  is  now  considered 
no  small  honor  to  have  lived  during  the 
pioneer  days  of  Central  Illinois,  and  he  who 
looked  ui)on  the  wilderness  ere  the  feel  of 
white  men  had  made  their  permanent  inroads  into 
this  region,  is  viewed  with  more  than  ordinary  in- 
terest. To  those  hardy  Spirits  arc  the  people  of 
to-day  indebted  for  the  great  advantages  which 
they  enjoy,  the  prosperous  farms  and  villages 
which  have  arisen  from  the  wilderness  ami  the  ad- 
vance of  civilization,  which  was  led  by  the  adven- 
turous pioneer.      To  this  region  came  the  Sandusky 


family  at  a  very  early  date,  and  they  have  left 
their  ineffaceable  mark  not  only  by  their  industry 
and  perseverance,  hut  in  the  implanting  of  those 
moral  principles  which  form  the  basis  of  all  good 
Society.  Their  children  were  reared  to  habits  of 
industry  and  sentiments  of  honor,  while  they  ex- 
tended to  high  and  low  that  cordial  hospitality 
which  is  especially  prized  where  people  arc  neces- 
sarily dependent  upon  each  other  for  many  of  the 
conveniences  and  comforts  of  life. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  and  his  estimable  wife 
form  no  unworthy  offshoots  of  their  respective  an- 
cestral trees,  which  have  grown  and  flourished  ami 
the  names  of  which  will  descend  to  coming  gene- 
rations. They  endured  all  the  hardships  and  pri- 
vations of  life  on  the  frontier.  Labored  arduously 
in  the  building  up  of  a  homestead  and  reared,  a 
family  of  intelligent  children,  all  but  two  of  whom 
have  lied  from  the  home  nest  and  taken  their 
places  as  honored  members  of  society.  The  two 
remaining  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  form  the 
light  and  joy  of  the  household. 

dames  Sandusky  was  horn  in  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.,  July  17,  1817,  and  has  thus  more  than  num- 
bered his  three-score  years  and  ten.  His  father, 
Isaac  Sandusky,  was  likewise  a  native  of  the  Blue 
I  .  i  :i>s  State,  where  he  attained  to  manhood  and  was 
married  to  Miss Euphemma  McDowell,  a  maiden  of 
his  own  neighborhood.  Later  he  served  in  the 
war  of  1812  and  was  under  Gen.  Harrison  at  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe.  He  was  a  resident  of  Ken- 
tucky until  the  fall  of  1827  and  then  coming  to 
Vermilion  County.  111.,  settled  on  a  tract  of  land 
near  Brooks  Point  and  built  up  a  farm  from  the 
wilderness,  wdiere  he  and  his  estimable  wife  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  days. 

In  the  Sandusky  family  there  were  eleven 
children,  who  were  named  respectively:  Sarah 
K.,  Mary  A.,  Julia  A.,  Josiah,  James,  our  sub- 
ject, Henry  Clay.  Ann  Eliza,  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
Thomas,  Susan  A.  and  Laura.  James  was  a  boy  of 
ten  years  when  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois.  In 
preparing  for  the  removal  the  father  had  purchased 
large  numbers  of  cattle,  horses  and  sheep,  to  bring 
with  him.  The  journey  was  made  overland  in  the 
primitive  style,  the  travelers  camping  and  cooking 
by    tin/    wayside    and    sleeping    in    a    tent  al   night. 


494 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


During  that  journey,  our  subject  saw  a  cooking 
stove  for  the  first  time,  and  it  was  viewed  not  only 
by  himself  but  by  many  others  with  great  curios- 
ity. This  article  was  purchased  by  his  father  from 
Rafe  Lytton  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  brought  to 
Vermilion  County,  being  the  first  of  its  kind  in 
this  region. 

Young  Sandusky  prior  to  the  removal  to  the 
Prairie  State  had  been  married  in  Woodford 
County,  Ky.  Dec.  G,  1840  to  Miss  Mary  Ann, 
daughter  of  James  Green,  a  native  of  Woodford 
County,  Ky.  Her  paternal  grandparents  were 
natives  respectively  of  England  and  Germany. 
After  coming  to  America  they  were  married  in 
Virginia,  whence  they  soon  afterward  removed  to 
Kentucky,  settling  in  Woodford  County,  where 
they  spent  their  last  days,  .lames  Green  upon 
reaching  man's  estate  chose  for  his  wife  Miss  Polly 
Hudson,  whose  family  had  figured  conspicuously 
in  the  early  history  of  the  State  and  whose  paternal 
grandfather,  Raleigh  Hudson  of  Scotch-Irish  blood, 
did  valiant  service  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  Hudsons  invaded  the  soil  of  Kentucky  at  a 
time  when  Indians  were  plentiful  and  the  forest 
abounded  with  wild  animals.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Sandusky  was  first  married  to  William  Campbell 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children.  Of 
her  marriage  with  James  Green  there  was  born  one 
child  only,  a  daughter,  Mary  Ann,  in  Woodford 
County.  They  were  wedded  in  the  fall  of  1*47 
and  the  following  spring  emigrated  to  Illinois  and 
settled  upon  land  owned  jointly  by  Mr.  Green  and 
our  subject.  Mr.  Green  departed  this  life  in  1845 
and  the  mother  di<nl  at  the  home  of  our  subject 
April   14,  1870. 

Eleven  children  likewise  came  to  bless  the  union 
of  James  Sandusky  and  his  excellent  wife.  The 
eldest  born.  Sarah  E.,  became  the  wife  of  Benjamin 
Girard  of  Georgetown  Township  and  they  have 
nine  children — Emma,  Delia,  Mary.  Julia.  James, 
Jessie,  Euphemma.  George  and  Dottie.  Mary  A.  and 
Julia  A.  are  deceased;  Josiah  P.  married  Miss 
Emma  Boughton  and  they  have  four  children — 
Ettie,  Fred,  James  Gould  and  Grant;  James  I. 
married  Miss  Mary  Engleman  and  is  farming  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Georgetown  Township;  they 
have  two  children — Clinton  and  Mattie;  Henry  C, 


a  resident  of  Georgetown  Township,  married  Miss 
Mary  Pratt  and  they  have  two  children  —  Floyd  E. 
and  Annie.  Ann  Eliza  married  Thomas  Bennett 
of  Georgetown  Township  and  they  have  one  child, 
Bertie;  Stephen  A.  D.  is  a  resident  of  Catlin  Town- 
ship; Thomas  is  sojourning  in  Lyons  County,  Neb.; 
Susan  T.  and  Laura  II.  K.  are  at  home  with  their 
parents. 

As  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  sketches  of 
Josiah.  William  and  Abraham  Sandusky,  as  well  as 
that  of  James  S.  Sconce,  the  Sandusky  family  came 
originally  from  Poland  where  they  were  closely 
allied  to  royalty.  In  their  native  country  their 
name  was  spelled  "Sodowskv."  The  city  of  San- 
dusky, ( )hio,  derives  its  name  from  one  of  the 
earlier  representatives  of  this  family,  who  settled 
in  northeastern  Ohio,  where  the  Indians  had  suffered 
numerous  wrongs  at  the  hands  of  the  white  man. 
In  a  spirit  of  revenge  they  vowed  to  put  to  death 
the  first  white  person  who  should  venture  into  what 
they  esteemed  their  domain.  This  unsuspecting 
individual  proved  to  be  an  Indian  trader  by  the 
name  of  Sodowsky,  an  ancestor  of  our  subject  and 
who  was  one  of  their  best  friends.  They  carried 
out  their  purpose  but  when  learning  his  true  char- 
acter deeply  lamented  the  cruel  deed.  In  order  to 
partially  atone  for  it  they  gave  his  name  to  the 
embryo  town  which  had  begun  to  grow  up.  As 
t  he  whites  came  in  the  more  modern  name  was  grad- 
ually  adopted. 

The  Sandusky's,  as  far  back  as  the  records  go, 
have  been  mostly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
making  a  specialty  of  live  stock  and  being  very 
successful.  The  father  of  our  subject  brought  in 
the  first  drove  of  good  cattle  from  Kentucky  to 
Illinois,  in  the  driving  of  which  young  James  as- 
sisted. He  also  brought  in  the  first  Hock  of  sheep 
which  ever  graced  the  prairies  of  Vermilion 
County,  driving  them  from  the  Blue  Grass  regions 
in  the  fall  of  1827.  Their  ox-team  was  likewise 
the  first  driven  from  Kentucky  to  this  county. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  the  Sanduskys  have  borne  no 
unimportant  part  in  opening  up  this  portion  of 
Central  Illinois. 

Mr.  Sandusky  voted  for  William  II.  Harrison  in 
1840  but  in  1856  felt  that  he  had  reason  to  change 
his  political  views  and   identified   himself  with  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


195 


democracy  of  whose  principles  he  has  since  been  a 
strong  supporter.  He  has  never  sought  political 
preferment  and  has  never  held  office*  with  the  ex- 
ception of  serving  two  terms  as  School  Director. 
The  horses  on  Mr.  Sandusky's  farm  are  from  a 
stock  of  horses  that  have  been  in  the  Sandusky 
family  for  nearly  a  hundred  years,  broughl  to 
Kentucky  by  1 1 is  forefathers  and  from  there  to  Illi- 
nois by  his  father.  A  portrait  of  Mr.  Sandusky  is 
shown  in  this  work  and  represents  a  worthy  member 
of  an  honored  family. 

-ps=a  ER<  i  EANT  T.  W.  BLAKEN  EY.     The  per- 
^^£     sonal  appearance    of  the    subject   of    this 
l\l£</    notice  must  invariably   attract  attention   in 
a  crowd,  lie  being  tine  looking  and  of  com- 
manding presence,  with  a  countenance  indicative  of 
the  most  estimable  traits  of  character  and  the  bear- 
ing winch  signalizes    a    gentleman.     He  is  the  off- 
spring of  a    Rue    old    family  of   Irish    origin,    and 
noted  for  great  strength,  courage,  endurance,  hon- 
esty   and  patriotism. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  born  in  Ireland  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  in 
time  to  assist  the  colonists  in  their  struggle  for  in- 
dependence, lie  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence;  one  who  loved  liberty,  and  whose 
sympathies  were  warmly  enlisted  in  the  American 
cause.  At  the  close  of  the  war  the  government 
owed  him  $1,  100  for  his  services  as  a  soldier.  This 
he  refused  to  accept,  however,  claiming  that  an 
Irishman  could  afford  to  do  this  much  for  the  sake 
of  citizenship  and  independence.  He  was  married 
and  became  the  father  of  a  family,  and  his  son, 
John,  fought  all  through  the  war  of  1812.  Later 
he  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  "War.  True  to  the  in- 
stincts of   patriotism    which    had    distinguished  his 

ancestry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  s i  after  the 

outbreak  of  the  great  rebellion,  proffered  his  ser- 
vices as  a  soldier  of  the  Union  army,  and,  like  his 
ancestors,  gave  his  support  to  the  cause  of  freedom. 
Mr.  Blakeney  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  was 
born  in  Georgetown  Township.  .Inly  19.  is  12.  His 
father.   William    Blakeney.  was    born    in    Bourbon 


l  ounty,  Kentucky,  and  married  Mi--  Susan  Kill-,  a 
native  of  Greene  County, Ohio.     The  latin-  i-  the 

oldest  woman  pioneer  of  tin unty,  having  come 

hither  when  a  young  lady,  with  her  parents  as  early 
as  1821.  She  is  now  seventy  four  yearsold,  while 
Mr.  Blakeney  is  seventy-six.  The  Latter  came  to 
this  county  in  1829.  He  traveled  over  the 
Mali'  on  foot,  visiting  the  lead  mines  at  Galena, 
and  fought  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  in  1832. 
He  was  a  splendid  specimen  of  manhood  phys- 
ically, being  of  powerful  frame  and  very 
active.  He  was  acknowledged  as  the  strongest  man 
west  of  the  Wabash,  and  could  outrun  any  man  in 
this  section,  either  white  man  or  Indian. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  was  born  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  years,  are  still  living  and  have  families  of 
their  own.  Those  named  are  as  follows:  John  R., 
who  died  young;  Sarah;  William  Anderson,  who 
died  in  childhood;  Thomas  W.,  our  subject;  Raeh- 
ael.  Nancy.  Wright  E.,  Martha.  Mary.,  Susan,  and 
two  infants  who  died  unnamed.  Thomas  W.  was 
born  July  19,  1842  and  had  a  pioneer  expe- 
rience in  common  with  the  other  boys  of  George- 
town Township,  attending  upon  his  studies  in  a  log 
school-house,  and  becoming  at  a  very  early  age  fa- 
miliar with  farm  pursuits.  Like  his  forefathers  he 
grew  up  with  almost  perfect  health  and  a  muscular 
frame,  remaining  with  the  family  and  assisting  in 
the  labors  around  the  homestead  until  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  War.  Then  in  response  to  the  call  of 
President  Lincoln  for  "300,000  more"  he  enlisted 
at  C'atlin.  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company  K.  125th 
Illinois  Infantry,  under  command  of  ('apt.  George 
\V.  Cook.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Danville,  and 
drilled  on  the  old  fair  grounds.  At  the  outset  he 
was  elected  Corporal,  and  after  leaving  Danville 
they  repaired  first  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  then  to 
Covington  and  Louisville,  Ky.  Later  they  moved 
on  to  Perryville,  where  our  subject  first  saw  the 
-moke  of  battle  in  an  active  engagement,  one 
month  lacking  five  days,  from  the  time  of  his  en- 
listment. Soon  afterward  he  was  in  the  battles  of 
Chickamauga  and  Mission  Ridge,  and  in  the  former 
was  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  the  explosion  <  fa 
shell,  although  not  seriously  hurt.  He  accompa- 
nied l;i-  regiment  on  the  Knoxvillc  campaign  and 


496 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


participated  in  the  siege  of  Atlanta.  While  charg- 
ing up  Kenesavv  Mountain  he  was  seriously  wound- 
ed, and  to  this  day  carries  five  buckshot  received  at 
that  time.  This  division  of  the  army  was  engaged 
fifty-two  days  around  Atlanta,  and  after  the  fall  of 
the  city  the  regiment  of  our  subject  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  Gen.  Sherman  and  entered  upon 
the  famous  march  to  the  sea.  In  the  meantime  at 
Atlanta,  on  account  of  bravery  and  gallant  ser- 
vices, Mr.  Blakeney  was  promoted  to  Sergeant- 
Major,  which  rank  he  held  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  After  leaving  Atlanta  he  went  up  through 
the  Carolinas  to  Washington,  being  present  at  the 
grand  review  June  22',  1865,  and  was  there  mus- 
tered out  and  received  his  honorable  discharge  in 
that  same  month. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Blakeney  re  engaged 
in  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  farm  life,  making  his 
home  with  his  father  until  his  marriage.  This  most 
important  and  interesting  event  of  his  life  was  cel- 
ebrated Oct.  22,.  1868,  the  bride  being  Miss  Matilda 
Brooks,  and  the  wedding  taking  place  at  her 
home  in  Catlin.  The  newly  wedded  pair  resided 
in  Georgetown  Township,  this  county,  a  number  of 
years,  then  removed  to  Beadle  County,  Dak.. 
where  Mr.  Blakeney  purchased  320  acres  of  land 
and  improved  a  farm,  which  he  still  owns.  After 
a  three  years  residence  in  that  place  they  returned 
to  this  county  and  settled  at  Westville,  where  the3' 
have  since  remained. 

In  addition  to  serving  as  Township  Assessor,  Mr. 
Blakeney  travels  for  the  Bible  house  of  Chandler 
Bros.,  of  Rockford,  and  is  considered  one  of  their 
most  successful  salesmen.  While  in  Dakota  he  be- 
came a  charter  member  of  the  T.  O.  Howe  G.  A.  R. 
Post  at  Altoona,  Beadle  County,  and  religiousby,  is 
with  his  estimable  wife  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Christian  Church  at  Westville.  He  takes  a  great 
interest  in  the  Sunday-school  work  and  has  for 
\<ars  served  as  Superintendent,  never  missing  a 
single  appointment  for  the  last  ten  years.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  strong   Republican. 

Mrs.  Blakeney  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Louisa  (  Black)  Brooks,  a  sketch  of  whom  may  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  They  were  among 
the  first  set  tiers  along  the  eastern  line  of  this  county. 
Benjamin     Brooks,     the    paternal  grandfather    of 


Mrs.  Brooks,  settled  at  Brooks  Point  at  a  very  early 
day.  The  Point  was  named  in  honor  of  Benja- 
min Brooks.  His  wife,  Matilda  Manville,  was  the 
first  while  woman  coming  into  the  county.  To  our 
subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were  born 
three  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Mabel  N.,  died 
at  the  age  of  eleven  years  and  six  months;  Lou  P. 
is  the  only  child  surviving  and  lives  at  home  with 
her  parents.  A  son,  Brooks,  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years. 

•J€^J- ■ 


SA  AXKRUM,  late  of  section  26,  Harri- 
iu\\  son's  Purchase,  Elwood  Township,  was 
born  at  Yankee  Point,  this  county,  March 
10,  1837,  and  died  Jan.  25,  1886.  His 
father,  David  Ankrum,  was  a  pioneer  of  this 
county  and  a  prominent  man  of  his  time.  He  came 
here  when  land  was  cheap,  and  consequently  im- 
proved his  opportunities,  and  when  he  died  was 
well-off  in  this  world's  goods. 

Asa  Ankrum  was  one  of  the  best  citizens  of  this 
county,  and  by  frugality,  coupled  with  good  judg- 
ment, he  left  his  family  above  want.  lie  received 
his  education  at  the  common  schools  incident  to 
the  early  days  of  Illinois.  He  spent  all  his  younger 
days  at  home  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  where 
he  worked  hard,  thus  aiding  his  father  in  getting 
the  competence  of  which  he  was  possessed.  On  the 
1st  of  February,  1865,  he  married  Rhoda  C.  Men- 
denhall,  whose  father,  James  Mendenhall,  removed 
to  Hamilton  County,  Ind.,  at  an  early  day,  and  lo- 
cated in  this  county  in  1857.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Greene  County,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ankrum 
became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living:  Ollie  C,  Ira  A.,  Meda  M.,  Minnie  J., 
and  Oris  B.  Mr.  Ankrum  was  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican, but  he  never  sought  official  honors,  lie 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  support  a  party  which  has 
done  so  much  for  intelligence  and  industry.  He 
was  not  connected  with  any  church,  but  his  purse 
was  always  open  to  aid  any  enterprise  which  sought 
to  support  the  gospel  or  aid  the  poor.  In  1880  he 
erected  .inelegant  three-story  house, which  contains 
thirteen  rooms  and  three  halls,  finished  in  elegant 
style  throughout.      It  is  well  furnished  with  every- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


■jo; 


tiling  calculated  to  produce  comfort.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  Mr.  Ankrum  owned  over  220  acres, 
but  was  somewhat  in  debt,  which  was  Liquidated  by 

his  widow  and  sons  since.  They  have  built  a 
Large  barn,  purchased  implements,  wagons  and 
carriages,  and  have  money  loaned  and  interest 
coming  in.  They  have  also  met  with  some  Losses 
since  the  father's  death,  among  which  may  be  men- 
tioned the  burning  of  a  tenant  house.  On  the 
whole,  the  father  left  his  interest  in  prudent  hands. 
Mrs.  Ankrum's  father,  James  Mendenhall.  was 
horn  near  Kenia,  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  the  State  of  Indiana,  settling  in  Elwood 
Township  in  1857,  as  before  indicated,  and  in 
in  every  move  he  made  he  bettered  himself.  He 
married  Rebecca  Campbell,  and  they  have  five 
children  living:  Priscilla,  Mrs.  Patten;  Ira;  RyanG.; 
Mrs.  Ankrum; and  Jane,  Mrs.  Elliott.  Three  daugh- 
ters died  after  attaining  their  maturity  :  Sarah,  Mrs. 
Reeve;  Lydia,  Mrs.  Newlin;  Almeda,  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son. Mr.  Mendenhall  was  a  prominent  farmer,  in 
which  avocation  he  exhibited  a  great  deal  of  inter- 
est, and  be  held  the  office  of  School  Treasurer  for 
several  years.  He  died  in  1878,  while  his  wife 
passed  away  April  5.  1886.  They  were  consistent 
members  of  the  Friends'  Church,  and  were  good 
people  in  all  things. 


-v>y- 


-o*o-£?J^A><A^33-o*o.. 


\1  AMES  J.  HEALY  is  an  excellent  example 
for  young  men  just  embarking  in  the  field 
I!  of  active  life,  of  what  may  be  accomplished 
(fcg/  by  a  man  beginning  poor,  but  honest,  pru- 
dent and  industrious.  In  early  life  he  enjoyed  but 
few  advantages,  for  his  school  days  were  limited, 
and  he  hail  neither  wealth  nor  position  to  aid  him 
in  starting.  He  relied  solely  on  his  own  efforts 
and  his  own  conduct  to  win  for  him  success.  lie 
U  a  careful,  conscientious  man,  ever  adhering  to 
the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience  to  guide   him. 

Mr.  Ilealy  is  the  manager  of  the  large  general 
merchandise  store  in  Indianola,  known  under  the 
firm  name  of  Pattison  &  Healv.  He  was  born  in 
Bos' on,  Mass..  November.  1855,  where  his  father, 
Pa. rick    Ilealy.  was   a    mechanical  engineer  on  the 


Pittsburg,  Cincinnati  A-  Sc.  Louis  Railroad.  His 
mother.  Mary  Traeey.  was  a  native  >>f  Canada  and 
was  reared  upon  a  farm.  The  father  is  now  resid- 
ing in  Chicago,  while  the  mother  i>  dead.  They  had 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  manhood,  as 
follows:  .laincs  Joseph,  William,  Thomas.  Dennis 
and  Elizabeth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  began 
his  life  work  as  a  brick  carrier  in  Chicago,  his 
wages  being  fifty  cents  a  day.  lie  was  thrown  en- 
tirely upon  his  own  resources  while  very  young,  and 
had  he  not  been  naturally  gifted  with  a  buoyant  dis- 
position he  perhaps  would  have  fainted  by  the  way- 
side. Being  conscious  of  the  necessity  of  an  edu- 
cation he  attended  the  evening  schools  at  Chicago. 
About  this  time  he  became  connected  with  the 
Chicago  Post  as  a  newsboy,  and  while  thus  en- 
gaged he  one  day  happened  to  draw  the  attention 
of  a  gentleman  from  St.  Joseph.  Mo.,  who  per- 
suaded him  to  go  to  that  city,  for  he  perceived  the 
intelligence  of  the  lad  and  knew  he  would  some  day 
become  an  able  man. 

In  Missouri  the  boy  was  treated  kindly  by  his 
newly-made  friend  and  his  family.  He  was  enabled 
to  take  a  commercial  couise  at  the  St.  Joseph  Col- 
lege, after  the  completion  of  which  he  returned  to 
Chicago  and  engaged  as  a  book-keeper  for  a  South 
Water  Street  Arm,  where  he  had  ample  opportuni- 
ties for  learning  the  ways  of  the  world,  and  to  gain 
an  insight  into  business.  After  a  three-years'  en- 
gagement with  this  firm  he  accepted  a  position  with 
a  retail  grocer  and  wholesale  liquor  dealer  of  Chi- 
cago, and  for  four  years  faithfully  attended  to  the 
affairs  of  that  concern  in  the  capacity  of  book- 
keeper. His  firm  seeing  his  bright  and  capable 
abilities,  induced  him  to  accepl  the  position  of 
commercial  traveler  which  he  did,  acquiring  many 
friends  and  gaining  steadily  in  the  esteem  of  his 
employers.  Having  gained  the  warm  friendship  of 
Mr.  Pattison  while  in  Chicago,  it  was  but  natural 
that  he  should  make  the  acquaintance  of  his  sister. 
Emma,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage.  She 
is  I  he  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Mary  (Cox)  Patti- 
son, the  latter  of  whom  is  now  sixty-six  years  old 
and  living  in  Vermilion  County,  where  she  Mas 
born,  being  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  living  natives 
of  this  county.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Ilealy  made  their 
home  in  Chicago  for  about  two  years,  ami  although 


498 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


being  perfectly  temperate  in  his  habits,  yet  Mr. 
Healy  found  there  was  a  strong  prejudice  against 
liquor  dealing,  and  that  social  advantages  were  de- 
nied him,  that  by  right  were  his.  He  therefore  con- 
cluded to  abandon  the  business,  though  by  so  doing 
he  relinquished  a  good  situation. 

In  1882  the  firm  of  Pattison  &  Healy  was 
formed  and  they  engaged  in  their  present  business, 
at  first  on  a  small  scale,  but  which  since  has  steadily 
increased  until  it  is  now  paying  well.  On  Sept.  16, 
1885  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Indianola, 
and  has  proved  himself  the  best  incumbent  of  that 
office  his  town  has  ever  had.  He  resigned  on  March 
20,  1889,  a  move  which  was  much  regretted  by  all 
regardless  of  politics,  lie  is  Secretary  of  the  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association,  and  also  Secretary  of  the 
.Masonic  lodge  here.  Politically,  he  is  a  strong 
Democrat  and  an  officer  of  the  Democratic  club. 
He  is  serving  as  Collector  of  Taxes  in  Carroll 
Township,  and  in  all  these  positions  he  has  acquit- 
ted himself  with  singular  fidelity  and  honesty  of 
purpose.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Healy  are  the  parents  of 
one  child,  Anna  Mi\ . 

-■     •-    .■~-^M^s.   .-> , 


OHN  HUMRICHOUS,  founder  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Humrick,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Elwood 
Township,  a  self-made  man — one  who  began 
life  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  and  by  hard  work  and 
good  management  has  arrived  at  a  position  very 
near  the  top.  Unlike  many  men  his  struggles  and 
sacrifices  have  not  made  him  cold  or  avaricious, 
but  on  the  contrary  lie  is  accounted  as  one  of  the 
most  hospitable  and  public-spirited  men  of  his 
community.  Success  has  attended  his  efforts  and 
he  is  now  in  possession  of  a  fine  property  lying  in 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  township  on  section 
24.  Here  he  has  all  the  modern  improvements  as- 
sociated with  the  well  regulated  country  estate, 
besides  a  snug  bank  account,  which  will  insure  his 
declining  years  against  anxiety  and    want. 

A  native  of  York  County.  Pa.,  our  subject  was 
born  Dec.  30,  1823,  and  is  the  son  of  John  Hura- 
richous,  who  was  born  in  what  was  then  the    King- 


dom   of    Hanover,  and    who   came   to   the  United 

States  after  his  marriage,  about  1818.  His  wife, 
formerly  Elizabeth  Little,  was  a  native  of  his  own 
province,  and  to  them  there  were  born  twelve  chil- 
dren, eleven  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years,  and 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  sixth  in  order  of 
birth.  The  latter,  like  his  brothers  and  sisters,  only 
enjoyed  very  limited  school  advantages,  attending 
about  six  months  in  all,  paying  therefor  three  cents 
per  (by. 

The  father  of  our  subject  died  when  John  was  in 
the  sixteenth  year  of  his  age,  and  he  then  had  to 
look  out  for  himself  as  well  as  the  family,  lie 
worked  out  by  the  month  and  assisted  his  mother 
until  after  her  second  marriage.  Later  he  learned 
the  carpenter  trade,  which  he  followed  ten  years. 
He  left  his  native  State  in  1851 ,  proceeding  to 
Dayton.  Ohio,  where  he  sojourned  two  years.  II is 
next  stopping  place  was  at  Horse  Shoe  Bend,  on  the 
Little  Vermillion  River  in  Indiana,  and  from  there 
in  L856  he  went  to  Bloomfield,  111.  The  year  fol- 
lowing he  traveled  through  Kansas  and  Missouri, 
but  finally  returned  east  as  far  as  Vermillion 
County,  Ind.,  and  resided  in  Newport  Township 
until  the  fall  of  18G4.  He  then  came  to  Elwood 
Township,  this  county,  settling  where  he  now  lives, 
and  thereafter  gave  his  attention  almost  exclu- 
sively to  farming  pursuits. 

At  the  age  of  twenty -six  years,  in  May,  1850, 
our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Susannah  Keller, 
a  native  of  his  own  county  in  Pennsylvania  and  the 
daughter  of  John  Keller,  deceased.  This  union  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  eleven  children,  only  live  of 
whom  are  living:  John  A.  married  Miss  Malinda 
Menges.  is  a  resident  of  Elwood  Township  and  the 
lather  of  three  children — Ada,  John  and  Jonathan  ; 
Susie  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Waggaman,  of  Elwood 
Township,  and  they  have  two  children,  John  and 
Myrtle;  Laura  married  Charles  Brown,  of  Vermill- 
ion County.  Ind;  they  have  no  children;  Emma  is 
the  wife  of  Robert  Slaughter,  of  Bethel,  this  county, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Artie  and  an  infant 
unnamed;  Melissa  is  the  wife  of  George  A.  Collier, 
and  lives  with  her  father;  she  has  one  child,  John 
William. 

The  property  of  our  subject  embraces  over  400 
acres  of  fine  land,  to  which  he  has  given  his  main 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


199 


attention,  haying  no  desire  for  the  responsibilities 
of  office  or  the  anxieties  of  a  public  life.  He  has. 
however,  served  as  School  Director  and  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  and  is  recognized  as  a  citizen  of  more 
than  ordinary  intelligence.  Socially,  he  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  lodge  of  Ridge  Farm,  and  with  his 
wife  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  at  Bethel. 


/I  USES  L.  LARRANCE  is  a  wealthy  pio- 
neer of  Elwood  and  is  a  man  who  is  very 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  township. 
He  owns  340  acres  of  land,  unparalleled 
for  its  fertility,  on  section  25,  range  12,  where  he 
carries  on  in  a  successful  manner  general  fanning. 
Mr.  Larrance  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Tenn.,  on  May  9,  1818.  His  father,  John  Lar- 
rance, was  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  He  came 
to  Edgar  County  in  1827  settling  in  Elwood  Town- 
ship, two  miles  north  of  where  Moses  L.  now  re- 
sides. The  land  was  then  in  its  wild  state,  but  he 
had  his  choice  of  nearly  the  whole  county,  and  lie 
chose  well.  He  entered  210  acres  of  land  for 
which  he  paid  the  Government  price,  and  thereon 
erected  a  cabin,  made  of  round  logs  and  with  one 
room.  The  floor  was  constructed  of  logs  split  in 
two,  with  the  flat  side  up;  clapboard  roof  and 
doors  of  the  same  material.  They  lived  happily 
for  one  year  in  this  house  and  were  determined  to 
make  a  comfortable  home  though  they  were  ob- 
liged to  suffer  privations  innumerable  in  order  to 
do  it.  In  those  days  stoves  could  be  procured 
only  by  the  rich,  and  in  the  cabin  of  the  pioneer 
they  were  an  unknown  luxury.  The  good  mother 
cooked  in  a  long  handled  skillet  by  the  lire-place, 
and  did  her  baking  in  an  old  fashioned  brick  oven. 
When  Moses  was  eighteen  years  old,  his  father 
went  to  Chicago  and  bought  a  cook-stove,  which 
was  a  curiosity  to  the  boy,  as  this  was  the  first  oue 
he  ever  saw.  They  Lived  in  a  frugal  manner, 
never  complaining,  but  happy  in  the  enjoyment 
of  good  health,  and  that  in  the  future  they  would 
reap  their  harvest.  The  mother  of  Moses  L.  was 
Ruth,  the  daughter    of  John    Mills,  a  pioneer   of 


this  county.  She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  arc  living,  namely:  Moses  I,.,  Leroj', 
William,  Isaac,  and  Lanty.  Those  deceased  are 
Edith.  Jane.  Richard,  Jonathan  and  an  infant. 

Moses  L.  Larrance  received  his  early  education 
in  the  old  school-house  with  the  greased  paper  win- 
dows, stick  and  clay  chimney,  slab  benches  and 
wall  desks,  of  the  pioneer  days  of  Illinois.  The 
boys  of  those  days  were  fortunate  if  they  secured 
three  months'  school,  as  their  parents  were,  of 
course,  unable  to  pay  a  teacher  for  a  longer  term. 
He  was  married  Nov.  1,  1838  to  Nancy,  daughter 
of  Aaron  Mendenhall,  who  came  from  North  Caro- 
lina to  Greene  County.  Ohio,  during  the  year  1812. 
His  father,  Richard  Mendenhall  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  during  that  war.  Aaron  purchased  a  farm 
from  the  Government  in  1824,  settling  in  Carroll 
Township,  where  Silas  Baird  now  lives.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Larrance  are  the  parents  of  thirteen  children, 
nine  living  and  grown  up.  The  following  is  a 
record  of  the  children  now  alive.  Their  names 
are:  John.  William,  Betsey,  Richard,  Emily,  Char- 
ity, Lydia.  David,  and  Paris.  John  married  Mary 
Baum,they  have  six  children — Ella,  Frank,  Henry, 
Rosa,  Cass,  and  Cephas;  William  first  married 
Ella  Patterson,  by  whom  he  had  four  children. 
two  of  whom  are  living — Charles  and  Cassius.  His 
wife  died  and  he  married  Betsey  Frasier;  Betsey 
married  Carroll  Fellows  and  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren— Sylvanus,  Cyrus,  Louisa.  Charley,  Oliver, 
Alice,  and  Jane;  Richard  married  Jane  Wheeler, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  seven  children — Allen 
J.,  Bert,  Maude,  Frederick,  Art,  Thomas,  and 
Samuel;  Emily  married  John  Canaday,  they  have 
five  children — Cora,  Grace,  Charity  J.,  Florence 
and  Flora;  Charity  married  Frank  Thompson,  who 
have  two  children — Odbert  and  Golden;  Lydia 
married  William  Nier.  they  have  two  children — Ida 
and  Mark:  David  married  Caroline  Tuggle,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living — Moses  L.  and  Morton  M.;  Paris  mar- 
ried Martha  Snyder,  they  had  one  child — Viola, 
who  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Larrance  at  this  time  owns  340  acres  of  land 
and  has  given  COO  acres  to  his  children.  180  ants 
of  which  he  entered  from  the  Government,  He 
belongs  to  the    Republican   party  and    has    never 


'.(Ill 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sought  official  honors.  He  is  a  member  <>f  the 
Friends'  Church  at  Vermilion  Grove,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Larrance  began  life  with  nothing;  have 
worked  hard  and  by  good  management  they  are 
now  enjoying  a  comfortable  fortune,  and  they  de- 
serve it. 


yjilLLlAM     SAJNDl  SKY. 
Bros.,  William  and  Ilarv 
W^f/      most  wealthy  and    promi 


ILLIAM    SANDUSKY.      The     Sandusky 

ey,  are  two  of  the 
nent  men  in  this 
county,  and  have  distinguished  themselves  as  suc- 
cessful live-stock  breeders,  in  which  business  they 
have  engaged  for  many  years,  the  latter  bringing 
the  first  ear  load  of  thorough-  bred  Short -horn  cattle 
to  this  county  in  the  spring  of  ls(12.  They  were 
purchased  from  the  celebrated  breeder  of  the  great 
trotter  ••  Maude  S.,"  R.  A.  Alexander,  who  was  at 
that  time  in  company  with  Jerry  Duncan  and  .lames 
Hall,  forming  the  most  illustrious  trio  of  breeders 
at  that  time  in  America. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  gentleman  largely 
endowed  by  nature  with  some  remarkable  qualities, 
possessing  sound  common  sense  and  a  line  judg- 
ment, broad  and  liberal-minded  in  his  views,  an 
ardent  lover  of  national  liberty  and  a  strong  be- 
liever in  the  Republican  theory  of  protection  for 
America  and  all  its  citizens.  His  native  place  was 
Bourbon  County.  Ky.,  and  he  was  born  Nov.  19, 
1826.  When  he  was  a  mere  child  the  family  left 
the  Blue  Grass  State,  being  transported  to  Ohio 
(via  Cincinnati)  ami  Indiana,  whose  houses  were 
mostly  log  cabins,  and  passing  through  Indianapo- 
lis, their  outfit  consisting  of  three  wagons,  two 
drawn  by  four  horses  each  and  one  by  an  ox  team. 

The  father  of  our  subject  had  visited  the  West 
prior  to  this  time  and  started  out  for  permanent 
settlement  in  the  fall  of  1829.  William  was  edu- 
cated in  a  log  school  house  and  grew  up  amid  the 
wild  scenes  of  life  on  the  frontier,  as  Central  Illi- 
nois was  then  considered  the  far  West.  The  first 
time  he  went  to  Chicago  he  rode  on  a  load  of  pro- 
duce hauled  by  two  yoke  of  oxen,  which  were  fed 
on  a  spot  near  the  present  site  of  the  Commercial 
Hotel.     The  youth  of  that  period  were  at  an  early 


:!_:<•  mm.  d  to  labor,  and  young  Sandusky,  like  his 
comrades,  grew  up  strong  and  healthful  and  soon 
after  reaching  his  majority  began  to  lay  his  plans 
lor  a  home  of  his  own.  He  was  married  in  April, 
ISIS,  when  twenty-two  years  old  to  Miss  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Weaver)  Baum, 
further  mention  of  whom  will  be  made  in  the 
sketch  of  Frank  Baum  on  another  page  in  this 
volume. 

The  earliest  records  of  the  Weaver  family  indi- 
cates them  to  have  been  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
who  upon  emigrating  to  this  country  settled  in 
Maryland.  Michael  Weaver,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  .Mrs.  Sandusky,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  and  was  a  very  wealthy  man. 
He  was  born  in  Maryland,  whence  he  removed  to 
Pennsylvania  and  from  there  to  Ohio,  after  which 
he  resided  in  Brown  and  Clermont  counties.  He 
set  out  for  Illinois  in  1828,  in  which  year  the  par- 
ents of  Mrs.  Sandusky  also  came  to  this  Slate. 
The  grandfather  was  a  peculiar  man  in  many  re- 
spects, possessing  a  high  sense  of  honor  and  justice, 
benevolent  and  hospitable,  and  was  so  extremely 
conscientious  that  he  would  never  accept  more 
than  six  per  cent,  for  Ids  money,  although  he  could 
have  loaned  it  sometimes  at  forty  per  cent.  Noth- 
ing ((leased  him  belter  than  to  assisl  those  who 
would  try  to  help  themselves,  while  he  was  decid- 
edly averse  to  speculation  of  any  kind.  He  would 
ne>  '■■■'  charge  more  than  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel 
for  his  corn  under  any  circumstances,  as  he  declared 
that  he  could  raise  it  for  that  and  it  was  worth  no 
more.  He  lived  to  be  a  centennarian  and  .Mrs. 
Sandusky  gave  him  a  reception  on  the  anniversary 
of  his  one  hundreth  birthday,  which  was  made  the 
occasion  of  a  very  cheerful  gathering  of  friends  and 
relatives  and  will  be  long  remembered  by  those 
who  participated  in  it. 

To  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Sandusky  there  were 
born  eleven  children,  viz.:  Oliver,  Mary  E.,  Susan, 
Catherine,  Francis.  Charles.  Emeline,  Samuel,  Wil- 
liam and  Angeline.  After  the  death  of  the  mother 
when  .Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  was  a 
maiden  probably  of  seventeen  years,  .Mr.  Weaver 
was  married  the  second  time  and  became  the  father 
of  four  more  children. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  Sandusky  ami  his  young 


aifcaM^m^feit^riifc ifih-  rail  *-..&;—. '■■,    Miiim — ft..^.         — -~ —      ,*  — 


Residence  or  J.  M.  Current,  Sec.  19.  (  T.  is  7K 13.)  Vance  Township. 


Residence  of  C.T.  Caraway, Sec.  29.  (  T. I9.-R.i2.)  Cat lin  Township. 


■W«^-~-  ~' ..--^■i«»««^&»^^^ 


^^s^y^^^^^rv^jjsaaiaaa 


Residence  of  A  D .  Owen,Sec.5.(T.23.-.R.U.j  GrantTownship. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


503 


wife  settled  on  the  farm  where  they  have  since 
lived,  and  expended  their  l  u-si  efforts  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  homestead.  As  may  be  supposed  it 
bears  bu1  little  resemblance  t<>  its  original  condi- 
tion, being  then  but  a  tract  of  wild  land,  with  no 
improvements  to  speak  of .  One  of  the  lirst  tasks 
Id  which  Mr.  Sandusky  set  himself  was  the  planting 
of  an  orchard,  the  trees  of  which  have  now  be- 
come almost  of  giant  size.  Gradually  he  erected 
the  various  buildings  needed  for  the  general  pur- 
poses of  agriculture,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
labored  early  and  late  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
land  bringing  about  the  comforts  and  conven- 
iences essential  to  the  happiness  of  a  home.  Al- 
though almost  uniformly  successful,  lie  at.  one  time 
met  with  a  loss  of  $30,000  through  one  of  the 
Presidents  of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Danville,     lie 

has  handled  thousand-  of  beef  cattle,  also  thorough- 
bred Short-horns  and  has  now  a  very  fine  herd — 
thirty  head  of  registered  animals. 

As  a  lover  of  the  equine  race  Mr.  Sandusky  is 
now  [laying  special  attention  to  thorough-bred  run 
ning  horses,  of  which  he  has  ten  or  twelve  fine 
animals,  including  the  trotting  stallion.  '•  Wilful 
Boy,"  a  standard-bred  three-year  old  of  great 
speed  and  value,  Mr.  Sandusky  was  at  one  time 
the  owner  of  220  acres  of  land  upon  which 
he  operated  largely  as  a  general  fanner  and  stock- 
raiser,  lie  keeps  himself  well  posted,  not  only 
upon  matters  connected  with  agriculture,  hut  of 
national  interest  and  is  thoroughly  opposed  to  se- 
cret orders,  lie  cast  his  lirst  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted,  and 
frequently  heard  him  relate  some  of  his  character- 
istic yarns.  The  Republican  party  finds  no  more 
sincere  or  earnest  follower  than  Mr.  Sandusky,  al- 
though he  is  no  office-seeker  and  has  mingled  very 
little  ill  public  affairs. 

The  five  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his  ex- 
cellent wife  are  recorded  as  follows:  Sarah  ,1.  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years;  Caroline  is  the  wife  of 
James  Snapp,  a  fanner  of  Carroll  Township;  she 
has  three  children,  two  by  a  former  husband  and 
one  by  Mr.  Snapp.  Rochester,  who  has  Inherited 
his  father's  love  for  tine  horses,  is  an  expert  in  this 
line  and  remains  at  the  home  farm;  Addie  is  the 
wife  ol  .1.  T.  McMillan,  a  lumberman  of  Danville; 


she    has    four   children — William,  Nell,  Rochester 

and  Edmund.  Caroline  and  Adilie  were  both 
Students  Of  Illinois  Female  College  and  Miss  Belle 
attended  the  Female  Seminary  at  .Morgan  Park, 
near  Chicago;  she  is  now  at  home  with  her  parents. 
Rochester  was  graduated  from  Bryant  A-  Stratton's 
Business  College. 

Josiah  Sandusky,  the  father  of  our  subject,  is  one 
of  the  wealthiest  men  in  this  county,  owning  1,000 
acres  of  land  ill  Carroll  Township  ami  dealing  ex- 
tensively in  live-stock,  including  line  road  and 
trotting  horses.  He  was  born  Sept.  11,  1837,  in 
Kentucky  and  is  the  son  of  Abraham  Sodbwsky, 
whose  forefathers  were  natives  of  Poland,  whence 
originated  the  name  which  has  since  been  American- 
ized into  its  present  form.  Abraham  Sodowsky 
was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  .March  2'.),  171)3, 
and  married  Miss  Jane  McDowell,  also  a  native  of 
that  county  and  born  Dec.  Hi,  1792.  The  family 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  county,  lo- 
cating there  when  Indians  were  still  plentiful. 

The  earliest  records  of  this  family  take  us  back 
lo  one  Sodowsky,  a  descendant  of  the  Royal  family 
of  Poland  and  a  distinguished  citizen  who  was 
finally  banished  from  the  realm  for  some  part 
which  he  had  taken  in  political  affairs.  We  find 
the  forefathers  of  our  subject  were  lirst  represented 
in  America  in  1756  and  they  gained  favor  with 
the  Colonists  on  account  of  their  high  bearing  r\nd 
strict  integrity.  One  married  a  sister  of  Gov. 
Inslip  and  operated  largely  as  an  Indian  trader, 
lie  was  finally  murdered  by  the  Indians  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Erie.  He  was  a  hunter  and  a 
trader  and  his  death  was  the  result  of  a  mistake, 
as  the  savages  had  been  imposed  upon  by  the 
whites  and  in  the  fur}'  of  their  revenge  attacked 
the  first  white  man  they  met.  not  recognizing  who 
it,  was  at  the  time,  as  he  had  been  their  best  friend. 
They  regretted  their  deed  greatly  and  in  order  to 
partly  atone  for  it  named  the  Bay  in  his  honor, 
also  the  two  towns  which  afterward  sprung  up  anil 
arc  now  familiarly  known  as  Upper  and  Lower 
Sandusky.  The  McDowell  family  were  likewise 
early  settlers  of  America  and  pioneers  of  Kentucky. 
The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
married  in  Bourbon  County,  that  State,  and  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  in  1837,  settling  on  the  farm  now 


504 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


occupied  by  Josiah  Sandusky.  The  old  cabin  still 
stands  near  its  original  site,  having  for  its  compan- 
ion the  stately  residence  erected  by  Josiah  Sandusky 
in  1872.  Eight  children  were  born  of  this  union 
the  father  of  whom  was  successful  in  accumulating 
a  good  property  and  died  in  1865.  His  wife  had 
passed  away  the  year  previously ;  Josiah.  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  the  youngest  of  their  family. 
He  grew  up  a  sturdy  and  healthful  youth,  honest 
and  industrious  and  acquired  a  practical  education 
in  the  common  school,  finally  succeeding  to  the 
management  of  the  farm  of  500  acres  which  was 
given  him  by  his  father.  Upon  this  he  and  his 
brother  Abraham  operated  together  and  the  parents 
were  cared  for  by  them  until  their  decease.  Grand- 
father Sandusky  was  a  first-class  business  man  and 
his  sons  wisely  submitted  to  his  counsels  during 
his  lifetime.  Religiously,  he  was  a  strong  Presby- 
terian and  very  kind  to  the  poor  and  unfortunate. 
His  death  was  greatly  mourned,  not  only  by  his 
immediate  family,  but  by  the  entire  community. 
Harvey  was  the  only  one  of  the  children  to  retain 
the  Polish  name  of  Sodowsky,  the  rest  adopting 
the  Anglicised  pronunciation.  On  the  18th  of 
December,  1873,  Josiah  Sandusky  was  wedded  to 
Miss  Susan  Moreland,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Catherine  (Hedges)  Moreland  who  were  of  English 
ancestry  and  coming  to  Illinois  in  1857  settled  in 
Carroll  Township. 

Mrs.  Susan  Sandusky  was  born  in  Bourbon 
County,  Ky.,  and  was  a  child  of  six  years  when 
her  parents  came  to  this  county.  She  attended  the 
Sisters'  school  at  St.  Mary's,  near  Terre  Haute,  be- 
came a  musician  and  finely  accomplished  lady.  In 
1872  the  father  of  our  subject  erected  an  elegant 
brick  residence  at  a  cost  of  *20,000,  which,  with 
its  surroundings  made  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
homes  in  the  county.  Later  he  added  500  acres  to 
his  farm.  The  Sandusky  family  has  always  been 
noted  for  its  dealings  and  successes  in  the  live- 
stock business  and  the  father  of  our  subject  usu- 
ally keeps  a  herd  of  fifty  to  sixty  head  of  thorough- 
bred cattle,  numbers  of  which  he  exhibits  at  the 
State  and  county  fairs  and  is  in  the  habit  of  carry- 
ing off  the  blue  ribbons.  He  has  sold  cattle  for 
breeding  purposes  to  parties  in  nearly  every  State 
in  the  Union,     lie  also  is  a  lover  of  fine    horses, 


keeping  about  thirty-five  or  forty  head  of  road 
and  trotting  thorough-breds.  many  of  them  being 
very  valuable  and  never  having  had  a  bridle  on 
them.  He  has  a  one-half-mile  track  and  employs 
a  competent  trainer  to  take  charge  of  the  stables. 
Several  of  his  horses  have  shown  a  record  of  2:19. 
In  addition  to  his  stock  operations  the  elder 
Sandusky  has  swine,  poultry  and  Merino  sheep, 
bred  from  the  best  strains  and  has  probably  done 
more  than  any  other  man  in  the  county  to  raise 
the  standard  of  its  live  stock.  He  is  a  Republican, 
"  dyed  in  the  wool,"  having  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  but  meddles 
very  little  with  public  affairs  and  has  kept  aloof 
from  the  oflices. 


%~*&~1W~ 


4pJ§IDEON  T.  BAUM,  one  of  the  well-known 
|f  (=i  Baum  family   of  Carroll  Township,  is  rec- 

~^^Ji  ognized  as  a  vevy  industrious  and  enter- 
prising young  farmer  and  has  a  beautiful  home  on 
section  29.  Here  with  his  estimable  and  amiable 
wife  he  has  built  up  what  might  be  likened  to  a 
little  paradise,  and  is  apparently  surrounded  with 
all  the  good  and  desirable  things  of  life.  His  nat- 
ural proclivities  are  such  as  have  gained  him  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens  and  he 
thus  occupies  a  good  position  socially  as  well  as 
financially. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Charles  Baum,  a 
sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  on  another  page  in 
this  volume.  Gideon  T.  was  born  Oct.  12,1800, 
at  the  old  homestead  in  Carroll  Township,  and  was 
the  fourth  son  and  fifth  child  of  his  parents.  His 
boyhood  days  were  spent  in  a  manner  common  to 
that  of  farmer's  sons  and  when  reaching  the  twenty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age  he  was  married  Nov.  13, 
1884  to  Miss  Clara,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Susan 
(Jones)  Lucas. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Baum  is  a  native  of  George- 
town, Ky.,  and  her  mother  of  Ilarrodsburg,  that 
State.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  was  of 
English  descent  and  closely  allied  to  royalit3';  her 
mother's  people  were  from  Maryland.  The  Lucas 
family  removed   from  Kentucky   in    187G    and  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


505 


parents  of  Mrs.  Baura  arc  now  Living  retired  at 
Archie,  in  Sidell  Township.  Mr.  Lucas  is  sixty- 
eight  years  of  age  and  his  good  wife  is  ten  years 
his  junior.  They  are  the  parents  of- four  children, 
and  the  eldest.  George,  is  a  resident  of  Hume. 
Charles  makes  his  home  in  Archie;  .lames  likewise 
remains  with  his  parents;  Clara  was  born  at  Har- 
rodsburg,  Ky.,  where  she  lived  until  a  girl  of 
eleven  years  then  came  with  her  parents  to  Ill- 
inois. They  lirst  settled  near  Georgetown  and  the 
father  occupied  himself  at  farming  until  retiring 
from  the  active  labors  of   life. 

Mr.  anil  Mrs.  Baum  after  their  marriage  settled 
on  the  farm  which  they  now  own.  and  which 
embraces  215  acres  of  fertile  land.  The  residence 
had  been  put  up  the  summer  previous  to  their 
marriage.  The  two  children  born  of  this  union 
are  a  daughter  and  a  son  —  Lulu  Weaver  and  Karl 
Lucas.  Mrs.  Baum  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  Our  subject,  politically, 
supports  the  principles  of  the    Democratic  part}'. 


/*py  VRI'S  CHARLES  BALM,  the  fourth  "Char- 
(I [  n  He"  in  the  Baum  genealogy,  and  a  member 
^^^/  of  the  popular  and  well-known  family  of 
that  name  in  this  county,  is  a  sober,  industrious, 
intelligent  young  man,  and  rapidly  becoming 
wealthy.  He  has  a  charming  home,  a  very  attrac- 
tive and  accomplished  wife  who  possesses  rare 
musicr.l  talent,  and.  in  short,  is  apparently  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  portion  of  that  which  makes 
life  desirable  and  satisfactory.  His  well-regulated 
farm  is  pleasantly  located  on    section  ■>'.>  in  Carroll 

Township,  and  comprises  250  acres  of  choice  land 
thoroughly  developed. 

Of  Charles  W.  and  Catherine  (Weaver)  Baum, 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  a  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  Cyrus  C.  was  the  second 
son  and  third  child  in  a  family  of  six.  and  was 
born  in  Carroll.  Feb.  1 H.  1853.  Ilis  boyhood  and 
youth  were  spent  in  a  comparatively  uneventful 
manner,  tirst  at  the  common  school  and  then  at  the 
graded  school  in  Indianola,  while  during  the  vaca- 
tions   he    employed    himself    in    a    useful    manner 


around  the  homestead.  From  boyhood  up  he  has 
been  temperate  and  of  correct  habits,  and  upon 
reaching  his  majority,  his  father  presented  him 
with  a  large  tract  of  land,  which  iie  traded  for  his 
present  farm  in  1884  To  this  latter  he  has  given 
his  undivided  attention  for  the  last  five  years,  to 
what  good  purpose  its  present  condition  indicates. 
In  1876  Mr.  Baum  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Emma,  daugher  of  Allen  and  Alma  Gilkey, 
who  were  both  natives  of  Kentucky.  They  left 
the  Blue  Grass  regions  at  an  earh  dale,  and  set- 
tled in  this  county  during  its  pioneer  days.  Of 
this  union  there  was  born  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Lelia,  who  is  now  a  bright  girl  of  ten  years,  and 
is  cared  for  with  a  mother's  affection  by  the  pres- 
ent wife  of  our  subject.  Mrs.  Emma  (Gilkey) 
Baum  departed  this  life  Oct.  5,  1880. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage,  Nov. 
28,  1887,  with  Miss  Josie,  daughter  of  Josephus 
Baum,  a  native  of  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  The 
maiden  name  of  her  mother  was  Sarah  Beall,  and 
she  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  her  hus- 
band. Mr.  Baum  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and, 
befoie  leaving  Ohio,  lived  at  Point  Isabel,  and  in 
Bainbridge,  Ross  County.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
ls?.'>,  and  settled  at  Ridge  Farm,  where  he  is  still 
engaged  at  his  trade  and  is  now  probably  fifty-nine 
years  old.  Ilis  good  wife  is  ten  years  his  junior. 
They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  viz:  Al- 
bert, -losie,  Jessie,  Lelia,  Maggie,  Charles  and 
Minnie. 

Mrs.  Josie  (Baum)  Baum  was  born  at  Point 
Isabel.  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  6,  1869,  and  was 
a  young  maiden  of  fifteen  years  when  her  parents  re- 
moved to  Bainbridge.  Two  years  later  they  came 
to  Illinois,  and  she  completed  her  studies  in  the 
High  School  at  Ridge  Farm.  She  received  a  care- 
ful home  training  from  an  excellent  mother,  and 
apparently  takes  a  loving  pride  in  the  adornment 
of  her  home  and  making  it  the  dearest  spot  on 
earth  to  those  immediately  in  its  precincts.  She  is 
a  tasteful  performer  on  the  piano,  and  the  home 
circle  is  often  enlivened  by  music  and  the  pleasant, 
intercourse  of  friends. 

Mr.  Baum.  politically,  like  his  father  and 
brothers,  gives  his  unqualified  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  although   he  meddles  very   little 


506 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


with  public  affairs,  preferring  to  give  his  time  and 
attention  to  the  improvement  of  his  farm  and  the 
comfort  and  happiness  of  those  by  whom  he  is 
connected  by  the  most  sacred  of  earthly  ties. 


L^iHOMAS  Hot  (PES.  The  old  pioneers,  who 
i/f/SS^  are  fast  passing  away,  are  naturally  looked 
Vg^  upon  with  that  interest  and  respect  with 
which  mankind  is  prone  to  regard  those  things 
which,  when  once  departed,  can  never  be  recalled. 
These  thoughts  involuntarily  force  themselves 
upon  the  mind  in  contemplating  the  career  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  the  first  settler  at 
Hoopeston,  and  in  whose  honor  it  was  named.  He 
came  to  this  county,  and  invested  in  land  Aug.  9, 
1853.  Returning  to  Ohio,  he  remained  there  until 
April  8,  1855,  -when  he  with  his  family  removed  to 
this  county,  and  endured  his  full  share  of  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  life  in  a  new  settlement, 
operating  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  a  series  of  years,  and 
is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labors  amid  the 
comforts  of  a  pleasant  and  well-ordered  home  i».i 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  village,  which  has  been 
the  object  of  his  fostering  care.  He  retired  from 
the  active  labors  of  life  in  June.  1882, and  occupies 
a  tasteful  and  commodious  brick  residence  at  the 
corner  of  Penn  and  Fourth  streets.  He  is  the 
owner  of  a  good  property,  which  he  accumulated 
solely  by  his  own  industry  and  perseverance.  He 
owns  2.233  acres  of  fine  land,  contracted  to  young 
men,  and  upon  which  they  pay  a  low  interest.  He 
also  controls  5,180  acres  in  his  own  name,  making 
the  total  of  his  land  holdings  7,413  acres. 

Mr.  Hoopes  was  born  on  the  26th  of  June,  1806, 
in  a  loi;  cabin  in  the  woods  of  what  was  then  Jeffer- 
son  County,  but  is  now  the  southeast  corner  of  Har- 
rison County,  Ohio,  His  father  in  1810  removed 
to  a  point  seven  miles  distant  in  the  same  county, 
and  there  our  subject  sojourned  until  1846.  He 
pursued  his  studies  mostl}'  at  home  under  the  in- 
struction of  his  mother,  and  also  attended  a  pri- 
vate school.  He  remained  a  member  of  the 
parental    household    until    reaching    his    majority, 


soon  after  which  time  occurred  the  death  of  his 
father,  and  the  property  was  divided.  Thomas,  in 
1  829,  purchased  a  two-thirds  interest  in  the  estate, 
and  carried  on  the  improvements,  which  had  been 
begun,  clearing  the  land  of  the  remaining  timber 
upon  it  and  preparing  the  soil  for  cultivation. 
There  being  six  children  in  the  family,  the  share 
of  Thomas,  estimated  to  be  ¥334.04  in  value,  was 
accordingly  one-sixth  of  the  estate,  and  in  con- 
tracting to  buy  out  the  other  heirs,  subject  to  the 
mother's  life  interest,  he  was  obliged  to  go  into 
debt.  The  task  before  him,  he  was  aware,  required 
more  than  an  ordinary  amount  of  courage  and  per- 
severance, but  nature  had  generously  endowed  hiin 
with  these  qualities,  and  from  that  modest  begin- 
ning he  succeeded  in  building  up  the  ample  prop- 
erty of  which  he  is  now  the  owner. 

Our  subject  continued  on  the  old  farm  until  the 
summer  of  1846,  and  on  the  30th  of  July  that  year, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Gray,  of 
of  the  same  county.  Shortly  afterward  they  re- 
moved to  the  vicinity  of  Marion.  Ohio,  where  .Mr. 
Hoopes  purchased  a  farm  of  803  acres  on  what 
was  familiarly  known  as  Sandusky  Plains,  and 
added  100  acres  three  years  later.  It  was  nearly 
fenced  and  has  been  largely  devoted  by  our  subject 
to  pasturage.  Mr.  Hoopes  began  the  improvement 
of  his  property,  and  in  185(1  put  up  one  of  the 
first  brick  houses  in  that  locality.  He  devoted  his 
land  mostly  to  grazing,  and  gathered  together  a 
large  flock  of  sheep.  He  also  took  in  cattle  to 
feed,  and  continued  this  course  profitably  for  a 
period  of  nine  years.  His  property  naturally  in- 
creased in  value,  and  became  the  source  of  a  com- 
fortable income. 

In  1853, however,  Mr.  Hoopes  decided  to  see  what 
lay  beyond,  and  accordingly  disposed  of  his  interest 
in  the  Buckeye  State,  and  after  residing  for  a  year 
in  Marion  Milage  came  here  to  buy,  moving 
here  with  his  family  in  1855.  There  were  then 
but  few  settlers  in  Grant  Township,  this  county,  and 
frequently  the  traveler  would  go  from  fifty  to  100 
miles  without  passing  a  farm,  a  large  proportion  of 
the  land  still  belonging  to  the  Government.  Mr. 
Hoopes  at  once  bought  of  W.  I.  Allen  480  acres, 
upon  which  he  established  a  homestead,  and  was 
uniformly  successful  in  his  labors  as  an  agricultur- 


PORTRAIT  AND  HUM  iRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


507 


ist  and  a  stock-raiser.  lie  later  purchased  ad- 
ditional land,  and  in  due  time  became  the  owner 
of  7,1  l.'i  acres;  besides  this  lie  sold  several  thousand 
acres  at  different  times.  The  first  house  which  he 
put  up  was  a  frame  structure  of  fair  proportions, 
located  at  the  top  of  a  hill  on  the  old  "Chicago 
Road."  lying  north  of  the  present  site  of  the  town. 
He  occupied  this  with  his  family  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  added  other  buildings  as  time  passed  on. 
He  still  continued  sheep-raising,  and  frequently 
pastured  large  droves  of  cattle  for  other  men. 
From  the  first  he  made  it  a  rule  to  keep  out  of 
debt,  live  within  his  income,  and  meet  his  obliga- 
tions as  they  became  due.  Mr.  Hoopes,  in  18G3, 
disposed  of  his  flocks  of  sheep  on  account  of  the 
difficulty  in  getting  help  to  look  after  them,  and 
at  the  same  time  laid  aside  many  of  the  cares 
which  had  been  his  for  many  years.  Since  that 
time  he  has  taken  life  more  easily.  On  the  4th  of 
July.  1 87 1 ,  the  track  of  what  is  now  the  Danville 
&  Yiucennes  Railroad  was  laid  across  what  is  now 
Main  street,  and  the  year  following  the  Lake  Erie  & 
Western  began  running  its  trains.  Mr.  Hoopes, 
always  a  man  of  wise  forethought,  judged  that 
here  would  he  a  good  site  for  a  town,  and  accord- 
ingly commenced  laying  out  a  portion  of  his  farm 
in  town  lots.  He  did  not  undertake  town-making, 
but  laid  out  his  land  after  it  had  been  started. 
Thereafter  he  engaged  in  selling  these  lots  and 
looking  after  the  interests  of  the  embryo  village. 
The  town  was  named  Iloopeston  by  one  of  the 
prospectors  of  a  railroad.  Mr.  Hoopes  afterward 
sold  1,000  acres  to  the  firm  of  Snell  &  Taylor,  who 
had  a  part  of  the  land  platted,  and  sold  town  lots. 
In  187:3  Mr.  Hoopes  purchased  a  house  a  short  dis- 
tance west  of  that  which  he  now  occupies,  and 
moved  into  it.  occupying  it  until  1882,  when  he 
erected  his  present  residence.  In  connection  with 
his  dealings  in  real  estate,  he  still  continued  the 
general  supervision  of  his  farm,  but  employed 
agents  to  carry  on  the  work.  In  the  fall  of  1874 
he  started  for  the  Pacific  .Slope,  arriving  in  Califor- 
nia October  28,  and  sojourned  there  until  the  27th 
of  March,  1875.  In  the  meantime  he  traveled 
over  a  large  portion  of  the  country  with  his  wife, 
the  latter  being  in  delicate  health. 

Mr.  Hoopes  cast   his    first  vote    in    1828   for   a 


defeated  candidate,  being  then  identified  with  the 
old  Whig  party,  but  upon  its  abandonment  cor- 
dially endorsed  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  whom  he  has  since  for  the  most  part  given 
his  support.  In  local  affairs,  however,  he  is  not 
bound  by  party  ties,  hut  aims  to  support  the  man 
best  qualified  for  office.  During  his  long  residence 
in  this  county,  he  has  pursued  that  upright  and 
honorable  course  which  has  gained  him  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens,  striving 
always  to  be  not  only  just,  but  also  generous,  as  he 
has  had  opportunity. 

Mrs.  Anna  (Gray)  Hoopes  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  July  25,  1810.  and  was  the  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Eckley)  Gray,  who  spent 
their  last  years  in  Fulton  County.  111.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  his  estimable  wife  there  were  born  no  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Hoopes  departed  this  life  on  the  29th 
of  April,  188G.  greatly  mourned  by  her  husband, 
and  regretted  by  all  who  know  her.  She  was  a  de- 
voted wife,  a  lady  possessing  all  the  Christian  vir- 
tues, and  who  was  the  uniform  and  efficient  helper  of 
her  husband  during  his  toils  and  struggles,  and  his 
cheerful,  faithful  companion  amid  the  hardships 
and  difficulties  which  they  encountered.  Her  name 
is  held  in  kindly  remembrance  by  all  who  knew 
her. 

Nathan  Hoopes,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Chester  County,  Pa  ,  May  5,  1765,  and  was 
the  son  of  Daniel  A.  Hoopes,  a  native  of  the  same 
county.  He  lived  there  until  reaching  man's  es- 
tate, and  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gardner. 
Soon  afterward  they  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled 
in  the  woods  of  what  was  then  Jefferson  County, 
about  seven  miles  from  where  the  town  of  Mount 
Pleasant  grew  up.  He  put  up  a  log  cabin  and  be- 
gan felling  trees,  and  preparing  a  portion  of  the 
soil  for  cultivation.  His  first  property  consisted  of 
only  thirty  acres,  and  at  this  little  homestead  oc- 
curred the  birth  of  his  son  Thomas. 

Later  the  father  of  our  subject  disposed  of  this 
property,  and  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  where 
he  opened  up  a  good  farm,  and  upon  which  he 
spent  his  last  days,  passing  away  in  the  spring  of 
1828.  The  household  circle  was  completed  by  the 
birth  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom  lived  to 
years   of    maturity,  namely :     James    and    Joseph, 


J08 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


who  were  residents  of  Morgan  County,  Ohio, 
until  their  death;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Nathan  Williams,  of 
Harrison  County.  Ohio;  Thomas,  our  subject;  Ann, 
the  widow  of  George  W.  Scott,  living  in  Camp 
Chase;  and  Mary,  Mrs.  W.  Spurier,  who  died  in 
Harrison  County,  whither  she  returned  from  Mor- 
gan County.  The  mother  survived  her  husband 
only  six  years,  her  death  taking  place  at  the  old 
homestead  on  May  12,  1834.  She  was  a  member 
and  minister  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Mr. 
Hoopes,  our  subject,  is  not  a  member  of  any 
society. 

Mr.  Hoopes  owns  large  tracts  of  land,  also  buys 
any  tract  a  young,  but  honest  and  industrious  man 
may  desire,  lets  him  have  it  and  pay  a  very  low 
rate  of  interest,  instead  of  rent,  and  avoids  double 
taxation;  thus  helping  man}-  young  men  to  start, 
simply  for  the  purpose  of  doing  what  good  he  can. 
If  he  is  proud  of  anything,  it  is  of  that,  to  be  con- 
sidered a  philanthropist. 


-3"*f 


RA  Gr.  JONES.  Here  and  there,  like  a  bright 
light  on  the  hill  top,  we  find  a  character  which 
convinces  us  that  the  world  is  by  no  means  all 
bad.  and  the  subject  of  this  notice  may  most  prop- 
erly be  placed  in  this  category.  Not  only  is  he  the 
wealthiest  farmer  in  Elwood  Township,  but  its  old- 
est living  settler,  and  one  who  is  known  far  and 
wide  for  his  kindly  character,  and  as  looking  upon 
the  mistakes  and  wrong-doings  of  his  fellow-men 
with  charity.  He  had  long  been  known  as  the 
poor  man's  friend — one  never  seeking  popularity — 
but  he  has  sought  to  help  those  who  have  tried  to 
help  themselves,  and  has  set  before  his  fellow-men 
an  example  worthy  of  their  imitation.  He  is  by 
occupation  a  farmer,  and  has  for  many  years  been 
engaged  extensively  in  stock-raising.  His  large 
possessions  are  the  accumulation  of  a  lifetime  of 
industry,  good  management,  and  the  prudent  econ- 
omy which  has  been  the  rule  of  his  life. 

A  native  of  Eastern  Indiana,  our  subject  was 
born  near  Libert}',  fifteen  miles  from  the  present 
flourishing  city  of   Richmond,  Jan.  11,  182G.     His 


I 


father.  Aaron  Jones,  long  since  deceased,  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  Jersey,  and  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  when  quite  small.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  wife  of  Aaron 
Jones  was  Phebe  Watkins,  a  native  of  Fayette 
County,  Pa.,  who  became  the  mother  of  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years,  and 
three  survive,  those  beside  our  subject  being  Will- 
iam and  Henry.  The  former  occupies  the  old 
homestead  near  Quaker  Point,  just  across  the  line 
in  Indiana,  and  the  latter  lives  in  Fremont  County. 
Minn. 

Aaron  Jones  brought  his  family  to  this  county 
in  October,  1827,  settling  at  Quaker  Point,  where 
he  rented  land  two  or  three  seasons.  He  then  en- 
tered a  tract  from  the  Government  about  one  mile 
east  of  Quaker  Point  in  Vermilion  Township.  Ver- 
million Co.,  Ind.  The  first  house  the  Jones  fam- 
ily occupied  was  a  double  log  cabin  with  a  stick 
and  clay  chimney,  a  puncheon  floor  and  the  roof 
made  of  clapboards  held  down  with  knees  and 
weight  poles.  Some  of  the  pioneer  bedsteads  of 
that  day  consisted  of  poles  fastened  in  the  wall  and 
resting  on  a  fork  in  the  middle  of  the  floor.  The 
nearest  trading  points  were  Newport  and  Eugene. 
•'Father  Jones,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  a 
very  hospitable  man,  and  entertained  many  a  trav- 
eler under  his  humble  roof.  People  came  as  far  as 
eight  miles  to  the  Shaw  and  the  Eugene  mills,  and 
sometimes  would  have  to  wait  a  week  for  their 
grinding.  Many  of  them  put  up  with  the  Jones 
family,  and  were  never  charged  a  cent.  It  was 
common  to  drink  whisky  in  those  days,  and  "Uncle 
Aaron"  always  had  plenty  of  it  in  his  house — the 
genuine  article,  made  from  his  own  grain.  Not- 
withstanding this  he  was  a  temperate  man  himself, 
and  never  allowed  liquor  to  get  the  better  of  him. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  conducted 
in  "Hazel  Brush  College,"  a  log  cabin  erected  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  dwelling  heretofore  de- 
scribed. His  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  in 
a  similar  manner  to  that  of  other  sons  of  the 
pioneer  farmer,  during  which  time  he  assisted  in 
tilling  the  soil,  and  upon  approaching  manhood 
began  to  lay  his  plans  for  the  establishment  of  a 
home  of  his  own.     He  was  twenty-nine  years  old, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


509 


however,  before  securing  unto  himself  a  wife  and 
helpmate,  and  was  then  married  in  July.  1855.  to 
Miss  Ruth  Connor.  Tin's  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living 
— Emetine,  George,  Rozella  and  Seymour.  One 
daughter,  Indiana,  was  married  to  John  Patton, 
and  died,  leaving  five  children — Jennie.  Neal,  May, 
George  and  Lucretia.  Emeline  married  William 
Arrissmith,  of  Pilot  Township,  this  county,  and 
they  have  four  children — Lilly,  Ira,  James  and 
Bertha:  George  married  Miss  Annie  Phillips,  lives 
in  Bethel,  and  is  the  father  of  one  child,  a  son. 
Claude;  Rozella  married  Charles  Busby,  of  El- 
wood  Township,  and  has  two  children.  Mrs.  Ruth 
((minor)  Jones  departed  this  life  at  the  home- 
stead. Aug.  II,  1869. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage,  Nov. 
24,  1871.  with  Mrs.  Rhoda  J.  Rice.  This  lady  was 
the  widow  of  James  M.  Rice,  and  the  daughter 
of  James  F.  Weller,  of  Elwood  Township.  Of 
their  marriage  there  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, all  sons.  Pearl,  Frank,  Bertie  and  Arthur. 
Mrs.  Jones  is  a  member  of  the  New  Light  Chris- 
tian Church.  Our  subject,  politically,  votes  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  has  been  quite  prominent 
in  local  affairs,  officiating  as  Road  Overseer  ami 
Highway  Commissioner,  and  is  at  present  School 
Trustee  and  a  member  of  the  village  Council.  He 
is  the  owner  of  1,600  acres  of  land,  most  of  it  in 
Elwood  Township.  His  agricultural  operations 
have  been  conducted  with  thoroughness  and  skill, 
and  his  home  is  one  whose  inmates  are  sur- 
rounded with  all  the  comforts  ami  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life. 


HENRY  BANTA.  Until  within  a  few 
years  back  the  subject  of  this  notice  was 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Elwood 
Township.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1853 
settling  near  Pilot  Grove  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing until  1869.  He  then  came  to  the  Ridge  where 
he  has  since  lived.  He  for  some  time  owned  and 
operated  the  Ridge  Farm  Flouring  Mill  and  built 
the  elevator   herein  1871.      He   dealt  in  grain   ex- 


tensively and  at  the  same  time  interested  himself 
in  the  various  enterprises  calculated  to  build  up 
the  town,  lie  is  a  man  of  excellent,  business  capa- 
cities and  strong  qualities  of  character,  one  whose 
influence  has  been  sensibly  fell,  both  in  the  business 
and  social  circles  of  his  community. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky., 
Aug.  1  I,  1831,  ami  is  the  son  of  Abraham  Banta, 
now  deceased.  The  latter  was  born  in  Bourbon 
County,  Ky.,  whence  our  subject  removed  to 
Nicholas  County  with  his  parents  when  quite 
young.  They  settled  on  a  farm  two  ami  one-half 
miles  west  of  Carlisle  on  the  old  Lexington  and 
Maysville  pike.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Dorcas  Hedges.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Henry  Banta,  served  as  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolutionary  War.  The  parental  household 
included  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.:  Scythia  A..  Mrs.  Fulton;  J.  Henry,  our  sub- 
ject; Margaret,  Mrs.  Campbell;  William  F.  and 
Elizabeth,  twins,  the  latter  of  whom  also  married  a 
Mr.  Campbell.  The  deceased  were  Andrew  J., 
Sarah,  Mrs.  Collins  and  Annie  M.,  Mrs.  Bogard. 

Young  Banta  commenced  his  education  in  a  log 
cabin  in  Bourbon  County.  Ky.  The  temple  of 
learning  was  a  very  primitive  affair,  with  greased 
paper  for  window  panes,  split  log  seats,  puncheon 
floor  and  clapboard  roof  held  in  place  by  weight 
poles.  His  childhood  and  youth  passed  in  a  com- 
paratively uneventful  manner  until  his  marriage 
which  occurred  in  April.  1852.  his  bride  being 
Miss  Mary  J.  Russell.  This  lad}'  was  born  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Andrew  Rus- 
sell, deceased.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  eight 
children,  namely:  James  A.,  Nancy  E.,  William  F., 
Sarah  A.,  Margaret  E.,  Annie  I).,  Andre  .v  J.  and 
John  II. 

One  of  tiie  leading  characteristics  of  Mr.  Banta 
is  his  steady  opposition  to  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  intoxicating  drinks.  While  serving  as 
Mayor  of  Ridge  Farm  in  1888-89,  he  vetoed  the 
whisky  license  ordinance  passed  by  the  Council, 
and  has  left  no  stone  unturned  in  using  his  influ- 
ence to  put  down  the  liquor  traffic.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Town  Council  several  years  which 
facl  is  sufficient  indication  of  tie  estimation  in 
which  he  is  held   by  his  fellow  citizens.      He  is  not 


510 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


connected  with  any  religious  organization  but  so- 
cially is  a  charter  member  of  Lodge  No.  632  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  at  Ridge  Farm.  His  estimable  wife  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Bani,a,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  inflammatory  rheumatism,  is  usually  in 
good  health  and  well  preserved.  In  March,  1889, 
he  took  a  trip  to  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  and  the  treat- 
ment he  received  there  was  very  beneficial. 

The  ancestors  from  whom  our  subject  sprang  were 
first  represented  in  this  country  by  one  Epke  Jacob 
Banta. a  farmer  from  Harlingen,  East  Friesland, Hoi- 
Land, who  with  his  wife  and  five  sons, emigrated  from 
Amsterdam  in  the  ship '•  DeTrouw,"  which  sailed 
Feb.  13,  1639  for  the  New  World.  The  account 
of  its  passage  and  its  voyagers  may  lie  found  in 
the  •■  Documental  History  of  New  York,  volume  3, 
pages  52  and  53  and  volume  14,  page  90."  Epke 
Jacob  Banta  was  appointed  one  of  the  court  of 
Oyer  and  Terminer  at  Bergen,  now  a  part  of  Jersey 
(  it\  in  L679.  See  ••  Winlield's  History  of  Wood- 
ford County,  page  100." 

In  1695  four  of  the  five  sons  spoken  of  above — 
Sclia.  Cornelius,  Hendrick.  and  Dirck,  with  six  other 
persons,  purchased  from  the  proprietors  of  Easl 
Jersey  a  tract  of  land  extending  in  breadth  from 
the  Hudson  River  to  Oveipeck  (English  neighbor- 
hood) Creek,  and  in  length  about  two  miles  and  a 
quarter  from  north  to  south.  (See  deed  recorded 
at  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  Trenton,  N.  J.) 
The  third  son,  Hendrick  Epke  Banta,  married  Mary 
Lubbertse  Westervelt,  at  Bergen,  Nov.  17,  1678, 
and  there  were  born  to  them  six  children.  He 
became  a  man  prominent  and  well-to-do  in  his 
community  and  was  elected  a  Deacon  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church  at  Ilackensack,  N.  J.,  at  its 
organization  in  September.  1686. 

Hendrick  Banta,  Jr.,  upon  reaching  manhood  mar- 
ried Geertruy  Terhuyne,  Jan.  26, 1  7 1  7, and  they  had 
four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  also  named 
Hendrick.  This  latter  and  his  wife,  Rachel  Urou- 
wer,  removed  about  the  3-ear  1753  to  Somerset 
County,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  an  Elder  in  the  Church 
at  Millstone.  Later  he  removed  to  the  northern 
part  of  the  county  and  was  elected  an  Elder  in  the 
Church  at  Bedmiuster  at  its  organization,  (Jet.  25. 
1758.     In    1768    he    removed    with    a    colony    to 


Adams  County.  Pa.,  settling  near  the  present  site  of 
Gettysburg  and  was  a  conspicuous  member  of  the 
Church  at  Conewavo.  Ten  years  later  he  became 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Madison  County.  Kv.,  set- 
tling near  Boonesboro,  but  subsequently  removed 
to  Mercer  County,  and  finally  to  Shelby  County. 
In  the  latter  he  settled  near  Pleasureville  on  what 
was  known  as  the  Dutch  Tract  where  he  died  in 
LSI  15. 

Of  this  latter  family  there  were  born  six  children 
of  whom  the  fourth,  Abraham,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  April  7,  1805.  There  was  only 
one  family  of  the  name  who  came  to  America  and 
their  descendants  have  been  people  uniformly  re- 
spectable and  well-to-do.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  has  inherited  some  of  the  peculiar  traits  of 
his  ancestors  and  besides  being  totally  averse  to 
liquor  in  any  shape,  never  had  tobacco  in  his  mouth 
and  never  smoked  a  cigar.  He  has  done  what  he 
coidd  to  advance  those  principles  in  which  he  con- 
scientiously believes,  and  his  record  has  been  that 
of  an  honest  man  and  a  praiseworthy  citizen. 

-w-iEs5*£H  ■  ;■    - — 


d  JMXLIAM  BARCLAY  HA  WORTH,  late  of 
Arjl  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  departed  this  life 
V^  near  Ridge  Farm.  III.,  Oct.  12.  1867.  His 
widow,  Mrs.  Irene  Ilaworth.  retains  possession  of 
the  property  left  her  by  her  husband,  and  is  a  lady 
held  in  high  esteem  in  her  community.  She  was 
born  in  Wayne  Count}*,  Ind.,  Dec.  12,  1827.  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Seth  Mill,  deceased,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  who  came  to  this  county  with  his 
family  in  1828.  They  settled  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Thomas  Brown  place,  where  they 
lived  seven  years,  then  removed  to  the  Aaron 
Glick  farm,  two  miles  east  of  Vermilion  Grove, 
where  the  father  died  Aug.  19,  1846. 

On  the  Ktth  of  August,  1845,  Miss  Mills  was 
to  married  William  B.  Ilaworth,  and  the}-  at  once 
settled  across  the  line  at  Quaker  Point,  in  Vermillion 
County,  Ind.,  where  Mrs.  Ilaworth  lived  until 
1875.  She  then  removed  to  Vermilion  Grove,  her 
present  home.  Of  the  thirteen  children  born  to  her 
and  her  husband,  nine   lived    to   mature  years,  and 


c4//yrU^S  Q)«j£>aJ4/ 


'€> 


St>.  $  ?>n^ 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


515 


eight  are  still  living,  viz:  Maria,  Susan,  Henry  M.. 
Zimri  I...  Mary  K..  Sarah.  Laura  .M..  and  Eva  J. 
One  son,  Seth.  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Kits,  and  is 
now  deceased.  Of  the  two  children  born  to  them 
only  one  is  living,  Anna  L;  Maria  married  Amos 
Cook,  of  Yankee  Point;  Susan  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  1..  Commons,  of  Wichita,  Kan.,  and  has 
has  five  children — Arthur  N..  Adella,  Walter, 
Pearl,  and  Oren.  Henry  married  Laura  Hendricks, 
and  lives  at  Quaker  Point.  Ind.;  they  have  five 
children — Kenneth  E.,  Maria.  Alice,  George  and 
Myrtle;  Zimri  married  .Miss  Sybil  Pees,  lives  in 
Elwood  Township,  and  has  two  children — Mary 
and  Albert  C;  Mary  married  Ezra  Cook,  of  Yankee 
Point,  and  lives  in  Elwood  Township;  they  have 
five  children — Bertha,  Nora,  Flora.  Seth  and  Ethel. 
Sarah  married  Josiah  Marsh,  of  Frankfort,  Ind., 
and  they  have  one  child.  Charlie;  Laura  married 
Newton  Morris,  of  Elwood  Township,  and  they  have 
two  children — Orpha  I),  and  Barclay  1).;  Eva  mar- 
ried Levi" Saunders,  of  Elwood  Township,  and  they 
have  three  children — Octavia,  Elton  and  Estella. 

Mr.  Haworth  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  to  which  Mrs.  Haworth  and  her  family  also 
belong.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Haworth  was  in  her 
girlhood  Rebecca  Canaday,  a  native  of  Jefferson 
County,  Fast  Tenn.,  and  born  June  23,  1806.  The 
parental  family  included  five  children:  Irena, 
Henry,  Aaron.  Lucinda  15.  (deceased)  and  Annie 
M.  The  mother  died  June  18,  1888,  in  Elwood 
Township,  Vermilion  Co.,  III.  She  was  a  life- 
long member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 


-»•'!•  3'I't'l'~ 


ORMAN  B.  DOUGLASS  stand.-  in  the 
I  front  rank  of  the  enlightened, enterprising 
agriculturists,  who  arc  active  in  sup- 
porting the  immense  fanning  and  stock- 
raising  interests  of  Vermilion  County.  lie  owns 
one  of  the  largest  and  finest  improved  farms  in  all 
Cat.lin  Township,  beautifully  located  on  section  2. 
where  he  has  a  very  pretty  home,  rendered  still 
more  attractive  by  the  number  of  shade  and  fruit 
trees  with  which  he  has  adorned  the  grounds. 
Our  subject  comes  of  worthy  New  England  an- 


cestry on  the  father's  side,  and  of  good  Pennsyl- 
vania stock  on  the  maternal  side  of  I  he  house.  His 
father,  Cyrus  Douglass,  was  born  in  Vermont,  and 
his  mother  was  a  native  of  Tioga  County,  Pa. 
'liny  were  married  about  three  miles  north  of  Dan- 
ville, in  this  county,  and  settled  soon  after  about 
three  miles  and  a  half  south  of  that  city,  where 
they  lived  for  a  long  term  of  years,  being  very 
early  pioneers  of  that  township.  In  1865,  they 
retired  to  Fail-mount  to  spent  their  last  years  free 
from  the  cares  and  labors  that  had  beset  their  early 
life,  whereby  they  had  won  a  competence.  She 
did  not  long  survive  the  removal  from  her  old 
1 e.  where  her  married  life  had  passed  so  pleas- 
antly and  peacefully,  bid  Dee.  15,  1866,  closed  her 
eyes  to  the  scenes  of  earth.  The  father  lived  four- 
teen years  longer,  and  then,  Dec.  20,  1880,  he  was 
summoned  to  the  life  beyond  the  grave.  He  had 
served  under  Capt.  Morgan  L.Payne  in  the  Indian 
War  of  1831-2.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children,  nine  sons  and  four  daughters, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  grow  up,  with  the  exception 
of  one  son,  who  was  injured  and  died  when  about 
nine  years  old. 

Our  subject  was  the  second  child  of  the  family 
in  order  of  birth,  and  was  born  in  Danville  Town- 
ship, Oct.  11.  1*'27.  He  was  reared  to  man's  estate 
in  the  place  of  his  nativity  in  the  pioneer  home  of 
his  birth.  He  gleaned  his  education  in  the  primi- 
tive schools  of  the  early  days,  was  bred  to  a  farm- 
er's life  on  the  old  homestead,  and  has  always  given 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  lie  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  till  1851,  and  then,  buoyed 
with  the  holies  and  ambitions  of  an  energetic 
young  manhood,  he  took  his  departure  from  the 
scenes  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  crossed  the 
continent  to  Oregon  to  see  something  of  the  world 
ami  to  I"  iter  his  prospects  in  life,  if  he  could.  He 
Stayed  in  Oregon  but  a  short  time,  and  then  made 
his  way  to  California,  where  he  remained  some  time 
engaged  in  mining.  In  October,  1853,  he  gathered 
together  his  gains,  having  a  great  desire  to  see  his  old 
home  once  more  after  experiencing  the  rough  life 
of  a  miner  for  two  years,  and  embarked  on  a 
vessel  that  took  him  by  the  Nicaragua  route,  and 
thence  made  his  way  by  New  York  City  to  Illinois 
and  Vermilion  County.     On  his  return  he  resumed 


516 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


farming,  and  followed  that  peaceful  vocation  some 
years.  But  life  in  the  wild  West  still  held  a  fasci- 
nation for  him,  and  in  the  summer  of  1864  he 
made  another  trip  toward  the  setting  sun,  journey- 
ing across  the  plains  to  Idaho  and  Montana.  That 
time  he  was  gone  from  here  about  two  and  a  half 
years,  and  was  variously  employed  as  a  miner  and 
at  different  occupations.  Since  his  second  return 
from  the  far  West  Mr.  Douglass  has  been  engaged 
continuously  in  farming,  and  has  met  with  more 
than  ordinary  success  in  that  pursuit.  He  owns 
410  acres  of  as  choice  land  as  is  to  be  found  in 
this  part  of  Vermilion  County,  has  it  under  perfect 
cultivation,  has  erected  good  buildings,  including 
a  substantial,  well-appointed  residence,  and  made 
other  valuable  improvements. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Anna 
Downing,  a  noble,  true-hearted  woman,  who  has 
devoted  her  life  to  the  interests  of  her  husband 
and  children,  took  place  in  Danville  Township. 
their  union  being  solemnized  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember. 1855.  Mrs.  Douglass  is  the  daughter  of 
Ellis  and  Louisa  (Hathaway)  Downing,  natives 
respectively  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  and  now 
deceased.  Her  parents  began  their  married  life  in 
Kentucky,  and  from  there  went  later  in  life  to  In- 
diana, and  were  pioneers  of  Logansport,  where  he 
died.  The  mother  afterward  came  to  Catlin  Town- 
ship, and  made  her  home  here  till  death.  Four 
children  were  born  of  her  marriage,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  Mrs.  Douglass  being  the  eldest  of 
the  family.  She  was  born  near  Washington,  in 
Mason  County,  Ky.,  Dec.  25,  1825.  She  is  the 
mother  of  five  children,  as  follows:  Samuel;  Eliza, 
the  wife  of  George  W.  Cook;  Allen  who  married 
Maggie  Byeiley;  Belle  B.,  the  wife  of  Charles  Lu- 
cas; and  George  W. 

Mr.  Douglas  is  a  man  whose  frank  geniality,  tact 
and  readiness  to  oblige,  have  won  him  many  fast 
friends,  and  with  his  wife,  who  is  of  an  amiable, 
charitable  disposition,  he  stands  high  in  the  social 
circles  of  this  community.  He  is  a  man  of  wide 
and  varied  experience  and  information,  a  good  con- 
versationalist, and  is  accordingly  a  pleasing  com- 
panion. He  is  a  good  financier,  and  also  an  able 
manager,  having  his  affairs  under  good  control;  he 
possesses    in    a   large    degree    those    characteristics 


without  which  success  in  life  is  unattainable.  He 
has  mingled  somewhat  in  the  public  life  of  the 
township,  has  proved  an  efficient  school  officer, 
and  has  held  some  of  the  minor  offices  with  credit 
to  himself,  and  to  the  benefit  of  the  community. 
He  is  an  esteemed  member  of  Catlin  Lodge,  No. 
285,  A.  F.  cfe  A.  M.  He  is  a  loyal  and  faithful  citi- 
zen, having  the  best  interests  of  his  country  at 
heart,  and  is  in  his  politics  a  pronounced  Democrat 
of  the  Jacksonian  type. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  the  reader  will  notice 
a  portrait  of  Mr.  Douglass,  and  beside  it  is  fittingly 
placed  that  of  his  wife,  who  has  been  at  his  side  a 
faithful  companion  for  more  than  thirty  years. 


-sJl&==_ 


■^r 


*pfl  MOS    COOK,  a    representative    farmer    of 
Elwood  Township,  is  a  hardworking,  typi- 
cal   Quaker.     He    is  a  native  of   Elwood 
jfjp  Township,   and   was    born  Dec.    15,   1845. 

His  father,  Daniel  Cook,  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Vermilion  County,  and  a  man  whose  repu- 
tation for  everything  that  constitutes  a  model  man, 
was  of  the  very  best.  The  mother  was  Hannah 
Hester,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Hester,  also  a  pio- 
neer of  Eastern  Illinois.  The  elder  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cook  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  liviny  : 
Amos,  Ezra  and  Daniel,  all  born  in  Elwood  Town- 
ship. Daniel  was  born  on  Feb.  27th,  1855.  He 
married  Electa  Powell.  They  have  one  child. 
Alice,  and  are  living  on  section  10  of  Elwood 
Township.  Mary  died  after  she  had  married  and 
become  the  mother  of  two  children. 

Mr.  Cook  enjoyed  but  limited  advantages  for 
securing  an  education,  as  the  common  schools  of 
his  boyhood  had  not  attained  to  the  perfection  of 
the  public  schools  of  the  present  day.  He  im 
proved  well,  however,  his  opportunities,  and  re- 
grets that  he  C0'"ld  not  have  secured  better  educa- 
tional privileges.  On  Nov.  3d,  186!).  Mr.  Cook 
was  married  to  Maria,  daughter  of  Bartley  Ilaw- 
orth  (deceased).  They  have  no  children.  The 
brother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Ezra  Cook,  of 
Vermilion  Grove,  was  born  in  October,  1848.  in 
Elwood  Township.     He  received  a  common-school 


PORTRAIT  AMI  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


517 


education  and  has  always  worked  on  a  farm.     He 

owns  seventy  acres  of  land,  where   he  carries  on  a 
general   farming  and   stock-raising  business.      He 

has  been   very  prosperous  and   lias  accumulated  a 

i petence.     He  was  married  in  September,  1875, 

to  Mary  E.  Haworth.  They  are  the  parents  of  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Bertha  L..  Nora 
A.,  Flora  B.,  Setb  II..  and  Ethel  M.  His  wife  was 
horn  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  reared  in  Vermill- 
ion County,  Ind.  Ezra  never  has  sought  office, 
and  politically,  be  belongs  to  the  Prohibition  party. 
He  and  his  wife  are  leading  members  of  the  So 
ciety  <>f  Friends,  as  were  also  their  parents. 

Amos  Cook  owns  ninety-two  acres  of  land,  most 
of  which  is  under  a  perfect  state  of  cultivation. 
He  prosecutes  a  general  farming  and  stock-raising 
business.  The  stock  on  bis  farm  is  of  the  very 
best  blood,  and  he  spares  no  pains  to  obtain  the 
best,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  graded  Bel- 
gian horses,  .Short-horn  cattle  and  Poland-China 
hogs.  Mr.  Cook  is  considered  by  his  neighbors  a 
model  farmer,  and  a  survey  of  his  farm  will  corro- 
borate that  estimate.  He  is  thorough  in  all  his 
work,  and  leaves  nothing  undone  that  should  be 
done,  and  everything  connected  with  his  place 
seems  to  be  in  perfect  order. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  are  members  of  the  Friends' 
Church,  where  they  regularly  attend  divine  wor- 
ship, and  of  which  they  are  birth-right  members, 
Mr.  Cook  has  never  held  any  office,  nor  does  he 
want  one.  but  he  votes  and  works  for  the  Prohibi- 
tion party  as  a  matter  of  duty  and  principle.  lb- 
has  never  lived  outside  of  Elwood  Township. 

-1* <^¥ »- 

EDUCE  W.  CANADAY.  Among  the 
steady-going  men  of  Carroll  Township  none 
\\^/|  are  more  responsible  and  hard-working  than 
he  with  whose  name  we  introduce  this  sketch.  He 
pursues  the  even  tenor  of  his  way  quietly  and  un- 
ostentatiously, ami  is  a  tine  representative  of  that 
responsible  and  reliable  element  which  is  so  essen- 
tial to  the  well-being  of  every  community.  lie  is 
the  owner  of  two  medium  sized  farms,  has  a  good 
home  and    a  pleasant   family,  including  a  group  of 


children  which  he  and  his  excellent  wife  may  be 
pardoned  for  looking  upon  with  much  pride. 

The  son  of  a  pioneer,  our  subject  was  born  in 
Georgetown  Township  near  Concord,  Nov.  is, 
1842,  being  the  youngest  of  three  children,  the  off- 
spring of  Boater  and  Ellen  (Weidener)  Canaday, 
who  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  came  to  this  county 
about  1835.  They  settled  in  Georgetown  Township, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days.  The 
father,  however,  only  lived  until  1845,  leaving  his 
widow  with  three  children — William  R.,  Sarah  J., 
and  George  W.,  our  subject.  She  was  married  the 
second  time  and  became  the  mother  of  six  more 
children. 

Mr.  Canaday  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  amid 
the  quiet  scenes  of  rural  life,  learning  to  plow,  sow 
and  reap.  He  says,  "I  have  been  plowboy  thirty- 
eight  3'ears."  He  attended  the  .schools  at  Cone  jrd, 
and  grew  up  to  a  healthful  and  vigorous  manhood, 
with  stout  muscles  and  feeling  fully  equal  to  the 
demands  of  the  future.  When  twenty-five  years 
old  he  was  married,  in  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  Jane, 
daughter  of  George  W.  Smith,  who  is  now  living 
three  miles  south  of  Georgetown.  The  young  peo- 
ple commenced  the  journey  of  life  together  in  El- 
wood Township,  and  from  that  time  on  have 
worked  with  a  mutual  purpose  to  make  for  them- 
selves a  home  and  leave  a  good  record  to  their 
children.  In  the  fall  of  that  3'ear,  thinking  he 
would  do  better  beyond  the  Mississippi,  Mr.  Cana- 
day went  into  Worth  County,  Mo.,  and  purchased 
a  farm  of  100  acres,  driving  to  it  in  a  wagon.  For 
seven  years  thereafter  he  prosecuted  farming  on  that 
land,  performing  a  great  deal  of  hard  labor  with 
encouraging  results. 

Mrs.  Canaday  finally  became  homesick,  and  the 
family,  including  three  children,  in  1874,  returned 
to  this  county,  making  the  journey  overland  in  a 
wagon.  Mr.  Canaday  purchased  a  small  tract  of 
land — seventy-two  acres — near  Ridge  Farm,  which 
he  still  owns,  and  in  1881  purchased  the  120-acre 
farm  in  Carroll  Township,  which  he  now  occupies, 
and  to  which  he  gives  his  principal  attention. 
Their  three  eldest  children,  Emma  E.,  Florence  and 
Cora,  were  born  in  Missouri.  Ollie  and  Frank  are 
natives  of  Illinois.  Our  subject  and  his  estimable 
wife  belong  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 


518 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


at  Concord,  and  Mr.  Canaday,  politically,  votes  the 
straight  Democratic  ticket.  He  has  served  as  School 
Director  ill  his  district,  and  believes  in  the  educa- 
tion of  the  young  as  the  best  means  of  insuring 
good  citizenship. 

Mrs.  Canaday  was  born  in  Georgetown  Town- 
ship Sept.  24,  1845,  and  is  the  only  child  of  her 
father  by  his  first  wife,  who  in  her  girlhood  was  Mary 
Jane  Smith.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Smith  was  married  a  second  time,  and  became  the 
father  of  seven  more  children,  five  living  and  two 
dead. 

— -*&m- — 


■RANK  A.   BAUM,  one  of  the  most  popular 
men    of   Carroll   Township,'   was    born    and 


ljk  "  reared  within  its  precincts,  and  is  the  off- 
spring of  an  old  and  well-known  family,  the  son  of 
Samuel  Baum,  whose  great-grandfather  was  born 
in  Poland,  from  which  he  fled  during  the  troubles 
of  that  unhappy  country,  and  for  some  time  after- 
ward made  his  home  in  Germany.  Later  he  came 
to  America,  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War,  ami 
married  an  English  lady  by  the  name  of  Barbara 
McDonald,  a  relative  of  the  daring  and  gallant 
young  McDonald,  fighting  under  Gen.  Marion  in 
that  war.  The  senior  Baum  was  later  appointed 
on  the  reserve  corps  for  special  duty  and  the  pro- 
tection of  the  early  settlements.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  settled  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  where  the 
nine  children  of  the  family  were  reared,  among 
whom  was  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  Charles  Baum,  Sr. 

The  year  following  Wayne's  treaty  with  the  In- 
dians Charles  Baum  and  his  family  sailed  down  the 
Ohio  River  to  the  month  of  Bullsink  Creek,  near 
where  the  town  of  Chilo  now  stands.  Here  they 
commenced  the  first  settlement  made  in  the  Terri- 
tory of  Ohio.  Grandfather  Charles  Baum  upon 
reaching  manhood  married  Miss  Susan  Moier.  of 
Germantown,  Ky.  They  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  viz:  Samuel,  John,  M.  1).;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Weaver;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Van  Treese;  Charles;  Cather- 
ine. Mrs.  Patterson;  Susan.  Mrs.  Sandusky;  Eliza- 
beth. Gideon  X.;  and  Eliza.  Mrs.  Carter. 

Samuel  Baum  was  the  eldest  son  of  his    parents 


(who  came  to  this  county  with  their  children  in 
1839),  ami  while  a  resident  of  Ohio,  was  married 
to  a  daughter  of  old  Michael  Weaver.  The  latter 
came  to  this  county  in  1827,  and  settled  one 
miles  northeast  of  the  present  site  of  Indian- 
ola.  There  were  then  but  five  log  houses  on  the 
Little  Vermilion,  two  of  which  were  purchased 
by  a  Baum  and  a  Weaver.  The  latter  gentleman 
lived  to  be  one  hundred  years  old,  the  oldest  man 
on  record  in  Carroll  Township.  He  was  the  father 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Baum,  was  the  eldest.  She  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  after  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of 
two  children  there,  Elizabeth  and  Oliver  P.  After 
their  removal  to  Illinois  there  were  born  six  more 
children — Susan,  Catherine,  Charles  M.,  Samuel, 
William  and  Angeline.  The  first  wife  died,  and 
Samuel  Baum  married  a  second  time  to  Mrs.  Polly 
Matkins,  widow  of  William  Matkins,  by  whom  she 
became  the  mother  of  two  children — Theodore  and 
Mary.  Of  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Baum  there 
were  born  four  children:  Frank,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  America,  Winchester  C.  and  May.  Grand- 
father Baum  was  perhaps  as  generous  a  man  as 
ever  set  foot  in  Carroll  Township.  He  possessed 
the  character  and  attributes  of  a  true  Christian,  and 
was  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Uncle  Sam  Baum,  as  he  was  familiarly  termed,  was 
a  large,  powerful  man,  six  feet  one  inch  in  height, 
and  weighing  300  pounds.  He  was  born  in  Ohio, 
and  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life, 
growing  up  good-tempered  and  jovial,  and  follow- 
ing farming  pursuits.  He  took  the  first  produce 
which  he  raised  in  Carroll  Township  to  Chicago, 
driving  five  yoke  of  oxen.  His  sole  earthly  pos- 
sessions upon  coining  to  this  county  were  a  horse, 
bridle  and  saddle,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
March,  1861,  he  was  the  owner  of  1.500  acres  of 
good  land,  besides  personal  property.  During  the 
latter  years  of  his  life  he  belonged  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  diet!   at   the  age  of   fifty-six  years. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  came  to  Illinois  with 
her  father  in  1831,  he  settling  three  miles  east  of 
[ndianola.  She  was  then  but  thirteen  3-ears  old. 
Alter  a  time  they  moved  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where 
they  sojourned  three  years,   then    returned    to  this 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


510 


county,  and  the  mother  died  about  1883  at  the  age 
of  sixty-two  years.  She  was  a  woman  of  many  ex- 
cellent qualities,  and  in  religion  a  Presbyterian. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Nov.  15, 
1851,  in  Carrol!  Township,  where  he  was  reared  on 
n  farm,  and  at  an  early  age  became  familiar  with 
agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising.  He  was 
bright  and  courageous,  and  at  an  early  age  as- 
sumed unusual  res] sibilities  for  a  boy,  which  had 

the  effect  of  making  him  self-reliant  and  little  in- 
clined to  ask  favors  of  anyone.  His  father  died 
when  be  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years,  but  prior  to  this 
Frank  had  been  engaged  helping  his  father  in  pur- 
chasing  cattle  two  or  three  years.  With  the  demise 
of  the  head  of  the  family  the  household  circle  was 
broken  up,  but  Frank  remained  with  his  mother  on 
the  Baum  homestead  until  two  years  after  his  mar- 
riage. The  above  mentioned  event  in  the  life  of 
our  subject  was  celebrated  Nov.  18,  1873,  the  bride 
being  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  Dr.  McIIalfie,  one  of 
the  earliest  physicians  in  Carroll  Township.  Mrs. 
Baum  was  born  in  Indianola.  and  was  a  child  at 
school  with  her  husband.  In  1875  they  moved  on 
to  the  part  of  the  father's  estate  which  fell  to  cur 
subject,  and  to  which  the  latter  subsequently  added 
by  the  purchase  of  land.  There  were  born  to  them 
five  children:  Harry,  Joseph,  Beratice ; Samuel,  who 
when  sixteen  months  old;  and  Benjamin  F. 

Mr.  Baum  has  given  his  attention  largely  to  the 
live-stock  business,  and  has  fed  all  the  cattle  bis 
farm  could  sustain.  He  has  never  sold  any  Other 
o-rain  besides  wheat.  He  shipped  his  cattle  to  New 
York,  Buffalo,  and  Chicago,  and  began  operations 
in  this  business  when  a  youth  of  seventeen  years. 
He  has  made  two  trips  to  the  Far  West,  and  is  a  man 
who  keeps  bis  eyes  open  to  what  is  going  on  around 
him,  embracing  every  opportunity  for  useful  in- 
formation. He  is  at  present  interested  in  the  breed- 
ing of  Clydesdale  horses,  and  is  a  life  member  of 
the  Scotch  and  American  Clydesdale  Associations. 
He  has  also  bred  Short-horn  cattle  considerably. 
His  son.  Harry,  a  bright  boy  of  fourteen,  is  said  to 
lie  the  best  posted  youth  in  the  county  in  connec- 
tion with  this  industry.  When  thirteen  years  old 
he  passeil  a  successful  examination  for  a  teacher's 
certificate,  and  in  1888  was  again  examined  and 
ranked  the  highest  of  any   applicant.      Mr.   Baum 


thoroughly  believes  in  education,  and  has  given  to 
his  children  the  best  advantages  in    his  power. 

The  farm  of  our  subject  embraces  160  acres  of 
land,  well  improved  and  very  fertile.  Mr.  Baum 
put  in  the  first  tile  ever  laid  in  Carroll  Township, 
of  which  he  has  live  miles  on  120  acres.  Being 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  early  in  life,  he  has 
had  a  stern  battle  with  the  world,  and  is  of  that  in- 
dependent and  outspoken  disposition  which  might, 
with  one  unacquainted  with  him.  seem  abrupt,  but 
at  heart  he  is  genuine  gold,  with  sympathy  for  the 
unfortunate,  and  a  line  appreciation  of  those  senti- 
ments of  honor,  which  is  the  leading  characteristic 
of  every  true  man.  He  is  one  who  naturally  es- 
pouses the  cause  of  the  persecuted  and  down-fallen, 
and  has  more  than  once  wrested  a  friend  from  trou- 
ble and  disaster. 

Politically.  Mr.  Baum  is  a  decided  Republican, 
and  has  very  clear  ideas  in  regard  to  the  protective 
system  of  that  party.  When  assailed  upon  this 
point  he  is  always  enabled  frA  cause  the  most  hot- 
headed Democratic  free-traders  to  stop  and  think. 
He  has  been  for  some  time  Township  Trustee,  and 
is  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  School  Directors  of  In- 
dianola. He  was  remarkably  fortunate  in  the  selec- 
tion of  a  wife  and  helpmate,  Mrs.  Baum  being  a  very 
estimable  and  intelligent  lady,  one  who  has  greatly 
assisted  her  husband  in  his  labors  and  struggles,  and 
very  nearly  approaches  the  ideal  of  the  self-deny- 
ing and  devoted  wife  and  mother.  Although  not 
wealthy,  they  have  accumulated  sufficient  to  shield 
them  from  want  in  their  old  age,  and,  what  is 
better,  they  enjoy  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
hosts  of  friends. 


#^ 


-V— 


i»,ILLIAM  BROWN  has  been  eminently  sue- 


w= 


as  a  farmer  and  a  citizen,  lie 
on  section  32,  Elwood  Township, 
where  he  owns  a  good  farm.  He  was  born  in  But- 
ler County,  Ohi n  .bin.  4,  1813,  and  in    his  time 

has  seen  a  great  many  changes  in  the  affairs  of  this 
country,  by  which  he  has  profited. 

His    father,    Samuel    Brown,    was     born    on    (lie 
■•beautiful  Juniata"  River  in   Mifflin  County,  Ta. 


520 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  wa<  Polly  Hearn,  is 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  was  reared  to  wo- 
manhood in  Kentucky.  She  and  her  husband  reared 
ten  children. five  of  whom  are  living:  William;  Mar- 
Margaret,  Mrs.  Ross;  C.  Perry,  Mary,  Mrs. A.  Shurk; 
and  Sidney,  Mrs.  Tenbrook.  William  came  with  his 
parents  to  Parke  County,  hid.,  in  1824,  where  they 
settled  in  a  country  that  was  in  a  wild  state.  Game 
of  every  kind,  and  especially  wild  turkeys,  was 
abundant.  They  were  not  obliged  to  go  hunting 
for  turkeys,  but  could  sit  in  their  doors  and  shoot 
them  as  they  passed.  The  early  settlers  of  that  county 
for  the  first  few  years  of  their  residence  there 
were  providentially  supplied  with  the  best  of  meat 
by  reason  of  the  plentitude  of  wild  game.  The 
Brown  family  built  their  fiist  house  of  round  logs, 
and  in  its  construction  not  a  sawed  board  was  used. 
The  roof  was  constructed  of  clapboards  which  were 
split  out  of  straight-grained  timber.  The  doors 
had  wooden  latches  and  hinges,  and  no  nails  ware 
used  in  building  them,  wooden  pegs  taking  their 
place.  The  bedsteads  were  made  by  boring  holes 
in  the  wall  and  inserting  therein  poles.  The  win- 
dows were  constructed  by  cutting  a  hole  in  the  side 
of  the  cabin  and  using  greased  paper  in  the  place 
of  glass.  All  the  hardships  that  could  be  imagined 
they  underwent,  and  at  one  time  the  water  was  so 
high  in  that  country  that  the  mills  were  obliged  to 
stop  grinding,  and  in  most  instances  the  dams  were 
washed  away,  and  in  consequence  the  Brown  family 
for  a  month  and  a  half  were  destitute  of  flour  or 
meal,  and  the  whole  section  of  country  was  obliged 
to  use  boiled  corn  instead.  This  was  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  winter  of  1825-'26.  The  river  at  Mon- 
tezuma inundated  the  valle}'  and  covered  the  tow- 
path  of  the  old  canal.  William  was  present  in 
Montezuma  and  heard  Gen.  Howard  make  his  last 
speech  just  prior  to  his  embarking  on  a  steamboat 
on  his  journey  as  Minister  to  Texas. 

William  Brown  came  to  Vermilion  county  in 
March,  1 856,  where  he  has  since  lived.  In  August, 
1848,  he  married  Lizzie,  daughter  of  Salmon  Lusk. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  are  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  arc  living:  Salmon  II.,  Commo- 
dore P.,  John  L..  William  C.  Kdgar  D.,  and  Benj- 
amin F.  Salmon  married  Alice  C'oe.  and  is  living 
in    Ridge   Farm,     They  have    one   child,  Herbert. 


Comn.odnri'  married  Ella  Campbell.  They  are 
living  in  this  township  and  have  one  child.  Mr. 
Brown  owns  700  acres  of  land  in  Kdgar  and  Ver- 
milion counties,  and  320  acres  in  Lyon  County, 
Kansas,  independent  of  which  he  has  given  to  his 
children  an  aggregate  of  1280  acres.  He  is  engaged 
largely  in  raising  graded  Short-horn  cattle  and 
Clydesdale  horses,  and  as  a  stock-raiser  he  has  pros- 
pered. 

Mr.  Brown  is  devoted  to  home  and  cares  little 
for  popular  applause.  His  wealth  has  been  gained 
mainly  by  sticking  to  the  motto  of  minding  his 
own  business,  and  this  has  been  the  key-note  of  his 
success.  He  never  seeks  office,  leaving  that  to  oth- 
ers. In  his  day  he  has  done  a  great  deal  of  hard 
work,  and  knows  all  about  chopping  wood,  hauling 
logs.  etc.  He  has  the  old  gun  that  his  uncle  car- 
ried during  the  war  of  1812.  which  has  been  the 
cause  of  the  death  of  more  than  one  Indian,  and 
has  slaughtered  tons  of  wild  game.  His  father 
disliked  an  Indian,  as  the  redskins  killed  the  most 
of  his  relatives.  William's  brother.  Perry  Brown, 
still  lives  in  Parke  County,  Indiana,  where  he  is  one 
of  the  wealthiest  real  estate  owners  in  that  part  of 
the  country. 


-*>^> 


*&&&&*-* 


>fll  ARTIX  HAYWARD  is  one  of  the  well- 
educated  farmers  of  Vermilion  County. 
B  He  owns  a  most  excellent  farm  on  section 
20  of  Elwood  Township,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
believes  in  the  principle  of  getting  the  best,  acting 
intelligently,  and  using  energy,  and  b}-  this  sign  he 
has  conquered. 

Mr.  Hayward  was  born  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio, 
May  5,  1836.  His  father,  Charles  Hayward.  of 
Warren  County,  Ind.,  is  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md., 
being  born  there  April  17,  1811.  He  is  a  man  of 
iron  constitution,  and  as  active  as  many  men  are  at 
forty.  He  has  worked  for  many  years  alternately 
as  carpenter  and  joiner  and  farmer,  and  is  now  en- 
joying the  reward  of  his  labors  in  earlier  years. 
He  settled  on  wild  land  in  Warren  County,  Ind..  in 
1840,  the  year  Gen.   Harrison   was  elected    Presi- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


521 


dent.  Martin  well  remembers  the  enthusiasm  that 
was  coupled  with  that  campaign.  lie  saw  one 
cabin  drawn  by  twenty  yoke  of  oxen, also  Buckeye 
log  cabin's  with  coon  skins,  live  coons,  and  hard 
cider  in  abundance. 

Mr.  Hayward  received  li is  learning  primarily  at 
the  common  schools,  afterward  attending  Oberlin 
College,  and  the  Farmers'  Institute  at  Lafayette, 
Ind.  He  taught  school  for  six  winters  in  all,  three 
terms  of  which  were  in  that  county  and  of  six 
months  each,  beginning  in  the  falls  of  1858-59-62. 
He  also  taught  two  winters  in  Warren  County,  Ind., 
in  the  township  where  he  was  reared.  He  was  very 
successful  as  an  instructor  and  disciplinarian.  Since 
he  abandoned  the  profession  of  teacher  he  has  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Hay  ward's  mother  was  Emily  E.  Vickers,  a 
native  of  Clarke  County,  Ohio.  She  was  the  mother 
of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Mar- 
tin; Celia  K.,  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick;  Ruth,  Mrs.  Roming. 
The  youngest  boy.  James  W.,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Union  Army,  in  the  2d  New  York  Cavalry,  or,  as 
it  was  otherwise  known,  the '-Ira  Harris  Light  Cav- 
alry." He  was  a  bugler  and  served  from  the  fall 
of  1861  until  the  spring  of  1861,  when  he  was 
taken  prisoner  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  placed 
by  the  rebels  on  Belle  Isle.  This  island  was  sit- 
uated in  the  river  nearly  opposite  Richmond,  and 
was  destitute  of  any  conveniences  whatever  to 
protect  its  defenseless  inhabitants  from  the  elements. 
Here  he  contracted  a  cold,  from  the  effects  of  which 
he  died  in  the  summer  of  1865,  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Indiana,  and  so  passed  away  another  victim 
of  the  barbarities  incident  to  the  late  Civil  War. 

On  the  Kith  day  of  February,  I860,  Mr.  Hay- 
ward  married  Marietta  1 1  ol  lings  worth,  wdiose  father, 
John,  is  a  resident  of  Tippecanoe  County,  Ind. 
She  is  the  mother  of  four  children — Lillian,  John 
H.,  Charles  S.  and  William  C.  Lillian  married 
John  Baird,  of  Carroll  Township,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren—  Helen  and  Bern  ice.  Mr.  Hayward  came 'to 
Iroquois  County,  111.,  in  1864,  removing  in  1872  to 
this  county,  locating  on  his  present  farm.  He 
owns  180  acres  of  laud,  and  is  doing  a  general 
farm  and  stock-raising  business.  He  is  a  thorough 
farm  '.'  and  does  nothing  by  halves. 

With  the  exception  of  the  eldest  son,  the  family 


of  Mr.  Hayward  belong  to  the  Friends'  Church. 
The  son  referred  to  was  bom  before  Mr.  Hayward 
embraced  the  doctrines  of  the  Quakers.  Mr.  Hay- 
ward is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  is  a  firm  believer 
in  all  its  platforms.  In  all  Vermilion  County  there 
is  not  a  man  who  has  a  better  record,  or  finer  repu- 
tation as  a  man,  than  Martin  Hayward. 


f]OHN  FLETCHER  is  one  of  the  solid,  sub- 
stantial and  trustworthy  residents  of  El- 
wood  Township.  He  was  born  in  Clinton 
County,  Ohio,  on  May  20,  1815.  His  father, 
Henry,  was  a  native  of  England,  and  a  son  of 
John  Fletcher,  who  in  turn  was  a  son  of  Henry 
Fletcher.  The  latter  was  a  wealthy  officer  in  the 
English  army  and  educated  his  son  John — the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch — for  the 
army,  but  he  joined  the  Quaker  Church,  and  was 
driven  by  his  father  to  Ireland,  where  he  was  given 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  that  country.  His  son,  Henry 
Fletcher,  father  of  our  subject,  was  obliged  to  leave 
Ireland  or  join  the  army,  but  being  a  Quaker,  he 
refused  to  become  a  soldier  and  came  to  America, 
locating  in  Philadelphia.  This  was  in  1703.  He 
was  on  the  ocean  eleven  weeks  and  four  days  where 
they  drifted  about,  the  ship  being  in  charge  of  a 
drunken  captain  and  mate.  The  people  on  board 
the  boat  were  reduced  to  a  gill, of  water  a  day  and 
to  a  very  small  amount  of  food.  But  they  finally 
reached  land  in  safety. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  after 
landing,  lived  three  years  in  Philadelphia,  and  in 
1796  he  emigrated  to  the  Sciota  Valley,  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  one  season,  return- 
ing to  Pennsylvania  and  there  remaining  until 
1X04,  when  he  went  to  Warren  County.  Ohio,  and 
dug  a  mill  race  on  Cffisar  Creek,  lie  bought  200 
acres  of  military  land  in  Clinton  County,  Ohio, 
and  then  retraced  his  steps  to  Pennsylvania,  re- 
maining there  until  1806,  when  he  returned  to 
Ohio  and  improved  his  laud.  The  Indians  were 
numerous  but  peaceable,  in  the  main. 

In  1806  the  father  of  the  one  of  whom  we  write 
this  sketch,  married   Mrs.  Sarah  (Duncan)   Taylor. 


522 


PORTRAIT  AND  RIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Thsy  had  four  children  of  whom  John  is  the 
youngest,  and  only  one  living.  The  others  were: 
Mary,  Hannah  and  Sarah.  The  sisters  all  lived  to 
lie  over  seventy  years  of  age.  John  Fletcher  came 
with  his  parents  to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1836, 
sclllmg  on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  lives. 
He  was  married  in  October,  1835  to  Rachael  Ruth. 
They  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living: 
Sarah  J.,  Henry.  Mary  A..  John  W.,  Amanda  and 
James.  One  son.  William,  died  in  his  twenty- 
third  year.  Mis.  Fletcher  died  Get,  5,  1862  and 
her  husband  was  again  married  on  Nov.  1st.  1866 
to  Mrs.  Lydia  Haworth,  widow  of  Eli  Haworth, 
and  daughter  of  Garrett  Dillon,  the  latter  a  pioneer 
of  Elwood  Township,  and  a  native  of  Greene 
County.  Tenn. 

Mrs.  Fletcher  was  horn  Dee.  5,  1.S15  and  was  the 
mother  of  nine  children  by  her  marriage  with  Mr. 
Haworth.  Six  of  these  are  living:  Samuel,  Julia. 
Mahala,  Mary.  William  P.,  and  Charles  F.  Her 
grandfather,  Peter  Dillon,  removed  from  North 
Carolina  to  Greene  County.  Tenn..  during  the  Re- 
volutionary War,  and  was  a  prominent  citizen  in 
both  States.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Fletcher  on 
his  mother's  side,  Samuel  Duncan,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  War  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  the  Cowpens  and  others.  He  had  holes 
shot  in  his  clothes  and  buttons  taken  oft  by  bullets, 
but  was  not  wounded.  He  was  known  as  the 
•■  lighting  Quaker,"  and  lie  sustained  his  reputation 
well.  He  was  a  te/imster,  and  the  Tories  captured 
three  of  his  horses,  when  he  mounted  the  remaining 
one.  and  joined  the  American  forces,  afterward  re- 
capturing one  of  his  horses. 

Mr.  Fletcher  has  held  the  ollice  of  School  Trustee 
for  twenty-eight  years,  and  has  served  on  the 
juvies  a  great  many  times.  He  has  also  filled  the 
positions  of  Highway  Commissioner  and  School 
Director  but  has  never  soughc  office.  He  was  the 
treasurer  of  the  fund  which  was  raised  to  procure 
substitutes  for  those  drafted  during  the  late  war. 
He  was  very  patriotic  during  the  Rebellion  and 
had  he  not  been  so  old.  would  have  joined  the 
army.  A  record  of  his  children's  families  is  as 
follows:  Sarah  J.,  married  John  Armstrong,  of 
Noblesville,  Ind..  and  they  have  one  child.  May. 
Henry  married  Mahala  Haworth;  they  are  living 


in  Elwood  Township  with  six  children,  John. 
Albert,  Marcus  M.,  William.  Lydia  and  Ola;  Mary 
married  Larkins  Lewis  of  Carthage,  Mo.,  and  they 
have  two  children.  Laura  and  Raehael ;  John 
married  Martha  Price;  they  live  in  Cherokee,  Kan., 
and  have  eight  children,  Mary,  Minnie,  Amanda, 
Oliver,  Lennie,  Grace,  William  and  Irene;  Amanda 
married  Lemuel  V.  Cupp,  of  Carthage.  Mo.,  and 
they  have  live  children  as  follows:  Ora,  Maud,  Carl. 
Ethel,  Pearl;  .lames  married  Martha  E.  Ankrum. 
He  lives  with  his  father  with  two  children,  Robert 
A.  and  Allie. 

Mr.  Fletcher  has  always  been  a  strong  anti- 
slavery  man  having  voted  for  William  Henry 
Harrison  in  IS'M'>  and  again  in  1840.  His  Repub- 
licanism began  with  the  date  of  the  birth  of  that 
parly  and  he  never  has  omitted  an  opportunity  to 
forward,  its  interests.  He  had  the  great  pleasure 
of  Noting  in  18H8  for  Benjamin  Harrison.  Mr. 
Fletcher  began  life  poor,  but  is  now  wealthy,  living 
in  ease  and  comfort  which  no  one  begrudges  him 
and  his  estimable  wife.  He  is  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence,  and  well  beloved  by  all  his 
neighbors. 

NDREW  J.  DARNALL.  one  of  the  lead- 
ing merchants  of  Indianola  and  Ridge 
»jl  lk  Farm,  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  drygoods, 
boots  and  shoes, clothing,  hats  and  caps. and, 
in  fact,  everything  that  is  kept  in  a  well-regulated 
general  store.  He  resides  at  Ridge  Farm,  but  car- 
ries on  his  extensive  store  in  Indianola.  doing  a 
very  large  business  in  both  places,  and  by  his 
methods  of  dealing  he  has  gained  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  his  patrons  and   neighbors. 

Mi-.  Darnall  was  born  in  Edgar  County,  III.,  on 
the  8th  of  November,  1833.  His  father  and 
mother.  Aaron  and  Mary  (Doke)  Darnall,  came 
from  Kentucky  at  an  early  day.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  Catfish  Point.  The  mother  died  when  An- 
drew was  seven  years  old.  leaving  three  children 
— Daniel.  Andrew  .1.  and  Thomas,  the  latter  dying 
while  in  infancy.  Daniel  is  a  brick  manufacturer 
at  Petersburg,  111.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  at- 
tended the  common  schools    in    his    boyhood,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


525 


worked  on  his  father's  farm.  When  be  attained 
his  majority,  he  engaged  with  William  Bailey  Cor 
three  years  and  a  half  as  clerk.  at  Bloom  field.  III. 
His  first  wages  were  $12.50  per  month.  In  com- 
pany with  William  Smick,  he  houghl  hisemployer's 
entire  stock,  and  continued  the  business  under  the 
firm  mime  of  Smirk  &  Darnall,  when,  in  June, 
1863,  Mr.  Darnall  sold  out  his  interest  in  the 
business  and  went  to  Ridge  Farm,  and  there. 
under  the  firm  name  of  A.  .1.  Darnall  &  Co.,  oper- 
ated a  general  store,  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  mer- 
chandise. After  awhile  he  bought  out  his  partner 
and  ran  the  business  alone,  finally  selling  out  en- 
tirely in  1  88  1.1  nit  after  some  lime  he  formed  anothei 
co-partnership,  styled  Darnall  A  Hustead.  He  came 
to  Indianola  in  the  fall  of  1885,  Locating  here  and 
inaugurating  his  present  successful  business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darnall  are  the  parents  of  two 
boys  and  one  girl — Ilarlev,  Manfred  and  Minnie. 
Mrs.  Darnall  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
and  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  society. 
The  Democratic  party  finds  in  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  an  ardent  supporter,  and  one  who  never 
flays  in  his  devotion  to  its  principles.  He  has  never 
sought  office,  finding  in  his  own  business  plenty 
to  do,  but  always  takes  great  care  in  his  choice  of 
candidates,  generally  voting  for  the  man  whom  he 
believes  to  be  the  best  fitted  to  fill  the  position  to 
which  he  aspired.  He  is  eminently  a  No.  1  busi- 
ness man,  and,  commencing  with  nothing,  he  has 
ascended  the  scale  of  prosperity  until  he  now  finds 
himself  in  the  proud  position  of  independence.  In 
all  that  the  words  imply,  he  is  a  self-made  man. 
and.  as  such  is  regarded  by  all  his  acquaintances. 
His  neighbors  are  always  ready  and  willing  lo 
vouch  for  him  as  an  upright,  conscientious  anil 
able  citizen. 

.    cxrx>    , 

060  " 

Jjyfl;  ARTIN  ITIGII.  Among  the  self-made  and 
successful  men  of  Carroll  Township  proba- 
bly none  have  distinguished  themselves  in  a 
more  marked  degree  for  industry  and  perse- 
verance than  the  subject  of  this  notice.  lie  occu- 
pies a  most  attractive  rural  homestead,  embellished 
with  an  elegant  brick  residence, which  with  its  sur- 


roundings indicates  the  existence  of  cultivated 
tastes   and    ample    means.       A   finely  executed    view 

of  his  home  appears  in  this  volume  and  will  attract 
the  admiring  attention  of  the  many  readers.     His 

family  at  home  consists  of  five  very  bright  and 
intelligent  daughters,  and  he  has  another  daughter 
who  is  married  and  a  resident  of  Sidell  Township. 
The  family  met  with  a  deep  alii  id  ion  in  the  loss  of  the 
beloved  wife  and  mother,  who  departed  this  life 
Sept.  7.  1 887,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years,  she  was 
lady  possessing  all  the  womanly  virtues,  wholly 
devoted  to  her  family,  a  faithful  wife  and  mother 
and  one  who  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  the 
entire  community. 

A  native  of  Marion  County,  Ind.,  our  subject 
was  bom  five  miles  northwest  of  Indianapolis, 
March  2,  1831.  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  capital  city.  He  began  working  on 
the  farm  when  a  boy  of  ejeven  or  twelve,  holding 
the  plow  when  he  could  scarcely  reach  the  handles. 
His  early  education  was  conducted  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  his  native  county,  and  his  life 
passed  in  a  comparatively  uneventful  manner  amid 
the  quiet  scenes  of  rural  life  until  he  obtained  his 
majority.  Then  starting  out  for  himself  he  worked 
for  $13  per  month  on  a  farm  about  three  months. 
then  began  operations  for  himself  on  rented  land 
lying  six  or  seven  miles  northwest  of  Indianapolis. 
He  was  fairly  successful  in  his  new  venture,  and  in 
KS59  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catherine 
Baum,  daughter  of  Samuel  Baum,  one  of  the  well- 
known  pioneers  of  this  county.  The  young  people 
began  the  journey  of  life  together  in  Carroll 
Township,  and  in  1859  took  up  their  abode  at  the 
present  home  of  our  subject.  Here  he  has  effected 
fine  improvements,  putting  up  the  dwelling  in 
1881  and  adding  from  time  to  time  the  other  build- 
ings necessary  for  the  prosecution  of  agriculture 
and  stock-raising  after  the  most  approved  methods. 

The  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  l'ugh 
were  named  respectively.  Elizabeth  .1..  Charles  (who 
died  when  one  year  old).  Wiluiclta,  Maude.  Win- 
nie, Lulu  and  Helen;  Elizabeth  became  the  wile  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Howard,  and  they  live  at  the  home- 
stead;  Wilmetta  married  Mr.  Gust  Rowand,  one 
of  the  leading  horse-breeders  of  Sidell  Township, 
and    they    have   one   child,    Dale;    Maude,    Winnie, 


52fi 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Lulu  and  Helen  are  at  home  with  their  father.  Mr. 
Pugb  identified  himself  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  at  Indianola  in  1881,  and  since  the 
death  of  his  wife,  for  whom  he  sorrows  with  more 
than  ordinary  grief,  has  been  especially  faithful 
upon  his  attendance  upon  his  religious  duties.  He 
has  very  little  to  do  with  public  affairs,  but  keeps 
himself  posted  upon  current  events  and  uniformly 
votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket.  He  has  per- 
formed jury  service  at  different  times  and  for 
eight  or  ten  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  of  his  district. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Enoch  and 
Charlotte  (Martindale)  Pugh,  the  father  a  native 
of  North  Carolina  and  born  a  short  distance  from 
the  city  of  Raleigh.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Jacob  Pugh,  was  also  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
and  the  great-grandfather  was  born  in  Scotland. 
The  latter  upon  leaving  his  native  soil  went  into 
England,  where  he  sojourned  for  a  time,  then  emi- 
grated to  America,  settling  in  North  Carolina  about 
the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  sympa- 
thies were  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  Colonists,  and 
he  met  his  death  in  a  fray  between  the  tories  and 
patriots,  he  fighting  with  the  latter. 

The  father  of  Martin  Pugh  left  his  native  State 
witli  his  parents  early  in  life  to  make  his  home  in 
the  woods  of  Marion  County,  Ind..  when  few  peo- 
ple had  migrated  to  that  region,  and  when  Indians 
and  wild  animals  were  plentiful.  In  due  time  he 
became  owner  of  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  lived 
upon  and  cultivated  until  his  death  in  1800,  when 
about  fifty  years  of  age.  His  wife,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  South  Carolina  and  emi- 
grated with  her  parents  to  Marion  County,  Ind., 
when  a  young  girl.  She  died  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-five  years,  leaving  seven  children,  namely: 
Martin  our  subject,  Dorcas  A.,  Jacob,  Alexander, 
Jane,  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Clarinda. 

Mr.  Pugh  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Miss 
Susan  Smith,  and  to  them  there  were  born  four 
children,  who  lived  to  mature  years:  Charlotte, 
Joel,  John  and  Mary.  Martin,  our  subject,  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light,  March  2,  1831,  and  is 
consequently  past  fifty-eight  years  of  age.  His 
praiseworthy  manner  of  living  and  his  correct 
habits  have  been  the  means  of  preserving  his  fac- 


ulties in  an  admirable  manner,  physically  and  men- 
tally. In  1887  he  identified  himself  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  at  Indianola  and  is  one  of  its 
most  efficient  workers.  Self-made  in  the  best  sense 
of  the  word,  he  has  made  for  himself  a  worthy 
record  and  feels  indebted  to  no  man  for  his  posi- 
tion socially  and  financially.  As  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative men  of  this  county  he  stands  second  to 
none  in  point  of  sterling  integrity  and  those  qual- 
ities which  go  to  make  up  the  responsible  citizen 
and  useful  member  of  the  community. 

^^gjjjl^c       :     ■ 

ftlOHN  WILLIAM  MILLER  is  a  prominent 
figure  in  church  circles  in  Vermilion  County. 
His  handsomely  located  and  commodious 
^JJjl/  country  seat  is  situated  one-half  mile  south 
of  Sidell,  on  a  farm  which  comprises  152  acres. 
He  also  leases  a  farm  of  160  acres.  He  has  been 
identified  with  this  community  as  a  dealer  and 
shipper  of  horses  and  mules  for  a  long  time.  His 
operations  have  been  mainly  in  the  southern  por- 
tion of  Vermilion  County,  but  he  occasionally  ex- 
tends his  field  of  operation  into  Edgar  and  Cham- 
paign counties,  where  he  has  formed  a  large  ac- 
quaintance and  made  many  friends. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ind., 
near  West  Point,  April  13,  1818.  His  father, 
Abraham  Miller,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  of 
German  extraction,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
but  through  misfortune  lost  his  farm.  He  was 
married  in  his  native  State,  and  became  the  father 
of  four  children.  His  second  union  was  with  Miss 
Mary  Biggs,  who  was  born  near  Darlington,  Ind. 
The  second  wife  died  soon  after  coming  to  Indiana, 
after  becoming  the  mother  of  three  children — Ce- 
lecta,  wife  of  Joseph  Cuppy,  a  butcher  of  Bloom- 
ington,  111.;  John  William,  and  Mary  Jane.  The 
father  ended  his  days  at  the  home  of  his  son  Will- 
iam, dying  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years. 

Mr.  Miller  passed  his  boyhood  days  in  Indiana, 
where  poverty  prevented  him  from  getting  the  ed- 
ucation he  desired.  At  the  age  of  eleven  he  began 
to  work  on  a  farm  for  his  board   and  clothes.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALB1M. 


527 


worked  as  a  day-laborer  in  a  grain  warehouse  at 
Lafayette,  I  ml.,  for  three  years.  In  the  fall  of 
L869  he  came  to  Carroll  Township,  where  he  com- 
menced work  at  cutting  corn  At  this  time  he  met 
his  future  wife.  Rebecca  J.  Morse,  who  was  working 
by  the  week  for  his  employer.  In  eight  weeks  after 
making  her  acquaintance  they  were  married,  the 
ceremony  occurring  Dee.  9,  1869.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  Marsh,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Vermilion  County,  and  is  said  to 
be  the  Brst  white  child  born  in  this  county.  Her 
mother  was  born  at  <  Georgetown,  Vermilion  County, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  native  girls  of  said  county. 
Her  father's  ancestry  dates  back  to  the  early  history 
of  Pennsylvania,  while  her  great-grandfather  was 
a  Quaker,  and  was  present  at  William  Penn's 
famous  treaty  with  the  Indians.  Mrs.  Miller's 
father,  Lieut.  Marsh,  served  under  Gen.  Scott  in 
the  Mexican  War.  lie  also  enlisted  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  but.  being  crippled,  was  not  ac- 
cepted. He  lived  to  be  a  man  of  seventy-four 
vears  of  age,  dying  April  31,  1887.  His  wife  is 
still  living  at  Sedalia,  Mo.,  and  is  active  and  vig- 
orous. They  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eight  are  now  living — Cynthia  A., 
Rebecca  .1..  William.  Esau,  Mary  E.,  Jesse  C.  James 
and  Id'i  G.  Emma  died  at  Sedalia.  Mo.;  she  was 
the  wife  of  James  Larkins,  and  left  one  child. 
Cynthia  resides  in  Missouri,  and  is  married  to  a 
farmer  by  the  name  of  John  Wyley;  they  have 
three  children:  John  M.  is  a  dealer  in  lime,  and  is 
married.  Esau  is  at  Sedalia,  Mo.,  where  he  lives 
with  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ida  Bennett; 
they  have  two  children.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Millard  Perry,  who  is  residing  in  Sidell  Township, 
being  one  of  the  leading  stockmen  there;  his  sketch 
appears  in  this  book.  Jesse  C.  is  building  a  tele- 
graph line  in  Texas;  James  is  operating  Ins  mother's 
farm  at  Sedalia.  Mo.,  where  Ida  G.  is  also  living. 
At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Miller  had 
$1  in  money,  while  his  wife's  assets  amounted 
to  twenty  five  cents,  and  from  this  small  beginning 
they  have  marched  along,  meeting  every  obstruc- 
tion in  the  highway  of  life  with  industry  and  in- 
telligence, and  so  have  succeeded.  After  marriage 
Mr.  Miller  left  his  bride  at  Lafayette  and  started 
out,   walking  twenty-live  miles  in  order  to  get  a 


job  of  work.  After  laboring  a  while  he  returned 
for  his  wife.  They  rented  a  farm  in  Warren 
County.  Ind..  working  for  one-third  of  the  profit. 
The  first  year  they  made  just  enough  to  buy  a  cow. 
Mr.  Miller  came  back  to  Vermilion  County,  and 
in  partnership  with  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Marsh, 
rented  a  farm,  continuing  to  work  m  this  manner 
for  six  or  seven  years.  The  farm  was  located  in 
Nance  Township,  and  at  first  fortune  seemed  to  be 
against  him.  He  paid  $4  per  acre  rent,  and  the 
first  being  a  wet  season,  crops  failed.  lie  pur- 
chased seventy  head  of  hogs,  and  calculated  to  fat- 
ten them  on  soft  corn,  but  they  were  seized  with 
cholera,  and  all  died  but  three.  This  left  him  §250 
in  debt.  Although  completely  used  up  financially, 
he  was  not  discouraged.  His  landlord  was  unre- 
lenting, and  demanded  the  last  cent  of  the  rent  due. 
Mr.  Miller  prophesied  that  he  would  sometime  see 
him  a  day-laborer,  and  it  came  true.  The  next 
year  he  rented  a  farm  close  to  Catlin,  and  made 
enough  to  pay  back  his  former  landlord,  and  from 
this  on  he  continued  to  prosper.  He  first  purchased 
a  small  farm  unimproved,  broke  it  and  sold  it.  He 
then  purchased  a  lot  of  young  cattle  and  began  to 
rent  on  a  larger  scale.  He  bought  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  but  sickness  came  upon  him,  and  for  three 
years  he  was  an  invalid.  He  had  mortgaged  his 
farm  for  $2,000,  at  ten  per  cent  interest,  and  he  re- 
alized the  fact  that  he  must  lose  his  farm,  and 
against  the  advice  of  his  doctor  started  out  and 
began  to  trade  horses,  and  although  at  first  he  was 
scarcely  able  to  ride  a  mile,  he  gradually  grew 
stronger,  and  the  dark  clouds  of  adversity  began  to 
disappear.  In  this  way  he  managed  to  raise  the 
mortgage  on  his  farm,  selling  it  the  following  fall 
at  a  nice  advance.  At  this  time  he  intended  to  re- 
linquisb  farming,  but  availed  himself  of  an  oppor- 
tunity to  buy  a  good  farm.  In  the  meantime,  his 
health  growing  better,  he  managed  to  keep  on  top, 
and  has  accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune. 

He  is  the  father  of  twelve  children:  William  E.; 
Franklin  died  when  he  was  three  months  old:  John 
D.;  Edgar  L.;  Mabel  died  when  three  months  old; 
Cloyd  C,  Clemme  Thomas;  Emma  I.  died  when 
she  was  one  year  old;  the  remaining  children  died 
while  very  young.  William  E.  is  at  home,  and  has 
charge  of  the  farm,  assisted  by  his  In-other  John  D.; 


528 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  remainder  of  the  children  are  also  living  at 
home.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  omits  no 
opportunity  of  aiding  the  cause  of  temperance.  He 
is  serving  a  second  term  as  Counsellor  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  Sidell,  and  is  also  an  Odd 
Fellow,  hut  he  takes  greater  interest  in  Sabbath- 
schools  and  churches  than  in  anything  else,  he  and 
his  wife  being  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  where  he  has  served  as  Deacon  for 
several  years.  He  organized  the  first  Presbyterian 
Sunday-school  in  Sidell  Township.  Mr.  Miller  has 
plainly  demonstrated  that  a  horse  buyer  can  prose- 
cute his  calling  and  yet  be  a  sober  man  and  total 
abstainer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  among  the 
very  best  citizens  of  Sidell. 

A  line  lithographic  view  of  Mr.  Miller's  beauti- 
ful and  commodious  residence  appears  in  an  appro- 
priate place  in  the  Album. 

—  "^■!|I|S'^'"  "" 


Vl?AMES  P.  COOK.  This  gentleman  deserves 
honorable  mention  among  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  farming  community  of  George- 
town Township.  A  native  of  Catlin  Town- 
ship, he  was  born  March  27,  1855,  was  reared  at 
his  father's  homestead,  and  acquired  Ins  education 
in  the  common  school.  His  boyhood  and  youth 
were  spent  in  a  comparatively  uneventful  manner, 
he  in  the  meantime  becoming  familiar  with  the 
pursuits  of  farm  life,  acquiring  those  habits  of  in- 
dustry and  being  imbued  with  those  high  moral 
principles  which  have  made  him  a  man  among 
men,  and  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens 
of  his  township.  He  remained  a  member  of  his 
father's  household  until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
and  then,  ambitious  to  establish  a  fireside  of  his 
own,  was  married,  Sept.  5,  1K77,  to  Miss  Ina 
O'Neal,  the  wedding  taking  place  at  the  bride's 
sister's  home  in  Georgetown. 

The  young  people  began  the  journey  of  life  on 
the  farm  which  they  now  occupy,  and  where  they 
have  one  of  the  neatest  homes  to  be  found  in  the 
township.  Both  have  sprung  from  good  families, 
and  are  lal miing  with  a  mutual  purpose  to  make  a 
record  which  shall  be  worthy  of  emulation.     Tiny 


enjoy  the  acquaintance  of  hosts  of  friends,  who  are 
watching  their  career  with  kindly  interest.  The 
dwelling  is  surrounded  with  all  the  evidences  of 
taste  and  refinement,  while  the  farming  operations 
of  Mr.  Cook  are  conducted  with  that  thoroughness 
and  good  judgment  which  can  scarcely  fail  of  suc- 
cessful results.  The  farm  is  ninety-two  acres  in 
extent,  lying  on  section  6,  in  Georgetown  Town- 
ship.    The  residence  is  near  the  limits  of  Westville. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Samuel  and 
Melvina  (Graves)  Cook,  who  were  natives,  respect- 
fully, of  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  and  further  mention 
of  whom  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  Samuel  Cook  on 
another  page  of  this  work.  The  mother  died  in 
18G7,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three  years,  leaving 
live  children,  namely:  George  W.,  James  P.  (our 
subject),  Mary,  Maggie  (who  died  at  the  interest- 
inn  age  of  fifteen  years),  and  Charles  F.  The  eld- 
est son  is  a  resident  of  Catlin  Township,  is  married 
and  the  father  of  three  children;  Mary  married 
John  Wherry,  a  farmer  of  Catlin  Township,  and  is 
the  mother  of  two  children;  Charles  F.  is  farming 
in  Georgetown  Township. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Cook  was  three  times  mar- 
ried, and  there  were  born  five  children  by  the  first 
union  and  five  by  the  second.  Mrs.  C.  was  the 
third  child  of  the  second  wife,  and  was  born  in 
Danville  Township,  Vermilion  County.  March  2:i, 
1857.  The  family  removed  to  Georgetown  Town- 
ship a  few  years  later,  of  which  she  has  since  been 
a  resident.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
have  been  born  four  children — Lillian  Gertrude, 
Stella  E.  and  Lena  J.  (twins),  and  Herman.  Mr. 
Cook  politically  votes  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  prominently 
connected  with  the  Christian  Church. 


'•'NNIAS  BRAN1IAM.     This  gentleman    is 

particularly  distinguished  as  having  been 
III  a  an  old  soldier  with  a  good  army  record. 
f  After  laying  aside  the  implements  of    war 

he  turned  his  attention  to  the  peaceful  employments 
of  rural  life  and  has  gained  quite  a  reputation 
among  the  horsemen  of  the  county  as  being  a  good 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


529 


judge  of  this  animal  and  quite  .skilled  as  a  doctor 
in  this  line,  lie  had  considerable  experience  in  the 
army  as  a  veterinary  surgeon  and  is  the  owner  of 
some  fine  horses,  among  them  "Sam,  the  Canadian." 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  near 
Bloomington,  in  Monroe  Co.,  End.,  on  the  Bean 
Blossom  River,  in  the  township  of  the  same  name, 
Jan.  27,  1830.  I  lis  parents  were  Livingston  and 
Susannah  (Meade)  Branham, the  former  a  native  of 
Last  Tennessee  and  the  latter  of  North  Carolina. 
The  paternal  grand-parents  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  of  Irish  ancestry  while  the  Meades  trace 
their  origin  to  Holland.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  married  in  East  Tennessee  whence  they 
removed  to  Indiana  in  the  latter  part  of  1829,  set- 
tling in  Monroe  County.  The  father  carried  on 
farming  in  .Monroe  and  Owen  counties  and  died 
near  Spencer  in  the  latter  county  in  the  year  1865 
at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  lie  served  in  the 
Black  Hawk  War  in  1832.  The  mother  survived 
her  husband  until  1875,  ami  passed  away  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  twelve  children,  viz:  Jonathan,  Sarah,  William, 
James.  Elizabeth,  Annias,  Amanda,  Joseph,  Mary, 
Milton,  Elishaand  Bud.  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  by  an 
attendance  at  school  three  months,  and  upon 
approaching  manhood  he  worked  fourteen  years  by 
the  month,  from  the  age  of  thirteen  until  a  man  of 
twenty-seven.  On  the  5th  of  April.  18110,  he  took 
unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate,  Miss  Esther  E., 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Esther  R.  (Kirby)  Summet. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Branham  were  natives  respec- 
tively of  North  Carolina  and  Halifax  County.  Ya. 
They  removed  to  Indiana  in  their  youth  and  were 
married  at  Ellettsville,  Monroe  Co.  to  which  Grand 
father  Kirby  had  removed  as  early  as  1824.  There 
was  born  to  them  ten  children,  the  eldest  dying  in 
infancy.  The  others  were  Jeremiah  C,  Alice  C,  Es- 
ther  P.,  William  L.,  Sally  A..  Joel  II.,  an  infant 
who  died  unnamed.  Emily  and  Mary  1*.  Esther  E. 
the  wife  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Monroe  County. 
Ind.,  April  1,  1839,  and  remained  a  member  of  the 
parental  household  until  her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Branham  began  their  wedded  life 
on  a  rented  farm  in  Indiana.  (  hi  the  3d  of  July, 
1801,  our  subject  entered    the   Union   Army    as    a 


member  of  Company  I.  22d  Indiana  Infantry  and 
was  mustered  into  the  service  at  North  Madison. 
The  regiment  drilled  there  for  a  time,  then  repaired 
to  St.  Louis  to  guard  the  city,  having  for  their 
weapons  10,000  clubs  and  no  muskets  for  six  week-. 
Thence  they  were  ordered  to  Jefferson  City  where 
they  met  the  enemy  in  battle  and  subsequently 
were  at  Glasgow,  where  in  the  confusion  and  dark- 
ness of  midnight  a  fight  took  place  among  the 
Union  troops  who  through  mistake  attacked  each 
other,  billing  several  men  and  ollicers. 

This  regiment  next  met  the  enemy  in  battle  at, 
Georgetown  and  followed  up  the  rebel  general. 
Price  on  his  raid,  fighting  at  Warrensburg,  Mo., 
and  capturing  1,100  rebels,  next  moving  upon 
Raleigh,  Springfield  and  Pea  Ridge,  Ark.  Prior  to 
this  Mr.  Branham  had  been  detailed  as  a  teamster. 
Later  they  were  ordered  to  Cape  Girardeau. 
Mo.,  where  they  took  the  boats  and  landed  at  Ham- 
burg early  in  the  morning.  In  the  afternoon  they 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Corinth  then  moved 
on  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  Perrysville  and  Crab 
Orchard,  Ky.  Next  returning  to  Nashville,  they 
fought  on  the  way  to  Mumfordsville,  Ky.,  and  af- 
terward at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  where  our  subject 
with  100  other  teamsters  was  captured  by  the  no- 
torious Texas  rangers,  but  they  were  re-taken  by 
the  Union  troops  on  the  same  day. 

Mr.  Branham  participated  later  in  some  of  the 
important  battles  of  the  war.  including  the  siege  of 
Atlanta,  during  which  time  his  term  of  enlistment 
expired.  lb- received  his  discharge  in  that  city  and 
was  muste. ed  out  at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  returned 
to  Indiana  in  the  fall  of  1864  and  remained  there 
till  the  spring  of  1870.  His  next  removal  was  to 
Chrisman.  111.,  where  he  carried  on  farming  for 
several  years,  then  in  1875  purchased  the  farm 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies,  ami  rents  120 
acres  besides.  From  these  various  sources  he  rea- 
lizes  a  handsome  income,  which  enables  him  to  sur- 
round himself  and  family  with  all  of  the  comforts 
of  life  and  many  of  its  luxuries. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife,  the  eldest  of  whom.  Emily  F.,  is  a 
resident  of  Nebraska;  Ellsworth.  Kirby,  Walter. 
Ollie,  LoSSie  and  Frank,  the  baby,  arc  all  at  home 
with  their  parents.      The  latter  arc  consistent  mem- 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Dallas, 
and  our  subject  as  an  ex-soldier,  belongs  to  the  G. 
A.  R.  Post  at  Ridge  Farm,  of  which  he  is  a  charter 
member  and  in  which  he  has  held  the  offices  of 
Senior  Vice  Commander,  Sergeant  and  Officer  of 
the  Guard.  He  entered  the  army  from  a  sense  of 
duty  and  it  is  one  of  his  dearest  wishes  that  when 
he  is  consigned  to  mother  earth  it  shall  be  done 
with  the  honors  properly  belonging  to  a  soldier.  It 
is  hardly  necessary  to  state  that  he  is  a  true-blue 
Republican  and  believes  in  the  "Union forever." 


w«v"«az'E,ig' 


vz^WZTtrB~<n~'W*~ 


W_  ENRY  C.  HOLTON,  M.D.  There  is  no 
■ifjj  class  of  men  of  more  importance  in  a  com- 
'&%?  tnunity  than  the  physician  and  surgeon,  and 
'4§3)  none  who  have  intrusted  to  them  more  ser 
ious  and  weighty  interests.  He  who  has  the  deli- 
cacy, the  honor  and  the  fine  judgment  to  hold  these 
interests  as  they  should  be  held,  is  worthy  of  more 
than  a  passing  notice.  No  man  in  the  profession 
along  the  eastern  line  of  the  State  probably  has 
performed  his  duty  with  a  more  conscientious  fidel- 
ity than  the  subject  of  this  notice.  Nature  has 
endowed  him  with  great  gifts,  and  he  has  had  the 
wisdom  to  make  the  most  of  his  opportunities. 
Home-loving  and  domestic  in  his  tastes,  he  is  well 
qualified  to  preside  at  the  bedside  of  suffering 
humanity,  and  to  extend  that  ready  sympathy  which 
in  most  cases  is  more  effective  than  drugs  and  nos- 
trums. 

Personally,  Dr.  Holton  is  a  man  of  line  presence 
and  superior  address,  cultivated,  affable  and  pleas- 
ant, and  one  who  invariably  commands  respect 
wherever  he  is  known.  He  is  the  eldest  resident 
physician  of  Sidell,  and  one  of  those  who  has  been 
largely  interested  in  building  up  the  town.  Dur- 
ing his  six  years'  practice  here  he  has  been  re- 
markably successful.  He  is  still  young  and  in  the 
midst  of  his  usefulness,  having  been  born  Oct.  23, 
1853,  at  what  was  then  Dallas,  but  is  now  Indianola, 
this  county.  lie  was  reared  in  his  native  town, 
and  received  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  after 
the    death    of   his    father,    he  entered  the  Illinois 


University,  where  he  took  a  year's  course,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  this  time  began  teaching,  which 
profession  he  followed  for  a  period  of  ten  years  in 
the  schools  of  Palermo  and  Indianola.  In  the  for- 
mer place  he  began  reading  medicine  under  Dr. 
Martinie,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years,  and 
afterward  read  with  Dr.  Worthington,  of  Indianola. 
two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1881  heentered  Jefferson 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  where  lie  pursued 
his  studies  until  being  graduated  in  1883.  He 
worked  his  way  upward  unaided,  earning  the 
money  to  pay  his  tuition  and  expenses. 

Dr.  Holton  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Homer,  but  as  the  town  of  Sidell  began 
to  grow  up  he  determined  tosettle  at  this  place.  In 
the  meantime  he  practiced  at  Archie  until  1887, 
and  put  up  a  fine  frame  residence  there.  Later  he 
he  moved  his  office  and  barn  from  Archie  to  Sidell. 
He  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1883  to  Miss  Ira, 
daughter  of  A.  L.  Ames,  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Oliver  Ames,  well  known  in  the  early  history  of 
this  country.  The  maiden  name  of  her  mother  was 
Urania  Howell.  Her  father  was  born  in  Vermont 
and  her  mother  in  New  York  State.  After  mar- 
riage they  went  to  California,  where  their  daughter 
Ira  was  born,  and  where  they  lived  from  1852 
until  1859.  Upon  returning  to  Illinois  they  set- 
tled in  Belvidere.  but  later  removed  to  Edgar 
County,  where  Mrs.  Holton  developed  into  woman- 
hood. Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  have 
been  born  three  children,  Max.  Wade  and  Dean, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  five  months.  Mrs.  Holton 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Palermo. 
The  Doctor  advocates  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  but  has  never  been  active  in  politics, 
preferring  to  give  his  best  efforts  to  his  profession. 
To  this  he  is  devoting  all  his  energies,  and  is  meet- 
ing with  flattering  success.  He  expends  a  large 
sum  of  money  each  year  in  prosecuting  his  re- 
searches into  the  science  of  medicine,  and  has  one 
of  the  largest  private  libraries  in  the  count}-. 

Dr.  Holton  is  a  charter  member  of  Peace  Dale 
Lodge  No.  225,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  been  through 
all  the  Chairs  at  Palermo,  being  likwise  a  charter 
member  of  this  lodge.  He  is  also  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen's  Camp  at  Sidell 
and  officiated  as  the  first  Chief  Consul.     He  was  ap- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


531 


pointed  :i  delegate  to  the  Grand  Camp  at  Des 
Moines,  but  Oil  accounl  Of  professional  duties  was 
not  able  fcoattend.  He  is  the  Examining  Physician 
for  this  camp,  and  operates  in  the  same  capacity 
for  the  Union  Central  Life  Insurance  Company  of 
Cincinnati,  also  for  the  N.  V.  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, lie  has  an  unusually  fine  collection  of  sur- 
gical instruments,  and  fully  understands  the  use  of 
them. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Leonard  C.  and 
Helen  L.  (Dudley)  Holton,  the  former  a  native 
of  Chester,  Yt..  and  the  latter  horn  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Bennington,  that  State.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Kentucky,  to  which  State  the  mother  had 
removed  and  taught  school  when  a  young  lady. 
Leonard  Holton  was  Captain  of  a  steamboat  plying 
on  the  Ohio  River,  which  he  followed  until  1845, 
when  the  whole  family  came  to  Illinois  and  settled 
near  the  present  site  of  Indianola.  Capt.  Holton 
then  engaged  in  merchandising,  and  assisted  in 
laying  out  the  town.  It  was  found  that  there  were 
two  post-offices  bearing  the  name  of  Dallas,  so  the 
name  was  changed  to  Indianola.  The  father  died 
there  in  1870,  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age.  He 
was  very  active  and  energetic,  and  contributed  his 
full  quota  to  the  building  up  of  the  town.  The 
mother,  after  the  death  of  her  hnsband,  removed  to 
Danville,  became  identified  with  the  public  schools 
in  the  fall  of  1871,  and  for  fourteen  years  there- 
after was  actively  and  prominently  connected  with 
educational  matters.  Then,  on  account  of  ill-health, 
she  resigned  her  position  and  is  now  living  in 
retirement  at  Danville  She  has  followed  the  pro- 
fession of  a  teacher  in  Vermont.  Kentucky  and 
Illinois,  making  of  it  an  art  and  a  science,  and 
being  uniformly  successful. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born  four 
children:  Abbie,  Frank  D.,  Henry  C.  and  William 
.lames.  Abbie  became  the  wife  of  William  Donne, 
an  attorney -at-law  of  New  York  City.  Sin-  died  in 
1876.  leaving  one  child,  a  daughter.  Lulu,  and  the 
latter  is  now  living  with  our  subject's  mother  at 
Danville.  Frank  D.  married  a  Miss  Shedd.  and  is 
mining  for  gold,  silver  and  tin  in  the  Black  Hills 
in  Dakota:  he  has  two  children — Leo  Frank  and 
Leonard.  William  .lames  married  Miss  Lizzie 
Sanders  of    Danville,  and   operates   as  Chief   Train 


Dispatcher  for  the  Chicago  &  Western  Indiana. 
with  headquarters  at  Chicago;  he  has  two  children 
— Abbie  and  Frank.  The  Holton  family  traces  In 
ancestry  to  England,  and  was  first  represented  in 
America  during  the  Colonial  times. 


jffis^  HARLLS  F.  HULL.  Some  of  the  finest  vehi- 
(|[  „  cles  driven  on  the  streets  of  Indianola  have 
^^^'  been  turned  out  from  the  shop  of  this  citizen. 
who  is  an  expert  mechanic,  doing  general  black- 
smithing  and  manufacturing  road  vehicles.  II,.  be- 
gan learning  his  trade  without  a  dollar  of  assist- 
ance and  has  placed  himself  in  a  good  position, 
financially,  by  close  application  to  business.  He  is 
a  fine  horse-shoer — in  fact,  understands  all  the  de- 
tails of  his  line  of  business  from  beginning  to  end, 
and  has  hosts  of  friends  who  rejoice  at  his  prosper- 
ity- 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  son  of  Dr. 
.Tames  S.  Hull,  who  is  well  remembered  by  the 
citizens  of  this  county  as  one  of  its  oldest  and 
most  reliable  physicians.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  was  the  son  of  a  typical  Pennsylvanian  of 
Revolutionary  stock.  He  followed  his  practice  in 
Indianola  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years  and  is 
still  living  there,  being  now  seventy-two  years 
old,  while  his  wife  is  aged  seventy.  She  also  was 
born  in  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Covington, 
Ind.,  where  they  resided  several  years  before  com- 
ing to  this  county.  Five  of  their  children  lived  to 
mature  years,  viz:  Francis  Marion,  Kissey,  Mattie 
A..  Charles  F.,  our  subject  and  Edwin  M. 

Mr.  Hull  was  born  June  :i,  1856,  at  Covington, 
Ind..  and  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years  when  his 
father's  family  came  to  this  county.  He  gave  evi- 
dence of  his  mechanical  genius  at  an  early  age  and 
first  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  He  began  work 
with  Frank  Miller,  remaining  with  him  nine  months 
and  then  engaged  with  Mr.  Hewes  for  seven  yens 
finishing  his  trade  with  him.  He  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  T.  F.  Hewes  and  they  operated 
together  until  1887  when  their  stock  was  destroyed 
by  lire,  involving  considerable  loss.  After  this 
Mr.  Hull  and   Hewes    established    a  shop  at  Sidell 


532 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  rebuilt  the  one  at  Indianola.  The  partnership 
was  dissolved  in  the  fall  of  1888,  Mr.  Hull  then  re- 
suming the  shop  at  Indianola. 

Our  subject  was  married  Dee.  11.  L 883,  to  Miss 
Martha  A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  A. 
(Bartler)  Pollard.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  emigrated  to  America  in 
1856.  Theyspent  one  year  in  Canada,  then  in  1857 
came  10  this  county  and  the  father  put  up  one  of 
the  first  steam  sawmills  along  its  southern  line. 
They  made  their  home  in  Carroll  Township  and 
Mr.  Pollard  built  up  a  good  business  and  was 
doing  well  when  he  unfortunately  went  security 
for  a  friend  with  the  usual  result — losing  nearly  all 
he  possessed.  He  was  drowned  in  Indianola  July 
1.  1886,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  The  mother 
is  still  living  and  is  now  sixty-nine  years  old.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children — Paul,  John, 
Sarah  and  Martha  A. 

Mrs.  Hull  was  born  near  Bradford  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  and  was  quite  young  when  her  parents 
came  to  America,  although  she  recollects  many 
scenes  and  incidents  connected  with  her  native 
place.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  have 
born  two  children — Clarence  Elmo  and  Rosa 
Myrtle,  aged  (1889)  four  and  two  years  respect- 
ively. The  family  residence  is  situated  in  the  east 
part  of  town  and  forms  a  very  comfortable  home, 
which  is  the  resort  of  many  friends  of  our  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife. 

Mi-.  Hull,  politically,  is  a  sound  Republican,  but 
has  had  no  time  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
office,  preferring  to  give  his  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness affairs.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  Lodge  of  Indianola  and  in  religious 
matters  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church.  Mrs.  Hull 
finds  her  religious  home  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Hull  were 
John  and  Ann  Pollard,  the  grandfather  a  mill- 
wright by  trade  and  a  very  fine  mechanic,  lie  was 
peculiarly  trusty  and  faithful,  and  sojourned  atone 
place  for  the  long  period  of  forty-five  years.  lie 
was  never  ill  a  day  in  his  life  and  died  at  the  age 
of  ninety-six  years.  His  son,  William,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Hull,  was  bom  in  Bradford,  England, 
where  he  became   a    mechanical    engineer  and  ope- 


rated various  mills  in  the  old  country,  being  an 
expert.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  his  mind  became 
impaired  through  illness  and  he  ended  his  life  by- 
drowning.  He  had  made  three  trips  to  America 
and  spent  his  last  days  in  Carroll  Township,  tliis 
county.  Mrs.  Pollard  is  still  living  and  is  a  genial 
and  pleasant  lady,  making  her  home  in  Carroll 
where  she  has  manv   friends. 


-;*•;•»> 


LEXANDER  COLLIER  is  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  this  country,  who  is  now 
living  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  pleasant 
surroundings  which  are  the  result  of  his 
early  privations  in  doing  his  share  to  build  up  this 
great  Empire.  In  the  career  of  Mr.  Collier  we 
find  an  excellent  example  for  young  men  just  em- 
barking in  the  field  of  active  life,  of  what  may  be 
accomplished  by  a  man  beginning  pool',  but  honest, 
prudent  and  industrious.  In  early  life  he  enjoyed 
but  few  advantages.  His  school  days  were  limited, 
nor  had  he  wealth  or  position  to  aid  him  in  start- 
ing in  the  great  battle.  He  relied  solel}-  upon  his 
own  efforts  and  his  own  conduct  to  win  for  him 
prosperity,  nor  has  his  been  a  success  solely  in  the 
sense  of  accumulating  wealth,  but  in  doing  good 
to  others  and  in  winning  their  respect  and  esteem. 
He  has  ever  strictly  observed  that  most  important 
factor  in  the  successful  public  or  business  life  of 
anyone — honesty. 

Mr.  Collier  owns  250  acres  of  land  on  section 
1'.),  Elwood  Township,  where  he  resides.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Tenn.,  Nov.  12, 
L830.  His  lather,  Leonard  Collier,  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  located  in  Tennessee  in  1820, 
where  he  became  prosperous  and  influential  among 
his  neighbors.  Alexander's  education  was  received 
at  subscription  schools  and  under  difficulties.  The 
schoolhouse  in  which  he  attended  school  was  but 
a  rude  hut,  with  no  conveniences  whatever  to  in- 
duce a  child  to  seek  knowledge,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  surroundings  of  the  alleged  schoolhouses 
of  those  days  were  repulsive  to  the  youthful  mind 
and   engendered   hostility    to    learning.      He   came 


^0<2sH^esO   </  /)  /ji^-t^T^f 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  Al.Bt'M. 


535 


to  Vermilion  County  in  the  autumn  of  1851,  and 
has  lived  in  this  neighborhood  since,  excepl  for 
four  years,  when  he  resided  just  across  the  State 
line.  His  mother  was  Charlotte,  daughter  of  John 
Slaygle.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living:  John.  George,  Sarah 
(.Mis.  Moore),  and  Alexander.  Four  of  the  other 
children  lived  to  be  women  before  they  died,  viz: 
Catherine,  Eliza  A..  Nancy  and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Collier  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  "Will- 
iam Jennings,  Dec.  20,  1855.  She  was  born  in 
Greene  County.  Term.,  and  her  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Sarah  Jones.  Both  the  parents  are  de- 
ceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collier  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Francis 
M..  Phoebe  J.  and  Sarah  C.  Francis  married  Dora 
Moore,  of  Missouri,  and  lives  in  this  township: 
they  have  two  children — Josephine  B.  and  Charles 
S.  Phoebe  .1.  married  Eli  Stahl  of  this  township, 
and  is  the  mother  of  three  children — Bertie.  Vora 
Belle  and  an  infant.  Bessie  May:  Sarah  is  the  wife 
of  James  Van  Duyn;  they  have  three  children — 
Alexander.  Coy  and  Addie  Belle. 

Mr.  Collier  rents  the  most  of  his  large  farm  to  his 
children,  who  are  engaged  in  stock-raising  and 
general  farming.  He  lias  never  sought  office,  but 
has  found  that  he  has  enough  to  attend  to  in 
strictly  minding  his  own  affairs.  Mrs.  Collier  is  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
to  which  her  husband  is  a  liberal  contributor. 

,*p=&  AMUEL  T.  STEVENS,  one  of  the  sur- 
^^£  vivors  of  the  25th  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
ll\/_y)  now  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Georgetown 
Township,  is  one  of  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  in  this  communty,  being  upright 
and  industrious,  greatly  attached  to  his  home  and 
justly  proud  of  his  army  record,  which  is  creditable 
in  the  extreme.  He  was  born  in  Vernon  Town- 
ship. Jennings  Co..  Ind.,  near  the  town  of  Vernon, 
Nov.  4.  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Jane 
(Thompson)  Stevens,  the  former  a  native  of  Indi- 
i  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  Brooks  Point.  Vermilion  Co..  111.,  to  which 


they  had  come  at  a  very  early  day,  and  subsequently 
look  up  their  abode  in  Jennings  County,  Ind.. 
where  the  father  died  when  his  son,  Samuel  was 
only  five  years  old.  The  mother  came  back  to 
Brooks  Point  in  1853, and  died  therein  18?.'!.  when 
sixty-two  years  old.  She  was  married  three  times 
after  the  deatli  of  her  first  husband  by  whom  she 
had  four  children — Sarah  11.,  Samuel  T.,  Francis 
M.,  and  Nancy.  By  her  second  husband,  "William 
McCabe,  she  had  three  children.  Her  third  hus- 
band was  William  Brown  and  the  fourth  James 
Ogden.     By  the  latter  two  she  hail  no  children. 

Samuel  Stevens  began  to  "paddle  his  own  canoe" 
when  a  lad  of  twelve  years.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  a  stone  mason  and  plasterer,  serving  three  years 
apprenticeship,  but  not  liking  the  business  aban- 
doned it  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming  pur- 
suits, working  out  by  the  month.  When  about 
twenty  years  old  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  on  the 
7th  of  June,  1861,  enlisted  at  Indianola  in  Com- 
pany I),  25th  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered 
into  service  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  fought  the 
rebels  at  Pea  Ridge,  after  which  he  went  with  his 
regiment  after  the  rebel,  Gen.  Price,  in  the  South- 
west. In  June,  1862  they  joined  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  and  fought  at  Corinth  and  Green  River 
Bridge.  At  Louisville  they  recruited,  after  which 
followed  the  battle  of  Perryville.  Oct  7,  of  that 
year. 

From  Perryville.  our  subject  went  with  his 
regiment  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  they  remained 
until  the  26th  of  November,  1862,  then  entered  on 
the  Murfreesboro  campaign.  The}'  fought  with 
the  rebels  at  Tullahoma  and  were  next  at  Chatta- 
nooga, after  which  followed  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
niauga.  Sept.  19,  20,  1863,  whence  they  retreated 
to  Chattanooga,  and  later  engaged  with  the 
enemy  at  Lookout  Mountain.  Mission  Ridge  and 
Tunnel  Hill.  Subsequently  followed  the  Atlanta 
campaign, upon  which  they  entered  May  4,1 864,  and 
while  retreating  through  a  peach  orchard  at  Chicka- 
mauga.  Mr.  Stevens  was  struck  by  a  missile  on  the 
left  hip  and  knocked  several  yards.  He  suc- 
ceeding in  getting  to  the  ambulance  and  was  taken 
to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  where  he  remained 
two  weeks  and  was  sufficiently  recovered  toengage 
in  the  fight  at  Mission  Ridge;  he  was  also  engaged 


536 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  the  Knoxville  campaign  which  was  sent  to  the 
relief  of  Gen.  Bu inside,  who  was  bottled  up  near 
Knoxville. 

Our  subject  was  wounded  a  second  lime  at  Noon- 
day Creek,  near  Marietta,  Ga..  by  a  niinie-ball 
which  passed  through  his  leg  above  the  knee.  He 
was  taken  a  second  time  to  the  hospital  at  Chatta- 
nooga and  later  to  the  Cumberland  hospital  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.  The  term  of  bis  enlistment  soon 
expired  and  he  was  mustered  out  Sept.  5,  1864,  at 
Springfield,  III.  From  that  time  until  1868  he 
occupied  himself  in  farming  pursuits  and  in  that 
year  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  Gerard,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Fisher)  Gerard,  who 
came  from  Indiana  to  this  State  and  settled  in 
1851  upon  the  land  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
our  subject.  Of  this  union  there  have  been  born 
nine  children,  namely:  Ulysses  S.;  Ezra  A.,  Lucy 
A.,  Mary  .1.,  Robert  T.,  Willian  F.,  Viola  M., 
Johnnie  H.,  and  Clarence  E.  Mr.  Stevens,  politi- 
cally, is  a  strong  Republican,  and  he  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Stevens  is  shown  elsewhere  in 
this  work. 


fl        (VILLI  AM  HESTER.  Those  middle-aged  men 

\/id//  wn0  are  nat'ves  °f  tnis  county,  were  born 
W*J  under  the  most  primitive  conditions  and 
spent  their  childhood  and  youth  in  the  wilder- 
ness, amid  the  frequently  thrilling  scenes  of  pioneer 
life.  They  became  inured  to  arduous  labor  at  an 
early  age,  and  thus  acquired  that  independence  of 
thought  and  character  of  which  are  made  the  best 
men  of  this  period  of  the  world.  The}'  also  ac- 
quired the  habit  of  viewing  toil  and  danger  undis- 
mayed, and  were  fully  prepared  for  the  later  labors 
and  struggles  which  developed  the  wilderness  into 
the  homes  of  an  intelligent  and  prosperous  people. 
Those  who  to-day  are  enjoying  the  blessings  of 
civilization  can  scarcely  realize  what  they  owe  to 
those  men  who  assisted  in  bringing  about  the  pres- 
ent order  of  things. 

A  native  of  Elwood  Township,  this  county,  our 
subject  was  born  May  17,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of 
Thomas  Hester,  who  was  born  in  Guilford  County, 


N.'C.  and  who  removed  with  his  parents  to  Clin- 
ton County.  Ohio,  when  a  lad  nine  37ears  of  age. 
He  left  the  Buckeye  State  in  1835.  coming  to  Ran- 
dolph County,  Ind.,  settling  near  Winchester,  that 
county,  where  he  improved  a  farm  from  the  heavy 
timber  land  in  White  River  Township  and  where 
he  sojourned  ten  years.  Next  he  removed  to  Taze- 
well County,  this  State,  where  he  lived  six  3'ears 
engagtrl  in  farming.  His  next  removal  was  to  this 
county  and  hesettled  March  31,  1838,  on  the  land 
now  occupied  by  his  son,  our  subject,  on  section 
•24  in  Elwood  Township.  He  did  his  own  black- 
smithing  for  about  thirty  years,  and  was  a  true  type 
of  the  industrious  pioneer  who,  by  his  sturdy  indus- 
try and  perseverance  built  up  a  good  home  and 
accumulated  a  comfortable  property. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  maiden- 
hood Miss  Mary  Leonard.  She  also  like  her  father, 
Ezekiel  Leonard,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and 
was  of  Irish  ancestry.  Grandfather  Francis  Hester, 
also  a  native  of  the  above  mentioned  State,  was  of 
Scotch  ancestry  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
both  farmer  and  shoemaker.  To  the  parents  of 
our  subject  there  were  born  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  and  William  is  the  youngest.  The 
other  three  are  Jesse,  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Reece,  and 
John.  The  others  lived  to  mature  years.  They 
were  Hannah,  Mrs.  Cook;  Mary.  Mrs.  Larrance; 
and  Robert.     All  at  their  decease  left  families. 

William  Hester  was  reared  to  manhood  at  the  old 
homestead  where  he  now  lives,  and  completed  his 
education  in  Bloomingdale  Acadeu^  under  the  in- 
struction of  Prof.  Hobbs.  He  taught  school  two 
winters,  but  with  this  exception  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  pursuits  all  his  life.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  contributed  gener- 
ously toward  the  erection  of  their  fine  new  church 
and  the  Vermilion  Academy  building  at  Vermilion 
Grove.  The  academy  is  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Friends. 

Mr.  Hester  was  married  March  8,  1860,  to  Miss 
Maria,  daughter  of  Ira  Mills,  deceased,  who  came 
to  this  county  in  1821.  This  lady  became  the 
mother  of  two  children  one  only  of  whom  is  liv- 
ing— Cassius  M.  She  died  Jan.  19,  1863.  Our 
subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  March  ti, 
1867,   with  Miss  Rachel  J.,  daughter  of    William 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


537 


Stafford,  of  Vermilion  Grove,  and  of  this  union 
there  were  born  three  children,  only  two  of  whom 
are  living — Rhoda  J.,  Mrs.  Mills  and  Thomas  W. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  .lime  15,  1X85. 
and  on  the  7th  of  March,  L887,  Mr.  Hester  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Hawkins,  near  Hardin.  Coles  Co. 

The  land  possessions  of  Mr.  Hester  aggregate  248 
acres  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  graded  horses, 
Short-horn  cattle,  Poland-China  swine  and  high 
grade  Merino  sheep.  He  uniformly  votes  the  K>- 
publican  ticket  and  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon 
matters  of  State  and  National  interest.  Like  his 
honored  parents  he  belongs  to  the  Society  of 
Friends.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Hester  died  May  2, 
1867.  and  his  father  Nov.  10,  1875.  They  were 
most  worthy  and  excellent  people,  living  at  peace 
with  their  neighbors  and  doing  good  as  they  had 
opportunity. 


n<  ■- 


C;&  ILAS  DICKSON.  Few  persons  can  sojourn 
~^^  very  long  in  Indianola  without  becoming 
'  familiar  with  the  name  of  Mr.  Dickson, 
who  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Vermilion,  and  one  of  the  first  children  who, 
born  in  this  county,  have  grown  up  with  the  coun- 
try. He  is  now  past  the  meridian  of  life.  He  has 
inherited  from  a  substantial  ancestry  those  qualities 
of  character  which  have  made  him  an  enterprising 
business  man  and  placed  him  in  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  his  community. 

Mr.  Dickson  was  born  May  25,  1830,  in  Carroll 
Township,  and  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  amid 
the  scenes  of  pioneer  life,  becoming  familiar  with 
healthy  hard  work  and  receiving  his  education  in 
the  common  school.  He  remained  a  member  of 
the  parental  household  until  a  man  of  thirty-four 
years,  and  was  then  married,  Oct.  13,  1864,  to  Miss 
Frances  Foos.  The  newly  wedded  pair  settled 
down  on  a  farm  and  for  anumber  of  years  there, li- 
ter Mr.  Dickson  gave  his  attention  to  agriculture  and 
the  cattle  business.  In  the  latter  he  became  inter- 
ested when  only  a  boy.  and  since  reaching  manhoi  "1 
has  driven  hundreds    of   fat    cattle    to    New     York 


City,  selling  them  to  local  butchers.  He  saw  the 
first  ear-load  of  beef  cattle  that  were  ever  slopped 
into  that  metropolis  from  Illinois,  and  about  the 
time  there  was  being  agitated  the  advisability  of 
shipping  stock  by  rail. 

Mr.  Dickson  is  an  extensive  land  owner,  having 
600  acres  in  Edgar  County  and  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  adjoining  Indianola.  To  him  ami  his 
estimable  wife  there  have  been  born  three  children: 
Robert,  Lena,  and  Albertus.  The  daughter  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Cannon,  who  is  interested  in  an 
electric  light  plant  in  Portland,  Oregon.  The  sons 
are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Dickson  uni- 
formly votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  with  the 
exception  of  serving  as  a  juryman  several  times, 
has  never  mingled  much  in  public  affairs.  Mrs. 
Dickson  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mrs.  Dickson  is  the  daughter  of  Franklin  and 
Amelia  (Howe)  Foos,  the  former  of  whom  is  the 
oldest  living  native  of  what  was  then  Franklin, 
but  is  now  Columbus  County.  Ohio.  He  was  born 
July  4,  1803,  and  now  makes  his  home  in  Danville. 
Mr.  Foos  and  Michael  Sullivan  were  schoolboys 
together.  The  mother  was  a  native  of  Maryland 
and  a  distant  relative  of  Flias  Howe,  the  inventor 
of  the  sewing  machine.  One  of  the  members  of 
the  firm  of  Foos  ife  Co.,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  is  a 
half  brother  of  Mrs.  Dickson's  father.  The  mother 
died  in  November,  1883,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  She  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  seven 
of  whom  grew  to  mature  years,  viz  :  Louisa.  Lydia. 
Joseph,  Amelia.  Lovina.  Francis,  and  Ellen.  Mrs. 
Dickson  was  born  in  Madison  County.  <  >hio,  in 
1  s  1 1.  and  was  a  girl  of  ten  years  when  she  came 
with  her  parents  to  this  county.  She  made  the 
acquaintance  of   her  future  husband  in  Indianola. 

David  Dickson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  is  now 
a  gentleman  of  eighty-three  years.  He  traveled  all 
over  this  State  from  north  to  south  and  from  east 
to  west  at  a  very  early  day.  when  it  was  the  ex- 
treme frontier  and  there  were  but  very  few  settle- 
ments within  its  limits.  He  was  born  in  Lewis 
County.  Ky..  and  married  Miss  Margaret 
Waters,  a  native  of  Stafford  Court  House.  Ya., 
and  closely  allied  to  the  F.  F.  V.'s.  Her  ancestors 
came  from  Scotland,   while  the    Dicksons    were    ot 


538 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


English  origin,  and  upon  coming  to  this  country 
settled  in  Maryland.  Subsequently  they  removed 
to  Kentucky.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  whose  name  was  Means,  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent, and  at  an  early  day  settled  in  New  .Jersey. 
whence  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  then  to 
Kentucky  during  its  pioneer  days.  He  was  the 
representative  of  a  very  large  and  influential 
family. 

Mr.  Dickson  came  to  Illinois  a  single  man  and 
was  married  in  Vermilion  County.  He  took  up 
land  and  settled  near  Paris  in  1824,  when  it  was  a 
mere  trading  place.  He  became  the  fattier  of  four 
children:  Silas.  Robert,  Permelia.  and  Jemima. 
Robert  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty-three 
years;  Permelia  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Ralston, 
and  resides  in  Danville:  Jemima,  Mrs.  Varner,  lives 
in  Edgar  County.     The  mother  died  in  1887. 


KN.IAM1N  F.  LKACH.  In  the  subject  of 
this  notice  there  is  easily  recognized  a  man 
»i  of  high  social  qualities,  well  educated,  cul- 
tivated in  bis  tastes,  one  who  is  public- 
spirited  and  takes  a  warm  interest  in  educational 
matters.  He  was  in  former  years  occupied  as  a 
teacher,  but  of  late  has  been  interested  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  is  the  Grain  Weigher  of  Hinn- 
riek.  He  was  born  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
Sept.  23,  1846,  and  is  consequently  a  man  in  the 
prime  of  life  and  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness. 

By  reverting  to  the  family  history  of  our  subject 
we  lind  that  he  is  the  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(  Monroe)  Leach,  natives  of  Culpeper  County,  Va., 
and  the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living,  as  follows.  Sarah  A.,  now  Mrs. 
Parker,  is  a  resident  of  Gentry  County,  Mo.;  Will- 
iam M.  lives  in  Phillips  County,  Kan.:  Henry  C. 
resides  in  Washington  County,  Ark.,  as  does  also 
his  sister.  Mary  ( '..  Mrs.  Carney.  Benjamin  F.,  our 
subject,  came  with  the  family  to  this  county  in 
( »,  tuber,  1852.  They  met  with  a  great  affliction  in 
the  death  of  the  father,  which  occurred  less  than  a 
year  later,  June  23,  1853.  The  mother  and  sons 
carried  on  the  farm  as  best   they  could  until  all  the 


children  were  able  to  take  care  of  themselves. 
Mrs.  Leach  finally  went  to  Neosha  County,  Kan., 
where  her  death  took  place  in  1873. 

.Mr.  Leach,  our  subject,  has  been  familiar  with 
agricultural  pursuits  since  his  earliest  recollections, 
and  followed  them  exclusively  with  the  exception 
of  the  time  occupied  as  a  teacher.  His  early  ad- 
vantages were  necessarily  limited,  but  he  made  the 
most  of  his  opportunities  for  observation  and  in- 
formation and  came  out  a  bright  and  intelligent 
young  man  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities.  When 
twenty-four  years  old  he  was  married,  in  Elwood 
Township,  March  31,  1875.  to  Miss  Alma  J., 
daughter  of  Darius  Baldwin,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Danville  Township,  and  now  deceased. 
The  four  children  born  of  this  union  were  named 
respectively,  Albert  W..  Richard  B.,  Mary  P..  and 
Nellie  C. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  took 
up  their  residence  in  Elwood  Township,  where  our 
subject  confined  his  attention  to  the  development 
of  his  farm  and  lived  there  until  February,  1886; 
then,  retiring  from  the  more  arduous  duties  of 
farm  life,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Ilumrick  and 
now  busies  himself  with  lighter  employments.  He 
has  officiated  as  Tax  Collector  of  the  township 
three  terms;  was  Highway  Commissioner  one  term, 
and  is  at  present  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  finds 
his  religious  home  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  socially  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. 

^p^  LAYTON  B.  ELLIOTT.  This  well-to-do 
,jf      _  and    intelligent    bachelor    citizen    may    be 

\^f/  found  usually  at  his  well-regulated  home- 
stead on  section  26  in  Elwood  Township,  where  he 
is  successfully  engaged  in  general  agriculture,  and 
from  which  he  realizes  annually  a  snug  income. 
His  farm  contains  seventy  acres  and  lies  adjacent  to 
Yankee  Point.  He  also  has  160  acres  near  New- 
man, in  Douglas  County,  111.  He  has  been  quite 
an  extensive  traveler  in  the  South  and  the  West, 
and,  although  possessing  a  limited  education,  has 
made  such  good  use  of  his  opportunities  for  the 
observation  of  men  and  things   that  he   is   at   once 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


53!) 


recognized  as  a  well-informed  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence. 

Our  subject  was  hum  in  Wayne  County,  Intl.. 
March  10,  1854,  and  is  the  sun  of  Nathan  Elli- 
Ott,  who  is  now  deceased,  and  the  brother  of  II.  C. 
and  Wesley  Elliott,  sketches  of  whom  appear  else- 
where  in  this  Album.  He  was  brought  to  this 
county  by  his  parents  when  an  infant  of  ten 
months,  and  after  attending  the  common  school  be- 
came also  a  student  of  Vermilion  Academy  and  the 
Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington.  In  the 
fall  of  1881  he  set  out  for  Washington,  trav- 
ersing the  Union  and  Central  Pacific  Railroads 
from  Chicago  to  San  Francisco  and  thence  by 
steamer  to  Portland,  Ore.,  where  he  spent  the 
winter.  In  the  meantime  he  was  at  Puget  Sound. 
In  the  spring  of  1882  he  went  up  the  Willamette 
Valley,  where  lie  sojourned  until  after  the  4th  of 
July.  On  that  day  he  attended  a  celebration  at  a 
point  near  by  across  the  river,  and  saw  half-breed 
Indians  and  French  taking  part  in  the  foot  races. 
Later  lie  repaired  to  Pataha,  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Washington,  ami  occupied  himself  at  lum- 
bering in  the  Blue  Mountains  until  harvest  time. 
in  the  month  of  August.  He  then  repaired  to  the 
Pataha  Flats  and  assisted  in  threshing  wheat  for 
twenty-seven  days,  and  until  in  September,  when 
he  returned  to  the  Blue  Mountains  and  worked  in 
the  lumber  woods  until  the  deep  snow  drove  out 
the  men.  Returning  now  to  Pataha  Flats  he  so- 
journed there  until  the  spring  of  1883,  then  trav- 
eled on  foot  to  Spokane  Falls  and  to  the  Big  Bend 
country,  in  the  Columbia  River  region.  He  staid 
over  night  with  Wild  Goose  Bill,  who  had  a  squaw 
for  a  wife.  There  he  secured  a  pony,  and.  in  com- 
pany with  Bill's  two  boys  started  out  to  see  a  large 
spring  near  by.  The  boys  had  a  lasso,  and  one  of 
them  exerted  his  skill  on  our  subject.  The  latter 
having  money  feared  at  first  that  they  were  intend- 
in"  to  overpower  and  rob  him.  hut  he  found  that 
thev  were  simply  amusing  themselves  at  his  ex- 
pense. They  called  him  a  "tenderfoot,"  and  had 
great  sport  in  lassoing  his  horse  and  a  colt  which 
was  following  the  pony  he  rode. 

Our  subject  finally  returned  to  Spokane  Falls  and 
thence  by  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  to  its  ter- 
minus,   where   he    took  the  stage  and    traveled  300 


miles  to  Bozeman,  Mont.  We  next  find  him  at 
Livingstone,  where  he  remained  until  July  3,  en- 
gaged in  a  lumber-yard  and  as  a  carpenter.  From 
there  he  traveled  up  the  Yellowstone  Park,  enter- 
ing it  July  1.  1883,  and  viewing  the  Yellowstone 
Falls  and  (  anyon.  the  Hot  Springs,  and  all  the  other 
natural  wonders  of  that  region.  He  spent  the  fol- 
lowing winter  at  Livingstone,  Montana,  then  jour- 
neyed to  St.  Paul  via  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad. 
He  visited  Chicago  on  his  way  home.  That  same 
Spring  he  took  a  trip  through  Southern  Kansas, 
visiting  his  brother  Alvin,  near  Cedar  Vale.  In 
September  following  he  settled  on  a  farm  and  has 
since  given  his  undivided  attention  to  its  various 
interests. 

Mr.  Elliott,  politically,  supports  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  sought  offi- 
cial honors.  In  his  youth  he  was  extremely  anx- 
ious to  obtain  a  thorough  education,  but  on  account 
of  the  death  of  his  father  when  he  was  twenty 
years  old  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  cherished 
plan.  He  remained  with  his  mother  and  operated 
the  farm  two  years. 

~  »* .o*o.-(0JAx\^..o*o.. 


FRANCIS  GAINES.  After  a  busy  life  has 
been  nearly  spent,  and  all  the  trials  and 
ILj  '  vicissitudes  incident  to  a  pioneer's  career 
have  been  met  with  courage,  honor  and  industry, 
there  is  nothing  more  pleasant  than  to  see  a  man 
who  has  been  faithful  in  all  things,  retire  from  ac- 
tive pursuits.  Here  he  can  look  back  upon  all  his 
actions  with  pleasure,  and  can  with  truth  say  that 
he  has  done  the  best  he  could.  And  what  more  is 
expected  of  any  man?  And  this  is  the  case  with 
Francis  Gaines. 

Mr.  Gaines  was  born  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  on 
duly  28,  182:!.  His  parents  went  to  Greene  County, 
Ohio,  soon  after  his  birth,  where  they  lived  contin- 
uously until  death  called  them  away.  His  mother 
died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  and  his 
father  followed  her  to  the  grave  in  1886,  at  the 
great  age  of  four-score  and  six.  They  had  eleven 
children — Elizabeth,  Francis,  James,  William  Jon- 
athan, Benjamin,  Henry,  Phoebe,  Susan.  Sarah  and 


5  JO 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Amanda.  The  latter  died  when  she  was  three  years 
of  age,  while  the  remaining-  children  lived  to  lie 
men  and  women.  Mr.  Gaines  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  primitive  school-houses  that  were  scat- 
tered all  over  Ohio  at  the  time  of  his  boyhood,  and 
being  the  oldest  son,  he  was  obliged  to  defer  many 
advantages  that  he  could  have  taken  to  gain  an  ed- 
ucation. By  an  inscrutable  decree  of  mankind,  the 
oldest  boy  of  a  farmer's  family  has  always  been  the 
cart-horse  that  has  drawn  the  rest  of  the  children 
after  him.  Responsibilities  have  rested  upon  the 
oldest  boy  that  have  as  a  rule  kept  him  from  gain- 
ing the  education  he  should  have,  and  Mr.  Gaines 
was  in  this  position.  For  many  a  day,  and  before 
he  was  ten  years  of  age  he  has  followed  the  plow 
whose  mouldboard  was  constructed  of  wood.  What 
would  the  boys  of  this  generation  think  of  such  a 
proceeding  as  this?  And  such  things  as  this  ought 
to  increase  the  respect  that  is  certainly  due  to  those 
who  tilled  the  soil  in  an  early  day,  and  paved  the 
way  for  an  empire. 

By  the  time  that  Mr.  (laines  became  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  was  an  expert  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  also  as  a  woodman.  At  this  time  he  se- 
cured a  job  of  cutting  wood  for  twenty-five  cents 
a  cord,  and  three  or  four  cords  a  day  was  easy  work 
for  him.  In  1845  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Jane  McFarland,  of  Greene  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
1847  the  young  couple  settled  in  Carroll  Township, 
this  count}',  about  three  miles  south  of  Indianola. 
His  wife  made  all  their  clothes  from  the  raw  ma- 
terial, and  everything  that  was  procured  in  thosfe 
days  was  by  hard  labor.  In  1871  the  good  mother 
died,  and  out  of  seven  children  born  to  her  but 
two  were  reared  to  maturity — Sarah  A.  and  Ed- 
mund. Sarah  married  F.  D.  Neblick,  who  is  re- 
siding on  the  homestead;  they  have  two  children — 
Francis  D.  and  Mabel. 

Mr.  Gaines  was  married  a  second  time  in  1871. 
to  Mrs.  Josephine  Gaines,  widow  of  his  brother 
William,  and  by  this  union  one  child  was  born — 
Mary  F.  William  Gaines  died  in  18G3.  Mrs. 
Gaines  is  the  daughter  of  L.  Patterson  and  Cath- 
erine (Baum )  Patterson,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  and  came  to  this  State 
in  1839.  He  lived  to  be  seventy-three  years  old, 
and  IJs  wife  died  at  the  early   age   of  thirty-nine. 


She  left  six  children:  Augustus  D.,  Josephine  A. 
(Mrs.  Gaines),  Emily  C,  Charles,  John  Harvey  and 
Albert,  who  was  drowned.  Mrs.  Gaines  was  born 
in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  when 
she  was  eighteen  months  old.  She  was  but  four- 
teen years  old  when  her  mother  died,  and  her 
youngest  brother.  Albeit,  was  but  three  years  of 
age.  She  was  obligged  to  assume  the  responsibil- 
ity of  the  household,  and  nobly  she  cared  for  her 
younger  brothers  and  sisters.  By  her  first  marriage 
she  is  the  mother  of  one  child — Franklin  W. — 
who  is  still  living. 

In  1883  Mr.  Gaines  erected  a  very  commodious 
and  elegant  house  in  Indianola,  which  is  surrounded 
with  everything  to  make  the  place  pleasant.  The 
highest  amount  of  bind  he  has  ever  owned  at  one 
time,  was  37.5  acres,  and  he  owns'  now  a  half  sec- 
tion, all  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  This  is 
all  due  to  his  own  industry,  excepting  §400  which 
was  given  him  by  his  father,  and  invested  in  lands. 
He  has  speculated  somewhat  in  real  estate,  and  in 
this  he  has  prospered.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaines  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  she 
having  belonged  to  that  organization  since  she  was 
nineteen,  while  her  husband  first  united  with  the 
church  thirty-nine  years  ago.  He  was  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-schools  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county,  and  has  served  in  various  capacities  in  his 
church,  holding  the  offices  of  Trustee,  Treasurer 
and  Steward.  He  has  held  the  positions  of  School 
Director  and  Trustee  for  a  long  time,  and  has  also 
served  as  Road  Overseer  and  Commissioner  of 
Highways.  Mr.  Gaines  has  always  exhibited  great 
interest  in  the  schools  and  roads.  He  votes  with 
'the  Democratic  part}'  and  has  never  sought  office. 


GRANVILLE  PUGH.  Those  who  have  been 
.  eye-witnesses  of  the  pioneer  scenes  of  Cen- 
^^|l  tral  Illinois  are  fast  passing  away:  and 
when  we  are  privileged  to  take  such  an  one  by  the 
hand,  it  is  an  event  which  will  be  remembered  for 
many  a  day.  Mr.  Pugb.  is  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  to  which  he  came  when  In- 
dians and  wild  animals  abounded,  and    when  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


541 


foot  of  the  white  man  had  scarcely  pressed  the 
soil  of  Elwood  Township.  Here  he  has  spent  the 
best  years  of  his  life,  and  his  long  and  arduous 
labors  have  been  crowned  with  success.  He  owns 
and  occupies  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  this  re- 
gion, embellished  with  an  imposing  residence,  two 
stories  in  height,  above  the  basement,  and  not  far 
away  a  magnificent  grove.  Under  his  careful 
management  the  land  has  been  brought  to  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  is  improved  with  all  the 
appliances  suggested  to  the  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive farmer. 

The  opening  years  of  the  life  of  our  subject  were 
spent  in  Jefferson  County  Ohio,  where  he  was  born 
Feb.  2,  1824.  His  father,  John  Pugh,  deceased, 
was  a  native  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  emigrated 
to  the  Buckeye  Stale  in  1823.  He  had  been  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jane  Gamble,  a  native  of  Cecil  County, 
Md.,  and  to  them  there  were  born  three  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years.  Edwin  is  now 
deceased;  Granville,  our  subject,  was  the  second 
child;  Hannah,  Mrs.  Kendall,  lives  in  Ringgold 
County.  Iowa. 

The  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  born  and 
reared  in  the  Quaker  faith  for  many  generations 
back.  His  maternal  grandfather.  John- Gamble'. 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  War  of  1812.  John 
Pugh  came  with  his  family  to  this  county  as  earh 
as  1830,  settling  on  the  Little  Vermilion  in  Carroll 
Township.  In  1836  he  changed  his  residence,  and 
became  owner  of  the  land  which  his  son,  Granville, 
now  owTns  and  occupies.  Here  both  parents  spent 
their  last  years,  the  father  dying  in  1847,  in  middle 
life,  and  the  mother  surviving  her  husband  many 
3'ears.  passing  away  in  1884. 

The  first  studies  of  our  subject  were  conducted 
in  a  log  cabin,  with  its  puueheon  floor,  greased 
paper  for  window  panes,  seats  and  desks  made  of 
slabs  and  fastened  to  the  wall  with  rude  wooden 
pius.  Young  Pugh  took  great  interest  in  spelling, 
and  on  Christmas  night,  in  1848.  spelled  down  the 
whole  large  school  at  Ridge  Farm.  lie  assisted  his 
father  in  the  development  of  his  homestead,  and 
remained  a  member  of  the  parental  family  until 
passim.'  his  thirty-second  birth-day.  He  was  then 
married.  May    31,  L856,  to    Miss    Lydia,  daughter 


of  Isaac  Thompson,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Elwood  Township.  Mrs.  Pugh  was  born  in  Parke 
County,  Intl.,  March  7.  1835,  and  of  her  union 
with  our  subject  there  were  born  nine  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living.  John  J.,  the  eldest, 
married  Miss  Emily  Dillon,  and  lives  in  Prairie 
Township;  they  have  six  children — Grace,  Ada, 
Bertha,  Charles,  Ella  and  Howard;  Ezra  K.  mar- 
ried Miss  LiUy  Thompson,  lives  in  Broad  land, 
Champaign  County,  and  has  two  children — Itoscoe 
E.  and  May;  Paris  J.  married  Miss  Lucy  lliberly, 
ami  occupies  a  part  of  the  homestead;  they  have 
one  child — Mary  A.;  Isaac  M..  Monroe,  Howard, 
Jane  E.  and   Dolly  are  at  home  with  their   parents. 

The  landed  possessions  of  Mr.  Pugh  aggregate 
350  acres,  largely  devoted  to  stock  purposes,  he 
making  a  specialty  of  graded  Short-horn  cattle  and 
Poland-China  swine.  Since  reaching  his  majority 
he  has  been  a  prominent  man  in  his  community, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  School  Director  for  the 
long  period  of  forty  years.  He  officiated  as  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  and  Township  Supervisor  one 
year,  and  was  Highway  Commissioner  several 
years.  He  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket, 
and  his  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church.  The  family  stands  sec- 
ond to  none  in  Vermilion  County. 

In  1832,  during  the  progress  of  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Isaac  Mardick  lived 
upon  the  same  section  as  Mr.  Pugh,  and  in  the 
month  of  June  was  plowing  corn.  Another  man 
in  the  vicinity,  named  Laban  Dillon,  thinking  to 
have  some  sport,  dressed  himself  up  as  an  Indian, 
took  a  gun  and  repaired  to  the  field  where  Mr. 
Mardick  was  at  work,  crawling  along  Indian 
fashion,  until  he  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Mardick. 
Then  he  rose  and  lifted  his  gun,  as  if  to  fire,  when 
Mr.  Mardick  ran  home  as  fast  as  his  legs  would 
carry  him,  leaving  his  horse  and  plow  in  the  field. 
Arriving  there  he  offered  another  man  a  colt  if  he 
would  go  and  bring  the  horse  to  the  house.  The 
story  naturally  leaked  out.  and  .Mr.  Mardick  became 
the  laughing-stock  of  the  neighborhood.  Many 
were  the  practical  jokes  played  in  those  times,  and 
each  one  was  made  the  most  of  in  the  absence  of 
the  amusements  and  recreations  of  more  enlightened 
times.     None  enjoyed  those  little  incidents  more 


542 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


than  Ml'.  Pugl),  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  he  con- 
tributed his  share  to  the  general  stock.  lie  has 
been  prospered  in  his  labors,  and  now,  sitting  under 
his  own  vine  and  flgtree,  feels  properly  that  he  has 
not  lived  in  vain.  He  has  endeavored  to  do  as  little 
harm  as  possible  in  the  world,  and  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  many  friends. 


►*-H-N3*£H  '■!• 

/p^EORGE  HEILEMAN,  the  leading  carriage 
|[  (-— ,  manufacturer  of  Indianola,  is  a  skilled  me- 

V^SI  chanic  of  ability,  active  and  enterprising 
as  a  business  man,  and  one  who  is  regarded  as  a 
most  useful  member  of  society,  temperate,  peace- 
able and  law-abiding,  uniformly  upholding  the 
elements  which  form  the  basis  of  good  citizenship, 
lie  has  risen  from  an  humble  position  to  one  of 
prominence  and  influence  in  his  community,  soci- 
ally and  financially;  and  for  a  period  of  seventeen 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  his  present  business 
in  the  town  where  he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Heileman  was  born  in  Germantown,  a 
suburb  of  Philadelphia,  Pa..  Aug.  22,  1847,  and 
there  spent  the  days  of  his  childhood  and  youth. 
His  father,  John  Heileman,  a  native  of  Germany, 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  was  married  in  the 
Fatherland  to  Miss  Anna  Barbara  Slump.  They 
lived  one  year  after  their  marriage  in  their  native 
province,  then  about  1843,  crossed  the  Atlantic  with 
their  first  born  child — Katie,  and  settled  near  the 
City  of  Brotherly  Love,  where  the  household  cir- 
cle was  increased  by  the  birth  of  five  more  children, 
viz:  an  infant,  who  died  unamed,  Michael,  George, 
our  subject,  Rose,  and  John. 

Michael  Heileman  served  four  years  in  the 
Union  Army  during  the  Civil  War  and  after- 
ward emigrated  to  Corsicana,  Tex.,  where  he 
engaged  as  a  harness-maker.  Rose  married  George 
Mebs,  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and  they  live  in 
Columbus,  Ohio;  John  is  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  also  a  resident  of  Columbus.  The  father  died 
in  middle  life  anil  the  mother  was  left  in  straight- 
ened circumstances,  being  obliged  to  part  with 
some  of  her  children.  Michael  and  George  were 
pla  cd  in  the  Northern  Home  for  friendless  chil- 


dren, where  the  later  remained  four  years.  When 
nine  years  old  he  was  taken  into  the  home  of  James 
D.  Lawson,  of  Woodstown,  N.  J.,  to  whom  he  was 
bound  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  only  stayed 
with  him  seven  years,  as  Mr.  Lawson  retired  from 
the  farm  and  re-bound  the  boy  to  a  carriage-maker 
of  Salem,  N.  J.  The  natural  inclinations  of  young 
Heileman  were  in  the  line  of  mechanics,  and  he 
never  found  greater  delight  than  in  using  tools. 
He  served  one  year  in  the  carriage-shop  and  then 
the  Civil  War  being  in  progress,  although  near  its 
close,  he  enlisted  April  9,  1865,  in  Company  K, 
215th  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  for  one  year  and 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Cadwallader. 

This  regiment  left  at  once  for  Fairfax,  Ya.,  and 
was  mostly  afterward  employed  on  guard  duty 
around  Washington,  and  Ft.  Delaware,  where  were 
imprisoned  5,00(1  rebels.  These  were  paroled  at 
the  close  of  the  war  and  our  subject  received  his 
honorable  discharge,  Aug.  15,  1865,  when  less  than 
seventeen  years  old.  He  now  returned  to  his 
former  employer,  with  whom  he  remained  four 
years.  Next  we  find  him  in  Williamsport,  Pa., 
employed  in  a  carriage  shop,  previous  to  this, 
he  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  T.  F.  Ilewes, 
through  whose  influence  he  subsequently  came 
west  and  joined  Mr.  Hewes  in  Indianola  in  May, 
1872.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  Frank  Miller 
afterward  for  a  period  of  five  years,  then  engaged 
with  W.  T.  Butler  for  one  year,  and  in  1879  pur- 
chased the  shop  standing  upon  the  site  of  that 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies  and  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  March  4,  1887. 

Mr.  Heileman  now  occupies  a  snug  brick  building, 
the  second  floor  of  which  is  used  as  a  public  hall 
and  the  reading  room  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
Camp  of  Indianola.  In  it  are  also  held  the  village 
and  township  meetings,  and  in  addition  it  is  used  as 
the  headquarters  of  the  Indianola  Building  and 
Loan  Association,  of  which  Mr.  Heileman  is  a  char- 
ter member  and  Treasurer.  In  the  Camp  above 
spoken  of  he  is  banker.  He  belongs  to  the  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.  fraternity,  being  Master  of  Vermilion 
Lodge  No.  265,  and  with  his  estimable  wife  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Our  subject  was  married  May  7,  1874.  to  Miss 
Emma  V.    McHaffle,    who  was   born   in  Indianola, 


RESIDENCE  OF  JACOB  EULTZ.SEC.  £6.  GEORGETOWN TR,  VERMILION  CO. 


RESIDENCE    OE    JOHN   TRISEER.  SEC.  3/.,  SI  DELL  T'P.,     VERMILION  CO. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


.M.-, 


and  is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  B.  McHaffie,  who  was 
one  of  the  Bret  physicians  of  this  place,  and  com- 
mands a  first-class  practice.  His  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Elizabeth  Everhart,  is  a  native  of  Germany, 

ami  is  still  living,  being  sixty-four  years  old. 
They  have  four  children  surviving,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Mary,  is  the  wife  of  William  Stark,  who  is 
searching  for  gold  in  the  mines  of  Colorado;  Eliza 
is  the  wife  of  Frank  Baum  of  Carroll  Township; 
Andrew  is  at  home  with  his  mother. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hieleman  have  three  children — 
William  Howard,  Garnet,  and  Leouidas.  Mr.  Hiele- 
man is  serving  his  seventh  term  as  Township 
Clerk,  and  his  polities  will  readily  he  guessed  from 
the  fact  that  he  is  one  of  the  leading  ir  em  hers  of 
the  Indianola  Democratic  Club.  He  is  also  Treas- 
urer of  the  School  Board,  and  has  served  three 
terms  as  Clerk  of  the  Milage  Board,  besides  one 
term  as  Trustee.  He  also  officiates  as  Treas- 
urer and  Secretary  of  the  Woodlawn  Cemetery 
Association,  being  on  the  second  term  of  six  years. 
II is  neat  and  comfortable  residence  is  pleasantly 
located  on  West  Main  street.  The  fact  that  he  is 
well  spoken  of  by  his  neighbors  and  his  fellow- 
townsmen,  is  ample  evidence  of  the  estimation  in 
which  he  is  held  as   a    business   man   and   a  citizen. 


'jfJOHN  TRISLER.  It  is  usually  fair  to  judge 
of  a  man's  character  and  capacities  by  his 
surroundings,  and  we  would  thus  presume 
/  that  Mr.  Trisler  is  second  to  no  man  in  his 
township  as  a  farmer  and  business  man,  while  he 
possesses  the  cultivated  tastes  which  have  led  him 
to  build  up  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes 
within  its  limits.  Soon  after  settling  upon  the 
farm  which  he  now  occupies  he  began  planning 
for  the  residence  which  he  contemplated  building, 
and  prepared  the  grounds  accordingly.  There 
now  stands  upon  them  an  elegant  two-story  resi- 
dence, in  the  midst  of  a  grove  planted  by  the  pro- 
prietor •  fourteen  years  ago,  and  which  serves  to 
make  a  delightful  shade  in  summer  time,  while 
protecting  the  dwelling  from  the  bitter  blasts  of 
winter.     Interspersed  with  forest  trees  are  beauti- 


ful evergreens,  while  the  buildings  anil  appur- 
tenances adjoining  serve  to  complete  the  ideal 
country  estate. 

Mr.  Trisler  may  most  properly  be  termed  a  self- 
made  man.  Having  been  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources at  an  early  period  in  life,  he  has  worked  his 
way  up  by  steady  perseverance  and  industry  to  a 
good  position,  socially  and  financially.  He  pays 
Strict  attention  to  his  own  affairs,  is  rather  exclu- 
sive in  his  tastes  and  manner  of  living,  and  is  well 
respected  in  his  .community.  In  his  labors  and 
worthy  ambitions  he  has  found  a  most  efficient  as- 
sistant in  his  industrious,  business-like  and  capable 
wife,  who  has  done  her  share  toward  the  accumu- 
lation of  the  property  and  the  building  up  of  the 
homestead.  Mr.  Trisler  during  the  stormy  days 
of  the  Rebellion  arrayed  himself  most  decidedljr  on 
the  side  of  the  Union,  and  no  man  was  more  re- 
joiced at  its  perpetuation  and  the  extinction  of 
slavery. 

Until  a  boy  of  eight  years  our  subject  spent  his 
early  life  in  Maysville,  Ky.,  where  he  was  born 
Dec.  18,  1842.  Thence  his  parents  removed  to 
Illinois  about  1350,  making  the  journey  thither  by 
water  and  overland.  During  the  progress  of  this 
trip  the  boy  was  lost  in  Cincinnati,  which  occa- 
sioned great  distress  to  his  parents  until  they 
found  him.  Arriving  in  this  State,  the  family  lo- 
cated in  Coles  County,  where  our  subject  attended 
school  until  about  fourteen  years  old,  and  then  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  this  county.  Here  he 
attended  school  in  Danville  for  two  years.  Later 
the  father  decided  to  take  up  his  residence  in  Cat- 
lin  Township,  and  John  continued  a  member  of 
the  parental  household  until  it  was  disbanded,  in 
I860.  He  had  begun  work  on  a  farm  when  a  boy 
of  seven  or  eight  years,  and  was  thus  employed 
after  leaving  home. 

After  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Tris- 
ler, in  1862,  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Corn- 
Company  A,  71st  Illinois  Infantry,  in  the  ninety- 
days'  service,  being  mustered  in  at  Springfield 
and  assigned  mostly  to  guard  duty  in  the  vicinity 
of  Columbus.  Ky.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
enlistment,  he  was  discharged  at  Chicago,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1863  re-enlisted  with  the  100-day's  men, 
in  Company  E.  135th  Illinois  Infantry.     The  com- 


546 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


pain  was  mustered  into  service  at  Matloon,  whence 
they  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  were  as- 
signed as  guard  to  prisoners,  after  which  they 
were  sent  to  Iron  Mountain.  The  second  time 
our  subject  was  discharged  at  Mattoon,  111.,  four 
weeks  beyond  the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which 
he  had  enlisted. 

The  war  not  yet  being  ended,  our  subject  for 
the  third  time  proffered  his  services,  this  time  for 
one  year  or  dining  the  war.  in  Company  K,  149th 
Illinois  Infantry.  lie  was  mustered  in  at  Dan- 
ville, and.  going  to  the  front,  marched  through 
Georgia,  Tennessee  and  Alabama.  In  1862  he  had 
been  promoted  to  Corporal,  and  in  1864  received 
the  commission  of  Sergeant.  While  along  the 
Mississippi  he  suffered  from  jaundice,  from  which 
he  has  never  been  entirely  relieved  since.  He  was 
finally  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  May, 
1865,  at  Dalton,  Ga. 

After  retiring  from  the  army.  Mr.  Trisler  re- 
turned to  Catlin  Township,  this  county,  and  be- 
gan operating  on  rented  land.  On  the  6th  of  Oc- 
tober. 186s.  he  was  married  to  Miss  Abbie  A. 
Douglas,  who  was  born  at  Stoughton,  Dane  Co., 
Wis.  In  due  time  our  subject  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  which  was  the  beginning  of  his  large 
farm,  now  embracing  300  acres.  He  has  made  of 
agriculture  an  art  and  a  science,  which  fact  accounts 
for  his  success.  Under  his  careful  management 
bis  land  has  become  highly  productive,  while  he 
avails  himself  of  modern  methods  and  the  latest 
improved  machinery  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  He 
keeps  himself  well  posted  both  in  regard  to  agri- 
culture and  other  things  of  interest  to  the  broad 
and  liberal-minded  citizen,  and  is  consequently  en- 
abled to  operate  to  the  best  advantage  as  the  re- 
sult of  observation  and  experience.  The  house- 
hold circle  includes  three  bright  children — Veron- 
ica T.,  dishing  II.  and  John  Earl. 

Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Wells)  Trisler,  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  were  natives  respectively  of 
Ohio  and  Kentucky,  and  were  married  in  the  lat- 
ter State.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1850, 
settling  in  Coles  County.  The  father  is  still  liv- 
ing, at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  and  makes 
his    home   in    Milwaukee,  Wis.     The  mother    diet! 


April  28,  1855,  in  Coles  County.  Seven  of  their 
children  grew  to  mature  years:  William,  John 
(our  subject),  Sarah  E.,  Mary  M.,  Robert,  Johanna 
and  Joseph. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Trisler  were  Cushing  and 
Clarissa  Ann  (Douglas)  Douglas,  the  father  born 
near  Bangor,  Me.,  and  the  mother  in  Indiana.  Her 
father  was  a  near  kinsman  to  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of 
Illinois,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
They  were  residents  of  Adams  County,  Wis., 
twelve  years,  and  from  there  came  to  this  county, 
settling  in  Catlin  Township.  Later  in  life  they 
removed  to  Catlin  Village,  where  they  now  live, 
the  father  being  sixty-five  and  the  mother  fifty- 
six  years  old.  Their  four  children  were  named 
respective^- :  Abbie  Ann,  Hortensia,  Clara  I. 
(who  died  when  one  year  old)  and  Florence.  The 
second  mentioned  is  the  widow  of  Ed  Ruby.  She 
resides  in  New  Mexico,  and  has  one  child — Burda. 
Florence  married  Theodore  Terpening,  a  druggist 
of  Catlin.  and  they  have  four  children — Max.  Don 
D.,  Pussy  P.  and  a  babe  unnamed.  Mrs.  Trisler 
was  a  girl  of  fifteen  years  when  her  parents  settled 
in  Catlin  Township. 

Both  our  subject  and  his  excellent  wife  are 
members  in  good  standing  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  they  have  always 
given  a  liberal  support,  especially  during  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  edifice.  Mr.  Trisler  is  an  un- 
compromising Democrat,  politically,  and  has  served 
as  Director  in  the  school  district  three  years. 

A  fine  view  is  presented  elsewhere  in  this  work, 
of  the  pleasant  home  and  surroundings  of  Mr. 
Trisler,  where  he  lives  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  happy 
family,  and  where  his  friends  are  ever  kindly  wel- 
comed. 


•4*%"^ 


}i**i* 


ffi  ACOB  FULTZ.  The  fine  farm  of  our  sub- 
ject, comprising  180  acres,  on  section  II, 
Gorgetown  Township,  is  a  standing  monu- 
ment to  his  intelligent  industry.  Mr.  Fultz 
is  a  native  of  Indiana,  having  been  born  in  Eugene 
Township,  Vermillion  County,  of  that  State,  Aug. 
17,  1830.  He  inherits  his  fine  constitution  from 
his  mother,  whose  people  came  from  the  verdure- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


•r>47 


clad  shores  <>f  Ireland,  bringing  with  them  tlie  fine 
physique  for  which  the  natives  of  that  isle  are 
noted.  On  reaching  this  country  they  settled  in 
Virginia,  from  which  place  our  subject's  mother, 
Miss  Nancy  Grivens,  came  to  Parke  County,  Ind.. 
while  yet  in  her  teens.  Front  his  father's  side  Mr. 
Fultz  inherited  his  full  share  of  the  bountiful  sup- 
ply of  brain  power  with  which  that  parent,  was  en- 
dowed. William  Fultz.  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  was  a  native  of  the  old  Keystone 
Statt'.  his  parents  having  come  to  Pennsylvania 
from  Germany.  While  a  mere  hoy  the  family  turned 
their  faces  Westward  and  came  to  Ohio.  ( In  reach- 
ing more  mature  years,  young  William  followed 
on  toward  the  setting  sun.  and  while  in  Parke 
County,  Ind.,  met  and  married  his  amiable  wife. 
Although  Indians  were  plentiful  in  their  neighbor- 
hood, they  succeeded  in  escaping  unpleasant  cour- 
tesies from  them,  [n  1826  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Fultz  set  up  their  household  gods  in  Eugene  Town- 
ship, Vermillion  Co.,  Ind..  where  they  continued 
to  reside  until  death,  the  former  expiring  in  1876, 
at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-one,  and  the  latter  eight 
years  later,  in  1884,  after  having  traveled  life's 
rugged  pathway  for  three  years  longer  than  the 
alotted  time  of  three-score  years  and  ten.  being 
just  seventy-three  years  old.  Having  been  busy 
bees  in  life's  hive  of  workers,  they  had  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  abundant  prosperity  crown  their 
efforts  before  they  crossed  the  river  to  the  great 
beyond.  Nine  children  came  to  claim  their  care 
and  reward  their  affection,  as  follows:  Margaret, 
Jacob,  Isaa?,  Mary,  Rebecca,  Martha,  William. 
John  and  Isabella. 

Jacob,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  commenced  his 
school-life  at  the  usual  age  of  six  years,  attending 
school  the  three  winter  months,  while  the  rest  of 
the  year  was  devoted  to  work.  The  school-house 
that  the  children  of  that  district  attended  was  built 
mostly  of  buckeye  logs,  hewn  on  two  sides.  Slabs 
ami  planks  surrounding  the  fireplace,  in  the  center, 
formed  the  seats  of  the  youthful  seekers  after 
knowledge.  When  necessary  to  heat  the  building 
a  tire  was  built  and  the  smoke  coaxed  to  ascend 
outward  by  means  of  a  stick  and  mud  chimney,  all 
not  escaping  by  that  means  finding  ready  access 
to  the  outer  air  through  the  numerous  cracks  in  the 


walls.  Although  his  school  facilities  were  so  mea- 
ger, yet  he  there  laid  the  foundation  of  the  love  of 
learning  that  has  remained  with  him  until  the 
present  day,  making  him  an  authority  among  his 
neighbors  on  many  disputed  points,  especially  in  his- 
tory, in  which  subject  a  naturally  good  memory. 
kept  in  constant  practice  by  abundant  and  judi- 
ciously selected  reading,  enables  him  to  keep  abreast 
of  the  times,  and  supplies  the  lack  he  might  other- 
wise feel  of  a  better  education  in  his  youth.  While 
on  a  visit  to  relatives  at  Springfield.  111.,  he  became 
acquainted  with  Joe.  Agey  and  Fd  Randal,  who 
engaged  him  to  drive  a  team  for  them  to  Kansas. 
Border- ruffian  ism  prevailed  in  that  region  in  those 
days,  which  soon  disgusted  him,  and  he  returned 
home,  remaining  until  September.  1862,  at  which 
time  he  enlisted  in  Company  K..  71st  Indiana  In- 
fantry, for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  He  was 
mustered  into  the  service  at  Penny's  Mills,  Ind.. 
whence  they  went  to  Terre  Haute  and  afterward  to 
Indianapolis,  at  each  of  which  places  they  were 
drilled  preparatory  to  going  South  for  active  ser- 
vice. At  the  battle  of  Richmond,  Ivy.,  he  nobly 
sustained  his  part,  fighting  desperately  until  cap- 
tured by  the  Confederates  under  the  renowned 
Kirby  Smith.  The  prisoners  were  parolled  anil 
permitted  to  return  to  Terre  Haute,  where  they  re- 
mained until  exchanged.  He  was  then  assigned  to 
guard  duty  at  Indianapolis,  serving  faithfully 
through  the  winter  of  1862-63.  Owing  to  ex- 
posure while  there,  he  was  taken  ill  with  pneumonia 
and  nearly  succumbed  to  its  attack;  but  in  the 
providence  of  God  he  rallied  sufficiently  to  get 
about,  although  he  was  not  able  to  do  anything 
but  light  work  for  a  period  of  about  four  years. 
In  the  latter  part  of  April,  1863,  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  physical  disability,  having  been  in 
the  United  States  service  a  year  lacking  five  days. 
Coming  home  he  operated  his  father's  farm  in  Eu- 
gene Township.  Vermillion  Co.,  Ind..  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  the  year  1  87:!.  the  3d  day  of  <  )etobei\ 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Murrey.  This  lady 
had  an  eventful  experience  in  her  youthful  days. 
Being  born  in  New  Orleans  before  the  war.  and 
losing  her  mother  while  yet  a  child,  her  father  had 
her  conveyed  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  an  uncle 
and  aunt  living   in    Mississippi.      Being    I'nionists 


548 


PORTRAIT  AND   LTOGRAP1IICAL  ALBUM. 


when  the  war  broke  out,  they  were  in  great  peril 
for  sometime,  but  succeeded  in  escaping  on  a 
steamer  coming  North.  Reaching  Eugene  Town- 
ship, they  settled  there,  and  in  that  pleasant  lo- 
cality the  amiable  Mrs.  Fultz  blossomed  into 
womanhood.  While  living  there  she  made  the 
acquaintance  of  the  .subject  of  this  sketch,  and.  as 
before  stated,  was  united  in  marriage  with  him. 
In  the  spring  of  1  «7 1  they  came  to  their  present 
farm,  securing  at  first  sixty  acres,  which  formed 
the  nucleus  of  their  present  large  possession.  In 
politics  Mr.  Fultz  is  a  strung  protectionist,  agreeing 
in  that  respect  with  the  majority  of  the  Republican 
party,  to  which  he  adheres. 

Believing  in  progress  as  he  does,  and  having 
such  a  high  regard  for  education,  his  neighbors 
have  shown  their  appreciation  of  his  merits  by 
electing  him  School  Trustee  of  the  township,  a  po- 
sition he  is  eminently  qualified  to  fill.  Their  fam- 
ily has  been  increased  by  t lie  addition  of  seven 
children,  named  respectively:  John,  Mary  E.,  Olive 
M..  Owen  Wendel,  Nancy,  Lola  M.  and  Carrie. 
Jacob  Fultz  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in 
Georgetown  Township.  Being  endowed  by  nature 
with  a  good  judgment,  he  readily  distinguishes  in 
reading  between  meritorious  works  and  those  of 
little  or  no  intrinsic  worth.  His  happy  disposition 
makes  him  an  agreeable  companion  among  friends, 
while  his  generous  and  public-spirited  actions  com- 
mend him  to  progressive  citizens  eveiywhere.  Hav- 
ing a  profound  mind  as  well  as  a  retentive  memory, 
he  has  escaped  the  misery  of  those  narrow-minded 
men  whose  ideas  all  run  in  one  groove,  and  instead 
enjoys  the  blessing  of  the  liberal-minded,  who  see 
good  in  man}7  places  where  inferior  intellects  see 
only  evil.  Being  fond  of  literature,  he  seldom  lets 
an  opportunity  pass  of  securing  a  good  book  when 
one  is  brought  to  his  notice.  He  enjoys,  more- 
over, that  great  boon,  a  good  home,  and  his  love 
for  his  family  and  honest  pride  in  their  well-being 
is  fully  returned,  his  children  not  only  holding  him 
in  affectionate  regard,  lmt  respecting  his  honest 
worth  as  well. 

Following  the  occupation  of  our  first  parents,  he 
does  not  disdain  to  use  his  intelligence  in  directing 
the  operations  of  his  farm,  but  uses  his  best  efforts 
to  pursuade  mother  Earth  to  yield  him  her  choicest 


treasures.  Any  one  wishing  to  know  ''how  doth 
the  little  busy  bee,"  may  easily  and  pleasantly  sc- 
enic the  information  by  calling  on  Mr.  Fultz,  who 
will  lie  delighted  to  give  them  an  object  lesson  on 
his  farm,  where  numbers  of  the  little  creatures 
■•  improve  the  shining  hours,"  to  his  profit  and  the 
visitor's  enlightenment.  A  generous  hospitality  is 
extended  to  guests  by  Mr.  Fultz  and  his  estimable 
wife.  A  lithographic  viewof  their  home  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

AVID  S.  DICKEN.  Here  and  there  we 
j.  find  an  individual  who  first  opened  his  eyes 
to  the  light  during  the  pioneer  days  of 
this  county,  and  practically  grew  up  with 
the  country.  The  early  impressions  which  those 
youths  received  were  such  as  would  naturally  de- 
velop within  them  health  and  strength,  both  of 
mind  and  body,  and  they  have  almost  without  ex- 
ception attained  to  a  worthy  and  vigorous  man- 
hood. The  subject  of  this  notice  was  at  an  early 
age  introduced  to  labor,  and  has  come  out  of  his 
struggle  with  the  world  with  a  competence  for  his 
old  age.  He  is  now  retired  from  the  active  duties 
of  life,  and  lives  eomfortabby  in  a  pleasant  home  at 
Ridge  Farm. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  section  1,  El  wood 
Township.  May  14.  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
C.  Dicken,  deceased,  the  latter  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. His  paternal  grandfather  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  coming  West  at  an  early  day,  was  the 
third  settler  on  Coleman's  Prairie,  Vermillion  Co.. 
Ind.,  to  which  Mr.  Coleman  and  one  Mr.  Hopkins 
had  preceded  him.  In  1832  he  came  to  this  county 
and  settled  in  Elwood  Township.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  was  Hannah  Golden,  daughter 
of  William  Golden,  anil  the  parental  househeld  in- 
cluded fen  children.  Of  these  onl}'  three  are  living 
— David  S.,  our  subject;  Julia  A.,  Mrs.  Burchelt. 
of  Paris,  and  Susanna,  Mrs.  Loiter,  of  Prairie 
Township,  Edgar  County. 

The  father  of  our  subject  removed  to  George- 
town in  the  spring  of  1853,  and  to  the  Ridge  in 
the  following  fall.       He  put  up  a  store  and  carried 


PORTRAIT  AND  BI(  KiRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


.".in 


on  genera]  merchandising  several  years.  In  1857 
lie  went  to  Newman  and  built  the  first  store  in  that 
place.  He  sold  goods  there  two  years,  then  re- 
turned to  the  Ridge  and  died  in  the  early  part  of 
1873.  The  mother  had  passed  to  her  linal  rest  in 
I860. 

Mr.  Dicken,  oar  subject,  attended  first  the  com- 
mon school.  In  Georgetown  he  attended  a  High 
School,  which  was  considered  the  best  institution  of 
the  kind  in  the  county.  Later  he  began  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  harness-making,  which  he  followed 
several  years,  and  finally  established  in  business  for 
himself,  conducting  a  large  trade.  During  the  pro- 
gress of  the  Civil  War.  and  soon  after  the  call  for 
three  years'  troops,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
25th  Illinois  Infantry,  in  June,  1861,  going  in  as  a 
private.  Later  he  was  promoted  to  a  Sergeant,  but 
on  account  of  disability  was  obliged  to  accept  his 
honorable  discharge.  March  9,  1863. 

Mr.  Dicken  assisted  in  raising  Company  E.  135th 
Illinois  Infantry,  in  May,  1864,  for  the  100-days' 
service.  He  was  elected  First  Lieutenant,  served 
out  his  time,  then  enlisted,  in  February,  1865,  in 
Company  E,  150th  Illinois  Infantry.  While  at 
Camp  Butler  he  was  made  Quartermaster  Sergeant, 
and  when  the  first  vacancy  occurred  was  made  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  of  Company  F,  in  the  same  regi- 
ment. Subsequently  he  was  commissioned  First 
Lieutenant  of  Company  II,  136th  ['.  S.  Colored 
Troops.  After  three  week's  service  he  was  elected 
Captain,  but  was  discharged  before  receiving  his 
commission.     He  now  draws  a  small  pension. 

Our  subject  was  appointed  to  the  Railway  Postal 
Service  in  January.  1872,  first  on  the  Chicago, 
Danville  &  Vineennes,  then  transferred  to  the  Illi- 
nois Central  and  Rock  Island  Roads  mostly,  until 
sending  in  his  resignation  on  account  of  ill-health. 
Oct.  27.  1883.  He  was  first  assistant  at  the  post- 
office  in  Danville,  one  year  under  Mr.  Jewell, 
which  position  he  held  until  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  retire.  He  has  thus  been  about  seventeen 
years  in  the  United  States  service,  during  which 
time  he  discharged  his  ditties  in  that  faithful  and 
conscientious  manner  which  made  for  him  many 
friends. 

The  11th  of  September.  1859,  witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  with  Miss  Ann  M..  daughter  of 


William  Crawford,    f    the    earliest    settler.-    of 

this  county,  and  now  deceased.  <  If  this  union 
there  have  been  born  three  children,  the  eldesl  of 
whom,  Ida  M.,  mat  tied  Charles  E.  Che-ley.  <>f  Dan- 
ville, and  is  the  mother  of  two  children — Buelahand 
Edna;  EtHe  R.  married  Dr.  1).  C.  Hinshaw.  of 
Ridge  Farm,  and  of  whom  a  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume;  Mark  L.,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  makes  his  home  with  his  father.  The 
mother  of  these  children  departed  this  life  April  •'!, 
1874.  Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage. 
May  12.  18,sii.  with  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Little,  widow  of 
George  C.  Little,  anil  daughter  of  Dudley  Mc- 
Clain  (deceased),  and  niece  of  Deacon  Allen  Mc- 
Clain,  of  Urbana.  Mrs.  Dicken  had  one  child  by 
her  first  husband,  Lewis  McClain  Little.  She  was 
born  at  Old  Bloomfield,  this  State,  and  is  a  lady 
prominent  in  her  community,  being  a  devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  anil  a  busy  and  earnest 
Sunday-school  worker.  Mr.  Dicken  was  the  first 
Commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Ridge  Farm, 
and  is  still  connected  with  the  organization.  He  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  to  most  of  the  older 
residents  of  the  county,  is  an  honest  man  r.nd 
good  citizen,  and  has  contributed  his  full  share 
toward  the  development  of  her  most  important 
interests. 


*~* 


bENRY  C.  ELLIOTT,  Attorney-at-Law   an 
!   Notary    Public,    is   also    President    of     th 
Countj'    Board   of  Supervisors  and    maki 


d 
he 
es 
(ssX  '''s  home  and  headquarters  at  Ridge  Farm. 
He  is  now  entering  upon  his  second  term  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board,  and  is  fulfilling  the  duties  of  his 
position  in  a  manner  creditable  to  himself  and 
satisfactory  to  hi-  constituents.  He  is  very  popu- 
lar among  his  fellow  citizens,  a  man  of  a  very 
bright  mind  and  more  than  ordinarily  well  in- 
formed. Ilis  aim  is  to  excel  in  whatever  he  under- 
takes, and  there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  his  attaining 
to  his  best  ambition-. 

A  native  of  Wayne  County.  Ltd..  Mr.  Elliott 
was  born  Aug.  I.  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Nathan 
Elliott,  a    native    of  South   Carolina    and     now  de- 


550 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ceased.  The  family  left  the  South,  removing  to 
Indiana,  when  Henry  C.  was  a  small  boy.  They 
were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  that  region, 
settling  in  the  woods  when  Indians  and  wild  animals 
abounded.  The  mother  in  her  girlhood  was  Miss 
Naomi  Mendenhall.  also  a  native  of  North  Caro- 
lina. Eight  children  were  born  to  the  parents, 
seven  of  whom  are  living  and  of  whom  Henry  C. 
is  the  eldest.  His  sister.  Annie  E.,  Mrs.  Rork,  is  a 
resident  of  Sullivan,  this  State.  Wesley  lives  at 
Pilot  Grove;  Alvin  makes  his  home  in  Cowley 
County.  Kan.;  Clayton  B.  lives  in  Elwood  Town- 
ship, this  county;  Mary  E.,  Mrs.  Stogsdill,  is  a 
resident  of  Spencer,  Iowa:  Dclphia,  Mrs.  Lynch, 
resides  in  Ridge  Farm.  Prior  to  his  marriage  with 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  Nathan  Elliott  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Maxwell,  and  to  them  there 
were  born  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
living — John,  of  Elwood  Township. 

The  Elliott  family  came  to  Elwood  Township  in 
].x.->.->.  settling  one  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
Ridge  Farm,  where  our  subject  pursued  his  primary 
studies  in  the  district  school.  He  remained  a 
member  of  the  parental  household  until  the  out- 
break of  the  war,  then  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier 
in  Company  A,  7!)th  Illinois  Infantry,  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Buckner.  He  met  the  enemy  in 
battle  at  Rock  Face  Ridge.  Dandridge,  Resaca,  New 
Hope  Church,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Marietta,  Ii< (Se- 
ville, Peavh  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta.  Chattanooga  and 
Nashville.  He  was  wounded  at  Atlanta  .Inly  22. 
1864,  but  only  disabled  a  short  time,  and  remained 
with  his  regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war,  re- 
ceiving his  honorable  discharge  in  June,  1865. 

After  the  war  our  subject  returned  to  this  coun- 
ty, teaching  school  three  winters  thereafter  and 
farming  in  summer  until  1872.  Then,  repairing 
to  Danville,  he  entered  upon  a  regular  law  course, 
and  later  served  four  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
We  next  find  him  in  Newman,  Douglas  County, 
where  he  entered  upon  the  regular  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  remained  until  the  fall  of  1882. 
Afterward  he  spent  four  years  in  Menard  and 
Sangamon  counties,  principally  engaged  in  the  in- 
surance business.  He  returned  to  the  Ridge  in 
1886  and  continued  his  practice  with  excellent 
results.     He  was    elected  Supervisor   in  the  spring 


of  1888,  and  re-elected  in  1889  with  little  or  no 
opposition.  He  discharges  the  duties  of  Chairman 
of  the  Board  with  dignity  and  excellent  judgment, 
and  has  ever  evinced  a  genuine  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  adopted  county.  While  teaching  in 
Edgar  County  he  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
two  years,  and  one  year  was  the  Tax  Collector  of 
Ross  Township. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  married  on  the  7th  of  March, 
1867,  to  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  William  Mills, 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  county  and 
now  deceased.  Five  of  the  seven  children  born 
of  this  union  are  living,  namely  :  Oliver  M.,  Annie 
1).,  Mary,  Flora  and  Blanche.  Due  daughter.  Ora, 
was  taken  from  the  home  circle  by  death  when  a 
maiden  of  sixteen  3'cars.  In  this  ijreat  affliction 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  were  given  the  deep  and 
and  heartfelt  sympathy  of  their  hosts  of  friends. 
Another  daughter,  Emily,  died  in  infancy;  Oliver 
is  in  the  employ  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad, 
with  headquarters  at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elliott  are  members  of  the  Friends'  Church  at 
Ridge  Farm  and  our  subject  is  a  sound  Republican. 
Socially,  he  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen,  and 
as  an  ex-soldier  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


\f  AMES  W.  FISlv.  In  connection  with  the 
history  of  the  men  who  came  as  pioneers  to 
this  county,  there  is  more  of  interest,  per- 
haps, than  can  be  centered  in  any  other 
period  of  its  existence;  and  they  who  looked  upon 
Central  Illinois  when  it  was  in  effect  a  wilderness, 
and  who  assisted  in  the  development  of  its  rich  re- 
sources, have  made  for  themselves  an  enduring 
name,  which  from  this  time  on  is  destined  to  be 
perpetuated,  for  the  people  of  to-day  realize  fully 
the  importance  of  preserving  from  oblivion  the 
records,  which,  as  time  goes  on,  seem  to  increase 
rather  than  diminish  in  value. 

In  the  subject  of  this  notice  we  find  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Ridge  Farm  (having  served  one 
term  as  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Village,  and  one  term  as  a  member  of  that  body), 
and  at  present  a  successful   dealer    in    agricultural 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


551 


implements,  buggies,  carriages,  wagons  and  farm 
machinery.  The  earlier  years  of  bis  life  were  filled 
in  with  arduous  labor,  (luring  which  time  he  devel- 
oped strength  of  muscle,ancl  those  qualities  of  mind 
which  have  made  him  one  of  the  most  reliable  anil 
substantial  men  of  his  community.  lie  was  horn 
six  miles  north  of  <  •  rcencasfle,  Putnam  Co.,  Ind.. 
July  10,  1834,  and  is  the  son  of  Col.  James  Fisk, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  county.  The  latter  is 
still  living,  and  is  now  eighty-four  years  old.  He 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  removed  to  Indiana  as 
early  as  1825.  His  father,  John  Fisk,  became  a 
resident  of  Montgomery  County,  Ky.,  when  James 
was  a  boy,  and  settled  among  the  Indians,  whom 
he  often  met  in  bloody  conflict.  He  also  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Col.  James 
Fisk  married  Cassander  Frakes,  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Frakes.  also  a  revolutionary  soldier  and  a 
great  Indian  fighter.  The  men  of  this  branch  of 
the  Fisk  family  were  noted  for  their  courage  and 
daring,  having  been  engaged  in  every  one  of  our 
country's  wars,  and  the  women  for  their  virtue  and 
common  sense. 

James  W.  Fisk  began  his  education  in  a  subscrip- 
tion school  conducted  in  a  log  cabin,  the  seats 
made  of  split  logs,  the  floor  of  the  same,  and  the 
clapboard  roof  held  to  its  place  with  knees  and 
weight  poles.  The  master  began  the  exercises  of 
the  day  by  administering  the  rod  to  those  boys 
whom  he  considered  needed  it  most,  and  among 
them,3-oung  Fisk  received  his  share.  After  coming 
to  this  State,  he  attended  a  more  advanced  school 
in  Paris,  in  1856.  and  made  his  home  in  Sims 
Township.  The  first  house  in  his  father's  neigh- 
borhood whose  roof  was  constructed  without 
weight  poles,  was  the  dwelling  of  Joseph  Albin, 
and  the  roof  of  this  was  fastened  by  means  of 
gimlet  holes  with  pins  driven  in,  and  was  consid- 
ered quite  stylish. 

In  1857.  starting  out  for  himself,  our  subject  re- 
paired to  Coles  County,  where  lie  harvested  one 
crop.  He  then  took  up  his  residence  in  Clark 
County,  of  which  he  was  a  resident  until  April. 
1884.  In  the  meantime,  during  the  progress  of 
the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  38th 
Indiana  Infantry,  in  which  lie  served  nine  months, 
mostly  as  wagon-master,  participating   in   some  of 


the  most  noted  battlesof  the  Rebellion,  and  in  the 
memorable  march  to  the  sea.  In  May,  1865,  he 
received  a  sunstroke,  which  disabled  him  for  three 
months.  Although  not  being  engaged  in  active 
battle,  he  saw  much  of  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions Of  a  soldier's  life — enough  to  make  him,  like 
thousands  of  other.-,  long  for  the  return  of  peace. 

Prior  to  entering  the  army,  Mr.  Fisk  was  mar- 
ried, Jan.  25,  1858.  to  Miss  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of 
Kmanuel  and  Mary  J.  Dodd.  This  lady  was  horn 
in  Clark  County.  III..  April  2,  1843,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children.  Of  these  hut 
two  are  living — Robert  W.,  born  Nov.  7,  1858 
and  James  E.,  Sept.  21,  1st;:!.  James  E.  married  Miss 
Maggie  F.  Horner,  and  is  the  father  of  one  chili  I, 
Earl  A.;  he  has  been  in  ill  health  for  the  past  three 
years,  but  is  at  present  City  Marshal  of  Ridge  Farm 
One  son,  Albert  S.,  died  Oct.  I.  1880,  when  a 
promising  young  man  of  twenty  years.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fisk  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  formerly  attended  Wesley 
Chapel  in  Clark  County. 

Emanuel  Dodd.  the  father  of  Mrs.  Fisk,  was 
born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  Feb.  12,  181(i.  He  came 
with  his  parents,  when  a.  boy,  to  Clark  County,  this 
State,  they  settling,  in  1830,  on  a  tract  of  wild 
land  at  a  time  when  Indians  were  plentiful  and  wild 
animals — deer,  panthers  and  wolves — abounded. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Fisk  carried  on  farming,  and 
later  conducted  a  hotel  in  Melrose  for  many  years. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  was  Mary  J. 
Wells.  Their  family  consisted  of  two  children 
only — Mrs.  Fisk,  and  her  brother,  Frank,  who  is 
twenty  years  younger  than  she.  Mrs.  Fisk  became 
the  mother  of  two  children  before  her  brother, 
Frank,  was  born.  The  latter  is  a  resident  of  Mel- 
rose. 

Mrs.  Mary  J.  (Wells)  Dodd  departed  this  life 
Dec.  31,  1880,  and  the  father  of  Mrs.  Fisk  died 
June  '.».  1884.  Mrs.  Fisk  has  been  the  true  pioneer 
wife  and  mother  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and 
has  done  a  great  deal  of  hard  work-  in  her  time. 
During  the  absence  of  her  husband  in  the  army, 
she  plowed  with  oxen,  planted  corn  with  her  own 
hands,  and  performed  all  kinds  of  a  man's  labor 
with  the  exception  of  making  rails  and  cradling 
wheat.      In  the  meantime  she  exerted  herself  in  the 


552 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


education  of  her  children,  and  bestowed  upon 
them  that  careful,  motherly  training  which  no  con- 
scientious woman  is  willing  to  dispense  with.  She 
deserves  special  mention  among  those  whose  names 
are  honorably  recorded  in  this  volume. 


ILLIAM  II.  MILLS.  The  farming  com- 
['  munity  of  Carroll  Township  is  composed 
of  a  large  number  of  more  than  ordinarily 
intelligent  and  progressive  men,  and  among  thrui 
may  be  numbered  Mr.  INI  ills,  who  evidently  has  the 
proper  conception  of  life  in  the  country  and  the 
advantages  to  be  derived  therefrom,  as  a  means  of 
expanding  the  mind,  the  tastes  and  the  intellect. 
While  an  excellent  business  man  and  prosperous  in 
t lie  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods,  he  does  not 
place  the  acquisition  of  money  above  all  other  things 
but  gives  due  attention  to  those  matters  which 
nourish  the  affections,  enlarge  the  understanding 
and  enter  into  the  home  life,  making  it  beautiful 
and  the  condition  most  to  be  desired  on  earth.  In 
his  worthy  ambitions  and  his  cultivated  tastes.  Mr. 
Mills  has  a  most  ardent  sympathizer  and  helper  in 
the  person  of  his  amiable  and  accomplished  wife, 
who  has  illustrated  in  a  marked  manner  the  influ- 
ence which  a  woman  may  have  in  the  construction 
of  a  home  and  the  happiness  of  a  family.  The 
.Mills  farm  in  all  its  appointments  very  nearl}*  ap 
proaches  the  ideal  country  estate,  set  in  the  midst 
of  peace  and  plenty  and  with  the  surroundings 
which  are  so  delightful  to  contemplate. 

Our  subject,  a  native  of  this  county,  was  born 
in  Elwood  Township  Feb.  18,  1843,  anil  spent  his 
boyhood  days  at  the  old  Mills  homestead.  He -was 
at  an  early  age  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and 
while  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  district  school, 
likewise  pursued  an  excellent  course  of  reading  at 
home  under  the  instruction  of  his  excellent  mother. 
the  father  having  died  when  he  was  a  small  child. 
He  and  his  brother  Richard,  at  the  ages  of  twelve 
and  ten  years  respectively,  practically  assumed  the 
management  of  the  farm  and  a  few  years  later  en- 
gaged successfully  in  the  live-stock  business,  send- 
ing annually  to  market  large  numbers  of  fat  cattle. 


Mr.  Mills  and  his  brother  have  worked  and 
farmed  together  since  boyhood  and  still  continue 
in  partnership.  They  have  been  phenomenally 
successful  and  are  numbered  among  the  substantial 
and  influential  men  of  the  county.  In  addition  to 
general  farming  and  cattle-raising,  the}-  are  distin- 
guishing themselves  as  skillful  breeders  of  Clydes- 
dale horses  and  are  able  to  exhibit  some  very  fine 
and  valuable  animals.  William  II.,  in  1879  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Woodyard,  who 
was  horn  in  Wirt  County  (now  West)  Virginia, 
Dec.  23,  1849.  Her  parents  were  Louis  and  Cath- 
erine (Wiseman)  Woodyard,  also  natives  of  the  <  )ld 
Dominion,  and  who  came  to  Illinois  in  April.  1865, 
stopping  in  Paris,  Edgar  County,  two  weeks.  Upon 
the  day  of  Lincoln's  assassination  they  removed  to 
the  farm  which  they  now  own  and  occupy  in  Ross 
Township,  that  county.  Their  eleven  children 
were  all  born  in  Virginia.  The  eldest  son,  William, 
is  .still  living  there  and  occupied  as  a.  merchant,  in 
Spencer;  he  has  been  prominent  in  politics  and  is 
a  member  of  the  State  Senate.  Harriet  is  the 
widow  of  Senator  Alfred  Foster  of  West  Virginia, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  father  in  Ross  Town- 
ship. Edgar  Count}-.  Senator  Foster  came  to  Illi- 
nois about  1867,  and  died  here  some  few  years 
later.  Caleb  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Ross 
Township;  James  owns  a  farm  and  resides  near 
Parsons,  Kan.;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Abe  Pribble  of 
Prairie  Township.  Edgar  County;  Isaac  is  farming 
in  Ross  Township,  that  county;  John  is  a  grain 
buyer  of  Woodyard  Station  and  makes  his  home 
with  his  parents;  Frank  is  farming  in  Prairie 
Township;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Riffe,  a  dry- 
goods  merchant  of  Craig,  Mo. 

Mrs.  Mills  was  a  young  girl  of  fifteen  years 
when  her  parents  came  to  Illinois,  her  life  prior  to 
this  time  having  been  spent  among  the  mountains 
of  her  native  Stale.  She  attended  school  quite 
steadily  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
was  a  pupil  in  the  district  school  after  coming  to 
this  Slate.  She  remained  a  member  of  her  father's 
household  until  her  marriage.  Afterward  Mr. 
Mills  and  his  wife  took  up  their  abode  at  their 
present  homestead,  the  old  Holiday  farm  which 
Mr.  Mills  had  purchased  prior  to  his  marriage  and 
which   comprises  a  little  over  241  acres   of    land. 


I 


i3,U(ruyiAL 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


555 


The  two  brothers  are  the  proprietors  together  of 
700  acres  and  operate  under  the  firm  name  of  R. 
&    W.  II.  Mills. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  theie  has 
been  born  one  child,  a  daughter.  Blanche,  July  30, 
L880.  Politically.  Mr.  Mills  affiliates  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  the  pronounced  friend  of 
education  and  donated  $200  to  the  Vermilion 
Grove  Academy.  His  father,  John  M.  Mills,  was 
born  in  Knox  County.  Tenn..  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  bis  parents  when  a  boy  of  five  or  six  years. 
He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Charily  (  Mendenhall ) 
Mills  who  emigrated  from  Tennessee  at  an  early 
day.  settling  in  this  county  when  Indians  and  wild 
animals  were  plentiful.  He  chose  farming  for  bis 
vocation  and  when  reaching  man's  estate  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Mendenhall.  They  became 
the  parents  of  three  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  is 
a  daughter,  .lane,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Maddock  and  a 
resident  of  Bloomingdale,  Ind.  The  others  were 
Richard  and  William  II.,  our  subject. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Mendenhall)  Mills  was  born 
near  Xcnia,  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  now  an  in- 
telligent old  lad3'  of  seventy-two  years.  She  makes 
her  home  with  Richard,  her  sou.  The  wife  of  our 
subject  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


.•^-sJ{^ 


^So>  IIARLES  S.  YOUNG,  a  prominent  citizen 
'II  ^  of  Vermilion  County  and  one  of  its  leading 
^^?  agriculturists,  is  distinguished  as  having 
been  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  of  the  court  v. 
Coming  here  in  1829,  he  has  not  only  witnessed 
almost  its  entire  growth,  but  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  high  condition 
as  a  wealthy  and  flourishing  community.  Heowns 
not  less  than  twenty-five  farms  within  the  limits  of 
Vermillion  County,  and  cultivates  a  large  number 
of  acres  from  which  he  derives  a  fine  income. 
His  borne  for  many  years  has  been  on  his  estate  on 
section  21,  Newell  Township,  where  he  has  erected 
a  substantial  and  roomy  set  of  buildings,  includ- 
ing a  handsome  residence,  second  to  none  in  the 
township  in  beauty  of  architecture  and  neat  appoint- 


ments.    Mr.  Young  is  literally  a  self-made  man,  as 

lie  began  life  without  any  means,  and  when  he 
came  here  he  had  only  an  eagle,  a  half  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents  in  his  pocket.  That  small  sum 
of  money  handled  judiciously  proved  the  nucleus 
of  a  fortune  in  bis  hands,  and  to-day  he  stands 
!   among  the  richest  men  in  this  locality. 

Our  subject  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  born  in 
Woodford  County,  Sept.  16,  1809,  the  second  of 
five  children  of  James  and  Lucinda  (Baldwin) 
Young,  the  former  a  native  of  Woodford  County, 
Ky.,  and  the  latter  of  Culpeper  Court  House,  Va. 
They  married  and  settled  in  Woodford  County, 
Ky.,  where  they  spent  their  entire  wedded  life. 
He  died  in  Harrison,  and  then  she  came  to  Ver- 
milion County  and  made  her  home  with  our  subject 
till  death  called  her  hence.  Charles  Y'oung,  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
living  there  until  he  was  nineteen  years  old.  He 
married  there,  and  in  1829,  coming  to  Vermilion 
County,  settled  in  Newell  Township  on  the  14th 
day  of  October,  sixty  years  ago.  He  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  three  miles  south 
of  his  present  residence,  and  lived  there  for  many 
years.  In  1857  he  purchased  the  property  which 
has  ever  since  been  his  home.  He  has  met  with 
more  than  usual  success,  as  before  noted.  He  has 
engaged  largely  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  in 
stock-raising,  has  bought  and  sold  all  kinds  of 
stock,  and  has  driven  horses  to  the  Cincinnati. 
Chicago,  Racine  and  Milwaukee  markets.  During 
the  Mexican  war  he  was  operating  in  Cincinnati, 
and  has  been  extraordinarily  successful  in  all  his 
enterprises.  He  has  been  connected  with  numer- 
ous transactions  involving  large  amounts  of  money, 
although  he  has  never  signed  his  name  to  anything 
in  his  life. 

January  14,  1821),  Mr.  Young's  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Leonard  was  duly  solemnized  in  Har- 
rison County.  Ky.  She  was  born  in  that  county 
January  27,  1810,  and  her  death  occurred  in  this 
county  November  21.  1871  after  a  happy  wedded 
life  of  more  than  forty-two  years.  She  was  a 
pleasant,  kind  hearted  woman,  a  sincere  Christian, 
and  a  valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  always  took  a  great  interest  in  all 
religious  matters.     To  her  and  her  husband  were 


556 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


born  nine  children,  six  daughters  and  three  sons, 
of  whom  the  following  is  recorded:  Mary  E.  is 
the  wife  of  Milton  Hess;  Lucindian  is  the  wife  of 
Franklin  Stevens;  Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of  John 
Huffman;  Cindica  is  the  wife  of  George  Claypool; 
Noah  married  Mary  Cunningham  ;  Samanlha  is  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Huffman;  Leonard  married  Mary 
J.  Chandler,  and  died  in  Vermilion  County,  March 
'.),  1871;  James  L.  married  Miss  Nancy  Silvey, 
who  died,  and  he  afterward  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Norris;  Matilda  C.  married  Dean  Tomlinson,  and 
died  in  Vermilion  County,  February,  22,  1889. 

In  this  brief  life-record  of  our  subject  it  will 
be  seen  that  he  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
sagacity,  foresight,  and  shrewd  business  ability. 
He  has  led  an  honorable,  upright  life,  has  wronged 
no  one  in  his  many  extensive  dealings,  and  has 
gained  a  good  name  as  well  as  riches,  his  word 
being  as  good  as  a  bond  wherever  he  is  known. 
He  is  interested  in  the  political  situations  of  the 
day,  and  is  a  stanch  Democrat  of  the  Jackson ian 
type.  A  portrait  of  Mr.  Young  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work. 


Vl?  EVI  HENRY  GRAVES,  belongs  to  one  of 
I  (7S)  the  pioneer  families,  being  the  son  of  James 
il'—^Vv  and  Margaret  (Blackburn)  Graves,  and  was 
born  Feb.  25,  1827,  at  the  village  of  Millersburg, 
Ky.,  where  his  father  was  occupied  as  a  cabinet- 
maker. The  family  came  to  Illinois  in  Septem- 
ber, 1828,  battled  with  the  elements  of  life  on  the 
frontier,  and  made  for  themselves  an  admirable 
record  as  members  of  a  settlement  struggling  for 
recognition  and  destined  to  form  the  nucleus  of  one 
of  the  most  intelligent  communities  of  the  great 
West. 

James  Graves  and  his  excellent  wife  were  natives 
respectively  of  Mercer  and  Clark  counties,  Ky. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  time 
to  assist  in  the  early  settlement  of  Mercer  County. 
He  was  married  and  reared  a  family  and  his  son 
James,  the  father  of  our  subject,  signalized  himself 
as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  fighting  under  Gen. 
Harrison  on  the  River  Thames,  in  Canada,  and  be- 


coming a  personal  friend  of  the  hero  of  Tippeca- 
noe. He  was  married  in  Clark  County,  Ky., 
whither  his  father  had  removed  during  his  boy- 
hood. 

James  Graves  followed  cabinet-making  about 
twelve  years  after  coming  to  Illinois.  He  made 
his  first  trip  to  the  State  in  company  with  Isaac  San- 
dusky and  they  both  took  up  land  in  Vermilion 
County,  about  one-half  mile  from  each  other.  In 
1828  they  brought  their  families  here,  settliug  in 
their  new  homes  in  October  of  that  3'ear.  Mr. 
(iraves  prospered  in  his  undertaking  and  became 
the  owner  of  400  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now 
Georgetown  Township.  He  departed  this  life  in 
1857  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  The  mother 
survived  her  husband  thirty  years,  remainino-  a 
widow  and  passing  away  in  1887  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-three  years.  They  brought  with  them 
seven  children  from  the  Blue  Grass  State  and  four 
more  were  added  to  the  family  circle  after  they 
became  residents  of  Illinois.  The  eleven  were 
named  respective^:  Greenville  H.,  Evaline,  Or- 
ville  S.,  Cerelda,  Joseph  B.  and  James  L.,  twins, 
and  Levi  Henr}-;  all  these  were  born  in  Kentucky. 
The  others  were:  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  or  six  years;  Franklin,  Melvina,  and  John  L., 
natives  of  Illinois. 

The  father  of  our  subject  practically  abandoned 
his  trade  after  coming  to.  Illinois  and  turned  his 
attention  to  farming.  Levi  H.,  our  subject,  was 
brought  here  an  infant  at  a  time  when  deer  and 
other  wTild  game  were  plentiful  and  when  the  set- 
tlers still  felt  insecure  from  the  Indians.  On  the 
prairie  the  grass  grew  higher  than  the  back  of  an 
ordinary  horse.  Fever  and  ague  added  to  the 
other  discouragements  encountering  the  pioneers, 
but  they  were  made  of  stern  stuff  and  there  were 
but  few  who  withdrew  from  the  contest  and  sought 
their  old  homes  in  the  East.  All  the  Graves' 
children  were  required  to  make  themselves  useful 
around  the  homestead,  and  our  subject  when  but  a 
lad  commenced  breaking  prairie  with  the  old-fash- 
ioned '•Kerry"  plow  and  cut  grain  with  the  reaping 
hook  or  sickle.  The  introduction  of  the  cradle 
which  he  remembers  well,  was  looked  upon  as  a  re- 
markable invention.  It  was  the  popular  opinion  at 
that  time  that  prairie  land  was  of  little  value  so  the 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BUM  IRA  PI  I  HAL  ALBUM. 


557 


people  settled  in  the  timber  from  whicb  they 
cleared   the   trees  and  cultivated    the    soil.     Very 

little  wheat  was  used  during  the  first  few  years,  and 
the  corn  was  ground  in  a  mill  of  very  primitive 
construction  and  operated  by  horse  power. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  twenty-three  years  old,  but,  in  the  meantime 
had  been  planning  for  an  establishment  of  his  own. 
On  the  21st  of  Feburary,  1850,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Matilda,  daughter  of  John  and 
Marv  (Medscor)  Cook,  of  Fulton  County,  to  which 
they  had  emigrated  from  Ohio.  Mrs.  Graves  was 
born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  and  was  a  young 
lady  when  coming  to  Illinois  witli  her  parents. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graves  settled 
upon  a  little  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Vermilion 
County,  which  formed  the  nucleus  of  their  present 
homestead,  upon  which  they  have  since  lived  with 
the  exception  of  three  years  which  Mr.  Graves 
spent  in  improving  a  farm  in  Bureau  County.  III. 
Of  this  marriage  there  were  born  four  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom  a  daughter,  Olive  A.,  married  David 
E.  Moore,  and  lives  in  Montgomery  County,  Kan., 
ami  is  the  mother  of  nine  children — Milton  A.. 
Levi  EL,  Matilda.  Lydia  A..  George  W.,  .lames  A., 
Mary  1).,  Hannah  L.  and  Daisy:  Mary  M.  married 
Milton  Ashby  of  the  above  mentioned  county  and 
is  the  mother  of  four  children — Lillie  N.,  Janus 
L.,  Alva  M.,  and  Maud  M. ;  Amanda  M,  married 
Samuel  O'Niel,  of  Montgomery  County,  Kan.,  and 
has  two  children — Minnie  L.  and  Gertude.  James 
died  when  two  years  old.  The  mother  of  these 
children  passed  from  earth  in  185'.). 

Mr.  Graves  contracted  a  second  marriage  in  1  8(1 1 
with  Mrs.  Lucinda  (Bayless)  Chandler,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Bayless.  Her  father  and  mother  were 
natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  State,  where  she  lived 
until  her  first  marriage,  of  which  there  was  born 
one  child,  a  daughter.  Mary  Alice.  Of  her  union 
with  our  subject  there  are  four  children — Martha 
B.,  Lou  A.  and  Emma  S.,  twins,  and  Letta.  Martha 
married  Luther  A.  Clingan,  a  resident  of  George- 
town Township,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Blanche  and  Hersehell ;  Lou  became  the  wife  of 
Dennis  Clinan  and  is  a  resident  of  Catlin  Town- 
ship; they  have  no  children  ;  Emma  S.  and  Letta 
are  at  home  with   their  parents.     The    farm   com- 


53 


prises  .'illi  acres  of  prime  land  upon  which  Mr. 
Graves  has  labored  industriously  for  years  and  de- 
veloped its  best  resources.  He  lias  labored  early 
and  late  and  for  the  first  few  years,  before  the  ad- 
vent of  the  mower  and  reaper,  swung  the  cradle  in 
the  harvest  field  and  farmed  amid  the  other  diffi- 
culties and  disadvantages  of  that  time.  He  is  a 
strong  temperance  advocate  and  in  politics  a 
warm  supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Henry  Clay,  being  a 
Whig  until  the  abandonment  of  the  old  party  and 
totally  opposed  to  the  institution  of  slavery.  He 
and  his  wife  and  their  daughters  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church,  in  which 
Mr.  Graves  officiates  as  Elder. 

<j|j()HN  BROOKS.  The  names  Brooks  and 
Brooks  Point,  bring  back  recollections  of 
early  days  to  all  of  the  older  settlers  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  this  county.  Benja- 
min Brooks,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
came  to  this  region  in  the  fall  of  1821.  The 
mother,  Matilda  (Manville)  Brooks,  was  a  native 
of  Madison,  Ind.,  and  came  to  this  county  from 
Jefferson  County.  Ind.  They  were  married  in 
Indiana.  The  father  was  a  millwright  by  trade 
and  died  from  the  effects  of  ague,  while  building  a 
mill  on  Sugar  Creek.  He  left  a.  widow  with  five 
children,  and  another  child  was  born  after  his 
death.  The  second  child,  David,  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  were  named  respectively:  Benjamin, 
Polly,  Sarah,  John  and  Lucinda.  The  mother  was 
married  a  second  time  and  there  were  born  five 
more  children;  of  this  family  six  are  living  and 
located  mostly   in  Illinois. 

John  Brooks  was  born  March,  20,  1821.  in  Ver- 
milion County,  111.  1'pon  the  second  marriage  of 
his  mother  he  left  home  and  thereafter  -paddled 
his  own  canoe."  When  about  thirteen  veins  old 
he  became  a  member  of  the  family  of  John  Black. 
an  old  Kentuckiaii  and  pioneer  and  remained  with 
him  seven  years.  Like  Jacob  of  old,  he  worked 
these  seven  years  for  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Black,  Miss 
Louisa  T.,   to  whom  he  was  married   in    18,'i7.   and 


558 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


afterward  settled  near  Brooks  Point,  which  was 
named  after  his  father.  This  marriage  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  eight  children,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
Tilda  J.,  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  W.  Blak- 
eney,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work, 
and  they  live  in  Westville;  Belle  became  the  wife 
of  John  Nicholas,  a  railroad  man  of  Westville,  and 
they  have  six  children — Ed,  Lou.  Bert,  Ella,  Dycie, 
and  Oney;  John  P.,  married  Miss  Josic  Cunning- 
ham and  is  farming  in  Catlin  Township,  they  have 
three  children — Clara,  Bobbie  and  Elsie;  Robert 
L.  is  farming  in  Dakota,  he  married  Miss  Saloma 
Dukes;  they  have  three  children — Ethel.  Coy,  and 
Osa;  Martha  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Snook,  a 
farmer  of  Dakota  and  they  have  four  children — 
Chester.  Ada,  Ray,  and  John  Franklin;  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Rosella  G.,  and  Sarah  E.  are  living 
with  their  father. 

Mr.  Brooks  is  supposed  to  be  the  oldest  pioneer 
in  Georgetown  Township,  if  not  in  the  county, 
having  come  here  as  early  as  1821.  He  saw  the 
face  of  the  country  when  it  was  a  wild,  uncultivated 
prairie  abounding  with  wild  animals,  when  deer 
were  plentiful  and  when  the  cabins  of  the  settlers 
were  few  and  far  between.  He  has  been  a  privi- 
ledged  witness  of  the  great  change,  which  has  trans- 
formed the  wilderness  into  cultivated  farms  and 
prosperous  villages,  and  has  arisen  from  a  humble 
position  in  life  to  that  well-to-do  citizen,  the 
owner  of  two  good  farms,  one  in  Georgetown  and 
one  in  Catlin  Township.  Upon  becoming  a  voting 
citizen  he  identified  himself  with  the  old  Whig 
party,  remaining  with  it  until  its  abandonment  in 
185C,  then  cast  his  lot  with  the  Republicans.  This 
party  has  his  warmest  support  and  he  keeps  himself 
well  posted  upon  currrent  events.  He  is  a  man  of 
decided  ideas  and  one  justly  proud  of  his  pioneer- 
ship. 


ENRY   FLETCHER.     The  farmers  of  this 
day  read  a  great  deal  of    literature  pertain- 
ing   to    their    calling    and    they   digest    it. 
's9)    The   time  has  gone  by  when  agriculturists 
scoff   at    what    has    been    popularly   called    "book 
farming."  The  farmer  who  reads  the  most  and  who 


heeds  what  he  reads,  is  invariably  the  man  who  suc- 
ceeds the  best  in  his  vocation.  Natural  intelligence 
can  lie  largely  supplemented  by  judicious  reading. 
<  )ne  of  the  men  who  has  brought  a  great  deal  of 
intelligence  to  bear  upon  his  business  is  the  person 
whose  name  initiates  this  sketch.  He  never  omits 
to  do  anything  that  will  forward  his  interests,  and 
his  information  in  this  respect  is  gleaned  by  copi- 
ous reading. 

Henry  Fletcher  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
and  intelligent  farmers  of  this  county.  He  owns 
and  operates  a  large  farm  on  section  32  in  Elwood 
Township.  He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  having 
been  born  at  Vermilion  Grove,  Oct.  28,  1839. 
John  Fletcher,  his  father  (whose  biography  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work),  removed  to  a  farm  which 
his  son  Henry  now  owns,  in  March.  184(1.  Henry 
received  a  common  school  education,  which  was 
finished  at  the  Bloomingdale  Academy,  under 
Prof.  Hobbs.  He  was  always  desirous  of  attaining 
a  good  education,  and  consequently  was  studiously 
inclined.  This  desire  bore  fruit,  and  therefore  Mr. 
Fletcher  is  in  possession  of  a  good  common-sense 
education.  On  the  14th  of  March,  1861,  he  mar- 
ried Mahala  Haworth,  daughter  of  Eh  Haworth, 
an  early  settler  of  this  county.  She  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  this  county,  Oct.  15,  1842,  and  re- 
ceived her  education  at  the  public  schools.  She  is 
the  mother  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing:" John  Albert  I.,  Marcus  S.,  William  R.,  Lydia 
R.  and  Ola  M.;  John  married  Grace  Butler,  and 
the}'  are  living  near  Hildreth,  111.,  with  their  three 
children,  Henry,  Howard  and  Charlie  H.;  Albert 
married  Belle  Newlin;  he  is  living  with  his  father, 
working  on  the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  Fletcher  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Ver- 
milion County,  everything  considered.  If  consists 
of  333  acres  and  is  all  under  improvement.  Its 
owner  has  done  everything  to  make  it  a  good  farm, 
that  intelligence  might  suggest.  He  is  a  farmer 
and  a  stock-raiser  on  a  large  scale,  and  in  this  par- 
ticular line  he  has  prospered  in  a  large  degree. 
The  place  is  supplied  with  fine  buildings  of  all 
kinds.  The  residence  is  a  model  of  convenience, 
and  its  interior  is  furnished  in  good  style.  Mr. 
Fletcher  has  held  the  office  of  Highway  Commis- 
sioner   in  Prairie  Township.    Edgar   County,   for 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


559 


five  years,  having  lived  just  across  the  line  for 
eleven  years.  He  has  also  been  a  Supervisor,  fill- 
ing these  offices  witli  rare  fidelity.  He  is  an  influ- 
ential  member  of  the  Friends'  Church, to  which  his 
family  also  belongs.  He  is  connected  with  the 
lodge  of  Modern  Woodmen.  Mr.  Fletcher  enjoys 
a  reputation  among  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances 
of  being  a  man  of  good  judgment  and  possess- 
ing all  the  attributes  that  belong  to  a  good  citizen. 
If  there  is  anything  in  his  community  talked  of 
that  looks  to  the  public  good,  Mr.  Fletcher  is  in- 
terested in  it,  and  his  undivided  efforts  can  always 
be  drawn  upon  in  any  project  that  looks  for  the 
betterment  of  his  fellow  man. 


-Er- 


j|t_.  ON.  ANDREW  GUNDY,  one  of  the  promi- 
|[)J  nent  merchants  and  public  men  of  Vermilion 
'Ex/?  County,  was  born  on  the  20th  of  November, 
((j&|  1829.  His  father  and  mother,  Joseph  and 
Sarah  Gundy,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio  respectively.  They  were  married  in  the  latter 
State  and  afterward  emigrated  to  Indiana,  where 
they  remained  for  a  short  time,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Vermilion  County  and  settled  near 
Myersville.  Joseph  Gundy  was  the  owner  of 
about  4,000  acres  of  land,  which  he  improved. 
He  was  counted  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  county,  and  sustained  an  excellent  reputation 
for  probity  and  business  tact.  He  died  in  1864, 
while  his  wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in  1854. 
A  stately  monument  is  erected  to  their  memory  in 
the  Gundy  cemetery,  and  one  which  this  worthy 
couple  deserve,  for  there  were  no  better  people 
living. 

Andrew  Gundy  received  his  education  at  the 
Georgetown  High  School.  After  leaving  the 
school  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Myersville.  where  he  also  was  engaged  in  shipping 
grain  and  other  farm  products.  He  continued  in 
this  business  until  1877  when  he  gave  it  up  to  at- 
tend to  the  interests  of  his  large  farm  of  300  acres, 
all  of  which  is  improved.  As  a  farmer,  Mr. Gundy 
has  met  with  all  the  success  that  the  most  ambiti- 
ous could  desire,  and  he  is  one  of  the   many  men 


who  believe  that  agricultural  pursuits  arc  as  sus- 
ceptible of  intelligent  direction  as  any  other. 
There  are  many  farmers  in  this  broad  land  who 
believe  that  "  book  farming"  is  impracticable,  and 
that  the  authors  of  the  works  on  agriculture  are 
men  who  know  nothing  of  what  they  write.  This 
is  all  a  mistaken  idea,  as  can  be  illustrated  all  over 
the  great  State  of  Illinois,  where  farmers'  litera- 
ture is  read  and  digested.  As  before  suggested, 
Mr.  Gundy  believes  that  it  pays  to  read  up  on  ag- 
ricultural affairs  as  well  as  any  other. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gundy  is  an  honest  hard-working 
and  conscientious  Republican,  and  by  his  fidelity 
to  the  party  of  his  choice,  coupled  with  his  natural 
abilities,  he  has  risen  to  be  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Republican  party  in  Vermilion  County.  The 
people,  recognizing  in  him  the  qualities  that  unite 
in  forming  a  good  officer,  have  repeatedly  elected 
him  to  responsible  positions,  and  they  have  never 
been  mistaken  in  their  choice.  In  1861  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  Supervisor  and  has  held  that 
office  a  great  deal  of  the  time  since.  In  1874  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Lower  House  of  the 
Illinois  Assembly,  a  position  he  held  for  two  years, 
giving  complete  satisfaction  as  a  law-maker.  He 
served  on  important  committees  in  the  House  and 
always  voted  right. 

Mr.  Gundy  is  an  attendant  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  is  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  that  or- 
ganization. He  never  married.  He  divides  his 
time  between  his  agricultural  occupation  and  trav- 
eling. Vermilion  County  has  no  better  citizen 
than  the  Hon.  Andrew  GuiKty. 


lf%  AMUEL  R0SS  MORGAN.  The  man  who 
has  lived  uprightly,  attended  strictly  to  his 
business,  defrauded  none,  and  advanced 
the  business  interests  of  his  community,  has 
made  for  himself  a  record  which  he  may  justly 
look  upon  with  pride.  He  has  added  dignity  to 
his  calling  whatever  it  may  be,  and  shown  to  the 
world  what  may  be  accomplished  by  steady  perse- 
verance, courage  and  industry. 

Mr.  Morgan  is  a  leading  grocer  of    Ridge  Farm, 


560 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  one  who  has  performed  no  unimportant  part 
in  the  development  of  its  various  interests.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  sound  Republican,  and  after  the  election 
of  Benjamin  Harrison,  in  the  fall  of  1888,  signal- 
ized his  patriotism  by  one  of  the  biggest  bonfires 
of  cigar  boxes  probably  ever  built  of  this  material. 
The  flames  crackled  and  roared,  and  added  meas- 
urably to  the  general  noise  and  hilarity  following 
upon  that  glorious  Republican  victory. 

A  native  of  Elwood  Township,  our  subject  was 
born  March  24,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Levi 
Morgan,  deceased.  The  latter  was  a  nativeof  Vir- 
ginia, and  came  to  Illinois  in  1834,  settling  in 
Georgetown,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  conducted  a  drug  store  several 
years.  In  1838,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  native 
State  he  died,  in  Cambridge,  Ohio.  Samuel  Rosa 
was  the  only  child  of  his  parents,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  father  his  mother  removed  to  Berkley 
County,  where  our  subject  was  reared,  and  at- 
tended school  at  Bunkerhill.  His  mercantile  expe- 
rience commenced  when  he  was  a  mere  bojr,  and  he 
has  all  his  life  been  more  or  less  in  the  channels  of 
trade. 

In  1870  Mr.  Morgan  repaired  to  Baltimore,  Md., 
where  he  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  hardware  and 
grocery  store,  but  later  embarked  in  the  grocery 
business  on  his  own  account.  He  sojourned  in 
Baltimore  four  years,  then  came  to  this  county,  and 
in  1883  established  himself  in  his  present  business. 
He  carries  a  full  stock  of  everything  pertaining  to 
his  line — groceries,  provisions,  crockery,  glass  and 
queensware,  cigars  and  tobacco,  having  an  espec- 
ially fine  trade  in  the  latter.  He  operates  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $1,800  and  his  annual  sales  aggre- 
gate $8,000.  His  trade  and  stock  are  steadily  in- 
creasing, while  he  has  a  first-class  location,  and  fully 
understands  the  art  of  handling  goods  and  dealing 
with  customers.  Always  courteous  and  obliging, 
those  who  visit  him  once  are  sure  to  call  again. 

Miss  Sally  S.  Dare  became  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject Aug.  10, 1  870.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  John 
Dare,  late  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  was  born  in  Cal- 
vert County,  that  State.  She  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Morgan,  aside  from 
enunciating  his  political  principles  as  opportunities 


occur,  meddles  very  little  with  matters  outside  of 
his  business,  although  in  1888  he  officiated  as  Vil- 
lage Treasurer.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
The  pleasant  and  attractive  home  of  the  Morgans, 
situated  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  is  the  resort 
of  its  best  people,  and  the  abode  of  refined  and  cul- 
tivated tastes. 


f^  R.  DOUG  AN  C.  HINSHAW.  It  may  be 
safe  to  say  that  there  are  comparatively 
few  physicians  who  have  a  fidl  sense  of 
the  vital  importance  of  their  calling — 
taken  in  all  its  phases — and  to  what  extent  the  hap- 
piness of  mankind  is  dependent  upon  their  knowl- 
edge of  their  profession.  In  order  to  attain  com- 
plete success  there  must  not  only  be  a  practical 
and  thorough  education  in  the  intricacies  of  the 
art  of  healing,  but  a  humane  and  sympathetic 
understanding  of  the  extent  to  which  the  mind 
may  influence  the  body.  In  most  cases  drugs  and 
medicines  are  of  little  avail  unless  other  condi- 
tions are  equal.  The  subject  of  this  notice  has 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  the 
fact  that  he  is  uniformly  popular,  speaks  well  for 
him  as  the  humane  physician  as  well  as  the  hon- 
ored citizen.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  intellect,  a  deep 
thinker  and  an  extensive  reader,  and  omits  no  op- 
portunity of  availing  himself  of  the  latest  methods 
connected  with  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Hinshaw  has  been  located  at  Ridge  Farm 
since  the  middle  of  August,  1882.  He  established 
himself  here  soon  after  being  graduated  from  the 
Medical  College  of  Indiana,  at  Indianapolis,  where 
he  had  taken  a  three-years'  course.  For  four 
months  thereafter  he  practiced  in  Vermilion  Grove, 
and  thence  came  to  Ridge  Farm.  He  is  equally 
good  in  both  general  practice  and  surgery.  He  is 
essentially  a  Western  man,  having  been  born  in 
Hamilton  County.  Ind.,  April  22,  1858,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  Hinshaw,  a  native  of  Randolph 
County.  N.  C. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  North  in  1851, 
locating  in  Indiana,  of  which  he  is  still  a  resident. 
The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


561 


of  Scotch  ancestry.     Dougan  C.  first  attended  the 

common  schools  of  Westfield,  in  his  native  county, 
and  later  attended  the  High  School,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1 877.  Soon  afterward  he  began 
the  reading  of  medicine,  and  in  order  to  augment 
his  income  engaged  as  a  teacher.  In  1879  he  en- 
tered upon  his  medical  course  in  the  college  at  In- 
diana, where  he  paid  strict  attention  to  his  books, 
with  the  result  already  indicated. 

Dr.  Hinshaw  was  married,  Sept.  (!,  188.3.  to  Miss 
Krtie  R.,  daughter  of  David  S.  Dicken,  of  Elwood 
Township,  and  they  are  now  the  parents  of  two 
children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living — Hazel  Bes- 
sie. The  Doctor  owns  a  good  residence  in  the 
western  part  of  the  town,  which  is  the  favorite  re- 
sort for  the  best  people  of  his  community.  He  is  a 
Republican,  politically,  and  socially,  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen.  He  belongs  to  the  Society 
of  Friends,  while  his  estimable  wife  in  her  religi- 
ous belief  is  identified  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  They  stand  high  in  social  circles, 
and  their  home  is  one  indicative  of  cultivation  and 
refinement,  and  whose  inmates  are  surrounded  by 
all  the  comforts  of  life. 


*>:* 


-**- 


ipS^ATHAN  J.  NORRIS,  M.  D.,son  of  a  pio- 
j)  neer  family  of  Vermilion  County,  has  had 
\V\J-L  an  honorable  career  in  life,  both  as  a  skill- 
ful physician  and  as  a  practical,  successful  farmer. 
Within  a  few  years  he  has  retired  from  the  practice 
of  his  profession  and  now  devotes  his  time  almost 
exclusively  to  the  management  of  his  fine  farm  in 
Newell  Township,  on  section  26. 

The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Brown 
County  Dec.  14,  1824.  He  comes  of  good  old 
Kentucky  families,  both  of  his  parents,  James  and 
Elizabeth  (Carter)  Norris,  having  been  born  in 
that  State,  children  of  its  early  settlers.  The 
mother  was  reared  and  married  there.  The  father 
was  reared  in  Ohio,  but  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
subsequently  settled  in  Brown.  County,  Ohio,  where 
they  remained  till  the  fall  of  1833.  In  that  season, 
animated  by  the  pioneer  spirit  that  had  actuated 
their  sires  to  penetrate  the  wilds  of  Kentucky,  they 


set  out  for  the  rude,  sparsely  settled  country  em- 
braced in  Vermilion  County,  this  State,  to  take  up 
their  abode  among  its  earliest  white  settlers.  They 
were  among  the  first  to  settle  in  what  is  now  ( >ak- 
wood  Township,  and  there  the  patient,  self-sacrific- 
ing mother  died  in  1841.  The  father  of  our 
subject,  after  the  sad  loss  of  his  wife,  came  to 
Newell  Township  and  here  spent  his  remaining 
days,  dying  in  1850. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  the  ten  children 
born  to  him  and  his  wife.  He  was  a  lad  of  nine 
years  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  their  new 
home  in  Oak  wood  Township,  and  there  he  passed 
the  remaining  years  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He 
gleaned  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  in 
Brown  County,  Ohio,  and  in  this  county,  and  in 
1854,  returning  to  his  native  county  he  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  attending  lectures  in  Cincinnati. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  American  Medical 
College,  in  which  institution  he  had  maintained  a 
high  standing  among  the  leading  scholars  of  his 
class.  After  getting  his  diploma  he  began  to 
practice  his  profession  in  Georgetown,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  till  1864,  the  skill  and  success  with 
which  he  treated  difficult  cases  securing  him  a  la^gs 
number  of  patients.  In  that  year  he  returned  to 
Vermilion  County,  and  purchasing  110  acres 
of  fine  farming  land  in  Newell  Township 
has  since  lived  here.  For  many  years  he  was 
in  active  practice,  ranking  high  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  medical -profession  in  this  county,  but 
in  1886  he  retired  from  that  vocation  and  has  since 
given  his  entire  time  to  the  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  his  farm.  He  now  owns  153 
acres  of  land,  and  has  erected  a  substan- 
tial set  of  farm  buildings,  including  a  well- 
appointed  dwelling,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  homes  in  the  vicinity. 

Dr.  Norris  and  Miss  Martha  Norris  were  united 
in  marriage  Jan.  29,  1852,  in  Brown  County.  Ohio. 
She  was  born  in  that  county  Feb.  17.  1827,  and 
was  the  eldest  of  the  five  children  of  Nathan  and 
Phillis  Norris,  natives,  respectively,  of  Maryland 
and  Kentucky.  They  married  and  settled  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  passed  their  remaining 
years,  he  carrying  on  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Norris  are  the  parents  of  nine  children  : 


5G2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Nathan  J.  Jr.,  Emma  P.,  Lizzie  D.,  John  M..  Eva, 
Mattie,  Luella,  William  N.,  Jennie.  John  M.  died 
when  about  two  years  old. 

Our  subject  has  been  greatly  blessed  in  the 
possession  of  a  wife  of  high  personal  character, 
much  tact  and  amiability  of  disposition,  at  once  a 
helpmate  and  companion.  Their  social  position  is 
among'  the  best  people  in  the  community.  The 
doctor  has  mingled  much  in  the  public  life  of  the 
township,  as  his  learning  and  ripe  judgment  make 
him  a  wise  counselor,  and  for  five  years  he  has  held 
the  important  office  of  Supervisor.  He  has  always 
manifested  a  genuine  interest  in  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, and  while  serving  in  the  various  local  school 
offices  has  promoted  it  as  much  as  possible.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party. 


\  ILTON  MILLS,  of  Carroll  Township,  a 
gentleman  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
his  community,  is  a  scion  of  one  of  the 
pioneer  families  of  this  county  and  he  is 
pardonably  proud  of  the  fact  that  they  bore  no  un- 
important part  in  its  early  development.  They 
were  simple  and  honest  people,  Quakers  in  religious 
belief,  and  reared  their  children  to  habits  of  in- 
dustry and  principles  of  honor,  impressing  upon 
their  minds  the  importance  of  truthfulness,  morality 
and  industry. 

Mr.  Mills  has  a  countenance  which  indicates  the 
results  of  his  early  training,  which  instilled  within 
him  contempt  for  a  mean  action,  and  the  love  of 
all  which  is  healthful  and  broadening,  both  to  the 
heart  and  intellect.  lie  is  prominent  in  the  circle 
of  Friends  in  this  county  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  Sunday-school  carried  on  by  them.  His 
father,  William  Mills,  was  one  of  the  leading  pio- 
neers of  Central  Illinois  and  lived  in  three  different 
counties  without  changing  his  place  of  residence — 
all  being  at  one  time  Edgar  County  and  undergo- 
ing subsequent  divisions.  He  had  come  to  Illinois 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty  years  and  when  this 
region  was  a  wilderness.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
men  to  build  a  house  within  the  present  limits  of 


Vermilion  County,  and  afterwards  traveled  forty 
miles  to  mill  in  Indiana,  driving  a  four-horse  team 
and  occupying  several  days  in  making  the  journey. 
He  transported  his  live  pork  on  foot  to  Chicago  at 
a  time  when  Indians  and  wild  animals  were  plenti- 
ful and  experienced  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  life  on  the  frontier.  He  was  successful  as  a  til- 
ler of  the  soil,  accumulating  a  comfortable  prop- 
erty and  rested  from  his  earthly  labors  in  1872, 
passing  away  at  the  old  homestead  in  Elwood 
Township  when  seventy-four  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Jane  B.  (Durham)  Mills,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Indiana,  where  she  was  reared 
to  womanhood  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  pa- 
rents. She  was  married  prior  to  her  union  with 
Mr.  Mills  and  became  the  mother  of  one  child — 
Dorcas  D.  Hunt — who  married  Josephus  Hollings- 
worth  and  lives  in  this  county.  Mr.  Mills  had  also 
been  previously  married  and  had  become  the  father 
of  five  children,  viz:  Adam  M.,  Sarah  J.,  Arininta, 
Mary  A.  and  Rebecca.  To  William  and  Jane  B. 
Mills  there  were  born  six  children — William  D., 
Emma,  Milton,  our  subject,  Pleasant,  Milo  E.  and 
Everett.  The  mother  died  in  1880  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Dec.  1,  1853 
in  Elwood  Township,  this  county.  The  first  twenty- 
one  years  of  his  life  were  spent  on  the  farm  and  in 
attendance  at  the  district  schools.  Later  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  at  Vermilion  Grove  Academy  and 
continued  a  student  there  mostly  during  the  winter 
season  for  four  years,  in  the  meantime  improving 
his  leisure  time  with  his  books.  In  November,  29, 
1882,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nora  B.,  daughter  of 
R.  W.  Ashbrook,  of  Mattoon,  III.  He  purchased 
his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  1882  and  has 
operated  it  to  such  good  advantage  that  the  whole 
is  now  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  there  being 
scarcely  a  foot  of  it  that  does  not  yield  something 
to  the  proprietor.  The  residence  is  beautifully  lo- 
cated three  miles  southeast  of  Indianola. 

Mrs.  Mills  was  born  in  Coles  County,  111.,  Nov.  1, 
18.r)7  and  by  her  union  with  our  subject  has  become 
the  mother  of  two  bright  children — Bessie  D.  and 
Jane  B.  Mr.  Mills  was  carefully  reared  in  the 
Quaker  faith  and  since  reaching  manhood  has  be- 
come one  of  the  most  useful  and  active  members 


KESIDENOE  OF  JOHN  COLLINS,  SEC.  9.,  SIDELL  TB,  YERMIMON  CO. 


Rkshoence:  ofM^bes JCexncmjds.  Skc.8.  Eiiwooi>  Te,Vbrmiljon  Go. 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


565 


of  that  church,  serving  in  the  double  capacity  on 
the  Evangelistic  Committee,  besides  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school,  of  which  he  has  iieen  Vice- 
President  likewise  for  t lie  past  three  years.  He  has 
ever  maintained  a  warm  interest  in  educational 
matters  and  besides  being  one  of  the  mostgenerous 
patrons  of  the  Vermilion  Grove  Academy,  is  serv- 
ing on  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  said  academy.  Al- 
though strictly  a  temperance  man,  he  has  not 
thought  best  to  identify  himself  with  the  Prohibi- 
tionists, but  maintains  a  warm  adherence  to  the 
Republican  faith,  believing  it  not  the  part  of  wis- 
dom to  encourage  a  third  party  in  politics. 
Through  the  influence  of  his  honored  father,  Milton 
while  a  boy,  conceived  a  strong  aversion  to  the  in- 
stitution of  slavery  and  no  man  rejoiced  more  when 
the  land  had  been  purged  of  it,  together  with  other 
evils  which  were  remedied  by  the  success  of  the 
Union  arms. 


^  OSES  REYNOLDS  is  a  leading  citizen  of 
Elwood  Township.  The  Society  of  Friends 
and  the  Vermilion  Academy,  which  are 
located  at  Vermilion  Grove,  have  in  him  a 
liberal  supporter  and  an  anient  friend.  He  donates 
largely  to  the  support  of  his  church  and  the 
educational  enterprises  connected  with  it.  and  the 
sum  of  money  that  he  yearly  gives  away  to  those 
who  need  it  more  than  he.  is  known  to  nobody  but 
himself,  as  he  religiously  believes  in  the  doctrine  of 
not  letting  the  left  hand  know  what  the  right  hand 
does.  Enough  is  known  of  his  character  to  say 
that  his  benevolence  is  proverbial. 

Mr.  Reynolds  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of 
2'.t0  acres  of  land  on  sections  5,  G,  and  8, 
where  he  carries  on  an  extensive  business  of 
stock-raising  and  diversified  farming.  He  was 
born  in  Parke  County,  Ind.,  on  the  6th  of 
May,  lK.'iO.  His  father,  Mahlon  Reynolds,  was  a 
native  of  Randolph  County,  N.  C.  whence  he 
emigrated  to  Indiana  in  1823,  settling  first  on 
Honey  Creek  in  Vigo  County,  six  miles  below 
Terre  Haute,  but  in  1S2G  he  removed  to  Parke 
County.  Ind.      lie  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 


part  of  Parke  County,  and  his  reputation  as  a  man 
was  of  the  highest.  His  wife.  Ruth  Rubottom.  was 
a  daughter  of  Simon  Rubottom,  who  was  the 
father  of  twelve  children:  Joel.  Linton,  Alvira, 
Moses,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Folger).  Mariam  (Mrs.  Ha. 
worth),  Mahala  (Mrs.  Wright),  Rachael  (Mrs. 
Smith),  Susan  (Mrs.  Parker),  David.  Ruth  (Mrs. 
Newlin),  and  William.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Indiana  in 
1866,  and  the  father  died  in  this  county  ten  years 
later. 

Mr.  Reynolds  came  to  this  county  in  1854, 
settling  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  engaged  exten- 
sively in  raising  graded  Short-horn  cattle,  and 
Poland-China  and  Chester-white  hogs.  He  feeds 
and  ships  a  great  deal  of  stock,  and  in  this  way 
has  become  independent.  His  farm  indicates  that 
its  owner  is  a  man  who  understands  his  business 
thoroughly,  for  everything  around  it  shows  thrift 
and  intelligence.  On  the  14th  of  August,  1851, 
Mr.  Reynolds  married  Eunice  Pearson,  daughter  of 
William  Pearson,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two 
children:  Mary  J.  and  Alvira  A.  The  latter  is 
deceased.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Marion  Campbell, 
of  Elwood  Township.  They  have  had  three 
children,  one  of  whom  is  now  living — Paul. 

Mr.  Reynolds  meddles  very  little  in  politics,  but 
devotes  his  spare  time  to  the  interests  of  his  church 
ami  to  the  Academy  of  which  he  is  a  Trustee.  He 
is  a  Trustee  of  the  property  of  the  Friends'  Church 
at  Vermilion  Grove  and  holds  the  position  of  Over- 
seer in  the  same  society.  He  is  also  one  of  three 
trustees  of  the  funds  of  the  quarterly  meetings  that 
have  been  set  apart  for  the  education  of  worthv 
and  needy  children,  and  in  this  position  he  is 
eminently  the  right  man  in  the  right  place.  The 
fund  alluded  to  originated  in  the  following  manner: 
An  unmarried  man — Richardson  Henderson — died 
leaving  $500  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  the 
purposes  before  described,  and  Mr.  Reynolds  added 
to  that  sum  an  equal  amount,  making  a  fund  of 
81000,  which  is  invested,  and  the  interest  only  is 
u>ed. 

Mr.  Reynolds'  son-in-law.  F.  M.  Campbell,  lives 
on  the  farm  adjoining  him  on  the  east,  and  owns 
194  acres  of  very  fine  land.  Mr.  Campbell  is 
engaged    in    breeding   fine     Norman    horses,    and 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  other  stock  is  similar  to  that  raised  by  his 
father-in-law.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Friends' 
Church,  and  was  born  in  Parke  County,  Ind.,  but 
was  brought  up  and  educated  in  Vermilion  County, 
and  has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  and  his  father- 
in-law  are  good  Republicans. 

Mr.  Reynolds  is  also  largely  interested  in  Sunday- 
school  work,  where  he  teaches  a  class  regularly  every 
Sunday.  He  has  also  ably  served  as  Sunday-school 
Superintendent  for  many  years. 

On  another  page  of  this  volume  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Reynolds  is  presented  in  a  fine  view,  justly  a 
valuable  feature  of  the  Album. 


-nsm.-njUUZQ/te^Q'. 


•3£Q>TTinr*-~'\sw. 


OHN  COLLINS.  The  Irish-American  citi- 
zen has  operated  largely  in  the  growth  and 
development  of  Vermilion,  and  he  whose 
name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch  is  one 
of  the  most  worthy  representatives  of  his  national- 
ity. He  owns  a  good  farm  of  200  acres,  lying 
on  sections  9  and  10  in  Sidell  Township,  and  has  a 
remarkably  pleasant  home  and  intelligent  family. 
He  is  one  of  a  pair  of  twins,  born  in  County  Cork, 
Ireland,  June  20,  1826.  His  twin  brother,  Richard, 
emigrated  to  America  in  1845,  and  in  due  time 
wrote  back  for  John  to  join  him  here,  which  the 
latter  did;  they  located  five  miles  south  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  and  worked  in  the  foundries  seven  years.  In 
1853  they  came  to  La  Salle  County,  this  State,  and 
worked  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  several 
years  thereafter.  On  the  23d  of  March,  1861,  our 
subject  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Cregor,  born  in 
1833  in  his  native  country.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
in  La  Salle  County,  where  they  lived  a  number  of 
years,  coming  thence  to  this  county  in  1881.  In 
1880  our  subject  had  purchased  the  farm  which  he 
now  owns  and  occupies.  He  also  owns  160  acres 
in  Shiloh  Township,  Edgar  County,  which  is  ope- 
rated by  his  sons,  Dennis  and   Michael. 

There  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collins  eleven 
children,  of  whom  the  third  and  fourth  sons  have 
been  already  mentioned.  The  others  are  recorded 
as  follows:  Richard  married  a  Miss  Brown,  and 
died  in  1884.     To  them  there  was  born   one  child. 


now  deceased.  John  is  at  home  with  his  parents; 
.  Dennis  married  a  Miss  Burns:  Mary  married  Mr. 
Brown,  a  farmer, and  they  have  four  children:  Leo, 
John.  Charles,  and  Richard.  Daniel,  Bridget, 
Juliana,  Margaret,  and  Ann  are  at  home  with  their 
parents.  The  farm  is  devoted  to  general  agricul- 
ture and  is  carried  on  with  that  thoroughness  and 
good  judgment  which  is  characteristic  of  its  pro- 
prietor. He  has  become  thoroughly  identified  with 
American  institutions,  and  is  a  man  greatly  attached 
to  his  famil3r. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Mary 
(Carty)  Collins,  likewise  natives  of  County  Cork, 
where  they  lived  on  a  small  farm.  Their  family 
consisted  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom 
our  subject  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  The 
latter  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church  at  Hume. 

A  view  of  the  home  of  Mr.  Collins  is  given  in 
this  volume,  and  represents  a  well-kept  country 
residence  with  pleasant  rural  surroundings. 


J  1  AMES  MtMELLAN,  who  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  men  of  Carroll  Township,  is  oper- 
!  ating  the  celebrated  Woodlawn  Farm  of  200 
1  acres,  where  with  his  excellent  wife  and  his 
twobrightand  promising  boys.hejhasoneof  the  pleas- 
antest  homes  to  be  found  in  the  county.  He  is 
largely  possessed  of  all  the  manly  virtues,  being 
upright,  temperate  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duties,  both  in  a  business  and  social  way.  He 
is  widely  known  as  having  been  for  years  the 
'right-hand  man,'  of  Mr.  Harvey  Sandusky,  a 
wealthy  and  prominent  land-owner  of  this  county 
who  for  sometime  employed  Mr.  McMellan  to  look 
after  his  agricultural  interests  and  his  fine  cattle. 
In  the  discharge  of  these  duties  Mr.  McMellan  had 
the  satisfaction  of  leading  more  prize-winners  into 
the  show  ring  at  the  county  and  State  fairs  than 
any  other  man  in  Illinois. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  East  Tenn.,  Sept.  17,  1853,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  D.  and  Rachel  (Rector)  McMellan. 
natives  of  Tennessee  and   the   father  a  saddler  by 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALHUM. 


567 


trade.  The  latter  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
remarried  and  moved  to  Missouri  where  he  spent 
his  last  days.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in 
Greenville,  Tenn.,  at  the  age  of  forty  years,  dames 
1!.,  our  subject,  was  the  eldest  of  her  two  sons,  the 
younger  being  John,  who  is  now  living  in  Mis- 
souri. Of  the  second  marriage  of  John  1).  McMel- 
lan  there  were  horn  four  children. 

During  the  Civil  War  the  father  of  our  subject 
was  pressed  into  the  Confederate  service  and  dames 
went  to  live  with  his  grandfather  Hector,  in  East 
Tennessee,  where  he  received  only  limited  educa- 
tional advantages,  attending  school  only  a  few 
months  at  the  close  of  the  war.  lie  worked  mostly 
on  the  farm  and  finally  was  persuaded  by  an  aunt 
to  come  West.  lie  made  his  way  to  Logan  County, 
this  State,  and  worked  there  two  and  one  half  years 
upon  a  farm.  Then  desirous  of  a  change  he  emi- 
grated to  Indianola  and  entered  the  employ  of  Dr. 
Ralston,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year.  In  the 
meantime  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Har- 
vey Sandusky,  and  in  due  time  assumed  charge  of 
his  fine  cattle,  remaining  in  the  employ  of  this 
gentleman  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  In  the  mean- 
time, taking  with  him  some  of  the  finest  specimens 
Of  their  fat  cattle,  he  visited  the  fairs  at  Lafayette, 
Indianapolis,  Chicago,  Kansas  City.  Peoria,  Spring- 
field. St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  many  other  places.  A 
warm  attachment  sprang  up  between  the  two  men 
and  Mr.  McMcllan  was  at  the  bedside  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Sandusky,  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

The  marriage  of  James  McMcllan  with  Miss  Ida 
Dye  was  celebrated  in  Carroll  Township,  in  1880. 
Mrs.  McMellan  is  the  daughter  of  John  Dye,  a  son 
of  Lawrence  Dye,  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  of 
Georgetown  Township.  Mr.  Dye  was  a  man  pos- 
sessing some  peculiar  traits  of  character,  was  a 
strong  Presbyterian  in  his  religious  views,  was 
peculiarly  kind  and  genial  in  his  disposition,  a 
great  lover  of  music  and  a  universal  favorite  in  his 
community.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Col. 
Girard  of  Mexican  war  fame  and  a  good  man  in  the 
broadest  sense  of  the  term,  strictly,  temperate,  hon- 
est and  upright,  kind  in  ins  family  and  a  generous 
neighbor.  Everybod}'  knew  Col.  Girard  and  every- 
body was  his  friend. 

To  the  parents  of  Mrs.  McMellan  there  were  born 


nine  children  and  Miss  Ida  inherited  from  her 
father  a  great  taste  for  and  love  of  music.  It  was 
not  the  lot  of  Col.  Girard  to  become  wealthy,  and 
when  a  young  «irl  Miss  Ida  entered  the  employ  "( 
Mrs.  Sandusky,  with  whom  she  remained  the  long 
period  of  eleven  years,  her  faithful  and  trusted 
maid  and  companion.  She  there  met  her  future 
husband,  our  subject,  and  they,  living  under  one 
roof  for  many  years,  had  a  good  opportunity  to 
become  acquainted.  Of  this  congenial  union  there 
were  born  two  children  only — Harvey  and  James 
S.,  who  are  bright  and  promising  boys  aged  seven 
and  one  years  respectively. 

Politically,  Mr.  McMellan  is  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  soci- 
ally he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His 
estimable  wife  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  It  is  generally  con- 
ceded that  there  is  not  a  more  hospitable  roof  in 
Carroll  Township  than  the  house  at  Woodlawn 
Farm,  and  no  host  and  hostess  who  extend  to  their 
guests  a  more  high-bred  and  hearty  welcome. 
Neither  friend  nor  stranger  departs  from  their  door 
with  other  than  a  comfortable  feeling  and  a  sen- 
sation that  it  was  good  to  be  there. 


NDERSON  DUNAVAN.  The  labors  of 
this  honest,  upright  and  well-to-do  citizen 
have  resulted  in  the  possession  of  a  well- 
regulated  farm  of  170  acres,  on  sections 
1  and  6,  in  Georgetown  Township.  The  greater 
part  of  this  the  proprietor  cleared  from  the  forest, 
and  labored  early  and  late  for  many  years  in  order 
to  bring  it  to  its  present  condition.  By  the  exer- 
cise of  great  industry,  frugality  and  good  manage- 
ment, he  has  accumulated  sufficient  means  to  protect 
him  against  want  in  his  declining  years,  while  his 
career  as  a  citizen  has  been  such  as  to  establish  him 
in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  neighbors. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  in  Mason 
County,  now  West  Virginia,  eight  miles  above 
Point  Pleasant,  on  the  Kanawha  River.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Frances  (Hughes)  Dunavan,  the 
former  a  native  of  Culpeper  County.  Ya.,  and   the 


568 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


latter  of  the  same  place.  The  mother's  people  were 
of  English  stock,  and  early  residents  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Her  grandfather  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  and  was  shot  through  the  breast.  He 
recovered,  however,  and  lived  to  be  nearly  one 
hundred  years  old.  He  was  provided  for  during 
his  old  age  by  a  pension  from  the  Government. 
He  traced  his  ancestry  to  Ireland,  where  his  fore- 
fathers were  mostly  linen  weavers  by  trade. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  with  the  exception  of 
the  time  spent  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  oc- 
cupied himself  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  and  his 
wife  spent  their  last  years  in  Indiana.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  grew 
to  mature  years — three  sons  and  four  daughters. 
Anderson,  our  subject,  was  the  eldest,  and  was 
born  March  22,  1820.  He  lived  in  the  Old  Do- 
minion until  a  lad  of  thirteen  years,  then  emigrated 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  they  settling  near  the 
State  line  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.  He  remem- 
bers the  time  when  there  but  live  houses  between 
Eugene,  Ind.,  and  Danville,  111.  As.  soon  as  old 
enough,  he  was  required  to  make  himself  useful 
about  the  new  farm,  following  the  breaking  plow, 
learning  to  cut  wheat  with  the  cradle,  and  laboring 
in  the  primitive  style,  both  in  sowing  and  reaping 
the  harvests.  Upon  reaching  man's  estate  he  was 
married.  May  29.  1844,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Beau- 
champ. 

Mrs.  Dunavan  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  removed 
with  her  parents  to  Perryville,  Ind.,  in  1830.  The 
newly  wedded  pair  settled  on  a  farm  in  Vermillion 
County,  Ind.,  and  Mr.  Dunavan  in  due  time  pur- 
chased 166  acres  of  land.  Later  he  sold  this,  and 
crossed  the  State  line  into  Illinois,  purchasing,  in 
1855,  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies. 
Much  of  this  was  covered  with  timber,  and  he  has 
cleared  all  but  fifteen  acres. 

The  eleven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duna- 
van are  recorded  as  follows:  James  II.  died  when 
a  promising  youth  of  eighteen  years;  John  A. 
married  Miss  Rebecca  Mossberger,  is  the  father  of 
four  children,  and  resides  in  Douglas  County; 
Mary  J.  married  Samuel  Hines,  and  died,  leaving 
three  children;  Harriet  J.  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  Charles  W..  who  remains  at  the  homestead, 
married  Miss  Anna  J.  Howard,  and  is  the  father  of 


one  child;  David  A.,  also  at  home,  married  Miss 
Mary  Williams,  and  has  three  children;  Anderson 
J.  married  Miss  Caroline  Cravens,  and  is  the 
father  of  three  children;  Edward  H.  married  Miss 
Holder,  and  lives  at  the  homestead;  Edmund  II. 
died  when  three  months  old;  Lottie  married  Frank 
Breesley,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  they 
live  in  this  township;  Tilda  E.  is  the  wife  of  Till- 
man Wilcox. 

James  II.  Dunavan  during  the  Civil  War  en- 
listed in  an  Indiana  Regiment,  and  died  of  the 
measles  at  home.  Mrs.  Dunavan  is  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  a  lady 
greatly  respected  in  her  community.  Mr.  Dunavan 
i  votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket,  and  has 
served  as  School  Director  in  this  district  several 
years.  He  may  properly  be  classed  as  a  represen- 
tative citizen  of  Georgetown  Township — one  who 
has  assisted  materially  in  maintaining  its  reputation 
as  a  community  of  law-abiding  and  intelligent 
people. 


/z==^  OLDEN  PATTERSON.  The  gratifying  suc- 
(((  g— >  cess  which  has  crowned  the    efforts  of   the 

<^*b  life  of  Mr.  Patterson,  is  the  more  noticeable 
and  praiseworthy,  because  of  the  few  opportunities 
afforded  him  in  the  earlier  days  for  that  training 
and  other  help  that  are  sometimes  considered  abso- 
lutely indispensible  to  a  start  in  life  and  the  suc- 
cess which  is  desired.  In  the  case  before  us,  the 
subject  is  one  of  that  class  of  whom  many  worthy 
representatives  are  found  in  the  great  West,  which 
is  best  designated  by  the  term  "self-made." 

Golden  Patterson  lives  on  section  13,  range  11, 
Elwood  Township,  and  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead where  he  now  resides,  July  17,  1833.  His 
father,  Andrew  Patterson,  came  from  Granger 
County,  Tenn.,  in  an  early  day,  settling  on  a  farm 
which  he  then  located  and  upon  which  his  son  now 
resides.  The  country  at  that  time  was  almost  des- 
titute of  civilization,  and  the  Indians  were  prac- 
tically in  possession.  They  roamed  about  at  will, 
although  the  land  belonged  to  the  Government. 
The  elder  Patterson  entered  about  500  acres  of 
land,  for   which   he    paid    the   government    price. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


569 


This  land  rapidly  rose  in  value,  and  at  this  time  is 
worth  a  great  deal  of  money.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Amelia  Golden,  was  a  daughter 
of  William  Golden,  a  prominent  pioneer  of  Ver- 
milion County. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  the  youngest  of 
six  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living — Will- 
iam. Thomas,  Sarah  J.  (Campbell)  of  Georgetown, 
Elizabeth  (Campbell)  of  the  same  place,  and  Gol- 
den. The  mother  of  these  children  died  when 
Golden  was  an  infant,  and  the  father  passed  away 
in  1845  at  the  old  homestead.  Golden  received 
his  education  at  the  common  schools  of  his  boy- 
hood and  at  the  Georgetown  High  School.  After 
leaving  school  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
but  followed  this  vocation  but  a  short  time.  He 
has  always  been — with  the  exception  of  the  short 
time  he  worked  at  the  carpenter  business — a  suc- 
cessful farmer.  He  owns  420  acres  of  land  where 
the  old  homestead  is  situated  and  a  quarter  section 
in  another  part  of  the  township,  making  580  acres 
in  all.  Mr.  Patterson  manages  his  farm  with  rare 
intelligence,  and  in  all  his  operations  he  has  been 
most  eminently  successful.  He  takes  great  care  in 
all  the  work  he  does,  and  therein  may  be  attributed, 
to  a  large  degree,  his  success. 

He  has  never  held  any  official  position,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  he  never  has  time.  Politically, 
he  belongs  to  the  Republican  party,  and  may  al- 
ways be  found  in  its  ranks  doing  good  work.  Mr. 
Patterson  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all 
his  neighbors,  and  is  known  by  the  sobriquet  of 
••The  Jolly  Bachelor"  of  eastern  Elwood  Town- 
ship. 

/fifs*  HARLES  LEONARD  DOWNING,  a  suc- 
(l  cessful  farmer,  a  defender  of  the  Union  dur- 

^^:'  ing  the  late  Civil  War,  and  a  true  Christian 
gentleman,  occupies  a  leading  position  in  the  com- 
munity of  Georgetown  Township,  where  he  has 
been  a  resident  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  We 
find  him  in  comfortable  circumstances  surrounded 
by  a  very  interesting  family  of  intelligent  children 
and  seemingly  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  which 
makes  life  most  pleasant  and  desirable.     Of  this  he 


is  amply  deserving,  having  led  an  upright  life  and 
to  the  best  of  his  ability  seeking  to  set  a  good  ex- 
ample to  those  around  him.  His  homestead  com- 
prises eighty  acres  of  choice  land  on  section  7, 
and  besides  this  he  cultivates  twenty-eight  acres 
in  the  vicinity.  I  lis  farm  buildings,  machinery 
and  live  stock  are  in  excellent  condition  and  in- 
dicative of  the  progress  and  enterprise  of  the 
proprietor. 

The  opening  years  of  the  life  of  our  subject 
were  spent  in  Mason  County,  Ky.,  where  he  was 
born  March  21,  1838.  His  parents,  Robert  and 
Susan  (Haw)  Downing,  were  natives  respectively 
of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  the  latter  born  a  few  miles 
from  the  "Beautiful  River."  They  were  married  in 
the  Buckeye  State  and  lived  there  and  in  Ken- 
tucky until  their  removal  to  Marion  County,  Ind.. 
to  which  they  removed  about  1849.  The  father 
opened  up  a  farm  from  the  wilderness,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  clays,  dying  in  January, 
1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty -six  years.  The  mother 
still  occupies  the  old  homestead  and  is  now  about 
seventy-one  years  old.  Their  five  children  were 
named  respectively,  Allie,  Lucretia,  Charles  L., 
Susan  A.  aud  James  Robert,  who  are  all  living. 

Mr.  Downing  attended  the  common  schools  of 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  lived  with  his  father  on  the 
farm  in  Marion  County,  the  latter  state,  until  ap- 
proaching the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age.  In 
March.  1860.  he  came  to  Illinois  and  engaged  to 
work  by  the  month  for  William  Stevens,  in  Vermil- 
ion County.  In  December  following  he  returned 
home  and  in  the  spring  of  1861  entered  the  employ 
of  H.  II.  Hall,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  in  Marion  County,  Ind.,  with  whom 
he  remained  seven  years.  It  is  proper  to  state  that 
he  began  working  out  summers  when  a  lad  of 
fourteen.  The  winter  season  was  devoted  mostly  to 
his  books,  and  he  attended  school  during  these  sea- 
sons until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War. 
then,  desirous  of  having  a  hand  in  the  subjugation 
of  the  rebels,  he  enlisted  on  the  12th  of  March, 
1862.  in  Company  D,  79th  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Indianapolis.  He 
drilled  there  with  his  regiment  two  weeks,  and  in 
less  than  a  month  after  his  enlistment  met  the 
enemy  in  the  battle  at.  Pern  ville.      He  afterward 


570 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fuuglit  in  some  of  the  most  important  battles  of 
the  war,  being  at  Crab  Orchard.  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge.  Lookout  Mountain, 
Knoxville  and  Spring  Hill,  at  which  latter  place 
they  remained  several  days  before  starting  on  the 
Atlanta  Campaign.  On  the  way  thither  they  en- 
countered the  enemy  at  Buzzard's  Gap,  Dalton 
and  Resaca,  Ga.,  where  on  the  27th  of  May,  1863, 
they  lost  1,400  men  in  one  hour  out  of  the  third 
division  of  the  fourth  army  corps.  Later  Mr. 
Downing  was  with  his  comrades  at  the  battle  of 
Kenesaw  Mountain  (where  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Downing  was  killed).  After  the  fall  of  Atlanta, 
our  subject  was  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  which 
ended  that  campaign.  Thence  they  retraced  their 
steps  to  follow  up  the  rebel  general,  Hood,  and  en- 
tered upon  one  of  the  most  arduous  campaigns  of 
the  war,  which  soon  afterward  came  to  a  close.  Our 
subject  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  Term.,  in 
June,  1865,  and  received  his  final  discharge  at  In- 
dianapolis the  same  month.  Although  he  was  in 
all  the  engagements  of  his  regiment  he  was  never 
wounded,  and  with  the  exception  of  four  days, 
when  he   had  the  mumps,  he  never  lost  a  roll-call. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  army  Mr.  Downing  re- 
turned to  his  old  haunts  in  Marion  County,  where 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  H.  II.  Hall,  and 
three  days  after  laying  aside  his  uniform  was  cra- 
dling in  the  wheat  field.  He  continued  with  Mr. 
Hall  until  1868,  then  returning  to  Illinois  re- 
entered the  employ  of  Mr.  Stevens.  In  the  mean- 
time the  little  orphan  girl  whose  father,  Thomas 
Guess,  had  been  killed  in  the  charge  on  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  had  been  legally  adopted  by  Mr.  Ste- 
vens and  had  now  grown  to  an  attractive  woman- 
hood. Our  subject  in  due  time  made  her 
acquaintance,  and  the  result  was  a  mutual  at- 
tachment which  culminated  in  their  marriage, 
Sept.  25,  1868,  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  adopted 
father,  in  Georgetown  Township. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downing 
settled  on  the  farm  which  they  now  own  and  oc- 
cupy, and  the  nucleus  of  which  was  purchased  in 
the  spring  of  186(J.  In  1871  he  added  eighty  acres 
and  has  since  given  to  it  his  best  efforts,  bringing 
the  whole  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation  and  effect- 
ing modern   improvements  in    the  way  of    fences. 


buildings  and  the  other  appliances  naturally  sug- 
gested to  the  mind  of  the  progressive  agriculturist. 
In  the  meantime  the  household  circle  had  been 
gradually  enlarged  by  the  birth  of  eight  children, 
who  were  named  respectively.  Priscilla  M.,  Oscar 
J..  Frank,  Susan,  Ella,  Lottie,  Reason  E.  and 
Minnie. 

Mr.  Downing  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Douglas,  and  has  since  given  his  unqualified  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  served  as  a 
Director  in  his  School  District,  also  as  Road  Over- 
seer". As  an  ex-soldier  he  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R. 
Post  at  Georgetown.  No.  204.  He  finds  his  relig- 
ious home  in  the  Christian  Church,  to  which  also 
his  wife  and  daughter,  Priscilla,  belong,  and  of 
which  he  has  been  a  Deacon  ten  years  and  a  mem- 
ber twelve  years.  All  those  enterprises  tending  to 
the  best  good  of  the  people,  socially,  morally  and 
financially,  have  found  in  him  a  steadfast  friend. 


<jf)AMES  NEWTON  MITCHELL.  Perhaps 
no  very  thrilling  event  has  transpired  in  the 
life  of  this  steady-going  and  reliable  citi- 
zen, but  he  is  one  of  those  forming  the  bone 
and  sinew  of  his  community,  and  one  who  has  as- 
sisted in  establishing  its  financial  prosperity,  and 
upholding  the  standard  of  morality.  His  life  occu- 
pation has  been  that  of  a  fanner,  in  which  he  has 
been  veiy  successful,  accumulating  a  good  prop- 
erty and  fortifying  himself  against  the  days  when 
perhaps  he  may  be  found  unfitted  for  labor.  His 
homestead  lies  on  section  12,  in  Georgetown  Town- 
ship, and  with  its  well-tilled  fields,  substantial 
buildings  and  general  air  of  plenty  and  comfort, 
forms  a  most  delightful  picture  in  the  landscape  of 
that  region. 

Our  subject  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in 
Brown  Township,  Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.,  April  7. 
1830,  and  remained  a  resident  of  the  Hoosier  State 
until  approaching  manhood.  His  education  was 
acquired  under  the  primitive  methods,  and  in  the 
log  school-house  of  that  early  day,  and  when  a 
youth  of  nineteen  years  he  started  out  for  himself, 
taking  a  contract  to  made  5,000  rails  at   fifty  cents 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


571 


per  hundred,  the  scene  of  his  operations  being  in 
Parke  County.  There  also  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Miss  Sarah  E.  Harlam,  a  native  of  that 
county,  and  in  due  time  the}-  were  married.  The 
spring  following  they  removed  to  Peoria  County. 
111.,  where  they  lired  eight  years,  then,  in  the  fall 
of  1858,  returned  to  Montgomery  County.  Ind. 
Sojourning  there  until  the  spring  of  1861,  they  re- 
turned to  Parke  County.  Ind.  Their  family  now 
consisted  of  four  children,  and  the  wife  and  mother 
died  upon  the  place  where  she  spent  her  childhood 
and  youth.  Four  other  children  had  been  born 
and  died  in  the  meantime.  The  eldest  daughter, 
Bashaby  U.,  married  William  Skinner,  and  died  in 
1886,  leaving  three  children — Louis,  James  Nor- 
man, now  deceased,  and  Harriet  E.  George  H..  a 
grocer  of  Ft.  Scott,  Kan.,  married  Miss  Laura  R. 
Rhubv.  and  they  have  two  children — Harlam  R. 
and  Garnett  R. ;  John  F.  is  a  resident  of  George- 
town Township;  lie  married  Miss  Cora  Pickett,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Frederick  A.;  James  1).,  a 
resident  of  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  is  a  wagon- 
maker  by  trade:  he  married  Miss  Cora  E.  Ilolde- 
way. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Mitchell  removed 
to  a  'farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Vermillion  County, 
Ind.,  and  on  the  28th  of  September,  186'J,  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Mary  (Cox)  Falls.  This  lady  is 
the  daughter  of  John  Ritchie  and  Mary  (Cox) 
Ritchie,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio.  The  father 
served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  subsequently  occu- 
pied himself  as  a  farmer,  carpenter  and  brick- 
mason.  Upon  leaving  the  Buckeye  State  he  set- 
tled in  Parke  County,  Ind.,  where  he  spent  his  last 
days.  The  parental  family  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  [mature  years,  viz: 
Elizabeth.  Hester  A.,  Joseph.  Melinda,  John,  Mary. 
Eleanor.  Edward,  Jefferson  and  Robert  G.;  two 
died  in  infancy. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Parke  County.  Ind.,  and  was  married  in  1859  to 
Mr.  Jesse  B.  Falls,  also  a  native  of  that  count}-. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  children — Mary 
E.,  John  E.,  and  Joseph  I.,  and  Mr.  Falls  died  in 
Indiana.  Her  wedding  with  our  subject  took  place 
in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.  In  1872  Mr.  Mitchell 
sold  his   Indiana    property  and  came  to  Vermilion 


County,  where  he  is  now  the  owner  of  two  farms, 
the  homestead  embracing  166|  acres.  His  other 
farm  is  forty-seven  and  one-fourth  acres  in  extent. 
Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  have  by  their 
present  marriage  four  children— Sarah  E.,  Martha  A., 
Cassius  L.,  and  Josephine  H.,.  Mr.  Mitchell  votes 
the  straight  Republican  ticket,  and  has  served  as 
Road  Master  and  School  Director.  He  conies  from 
old  Kentucky  stock,  being  the  son  of  Gabriel  and 
Ruth  (Van  Cleve)  Mitchell,  who  were  both  natives 
of  Shelby  County,  that  State.  They  were  reared  and 
married  in  the  Blue  Grass  regions,  where  the  father 
carried  on  farming  until  removing  to  Montgomery 
County,  Ind..  in  1*27.  There  he  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers.  His  was  the  common  lotof  those  who 
had  ventured  onto  the  frontier,  and  he  labored  suc- 
cessfully in  building  up  a  home  in  the  wilderness. 
He  was  three  times  married,  and  had  by  the  first 
wife  twelve  children,  namely:  Daniel  H.,  who  died 
in  Kankakee  County,  this  State,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years:  John  W.,  Margery  A.,  Polly  !'>.. 
James  N.,  Martha  J*,  Sally  E.,  Robert  L.,  Minnie 
(deceased),  Amelia  S.,  Nancy,  and  Melina  II.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1847,  at  the  age 
of  forty- five  years.  By  his  second  marriage  Gab- 
riel Mitchell  was  the  father  of  four  children,  viz: 
David  B..  Joseph  L..  Ruth  A.  and  George  B.  Of 
his  third  marriage  there  were  no  children.  He  re- 
moved to  Wilson  County,  Kan.,  in  1870.  and  died 
in  1879. 


<x5o~ 


ENRY  MILLS  resides  on  section  3,  Elwood 
Township,  and  was  born  on  what  is  known 
as  the  Thomas  Brown  farm,  near  Vermil- 
((1P  ion  Grove,. March  23,  1830.  He  began  life 
poor  but  has  been  eminently  successful  in  building 
up  a  competency.  He  gives  one-tenth  of  his  in- 
come to  the  support  of  the  gospel,and  for  benevolent 
purposes,  a  characteristic  which  entitles  him  to  the 
name  of  philanthropist. 

Seth  Mills,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  East  Tenn..  Oct. 
1(1,  1805,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Davis) 
Mills,  who  removed  to  the  Miama  Valley,  Ohio, 
in  1806,  settling  a  few   miles   from    Dayton.     Seth 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Wills  came  with  his  parents  to  Wayne  County, 
Ind.,  in  1815,  and  they  were  consequently  among 
the  very  early  settlers  of  that  region.  At  that  time 
there  were  many  Indians  roving  about,  but  they 
were  peaceable.  The  heavy  beech  timber  that  cov- 
ered that  country  made  it  difficult  to  clear  the 
land.  The  elder  Mills,  tanned  leather  and  also  made 
the  shoes  for  the  family.  He  married  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  John  and  Julatha  Canaday  on  the  21st 
day  of  March,  1827,  and  to  this  union  five  children 
were  born,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Irena  Ha- 
worth, Henry,  and  Anna  M.  Haworth.  The  father 
came  to  Vermilion  County  in  the  spring  of  1 828 
raising  a  crop  of  corn  that  year.  In  the  autumn 
he  brought  his  family  here,  accompanied  by  John 
and  Herman  Canaday  and  families.  An  inventory 
of  the  effect  of  the  elder  Mills  when  he  arrived 
here,  would  exhibit  that  he  had  one  horse,  two 
cows,  three  calves,  a  few  sheep  and  fifty  cents  in 
money.  He  bought  a  horse  soon  after  his  arrival, 
giving  110  days  work  for  it.  In  1846  he  wrote  a 
short  sketch  of  his  life  from  which  the  above  facts 
were  gleaned.  He  died  in  this  township  on  the 
19th  day  of  August,  1846,  his  wife  surviving  him 
for  many  years,  dying  at  her  son  Henry's  house  on 
on  the  18th  day  of  July,  1888.  This  most  estim- 
able couple  were  life-long  Quakers,  as  are  all  their 
children.  The}'  were  rigidly  honest  and  when 
they  left  this  world,  they  did  not  leave  an  enemy 
behind  them. 

Henry  Mills  received  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Illinois  and  has  always  worked 
hard  since  he  was  old  enough.  All  of  his  life  has 
been  spent  in  this  township.  He  is  an  Elder  in  the 
Quaker  Church  at  Elwood  and  occupies  the  impor- 
tant office  of  '"Head  of  the  Church"  at  that  place. 
On  the  10th  of  November,  1852  he  was  married  to 
Mary  Folger,  who  was  born  in  Elwood  Township 
also,  they  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living:  Aaron,  Alpheus,  Zimri,  Marietta, 
Matilda,  Seth,  and  Allen  G.  Alpheus  married 
Matilda  Newlin.  They  are  living  in  the  State  of 
Oregon  and  have  four  children — Lewis,  Ella,  Jay, 
and  an  infant  boy;  Zimri  married  Miriam  Newlin, 
they  also  reside  in  Oregon  and  have  two  children — 
Dennis  C.  and  Foster  M;  Marietta  married  Levi 
E.  Lewis,  they  are  living  on  the  old  homestead  with 


the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  have  two  chil- 
dren— Mary  E.  and  Russell;  Matilda  is  the  wife  of 
Justin  L.  Haworth.  they  arc  living  across  the  State 
line  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  and  are  the  parents 
of  two  children — Lucy  M.  and  Iluber;  Lucy  is 
deceased;  Seth  married  Rhoda  J.  Hester,  they 
live  in  this  township  and  have  one  child — Ola  R. 
Henry  Mills  owns  336  acres  of  land,  where  the 
old  homestead  is  located,  and  forty-seven  acres  in 
another  tract  near  by.  He  is  engaged  in  raising 
stock  consisting  of  Short-horn  cattle  and  Poland- 
China  hogs.  He  has  been  very  successful,  finan- 
cially, which  is  due  to  his  industrious  habits  and 
prudent  business  management.  He  believes  that 
the  Prohibition  party  is  right,  and  votes  the  ticket 
upon  which  is  printed  the  names  of  men  who  be- 
lieve in  temperance  principles.  There  is  not  a 
farm  in  his  township  upon  which  are  better  build- 
ings, and  there  is  none  that  is  in  a  higher  state  of 
cultivation.  His  wife  has  been  a  valuable  help- 
mate to  hi  in,  and  she  has  done  her  full  share  in 
placing  them  in  the  independent  position  they  now 
occupy. 


/^APT.    FRANK    J.    PASTEUR,   editor    and 
proprietor  of  the  Ridge  Farm   Times,  foun- 


6 


L 

ded  this  journal  in  188/,  and  is  conductnu 
it  with  success.  He  was  born  near  Wheeling, 
W.  Va.,  Sept.  12.  1838,  and  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents,  they  settling  in  Griggsville,  Pike 
County.  He  is  the  grandson  of  Maj.  John  Mc- 
Elroy  of  Revolutionary  fame.  He  enlisted  in 
1862,  in  Company  D,  79th  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
was  wounded  in  the  hip  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

After  recovering  from  his  wound,  our  subject 
was  assigned  to  duty  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  in 
the  Inspector  General's  department,  on  the  staff  of 
Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas,  Commanders  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Resaca, 
Kenesaw,  New  Hope  Church,  Siege  of  Atlanta, 
Jonesboro,  Franklin,  etc.  He  is  an  editor  and 
practical  printer,  and  founded  the  Rossville  (111.) 
Press,    West  Lebanon   (Ind.)    Gazette,    Meredosia 


twrf; 


^■J^L 


gt 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bib 


(111.)  Commercial,  and  has  had  a  large  experience 
as  a  traveler.  He  has  been  nearly  all  over  the 
United  Slates,  and  to  Canada.  Cuba  and  Mexico. 
chiefly  in  the  interest  of  the  metropolitan  news- 
papers, and  is  widely  known  in  the  West  as  a  suc- 
cessful newspaper  man. 


♦>~3M>sH s 


^-•<- 


SPSAAC  N.  BUSBY.  Among-  the  retired  farmers 
of  Faiimount  Village,  Mr.  Busby  may  be  given 

\  as  a  fair  sample  of  the  worth  anil  respectabil- 
ity which  have  so  many  illustrations  in  this  county 
—men  who  have  risen  from  an  humble  position  in 
life  and  whose  characters  have  been  developed  by 
the  force  of  circumstances;  while  their  innate  hon- 
esty and  integrity  enabled  them  to  make  for  them- 
selves a  good  record  financially  and  in  their  busi- 
ness relations.  The  second  in  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  Mr.  Busby  was  born  Nov.  10,  1822,  in 
Virginia,  and  when  a  child  of  four  years  was  taken 
by  his  parents  to  Madison  County,  Ind.  His  child- 
hood and  youth  were  passed  amid  the  wild  scenes 
of  life  on  the  frontier,  as  there  were  less  than  100 
people  in  that  county  when  the  Busby  family  took 
up  their  abode  there. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  there- 
fore quite  limited,  he  pursuing  his  first  studies  in 
a  log  school  house,  averaging  about  two  months  in 
the  year.  As  soon  as  old  enough  his  services  were 
utilized  upon  the  new  farm,  from  which  he  assisted 
his  father  in  clearing  the  timber,  and  remained 
with  his  parents  until  a  young  man  of  twenty  - 
three  years.  He  was  then  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Ann,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Margaret  (Volcn- 
tine)  Cotty,  Mr.  Cotty  being  a  farmer  of  his  own 
neighborhood  and  the  father  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  his  daughter  Sarah  was  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Busby  settled 
upon  a  farm  belonging  to  the  father  of  our  subject, 
but  six  months  later  removed  to  Pendleton,  Ind., 
where  Mr.  Busby  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a 
cabinet  shop,  and  carried  on  this  business  for  five 
years.     Then  selling  out  he  changed    his  residence 


to  Miracleville,  where  he  purchased  a  store  of  gen- 
eral   merchandise,   and   conducted    this    two   years. 

Selling  out  once  more  he  came  to  this  county,  in 
1853,  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Catlin  Township. 
He  sold  this  in  1858  and  bought  another  in  Carroll 
Township,  to  which  he  removed,  and  still  owns  the 
property.  In  1858  he  came  to  the  farm  which  he 
now  occupies  and  which  comprises  320  acres  of 
choice  land,  nearly  all  under  cultivation.  He  has 
given  some  attention  to  stock-raising,  and  rather 
prefers  it  to  general  farming,  although  perhaps  in 
the  latter  he  has  met  more  uniformly  with  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Busby  are  the  parents  of  a  fine 
family  of  children,  eight  in  number,  and  all  living. 
The  oldest,  Thomas  W.,  married  Miss  Am\-  Ford, 
is  the  father  of  four  children,  and  lives  in  Adah- 
County,  Iowa;  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Franklin 
Swishei',  of  Carroll  Township,  and  they  have  one 
child;  Horace  C.  left  home  some  years  ago,  and  is 
in  the  great  West;  Mary  L.  is  the  wife  of  William 
Carrington,  of  Carroll  Township,  and  the}*  have 
three  children ;  Margaret  married  Charles  Cox, 
lives  in  Fairmount  and  is  the  mother  of  one  child; 
John  E.  married  Miss  Birdie  Turner,  and  they 
occupy  the  home  farm;  they  have  no  children. 
Ira  M.  and  Carrie  are  unmarried  and  remain  with 
their  parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Busby  left  the  farm  in  1886,  and 
now  occupy  a  pleasant  and  attractive  little  home 
in  Fairmount.  near  that  of  the  well-known  Dr.  J. 
W.  Turner.  Mr.  Busby  owns  two  and  one-half 
acres  of  land  within  the  corporation,  and  is 
generally  well-to-do,  having  no  cause  for  anxiety 
as  to  life's  comforts  in  his  declining  years.  Both 
he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  have  been  very 
active  workers  in  the  Sunday-school.  Socially, 
Mr.  Busby  belongs  to  Fairmount  Lodge,  No.  590, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

Our  subject  for  the  last  eighteen  years  has  been 
Township  Trustee.  Politically  he  is  quite  con- 
servative, and  has  u  due  appreciation  of  the  privi- 
leges of  the  voting  citizen,  which  are  too  often 
held  in  light  esteem.  During  his  early  manhood 
he  belonged  to  the  old  Whig  party  until  its  aban- 
donment, in  1856.  He  was  not  an  admirer  of  John 
C.    Fremont,    the    Presidential     candidate   of    the 


576 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


newly-formed  Republican  party,  neither  could  he 
conscientiously  vote  for  James  Buchanan,  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democracy.  Scarcely  knowing  how 
to  escape  from  the  dilemma  in  which  he  found  him- 
self, he  and  an  ardent  Democratic  neighbor  finally 
paired  off  and  decided  to  dig  potatoes  all  day  in 
their  adjoining  fields,  and  if  either  one  jumped 
upon  a  horse  and  left,  the  other  one  was  to  go  and 
vote.  They  dug  industriously  all  day.  and  as  a 
consequence  neither  voted  at  that  election.  From 
that  time  Mr.  Busby  has  voted  the  Republican 
ticket. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  John  Busby,  a 
native  of  Monroe  County,  Va.,  and  who  married 
Miss  Phebe  Boggess,  likewise  born  in  the  Old 
Dominion.  Grandfather  Busby  was  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  the  great-grandfather  was  born  in 
England.  On  the  mother's  side  Grandfather 
Boggess  traced  his  ancestry  to  Scotland.  The 
parents  of  our  subject  were  reared  and  married  in 
their  native  State,  where  the}'  lived  until  1826. 
They  then  emigrated  to  Madison  County,  Ind., 
where  the  father  entered  240  acres  of  land  and 
where  he  sojourned  for  a  period  of  twenty-seven 
years,  enduring  the  toils  and  vicissitudes  of  pioneer 
life.  In  1853  he  came  to  this  county  and  purchased 
160  acres  of  land  in  Catlin  Township.  After 
putting  in  one  crop  he  returned  to  the  Hoosier 
State  for  his  family,  removing  them  here  in  1854. 
They  lived  in  a  log  house  a  number  of  years,  and 
in  the  meantime  labored  in  the  opening  up  of  the 
farm,  their  industry  and  perseverance  meeting  with 
success.  The  elder  Busby  accumulated  a  good 
property,  becoming  quite  an  extensive  land-owner. 
He  rested  from  his  earthly  labors  in  1880,  and  his 
name  is  held  in  kindly  remembrance  by  all  who 
knew  him  as  having  been  a  useful  man  in  his  com- 
munity, and  one  who  ever  sought  its  best  interests. 
The  mother  survived  her  husband  until  1887, 
passing  away  in  'H'interset,  where  the  father  also 
died.  Six  of  their  twelve  children  are  still  living 
and  making  their  homes  mostly  in  Illinois  and 
Iowa. 

Mrs.  Busby  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ind., 
May  23,  1826,  and  there  spent  the  days  of  her 
childhood  and  youth.  She  obtained  her  education 
in    the   same    manner  as   her   husband,  under    the 


primitive  system  of  instruction  in  the  log  school 
house,  and  became  familiar  with  all  useful  house- 
hold duties  which  fitted  her  for  the  careful  wife 
and  mother  who  has  looked  after  the  family  in- 
dustriously and  conscientiously,  and  who  labored 
equally  with  her  husband  in  the  building  of  their 
homestead  and  the  accumulation  of  property. 

Thomas  \V.  Busby,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject, 
entered  the  arm}-  as  a  drummer,  during  the  late 
Civil  War,  before  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 
Through  some  misunderstanding  he  was  not  regu- 
larly enlisted,  but  he  served  all  through  the  war  as 
a  private  soldier  in  Company  E,  73d  Illinois  In- 
fantry, participating  in  every  battle  in  which  this 
gallant  regiment  engaged.  For  two  years  he  never 
missed  a  roll  call,  but  suffered  later  considerably 
from  illness.  He  remained  with  his  regiment,  how- 
ever, and  with  it  received  his  honorable  discharge, 
having  escaped  wounds  and  capture  by  the  enemy. 
His  experience  was  similar  to  that  of  the  common 
soldier  who  suffered  hardship  and  privation  un- 
complainingly while  he  never  lacked  in  bravery, 
being  always  found  at  his  post  when  able,  and 
prepared  to  accept  whatever  fate  should  befall  him. 

The  many  friends  of  Mr.  Busby  will  welcome 
with  pleasure  the  valuable  addition  to  the  Album 
in  a  fine  portrait  of  him  whose  life  has  been  passed 
among  them  as  a  book,  the  open  pages  of  which 
all  might  turn  and  read. 


s-** 


-fpsA  AMUEL    P.    DONOVAN.     Although    for 
^^L    many  years  past  engaged  in  the  peaceful 
ImJi)   pursuits  of  agriculture,  the  subject  of  this 
notice  will  be  remembered  by  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  old  residents  of  this  county,  as  one 
nf  Kit  Carsons'  fift}r-two  Invincibles   who   distin- 
guished  themselves   by  their  explorations  in  New 
Mexico  and  Arizona   in  1861.     The  romantic  his- 
tory  of  that  enterprise  and  the  men  who  conducted 
it  is  almost  synonomous  with  the  history  of  this 
country.     There  are,  however,  but  comparatively 
few  living    of  the  valiant  spirits  who   took  their 
lives  in   their   hands  and  ventured  into  a  savage 
country,  far  beyond   the    bounds    of   civilization. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


5  77 


Mr.  Donovan,  one  of  the  bravest  of  these,  made  for 
himself  an  honorable  record.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming, and  has 
now  one  of  the  finest  homes  in  Carroll  Township. 
This  is  presided  over  by  a  very  estimable  lady. 
Mrs.  Donovan  being  endowed  with  more  than  or- 
dinary intelligence,  and  one  who  enjoys  in  a  large 
measure  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  her.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  named:  Luella, 
William  O.,  Emma  E.  (deceased)  and  Eva  A. 

A  son  of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this 
county,  our  subject  was  born  on  Stone  Creek  about 
two  miles  north  of  Danville.  Aug.  27.  1829.  It 
will  thus  be  seen  that  he  is  among  the  oldest  living 
natives  within  its  precincts.  Born  and  reared  amid 
the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life,  he  grew  up  healthy 
in  mind  and  body,  acquiring  a  limited  education 
in  the  log  school-house  of  those  times,  and  being 
harnessed  into  work  at  an  early  age.  When  sixteen 
years  old  he  left  home  and  was  employed  on  a 
farm  by  the  month  until  1861,  then  seized  with 
the  California  gold  fever  he  crossed  the  Rocky 
Mountains  to  Pike's  Peak,  starting  on  foot  and  alone 
to  Fairmount,  where  he  took  the  train  to  St.  Louis 
and  thence  proceeded  via  the  Missouri  River  to 
Omaha.  At  this  point  a  company  of  eighteen 
equipped  themselves  with  wagons  and  mules,  in- 
tending to  start  on  a  land-exploring  trip.  After 
traveling  over  Southeastern  Nebraska  and  North- 
eastern Kansas,  the  whole  company  Anally  set  out 
across  the  plains  from  Ft.  Leavenworth  to  Denver, 
being  forty-one  days  on  the  road.  Thence  they 
proceeded  to  Golden  City,  where  young  Donovan 
worked  by  the  day  for  two  weeks,  then  started 
over  the  range,  wading  in  snow,  in  June,  until  he 
came  to  Blue  River. 

At  the  above-mentioned  point  there  was  consid- 
erable excitement  concerning  the  prospects  in 
California,  and  Mr.  Donovan  proceeded  thither. 
Taking  a  claim  he  went  to  mining  in  the  snow  about 
July  1,  then  sold  out  and  pocketed  the  snug  sum 
of  $1,600  as  his  share  of  the  profits  for  two  months. 
We  next  find  our  hero  on  the  way  to  the  San  Juan 
Mountains.  At  Taos,  N.  M.,  the  party  stopped  to 
lay  in  a  store  of  provisions  and  then  fell  in  with 
Kit  Carson,  who  was  organizing  a  company  for  the 
purpose  of  going  to  the  southwestern  part  of  Ari- 


zona. Young  Donovan  eagerly  embraced  the  op- 
portunity to  join  the  expedition,  and  they  were 
soon  proceeding  on  their  long  and  perilous  trip. 
They  traveled  through  the  country  of  the  Navajo 
Indians,  where  no  white  man  had  ever  ventured 
before  and  met  with  many  exciting  incidents, 
fighting  with  the  savages  and  only  losing  one  in- 
dividual, a  Dutchman,  who  through  mistaken  brav- 
et}7  exposed  himself  unnecessarily  and  was  shot 
through  by  an  arrow. 

Kit  Carson  is  described  by  Mr.  Donovan  as  being 
one  of  the  best  natured  and  most  kindly  disposed 
men  it  was  ever  his  fortune  to  meet.  His  life  on 
the  frontier  had  naturally  made  him  somewhat 
rough  at  times  in  his  manner  and  conversation,  but 
at  heart  he  possessed  the  elements  of  true  manhood. 
The  company  explored  the  country  along  the  Colo- 
rado and  Gila  rivers  and  in  Southern  California, 
breaking  up  at  Ft.  Garland,  whence  they  returned 
to  Colorado,  our  subject  and  twelve  others  return- 
ing by  the  same  route  on  which  they  went  out. 
They  engaged  in  mining  at  Buckskin  Joe.  forming 
a  company  and  working  on  the  Phillips  lead  and 
sinking  all  the  money  they  possessed  with  poor  re- 
sults. 

Next  Mr.  Donovan  proceeded  to  Denver  and 
Central  City,  where  he  commenced  working  by  the 
day.  and  was  thus  occupied  nine  months,  making 
.l>8  per  day.  He  then  invested  a  portion  of  his 
capital  in  No.  3  Nottaway  Lead,  which  he  and  his 
partner  worked  until  they  made  •'525.000  in  about 
six  months.  Being  satisfied  with  this  Mr.  Donovan 
decided  to  return  to  Illinois  and  soon  afterward 
was  married,  Sept.  10,  1865,  to  Miss  Lydia  Stun- 
kard.  Shortly  afterward  he  purchased  his  present 
farm  of  188  acres  in  Carroll  Township.  Of  this 
union  there  were  born  no  children,  and  Mrs.  Lydia 
Donovan  died  after  eight  years  of  married  life. 

Our  subject  in  due  time  contracted  a  second 
matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss  Sarah  Jane,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Pollard,  of  whom  mention  is  made 
in  the  sketch  of  Charles  Hull  on  another  page  in 
this  volume.  The  Pollards  are  of  English  descent 
and  for  many  generations  have  been  noted  for  their 
mechanical  genius.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Donovan 
was  in  her  girlhood  Mary  Ann  Battel,  and  was  the 
offspring  of  a  noted  English  family  who  emigrated 


578 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  America  at  an  early  period.  Her  father  liuilL 
the  first  steam  saw-mill  along  the  southern  line  of 
this  county,  and  for  years  thereafter  operated  :is  a 
millwright  and  wheelwright.  Mrs.  Donovan,  a  very 
estimable  lady,  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  our  subject,  politically,  has 
voted  with  the  Republican  party  since  its  organiza- 
tion. After  voting  for  John  C.  Fremont,  the  first 
Republican  candidate  for  President,  Kit  Carson 
declared  that  if  he  should  live  to  be  more  than  a 
hundred  years  old  he  would  never  vote  for  so  good 
a  man  as  Fremont.  While  Mr.  Donovan  was  in  the 
mountains  his  wife  was  in  her  native  England.  She 
■was  born  in  Yorkshire,  where  she  attended  a  pri- 
vate school,  and  was  a  girl  of  fourteen  years  when 
coming  to  America.  Her  father  had  visited  this 
country  twice  before  his  family  joined  him  in  this 
county.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  seven  times  prior 
to  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1886,  when  he 
was  sixty-five  years  old.  The  mother,  now  a  lady 
of  sixty-eight  years,  is  still  living  and  makes  her 
home  in  Indianola.  Their  five  children  were  named 
respectively,  Paul,  John,  Sarah  J.,  Peter  and  Mar- 
tha A.  Mr.  Donovan  has  served  as  School  Director 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  has  always  signalized 
himself  as  a  public-spirited  and  liberal-minded  citi- 
zen, giving  the  right  of  way  to  the  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  and  contributing  in 
other  directions  to  the  best  interest  of  the  county. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  were  James  and  Man 
(Perkins)  Donovan,  natives  of  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.,  where  they  were  reared  and  married.  They 
came  to  Illinois  in  1828.  The  father  when  a  youth 
of  sixteen  years  served  in  the  regular  army  under 
(Jen.  Andrew  Jackson  as  private  in  a  Kentucky 
company.  After  coming  to  this  county  he  was 
employed  in  the  salt  works  near  Catlin;  he  also 
hauled  quantities  of  produce  to  Chicago  and  trans- 
ported produce  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans. 
After  a  life  of  industry  and  many  hardships  he 
departed  hence  when  about  sixty -years  old.  The 
mother  died  in  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 
'i  hey  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were  named  re- 
spectively, Joseph,  Rebecca.  William  (deceased), 
James.  Cornelius.  Martha.  Richard,  Samuel  Porter 
our    subject.    Sarah    J..   Arthur    C,  Jerry.   Mary, 


Louisa,  Nellie,  and  Robert,  deceased.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  was  there 
married  to  a  maiden  of  his  own  county.  Upon  com- 
ing to  America  they  settled  in  Kentucky  where 
they  spent  their  last  dajs.  Grandfather  Joseph 
Perkins  was  a  native  of  England  and  was  married 
in   Kentucky  to  a  lady  who   was  born  in  Scotland. 


*-<# 


Tr^  OBERT  W.  FISK.  This  bright  and  prom- 
'JW^  ising  young  attorney  is  the  eldest  son  of 
iii\\\  James  VV.  and  Sarah  A.  Fisk,  and  although 
%j))only  admitted  to  the  bar  May  8.  1884,  has 
already  gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  member 
of  the  legal  fraternity  and  made  many  friends  among 
the  people  of  this  county,  especially  in  Ridge 
farm,  to  which  he  came  soon  after  completing  his 
law  course.  He  is  possessed  of  a  worthy  ambition 
to  excel,  and  devotes  much  careful  study  to  the 
various  knotty  questions  which  are  constantly  aris- 
ing in  connection  with  his  profession,  aided  by  an 
ample  library,  to  which  he  is  gradually  adding  as 
time  and  opportunity  permit.  He  has  fair  pros- 
pects for  the  future  and  numbers  of  friends  who  are 
watching  his  career  with  kindly  interest. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  Melrose,  Clark  County, 
this  State,  Nov.  7,  1858,  and  attended  the  common 
school  during  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth. 
He  at  an  early  period  in  his  life  evinced  an  interest 
in  common  law,  and  in  September,  1883,  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  Michigan  University  at 
Ann  Arbor,  where  he  studied  until  March,  1884. 
Then  returning  to  Melrose  he  sojourned  there  until 
being  admitted  to  the  Indiana  bar,  May  8,  1884. 
On  the  8th  of  May,  1888  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  the  courts  of  Illinois.  He  was  elected  Police 
Magistrate  of  Ridge  Farm  in  April,  1887,  for  a 
term  of  four  years,  and  at  the  Republican  District 
Convention  in  1888,  received  twenty-five  votes  for 
Representative  out  of  the  fifty-four  required  for 
nomination.  He  officiates  as  Notary  Public,  and 
is  building  up  a  practice  which  is  steadily  increas- 
ing in  extent  and  importance,  and  has  recently  been 
appointed  Deputy  States  Attorney  for  this  county. 
Mr.  Fisk  has  set  a  worthy  example  for  his  young 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


579 


men  associates,  being  an  active  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  giving  his  un- 
qualified support  to  those  enterprises  set  on  foot 
for  the  purpose  of  elevating  the  social  status  of  the 
community  where  he  is  destined  to  make  his  mark. 
He  was  for  one  year  Captain  of  Charles  A.  Clark 
Camp.  No.  77  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  is  at  present 
First  Sergeant  in  that  body.  lie  possesses  business 
qualifications  of  no  mean  order,  and  is  a  general 
favorite  both  in  the  social  and  business  circles.  He 
remains  unmarried.  As  an  orator  he  is  exceptionally 
eloquent  and  forcible,  and  invariably  brings  his 
oratorical  powers  to  his  support  when  arguing 
questions  before  the  courts. 


-*-C- 


fl  IfclLLIAM  MILLER.  In  that  day  when 
\/\l//  f''eef'0,n  s'lil"  make  up  the  muster  roll  of 
W \?  her  heroes,  none  on  the  majestic  list  shall 
meet  with  greater  honor  than  those  who,  when  the 
Secessionists  sought  to  force  our  flag  from  its  proud 
place,  sprung  to  its  aid.  The  farmer  boy,  the  stud- 
ent, the  wealthy,  all  touched  shoulders  and  marched, 
suffered  and  died,  that  we  might  have  a  land  un- 
divided, free  and  prosperous.  It  will  be  an  1111- 
propitious  day  for  this  country  when  it  forgets  to 
sing  the  praises  of  her  noble  defenders.  Let  his- 
tory make  a  record  of  the  fact  that  the  man  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch  was  one  of  those  who  dared 
to  do,  when  that  act  meant  something,  and  when  the 
dark  clouds  of  adversity  and  war  hovered  over  our 
fair  land. 

William  Miller  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Indianola. 
His  father  and  mother,  James  and  Ruth  (Weiley), 
both  died  when  William  was  young,  and  of  whom 
he  has  no  recollection.  At  the  time  of  their  death 
there  were  but  two  children  in  the  family — Squire 
and  William,  the  former  going  to  Missouri  in  about 
1834,  and  when  the  Mexican  War  broke  out  he  en- 
listed, and  that  was  the  last  Mr.  Miller  heard  of 
him.  William  was  born  March  1.").  1810,  in  Giles 
County,  Va.  His  ancestors  were  leading  people  in 
the  Colonies,  and  his  grandfather  Weiley  was  a  sol- 
dier   in   the    Revolutionary  War.      Soon  after  his 


mother's  death  William  was  thrust  upon  the  world 
to  do  for  himself,  and  so  his  young  life  was  spent 
in  struggling  to  obtain  a  livelihood.  The  most  of 
this  period  of  his  life  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  to  Vermilion  Count}', 
without  money  and  without  friends.  He  was  en- 
deavoring to  work  his  way  to  Missouri,  where  his 
In-other  was  then  living,  but  inducements  were  laid 
before  him  that  were  strong  enough  to  keep  him 
here,  where  he  worked  continuously  for  three  or 
four  years.  He  made  his  first  trip  on  a  flatboat  to 
New  Orleans  in  1842,  having  rafted  on  the  Ohio 
before.  At  this  time  he  was  a  man  grown,  and  a 
strapping  fellow  of  six  feet  three  and  a  half,  weigh- 
ing 220.  and  fully  calculated,  physically,  to  make 
his  way  in  the  world.  He  made  three  trips  to  New 
Orleans,  and  then  abandoned  the  river.  lie  rented 
a  farm  for  several  years,  after  which  he  came  to 
Carroll  Township,  in  1845,  in  which  year  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  George,  who  was  born  in 
Hamilton  County,  Ohio.  In  1857  he  removed  to 
Indianola,  and  two  years  later  went  to  Kansas, 
where  he  purchased  1G0  acres  of  land,  intending  to 
permanently  remove  there  the  next  year.  At  this 
time  the  struggle  was  going  on  in  Kansas  that  was 
to  determine  whether  that  State  was  to  be  free  or 
slave,  and  society  was  so  unsettled  that  he  gave  up 
his  plan  of  making  that  his  home. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  in  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Comyany  D.  25th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mus- 
tered in  at  Danville.  His  regiment  proceeded  to 
St.  Louis,  remaining  at  that  place  for  a  fortnight, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  Jefferson  City  for  drill. 
It  then  went  to  Springfield,  Mo.,  thence  south  and 
back  again  to  the  latter  place,  when  they  were  or- 
dered to  Rolla,  where  the  regiment  spent  its  first 
winter.  In  the  following  March  the  orders  came 
to  go  to  Springfield  again,  whence  the  regiment 
proceeded  to  Pea  Ridge  and  there  engaged  in  its 
first  fight.  Mr.  Miller  was  also  in  the  following 
battles:  Corinth,  Champion  Hills,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Noonday  Creek, 
Pinetop  Mountain,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chattahoo- 
chee, Peach  Tree  Creek  and  Atlanta.  This  is  a 
brilliant  record.  By  reason  of  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  service  he  was  discharged  at  Atlanta. 
During  the  entire   term  of  enlistment  he  had  been 


580 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


home  on  furlough  but  once  to  see  his  wife  and 
children. 

In  18C5  Mr.  Miller  went  to  Montana,  making  the 
journey  with  a  wagon.  His  trip  embraced  Wash- 
ington, Oregon  and  Idaho,  touching  the  British 
Possessions.  He  returned  in  1867.  rich  in  exper- 
ience, if  in  nothing  else.  Being  a  good  shot,  he 
enjoyed  hunting  in  the  mountains.  About  the  last 
of  September  the  mines  would  close,  when  he 
would  shoulder  his  rifle  and  go  into  the  mountains 
in  pursuit  of  bear,  buffalo,  deer,  and  antelope,  and 
he  has  killed  as  high  as  fifteen  deer  in  one  da}'. 
Since  he  has  returned  he  has  devoted  himself  to 
money-getting,  and  success  has  been  his. 

On  March  6th,  1889,  his  good  wife  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy,  leaving  five  children,  whose  record 
is  given:  John  W.  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army,  and 
died  at  Griffin,  Ga.,  in  1865;  Sarah  E.,  married 
John  II.  Grimes,  of  Villa  Grove.  He  died  in  1889. 
and  was  the  father  of  three  children — Gordon, 
Maud  and  Roy;  Mary  C.  is  the  wife  of  Van  Mitch- 
ell, a  resident  of  Sidell  and  an  ex-soldier.  They 
have  five  children — Minnie,  William,  Pearl,  Walter, 
and  Nellie;  Winfield  lives  at  Sidell;  Lucy  is  the 
wife  of  Allen  Spicer,  a  farmer  of  Carroll  Township, 
and  has  one  child,  Benjamin  Harrison. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican  from  principle.  He 
voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840.  and 
for  Benjamin  Harrison  in  1888.  He  has  never 
sought  office,  but  adheres  to  his  party  at  all  times. 
Mr.  Miller  is  one  of  the  citizens  of  Vermilion 
County  who  is  respected  bj'  his  neighbors,  and  all 
those  with  whom  he  is  acquainted. 


<SpF*HEODORE  MATKIN,  an  extensive  handler 
//~^  and  shipper  of  live  stock,  is  one  of  the  best 
^g^'  known  men  in  this  county.  He  handles 
more  cattle  than  any  other  dealer  in  Carroll  Town- 
ship  and  is  exceedingly  popular  with  the  farmers. 
lie  was  born  in  this  township  on  June  22,  1812, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  gained  his  present 
proud  position  in  the  esteem  of  those  who  know 
him  best. 

His  father  and  mother,  William  and  Mary  (San- 


dusky) Matkin,  were   early  settlers  of  this  county. 

The  father  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1835,  then  a  young  man  of  twenty  years. 
He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Grand- 
view,  and  while  there  became  acquainted  with  his 
future  wife.  His  life  was  not  to  be  spared  long, 
however,  for  in  about  three  years  after  his  mar- 
riage he  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  3'ears, 
leaving  two  children:  Theodore,  and  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  Baird.  The  mother  remained  a  widow  for 
some  time,  then  she  married  Samuel  Baum,and  by 
this  union  four  children  became  men  and  women: 
Frank,  Winchester,  America  and  May. 

Theodore  Matkin  has  no  recollection  of  his 
father,  and  when  his  stepfather  died  he  was  but 
eighteen  years  if  age.  after  which  he  assumed  the 
management  of  the  Baum  farm  of  1,500  acres.  He 
remained  at  home  caring  for  his  mother  and  the 
children.  During  the  war  he  prospered,  as  the 
products  of  his  farm  were  in  great  request  and  at 
exorbitantly  high  prices.  His  education  was  lim- 
ited to  his  attendance  upon  the  public  schools,  but 
he  has  been  a  constant  reader  and  is  always  seeking 
knowledge  of  the  substantial  sort.  The  cattle  busi- 
ness comes  naturally  to  him.  He  herded  stock 
while  but  a  mere  boy  and  grew  up  among  the  cat- 
tle. At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  in  1864,  he 
was  married  to  Sallie  E.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Weaver)  Raney.  Her  father  was  born 
near  Elemingsburg,  Ky.,  and  by  occupation  was  a 
farmer.  He  served  his  country  during  the  .Mexi- 
can War.  The  mother  was  also  a  native  of  the 
same  State  and  was  a  widow  when  she  married  Mr. 
Raney.  Her  first  husband.  James  Culbertson,  left 
four  children  when  he  died:  William,  Edward, 
Amanda  aud  John.  Edward  enlisted  in  the  army 
at  the  same  time  his  stepfather  did  and  went  to 
Mexico.  Mrs.  Matkin  was  a  little  girl  of  five  or  six 
when  they  enlisted,  and  recalls  how  her  father  en- 
treated her  to  be  a  good  girl  and  how  he  promised 
when  he  returned  to  bring  her  some  presents;  but 
he  nfver  returned.  The  mother,  in  1850,  came  to 
Vermilion  County,  where  in  1852,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-one  years,  she  passed  away,  universally  be- 
loved as  a  kind  neighbor  and  a  perfect  mother. 
She  kept  her  family  together  until  her  death.  She 
had   three  children    by    her   last   marriage:   John. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


581 


Thomas  and  Sarah  E.     Thomas  served   in  the  Late 

war  and  died  in  New  Orleans;  John  went  to  Iowa 
when  a  boy  of  twenty  years,  where  lie  married  and 
soon  after  died. 

.Mrs.  Matkin  was  born  in  Edgar  County,  III. 
Coming  to  Georgetown  she  made  her  home  with 
her  sister,  Mrs.  John  Grace,  and  thus  she  came  to 
attend  the  same  school  as  her  future  husband  did. 
Cupid  did  effective  work  in  a  log  school-house  this 
time.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matkin  continued  on  tiie 
Baum  farm  three  years  after  their  marriage,  when 
they  removed  to  Chicago  at  the  time  the  great 
Union  Stock-yards  were  fust  opened.  The  purpose 
of  this  removal  was  to  enter  the  live  stock  commis- 
sion business,  but  not  liking  it  there,  his  next  ven- 
ture was  in  the  dry-goods  trade  at  Indianola,  re- 
maining in  that  business  three  years.  During  all 
this  time  his  ideas  were  centered  upon  the  stock- 
dealing,  and  so  he  sold  out  his  dry  -goods  and  inau- 
gurated the  business  of  farming  and  dealing  in  cat- 
tle. He  shipped  his  stock  largely  to  Buffalo,  N.Y., 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  C.  F.  Reynolds, 
and  in  1872  he  formed  a  union  with  him  under  the 
firm  name  of  C.  F.  Reynolds  &  Co..  and  for  twleve 
years  they  transacted  an  extensive  business  in 
Buffalo,  where  their  main  oflice  was  located.  In 
the  stock  business  Mr.  Matkin  has  handled  millions 
of  dollars,  sometimes  paying  out  from  $50,000  to 
$100,000  per  week;  but  unwisely  a  third  partner 
was  taken  into  the  firm,  and  they  failed  for 
$30,000.  The  debts,  however,  were  paid  off  dollar 
for  dollar,  although  everything  Mr.  Matkin  had 
was  soh  1  under  the  hammer,  even  to  his  private 
horses  and  carriage.  It  took  about  five  years  to 
pay  their  debts,  but  the  firm  kept  on  doing  business 
and  eventually  won  the  fight.  In  1884  Mr.  Mat- 
kin retired  from  business  and  came  back  to  Indi- 
anola. During  his  business  career  in  Buffalo  he 
became  quite  well  acquainted  with  the  law  firm  of 
Cleveland  it  Bissell,  and  he  says  he  found  the  ex- 
President  an  honest  lawyer.  On  the  whole,  Mr. 
Matkin  has  been  successful  in  his  life  work.  Ib- 
is now  living  in  his  elegant  home,  well  provided 
with  everything  calculated  to  round  out  his  hon- 
orable life.  With  music  and  children  around 
him.  he  is  happy.  .Jessie,  his  little  daughter,  was 
born  in  Buffalo.    Feb.    10.    1880,  while  Susan  first 


saw  the  light  in  Indianola,  Feb.  28,  1885.  He  is 
at  present  engaged  some  in  buying  and  shipping 
stock  to  Buffalo,  Chicago,  Indianapolis  and  the 
East. 

Mr.  Matkin  is  a  Republican,  but  party  ties  rest 
lightly  upon  him.  Whenever  the  opposition  nom- 
inates a  man  he  likes,  he  breaks  through  the  lines  of 
his  party  and  votes  for  whom  he  thinks  to  be  the 
best  man  —  as,  for  instance,  he  voted  for  Cleve- 
land, a  personal  friend  of  his,  for  Governor. 


5  LDER  URIAH  FOLGER.  There  is  no 
fe)  other  religious  organization  that  embraces 
iL^  a  greater  number  of  consistent,  true  and  de- 
vout Christians  than  that  of  the  Friends'  Church. 
It  is  proverbial  that  the  people  of  this  denomina- 
tion have  done  more  to  inculcate  simple  honesty 
than  any  other  of  equal  numbers.  When  William 
Penn  came  to  this  country  the  natives  had  posses- 
sion of  the  most  of  it,  and  they  were  distrustful  of 
the  whites.  They  had  been  deceived  am!  studi- 
ously imposed  upon,  and  had  come  to  think  that 
all  white  men  were  bad.  But  when  this  simple 
Quaker  told  them  what  he  would  do  they  believed 
him,  for  the  sect  to  which  he  belonged  was  known 
to  them  as  people  incapable  of  deception.  A  treaty- 
was  made,  based  upon  the  honor  of  the  great  foun- 
der of  Pennsylvania,  and  its  provisions  were  relig- 
iously kept.  It  is  a  lamentable  fact  that  before 
that  time  the  contracts  made  with  the  Indians  were 
drawn  up  with  a  view  of  being  broken.  Thus  the 
Quakers  were  largely  instrumental  in  settling  the 
difficulties  that  existed  between  the  whites  and  the 
Indians,  and  the  foundations  for  a  great  State  were 
therefore  laid.  All  honor  to  the  Society  of 
Friends. 

Uriah  Folger  is  an  Elder  in  the  Friends'  Church 
and  a  typical  Quaker.  He  was  bom  in  Elwood 
Township  April  2:i.  1834.  His  father,  Asa.  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina,  came  to  this  county  in 
1831,  settling  in  the  Elwood  neighborhood.  He 
carried  on  the  business  of  tanning  and shoemaking 
for  many  years,  and  did  the  work  for  the  settlers 
who  lived  for  miles  around.   He  employed  at  times 


582 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


four  or  five  men.  and  as  a  business  man  he  pros- 
pered. He  was  one  of  the  best  of  men.  His  wife  was 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Uriah  Starbuck.  This  wor- 
th}- couple  were  the  parents  of  ten  children:  Wal- 
ter, Erasmus,  Matilda  Haworth,  Lydia,  John,  Mary, 
Sarah.  Rachael  and  Thomas.  Thomas,  the  youngest, 
is  forty-nine  years  old.  The  father  and  mother 
died  in  1850  and  1880  respectively. 

Uriah  Folger  received  his  primary  education  at 
the  common  schools,  and  later  he  attended  the 
Bloom ingdale  Academy,  where  lie  studied  under 
Prof.  Ilobbs.  He  was  an  apt  scholar  and  therefore 
received  a  good  education.  On  Nov.  10,  1858,  he 
was  married  to  Edith  C.  Dillon,  daughter  of  Laban 
and  .lane  (Ilolhdav)  Dillon,  both  deceased.  The 
former  died  when  Edith  was  an  infant,  while  the 
mother  passed  away  in  1859.  This  worthy  couple 
had  many  traits  of  character  that  endeared  them  to 
their  neighbors,  and  their  death  was  mourned  by 
all  their  acquaintances.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  never 
had  any  children.  He  owns  twenty  acres  of  land 
in  Ehvood  Township  and  640  acres  in  Crosby 
County,  Tex.,  and  also  a  town  lot  in  Marriette, 
Tex. 

Mr.  Folger  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Quaker 
Church,  while  his  wife  united  with  that  most  ex- 
cellent denomination  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 
I  [e  is  an  exhorterof  considerable  note  in  his  church, 
and  devotes  the  most  of  his  time  to  that  work.  He 
is  eminently  successful  in  his  labors  to  make  the 
world  better,  and  those  who  know  him  best  are  his 
most  aident  admirers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  never 
weary  in  doing  good,  and  the  respect  in  which  they 
are  held  by  their  neighbors  is  well  earned. 


-v 


-**£&&&*- 


EWIS  ALLEN  REID.  It  has  been  custom 
ary  to  speak  of  men  who  have  raised  them 
selves  to  honorable  positions  in  life  without 
the  aid  of  wealth,  as  self-made  men.  There  is  much 
less  significance  in  this  expression  than  people  sup- 
pose who  use  it.  It  would  seem  to  imply  that  there 
were  some  men  who  are  not  self  made,  that  they  were 
made  by  others,  and  that  the  qualities  necessary  to 
render  the   man   successful   in  life  need  not  be  ac- 


quired but  might  be  conferred.  Such  is  not  the 
case.  All  men  who  are  made  are  self  made,  and 
there  is  no  exception,  for  it  cannot  be  otherwise. 
In  whatever  department  one  may  enter,  if  he  desires 
success  he  must  achieve  it.  There  is  no  short  cut, 
no  patent  process.  It  is  work  that  makes  men,  and 
that  work  must  be  done  by  the  man  himself  who 
would  be  made.  Hard  work  has  made  Lewis  Allen 
Reid  what  he  now  is  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellows. 

Mr.  Reid  was  born  in  Vermillion  County.  Ind.. 
Oct.  26,  184G.  His  father,  David  Reid,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Mason  County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Vermill- 
ion County.  Ind..  in  1837,  with  his  parents  when  a 
small  boy.  He  removed  to  Elwood  Township  in 
1848,  where  he  died  April  7,  1865.  His  wife  was 
Eleanor,  daughter  of  John  Whitlock,  a  prominent 
pioneer  of  the  same  township.  She  was  born  in 
Kentucky  and  came  to  Illinois  when  she  was  a  lit- 
tle girl.  She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living.  Lewis  A.,  of  whom 
this  sketch  is  written;  Cynthia  Henderson,  Thomas, 
Lance  L.,  Laura  Glick,  Eliza  Trimble  and  Rosa 
Campbell. 

Lewis  A.  Reid  was  primarily  educated  at  the 
common  schools  and  finished  his  education  at  the 
Georgetown  High  School.  He  taught  two  years 
in  this  township,  two  terms  of  which  were  in  his 
home  district,  and  two  in  district  No.  4.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  late  war,  having  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  135th  Illinois  Infantry.  He  served  a  term  of 
four  months,  his  regiment  being  only  called  out  for 
100  days.  On  May  7,  1865,  Mr.  Reid  married 
Anna,  daughter  of  Wright  Cook.  The  latter  was 
a  pioneer  of  Elwood  Township.  He  emigrated  from 
North  Carolina  to  Illinois  in  1825,  locating  here 
when  the  Indians  and  wild  animals  held  almost  un- 
disputed possession  of  the  country.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Rachael  Maxwell,  was  a  native  of 
Knoxville,  Tenn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  hail  twelve 
children,  eight  of  whom  still  survive:  Elam,  of  Tus- 
cola, Ill.,Keziah,  Mrs.  Rudd,  of  Elwood  Township; 
Hugh,  of  Springfield,  Mo.;  Thomas,  Asa,  of  El- 
wood; Sarah,  Mrs.  Patterson,  of  Montgomery 
County,  Kan.;  Mrs.  Reid  and  Rachel  Thompson, 
both  of  Elwood.  Two  of  the  children  died  after 
they  had  attained  maturity,  viz.;  Elizabeth.  Mrs. 
Smith,  who  left  a  husband  and  four  children,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALHLM. 


583 


Joel,    who    died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.     Mrs. 
Reid  was  horn  in  El  wood,  July  21,  1844. 

Mi'.  Reid  located  on  his  present  farm  in  the  fall 
of  18G5,  where  he  owns  and  operates  I  10  acres  of 
hind.  lie  is  engaged  in  raising  graded  rattle, 
Clydesdale  ami  Norman  horses  and  Poland-China 
and  Berkshire  pigs.  Politically,  he  belongs  to  the 
Republican  party,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  at  Yankee  Point,  and 
in  the  Sunday-school  he  is  a  great  worker,  where 
he  has  been  Superintendent  or  teacher  for  the  past 
ten  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Mrs.  Reid  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  an  incident  will  exhibit 
that  she  came  from  plucky  stock.  Her  mother  rode 
on  horseback  anil  drove  a  COW  all  the  way  from 
Tennessee  to  Union  County,  Ind.,  where  the  family 
resided  for  a  time. 


\fOIIN  MAKEMSIlX.  one  of  the  good  far- 
mers of  his  neighborhood,  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  on  the22d  day  of  February, 
1821.  He  was  reared  in  Harrison,  in  that 
State,  and  he  married  Amanda  Adams,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Nancy  Adams,  who  were  also  natives 
of  Kentucky.  Their  marriage  occurred  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  1848,  after  which  they  settled  on  a  farm 
two  miles  south  of  their  present  location. 

This  couple  are  the  parents  of  live  children: 
William  T.;  Hannah,  wife  of  Lester  Leonard; 
Nancy,  wife  of  John  Clapp;  Arena  P..  wife  of 
Robert  Phillips;  Perry  is  at  home.  Mr.  Makem- 
son  owns  900  acres  of  good  land,  and  he  can  justly 
say  that  every  cent  he  has  accumulated  has  been 
through  his  own  exertions.  His  biography,  could 
space  be  given  for  its  details,  would  prove  truth  as 
strange  as  fiction,  inasmuch  as  it  would  he  pregnant 
with  examples  of  courage  and  will-power  that 
compel  circumstances  to  shape  themselves  toevents, 
and  would  show  the  ambitious  youth  of  today  that 
notwithstanding  poverty,  and  the  misfortunes  of 
a  neglected  education,  a  boy  however  poor  can 
rise  as  high  as  his  ambition  can  carry  him.  In  list- 
ening to  the  life  story  of  Mr.  Makemson,  we  would 


hear  enough  to  teach  us  that  however  discouraged 
we  may  he.  there  is  always  hope  and  assurance  that 
labor  and  faith  will  eventually  conquer. 

Politically  Mr.  Makemson  votes  the  Republican 
ticket,  though  he  docs  not  care  for  the  active  life 
of  the  politician,  but  goes  to  the  polls  and  deposits 
his  ballot  for  the  candidates  of  his  party,  believing 
m  the  wisdom  of  the  leaders,  and  he  is  generally 
right.  His  family  worships  at  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  are  reckoned  among  the  devout  and 
consistent  Christians  of  the  neighborhood.  When 
the  roll  of  good  citizens  is  made  up,  the  person  of 
whom  this  brief  biography  is  written,  will  stand  in 
the  list  as  one  of  the  best. 


w 


SLEY  ELLIOTT  is  a  modest  and  unas- 
man,  devoted  to  his  home  and 
^7\y  family.  As  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  he 
has  been  eminently  prosperous.  He  owns  a  farm, 
which  is  highly  cultivated,  of  143  acres  on  section 
26,  on  the  Harrison  Purchase,  Elwood  Township. 
He  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  Nov.  12. 
1848.  His  father,  Nathan,  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  came  to  Vermilion  County  in  De- 
cember. 1854,  settling  in  Elwood  Township,  one 
mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  the  Ridge. 

Mr.  Elliott  received  his  primary  education  at 
the  public  schools,  but  desiring  to  better  himself 
in  an  educational  way,  he  attended  Bloomingdale 
Academy,  where,  by  his  studious  habits  and  his 
determination  to  win,  he  acquired  a  good  educa- 
tion. He  has  always  been  a  farmer,  and  has  ascer- 
tained the  fact  that  the  more  intelligence  a  man 
I »'--esses  the  better  farmer  he  is;  that  labor  can  be 
lightened  by  reading — something  that  in  the  gen- 
eration before  him  would  have  been  laughed  at. 
Put  this  is  a  progressive  age,  and  in  nothing  has 
there  been  more  progression  than  in  agriculture. 
Within  the  last  forty  years  all  of  the  substantial 
improvements  in  agricultural  machinery  have  been 
made,  and  now  it  is  possible  to  operate  a  farm  with 
one-half  the  labor  that  was  required  in  the  last 
generation. 

On  the  11th  of   February,  1875,  Mr.  Elliott  was 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


married  to  Rebecca  J.,  daughter  of  James  .Men den- 
hall,  who  emigrated  from  Hamilton  County,  Ind., 
to  Illinois  in  1858.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen,  a 
man  very  much  respected  by  everybody,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  was  considered  well-to-do. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren— Otis  M.,  Lulu  G.,  and  Annie  M.  Wesley 
Elliott's  mother,  Naomi  Mendenhall,  was  a  lady 
noted  for  her  charitable  works  and  many  lovely 
traits  of  character.  She  was  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  li viiig:  Henry  C,  Annie, 
Mrs.  Hoik;  Wesley,  Alvin,  Clayton  B.,  Mary  E.,Mrs. 
Stogsdill;  and  Delphinia,  Mrs.  Lj'nch.  The  father 
was  married  twice,  his  first  wife  being  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Maxwell,  and  by  her  he  had  three  children, 
but  one  of  whom  is  now  living — John.  Mrs. 
Elliott's  mother,  Rebecca  (Campbell),  was  the 
mother  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  living: 
Priscilla,  Mrs.  Patten;  Ira  G,  Ryan  G.,  Rhoda  G, 
Mis.  Ankrum  and  Mrs.  Elliott.  Tuey  are  worthy 
adherents  of  the  Societ}'  of  Friends. 

Mr.  Elliott  is  engaged  in  mixed  farming  and 
stock-raising,  a  calling  which  has  been  a  success 
with  him.  He  handles  and  feeds  nothing  but  the 
best  kind  of  stock,  and  is  always  ready  to  try  any 
new  improvement  that  will  forward  the  work  of 
agriculture,  and  has  any  merit  at  all  in  it.  He  be- 
lieves that  the  Republican  party  is  the  one  to 
which  this  country  must  look  for  its  reforms,  and. 
while  he  never  seeks  office,  has  held  many  local 
positions,  which  he  has  invariably  filled  with  abil- 
ity. Being  of  the  Quaker  persuasion,  that  fact  is 
guarantee  enough  of  the  stability  of  his  character, 
and  shows  that  his  neighbors  can  trust  him  in  any 
position  in  which  he  is  placed. 


-^— *-§«=^ 

WILLIAM  JASPER  OLEHY,  an  ex-soldier 
of  the  Union  Army  and  one  of  the  best- 
known  residents  of  Georgetown  Township, 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  snug  farm  of  seventy-eight 
acres  on  section  18,  where  he  has  effected  good  im- 
provements and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  comforta- 
ble home.  He  was  born  in  Danville  Township, 
Vermilion   County,  July  21,  1810,  and  was  reared 


upon  his  father's  farm,  attending  the  common 
school  a  short  time — only  six  months — and  then 
commenced  in  earnest  the  battle  of  life.  He  worked 
out  by  the  month  until  after  reaching  his  majority 
and  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  eidisted, 
July  17,  1862,  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
in  Company  A.  125th  Illinois  Infantry,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Ralston.  He  was  mustered  in  at 
Danville  where  they  drilled  three  weeks  and  were 
then  ordered  to  the  front,  going  to  Covington,  Ky. 
via.  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  first  met  the  enemy  in  battle  at  Per 
ryville,  next  at  Nashville,  Murfreesboro  and  at 
Chattanooga;  after  tins  followed  the  march  to 
Knox  ville, whence  they  returned  to  Chattanooga  and 
soon  afterward  entered  upon  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
In  the  meantime  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
14th  Army  Corps  under  command  of  Gen.  Thomas 
and  with  Sherman  marched  to  the  sea.  Their  mis- 
sion ended  in  the  Southeast  they  repaired  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  were  present  at  the  grand  review. 
May  22-2-5,  1865,  and  were  mustered  out.  He  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge  in  Chicago.  June 
29,  1865. 

Returning  now  to  the  farm,  Mr.  Olehy  occupied 
himself  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  iu  a  sawmill 
east  of  Danville  until  his  marriage.  This  interest- 
ing event  occurred  in  1870,  the  bride  being  Miss 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Glaze) 
Olehy.  The  young  people  settled  in  Pilot  Town- 
ship, where  our  subject  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  1881,  then  purchased  his  present  homestead. 
Of  this  first  marriage  there  were  born  two  chil- 
dren— Annie  R.  and  Mary  E.,  and  the  mother  died 
in  1880.  Mr.  Olehy  votes  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket.  He  has  had  very  little  to  do  with  public 
affairs,  avoiding  the  responsibilities  of  office  and 
giving  his  undivided  attention  to  his  farming  in- 
terests. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Jacob  and  Annie 
(Glaze)  Olehy,  who  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  and 
the  father  born  near  Chillicothe.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Virginius  Olehy,  was  of  English  and 
German  descent.  The  parents  were  married  in 
Vermilion  County,  111.,  to  which  they  came  in  their 
youth,  in  1833-34.  Mr.  Olehy  carried  on  farming, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  died  of  cholera  in    1849. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


585 


They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living.     Rebecca,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife 

of  AlOnZoCook,  a  coal  dealer  of  Oeorgctown  Town- 
ship. Dennis  is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Danville.  Martha  R..  is  the  widow  of  John 
Martin,  a  mechanical  engineer  who  died  in  Danville. 


<ni  S.  MOSES  is  a  prominent  business  man  of 
Hoopeston,  news  dealer.  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  dealer  in  musical  instruments' 
books, stationery-  and  notions.  lie  was  horn 
in  Portsmouth,  N.  II.,  March  -2(3,  1846,  and  there 
resided  with  his  parents  outside  of  the  city,  obtain- 
ing his  education  in  Portsmouth,  later  attending 
scl I  at  Dixon,  III. 

When  Mr.  Moses  came  to  Illinois  he  was  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  located  in  "White- 
side County,  where  he  taught  school,  following  the 
same  pursuit  also  in  Lei'  County,  and  while  li\  ing 
there  he  attended  school  part  of  the  lime  at  Dixon. 
In  1875  he  first  came  to  Vermilion  County,  teach- 
ing  school  for  three  or  four  years,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  the  business  mentioned  above,  and  has 
so  continued  ever  since.  He  has  made  a  success  in 
everything  he  has  undertaken,  in  a  financial  point 
of  view,  and  as  an  official  his  record  is  of  the  ver\ 
best.  He  has  been  City  Treasurer,  Alderman, 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  ami  allot'  these  offices  have 
come  to  him  unsought,  as  his  neighbors  believe 
that  he  possesses  all  of  the  attributes  necessary  to 
hold  any  position  within  their  gift. 

On  the  1  1th  of  February,  1870,  Mr.  Moses  mar- 
ried Miss  Ilattie  Bixby.  of  Amboy,  111.  They 
have  had  two  children,  of  whom  only  one  is  liv- 
ing, Fred  \V.  Mr.  Moses  has  built  a  good  home  on 
Second  avenue,  where  he  has  livid  for  some  time, 
and  where  it  is  hoped  he  may  enjoy  many  years  of 
his  useful  life.  He  has  done  much  to  build  up  the 
literary  tastes  of  the  people  of  his  town,  and  there 
not  being  any  good  library  here,  he  has  personally 
expended  a  generous  amount  in  maintaining  a  good 
circulating  library  of  1 ,200  volumes.  This  alone 
is  a  good  recommendation  for  any  man. 

Mrs.  Moses  was  born  in  Lee  Center,  Lee  Co.,  HI., 


Dec.  22.  is;,:!,  and  is  a  daughter  of  L.  L.  Bixby, ;. 

prominent  farmer  of  that  section  of  the  country. 
She  remained  at  home,  except  for  the  time  she  at- 
tended school,  until  her  marriage.  William  Moses, 
lather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  reared  on  the  old 
homestead,  which  has  been  in  (he  .Moses  family 
since  1680.  He  received  his  education  in  his  native 
city,  and  when  he  attained  his  majority,  located  on 
a  farm  two  miles  from  town,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  business  of  general  farming.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Miss  Abigail  A.  Seavey,  and  the}-  are  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  jf  whom  only  three  are 
now  living:  Mrs.  Julia  ( Moses)  Moses  is  living  in 
Portsmouth;  Mrs.  Augusta  O.  (Moses)  Seavey.  and 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  father  is  still  living, 
but  his  wife  died  in  1886.  William  Moses  has  held 
the  various  local  offices  of  Portsmouth,  although 
he  never  was  possessed  of  political  aspirations.  He 
has  voted  invariably  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  is  prominent  in  its  counsels.  Religiously  he 
believes  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  William  Moses 
is  respected  in  his  native  town  as  a  man  of  many 
good  qualities. 

J.  S.  Moses  is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  and  has  been 
very  prominent  in  his  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  M.  W.  A.  lie  belongs  to  the 
Union  Church  of  his  city,  and  in  all  social  affairs 
does  his  share  toward  making  life  happier  and 
better. 


Sp-SfcATHAN  WILLIAMS,  a  successful  farmer, 
JJj  stock-raiser  and  merchant,  of  Hoopeston, was 
lAScMf)  Uor"  m  Harrison  County.  Ohio.  Nov.  1, 
1834.  His  farm  is  situated  on  section  1  I.  town- 
ship 23,  range  12,  and  near  the  fair  grounds. 
Beside  his  farming  and  cattle-feeding  interests,  he 
is  also  largely  interested  in  the  drygoods  business, 
which  is  conducted  in  the  firm  name  of  Williams 
Bros. 

Mr.  Williams  remained  in  his  native  county  with 
his  father  and  mother  until  he  became  of  age,  at- 
tending the  common  schools  and  working  on  the 
farm  alternately.     In  1851  he  came  to  Illinois  and 


586 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


engaged  with  his  brother,  who  was  also  following 
agricultural  pursuits.  lie  remained  here  but  one 
season,  then  returning  to  Ohio,  where  he  took  c'.iarge 
of  the  old  homestead.  In  1862  he  married  Miss 
Susanna  Norman,  of  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio, 
and  in  1864,  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  concluded 
to  remain  here.  In  1865  he  bought  a  farm  in 
Prairie  Green  Township.  Iroquois  Co.,  111.,  which 
was  partially  improved.  Here  lie  prosecuted  the 
business  of  stock-raising,  handling  large  herds,  and 
was  successful.  He  improved  this  farm  by  build- 
ing the  necessary  houses  and  barns  that  were 
needed,  and  by  fencing  and  hedging.  In  1871. 
when  Hoopeston  first  came  into  existence,  he  came 
here  and  erected  a  large  boarding  house.  In  1875. 
in  company  with  his  brother  John,  he  purchased  a 
grocery  business,  which  was  his  first  mercantile  ven- 
ture, but  which  was  a  successful  one,  notwithstand- 
ing the  financial  depression  that  carried  down  other 
firms  in  the  vicinity.  He  continued  in  the  grocery 
business  until  1881,  when  his  brother  sold  out  to 
.Mr.  Catherwood,  and  our  subject  and  Mr.  Cather- 
wood  continued  the  business,  going  into  the  grain 
business  in  addition.  He  remained  in  this  partner- 
ship for  a  short  time,  when  he  purchased  the  whole 
business  and  has  built  up  a  large  trade,  also  in  dry- 
goods,  last  year  amounting  to  $30,000.  The  firm 
at  this  writing  is  Williams  Bros.,  his  brother  Joseph 
having  purchased  an  interest  in  the  business.  In 
their  employ  as  general  manager  is  Mr.  Bond,  a 
nephew  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  a  man 
of  large  experience.  This  recapitulation  is  given 
merely  to  exhibit  the  business  ability  of  Mr.  Will- 
iams and  to  show  his  capacity  in  different  lines  of 
trade.  He  has  not  made  a  failure  in  anything  that 
he  has  undertaken,  but  has  steadily  gone  forward 
and  lifted  up  every  business   he  has  handled. 

Politically  Mr.  Williams  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
never  eared  for  office,  though  enthusiastic  in  his 
advocacy  of  the  party  to  which  lie  belongs.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  also  of  the  Sun  lay-school. 

Mis.  Williams  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Dorcas 
Norman,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  who 
removed  from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  where  his  wife  died 
in    1887.      He    is    now  residing  with   his  daughter. 


Mrs.  Williams.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  but  three  are 
living:  Joseph  0.,  is  residing  with  his  father,  while 
James  A.  is  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Williams  Bros. ; 
Anna  Ma}'  is  also  at  home. 

llL=>  ENRY  DORUS  NEWELL,  owns  a  large 
t'j  farm  in  Carroll  Township,  acquired  by  his 
own  industry,  being  a  self-made  man  and 
receiving  no  financial  assistance  in  making 
his  start  in  life.  Mr.  Newell  has  been  engaged  in  the 
tailoring  business  for  the  long  period  of  forty-five 
years  and  operates  considerably  as  a  money  loaner. 
His  land,  170  acres,  is  all  prairie. 

Mr.  Joseph  Newell,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  tailor  by  trade  and  conducted  a  general 
merchant  tailoring  in  Birmingham,  England,  where 
he  was  born  and  spent  his  entire  life,  accumulating 
a  good  property.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Young 
who  was  born  two  miles  south  of  Birmingham. 
Both  the  grandfathers  of  our  subject  were  farmers 
and  with  their  wives  lived  to  be  over  eighty 
years  old.  To  Joseph  and  Jane  Newell  there 
were  born  ten  children,  viz:  An  infant  who  died 
unnamed,  Frederick,  Henry  Dorus,  our  subject; 
Maria,  John,  Herbert,  William,  Harriet,  and  two 
more  infants,  unnamed,  deceased.  The  great-grand- 
father was  a  Norman  Count  b}*  the  name  of  Joseph 
DeNewell;  the  "De"  was  dropped  b}-  the  father  of 
our  subject. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  attended  a  private 
school  in  Birmingham,  prior  to  the  era  of  the  na- 
tional schools.  He  learned  rapidly,  being  more  than 
ordinarily  bright  and  intelligent,  and  completed  his 
studies  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  being  also  at 
that  age  confirmed  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  He 
then  began  working  in  his  father's  shop,  acquiring 
the  trade  of  a  tailor  readily,  but  he  was  fond  of 
adventure,  and  as  soon  as  able  to  do  journeyman's 
work,  left  home  and  traveled  through  the  northern 
part  of  England,  also  going  to  Greenock  and  other 
places  in  Scotland,  lie  was  thus  occupied  for  a 
period  of  nine  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
the    hero  of    many  a   romance  in   which    the    fair 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


587 


English  girls  and  Scofccb  lassies  figured  quite 
prominently.  He  visited  the  principal  cities  of 
England,  those  containing  more  than  10,000  in- 
habitants, and   in    1846   became  deeply  interested 

in  politics  and  in  the  charter  movement,  which  he 
favored  very  Strongly.  This  was  his  lirst  experi- 
ence in  politics  and  made  him  strongly  Democratic. 
During  the  year  above  mentioned,  he  established 
himself  in  business  in  London,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  then  went  to  France  and  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Paris  six  weeks. 

Our  subject,  finally  returning  to  his  native  city, 
was  married  there  Jan.  L'4.  1851,  to  Miss  Hannah 
Dovey,  the  ceremony  taking  place  in  St.  Phillip's 
Church,  Birmingham.  This  maiden  was  his  sweet- 
heart when  he  was  a  boy.  they  attending  the  same 
school  and  growing  up  together.  They  lived  in 
Birmingham  for  a  time  after  their  marriage  and 
then  Mr.  Newell  decided  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
land  of  liberty.  There  had  then  been  born  to  the 
young  couple  one  child,  a  son.  William  Henry. 
On  the  13th  of  August,  1 854,  they  embarked  from 
Liverpool  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Enoch  Train" 
from  which  they  landed  safely  at  New  Orleans, 
( (ctober  8,  following. 

Mr.  Newell  pursued  his  trade  in  the  Crescent 
City  that  winter,  and  on  the  28th  of  March.  1*55. 
set  out  for  Memphis,  Tenn.  On  the  way  he  fell  in 
with  Samuel  Grondyek.  of  Eugene.  Ind..  who  had 
just  marketed  his  pork  in  New  Orleans  and  was 
persuaded  by  him  to  return  with  him  to  Eugene, 
lie  followed  his  trade  there  six  months  and  in  the 
meantime  became  acquainted  with  some  of  the 
leading  men  of  lndianola.  which  was  then  Dallas. 
So  he  changed  his  residence  once  more  and  being 
a  first-class  workman,  with  little  or  no  competition. 
soon  established  a  large  trade. 

Finally,  Mr.  Newell,  changing  his  occupation 
somewhat,  entered  the  Government  service  ami  for 
six  months  was  stationed  at  Johnsonville  on  the 
Tennessee  River.  He  had  become  a  naturalized 
citizen  as  soon  as  the  law  would  permit,  and  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Douglas  in  I860. 
He  invested  his  accumulated  capital  in  land  in 
Carroll  Township,  which  steadily  increased  in  value 
and  in  1873  associated  himself  with  Mr.  Knipe  and 
began  operating  a  sawmill.     Later  he  sold  out  his 


interest  in  this  enterprise,  but  has  a  one-half  inter- 
est in  a  sawmill  with  Abraham  Sandusky,  which  is 
located  on  Sandusky  Branch. 

In  1881  Mr.  Newell  formed  a  partnership  with 
John  W.  Baum  to  build  a  tile  manufactory  at 
(hrisman  in  Edgar  County.  This  they  have 
since  operated  profitably.  Indeed  all  the  enter- 
prises with  which  Mr.  Newell  has  been  connected 
have  resulted  creditably  to  his  good  judgment. 
He  has  expended  a  handsome  sum  of  money  in 
law  books  and  historical  works,  and  frequently 
Officiates  as  an  attorney,  his  ready  speech  and  ex- 
ceptionally good  memory  serving  him  well  upon 
these  occasions  and  causing  his  opponents  to  look 
well  to  their  laurels.  He  is  likewise  well  versed  in 
history  of  the  world  at  large,  especially  that  of 
England  and  the  United  Slates. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Newell  is  pleasantly  situated 
in  the  north  part  of  the  village  and  comprises  a 
neat  and  tasteful  residence  with  attractive  sur- 
roundings, and  within  it,  are  books,  music,  works  of 
art  and  all  the  appliances  of  refined  life.  His 
children  are  bright  and  intelligent,  possessing  much 
musical  talent,  ami  the  elegant  upright  piano  in 
their  home  is  the  source  of  much  pleasure  and 
satisfaction  both  to  them  and  their  many  friends. 
Mrs.  Hannah  (Dovey)  Newell  departed  this  life 
at  her  home  in  lndianola  in  1857  leaving  two  chil- 
dren, William  II. .  who  died  at  the  aged  of  twenty- 
three  years,  and  Jennie  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
months.  Our  subject,  in  1861,  was  married  a  sec 
ond  time  to  Mrs.  Laura  A.  (Ferrell)  .lames,  widow 
of  Elijah  James  by  whom  she  had  five  children, 
Jasper  L„  Syrena  F.,  B.  \\\.  Myrtle  and  Semour. 
Mrs.  Laura  Newell  was  born  at  Clinton,  Vermillion 
Co.,  Ind.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
have  been  born  likewise  five  children,  Beatrice. 
Birdie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Dixie,  Harvey,  and 
Georgie.  who  died  when  one  year  old.  Beatrice 
is  the  wife  of  Jasper  Moore,  an  engineer  at  Sidell. 
and  they  have  three  children,  Harry  D.,  Mossieand 
a  babe  named  Laura.  Dixie  married  Milton  Hen- 
son,  a  farmer,  and  they  reside  in  Villa  Grove  in 
Douglas  County.  III.  The  other  child  is  at  home 
with  the  parents.  Mr.  Newell  belongs  to  the 
Episcopal  Church  while  Mrs.  Newell  is  a  member 
of  the    Methodist  Episcopal    Church  at   lndianola. 


588 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Although  a  decided  Democrat,  politically,  Mr. 
Newell  mixes  very  little  in  public  affairs,  with  the 
exception  of  serving  twice  on  the  County  Central 
Committe.  He  visited  his  native  land  in  1 883 
during  the  World's  Exhibition  at  the  Crystal 
Palace  in  London,  and  attended  a  very  interesting 
shooting  match  at  Wimbledon.  America  was  finely 
represented  at  the  exposition  and  it  was  a  source 
of  no  little  pride  to  him  that  he  was  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States.  During  this  tour  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  several  noted  individuals,  among 
them  being  George  C.  Miln,  the  famous  preacher- 
actor,  who  was  one  of  the  passengers  on  the  steamer 
"Parthia"  on  which  Mr.  Newell  made  the  return 
voyage. 


ville  Commercial  Company,  and  business 
11'    manager  of  that  establishment,  was  bom  in 

Michigan  City,  Ind.,  April  22,  1846.  His 
paternal  ancestors,  who  were  of  Irish  extraction, 
were  for  several  generations  residents  of  the  South, 
and  his  father,  Archibald  Reed  Harper,  was  born  in 
South  Carolina  in  1815.  When  the  latter  was 
quite  young  the  family  removed  to  Rush  County. 
Ind.,  where  our  subject's  father  lived  until  1833. 
In  that  year  he  and  an  elder  brother  went  to  Michi- 
gan City,  LaPorte  Co.,  Ind.,  which  at  that  time 
seemed  destined  to  be  the  leading  point  of  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  Having  estab- 
lished a  home  there,  the  brothers  sent  for  their 
parents  and  the  rest  of  the  family,  who  soon  after- 
ward joined  them.  There  the  grandparents  lived 
the  remainder  of  their  lives,  and  both  died  in  1851. 
Archibald  Harper  and  his  brother  Asa  were  car- 
penters and  cabinet-makers,  and  worked  at  this 
trade  together  until  1850,  when  the  former  re- 
moved to  Porter  County,  Ind.,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  1880,  when  he  retired  from  active 
life,  and  is  now  living  at  Chesterton,  an  honored 
pioneer  of  Northern  Indiana.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  wife  being  Miss  Foster,  who  died 
leaving  one  child,  O.  E.  Harper,  now  a  resident  of 
Danville.  The  second  wife,  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, was   Miss   Emily   A.   Atwater.  who  was  born 


Sept.  1.  1824,  in  Canada,  whence  her  parents  re- 
moved first  to  Pennsylvania,  and  later  to  Michigan 
City.  She  is  living  with  her  husband  in  Chester- 
ton. This  second  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
eight  children.  Two  died  in  infancy,  and  one,  Mar- 
garet, after  reaching  womanhood.  The  survivors 
are:  Albert,  who  is  the  eldest;  Aimer,  a  merchant  of 
Chesterton;  Laura,  wife  of  Irving  Brush,  a  farmer 
near  that  place;  Homer  S.,  a  painter,  living  in 
Pierre.  Dak.;  and  Samuel  A.,  a  druggist  in  Ches- 
terton. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  <>n 
the  farm,  receiving  his  education  in  the  district 
schools.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  began  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  a  printer  in  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  where, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in  Williams- 
port,  Ind.,  lie  remained  until  1869,  when  he  came 
to  Danville,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He 
began  life  there  as  acompositor  on  the  Commercial, 
and  he  has  since  been  identified  with  that  journal. 
In  1870  he  bought  a  quarter  interest  in  the  estab- 
lishment, still  retaining  his  position  in  the  compos- 
ing room.  The  following  year  the  business  was 
reorganized  under  the  name  of  the  "Commercial 
Company."  and  Mr.  Harper  was  chosen  President. 
In  1877  he  was  installed  as  Business  Manager,  a 
position  for  which  his  practical  knowledge  of  the 
business,  and  his  affable  and  pleasing  manners,  pe- 
culiarly qualify  him.  The  success  of  this  prosper- 
ous journal  is  largely  due  to  his  careful  and  prudent 
management  of  its  financial  interests. 

May  2'J,  1873,  Mr.  Harper  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Julia  Payton,  who  was  born  in 
Vance  Township,  Vermilion  County,  Feb.  8,  1817. 
Her  parents  were  John  M.  and  Sarah  (Frazier) 
Payton,  and  her  grandfather,  Peter  Frazier,  was 
one  of  the  first  pioneers  of  the  county,  where  he 
entered  Government  land  at  a  very  early  day.  He 
lived  to  an  advanced  age,  dying  in  1881,  aged 
ninety-seven  j'ears,  one  of  the  oldest  white  men 
who  ever  lived  in  Vermilion  Count}'.  The  mother 
of  Mrs.  Harper  died  Aug.  28,  1878,  in  Danville, 
and  since  then  her  father  has  made  his  home  with 
his  daughter  and  our  subject.  He  is  now  in  his 
sixty-seventh  3fear.  Some  seven  years  ago  he  gave 
up  his  farm  and  is  now  living  a  retired  life. 

The   union   of   Mr.  and   Mrs.  Harper  has  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


.-,*'.  i 


blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  two  children — Katie 
Payton  and  Ernest  Herbert,   both  attending  school 

at  Danville.  The  parents  are  both  members  of  the 
Kimber  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  Har- 
per belongs  to  the  order  of  the  Royal  Templars  of 
Temperance  and  the  National  Union. 

During  his  residence  of  twenty  years  in  Danville, 
Mr.  Harper  has  become  widely  known  and  highly 
respected.  A  gentleman  of  modest  and  unassum- 
ing deportment,  of  genial  manners  and  of  real 
merit,  he  lias  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
entire  community. 

¥*  filLBl'R  CAST,  the  well-known  '-Short 
Stop"  of  the  base  ball  nine,  the  Sidell 
Reds,  is  designated  as  the  "cute  hitter"  and 
with  his  comrades  has  furnished  great  recreation 
for  the  denizens  of  Sidell  and  vicinity,  displaying 
in  a  marked  degree  the  skill  which  may  be  attained 
by  lorn;'  practice  and  which  really  amounts  to  a 
science.  This  "nine"  is  the  pride  of  the  town  and 
Mr.  Cast  one  of  its  most  popular  hoys.  Base  ball, 
however,  occupies  only  a  small  portion  of  his  time 
as  lie  is  industriously  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
his  little  farm  of  eighty  acres,  where  he  makes  his 
headquarters  and  although  living  in  an  unpreten- 
tious style,  manages  to  extract  a  great  deal  of  com- 
fort from  life.  His  career  thus  far  has  been  signal- 
ized by  perseverance  and  integrity,  and  he  is  a 
universal  favorite  among  his  townspeople.  He  has 
attained  to  his  position  solely  by  his  own  efforts, 
having  been  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  early 
in  life.  Upon  coming  to  this  county  twelve  years 
ago  or  so,  he  engaged  as  a  laborer  by  the  month  at 
Fairmount,  and  by  a  course  of  industry  and  econ- 
omy succeeded  in  making  the  purchase  of  his 
present  farm. 

Mr.  Cast  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  six 
miles  north  of  Clarksville,  Dec.  22,  1858,  and  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  the  Buckeye  state,  receiv- 
ing good  educational  advantages.  His  father, 
Ezekiel  Cast,  was  married  in  early  manhood  to 
Miss  Martha  (  Francis)  Berkely,  a  native  of  Clarks- 
ville, and  subsequently  operated  as  a  carpenter  and 


farmer.  lie  is  still  living  on  his  farm  and  is 
seventy  years  of  age.  The  mother  died  in  18(il 
aged  about  forty  years.  .Mr.  Cast  was  married 
three  times  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife.  The 
parental  household  included  seven  children,  viz: 
Mary  F..  Isaac  William,  Letta  Joseph.  Wilbur  F. 
L.,  Jennie  and  Charles.  Our  subject  was  only  three 
\  ears  old  at  the  time  of  his  mother's  death  and  re- 
mained in  his  native  State  until  a  youth  of  sixteen 
years.  Then  coming  to  this  county  he  entered  the 
employ  of  W.  II.  Hartley,  now  a  resident  of  Fair- 
mount,  and  he  attended  school  two  winters  after- 
ward. He  was  married  in  March.  1880.  to  Miss 
Celia. daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  Frances!  Collins) 
Nugent,  of  Fairmount.  The  latter  named  came  to 
this  county  in  1801.  Mrs.  Cast  was  born  and 
reared  near  Fairmount.  and  of  her  union  with  our 
subject  there  are  two  children,  Raymond  F.  and 
Katie  F. 

Mr.  Cast  purchased  his  present  farm  in  the  fall 
of  188.5.  and  is  making  perceptible  headway  as  the 
seasons  pass.  He  is  a  strict  Republican,  politically, 
and  a  favorite  in  both  the  social  and  business 
circles  of  this  community.  Mrs.  Cast  is  a  mem- 
ber in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  father  of  our  subject  served  in  the 
Union  army  from  the  beginning  to  the  close  of 
the  Civil  War. 


W a" 

OT      mo 


■„ILLIAM  P.  WITHERSPOON,  Jr.  Among 
the  good  things  of  life,  there  are  few 
'$^6  more  pleasant  or  desirable  than  a  neat,  at- 
tractive and  well-regulated  home,  be  it  in  the  city 
or  country,  although  to  most  minds  a  home  amid 
the  green  fields  with  their  peaceful  and  quiet  scenes 
is  the  most  desirable.  They  who  have  a  true  con- 
ception of  the  advantages  of  life  in  the  rural  dis- 
tricts, may.  as  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Witherspoon  and 
his  estimable  wife,  build  up  a  home  very  nearly 
approaching  the  ideal,  as  they  have  done,  working 
without  question,  with  the  mutual  aim  in  view  of 
gathering  around  themselves  the  appliances  craved 
by  cultivated  tastes  and  refined  instincts.  That 
they   have  succeeded   in   an    admirable   manner,   is 


590 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  Al.1',1  M. 


quite  evident  in  looking  about  their  home,  which 
is  one  of  the  most  attractive  spots  in  Vance  Town- 
ship. Their  children  are  receiving  careful  home 
training  and  a  good  education,  such  as  will  fit  them 
for  their  station  in  life  and  make  them  good  and 
worthy  citizens. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  native  of  Indiana. 
and  was  born  Feb.  11,  1848,  being  the  sixth  child 
of  William  P.,  Sr.,  and  Permelia  (Berlin)  Wither- 
spoon,  the  former  a  native  of  Alabama  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Patoka.  Ind.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  1808,  and  twenty  years  later,  leaving  his 
native  State,  emigrated  north  to  Southern  Indiana, 
and  since  that  time  has  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Pa- 
toka. Grandfather  Berlin  was  born  in  Germany, 
whence  he  removed  to  Scotland,  and  finally  came 
to  America,  spending  his  last  days  in  Indiana. 
William  P.  Witherspoon,  Sr..  was  married  in  Gib- 
son County,  Ind.,  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War, 
and  subsequently  became  a  prominent  citizen  of 
his  county.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in  1878. 
Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  living.  The  father  has  attained  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-three  years  and  is  in  reasona- 
bly good  health. 

Our  subject  pursued  his  first  lessons  in  I  he 
schools  of  Patoka,  Ind.,  and  later  attended  school 
on  the  old  Tippecanoe  battle  ground  north  of  La 
Fayette.  He  took  kindly  to  his  books  and  became 
thoroughly  well  informed.  He  was  but  a  lad  of 
fifteen  years  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  and 
three  years  later,  in  1864,  entered  the  ranks  of  the 
Union  army,  enlisting  in  Company  G,  143d  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  in  which  he  was  made  first  color 
guard  and  occupied  a  very  conspicuous  place  in 
time  of  action.  He  was  with  his  regiment  during 
the  battles  of  Nashville,  Murfresboro,  Tallahoma 
and  Knoxville,  and  from  this  latter  place  went  to 
Clarksville,  Tenn.,  where  he  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Nash- 
ville in  October,  18G5. 

Three  brothers  of  our  subject  also  served  in  the 
Union  army.  John  was  a  member  of  Company  II, 
17th  Indiana  Infantry,  and  re-enlisted  after  the 
expiration  of  his  first  term  of  service.  Moses  and 
■lames  were  in  Company  A,  80th  Indiana  Infantry. 
The    former   was  shot   five  times  at  the  battle  of 


Resaca,  Ga.,  receiving  wounds  in  the  left  arm,  hip. 
thigh,  the  calf  of  his  leg  and  his  foot.  He  is  still 
living,  making  his  home  near  Patoka,  Ind.  .lames 
participated  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment,  ex- 
periencing many  hairbreadth  escapes,  but  returned 
home  comparatively  uninjured,  and  also  resides 
near  Patoka. 

After  leaving  the  army  our  subject  lived  witli 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  in  October.  1868,  when 
he  came  to  this  county  and  entered  the  store  of  his 
cousin.  .1.  li.  Witherspoon,  of  Fairmount,  where  he 
continued  eighteen  month's.  Then  returning  to  the 
farm  lie  sojourned  there  one  year,  and  in  1870,  in 
company  with  his  brother  Moses,  opened  a  store  of 
general  merchandise  at  Patoka,  which  they  con- 
ducted until  the  spring  of  1872.  On  the  12th  of 
March,  that  year,  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
marriage  with  Miss  Esther,  daughter  of  Maj.  Wil- 
son Burroughs  of  Fairmount,  and  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Witherspoon  disposed  of 
his  interest  in  the  store  at  Patoka,  Ind.,  and  rented 
the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  Later 
he  purchased  a  farm  on  section  10.  to  which  lie  re- 
moved and  lived  upon  it  until  in  December,  1875. 
Then  selling  out  he  returned  with  his  family  to 
Indiana,  purchasing  a  farm  near  Patoka,  where  he 
lived  three  years.  Then  selling  out  once  more  he 
came  back  to  this  county  and  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm,  which  consists  of  100  acres  of  thor- 
oughly cultivated  land.  He  is  considerably  inter- 
ested in  live-stock,  horses,  cattle  and  swine,  in 
which  industry  he  has  been  fairly  successful.  He 
keeps  about  eighteen  head  of  horses  and  mules.  He 
has  built  a  fine  barn,  36x40  feet  in  dimensions,  and 
an  ample  system  of  sheds  occupying  an  area  of 
16x40  feet.  There  is  no  more  desirable  home  on 
the  south  road  from  Fairmount  to  Homer.  East  of 
the  dwelling  is  the  first  orchard  which  he  planted, 
and  west  of  it  another  one  younger,  but  in  good 
bearing  condition.  Numerous  evergreens  surround- 
ing the  house  add  greatly  to  the  beauty  and  value 
of  the  homestead. 

The  three  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife  were  named  respectively,  Stella  Z., 
Wilson  W.  and  Myrtle  M.  The  eldest  is  sixteen 
years    old   and  the  youngest  six.     Our  subject  is 


■ 


y®j0?f 


!*£-' 


JS-J^C 


19- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


593 


rather  conservative  in  politics  and  lias  always  voted 
the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  Aside  from  officiat- 
ing as  School  Director  in  liis  district,  lie  lias  steadily 
declined  the  responsibilities  of  ollice.  lioth  lie  and 
his  wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Chinch,  and  his  children  attend  the  Sun- 
d  ay -school  regularly. 


AVID  DICKSON.  The  results  of  a  health- 
ful, temperate  and  honorable  life  are  finely 
illustrated  in  the  career  of  this  sturdy  old 
veteran  of  eighty-three  years,  who  still  re- 
tains his  faculties  unimpaired,  and  with  whom  it 
is  most  pleasant  and  profitable  to  converse.  He  is 
one  of  the  oldest  men  in  Carroll  Township,  and 
preserves  a  distinct  recollection  of  many  events 
occurring  during  the  period  of  the  early  settlement 
of  this  county,  in  which  he  bore  a  conspicuous 
part,  and  assisted  largely  in  its  growth  and  devel- 
opment. He  was  the  pioneer  stockman  and  stock 
feeder  of  this  region,  and  in  all  his  intercourse  with 
his  fellow-men  preserved  that  upright  and  honor- 
able demeanor  which  gained  him  their  highest  es- 
teem and  confidence. 

A  native  of  Lewis  County,  Ky.,  Oil]  subject  was 
born  Dec.  13,  1806,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and 
Phebe  (Means)  Dickson,  the  former  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Miftlin  County,  Pa. 
The  paternal  grandfather.  David  Dickson,  was  of 
English  descent,  and  grandfather  John  Means  traced 
his  ancestry  to  Ireland.  Upon  coming  to  America 
the  parents  of  the  latter  settled  in  Bucks  County, 
where  he  was  born,  reared  and  married,  his  bride 
being  Miss  Jemima  Scudder,  a  native  of  Trenton, 
N.  J.,  and  of  Holland-Dutch  ancestry.  The  maiden 
name  of  grandmother  Dickson  was  Jane  Stephen- 
son. She  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  of  Eng- 
lish descent. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in 
Mason  County,  Ky.  They  were  of  exactly  the 
same  age,  being  born  on  the  same  da}' — Dec.  16, 
176").  Some  time  after  their  marriage  they  settled 
in  Lewis  County,  and  thence  came  to  Illinois  in  the 
spring  of  1821.  The  mother  died  that  year  at  the 
age  of  forty-eight  years.     To  her  had    been    born 


eleven  children,  viz.:  James,  who  died  in  infancy; 
John,  Jane,  James  S.,  Amos,  David,  our  subject, 
Margaret,  Robert,  Moses,  Jemima  and  Andrew  S. 
Mr.  Dickson  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss 
Hester  Stretch,  wdio  died,  leaving  two  children — 
William  T.,  living,  and  Moses  Ii.,  dead.  The  elder 
Dickson  survived  his  wife  only  three  years,  his 
death  taking  place  in  1827,  from  typhus  fever.  He 
was  a  stanch  Democrat,  politically,  and  with  his 
good  wife  was  firmly  grounded  in  the  doctrines  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent  in 
his  native  county,  where  he  became  familiar  with 
farm  pursuits,  and  was  required  to  make  himself 
useful  at  an  early  age  about  the  homestead.  His 
eldest  brother  was  a  boat  builder,  and  when  the 
family  decided  upon  a  removal  from  the  Blue 
Crass  State,  the  two  boys  constructed  a  flatboat, 
and  with  the  father  purchased  a  keelboat  besides. 
Upon  these  they  loaded  their  stock,  farming  uten- 
sils and  household  goods,  together  with  the  family, 
and  set  sail  on  the  Ohio  River  to  the  promised  land. 
At  Louisville,  however,  on  account  of  high  water, 
they  were  obliged  to  abandon  their  boats  after  un- 
loading their  stock,  consisting  of  oxen,  horses  and 
cows,  and  made  their  way  overland  to  this  county, 
settling  upon  the  land  comprising  our  subject's 
present  farm.  The  latter  with  his  brothers,  James 
and  Amos,  pushed  the  keelboat  up  the  Wabash 
River,  and  unloaded  its  contents  a  little  wa3rs  above 
Newport,  Ind.,  at  Coleman's  prairie.  Thence  they 
hauled  their  propert}-  to  their  destination — the  land 
which  their  father  had  entered  from  the  Govern- 
ment, upon  his  first  trip  to  the  West,  in  the  fall  of 
1  823. 

The  education  of  young  Dickson,  like  that  of 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  was  conducted  in  a  log 
schoolhouse  in  old  Kentucky,  where  they  sat  upon 
benches  made  from  slabs,  and  tried  to  look  out  of 
the  window,  which  had  greased  paper  instead  of 
glass  for  panes.  A  huge  fireplace  extended  nearly 
across  one  end  of  the  building,  and  the  chimney 
was  built  outside  of  earth  and  sticks.  The  teacher 
instilled  learning  into  his  pupils  largely  by  the  use 
of  the  rod,  and  Daviil  Dickson,  it  is  hardly  to  be 
doubted,  was  one  of  the  most  mischievous  of  his 
students.     The  system  of  .instruction  was  far   infe- 


594 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


rior  to  that  of  the  present  day,  and  one  book  went 
through  the  family  until  it  was  worn  out. 

When  about  twenty-three  years  of  age,  being 
ready  to  establish  domestic  ties  of  his  own,  our 
subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret 
Waters  on  the  3d  of  August,  1829.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Stafford  County,  Va.,  May  10,  1810,  and 
removed  to  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  with  her  parents 
in  1814.  In  1828  they  came  to  this  county,  the 
family  comprising  three  sons  and  six  daughters. 
Parents  and  children  were,  remarkable  for  their 
healthful  frames  and  robust  constitutions.  The 
two  families  soon  became  acquainted,  and  it  was 
not  long  until  David  Dickson  was  the  accepted 
suitor  of  Miss  Waters. 

Mr.  Dickson  often  recalls  to  his  mind  the  appear- 
ance of  the  country  in  Central  Illinois  at  this  time 
and  prior  to  it.  He  describes  it  as  exceedingly 
beautiful,  diversified  with  prairie  and  timber,  the 
meadows  and  marshes  thriving  with  a  luxurious 
orowth  of  prairie  grass  and  wild  flowers.  At  inter- 
vals some  careless  traveler  or  thoughtless  settler 
would  accidentally  set  fire  to  the  dry  vegetation, 
and  then  would  ensue  a  conflagration  terrible  to 
behold,  and  frightful  to  those  who  did  not  know 
how  to  protect  themselves  from  it.  Wild  animals 
of  all  kinds  abounded,  deer,  wolves,  etc.,  while 
poisonous  reptiles— the  rattlesnake,  the  blue  racer, 
the  black  and  the  garter  snake — kept  the  traveler 
on  the  look-out.  There  were  also  great  quantities 
of  wild  birds — geese,  ducks  and  pheasants,  besides 
turkeys  and  pigeons.  The  Kickapoo  and  Pottawa- 
tomie Indians  had  not  yet  left  the  country — prowl- 
in  <*  around  until  1835,  when  they  were  removed 
west  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  people  of  that  time  and  place  were  noted 
for  their  hospitality  and  the  community  of  interest 
which  led  them  at  all  times  to  be  regardful  of  each 
other's  welfare.  They  had  all  come  to  build  up 
homes  for  themselves,  and  socially,  as  well  as  finan- 
cially, were  upon  common  ground,  very  few  of 
them  possessing  much  of  this  world's  goods.  They 
had  many  difficulties  in  common  to  contend  with, 
having  to  go  long  distances  to  mill  and  market, 
and  obtaining  their  mail  at  Paris,  the  county 
seat   of    Edgar   County.     That  county    then    cm- 


braced  a   large    tract   of    land,  extending    from  its 
present  limits  to  Chicago. 

After  the  death  of  the  father,  each  one  of  the 
Dickson  boys  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  They 
were  all  bright  and  energetic,  but  David,  perhaps, 
led  the  van  in  enterprise  and  perseverance.  He 
began  entering  land,  and  in  due  time  found  himself 
the  owner  of  1,400  acres.  A  large  proportion  of 
this  was  brought  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
and  he  gave  away  1,000  acres  to  his  children,  so 
that  he  now  has  but  400  acres.  Much  of  this  land 
was  obtained  on  a  Mexican  warrant.  In  1827  he 
walked  to  Fort  Clarke,  now  Peoria,  stopping  there 
on  his  way  to  Galena.  He  made  the  journey  on 
foot  on  what  was  then  called  the  Kellogg  trace,  a 
distance  of  180  miles.  He  carried  his  clothes  and 
provisions  in  a  knapsack,  and  saw  the  vessel  which 
was  fired  upon  by  the  Winnebago  Indians,  on  ac- 
count of  which,  originated  the  subsequent  troubles 
of  that  time.  He  worked  for  a  time  in  the  mines 
at  New  Diggings,  and  in  the  meantime  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  founder  of  Fort  Gratiot.  Some 
of  the  time  he  was  employed  for  others  at  the  rale 
of  $1G  per  month.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  above 
mentioned  he  worked  his  passage  down  the  Missis- 
sippi to  St.  Louis  on  a  keelboat,  then  purchased  a 
pony,  and  rode  across  the  Slate.  He  was  at  Shelby- 
ville  when  that  city  was  laid  out  for  the  county 
seat.  At  one  time  he  was  employed  in  the  salt- 
works north  of  Catlin,  prior  to  going  to  Galena. 

Mr.  Dickson  made  his  first  trip  to  the  little  town 
of  Chicago  in  1835,  taking  with  him  a  load  of  pro- 
duce drawn  by  oxen.  Later,  in  1839,  he  began 
feeding  cattle,  and  was  the  first  man  to  engage  in 
this  industry  on  the  Little  Vermilion.  In  1844  he 
drove  100  head  of  hogs  to  Chicago,  and  during 
1848.  1849  and  1850  transported  in  this  manner 
several  herds  of  fat  cattle  to  Philadelphia  and  New 
York  City.  In  connection  with  this  fact  it  may  be 
noted,  that  Carroll  Township  has  produced  more 
and  finer  cattle  than  any  other  township  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Dickson  in  his  palmy 
days  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  in  this 
business.  Four  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickson,  and  three  are  living.  Silas 
is  married  and  the  father  of  three  children — Eve- 
lina, Robert  and  Bertinus;   he  makes  his   home  in 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


595 


Indianola,  and  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Robert  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three  years;  Permelia  J.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  W. 
Rawlston.  of  Danville;  Jemima  is  the  wife  of 
Allen  Varner,  a  farmer  of  Ross  Township,  Edgar 
County,  and  they  have  six  children — Jacob  1).. 
Mary.  Margaret,  Robert,  William  and  David  1). 

Mr.  Dickson  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Andrew  Jackson  in  1832,  and  has  voted  at  four- 
teen Presidential  elections,  never  omitting  one  since 
reaching  his  majority.  He  has  continued  from  the 
first  a  pronounced  Democrat,  and  keeps  himself  well 
posted  upon  all  matters  of  general  interest,  lie 
finds  his  religious  home  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Indianola.  He  has  been  an  observant 
witness  of  the  extraordinary  changes  occurring  in 
Central  Illinois,  and  his  experiences,  if  properly 
written  up,  would  fill  a  good-sized  volume.  The 
wife  of  his  youth  was  spared  to  him  until  quite 
aged,  her  death  taking  place  Aug.  21,  1887,  when 
seventy-seven  years  old.  There  are  few  men  of 
the  age  of  Mr.  Dickson  whose  faculties  are  so  little 
impaired  by  the  flight  of  time,  and  who  can  recall 
so  vividly  events  of  more  than  fifty  years  ago. 
He  is  never  at  a  loss  for  words  with  which  to  pre- 
sent the  contrast  between  the  past  and  the  present, 
and  no  man  has  a  finer  conception  of  what  has 
been  accomplished  in  the  great  West  by  the  hardy 
spirits  who  ventured  to  the  frontier,  and  whose 
labors  resulted  in  the  transformation  of  the  wilder- 
ness to  the  abode  of  a  peaceful,  intelligent  and 
law-abiding  people. 

A  volume  of  this  character  would  be  incomplete 
without  the  portrait  of  a  pioneer  settler,  whose  life 
and  history  are  inseparably  associated  with  that  of 
the  count}'  for  which  he  has  done  so  much.  As  the 
reader  turns  the  pages,  he  will  gaze  with  pleasure 
upon  the  loved  face  of  the  venerated  David  Dick- 
son. 


AMUEL  BLAIR  is  a  native  of  Vermilion 
County  and  was  born  in  Newell  Town- 
ship, Dec.  5, 1838.     His  father  and  mother. 

William  G.  and  Christina  (Braden)  Blair 
were  natives  of  Kentucky,  the  former  having  been 


born  Feb.  (J.  1797,  and  died  May  4,  1882,  while 
Mrs.  Blair's  birth  occurred  on  April  19,  1798.  She 
died  Oct.  2,  1877.  This  venerable  couple  settled 
in  Newell  Township  on  12tl  acres  of  land  and  as  old 
settlers,  are  entitled  to  all  the  praise  that  clusters 
around  that  brave  class  of  people.  They  came 
here  when  Vermilion  County  was  in  its  infancy 
and  lived  to  see  it  take  its  place  as  one  of  the 
prominent  counties  of  a  great  State. 

Samuel  Blair  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  and  as  before  stated  was  born  in 
the  township  where  lie  now  resides.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  M.  Casart,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary 
Casart,  natives  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Blair  was  born 
in  Glass  County.  Mo..  March  7,  1842,  and  came  to 
Illinois  with  her  parents  wdiile  very  young.  She 
is  the  sixth  child  of  a  family  of  nine  children. 
She  is  the  mother  of  six  children,  whose  record 
follows:  Henry  M.  is  engaged  with  his  father  in 
buying  and  shipping  grain  and  also  in  the  mercan- 
tile business;  Robert  is  the  husband  of  Jennie 
Watson  and  is  a  near  neighbor  of  his  father  and 
mother;  Alice  died  at  the  age  of  ten  months;  Clara 
M.  is  at  home;  Franklin  F.  is  dead;  Samuel  A. 
lives  with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Blair  is  the  owner  of  120  acres  of  good  land 
all  of  which  is  finely  improved.  In  his  farming 
operations  he  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  Short- 
horn cattle,  and  the  place  is  especially  noted  for 
the  fine  shade  trees  thereon.  In  an  early  day  these 
trees  afforded  shelter  for  the  emigrants,  and  were 
noted  and  favorably  commented  upon  from  Chi- 
cago to  Cairo.  They  were  indeed  an  oasis  on  these 
vast  prairies.  During  his  boyhood  days  Mr.  Blair 
frequently  drove  to  Chicago  with  apples  and  other 
produce  that  was  raised  on  the  farm,  and  the 
events  of  these  pioneer  days  are  related  by  him 
with  an  evident  relish. 

Politically  Mr.  Blair  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  now 
postmaster  at  Newell,  where  he  is  engaged  with  his 
son  in  business.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Town 
Clerk,  Treasurer,  and  Road  Commissioner,  and  his 
conduct  of  these  offices  has  merited  the  applause 
of  his  neighbors.  There  is  no  person  in  Vermilion 
County  who  is  more  public  spirited  than  he,  and 
he  is  ever  willing  to  do  anything  that  will  aid  in 
in  the   prosperity  of  his  community.     His  home  is 


596 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


surrounded  by  all  that  a  cultivated  taste  and  com- 
fort could  suggest,  and  is  one  of  which  a  king 
might  be  proud.  As  a  business  man,  it  goes  with- 
out saying  that  Samuel  Blair  is  unqualifiedly  suc- 
cessful. His  reputation  for  honorable  dealing  has 
given  him  a  large  prestige,  which  is  used  with  dis- 
cretion. Religiously  Mr.  Blair  is  an  energetic 
member  of  the  United  Brethern  Church,  an  organ- 
ization in  which  he  figures  as  a  leading  light. 


"'/ifs ; 


t  <>I1X  L.  PADCITT  of  Georgetown  Town- 
ship, is  pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  his  way 
as  a  farmer  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
the  hero  of  a  comparatively  uneventful 
career,  and  has  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
in  this  region,  lie  has  signalized  himself  as  a 
peaceful  and  law  abiding  citizen,  and  has  a  com- 
fortable home  on  section  6,  where  underneath  his 
hospitable  roof  are  frequently  welcomed  the  many 
friends  whom  he  and  his  estimable  wife  have  made 
during  their  long  sojourn  in  this  county. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Highland  Township. 
Vermillion  Co..  Ind..  June  28,  1840,  and  is  the 
son  of  Alfred  anil  Elizabeth  (Bell)  Padgitt,  who 
were  natives  of  Kentucky,  where  they  were  reared 
and  married.  The  father  served  in  the  war  of 
1  S  1  2  and  died  in  Indiana  when  his  son  John  L.  was 
but  six  years  old.  The  mother  and  her  children 
thereafter  lived  iu  Indiana  until  the  latter  were 
able  to  look  out  for  themselves.  Her  death  took 
place  in  Indiana  in  July.  Kit!  I.  Then'  were  twelve 
children  in  the  family,  four  sons  and  eight  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  lived  to  become  men  and  women 
aid  of  whom  John  L.,  our  subject,  was  the  ninth 
child. 

Mr.  Padgitt  remained  a  resident  of  his  native 
county  until  reaching  man's  estate  anil  when  a  little 
over  nineteen  years  old  was  married  July  10,  1859, 
to  Miss  Ellen  O'Neal,  a  maiden  of  seventeen. 
They  settled  upon  a  tract  of  rented  land  iu  George- 
town Township,  where  they  lived  until  Mr.  Padgitt, 
in  1865,  enlisted  at  Danville  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Union  army  in  Company  E,  150th  Illinois  Infantry 
under  Capt.  Parker.      From  Danville  they  repaired 


to  Springfield,  whera  they  were  mustered  into  ser- 
vice and  were  afterward  employed  at  Provost 
Marshal  duty  around  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  Cleveland, 
Tenn..  Dalton,  Atlanta,  and  Griffin,  Ga.  There 
being  then  no  further  need  of  their  services,  they 
were  mustered  out  at  Atlanta  Jan.  1G,  I860,  and 
received  their  discharge  at  Camp  Butler,  111. 
Afterward.  Mr. Padgitt  resumed  farming  in  George- 
town Township  and  in  1*77  purchased  his  present 
place  of  seventy -one  acres.  Here  he  has  made  a 
comfortable  living  and  by  his  industry  and  good 
qualities  as  a  member  of  the  community,  has  fully 
established  himself  in  tin  confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow  citizen^. 

I'ii  our  subject  and  his  excellent  wife  there  were 
born  three  children,  the  eldest  of  whom.  Viola  F., 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Buford  Taylor  of  Westville,  who 
is  represented  in  this  work.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren—  Louie  and  Bertha  E;  Celia  J.  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Cook  a  farmer  of  Georgetown  Town- 
ship; Birdie  1).  remains  at  home  with  her  parents. 
The  latter  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  Padgitt  politically  is  a  sound  Republican  and 
has    held  the  office  of  Constable. 

Mrs.  Padgitt  is  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  America 
(Lowe)  O'Neal,  who  came  to  Vermilion  County 
with  their  parents  in  their  youth  and  Here  married 
here.  The  mother  died  in  1851  at  the  early  age 
of  twenty-eight  years.  Mr.  O'Neal  was  married 
twice  afterwards.  He  had  live  children  each  1>\ 
his  first  and  second  wives.  His  eldest  daughter. 
Ellen,  is  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Samuel  married 
a  Miss  Graves,  is  the  father  of  two  children. 
Mamie  and  Gertie,  and  resides  in  Kansas;  Evaline 
married  James  Cook,  who  resides  at  Westville  and 
the  others  are  deceased.  Mr.  O'Neal  was  a  fanner 
by  occupation  and  is  now  deceased. 


#-# 


ENRY  BASS,  who  is  prominent  among  the 
well-to-do  farmers  of  Middle  Fork  Town- 
ship, owns  and  occupies  230  acres  of  choice 
(^)  land  upon  which  he  has  effected  good  im- 
provements. He  is  a  native  of  Buckinghamshire, 
England,  and    the  son  of  Henry  and    Sarah  (Hart) 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


59; 


Bnss  who  were  bom  in  Bedfordshire.  They  rc- 
mo\  ed  tn  the  first  mentioned  county  in  their  youth, 
where  they  were  married  and  settled  in  the  shire 
town  <if  Olney,  where  there  were  born  to  them 
seven  children,  viz.:  Tin  nuns;  Henry,  our  subject; 
Eliza;  Sarah,  who  married  John  Cook,  a  native  of 
England  and  is  now  living  in  Chicago;  James, 
William  and  Fanny.  The  latter  was  married  and  dud 
in  England,  leaving  five  sens  and  one  daughter. 
One  of  tin1  suns.  Bernard  Graves,  is  now  living 
with  his  uncle,  our  subject.  Fanny  Bass  died  in 
England  about  1884.  The  mother  is  still  living 
and  is  now  ninety-four  years  old. 

Our  subject  and  his  father's  family  for  years 
used  the  church  pew,  originally  occupied  by  the 
poel  Cowper  in  the  Baptisl  Church  of  Olney,  and 
the  house  in  which  the  poet  lived  is  still  standing 
in  that  town.  Mr.  Bass  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
his  native  place  and  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Stewart) 
Bennett.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs. 
Bass  were  born  in  Norfolk,  where  thej  were  also 
reared  and  married,  and  where  their  children  were 
born  and  reared.  Her  people  on  her  father's  side 
of  the  house  were  mostly  residents  of  Bedfordshire, 
and  all  were  Methodists  in  religious  belief.  In  the 
history  of  Olney  the  catching  of  eels  formed  one 
of  its  important  industries,  there  being  a  large  eel 
trap  in  the  river  and  a  portion  was  given  annually 
to  the  crown,  according  to  law.  This  was  in  an 
early  day. 

In  1  s.r»  1  our  subject  and  his  wife,  with  father 
Bennett  and  family  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  on  the  sailing  vessel 
"  Vanguard,"  landing  in  New  York  C ' i t \  after  a 
voyage  of  nineteen  days.  Thence  they  proceeded 
to  Buffalo  by  rail,  and  from  then-  1>\  the  lake  to 
Toledo,  at  which  point  they  t  10k  a  canal  boat  to 
Attica.  Ind.,  from  which  point  they  came  overland 
by  team  to  this  county  and  located  in  .Middle  Fork 
Township.  Mr.  Bass  opened  the  first  stoic  of  gen- 
eral merchandise  in  the  town  of  Marysvilte,  but  a 
year  or  two  later  decided  he  would  prefer  farming 
and  accordingly  settled  to  that  occupation. 

In  a  burying  ground  near  the  old  English  home 
of  our  subject  is  a  stone  which  marks  the  resting 
place  of  one  of  his  ancestors,  Amos  l!as>.  who  died 


probably  100  years  ago  at  the  age  of  ninety-three. 
The  family  had  I. ecu  for  several  generations  resi- 
dents of  Buckinghamshire  and  Bedfordshire,  and 
were  people  generally  well-to-do  and  universally 
our  subject  is  Hi"  father  of  seven 
children,  three  of  whom — Thomas.  Samuel  and 
Harriet,  died  young.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  W.  F. 
Burt  of  Middle  Fork  Township;  Fanny  married 
Samuel,  t  lie  son  of  James  ( ',  illicit  of  RoSS  Town- 
Fred  is  selling  g is  in  Armstrong;   Arthur 

S.  is  farming  in  Middle  Fork  Township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bass  have  been  able  to  surround  themselves 
with  all  the  comforts  of  life  and  arc  held  in  high 
esteem  liv  their  neighbors.  Both  are  members  in 
g 1  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


'  AMFS  II.  STEVENS,  a  gentleman  very  pop- 
ular in  his  community  and  possessed  of 
more  than  ordinary  intcllig.  nee,  is  engaged 
in  farming  on  a  modest  scale  on  section  0 
where  he  has  eighty  acres  of  well  developed  land 
with  comfortable  buildings.  He  makes  a  specialty 
of  market  gardening,  his  produce  finding  a  ready 
demand  among  the  coal  miners  in  that  vicinity. 
Honesty  and  integrity  form  the  leading  qualities 
in  a  character  of  superior  excellence,  and  which  has 
gained  for  Mr.  Stevens  in  a  marked  degree  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 

Our  subject  was  horn  at  his  father's  homestead 
on  section  'J,  near  Brooks'  Point  in  Georgetown 
Township.  Vermilion  County,  .Ian.  5,  1826,  and 
there  spent  the  opening  years  of  his  life.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  subscription  Schools, 
which  were  conducted  in  a  log  house  built  in  the 
primitive  fashion  of  those  times  with  puncheon 
floor,  seats  and  desks  of  slabs,  greased  paper  for 
window  panes,  and  a  few  other  finishings  and  furn- 
ishings incident  to  pioneer  times.  He  was  at  an 
early  age  taught  to  make  himself  useful  around  the 
homestead.  The  nearest  mill  for  a  number  of  3'ears 
was  at  Telle  Haute,  Ind.  There  was  for  a  long 
time  only  two  wagons  in  the  neighborhood  within 
a  radius  of  ten  miles,  and  the  neighbors  for  some 
distance  around  used  to  each  send  a  bag  of  corn  to 


ii'j.s 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


be  ground,  while  two  men  would  go  in  charge  of 
the  grist.  Later  a  mill  was  established  half  a  mile 
from  the  home  of  the  Stevens  family  and  operated 
by  horse  power.  This  was  considered  quite  a  lux- 
ury, being  a  great  saving  of  time  and  travel. 

Upon  approaching  manhood  young  Stevens  be- 
gan making  arrangements  for  a  home  of  his  own, 
and  in  1857  took  unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate, 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Charles  Rountree. 
This  lady  was  born  in  Ohio  and  removed  with  her 
parents  to  Indiana  when  a  girl.  She  lived  at  home 
until  her  marriage  with  our  subject,  which  took 
place  near  Crawfordsville,  Ind.  Prior  to  and  ful- 
some time  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Stevens  engaged 
as  teacher  in  Illinois  and  Indiana,  covering  a  period 
of  fifteen  years.  He  met  with  success  as  an  in- 
structor and  was  proffered  the  professorship  of  a 
seminary  in  Missouri.  On  account  of  the  outbreak 
of  the  Rebellion  lie  declined,  feeling  it  his  duty  to 
assist  in  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  He  raised 
a  company  in  Catlin,  of  which  he  was  to  have  been 
Captain,  but  upon  reporting  to  the  Governor  un- 
der the  call  for  75,000  men,  the  quota  was  found  to 
be  full  and  they  were  not  accepted. 

Mr.  Stevens  now  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
culture and  purchased  his  present  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  where  he  took  up  his  abode  and  has  since 
resided.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stevens,  namely:  Charles  Fremont,  Winfield 
S.  and  Jessie  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  are  mem- 
bers of  the  North  street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Danville,  and  our  subject  politically  is  a 
strong  Republican.  Upon  becoming  a  voting  citi- 
zen he  joined  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  1856, 
finding  his  party  had  violated  their  professed  prin- 
ciples, he  wheeled  into  the  Republican  ranks  the 
year  of  their  organization,  voted  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont, and  lias  since  labored  for  the  success  of  Re- 
publican principles.  He  takes  a  warm  interest  in 
educational  matters  and  keeps  himself  well  posted 
upon  topics  of  general  interest. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  James  and  Su- 
sannah (Thomas)  Stevens,  the  father  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  the  mother  born  in  Knox  County. 
E.  Tenn.,  in  the  old  fort  of  historic  fame.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Solomon  Stevens,  was  born 
in  England,  and  when  coming  to  America  settled 


in  one  of  the  Carolinas,  whence  he  removed  later  to 
Kentucky  and  finally  came  to  Illinois  in  1826  in 
company  with  his  son  James.  They  settled  near 
Brooks'  Point,  and  Grandfather  Stevens  lived  to 
besevent}'  years  old.  James  Stevens  was  seventy- 
six  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  his  wife, 
Susannah,  was  seventy-three.  The  latter  was  of 
German  descent  and  was  an  offshoot  of  the  family 
of  the  Union  General,  George  H.  Thomas,  who  dis- 
tinguished himself  during  the  late  war.  Grand- 
father Stevens  was  an  own  cousin  to  Alexander 
Stevens  of  Georgia,  and  one  of  the  noted  Confeder- 
ate leaders.  Both  father  and  grandfather  served  in 
the  war  of  1812.  James  Stevens  was  then  only  a 
boy  and  could  only  enter  the  army  under  his  father's 
permission.  They  fought  side  by  side  in  the  same 
company.  The  parental  household  included  nine 
children,  namely:  Lovina,  William,  Polly  A.,  James 
H.,  Henderson  P..  John,  Sarah  F.,  Nancy  and  Sam- 
uel. 


-*ii&2'©-S@»<| 


•©fSiOTJrivwv. 


OHN  R.  KINSEY.  The  community  of  Oak- 
wood  Township  recognizes  in  the  subject 
of  this  notice  one  of  its  most  useful  and 
worthy  citizens,  a  man  liberal  and  public 
spirited,  one  who  gives  generously  to  his  church 
(the  United  Brethren),  in  which  he  is  a  Class 
Leader  and  Steward  and  an  active  worker  in 
the  Sunday-school,  and  who  in  all  the  walks  of 
life  strives  to  makes  the  best  of  circumstances  and 
follow  that  line  of  conduct  by  which  he  may  be 
enabled  to  leave  a  good  record  for  his  children  to 
look  upon  in  future  years.  Conservative  in  poli- 
tics, he  was  first  identified  with  the  Old  Line 
Whigs  and  upon  the  abandonment  of  that  party  by 
the  organization  of  the  Republicans,  he  identified 
himself  with  the  latter  in  whose  principles  he 
thoroughly  believes  and  votes  accordingly.  His 
occupation  is  that  of  a  farmer,  and  he  operates 
forty  acres  of  good  land  on  section  23,  also  owning 
fifty-seven  acres  in  Catlin  Towhship.  He  has 
neat  and  substantial  modern  buildings  and  a  com- 
fortable home,  built  up  by  his  own  energy  and  in- 
dustry. 

The  native  place  of    our  subject  was  a  few  miles 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


599 


west  of  the  city  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  his  birth  oc- 
curred Oct.  20,  1831.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Eliza  (Ressor)  Kinsey,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio, 

and  the  latter  Imni  in  Germany,  whence  she  was 
was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents  in  early 
childhood.  Grandfather  John  Kinsey,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, removed  at  an  early  day  to  the  vicinity  of 
Dayton.  Ohio,  and  purchased  land  from  which  he 
constructed  the  farm  which  now  belongs  to  the 
grounds  of  the  Soldier's  Home.  There  his  son 
Jacob  was  horn  about  1812.  The  latter  was  reared 
to  manhood  and  married  in  his  native  State  where 
lie  followed  farming  anil  carpentering  and  became 
owner  of  a  fine  property.  Later  he  met  with  re- 
verses and  had  little  to  leave  to  his  children  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  lady  possessing 
all  the  womanly  virtues,  and  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  There  were  born  to  her 
and  her  husband,  nine  sons  and  four  daughters  and 
five  of  these  children  are  living.  Four  of  the  boys 
entered  the  Union  Army  during  the  late  Civil 
War.  Jacob  was  in  the  35th  Illinois  Infantry  and 
died  in  the  service;  David  passed  safely  through 
the  vicissitudes  of  army  life  and  after  the  war  took 
up  his  abode  in  Spring  River.  Mo.,  where  he  died 
about  1*07  or  1868;  Benjamin  Franklin  contracted 
measles  in  the  army,  was  sent  home  and  died; 
Daniel,  of  the  35th  Illinois  Infantry,  was  taken 
prisoner  and  wounded  but  recovered;  returning 
home,  he  is  now  a  resident  of  Butler  Count}-,  Kan. 
The  mother  has  long  since  passed  away.  Her 
children  cherish  and  revere  her  memory  above  all 
others  for  she  was  truly  a  mother  in  every  sense, 
devoted  to  her  husband  and  regarding  her  children 
as  her  dearest  treasures  on  earth.  Mr.  Kinsey.  the 
father  was  twice  married  after  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Kansas. 

Our  subject  remained  a  resident  of  his  native 
State  until  a  youth  of  sixteen  years,  then  in  1847. 
removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Peru,  Ind.  He 
lived  there  until  1853,  then  coining  to  this  county 
he  located  on  a  farm  just  east  of  his  present  home- 
stead, lie  had  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion, but  was  of  that  temperament  and  disposition 
which  led  him  to  keep  his  eyes  open  to  what  was 
iiuinjr  on  around  him.  and  he    thus  became   a  well- 


informed  and  intelligent  citizen.  When  ready  to 
establish  a  home  of  bis  own  he  was  married  at 
1'eru,  Ind..  to  .Mis.  Elizabeth   Chronister  and  soon 

afterward,  c ing  to  this   county,  purchased    fifty 

acres  of  land  from  his  father  where  he  put  up  a  frame 
house  and  became  involved  in  debt.  Then  selling 
out  he  rented  land  of  his  father  for  a  year  and  a 
half,  after  which  he  purchased  forty  acres — his 
present  farm.  Here  he  hewed  his  own  logs  and 
built  a  house  and  stable  and  since  that  time  has 
given  bis  attention  to  the  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment of  his  land.  It  has  been  well  tiled  and 
drained  and  is  very  productive.  Besides  this  be 
has  fifty-seven  acres  in  Catlin  Township.  He  rents 
other  land  of  his  neighbors  and  besides  raising 
quantities  of  fruit,  having  a  flourishing  orchard,  he 
feeds  each  year  a  goodly  number  of  cattle  and 
swine. 

Mr.  Kinsey  and  his  family  now  occupy  a  two 
story  frame  dwelling,  thirty-six  feet  square  and 
which  was  erected  in  1881.  It  makes  a  very  at- 
tractive home,  beautifully  located  in  the  edge  of 
the  timber,  and  is  elsewhere  represented  in  this 
work.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinsey  there  have  been 
born  five  children.  The  eldest.  Margaret  A.,  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  J.  Peterson,  lives  in  Kansas  and 
has  two  children.  Jasper  N.,  and  the  youngest 
child — Sardis  II.,  remain  at  home  with  their 
parents.  John  A.,  is  unmarried  and  a  resident  of 
Dakota.  Sarah  Ellen.  Mrs.  Daniel  Clapp,  has  one 
child  and  lives  in  Oakwood  Township. 

ffiACOB  .1.  ROBERTSON,  the  son  of  a  well- 
known  pioneer  family  of  Newell  Township, 
his  native  place,  is  now  classed  among  its 
prominent  citizens  and  practical  agricultur- 
ists who  are  ably  sustaining  its  highest  material 
and  social  interests.  His  father,  Zaehariah  Robert- 
son, was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  and  his 
mother  Elizabeth  (Storr)  Uobertson,  was  a  native 
of  Ohio.  (For  further  parental  history  see  sketch 
of  Z.  Robertson). 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  their  large  family 
of  sixteen  children,  eight  sons  and  eight  daughters, 


600 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  ln's  birth  took  place  here  Sept.  22,  1848.  lie 
was  reared  to  man's  estate  on  his  father's  farm) 
gaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  vocation  that 
he  afterwards  adopted  as  his  life-work,  and  receiv- 
ing his  education  mostly  in  the  public  schools. 
Since  attaining  manhood  he  has  devoted  himself 
exclusively  to  farming  and  stock-raising,  making  a 
specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle,  and  his  fine  herd  of 
that  breed  compares  with  the  best  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  owns  a  good  farm  whose  100  acres  of 
fertile  soil  are  under  the  highest  state  of  cultivation, 
and  yield  him  a  reliable  income.  The  buildings 
standing  on  the  farm  arc  in  good  order,  and  he  and 
his  family  have  a  comfortable  home. 

Mr.  Robertson  was  married  at  State  Line,  Feb. 
6,  1872,  to  Miss  Melissa  Brithingham,  who  has 
greatly  aided  him  in  his  work  as  only  a  capable,  de- 
voted wife  can  do,  and  to  her  he  frankly  acknowl- 
edges his  indebtedness.  Her  parents.  Benjamin 
and  Eliza  (Maechinson)  Brithingham,  natives  of 
Ohio,  where  they  were  married,  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Vermilion  County.  He  died  in 
Middle  Park  Township,  and  she  died  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Pilot  Township.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  daughters  and  four  boys.  Mrs.  Robertson 
was  the  ninth  child  and  was  born  on  the  old  farm 
in  Pilot  Township,  Nov.  21,  1848,  and  has  always 
resided  in  Vermilion  County.  Five  children  arc 
the  fruit  of  her  happy  marriage  with  our  subject — 
Hallie  G.,  an  infant,  Charles  B.,  Grace  M.  and 
Fay.     Charles  B.  died  when  two  years  old. 

In  our  subject  his  native  township  sees  one  who 
is  an  honor  to  its  citizenship,  both  in  public  and  in 
private  life,  as  his  career  has  been  without  a  stain. 
His  manly,  honest,  straightforward  disposition  has 
secured  him  the  confidence  of  his  fellowmen  and  he 
has  proved  an  invaluable  civic  official.  He  lias 
been  Tax  Collector  for  two  years,  and  has  been 
School  Director,  taking  much  interest  in  educational 
matters.  He  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Newell 
Township  in  the  spring  of  1887  and  served  with 
great  credit  to  himself  and  the  community.  Dur- 
ing his  term  of  office  an  investigation  was  made 
into  the  affairs  of  some  of  the  county  offices  and  a 
shortage  was  discovered  of  83.800.  One  of  the 
county  officials  offered  to  compromise  by  paying 
into    the  treasury  82.000.     Our  subject    with   but 


one  other  of  the  supervisors  voted  not  to  accept 
the  amount,  failing  to  see  why  a  shortage  of  $3,800 
should  be  settled  for  scarcely  more  than  half  of  the 
amount.  Mr.  Robertson  had  the  appointment  of 
one  of  the  grand  jurors  and  he  gave  him  special 
instruction  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  find  an  indict- 
ment against  the  guilty  parties,  and  if  unable  to  do 
so,  then  to  use  his  influence  to  have  the  entire 
Board  of  Supervisors  indicted,  as  all  but  two  had 
voted  to  accept  the  $2,000  offered  in  settlement  of 
the  deficit.  An  indictment  was  found  against  the 
guilty  officials,  and  but  one  was  cleared  of  im- 
plication in  the  affair;  the  others  reimbursed  the 
county  for  the  full  amount.  Mr.  Robertson  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  being  Vice- 
Grand  of  Illini  Lodge,  No.  240.  He  and  his  wife 
arc  true  Christians,  and  valued  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  has  been 
Trustee. 


lir^EV.  FRANCIS   A.  POETTKEN,   pastor  of 

1 1  ji i 

JLsr        St.  Joseph's  Church,  came  to   Danville  in 

/fcW,  September,  188G,  and  is  discharging  the 
^§1  duties  of  his  calling  with  that  conscien- 
tious fidelity  which  has  gained  him  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  is  associated.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  Prussian  province  of  Westphalia, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Muenster,  dune  2, 
1838.  He  received  a  thorough  education  in  his 
native  tongue,  and  wa6  ordained  as  a  priest  Nov. 
11,  1861,  at  Mentz.  Subsequently,  until  1875, 
he  officiated  as  pastor  of  different  churches  in  Ger- 
many, and  in  September,  that  year,  came  to  the 
United  States. 

The  church  edifice  in  which  the  congregation  of 
St.  Joseph's  worship,  is  a  handsome  brick  structure 
located  on  Green  street.  It  was  first  opened  for 
services  in  18G7,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  M. 
Rosenbauer.  In  1886  the  building  was  enlarged, 
and  a  steeple  added.  It  was  consecrated  Aug.  1, 
1886,  by  Rt,  Rev.  Bishop  Spaulding,  of  Peoria.  It 
belongs  to  the  Peoria  Diocese,  and  has  a  member- 
ship of  ninety  families.  A  parochial  school  was 
established  in  1875,  and  is   now   under  the  charge 


"»M0NSEC36SOFC|TV 


PROPERTY  OF  JAMES  BARNETT,  INDIANOLA. 


■^ 


RESIDENCE  OF  ANDREW  GUTHRIE.SEC.  25.  SIDELL  TP  VERMILION  CO. 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOO  KAl'llICA  1.   ALBUM. 


603 


Of    the    Franciscan    Sisters,  with    an   attendance  of 
sixty-live  pupils. 

In  connection  with  St.  Joseph's  Church  there  is 
St.  Joseph's  Benevolent  Society,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  1877.  The  following  named  priests  haveat 
different  times  officiated  in  this  parish:  Rev.  Anton 
Reck,  now  deceased,  Henry  Koehne,  William  Kuch- 
enbuch,  Thomas  Frouenkefer,  deceased,  Peter  Jo- 
seph Schmal,  Peter  Joseph  Gerhardy,  C.  Schurtz, 
Bernhard  Wenning,  deceased,  and  Father  Poett- 
ken. 

A  very  important  institution  in  connection  with 
this  church,  and  known  as  St.  Elizabeth  Hospital, 
was  established  in  1881,  and  the  building  it  now 
occupies  was  erected  in  1888.  This  is  a  handsome 
brick  structure,  three  stories  in  height,  with  base 
ment,  covering  a  area  of  49x102  feet  and  with  its 
finishings  and  furnishings  is  a  most  valuable  piece 
of  property.  It  is  in  charge  of  fourteen  Francis- 
can Sisters,  and  at  present  accommodates  thirty 
patients. 

AMES  BARNETT  is  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Indianola.  lie  owns  and  oper- 
ates an  extensive  livery,  sales   and  boarding 

JIJI/  stable,  and  has  acquired  a  reputation  in  his 
business  that  is  praiseworthy.  He  also  owns  a  beau- 
tiful farm  of  '222  acres,  which  he  carries  on  in  con- 
nection with  his  other  business.  On  this  farm  is  a 
pleasant  commodious  residence,  which  is  illustrated 
by  a  line  view  given  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and 
which  is  surrounded  by  stately  trees  and  gardens 
of  beautiful  Mowers. 

Mr.  Barnett  is  the  son  of  James  Harnett,  who  was 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  anil  settled  in  Illinois  in 
1828.  The  father  was  married  twice,  the  lirst  time 
to  Miss  Conway,  by  whom  he  had  five  children; 
while  his  second  wife,  the  mother  of  the  one  of 
whom  this  sketch  is  written,  was  named  Rosa  Xeil. 
He  became  the  owner  of  about  600  acres  of  land, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  His  ancestors  were  from  Ire- 
land, and  after  coming  to  America  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, away  back  in  Colonial  times.  The  father 
of  James  Barnett,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  State  named. 


and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Delila  Davis,  of 
Welsh  lineage.  The  father  of  our  subject  died  in 
18tlt;.  while  his  second  wife  died  the  same  year,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  She  was  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  whose  names  follow:  Emily, 
Eliza,  Lenora,  Mary,  Willis,  James  and  Harris. 

James  Barnett  was  born  April  11, 1845,  on  the  old 
Barnett  homestead,  where  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood. He  attended  the  common  schools,  working 
alternately  on  his  father's  farm,  thus  acquiring  his 
knowledge  of  agriculture  and  of  horses,  which  has 
servedhim  well.  In  1871  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Martin,  a  native  of  Douglas  County.  111., 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Wheeler)  Mar- 
tin, the  latter  of  whom  were  natives  of  Athens 
County,  Ohio.  John  Martin  was  married  three 
times,  Mrs.  Barnett  being  a  child  of  the  first  mar- 
riage. His  children  are  as  follows:  Susannah.  John 
Joseph,  Margaret.  Nancy,  Levi,  Isaac,  Mary  and 
Lucinda.  Mrs.  Barnett  was  but  four  years  old 
when  her  mother  died.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  her  father's  second  union,  and  by  his  third  mar- 
riage he  was  the  father  of  one  child. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnett  re- 
sided on  the  old  homestead,  where  they  met  all  the 
responsibilities  thrust  upon  them  with  characteris- 
tic industry  and  intelligence.  He  lias  since  added 
to  the  old  farm,  so  that  now  it  is  a  beautiful  place 
of  about  222  acres.  In  1878  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnett 
removed  to  Jewell  County,  Kan.,  where  they 
owned  a  quarter  section  of  land.  This  move  was 
made  on  account  of  Mrs.  Bamett's  health,  and 
while  there  she  improved  greatly.  In  the  mean- 
time the  Kansas  land  rose  in  value,  so  much  so.  that 
they  concluded  to  dispose  of  it.  which  they  did  to 
a  good  advantage  and  returned  to  Illinois,  where 
tliev  have  since  resided.  They  have  an  interesting 
family  of  five  children,  whose  names  are:  Rose  A., 
Wilbur  J.,  Armilda  Pearl.  Edith  E.  and  Olenwood. 

Mrs.  Barnett  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  Indianola,  and  is  always  found  at  the 
front  in  anything  that  will  forward  the  interests  of 
her  chosen  faith.  Mr.  Barnett  is  a  member  of  Ver- 
milion Lodge  No.  265,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen.  Politically  there  is  no  more 
ardent  Republican  in  the  State  than  he.  Mrs.  Bar- 
nett is  one  of  the  best  of   neighbors,  and  tenderest 


604 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  mothers.  She  is  justly  proud  of  her  family,  and 
of  her  home,  while  the  interior  of  the  latter  shows 
that  the  hand  of  the  mistress  is  never  idle. 


„,  NDREW  GUTHRIE  is  one  of  the  promi- 
WlU\     nent    and    well-to-do     farmers    of    Sidell 


Township,  where  he  owns  and  operates 
eighty  acres  of  well-improved  land  on  sec- 
tion 25.  His  father  and  mother,  George  and  Mar- 
garet Guthrie,  were  born  in  Ireland.  The  poverty 
and  reign  of  landlordism  in  that  country  is  one  of 
the  great  causes  of  its  people  coming  to  America. 
Mere  if  they  are  industrious  and  sober  they  can 
find  occupation  for  themselves  and  land  for  their 
children,  and  in  pursuance  of  this  object,  the  elder 
Guthrie  concluded  to  leave  his  native  country  and 
seek  the  more  hospitable  shores  of  America.  He 
first  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married, 
and  later,  about  1850,  he  came  to  Carroll  Town- 
ship. Vermilion  County,  where  lie  lived  on  his 
farm  until  death  called  him  away,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  His  wife  died  at  the  same 
age.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  live  were 
sons  and  five  daughters,  and  but  three  of  these  are 
now  living,  namely:  Thomas,  Andrew  and  Sarah. 
Thomas  resides  in  Sidell  Township,  and  is  prosper- 
ing; Sarah  married  George  Powell,  and  is  residing 
at  Danville. 

Andrew  Guthrie  was  born  July  6,  1826,  in 
Washington  County.  Pa.,  twenty-four  miles  south 
of  Pittsburgh.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  that  coun- 
try, and  married  Miss  Rachael  Reynolds,  a  native 
of  Favette  County,  Pa.  He  lived  in  that  State  two 
years  after  marriage,  until  in  1854,  he  heard  of  the 
wonderful  resources  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  he  con- 
cluded to  remove  here,  and  upon  his  arrival  settled 
in  Vermilion  County,  where  for  a  few  years  he  was 
obliged,  on  account  of  the  lack  of  means,  to  rent  a 
farm.  But  industry  and  honesty  will  win.  In 
1873  he  found  himself  able  to  buy  forty  acres  of 
land,  and  to  which  he  has  since  added  another 
forty.  His  farm,  though  not  large,  yields  good  re- 
turns upon  the  investment,  and  is  a  model  in  every 
respect,  as  its  owner  does  nothing  at  all  but  that 


which  he  can  do  well.  He  has  erected  a  commo- 
dious residence  on  his  homestead,  and  we  are 
pleased  to  present  on  another  page  a  hue  view  of 
this  pleasant  country  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guthrie  have  six  children  :  Mary 
E.,  Ella,  Wilbur,  George,  Samuel  and  Ernest. 
Mary  E.  married  Abner  Orr,  who  is  a  large  farmer 
of  Clark  County,  111.  They  have  six  children,  and 
all  are  well-to-do;  Ella  and  Wilbur  are  at  home 
with  their  parents;  George  is  a  carpenter,  and  is 
living  in  California;  Samuel  is  a  telegraph  opera- 
tor at  Allerton;  while  Ernest  is  at  home  attending 
school.  Air.  Guthrie  has  taken  a  great  interest  in 
educational  matters,  and  is  always  found  ready  to 
do  anything  that  will  benefit  the  common  schools. 
Mrs.  Guthrie  was  a  teacher,  and  held  a  first-grade 
certificate  in  Vermilion  and  Edgar  counties,  this 
State.  'I  hey  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  largely  aided  in  building  the 
edifice  in  which  they  worship.  In  1809  Mr.  Guth- 
rie had  the  misfortune  to  lose  an  eve,  but  other- 
wise he  is  in  perfect  health  and  strength. 

Mr.  Guthrie  is  an  adherent,  mainly,  to  Demo- 
cratic principles,  but  when  he  votes  he  scrutinizes 
the  candidates'  record  and  qualifications,  and  then 
invariably  votes  for  the  best  man.  He  is  one  of 
the  best  men  of  his  township,  and  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  his  neighbors. 


^# 


s*  JjfclLLIAM  REES.  There  is  a  goodly  repre- 
\jjj/i  sentation  of  the  peaceable  Friends  in 
XfyW  Elwood  Township,  and  among  them  the 
subject  of  this  notice  is  one  of  the  prominent 
members.  He  is  a  man  justly  proud  of  his 
ancestry,  who  made  for  themselves  a  good  record, 
and  has  inherited  from  them  many  excellent  traits 
of  character.  His  life-long  occupation  has  been 
that  of  a  farmer,  and  he  is  at  present  located  on 
section  24  in  Elwood  Township.  Here  by  his  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  he  has  made  good  use  of 
his  time,  built  up  a  veiy  desirable  home  and  accu- 
mulated a  competence  for  his  declining  years. 

Our  subject  was  born    in   Greene  Countj',  East 
Tennessee,  April  1U,  1819,  and  is  the  son  of  Will- 


PORTRAIT  AN'l)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


005 


iam  Bees.  Jr.,  who  «as  borD  near  Richmond,  Va., 
.•mil  who  died  many  years  ago.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  also  William  Rees, 
who  removed  with  his  family  to  Guilford  County. 
N.  O,  about  1771,  when  his  son  William  was  but 
two  years  old  and  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  family  were  at  onetime  within  three  miles  of 
the  battle-ground  of  Guilford  Court-house  and 
heard  the  report  of  cannon  and  musketry  at  that 
battle.  The  army,  however,  moved  on.  but  for 
some  time  the  cannonading  could  still  lie  heard. 

William  Bees,  Sr.,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  son  of 
Thomas  Rees,  who  emigrated  from  Wales  soon 
after  his  marriage  and  a  short  time  before  his  son 
William  was  bom.  The  parents  of  Thomas  Rees 
were  of  the  Saxon  race.  Thomas  was  married  in 
his  native  country  to  Miss  Mary  Bowen,  and  they 
immediately  set  sail  for  America.  Upon  their  ar- 
rival they  settled  near  Richmond,  Va  .  and  became 
the  parents  of  four  sons.  William,  Robert,  Solomon 
and  David.  William  married  Miss  Charity  Dillon, 
of  Irish  ancestry,  and  by  her  became  the  father  of 
seven  children,  Moses,  William,  James,  John, 
Mary,  Margaret  and  a  daughter  whose  name  does 
not  appear.  Thomas  Rees  lived  to  be  105  years 
old. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  the  second  child 
of  his  parents  and  upon  reaching  manhood  was 
married  to  Miss  Susanna  Jones,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
who  was  taken  by  her  parents  to  Tennessee  when 
but  a  child.  There  were  seven  other  children  in 
the  family,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Mary,  Mrs. 
Bales;  Rachel,  who  is  unmarried,  and  our  subject, 
who  was  the  youngest  born;  the  others,  who  all 
lived  to  mature  years,  were  named  respectively. 
Charity,  Deborah,  John,  James  and  .lam'. 

Our  subject  came  to  this  county  in  1830,  settling 
in  Klwood  Township,  where  he  has  since  lived.  In 
the  following  winter  occurred  the  deep  snow  which 
fell  two  feet  on  the  level  and  when  nearly  all 
the  deer  and  wolves  were  frozen  to  death.  The 
Rees  famil}' experienced  all  the  hardships  and  diffi- 
culties of  pioneer  life,  living  far  from  mill  and 
market  and  struggling  for  a  number  of  years  to 
make  both  ends  meet.  Their  grinding  was  fre- 
quently done  in  a  horse-mill.     Three  days  after  his 


arrival  our  subject  received  a  wound  on  his  right 
knee  and  still  carries  the  seai-.  by  reason  of  an 
injury  in  a  horse-mill. 

Young  Bees  studied  his  first  lessons  at  the  sub- 
scription schools,  conducted  in  a  log  cabin,  with 
^l.'ib  seats  and  desks  set  up  on  rude  wooden  legs, 
with  a  clapboard  roof,  a  huge  fireplace  extending 
nearly  across  one  end  of  the  building  and  the 
chimney  built  outside  of  clay  and  sticks.  Win- 
dow glass  was  too  expensive  or  unattainable  in 
tho^e  days  and  in  its  place  there  was  used  greased 
paper  for  panes.  The  system  of  instruction  was 
conducted  in  a  manner  corresponding  to  the  time 
and  place.  Our  subject  remained  at  the  farm  as- 
sisting his  father  in  its  development  until  ready  to 
establish  a  home  of  his  own. 

The  marriage  of  William  Bees  and  Miss  Bebecca 
Hester  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in  El- 
wood  Township,  Nov.  7,  1843.  This  lady  was  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Hester  and  a  sister  of  William 
Hester,  whose  biography  appears  on  another  page. 
She  was  born  in  Randolph  County,  Lad.,  Jan.  23, 
1824,  and  removed  with  her  parent  to  Tazewell 
well  County  this  State,  in  1829.  Six  yrears  later, 
in  1835,  they  came  to  this  county.  Ten  of  the  thir- 
teen children  born  of  this  union  are  still  living, 
viz:  Levi.  Martha.  Mary,  Sarah,  Thomas,  Sibyl, 
Perry  ().,  Omar  II.  and  Bertram. 

Levi  Bees  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  A.  Par- 
ker. At  an  early  age  he  exhibited  an  uncom- 
monly bright  mind  of  a  deeply  religious  turn,  and 
he  is  now  pastor  of  the  Friends'  Church  in  Indian- 
apolis; he  has  no  children.  Martha  married  Mr. 
Seth  Haworth,  who  is  now  deceased,  and  lives  near 
her  father.  She  is  the  mother  of  five  children, 
only  one  of  whom  is  living,  Anna  L.;  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Holliday,  of  Douglas  County,  this 
Mate,  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  Grace. 
Alice  and  Lizzie;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Pleasant 
Cook,  of  Champaign  County,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Lewis  and  Arthur;  Thomas  married  Miss 
Florence  Elliott,  and  lives  in  Carroll  Township; 
they  had  one  child,  Lucille,  deceased.  Sibyl  mar- 
ried Zimri  Haworth,  of  Klwood  Township,  and 
they   have  two  children,  Mary  and  Albert. 

The  Rees  homestead  includes  ninety-two  acres  of 
choice   land  which,  under   the  careful  management 


COG 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  its  proprietor,  is  the  source  of  a  good  income. 
Our  subject  is  a  stanch  Republican  politically  but 
has  never  sought  office,  and  in  religious  matters 
belongs  to  the  Society  of  Friends.  His  father  was 
born  in  1769  and  voted  for  Washington  at  his 
second  election  for  President.  He  subsequently 
voted  for  both  of  the  Adamses  and  was  always  a 
Whig  politically. 


-mm — 


LEXANDER  I).  OWEN,  a  farmer  widely 
HjSyLIJi  aiid  favorably  known,  and  living  in  Grant 
Township, was  born  in  Washington  Count}-, 
Ohio,  Sept.  6,  1  S 4 ") ,  and  came  to  this  Stale 
a  tier  his  marriage  in  1  869.  His  great-grandmother, 
Mary  (Gardner)  Owen  was  the  first  white  woman 
who  ever  crossed  the  Ohio  River  and  set  foot  upon 
the  soil  of  the  Imperial  State  of  that  name,  and  her 
history  is  given  in  its  annals.  James  Owen  and  his 
wife  Mary  (Gardner)  Owen,  were  the  great-grand- 
parents of  Alexander  1).,  our  subject.  They  were 
both  natives  of  Rhode  Island  and  left  their  home  in 
South  Kingston,  R.  I.,  in  1798,  for  the  territory  of 
Ohio.  They  settled  at  Fori  Harmer,  now  the  site 
of  Marietta,  Ohio,  landing  there  June  5,  1798 — 
in  company  with  Gen.  James  Yarnum.  As  before 
stated  Mrs.  Owen  was  the  first  white  woman  to 
settle  in  the  Northwest  Territory.  Her  son.  Daniel 
Owen,  grandfather  of  Alexander  D.,  was  therefore 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Washington  County, 
Ohio,  and  became  the  owner  of  a  farm  on  the  Mus- 
kingum River,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death 
It  was  near  what  was  then  known  as  Ft.  Harmer, 
where  Marietta  now  stands.  His  wife  also  died  at 
that  place. 

Their  son,  Vincent,  was  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  and  was  born  at  the  above  mentioned 
place  in  1811.  He  likewise  was  a  farmer  and  a  life- 
long resident  of  his  native  county,  where  he  died 
in  1876  aged  sixty-live  years.  He  was  a  stock 
dealer  and  raiser  as  well  as  farmer,  and  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  competency  as  a  result  of  his  in- 
dustry and  correct  business  habits.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Jane  Adams,  also  a  native  of  <  )hio,  who  died 
several  years  before  her  husband's  decease,  leaving 


a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  but  two  are 
now  living — Alexander  I),  and  a  sister,  Louisa, 
wife  of  1).  I'.  Adams,  a  plumber,  now  residing  in 
Washington  County.  Ohio.  Three  of  the  sons  were 
in  the  Union  army  and  one  died  in  the  service  at 
Pulaski,  Tenn.  The  others  died  after  the  war  at 
their  homes,  the  one  in  Ohio  anil  the  other  in 
West  Virginia. 

Alexander  1).  Owen  was  reared  on  the  farm 
where  he  was  born,  living  there  until  January. 
1863,  when  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  too, 
offered  his  services  to  his  country,  enlisting  in 
Company  L,  1st  Ohio  Cavalry,  with  which  he 
served  until  Dec.  I860.  His  company  served  as 
(Jen.  Thomas'  body  guard  and  was  also  on  detailed 
duty  as  despatch- bearers,  carrying  messages  along 
thi'  lines,  especially  during  engagements,  the  serv- 
ice being  especially  hazardous.  They  were  so  en- 
gaged at  Lookout  Mountain,  Buzzard's  Roost, 
Macon,  Ga,.  Dallas,  Ala.,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  where 
Gen.  Harrison  ascended  the  first  step  that  led  to 
the  White  House:  Three  Forks  and  in  all  engage- 
ments of  that  army  down  to  Atlanta.  After  peace 
was  declared  the  company  was  ordered  to  Nash- 
ville, Tenn..  where  they  were  on  duty  until  De- 
cember, 1865,  when  they  were  mustered  out. 
Being  honorably  discharged,  Mr.  Owen  returned  to 
his  home  ami  resumed  work  on  the  farm,  remaining 
there  until  his  marriage  Dec.  2,  1868,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Rubrake.  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Cathe- 
rine Rubrake,  natives  of  Germany,  who  emigrated 
to  this  country  after  their  marriage,  over  forty 
years  ago.  The  father  died  in  Noble  County,  Ohio, 
in  March  1888  aged  nearly  seventy -five  years,  while 
the  mother  is  still  living  at  the  same  place  and  is 
now  about  sixty-five  years  old. 

In  February  following  their  marriage  Mr.  ami 
Mrs.  Owen  removed  to  Logan  County.  III.,  where 
they  lived  for  seven  years,  then  came  to  the  place 
he  now  owns  on  section  5,  in  Grant  Township, 
where  he  has  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  on  which 
he  has  built  a  fine  residence.  All  the  improvements 
on  the  place  have  been  made  by  himself,  as  his  land 
when  purchased  was  nothing  but  raw  prairie.  To- 
day it  is  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most  desir- 
able pieces  of  property  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
It  is  all  thoroughly  tiled,  fenced,  and  in  a  high  state 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


007 


of  cultivation.  Beside  Ins  general  farming,  Mr. 
Owen  gives  considerable  attention  to  dairying  in 
which  In'  lias  met  with  success. 

Mr.  Owen  is  a  member  of  Harmon  Post  No.  1 15 

'G.  A.  R.  of  Hoopeston,  and   both  he  and  his  wife 

are  communicants  of   the   First  Baptist  Church  of 

that  place.     In  politics  lie  is  a  Democrat.     By  the 

I pie  who  know  him,  Mr.  Owen  is  spoken  of  as  an 

upright,  honorable  and  trustworthy  man.  and  a 
good  citizen,  who  can  always  be  depended  upon  to 
do  just  what  he  promises,  and  he  justly  merits 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  neighbor. 

We  invite  the  attention  of  our  numerous  readers 
to  a  handsome  engra\  ing  of  the  elegant  home  and 
surroundings  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Owen. 


/^EORGE    M.    SULLIVA] 

ill  c— .  ing  and   industrious   I'a 
^\^i|l   which    position    he   has 


/-^- Ko1;<;k    M.    SULLIVAN  is  the  enterpris- 

'ath master  of  Sidell, 
held  for  the  long 
period  of  eleven  years.  A  native  of  the  Bine 
Grass  Stale,  he  was  bom  Sept.  16,  1836,  and  there 
spent  his  childhood  days  amid  its  pioneer  scenes, 
attending  the  subscription  schools  in  a  log  house, 
with  its  seats  and  desks  made  of  slabs  and  theother 
furnishings  and  finishings  corresponding  toth.it 
period.  lie  was  harnessed  into  work  at  an  early 
age,  following  the  plow  when  a  lad  of  nine  years, 
and  thus  were  formed  within  him  those  habits  of  in- 
dustry which  have  made  of  him  a  wealthy  and 
Successful   man. 

[n  1854  the  Sullivan  family,  leaving  Kentucky, 
emigrated  to  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  and  our  sub- 
ject engaged  first  in  breaking  land  upon  the  new 
farm.  After  a  time,  however,  longing  for  a  change 
of  occupation,  he  secured  a  position  as  Freight 
Agent  with  the  Indianapolis  &  Cincinnati  Railroad 
Company,  and  was  entrusted  with  the  purchase  of 
tic-,  timber  and  general  construction  lumber,  being 
in  the  employ  of  this  company  about  eight  years. 
In  the  meantime  lie  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Ann  Baker,  who  was  then  an  attractive 
young  lady  of   nineteen  year-. 

In  1866  Mr.  find  Mrs.  Sullivan  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Shelby  County.  Ind.,  where  they  lived  two  years. 


In  1868  they  came  to  this  county,  and  Mr.  Sullivan 
rented  a  farm  of  Kill  acres  in  Sidell  Township  from 
Mr.  Oakwood.  He  was  prospered  in  his  labors  as 
a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  in  187]  purchased  forty 
acres  of  raw  land  on  section  .'ill.  Upon  this  he 
effected  some  improvements,  and  three  years  later 
sold  it  to  good  advantage.  Later  he  purchased  the 
1110  acres  on  section  :S  1 ,  which  constitutes  his  pres- 
ent homestead.  To  this  be  has  given  his  undivided 
attention,  with  most  excellent  results.  The  land  is 
highly  productive   and    embellished    with    a   set    of 

g 1  buildings,  the  dwelling  being  a  neat  frame  of 

one  ami  one-half  stories,  well  fitted  up  with  the 
conveniences  of  modern  life.  The  outbuildings, 
live-stock  and  machinery  arc  what  might  be  natur- 
ally expected  from  a  man  of  Mr.  Sullivan's  push 
and  enterprise,  and  compare  favorably  with  those 
of   the  others    enterprising    farmers  of   this  section. 

Seven  of  the  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mr-. 
Sullivan  are  still  living,  viz:  .lames  II.,  Oliver  1*. 
and  Henry  A.  (twins;,  Carrie  B.,  Home  1 1..  Charles 
W.  and  Arthur  G.  .lames  II.  married  Miss  Lucy 
Clester, and  is  the  father  of  onechild.  He  is  em- 
ployed as  salesman  fur  Charles  Forbes,  the  agri- 
cultural implement  dealer  of  Sidell,  and  in  this 
capacity  ranks  second  to  no  man  in  the  county. 
The  other  children  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Oliver  and  Henry  are  cultivating  120  acres  of 
rented  land  on  section  2,  making  a  specialty  of 
corn.  Our  subject,  politically,  uniformly  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  with  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  has  held  several  of  the  township  offices,  giving 
general  satisfaction    in    the  discharge  of   his  duties. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  natives  le.-pect- 
ively  of  Maryland  and  Kentucky,  the  mother  born  in 
Mercer  County.  Her  maiden  name  was  Mary  Hill, 
ami  her  mother  was  a  native  of  Scotland.  The  ten 
children  of  the  parental  family  were  named,  re- 
spectively, Nancy  K.,  John  II. ,  Louisiana.  Myriana. 
Sarah.  <  leorge  Marion,  our  subject,  Martha  .1..  Mary 
Iv,  .lames  l'.and  William.!.  Both  the  grandfathers 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Grandfather 
Sullivan  was  a  Sergeant  under  the  direct  command 
of  ( ion.  Washington.     A  fife  belonging  to  him  and 

used  during  that  war.  is  still  in  possession  of  the 
family.      The  father  of  our  subject  died    in  Wash- 


003 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


;ngton  Count}-,  Ky.,  at  about  the  age  of  sixty-one 
3-ears,  when  George  M.  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years. 
The  mother  died  ten  years  later  and  was  also  sixty- 
one  years  old. 

Mrs.  Sullivan  was  born  in  Decatur  County,  Ind., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  James  II.  and  Louisa  Bowen, 
the  father  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents 
of  six  children — four  daughters  and  two  sons. 


ffiUDGE  JACOB  W.  WILKINS,  one  of  the 

Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois, 
has  enjoyed  a  largo  and  varied  experience 
in  his  profession,  while  his  learning  and 
dignity  and  the  deep  sense  of  justice  he  is  gifted 
with,  especially  fits  him  to  grace  this  honorable 
position.  His  naturally  good  judgment  and  sound 
learning,  together  with  his  studious  habits  and 
legal  abilit}'  have  long  since  gained  for  him  the 
highest  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  the  respect 
of  his  professional  brethren,  while  his  fidelity  to 
duty  has  ever  been  apparent  in  1 1  is  rulings  and  pro- 
ceedings. He  is  an  Ohio  man  by  birth,  and  was 
born  near  Newark,  Licking  County,  June  7,  1887. 
"When  our  subject  was  a  mere  child  his  father 
decided  to  seek  the  farther  West,  and  coming  to 
Crawford  County,  111.,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Licking 
Township,  where  Jacob  W.  lived  until  a  youth  of 
eighteen  years.  He  had  tip  to  this  time  pursued 
his  studies  in  the  common  schools,  and  b}r  close 
application  prepared  himself  for  McKendree  Col- 
lege at  Lebanon,  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.  lie  entered  t!ii> 
institution  and  for  the  following  two  years  prose- 
cuted his  studies  with  his  well  known  energy  and 
thoroughness.  He  left  the  college  halls  in  1861  and 
begun  the  study  of  law  under  Judge  John  Scofield, 
who  was  afterward  his  law  partner,  residing  at 
Marshall.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  he  en- 
listed as  a  Union  soldier,  but  was  soon  obliged  to 
return  home  on  account  of  ill  health.  His  patriot- 
ism, however,  would  not  permit  him  to  remain  at 
home,  and  soon  again  he  presented  himself  to  the 
enrolling  officer  and  joined  Company  K,  130th  Il- 
linois Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  as  Captain. 
His  regiment  was  thereafter  in  different   divisions 


of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  later  in  the 
Department  of  the  Gulf.  It  passed  through  the 
Vicksburg  campaign  and  participated  in  all  the  bat- 
tles connected  therewith,  after  which  the}-  joined 
the  army  assigned  to  make  the  Red  River  expedi- 
tion. Our  subject  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of 
Sabine  Cross  Roads.  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort  Blake- 
ley,  and  was  before  Vicksburg  during  the  siege  of 
that  city.  Later  he  was  on  duty  at  the  headquarters 
of  Gen.  Grant  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war — a  little  over  three  years — receiving  his  dis- 
charge in  the  fall  of  1865  with  the  rank  of  Major. 
Then  returning  to  Marshall  he  completed  his  law 
studies,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring 
of  1866.  He  opened  an  office  in  Marshall  and  com- 
menced the  regular  practice  of  his  profession, 
following  it  alone  until  18(37.  That  year  he  asso- 
ciated himself  in  partnership  with  Judge  Scofield, 
and  they  remained  together  until  1873,  when  the 
partnership  was  dissolved  by  the  election  of  Judge 
Scofield  to  his  present  high  position,  being  also  a 
member  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of 
Illinois. 

For  a  time  our  subject  continued  his  practice 
singly  in  Marshall,  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
a  younger  brother  and  they  continued  together 
until  in  June,  187(J.  when  Mr.  Wilkins  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  Fourth  Judicial  Circuit  of  Illinois,  the 
other  two  judges  of  that  circuit  being  Judge  ().  L. 
Davis,  of  Danville,  and  C.  D.  Smith,  of  Cham- 
paign. In  June.  1885,  he  was  re-elected,  and. 
Judge  Davis  retiring,  Judge  Wilkins  took  up 
his  residence  in  Danville,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the 
bench  of  the  Appellate  Court  of  the  Fourth  Dis- 
trict in  1885,  and  was  elected  to  the  Supreme 
bench  in  June,  1888. 

Politically,  Judge  Wilkins  is  a  sound  Republi- 
can, and  has  been  of  signal  service  to  his  part}', 
frequently  being  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  various 
conventions.  On  the  21st  of  September,  1865,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Constable,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  Judge  Charles  II.  Constable,  a  man  of 
prominence  and  broad  attainments  in  legal  lore. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children 
— Harry  O.,  John  Scofield  and  Jessie  Belle.  Mrs. 
Alice    Wilkins    died   at   her    home    in    Marshall   in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


609 


March.  188;!.  Her  children  are  still  living,  and  are 
bring  given  the  best  advantages  in  the  way  of  ed- 
ucation and  careful  training. 

Judge  Wilkins  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
July.  1885.  with  Mrs.  Sarah  K.  (Whitlock)  Archer, 
daughter  of  Judge  William  C.  Whitlock,  of  Mar- 
shall. The  family  residence  is  pleasantly  located 
in  the  central  part  of  the  city,  and  its  inmates  are 
surrounded  by  all  that  ample  means  and  cultivated 
tastes  can  supply.  They  occupy  a  high  social  po- 
sition in  their  community.  The  Judge  has  accumu- 
lated a  comfortable  property. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Isaac  Wilkins,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  born  July  11,  1806.  When 
a  young  man  he  emigrated  to  Licking  County.  ( )hio. 
where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Burner  in 
1827.  In  Ohio  he  operated  as  a  contractor  and 
builder,  but  after  his  removal  to  Crawford  County, 
this  State,  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  be- 
came the  owner  of  320  acres  of  land,  which  he 
brought  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  also 
dealt  considerably  in  live  stock,  and  finally  accu- 
mulated a  good  property,  so  that  he  was  able  to 
retire  from  active  labor.  He  died  Nov.  17,  1886. 
1 1  is  wife  is  still  living,  and  a  resident  of  Marshall. 
She  was  born  in  Virginia  Nov.  9,  1811.  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Henry  Burner,  who  removed  with  his 
family  to  Licking  County.  Ohio,  about  the  same 
time  that  the  Wilkins  family  settled  there.  The 
parental  family  included  nine  children,  live  of 
whom  are  living. 

Ml  : sS^Jffac       :    ■ 

yilLLIAM  T.  STEVENS.  Among  other  ven- 
turesome spirits  wdio  sought  the  frontier 
\J^5I  during  the  earl}-  settlement  of  Central  Il- 
linois came  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and  he  has 
made  for  himself  a  record  worthy  of  preservation. 
We  find  him  a  well  preserved  old  gentleman,  ap- 
proaching his  three-score  and  ten  years,  having 
been  bom  March  18,  1821.  His  native  place  was 
Rush  County.  Ind.,  and  his  parents  were  James  and 
Susannah  (Thomas)  Stevens,  both  of  excellent 
families,  which  produced  names  of  historic  fame — 
Alexander    Stevens    on    one    >ide  of  the  house  and 


Gen.  George  H.  Thomas  on  the  other.  In  the 
sketch  of  James  II.  Stevens  found  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  is  given  a  more  extended  notice  of  the 
parental  history.  The  family  of  ten  children  were 
named  respectively:  Lovina,  William  Thomas. 
James  EL,  Mary  A..  Henderson  P.,  Nancy.  Samuel 
<;..  John  A..  Sarah  and  Stephen  C. 

Mr.  Stevens  has  resided  in  Vermilion  County  for 
the  long  period  of  sixty  years,  and  for  forty  years 
has  occupied  his  present  farm.  There  is  nothing 
which  confers  dignity  and  stability  in  a  larger 
measure  than  a  prolonged  residence  in  one  commu- 
nity, especially  if  the  career  of  the  man  has  been 
such  that  he  has  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  his  fel- 
low-men, as  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Stevens.  He  came 
to  Illinois  a  child  with  his  parents,  grew  up  on  a 
farm,  was  trained  to  habits  of  industry,  and  ob- 
tained a  limited  education  in  the  subscription 
school.  The  tales  which  he  could  tell  of  pioneer 
life  would  verify  the  adage  that  "truth  is  stranger 
than  fiction."  For  several  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Stevens  family  in  this  region  there  was 
no  mill  nearer  than  Terre  Haute,  Ind..  to  which 
one  member  of  the  family  would  travel  on  horse- 
back, carrying  his  bag  of  corn  or  wheat  with  him. 
and  returning  in  the  same  manner  with  the  meal  or 
Hour.  To  guard  against  bad  weather  or  accidents 
preventing  the  journey  to  the  mill,  they  made 
ready  what  was  called  a  hominy  mortar  block,  be- 
ing simply  a  large  oak  log,  hollowed  out  by  burn- 
ing and  scraping,  in  which  they  could  pound  their 
grain  and  thus  prepare  a  sort  of  meal  which  could 
be  made  into  bread.  If  not  fashionable  it  was  at 
least  unadulterated  and  sweet,  and  formed  when 
cooked  very  palatable  food.  They  made  a  rude 
sieve  out  of  a  deer  skin,  in  which  the}'  sifted  their 
meal.  The  finer  portion  of  this  would  be  made 
into  bread,  and  that  which  would  not  go  through 
the  sieve  was  made  into  hominy. 

In  due  time  a  small  mill  run  by  horse  power  was 
established  near  Brooks  Point,  which  later  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  larger  mill,  and  the  settlers  felt  very 
rich  in  its  possession.  In  order  to  build  a  school 
house  all  of  the  people  within  a  radius  of  several 
miles,  brought  in  two  or  three  logs  and  put  up  a 
temple  of  learning.  The  master  who  understood 
the    "Rule    of   Three"    was   considered   sufficiently 


610 


PORTRAIT  AND   BlO<  i  UAI'IIICAL  ALBUM. 


competent,  and  each  head  of  the  family  would  pay 
so  much  a  quarter  for  each  scholar.  Thus  the 
teacher  received  a  part  of  his  salary  and  "boarded 
around"  for  the  rest. 

Young  Stevens,  like  his  brothers  and  sisters,  was 
required  to  make  himself  useful  at  an  earl}'  age, 
and  as  soon  as  strong  enough  followed  a  breaking 
plow,  the  old  "bar  share,"  driving  an  ox  team.  He 
remained  a  member  of  the  parental  household  until 
his  marriage,  which  occurred  in  1848,  with  Miss 
Martha,  daughter  of  Robert  Alexander,  who  died 
leaving  no  dhildren.  Mr.  Stevens  contracted  a  sec- 
ond marriage  Feb.  I,  1*72,  with  Miss  Nancy, 
daughter  of  William  and  Susan  (Ellis)  Blakeney. 
Mr.  Blakeney  was  an  old  pioneer  of  this  county, 
and  served  in  the  Black-Hawk  War.  He  was  of  a 
splendidly  developed  frame,  and  bore  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  the  strongest  man  west  of  the  Wa- 
bash. He  and  his  aged  partner  are  still  living, 
being  respectively  seventy-six  and  seventy-five 
years  old.  They  occupy  a  neat  and  comfortable 
dwelling  a  few  rods  from  the  house  of  their  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Stevens,  by  whom  they  are  cared  for  with 
the  most  filial  affection  and  their  wants  studiously 
looked  after.  They  are  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Stevens  was  the  sixth  in  order 
of  birth.  She  was  born  in  this  township,  Vermilion 
County.  May  16,  1843,  and  by  her  union  with  our 
subject  has  become  the  mother  of  three  children — 
Ina  J.,  Susanna  and  Savannah  E. 

The  Stevens  homestead  comprises  1(15  acres  of 
thoroughly  cultivated  land,  which  is  very  valuable 
and  a  portion  of  which  is  underlaid  with  a  rich 
coal  deposit  which  has  never  been  developed.  Our 
subject  and  his  amiable  partner  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church,  in  which 
Mr.  Stevens  officiates  as  Elder.  Socially,  he  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Catlin.  He  assisted 
in  the  erection  of  the  church  building  at  Westville 
and  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school 
four  or  five  years.  He  has  served  on  the  Grand 
and  Petit  Juries,  and  politically  is  a  solid  Demo- 
crat, casting  his  first  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  some  time  ago  bound  a  little 
girl,  Matilda  Ann  Guess,  whose  mother  had  died 
when  she  was  a  small  child,  and  whose  father  fell 
in   the  Union   service  at  the  battle  of  Knoxville. 


The  child,  now  a  woman  grown,  is  the  wife  of  C. 
S.  Downing,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  There  is  no  pleasanter  place  of  resort  in 
Vermilion  County  than  the  hospitable  home  of  the 
Stevens  family,  made  so  as  much  by  the  prudence, 
good  judgment  and  cultivated  tastes  of  the  wife  as 
by  the  business  capacities,  resolution  and  perse- 
verance of  the  head  of  the  house.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stevens  deserve  honorable  mention  among  the  pio- 
neers  of  Vermilion  County. 


1LAS  MENDEXHALL,  a  peaceful  and  law- 
abiding  citizen  of  Elwood  Township,  re- 
sides at  a  comfortable  homestead  on  sec- 
tion 13,  where  he  pursues  the  even  tenor  of 
his  way,  making  very  little  stir  in  the  world  and 
striving  therein  to  do  the  least  possible  harm.  He 
was  born  in  Greene  County.  Ohio,  May  2*.  1829, 
and  is  the  son  of  Malachi  Mendcnhall.  who  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  and  spent  his  last  years 
in  Carroll  Township,  passing  away  years  ago. 

From  the  South,  the  father  of  our  subject  re- 
moved to  Ohio  when  a  small  boy,  whence  he  came 
to  this  county  in  1838,  and  thereafter  made  his 
home  in  Carroll  Township,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  January,  1880.  He  had  married  in  early 
manhood  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Stair,  and  to  them 
were  born  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — 
Joy,  Frederick,  Silas,  our  subject,  James  and 
Lewis.  They  were  given  a  common-school  edu- 
cation and  Silas  has  always  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  farmer. 

Our  subject  was  first  married  April  10,  1854,  to 
Miss  Asenath,  daughter  of  William  Maxwell  and  of 
this  union  there  were  born  live  children — Dora  C, 
Frank  W.,  Kate  C,  Anna  M.,  and  Hattie.  Dora 
married  Oscar  Larrance,  of  Carroll  Township,  and 
has  three  children — George  S.,  Hugh  M.,  and 
Claude  E.  Frank  married  John  Morris  of  this 
township,  and  they  have  three  children — Ivy  A., 
Mabel  A.,  and  Odberl  A.  The  mother  of  these 
children  departed  this  life  Jan.  8,  1**5. 

Mr.  Mendcnhall  was  married  a  second  time  on 
March    II.    l*,s:i  to    Mrs.    Hannah    M.,   widow    of 


cuvy\0>  4h#/w>cn^ 


PORTRAIT  AND   IiKXiRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


613 


Thomas  Haworth.  Mr.  Mendenhall  supports  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker  and  prefers  the  quiel  home 
life  to  the  responsibilities  connected  with  office. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  lias 
followed  farming  all  his  life,  giving  of  late  consid- 
erable attention  to  stock-raising.  His  mother  is 
still  living:  and  resides  at  the  old  homestead. 


^ 


-*■- 


\YjAMKS  THOMPSON.  Many  are  the  horns 
which  have  been  passed  in  a  pleasant  and 
profitable  manner  by  the  biographer,  listen- 
ing to  the  stories  of  the  pioneers  of  I  Ins 
county,  some  of  whom  still  survive  and  furnish  a 
valuable  link  between  the  past  and  present.  In 
looking  upon  them  it  is  almost  impossible  to  realize 
the  toils  and  dangers  which  they  encountered  dur- 
ing the  period  of  their  early  life  on  the  frontier, 
the  battle  with  the  primitive  soil,  the  disadvantage 
of  the  distant  market  and  the  numberless  other 
difficulties  which  beset  those  intent  upon  building 
up  a  home  from  the  wilderness. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  man  of  large  ex- 
perience, and  one  who  has  watched  the  growth  and 
development  of  central  Illinois,  with  more  than 
ordinary  interest,  as  the  friend  of  progress  and  all 
the  enterprises  tending  to  elevate  the  people.  He 
has  had  the  unspeakable  satisfaction  of  witnessing 
the  downfall  of  slavery  in  this  country  and  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  and  in  his  day  suffered 
no  little  on  account  of  his  sympathy  with  the 
cause  of  freedom.  He  is  now  quite  well  advanced 
in  years  and  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
his  life  has  been  honest  and  upright,  and  that  he  has 
lived  in  an  age,  which,  perhaps,  has  witnessed 
more  of  change  and  advancement  than  that  of  any 
other  period  since  the  world  began. 

The  first  forty-live  years  of  the  life  of  our  sub- 
ject were  spent  on  a  plantation  in  his  native  State 
of  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born  in  Mason  County, 
Aug.  L3,  1818,  near  Maysville.  lie  attended  the 
subscription  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
was  married,  in  1842,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Harrison, 
lie  settled  with  his  young  wifeon  a  plantation  near 


Maysville.  Mrs.  Thompson  had  taught  school 
prior  to  her  marriage  and  was  a  lady  of  decided 
ideas.      Our  subject,    as    well    OS   his    ''a  was  :i 

strong  Whig, and  it  finally  became  not  oiuh  ry  un- 
pleasant, but  absolutely  dangerous  for  him  to 
remain  in  his  native  State,  especially  after  the  out- 
break of  the  Rebellion,  lie  was  finally  obliged  to 
tlee  with  his  wife  and  children  for  safety,  and 
crossing  the  Ohio  River  made  his  way  to  Carroll 
Township,  this  county.  That  period  of  his  life, 
more  than  any  other,  brought  out  the  true  charac- 
ter of  the  man,  and  developed  the  fact  that  he 
would  sacrifice  his  property  rather  than  his  princi- 
ples, and  he  consequently  met  with  great  loss. 
Three  or  four  years  after  coining  to  this  county  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  which  he  sold  later  and 
finally  removed  to  Sidell  Township,  where  he  now 
owns  two  farms.  That  upon  which  he  resides 
comprises  160  acres  and  is  supplied  with  very  good 
buildings.  He  has  in  all  314  acres  of  fine,  well- 
cultivated  land.  Mr.  Thompson  is  spending  his 
declining  years,  retired  from  active  labor  and  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  competence. 

Of  the  seven  interesting  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thompson,  the  eldest  son,  John  J.,  died 
when  a  promising  young  man  of  twenty-four  years; 
Elvira  is  the  widow  of  George  Clarkson,  who  is 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  work,  she  has  four 
children — Henry  Thomas,  Mary  J.,  Alice  B..  and 
George  James;  Charles  M.,  married  Miss  Lucy 
Sconce,  is  a  resident  of  Sidell  Township,  and  the 
father  of  one  child — Mary  C;  Mary  J.  became  the 
wife  of  John  S.  lies,  a  fanner  of  Sidell  Township, 
and  has  three  children — Ivory  V.,  Jacob  J.,  and 
Grace  A.;  William  H.  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years;  Joseph  II.  married  Viola  Parrish  and  is  a 
resident  of  Sidell  Township;  he  is  represented  else- 
where in  this  work;  Benjamin  A.  died  when 
twenty-one  months  old. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  now  as  strong  a  Republican  as 
he  was  a  Whig  in  the  early  days,  and  lias  frequently 
served  as  a  delegate  to  the  various  conventions. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Thompson  has 
Served  as  School  Director  in  his  District  and  has 
taken  a  warm  interest  in  educational  matters.  He 
is  the  offspring    of    an  excellent  family,    being  the 


fil4 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Cole)  Thompson,  the  father 
horn  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  the  mother 
in  Mason  County,  Ky. ;  they  were  married  in  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  and  the  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  He  died  in  1848,  when  about  sixty- 
five  years  old.  The  mother  survived  her  husband 
for  the  long  period  of  twenty-eight  years,  dying  in 
1870.  when  about  eighty-four  years  old.  Benja- 
min Cole,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Brandywine. 

Mrs.  Thompson  is  the  daughter  of  Alfred  and 
Sarah  (Vice)  Harrison,  the  former  a  native  of  Lewis 
Count}-.  Ky.  Her  paternal  grandfather,  John  Har- 
rison, was  a  native  of  Virginia.  The  parents  of 
Mrs.  Thompson,  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Ken- 
tucky, the  father  dying  when  a  young  man  of 
thirty-five  years,  and  the  mother  at  theage  of  sixty- 
four.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  four 
sons  and  four  daughters  of  whom  Mrs.  Thompson 
was  the  eldest,  she  being  born  May  13,   1825. 

An  excellent  portrait  of  this  worthy  citizen  and 
well-known  resident  of  Sidell  Township  is  pre- 
sented on  another  page  of  this  Album,  and  will  be 
highly  valued  both  by  the  younger  generation  and 
the  sturdy  old  pioneers  of  the  count}'. 


*\fj  OHN  R.  NEWKIRK,  an  insurance  agent  and 
a  leading  undertaker  of  Indianola,  is  also 
an  old  and  faithful  public  servant,  having 
ifiSllJ  served  in  various  capacities  for  many  years. 
He  has  held  the  offices  of  Collector,  Assessor  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  filling  these  positions  with 
ability  and  fidelity,  and  for  the  past  thirty. one 
vears  has  been  a  resident  of  the  Stale  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Newkirk  was  born  in  Somerset  Township, 
Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  on  Dec.  12,  1827.  His 
father.  Tunis  Newkirk,  and  mother,  Jane  Rainey, 
were  also  natives  of  the  same  place  as  their  son. 
His  grandfather.  Newkirk,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  where  he  entered  land  from  the  gov- 
ernment immediately  succeeding  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  The  Newkirks  are  of  German  ex- 
traction,  while  the    Rainey  family   were    English. 


The  elder  Newkirks  died  in  Pennsylvania,  the 
father  being  seventy-two  years  old  at  the  date  of 
his  death,  while  the  mother  was  forty-two  years 
old  when  she  died.  She  left  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Their  names  are: 
Isaac  J.,  Eliza,  and.  Sarah  A.,  deceased.  John 
R.,  Rhoda  A.,  Carolina  O.,  deceased,  and  Will- 
iam. John  R.,  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet-making 
and  undertaking  and  became  very  proficient  in  his 
calling.  His  ingenuity  and  industry  aided  him  in 
soon  mastering  the  intricacies  of  his  trade,  so  that 
he  was  able  to  start  out  in  life,  master  of  the 
situation. 

On  Dee.  12,  1854,  Mr.  Newkirk  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Neblick.  He  remained  in  Pennsylvania 
until  1857.  At  this  time  he  concluded  that  the 
West  offered  a  better  field  for  his  trade  and  in 
pursuance  of  that  idea,  he  concluded  to  emigrate  to 
Illinois.  The  journey  from  his  native  State  to 
Vermilion  County  was  made  the  entire  distance,  in 
wagons.  He  located  on  the  east  side  of  Sidell 
Township,  on  what  is  now  called  the  Rovvand  farm, 
which  he  rented  for  five  years,  afterwards  buying 
twenty  acres  and  living  on  that  for  five  years. 
He  rented  Barnett's  farm  for  two  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  he  came  to  Indianola 
and  here  he  has  resided  since,  working  at  his 
trade  and  prosecuting  the  insurance  business 
in  a  manner  that  has  won  for  him  success.  He 
is  the  father  of  four  children:  Lobe  J.,  Wil- 
mot,  Albertis  and  Alaquinpa.  Lolie  married 
E.  E.  Weaver,  who  is  a  leading  merchant  of  Em- 
poria, Kan;  Wilmot  married  Dora  Smick  and  is 
residing  at  Cushman,  Edgar  Co.,  111.  They  have 
two  children — Cassius  and  Maud;  Albert  is  en- 
gaged in  the  restaurant  business;  Alaquinpa  mar- 
ried Edward  McVey,  who  is  residing  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  where  he  is  an  expert  in  the  electric  light 
business. 

Mr.  Newkirk,  as  before  indicated,  has  served  in 
various  public  capacities,  and  his  terms  as  Assessor 
and  Collector  have  covered  the  period  of  twelve 
years.  He  is  now  serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
These  matters  of  record  are  pointed  out  to  exhibit 
the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  since 
he  became  of  age  and  is  enthusiastic  in  every  thin"- 


PORTRAIT  AM)   l!l()<  1RAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


6  1 5 


pertaining  to  that  ancient  organization.  Tin' 
Democratic  party  has  no  more  faithful  follower  than 
he.  as  he  believes  that  true  Democracy  teaches  the 
correct  principles  for  the  administration  of  the  gov- 
ernment. He  believes  that  the  Leaders  of  his  parly 
are  better  fitted  to  choose  candidates  than  anyone 
else,  ami  therefore,  usually  votes  the  straight  ticket. 
He  has  inherited  his  honesty  and  patriotism  for  the 
reason  that  his  ancestors  were  of  the  very  best  peo- 
ple of  their  section  of  the  country. 


fe-  ••@fa/OT7rv>~'wv. 


•/i/w-'.eiilC'Sf-jQ. 


/p^EORGE  F.  SANDERS  is  one  of  the  farm- 
Ill  ,_—,  ers  of  Ehvood  Township,  who  exhibit 
'^^ii  great  interest  in  all  benevolent  enterprises, 
and  in  matters  that  look  to  the  education  of  the 
rising  generation.  His  farm,  which  is  situated  on 
section  10,  is  improved  by  the  best  methods  known 
to  modern  agriculture,  and  the  buildings  on  it  are 
of  the  best,  the  dwelling  house  especially,  being 
noticeable  for  its  fine  appearance  and  its  comforta- 
ble arrangement.  The  place  is  well  tiled  and 
fenced. 

Mr.  Sanders  was  born  in  Pittsylvania  County, 
Ya.,  on  Feb.  11,  1836,  where  his  father,  Coleman 
Sanders,  was  also  born.  His  mother  was  a  native 
of  the  same  place  and  was  born  Aug.  15,  1815. 
Thev  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living:  George  F.,  Daniel.  Elizabeth, 
liuth,  Virginia,  Amos,  and  Maria.  One  daughter. 
Susan,  died  after  having  attained  maturity.  Mr. 
Sanders  had  two  uncles,  .lames  and  Leonard  San- 
ders, who  were  soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812,  the 
latter  holding  the  commission  of  captain.  Mr. 
Sanders'  maternal  grandfather,  Stephen  Sea,  also 
fought  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his  remains  are 
interred  at  Yankee  Point,  where  his  grave  is  deco- 
rated each  Memorial  Day. 

Mr.  Sanders  came  with  his  parents  to  Eugene, 
Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1840,  when  Gen.  W.  II.  Harrison 
was  a  candidate  for  president.  The  excitement  of 
that  memorable  campaign,  with  its  log  cabins,  coon 
skins  and  hard  cider,  is  vividly  recalled  by  him. 
anil  especially  the  ceremonies  which  occurred  at 
Terrc  Haute.       lie  was  in  his   fifth  year  at  the  time 


and  was  glad  to  have  the  honor  to  \  >te  for  the 
grandson  of  Gen.  Harrison  for  the  same  high  office 

forty-four  years  later.  The  family  lived  in  Ver- 
million County.  Ind..  until  Feb.  1.  1855,  when  the} 

came  to  Elw 1  Township,  settling   on    section   10, 

where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides. 
Here  he  owns  240  acres  of  land  and  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  takes  great 
pride  in  raising  the  best  of  cattle  and  horses,  and 
in  this  way  has  made  a  great  deal  of  money.  He 
is  a  thorough  and  energetic  farmer  and  does  every- 
thing well. 

On  June  the  4th,  1856,  Mr.  Sanders  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Nancy  J.  Shires,  daughter  of  James 
and  Ruth  Shires,  the  latter  deceased.  There  are 
four  generations  living  in  Mr.  Sanders'  house. 
Politically  he  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  Highway  Commissioner  for  five 
years,  but  has  never  sought  an  office.  His  family 
are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  while  Mr.  Sanders  is  not  a  member  of 
any  denomination, he  gives  liberally  to  the  support 
of  the  gospel  and  every  charitable  purpose.  While 
he  was  a  boy  he  was  obliged  to  work  earl}*  and  late, 
and  therefore  his  advantages  to  secure  an  educa- 
tion were  limited.  He  now  sees  where  the  benefits 
of  a  school  can  aid  the  rising  generation,  and  he 
therefore  does  everything  in  his  power  to  promote 
educational  enterprises.  By  his  own  efforts  he  has 
risen  from  poverty  to  the  position  of  a  wealthy 
farmer,  as  a  survey  of  his  fine  farms  and  buildings 
will  demonstrate.  Mr.  Sanders  is  one  of  the  best 
citizens  of  his  neighborhood,  and  by  the  people 
who  are  best  acquainted  with  him  he  is  held  in  the 
highest  estimation. 


4-*%* 


Y-*  MANTEL  SNYDER.  Oneof  the  best  regu- 
iHg  lated  farms  in  Carroll  Township  belongs  to 
j}* — -■"?  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and  where  with 
his  large  and  interesting  family  he  is  extracting 
much  comfort  out  of  life.  Providence  has  blest 
him  in  his  labors  and  enabled  him  to  accumulate  a 
good  property,  while  he  is  endowed  with  the  quali- 
ties which  have  inspired  him  to  an  upright   life  and 


616 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


gained  him  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fel- 
low-men. He  owns  and  occupies  273  acres  of 
choice  land  on  sections  9  and  10,  which  with  its 
improvements  constitutes  a  fine  estate,  upon  which 
is  paid  in  taxes  a  round  sum  annually. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  Fair- 
field Co.,  Ohio,  May  6,  1830,  and  was  there  reared 
to  man's  estate,  attending  the  common  school,  and 
becoming  familiar  with  the  various  employments 
of  rural  life.  When  a  young  man  of  twenty-three 
years,  he  was  married,  in  1853,  to  Miss  Lovina 
G-lick,  a  native  of  the  same  comity  as  her  husband, 
and  born  in  Bloom  Township.  A  year  later  the 
young  people  removed  to  Bartholomew  County, 
Ind.,  where  Mr.  Snyder  purchased  a  farm,  where 
he  lived  five  years.  Later  he  removed  to  Tippe- 
canoe County,  where  he  sojourned  seven  years  and 
came  thence,  in  18117,  to  this  county,  settling  on 
his  present  farm,  to  which  he  has  since  added. 

Mr.  Snyder  has  almost  rebuilt  his  present  resi- 
dence, which  is  large  and  commodious,  admirably 
adapted  to  the  convenience  of  the  inmates.  His 
barns  and  sheds  are  substantial  structures  like  the 
dwelling,  with  little  ornamentation,  to  be  sure,  but 
amply  adapted  to  health  and  comfort.  Much  of 
the  labor  upon  them  has  been  done  by  his  own 
hands.  The  fences  are  kept  in  good  order,  the 
fields  well  tilled,  and  everything  about  the  premises 
is  indicative  of  thrift  and  good  management.  Mr. 
Snyder  makes  a  specialty  of  live-stock,  Short-horn 
cattle,  Poland-China  swine  and  good  horses,  and 
has  raised  a  great  deal  of  winter  wheat.  He  has 
done  a  large  amount  of  very  hard  work,  and  while 
in  the  Hoosier  State,  engaged  considerably  in 
threshing,  log-rolling,  etc.  He  is  at  present  iuter- 
(  sled  in  bee-keeping,  having  about  forty-six  swarms, 
which  produce  a  very  fine  quality  of  honey,  with 
which  the  family  is  amply  supplied  the  year 
around. 

The  household  circle  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
was  completed  by  the  birth  of  ten  children,  the 
eh  lest  of  whom,  a  daughter,  Catherine,  became  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Bone,  of  Champaign  County,  and 
died  in  1888;  Simon  married  Miss  Lydia  Jones, 
and  they  are  living  in  Carroll  Township;  they 
have  two  children — Emery  and  Edith.  Martha  A. 
is  the   wife  of    P.  Lawrence,  a  farmer  of    Carroll 


Township;  Henry  D.  married  Miss  Jane  Hinton ; 
they  have  one  child,  and  live  at  the  home  farm. 
Monroe  is  married  and  farming  in  Broadland, 
Champaign  County;  Jonathan,  William,  Erma, 
Perry  and  Maude  remain  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  our  subject,  politically,  is  an  uncom- 
prom  ising  Democrat. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Tosh)  Snyder,  natives  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  after  their  marriage.  The  father 
had  settled  in  Fairfield  County,  that  State,  about 
1840,  and  there  both  parents  spent  their  after 
lives,  Mr.  Snyder  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy- five 
years,  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  eighty,  in  1878, 
ten  years  after  the  decease  of  her  husband.  Six  of 
their  children  grew  to  mature  years,  viz.:  Philip, 
Henry,  George,  Fred,  Emanuel  and  Elizabeth. 


*"-*-tP" 


^f'OHN  W.  NEWLIN,  a  native-born  citizen 
of  this  county,  and  a  veteran  of  the  late  Civil 
I  War,  in  which  he  consecrated  the  opening 
years  of  his  manhood  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  and  won  an  honorable  record  as  a  fearless, 
patriotic  soldier,  being  promoted  from  the  ranks — 
is  to-day  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Catlin 
Township  and  one  of  its  most  able  and  popular 
civic  officials.  He  has  a  good  farm  on  section  31 
and  a  fine  residence  near  Catlin  village,  and  is 
actively  engaged  in  buying,    feeding  and  shipping 

stock'. 

lie  is  derived  from  worthy  parentage  and  comes 
of  good  old  pioneer  stock.  His  father,  Thomas  B. 
Newlin,  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Vn.,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Angeline  Griffith,  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
Ind.  Her  father  was  Stephen  Griffith,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  this  county,  coming  here  in 
1826,  the  mother  of  subject  being  then  about  nine 
years  old.  The  father  of  our  subject  had  attained 
manhood  when  he  accompanied  his  father,  John 
Newlin,  to  this  county  in  1837,  coming  from 
Champaign  County,  Ohio,  and    settling  in    Catlin 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIO<  HI  Al'IlK'AL  ALBUM. 


r,i: 


Township,  and  thus  becoming  pioneers  of  this 
place  in  an  early  day  of  its  settlement.  After 
marriage  the  parents  of  subject  settled  rnOakwood 
Township,  where  the  father  carried  on  his  occupa- 
tion as  a  fanner  fur  many  years,  heing  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  developing  the  agricultural  resources 
of  thai  township.  In  18(36  he  and  his  wife  re- 
moved  to  Kansas,  lmt  in  1872  they  returned  to 
this  county  and  established  themselves  in  Danville, 
where  he  died  in  February,  1877,  thus  closing  a 
life  that  had  been  an  exemplary  one  and  leaving 
the  precious  legacy  of  an  honorable  name  to  its  de- 
scendants. The  mother  of  subject  makes  her 
home  in  Kansas  and  is  held  in  high  respect  in  her 
community  as  a  woman  of  true  worth  and  fine 
character. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  seven  children, 
and  he  was  born  June  13,  1840,  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Oakwood  Township.  He  was  reared  to 
man's  estate  on  his  father's  farm  and  there  obtained 
that  thorough  training  in  agricultural  pursuits  that 
has  contributed  so  much  to  his  success  in  later 
years.  He  obtained  an  excellent  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Vermilion  County  and  was 
thus  well  equipped  to  start  out  in  life  on  his  own 
responsibility.  He  was  not  twenty-one  years  of 
age  when  the  great  Rebellion  broke  out,  and  while 
watching  its  course  with  intense  interest  he  longed 
with  patriotic  ardor  to  fling  himself  into  the  cause 
and  aid  in  fighting  his  country's  battles.  In  a 
short  time  he  was  enabled  to  leave  home  and  enter 
the  army,  and  in  July,  1861,  the  month  following 
that  in  which  he  became  of  age,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  I.  35th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served 
with  great  credit  till  September.  1801,  a  period  of 
more  than  three  years.  He  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Pea  Ridge  (Ark.),  Stone  River,  Siege  of 
Corinth,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  etc.,  and 
was  with  Gen.  Sherman  on  his  famous  march  to 
the  sea.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  was  twice  taken  prisoner 
but  managed  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  his  captors 
and  make  his  escape  both  times.  That  his  services 
were  of  value  on  the  field  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
he  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield  with  the  rank 
of  Sergeant,  he  having  received  deserved  promo- 
tion for  gallant  conduct  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 


After  retiring  from  the  army  Mr.  Newlin  re- 
turned to  his  native  township  and  there  engaged 
in  farming  and  also  in  teaching.  After  assuming 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  married  life  he 
took  his  bride  to  Winterset,  Iowa,  where  they 
established  their  home,  lie  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture there  one  year,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  returned  to  this  county  with  his  family,  and 
has  since  resided  in  Catlin  Township,  where  he 
owns  a  choice  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and.  as  before 
mentioned,  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  the 
stock  business. 

Mr.  Newlin  has  been  blessed  by  agood  wife,  who 
has  not  only  added  to  his  happiness  but  has  aided  and 
encouraged  him  in  his  work,  as  a  sensible,  practi- 
cal woman  alone  could  do.  They  were  united  in 
marriage  Sept.  lit.  1865.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Ivea  E.  Taylor,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Thomas  A.  Taylor,  Sr.,  and  his  wife  Ivea  (Allen) 
Taylor.  They  came  to  this  county  in  1853  and 
located  in  Catlin  Township,  where  he  died  Sept. 
19,  1876.  Mrs.  Taylor  survives  him  and  makes 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Smith.  Mrs. 
Newlin  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  County.  Iud.. 
Feb.  2,  1845.  and  received  from  her  mother  care- 
ful instruction  in  all  household  duties,  so  that 
when  she  came  to  have  a  home  of  her  own  she  was 
amply  able  to  manage  it.  Five  children  have  been 
born  to  her  and  our  subject,  as  follows:  Tempie  J., 
Nora.  Mildred.  Lena,  Lowell  T. 

Mr.  Newlin  possesses  a  clear  head,  sound  busi- 
ness faculties,  a  strong  will  and  a  stable  character, 
which  traits,  with  his  well  known  incorruptibility, 
render  him  one  of  the  best  township  officials,  and 
he  has  held  some  of  the  most  important  and  re- 
sponsible local  public  offices.  lie  has  been  Super- 
visor of  Catlin  Township  three  terms,  has  been 
Assessorand  Collector  and  has  also  been  an  incum- 
bent ot  the  various  school  offices.  He  is  a  man  of 
exceptional  public  spirit,  always  favoring  all  feasi- 
ble plans  for  the  advancement  of  the  township  or 
county.  He  is  a  Republican  to  the  heart's  core, 
taking  an  active  part  in  political  matters,  although 
his  official  course  is  never  biased  by  party  prefer- 
ences, and  he  stanchly  supports  those  principles  for 
which  he  fought  so  nobly  in  days  of  yore.  He  is 
identified  with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  as  a  member  of 


G 18 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Catlin  Lodge,  No.  28a  ;  Vermilion  Chapter,  No.  89, 
and  Athelstan  Commandery,  Xo.  45.  He  and  his 
wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church  and  take  an  active  interest  in 
Sunday-school  work.  He  has  been  elected  Elder 
of  the  church  but  did  not  feel  inclined  to  serve  in 
that  capacity. 

-    ooo    - 

P- 1ERDINANU  M.  HACKER.  This  gentleman 
)  came  to  Danville  in  1853,  when  it  was  only 
a  small  place,  and  the  country  roundabout 
was  still  in  a  wild,  sparcely  settled  condition,  deer 
in  the  vicinity,  and  squirrels  and  rabbits  and  other 
game  abounding  near  the  city.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  closely  identified  with  the  industrial  in- 
terests of  this  part  of  Vermilion  County,  both  as  a 
practical  farmer  and  as  a  skilled  mechanic.  He  now 
devotes  the  most  of  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of 
his  highly  productive,  well-improved  farm  in  this 
township. 

( )ur  subject  is  of  foreign  birth,  a  representative  of 
the  German  nationality,  born  in  the  province  of 
Pomerania,  Prussia,  Oct.  18,  1831.  His  father 
John  Hacker,  and  his  grandfather,  Joseph  Hacker, 
were  natives  of  Mecklenburg,  the  latter  being  a 
life-long  resident  of  that  province.  The  father  was 
reared  in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  and  when  a 
young  man  was  an  overseer  on  a  large  estate  be- 
longing to  some  person  of  wealth.  He  was  but 
eleven  years  old  when  the  great  Napoleon  invaded 
his  native  place  and  he  was  drafted  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  French,  and  made  to  drive  a  team  a 
short  time.  He  went  from  Mecklenburg  to  Prus- 
sia, and  was  a  resident  there,  engaged  there  as  be- 
fore mentioned,  till  1S52.  In  September  of  that 
year,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  the  four  chil- 
dren that  had  been  born  to  them,  he  set  sail  from 
Hamburg  and  going  to  Liverpool,  Eng.,  embarked 
on  board  of  an  American-bound  vessel,  and  landed 
in  New  York  on  the  day  of  the  National  Thanks- 
giving, after  being  forty-six  days  on  the  ocean. 
The  fares  had  been  paid  to  Wisconsin,  but  the 
family  were  swindled  out  of  their  tickets,  and  hav- 
ing no  money  concluded  not  to  go  further  than 
Chicago,  and  there  the  father  and  the  children  that 


were  large  enough,  found  work.  In  1853  Mr. 
Hacker.  Sr.,  made  the  acquaintance  of  Judge  Pear- 
son, who  induced  him  and  other  families  to  come  to 
Danville,  giving  to  each,  who  would  build  a  house, 
a  lot.  and  he  and  his  family  started  for  this  place 
in  the  month  of  July,  that  year,  coining  witli  a 
horse  and  wagon  and  taking  their  household  goods 
along.  The  father  built  a  log  house  here  and  was 
a  resident  of  this  city  till  his  death  in  1881,  at  the 
venerable  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Thus  he  was 
an  interested  witness  of  much  of  the  growth  of  this 
flourishing,  busy  city,  and  aided  in  bringing  about 
the  great  change.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Dorathe  Lewerenz,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Pomerania.  She  is  now  a  welcome  inmate  of  the 
household  of  our  subject,  and  has  attained  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-eight  years.  Then'  were  six 
children  born  to  her  and  her  husband  :  Ferdinand 
M.;  Fred  C.  living  in  Danville;  Charles,  in  New- 
port, Ind.;  Minnie  married  John  Balls,  and  after- 
ward died.  Two  died  in  Germany. 

Ferdinand,  of  whom  we  write,  attended  school 
in  his  native  place  quite  steadily  until  he  was  four- 
teen years  old,  and  as  is  the  custom  of  his  church, 
was  then  confirmed,  and  was  afterward  employed 
with  his  father.  In  1847  he  commenced  to  learn 
the  cabinet-maker's  trade,  his  father  paying  *-_'  1 
cash  for  that  privilege,  and  he  received  his  board 
during  the  three  years  he  served.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  he  did  journeyman  work  a  few 
months,  and  then,  in  1852.  came  to  America  with 
his  parents.  After  coming  to  this  country  he 
worked  for  a  time  in  a  box-factory  in  Chicago,  and 
in  1853,  after  settling  in  Danville,  went  to  work  at 
the  carpenter's  trade  till  the  fall  of  the  year,  and 
then  engaged  at  his  old  calling  as  cabinet-maker, 
doing  journeyman  work  till  1855.  In  that  year  he 
went  to  Fithian  Station  and  worked  on  a  farm  a  few 
months,  and  then  returned  to  town  and  worked  at 
his  trade  till  1856.  After  that  he  was  actively  and 
prosperously  engaged  as  a  carpenter,  and  was  a  res- 
ilient of  Danville  till  1870,  when  he  bought  the 
farm  where  lie  now  resides.  On  this  he  has  made 
many  fine  improvements,  greatly  increasing  its 
value,  has  erected  a  good  set  of  frame  buildings, 
and  lias  brought  the  land  to  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation  so  that  it  is  highly  productive,  yielding 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


619 


bounliful  harvests  inrepaymeul  for  his  toil.    Here 

In-  anil  his  family  have  a  pleasant.  COSy  home,  and 
its  generous  hospitalities  are  appreciated  by  the 
weary  stranger  who  happens  within  their  gates. 

Mr.  Hacker  was  married  Aug.  13,  1854.  to  Anna 
Heal,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  tu  America 
when  quite  young.  To  them  came  seven  children — 
Albert,  Mary.  Charles.  Martin.  Edward,  .John  and 
Emma.  This  happy  home  circle  was  invaded  by 
death  in  1874,  and  the  wife  and  mother  was  taken 
from  her  sorrowing  family  and  friends. 

Mr.  Hacker  was  married  tu  his  present  wife  in 
1876,  and  their  peaceful  wedded  life  has  been 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three  children — 
Annie.  Ferdinand  B.  and  Ida  May.  Mrs.  Hacker's 
maiden  name  was  Emma  Kaley  Sheets,  and  she 
was  born  in  Reading.  Burks  Co..  Pa. 

Mr.  Hacker  stands  well  in  this  community  as  a 
man  and  as  a  citizen,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life 
that  he  has  been  called  on  to  fill,  as  son,  husband, 
father  and  neighbor,  he  has  done  his  duty,  and  no 
one  can  bring  aught  against  his  character  or  his  re- 
cord, which  are  stainless.  That  he  has  a  comforta- 
ble home  he  owes  to  his  incessant  industry,  di- 
rected by  sound  common  sense  and  excellent 
judgment.  Mr.  Hacker  has  a  deeply  religious  na- 
ture, and  in  him  the  Lutheran  Church  Bnds  one  of 
its  most  active  supporters,  he  having  been  one  of 
the  first  members  of  the  denomination  in  Danville. 
He  belongs  to  the  Fire  Keck  Lodge  No.  199,  I.  0. 
0.  P..  find  to  the  Turner  Society. 

iUFORD  TAYLOR.  M.  1)..  one  of  the  favor- 
ite sons  of  Georgetown  Township,  is  now  a 
resident  of  Westville,  and  is  rapidly  making 
his  mark  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  and 
also  as  a  politician.  He  is  married  to  one  of  the 
accomplished  daughters  of  Georgetown,  and  they 
occupy  a  neat  and  comfortable  home  in  the  village 
of  Westville.  where  they  enjoy  the  warm  friend- 
ship of  many  acquaintances.  The  Doctor  has  a 
good  practice,  and  living  as  he  does  in  the  midst 
uf  the  coal  regions,  has  frequently  the  opportunity 
Vo  exercise  his  skill  as  a  surgeon  among  the  miners, 


who  often  meet  with  accidents  requiring  his  ser- 
vice. In  political  circles  the  Doctor  is  a  member 
of  the  Republican  Central  Committee,  and  promi- 
nent in  the  councils  of  the  party  in  this  section. 
He  has  attained  to  his  present  position,  both  in  the 
profession  and  among  men  generally,  by  his  own 
exert  inns,  paying  his  way  through  college  and  sig- 
nalizing himself  by  the  industry  and  perseverance 
which  is  the  surest  guarantee  of  success  in  every 
avenue  of  life. 

Our  subject  was  born  May  15,  1862.  and  grew 
up  familiar  with  farming  pursuits.  He  attended 
the  common  school  and  made  such  good  headway 
that  when  but  fourteen  years  old  he  began  teach- 
ing, and  followed  this  live  winters  in  succession. 
In  the  meantime  he  conceived  the  idea  of  becoming 
a  physician.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  un- 
der the  instruction  of  Dr.  .1.  E.  Raich,  of  Westville, 
with  whom  he  remained  two  and  one-half  years, 
then  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  W.  A.  Yohn,  of  Val- 
paraiso, Ind.  Later  he  became  a  student  of  the 
Medical  College  at  Indianapolis,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  Feb.  18,  1885.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Westville,  and  has 
since  been  making  steady  progress  toward  the  top 
of  the  ladder. 

A  few  months  after  receiving  his  diploma,  being 
prepared  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  the  Doc- 
tor was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Viola  Padgitt, 
the  wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride 
in  Georgetown,  July  26,  1885.  Mrs.  Taylor  was 
born  in  Georgetown  Township,  April  3,  I860,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  John  L.  and  Ellen  (O'Neal) 
Padgitt,  who  are  well  known  in  this  part  of  the 
county  as  among  its  most  esteemed  citizens.  She 
acquired  a  good  education,  and,  like  her  husband, 
engaged  in  teaching,  which  she  followed  six  years. 
After  their  marriage  the  Doctor  and  his  bride  set- 
tled in  Westville,  where  they  have  since  resided, 
and  where  our  subject  enjoys  the  patronage  of  its 
best  people.  He  is  pardonably  proud  of  some  of  his 
performances  in  surgery,  especially  a  case  which  he 
recently  had  in  charge,  where  a  very  difficult  am- 
putation was  required,  and  which  he  executed  with 
exeat  skill  and  with  successful  results. 

o 

To  the  Doctor  and  his  estimable  wife  there  have 
been  born  two  children,   bright    little    daughters — 


620 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Louie  and  Bertha  E.  Mrs.  Taylor  is  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church.  The  poli- 
tics of  the  Doctor  have  already  been  indicated. 
Socially.,  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Fraternity  of 
Georgetown,  and  is  also  identified  with  the  Sons  of 
Veterans  at  Danville.  He  is  serving  as  a  School 
Director  in  his  district,  and  is  recognized  as  a  lib- 
eral and  public-spirited  citizen,  one  always  read}' 
to  contribute  of  his  time  and  means  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  enterprises  calculated  for  the 
general  good  of  the  community. 


R.   PATRICK   II.  SWAIM.  of  Ridge  Farm. 
is  recognized   by   the    people    of    Elwood 

Township  and  the  outlying  country  as  one 
of  the  most  successful  physicians  and  sur- 
geons in  the  county.  He  is  comparatively  a  young 
man,  on  the  sunny  side  of  forty,  having  been  born 
Oct.  19,  1849.  His  native  place  was  Guilford 
County,  N.  C,  from  which  he  removed  with  his 
parents  in  1852  to  Parke  County.  Ind.,  they  settling- 
nine  miles  north  of  Montezuma,  where  the  father, 
Brantley  Swaim,  died  in  1882.  The  mother,  Mrs. 
Irene  (Fields)  Swaim,  is  still  living  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Indiana. 

Eight  children  comprised  the  family  of  the  pa- 
rents of  our  subject,  seven  of  whom  are  living, 
viz:  Byron,  Christopher  W".,  Isalielle,  William  B., 
Patrick  IT.,  John  B.  and  Milton.  Our  subject  first 
attended  the  common  schools  of  Bloomingdale, 
Lnd  then  entered  the  academy  conducted  by 
Prof.  Barnabas  B.  Hobbs.  When  twenty-three 
years  old — in  the  fall  of  1871 — he  began  teaching, 
and  followed  this  profession  thereafter  for  live 
years  in  his  own  neighborhood.  He  then  began 
reading  medicine,  and  in  the  meantime  attended 
medical  lectures  in  Rush  College,  Chicago.  Later 
he  attended  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
<if  Indianapolis,  by  which  he  was  graduated  in  1879. 
He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Annapo- 
lis I  hat  same  year,  but  shortly  afterward  removed 
to  Quaker  Hill,  Ind.,  and  from  there  a  year  later 
to  Bethel  in  this  county.  In  the  latter  place  he 
remained  three  years,  and   we   next    find    him    in 


Ilumrick.  111.,  where  he  sojourned  until  April,  1  88.5. 
Thence  he  changed  his  residence  to  Ridge  Farm, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice  and  been 
eminently  successful.  In  the  fall  of  1888  he  treated 
fort}-  cases  of  typhoid  fever  successfully,  losing  no 
case  from  that  epidemic.  In  the  fall  of  1887  he 
journeyed  to  the  Pacific  Slope,  visiting  the  princi- 
pal cities  of  California,  and  spending  two  months 
very  pleasantly  and  profitably.  He  is  a  man  of 
large  observation,  and  leaves  no  stone  unturned  in 
the  acquirement  of  useful  knowledge. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Swaim  with  Miss  Carrie 
York  was  celebrated  in  December,  1875.  This 
lady  is  the  daughter  of  Eli  York,  who  met  his 
death  on  the  battlefield  at  Spring  Hill  during  the 
late  Rebellion.  The  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Swaim  are 
the  parents  of  two  interesting  children — Musa  and 
Mabel.  Politically,  the  Doctc  is  a  sound  Re- 
publican. He  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen, 
being  Examining  Surgeon  of  his  lodge  at  Ridge 
Farm. 

■ -fcgg^ 


P FRANCIS  P.  SMITH.  The  young  genera- 
j  tion  that  has  sprung  up  since  the  pioneers 
of  this  country  have  passed  off  the  stage  of 
action,  is  composed  of  young  people,  who  have 
profited  by  the  experience  through  which  their 
fathers  have  passed.  They  have  had  before  them 
an  object  lesson  that  has  taught  them  the  facts 
that  nothing  is  gained  without  labor.  Some 
of  them  have  passed  through — in  their  early  life — 
scenes  of  hardship  and  know  what  privations  are 
and  what  it  is  to  want  for  the  necessaries  of  life. 
They  farther  know  what  it  is  to  procure  an  educa- 
tion under  difficulties.  But  those  who  have  been 
born  within  the  last  thirty  years  have  had  compar- 
atively easy  sailing  on  the  seaof  life.  Their  parents 
have  become  able  to  educate  them  and  give  them 
a  start  in  life.  This  young  generation  appreciate 
all  these  things,  and  none  more  than  the  man 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  notice. 

Francis  P.  Smith  is  one  of  the  young  and  enter- 
prising farmers  of  Elwood  Township.  He  is  proud 
of  his  father's  record,  (which  appears  in  this  vol- 
ume) and  he  has  every   reason  to   be.     He  is  resid- 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHNM.ElsLiIOTTSEe.  25.,  ElsWOOD  «FR,  YERMIIsION   CO. 


RESIDENCE    OF  W^GRAX    SEC.30,SIDELLTR,  VERMILION   CO. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


623 


ing  on  the  old  homestead,  which  is  situated  on 
section  18,  range  11.  where  he  was  born  Dec.  31, 
1854.  His  father,  George  W.  Smith,  is  a  native  of 
Tennessee  am)  a  worth}  pioneer  of  Vermilion 
County,  having  emigrated  here  with  his  father, 
Jesse  Smith,  at  a  time  when  this  country  had  little 
evidence  of  civilization.  Francis  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools,  and  the  Vermilion 
Academy.  He  has  worked  on  a  farm  since  he  has 
been  old  enough  to  do  anything,  and  he  has  been 
prosperous. 

On  Feb.  22.  1877,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to 
Sarah  .1.  Canaday,  daughter  of  Henry  Canaday, 
who  was  a  farmer  in  this  township.  She  was  born  on 
a  farm  adjoining  her  present  home  July  15.  1856. 
She  is  the  mother  of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living — Everett.  Ethel,  and  Noble.  Mr.  Smith  is 
the  owner  of  178  acres  of  first-class  land,  all  of 
which  is  perfectly  cultivated.  He  follows  general 
farming  and  stock-raising-,  and  does  so  intelligently. 
His  stock  consists  of  graded  horses.  Short-horn 
cattle,  Poland-China  hogs  and  Merino  and  Shrop- 
shiredown  sheep.  He  has  many  tine  specimens  of 
good  stock  and  is  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  blooded 
animals. 

Mr.  Smith  and  his  amiable  wife  are  always  found 
at  the  front,  where  their  duly  calls  them.  They 
."re  enthusiastic  members  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Sharon. 

JOHN  M.  ELLIOTT.  As  a  rule,  if  a  man 
belongs  to  the  society  of  Quakers,  no  other 
recommendation  need  be  given  him.  ll  is 
a  rare  thing  to  find  a  dishonest  or  idle  man  in 
this  most  excellent  sect.  They  are  conceded  to  be 
honorable,  just  and  industrious,  and  if  a  person  pos- 
sesses these  qualities,  we  place  in  him  implicit  con- 
fidence and  unbounded  trust.  John  M.  Elliott  is 
a  Quaker. 

Mr.  Elliott  owns  and  operates  125  acres  of  land 
on  section  25,  Range  11,  Elwood  Township.  His 
father.  Nathan  Elliott,  was  a  native  of  Guilford 
County,  N.C..  and  a  son  of  Exum  Elliott,  who  emi- 
grated to   Wayne  County,   Intl..  when  Nathan  was 


five  years  old.  Indiana  was  a  territory  at  that 
time  and  the  Indians  and  wild  animals  held  almost 
undisputed  possession  of  the  country.  This  was 
just  after  the  war  of  1812.  The  mother  of  .John 
M.  was  Betsey  Maxwell,  daughter  of  John  Maxwell. 
She  was  horn  where  Earlhani  College  now  stands, 
ami  died  in  Indiana  May  17.  1841,  leaving  three 
children:  .lane,  ( Mendenhall),  Sarah  (Larrance) 
and  John  M.  The  father  afterward  married  Naomi, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Mendenhall,  and  by  this  last 
marriage  he  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living:  Henry  C,  Anna  E.,  Wesley, 
Alvin,  Clayton  B.,  Mary  E.  and  Delphina.  One 
son.  David,  died  in  his  seventh  year,  in  185.'!,  and 
another  one  died  in  infancy. 

John  M.  Elliott  was  horn  Dee.  22,  1839,  and 
emigrated  with  his  father  to  this  county  in  1855, 
locating  in  Elwood  Township,  one  mile  and  a  half 
west  of  Ridge  Farm.  He  received  his  education 
primarily  at  the  public  schools,  he  having  also 
taught  two  terms.  Otherwise  he  has  worked  at 
the  business  of  farming  since  he  was  old  enough  to 
do  anything.  He  was  married  on  Jan.  31,  1861, 
to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Mendenhall,  a 
prominent  resident  of  Carroll  Township,  where  she 
was  born.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children:  Melbourne,  Florence,  Francis  A., 
Ada  R.,  Orange,  Howard  J.,  William  11..  .Martha 
and  Mary,  the  latter  being  twins.  Melbourne  mar- 
ried Grace  M.  Ration  and  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  this  township;  Florence  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  H.  Rees,  of  Carroll  Township  and  the 
mother  of  one  child,  born  June  15,  1889,  died  July 
22,  1889;  Frank  is  in  the  Cascade  Mountains  of 
Oregon,  connected  with  a  surveying  party. 

The  whole  family  belong  to  the  Friends'  Church 
and  take  great  interest  in  religious  matters.  Mr. 
Elliott  has  been  a  School  Director  for  twenty  years, 
and  is  a  Trustee  of  the  Vermilion  Academy  being 
one  of  the  original  incorporators  of  that  institution. 
Politically  he  votes  the  way  the  most  of  the  people 
who  belong  to  his  church  do — with  the  Repub- 
lican party — and  is  always  willing  to  do  what  he 
can  honorably  to  enhance  its  interests.  He  has 
never  aspired  to  official  honors  but  in  religious  and 
educational  affairs  exhibits  great  solicitude.  His 
pleasant  home  is  always  open  to  his  friends  and  he 


624 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  his  most  excellent  wife  are  liberal  in  their  hos- 
pitality. We  present  on  another  page  of  the 
Album  a  fine  view  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  Elliott. 
where  he  lives  in  comfort  and  happiness  with  his 
wife  and  those  of  his  children  who  yet  remain  at 
home. 


***w      <  ■ 


(SI        &1LLIAM    GRAY    is    pleasantly  located    on 

\/\li  llis  val,lallle  fann  of  -40  acresi  al"1'  ;l'- 
Ww  though  at  an  advanced  age,  still  retains 
the  active  management  of  all  its  details.  lie  was 
born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  about  seven  miles 
north  <>f  Hamilton.  His  father,  Louis  Gray,  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  but  came  to  Fort  Cincin- 
nati in  1801  and  built  a  log  cabin  on  what  is  non- 
known  as  Third  street  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati. 
Here  he  purchased  200  acres  of  land  at  a  shilling 
an  acre,  which,  upon  his  removal  to  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  the  so-called  land  of  promise,  he  sold  at  a 
small  advance  on  the  original  cost.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Winnigs.  this  event  taking  place 
in  New  Jersey  a  short  time  previous  to  their  re- 
moval to  Ohio.  Louis  Gray  was  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  the  old  Whig  party  and  an  ardent  ad- 
mirer of  Henry  Clay,  Harrison,  and  other  men  of 
his  party.  When  the  Republican  party  was  formed, 
in  1856,  he  joined  that  political  organization,  but 
died  regretting  the  fact  that  he  could  never  have 
the  opportunity  of  casting  his  vote  for  John  C. 
Fremont.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1856,  he 
was  seventy-eight  years  old.  Early  in  life  he  was 
crippled,  a  fact  which  prevented  him  from  enlist- 
ing in  the  war  of  1812.  He  made  an  endeavor  to 
join  the  army,  but  was  rejected.  Louis  Gray  was 
married  twice,  his  fust  wife  being  the  mother  of 
William.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Ann  Collins, 
a  native  of  New  Jersey.  By  his  first  marriage  he 
was  the  father  of  five  children;  Amos,  who  was 
drowned  in  boyhood;  Phoebe,  Daniel,  William  and 
Harvey.  The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  America,  but  his  father  was  a 
native  of  England,  coming  to  this  country  in 
colonial  times. 

William  Gray's   birth  occurred  on   May  d.  1816. 
he  is  the  only  survivor  of   his   mother's  family,  but 


has  three  half  sisters  living.  His  first  boyish  recol- 
lections are  of  the  old  log  house  in  the  woods  on 
the  banks  of  the  Miama  River,  but  this  stream  has 
since  washed  away  the  site  of  the  structure.  Here 
the  happiest  moments  of  his  childhood  were  passed. 
His  father  was  a  contractor  for  the  building  of  the 
Miami  Canal  from  Dayton  to  Cincinnati,  and 
about  the  first  work  in  which  William  engaged, 
was  driving  a  yoke  of  oxen  on  this  contract,  while 
his  father  had  charge  of  100  men  and  about  forty 
or  titty  teams  of  cattle.  William  was  obliged  to 
stand  on  a  Hour  barrel  in  order  to  put  the  yoke  on 
his  oxen.  His  father,  in  common  with  other  sturdy 
pioneers  of  this  country,  believed  implicitly  in  the 
plan  of  rearing  his  sons  to  industry,  a  fact  which 
has  left  its  imprint  upon  the  generation  succeeding 
him.  After  the  canal  was  completed,  William's 
father  invested  his  earnings  in  Butler  County  land, 
but  in  1844  he  concluded  to  remove  to  Indiana, 
which  he  did.  locating  near  LaFayette. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances  that  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood.  He  attended 
the  subscription  schools  in  the  winter  time,  and 
during  the  summer  months  worked  upou  the  farm. 
He  also  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  as  his  father 
owned  a  cooper  shop  in  connection  with  his  grist- 
mill. In  1841,  when  he  was  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  he  was  married  to  Miss  .Sarah  A.  lIarman,who 
was  born  three  miles  east  of  Lebanon,  Warren  Co., 
( )hio.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
Harman,  who  came  to  Warren  County  while  they 
were  children.  Her  grandfather,  Henry  Harman, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  while  her  mother's  peo- 
ple came  from  an  old  American  family  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  Her  parents  continued  to  live  in 
Warren  County  several  years,  but  finally  removed 
to  Tippecanoe  County,  Ind.,  and  later  spent  their 
declining  years  with  Mrs.  Gray,  her  father  dying 
in  March,  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy  four  years, 
while  her  mother  passed  away  in  February,  1M,S7. 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  This 
venerable  couple  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, whose  names  are  herewith  given:  Sarah  A., 
Alfred,  Elizabeth.  Susan,  Henry,  David,  Rebecca 
and  Mary  (twins),  Samuel.  Catherine,  Martha  and 
Emma. 

Mrs.  Gray  was    born  Oct.  14,1822.     Her    early 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


625 


flay 8  were  passed  in  a  manner  similar  to  those  of 
her  husband.  They  lived  only  twelve  or  fourteen 
miles  apart,  and  became  acquainted  while  yet 
children.  In  184  1  Mr.  Gray  with  his  family— and 
also  accompanied  by*his  father's  family — removed 
to  Clinton  County,  Ind.,  and  resided  there  until 
1859,  when  they  settled  on  their  present  home- 
stead in  Vermilion  County.  Mr.  Gray  purchased 
10(1  acres  of  land,  which  at  the  time  was  nnini 
proved.  He  staked  off  the  foundation  for  his 
house  by  the  shadow  of  the  sun  at  noontide,  but 
his  watch  being  a  little  fast,  the  foundation  was 
not  located  due  north  and  south.  While  in  Indi- 
ana Mr.  Gray  began  to  pack  pork,  working  at  it 
every  winter,  and  in  company  with  John  Blair 
built  a  plant  for  this  purpose  and  also  for  packing 
beef.  His  packinghouse  was  located  at  Crawfords- 
ville,  and  in  this  industry  he  was  prospered,  killing 
about  20,000  hogs  each  year,  for  three  years.  Since 
Mr.  Gray  has  lived  in  Illinois,  however,  he  has 
devoted  his  entire  time  to  farming,  and  in  this 
occupation  has  been  eminently  successful. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  have  become  the  parents  of 
nine  children:  Harvey,  Mary  .lane,  Alfred,  Will- 
iam H.,  wdtodied  at  the  age  of  live  years;  Elizabeth 
A.;  Sarah  C.who  died  when  fiteen  years  old  ;  Milton, 
who  died  when  six  months  old;  Clara  and  Alice. 
Harvey  enlisted  in  Company  1)..  25th  Illinois  In- 
fantrv.  and  at  Chickamauga  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner,  but  being  disabled  was  left  by  the 
rebels  on  the  field  of  battle.  He  was  taken  to  a 
Union  hospital  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  died  a  victim 
of  small-pox.  Mary  Jane  married  .lames  Mills,  a 
Union  soldier,  and  he  died  in  April,  187!).  leaving 
three  children — Alfred,  Elma  and  Effle.  Since  the 
death  of  Mr.  Mills  his  children,  as  well  as  their 
mother,  have  lived  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Oray. 
Alfred  married  Miss  Vena  Carroll,  and  is  farming 
in  Sidell  Township.  They  have  two  children, 
John  and  William.  Elizabeth  A.,  is  the  wife  of 
John  Wilson,  also  a  I'nion  soldier,  anil  a  farmer 
of  Sidell  Township.  They  have  two  children— 
Otto  and  Charles.  Clara  is  at  home.  Alice  mar- 
ried Samuel  Guthrie,  who  was  also  a  soldier  of  the 
Union  army  and  now  a  fanner  near  Tuscola,  111. 
They  have  four  children — Eva,  Sarah,  Ola  and 
Harrison. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  are  living  in  a.  very  pleasant 
home,  which  is  illustrated  by  a  line  view  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume.  All  of  the  surround- 
ings indicate  the  refinement  and  good  taste  of  its 
occupants,  while  their  splendid  line  of  books  also 
exhibits  the  fact  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (iray  arc  fond 
of  good  reading.  Mr.  Gray  has  served  as  School 
Director  for  several  years,  ami  is  much  interested 
in  educational  matters.  He  has  also  been  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  holding  that  honorable  office  for  six 
years,  and  for  many  years  held  the  position  of 
Highway  Commissioner.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  does  good  work  for  his  party.  In 
all  this  section  of  the  country  there  is  not  a  more 
generous,  hospitable  and  public-spirited  couple 
than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray. 

AYU)  JOHNSTON.  It  is  a  fact  gener- 
ijjj  ally  acknowledged  and  widely  commented 
,(iJ)&r  upon,  that  in  the  great  world  with  its  mil- 
lions of  men  no  two  are  alike,  although 
they  may  be  possessed  of  many  corresponding 
traits  of  character.  Mr.  Johnston  is  one  of  those 
who  have  assisted  largely  in  the  development  of  a 
portion  of  the  soil  of  Vermilion  County,  and  has 
distinguished  himself  by  hard  labor,  sobriety, 
honesty  and  the  other  solid  qualities  which  go  to 
make  up  the  useful  citizen.  His  life  occupation 
has  been  that  of  a  farmer,  and  we  find  him  com- 
fortably located  at  a  snug  little  homestead  on  sec- 
tion 1 ,  Oakwood  Township.  He  has  been  reason- 
ably rewarded  for  the  toil  and  sacrifices  of  his 
earlier  years,  and  has  been  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  of  life,  while  at  the  same  time  enjoying 
many  of  its  luxuries. 

The  first  record  we  have  of  this  branch  of  the 
Johnston  family  was  the  settlement  in  Pennsyl- 
vania of  Grandfather  David  H.  Johnston,  who  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Mason  County,  Ky.,  during 
the  pciiod  of  its  earliest  settlement,  where  he  dealt 
extensively  in  fat  cattle,  horses  and  mules,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  that  region.  He 
also  owned  and  operated  a  distillery,  but  distin- 
guished  himself  as   a   patriot,  ami  was    appointed 


626 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


by  the  American  Congress  during  the  Revolution- 
ary War  to  visit  the  Tories  in  his  region  and  con- 
fiscate whatever  he  could  lay  his  hands  upon  of 
their  property,  which  he  sold,  and  applied  the  pro- 
ceeds to  the  carrying  on  of  the  war.  It  is  easy  to 
imagine  that  nothing  pleased  the  old  hero  better 
than  this  errand,  and  none  rejoiced  more  than  he 
at  the   result  of  the   Declaration  of   Independence. 

Among  the  sons  of  Grandfather  Johnston  was 
John,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  in 
Mason  County,  Ky.,  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and 
removed  to  Ohio  about  1826.  He  had  three  sis- 
ters— Hannah,  Nancy  and  Polly  Ann.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Mathaney,  a  native  of  that  State, 
and  the  daughter  of  Elias  Mathaney,  who  was 
born  near  Harper's  Ferry,  in  West  Virginia,  and 
in  connection  with  farming  pursuits  became  one 
of  the  best  breeders  of  fine  horses  in  the  Blue 
Grass  regions.  lie  was  married  three  times,  and 
died  about  1862. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  after  their  marriage 
visited  Kentucky,  then  settled  in  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
John  Johnston  was  a  well-educated  man,  and  be- 
came prominent  in  his  community.  He  was  by 
nature  a  polished  gentleman,  and  a  man  always  in 
demand  at  public  meetings  to  introduce  the 
speakers  to  the  people,  and  make  other  various 
little  arrangements  so  essential  to  the  smooth  work- 
ings of  those  gatherings.  He  departed  this  life  at 
li is  home,  in  1834.  and  the  mother  followed  her 
husband  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter,  four  years 
later,  in  1838.  The  latter  frequently  related  the 
incident  of  her  father  "poling"  a  keel  boat  from 
New  Orleans  to  Pittsburg  before  the  days  of  steam. 

To  Jolm  and  Sarah  (Mathaney)  Johnston  there 
were  born  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  three  are  living,  and  of  whom 
David,  our  subject,  was  the  eldest.  He  was  born 
in  Mason  County,  Ky.,  Feb.  6,  1826,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  twelve  began  to  paddle  his  own  canoe. 
His  education  was  very  limited,  and  he  worked  for 
his  uncle  about  three  years  after  leaving  home. 
Later  he  was  employed  by  John  Dalton,  of  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  several  years.  In  September,  1844, 
when  a  youth  of  eighteen,  he  started  for  Illinois 
on  horseback,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  this  county 


was  employed  the  first  year  on  a  farm  for  Henry 
Florher,  and  he  was  similarly  occupied  until  his 
marriage.  This  important  and  interesting  event 
was  celebrated  Nov.  11,  1852,  the  bride  being 
Miss  Mary  A.  E.,  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  W.  Britting- 
ham,  an  old  Thompsonian  physician  who  came  to 
Illinois  in  1830,  and  was  a  very  prominent  man  in 
his  day.  His  grandfather.  William  Brittingham,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  and  married  a  lady  whose  first 
name  was  Elizabeth.  His  parents  were  Jeremiah 
and  Mary  (Williams)  Brittingham.  the  latter  a 
daughter  of  John  Williams,  of  Maryland.  Jere- 
miah was  born  Dec.  3,  1764,  and  his  wife,  Mary, 
Oct.  12,  1760. 

Jeremiah  Brittingham  removed  to  Ohio  in  1810, 
and  to  Illinois  in  1830,  arriving  in  this  county 
Nov.  a.  1830.  He  became  the  father  of  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  died  when  quite  young  in 
Maryland.  The  three  who  grew  to  mature  years 
were:  Benjamin  A.,  Mary  and  Arthur  W..  the  lat- 
ter the  father  of  Mrs.  Johnston.  To  the  latter  and 
his  excellent  wife  there  were  born  eight  children, 
of  whom  five  are  living,  viz:  Mrs.  Johnston,  Mrs. 
Lucretia  Osborh,  Mrs.  Julia  Ann  Osborn,  Arthur 
W.,  Jr.,  and  Jeremiah.  The  last-mentioned  is  still 
unmarried,  and  makes  his  home  with  our  subject. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  Oakwood  1.  ( ).  ( ).  F. 
Lodge  No.  564,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs, 
and  in  February,  1889,  finished  his  term  as  Past 
Grand.  Arthur  W.  Brittingham  departed  this  life 
Aug.  19,  1885.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Johnston  was 
in  her  girlhood  Miss  Matilda  Watson,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Henry  and  Mary  Ann  Watson,  who  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  this  county.  She  was 
born  Sept.  3,  1801,  and  died  Aug.  1!»,  1877. 

Mrs.  Johnston  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and 
was  born  Nov.  8,  1833.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
Johnston  operated  on  a  rented  farm  about  seven 
years,  then  entered  160  acres  of  land  from  the 
Government,  and  purchased  forty  acres.  This  he 
he  sold  later,  and  bought  100  acres,  which  he  now 
owns  and  occupies.  His  landed  possessions  com- 
prise 21)7  acres,  nearly  all  under  cultivation,  lie 
erected  his  present  residence  in  1876.  He  raises 
considerable  stock,  feeding  a  carload  of  cattle  each 
year.  Only  a  son  and  daughter  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston.     The  latter,  Matilda  Jane, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


627 


became  the  wife  <>f  David  Young,  and  lived  on 
one  of  her  father's  farms  until  her  death  in  1880; 
she  left  one  child,  who  is  being  reared  by  the  grand- 
parents. 

John  W.  Johnston,  the  only  son  of  our  subject, 
is  a  very  bright  and  promising  young  man.  and  re- 
main-; on  the  homestead  with  his  parents,  assisting 
in  the  operation  of  the  farm.  lie  is  a  prominent 
member  of  Lodge  No.  71  1.  A.  F.&  A.  M.,at  New- 
town, in  which  he  has  been  Secretary  five  years  and 
Senior  Warden  three  years,  still  holding  the  latter 
office.  lie  is  also  a  member  of  Vermilion  Chap- 
ter No.  82,  at  Danville,  and  of  Athelstan  Com- 
manders' No.  15,  at  Danville.  He  is  also  Record- 
ing Steward  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a 
School  Trustee  and  Vice-President  of  the  Town- 
ship Sunday-school  Association. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  the 
past,  six  years.  Mr.  Johnston  cast  his  first* Presi- 
dential vote  for  Zachary  Taylor,  and  has  always 
kept  himself  well  posteTl  upon  the  political  issues 
of  the  day.  lie  identified  himself  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  at  its  organization,  in  1856,  and  since 
that  time  has  steadfastly  remained  a  supporter  of 
its  principles. 


ATTHEW  TRIMBLE,   one    of    the    sub- 
\1\    stantial     and     successful     men     of     Sidell 


Township,  and  one  who  is  well  iden- 
tified with  the  advancement  of  his  com 
munity.  is  now  engaged  in  general  or  mixed 
fanning.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his 
township,  and  is  entitled  to  a  place  in  history  as  a 
self-made  man.  He  was  born  Dec.  27,  1827  in 
Ohio,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  in  a  new 
country.  His  father  was  one  of  the  pioneers  who 
was  obliged  to  hew  his  way  through  the  forest,  in 
order  to  make  a  farm,  and  as  Matthew  was  the 
oldest  boy  of  the  family,  he  was  obliged  to  work 
hard  at  plowing  and  breaking  among  the  stumps. 
His  boyhood  days,  as  before  stated,  were  desti- 
tute of  any  of  the  advantages  calculated  lo  give 
him  an  education,  as  the    school    teachers   in    those 


days  were  on  a  par  with  the  scboolhouses,  exceed- 
ingly crude.  Later,  as  he  crew  to  lie  a  young 
man.  a  brick  school-house  was  built,  of  which  he 
aided  in  the  construction,  and  there  he  attended 
school  for  three  terms.  When  he  came  from  Ohio 
in  the  summer  of  1863,  lie  brought  with  him  a 
drove  of  700  sheep,  driving  them  the  entire  dis- 
tance with  the  aid  of  a  boy  and  a  dog.  and  this  was 
his  first  substantial  start  in  the  stock  business.  His 
first  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Cassandria  Pig- 
inan.died  in  1862, when  he  sold  his  farm  and  engaged 
exclusively  in  the  stock  business.  He  has  traded 
and  dealt  in  live  stock  of  all  kinds  since  his  boy- 
hood, and  at  the  time  of  selling  his  farm  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  shrewdest  buyers  in  this  section 
of  the  country,  and  up  to  this  time  he  had  made 
an  even  $2,000  on  his  sheep. 

He  was  married  the  first  time  in  1849  and  by 
this  union  he  was  the  father  of  four  children: 
Rebecca  A.,  William,  Rachael  and  James.  Rebecca 
married  Scott  Hildreth,  a  farmer  of  Carroll  Town- 
ship. They  have  three  children,  Elizabeth  A., 
Joseph  and  Blaine:  William  resides  in  Povvesheik 
Count}',  Iowa;  Rachel  married  George  Bennett. 
They  have  four  children:  Clinton,  Minnie,  Frank 
and  an  infant.  Frank  is  a  tinner  by  trade.  Mr. 
Trimble  was  married  a  second  time  in  1864  to  Mrs. 
Lydia  Harvey.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and 
came  to  Indiana  when  a  small  girl,  and  in  1862, 
emigrated  to  Vermilion  County.  Her  first  husband, 
whose  name  was  Oliver  W.  Harvey,  died  in  the 
army,  leaving  two  children — Jane  and  Charles  W. 
Mr.  and  Mis.  Trimble  have  two  children — Chaun- 
cey  and  Lucy.  The  former  is  at  home  working  on 
the  farm,  while  Lucy  married  Elmer  Ilite,  who  lives 
in  Kansas.  Mr.  Trimble  has  assisted  his  children 
in  getting  a  start  in  the  world,  and  they  are  the 
pride  of  his  declining  years.  He  has  taken  an 
active  and  intelligent  part  in  all  the  matters  per- 
taining to  public  schools,  and  has  served  as  Direc- 
tor fifteen  years.  He  has  also  tilled  various  other 
positions  in  the  township,  although  he  has  never 
aspired  to  political  honors.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trim- 
ble are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Sidell.  and  they  are  materially  aiding  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  house  of  worship.  He  is  an  original 
Lincoln  Republican,  as  In-  considers  that  the  prin- 


628 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ciples  of  that  great  man  are  the  correct  ones  for 
the  government  of  politics.  He  belives  that  the 
Union  Labor  party  of  America  is,  some  da}',  bound 
to  succeed.  Mr.  Trimble  since  be  has  commenced  to 
do  for  himself,  has  been  successful,  which  is  wholly 
due  to  his  judgment  of  men  and  his  industrious 
habits.  He  takes  hold  <>f  all  matters  of  business 
with  energy,  and  never  has  known  that  there  is  such 
a  word  as  "fail." 


8  K  HAEL  FISHER   has   for   the    past     ten 
years  been  engaged  in  the  hardware  busi- 


ness in  Indianola,  where  he  has  conducted 
a  large  and  prosperous  business.  His 
store  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  town,  and  is  always 
the  scene  of  activity. 

He  was  born  in  Carroll  Township,  within  half  a 
mile  of  Indianola,  Nov.  6,  1835.  His  father,  David 
Fisher,  came  to  this  count}-  in  1833,  bought  school 
lands  from  the  State,  and  also  entered  a  tract  of 
government  land  in  the  same  year,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1878,  he  owned  nearly 
1,000  acres  of  land.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  his 
father  being  of  good  old  Pennsylvania  stock.  The 
Fishers  were  of  German  extraction  and  pioneers  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  settled  during  Colonial 
times.  David  Fisher  was  married  in  Carroll  Town- 
ship to  Miss  Jane  Weaver,  who  is  still  living.  She 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  her  father  coming  to  this  coun- 
try in  1828  and  being  therefore  one  of  the  very 
earliest  pioneers.  He  lived  to  be  one  hundred 
years  old,  while  his  wife  was  past  ninety  when  she 
was  called  away. 

David  Fisher  was  the  father  of  five  children, 
whose  names  are:  Michael,  John  YV.,  Mary  J.. 
George  and  Lucinda.  Michael  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  received  good  educational  advantages  in 
the  schools  of  his  childhood,  which  were  of  the 
subscription  sort.  He  was  married  in  1864  to  Miss 
Maryette  Baum,  daughter  of  John  W.  Baum,  an 
old  settler  of  Carroll  Township.  She  was  born  in 
Indianola.  After  marriage  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher 
continued  farming  until  1 H 7 7 ,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  hardware    business,  as    before    indicated.      He 


started  the  erection  of  the  •■Fisher  Block"  in  1881. 
completing  iU the  next  year.  The  store  is  44x66, 
and  comprises  two  store  rooms,  the  Masonic  and 
Fisher's  Hall. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  have  three  children:  Frank. 
Maud  and  Eva.  Frank  is  attending  the  Univerity 
of  Illinois  and  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  '90. 
He  is  taking  the  civil  engineering  course.  Maud 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  J.  Sidell — whose  sketch  ap- 
pears in  this  volume — while  Eva  is  at  home.  In 
addition  to  his  hardware  business  Mr.  Fisher  deals 
largely  in  agricultural  implements,  and  also  owns 
and  manages  two  farms  near  Indianola.  He  has 
served  his  neighbors  in  several  offices,  having  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  sixteen  years  and  Asses- 
sor and  Collector  for  four  years  each.  While  liv- 
ing in  Kansas  in  1857,  he  joined  the  Odd  Fellows 
fraternity  to  which  society  he  has  since  adhered. 
Politically  he  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party,  but 
is  in  favor  of  the  best  man  being  elected  to  any 
position,  and  in  consequence  he  votes  independ- 
ently. As  before  stated  he  has  held  many  town- 
ship offices  and  with  distinguished  honor,  but  he 
has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  as  his  neighbors 
have  recognized  in  him  the  qualities  which  sin  mid 
belong  to  every  man  occupying  a  public  position. 
His  fine  education  coupled  with  his  splendid  judg- 
ment lias  been  recognized  and  appreciated. 

Mr.  Fisher  was  a  student  at  the  Georgetown 
Seminar}'  where  he  acquired  a  classical  education, 
and  in  his  younger  days  was  a  teacher,  being  eminent 
in  his  profession.  lie  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Vermilion  County  and  is  respected  and  hon- 
ored as  such.  A  fine  view  of  the  home  of  Mr. 
Fisher  is  shown  in  this  volume. 


+*JM3*£^~h 


ANIEL  OAKES.  a  gentleman  of  unusually 
):  modest  demeanor,  may  be  usually  found 
^  at  his  homestead,  on  section  11,  in  Vance 
Township,  where  he  carries  on  farming 
and  has  lived  since  1869.  The  inroads  upon  his 
health,  made  by  the  rigors  of  war  when  he  was  but 
a  youth,  have  had  their  lasting  effect  upon  his  con- 
stitution, sci  that  he  has  not  been  enabled  to  realize 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


629 


the  full  measure  of  his  ambition   among  the   busy 

laborers  of  the  world.  He  is,  however,  a  man 
highly  respected  among  his  fellow-citizens,  possess- 
ing that  integrity  of  character  which  has  enabled 
him  to  live  uprightly  and  at  peace  with  all  the 
world. 

The  early  tramping  "round  of  our  subject  was 
in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  Aug. 
26,  1843.  His  father.  Michael  Oakes,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Rebecca  Farner,  who  was  born  in  Ohio. 
In  1850  they  moved  to  Clark  County,  111.,  and 
later  returned  to  Ohio  to  make  a  visit,  and  Mrs. 
Oakes  died  while  on  the  journey  thither.  The 
father  was  subsequently  married,  and  after  some 
years,  about  1858,  returned  to  this  county.  The 
children  of  his  first  wife  comprised  three  sons  and 
one  daughter,  of  whom  three  are  living.  One  son, 
John,  during  the  Civil  War.  enlisted  in  Company 
F,  25th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  died  in  camp  at 
Scottsboro,  Ala.,  in  the  winter  of  1862.  Michael 
Oakes  departed  this  life  at  his  home  in  Nance 
Township,  in  1882. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  attended  school  in 
Clark  County,  111.,  the  temple  of  learning  being  an 
old  log  schoolhouse,  with  its  primitive  accommoda- 
tions, and  the  system  of  instruction  far  inferior  to 
that  of  the  present  day.  When  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen, the  Civil  War  being  in  progress,  he  enlisted 
as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company  F,  71st  Illinois  In- 
fantry for  three  months.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  he  re-enlisted  in  Company  F,  26th  Infantry, 
for  three  years,  and  took  part  in  man}'  of  the  im- 
portant battles  which  followed — Atlanta,  Scotts- 
boro, Savannah,  New  Hope  Church,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Grape  Creek — and  went  with  Sherman 
in  his  memorable  march  to  the  sea.  He  had  the 
pleasure  of  witnessing  the  surrender  of  the  rebel 
General  Johnston  in  North  Carolina,  and  after  the 
surrender  of  Lee,  repaired  with  his  comrades  to 
Washington,  and  took  part  in  the  Grand    Review. 

On  the  28th  of  -Inly,  18G4,  at  Atlanta,  Mr. 
<  takes  received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  right  side, 
hut  he  kept  on  fighting,  and  never  lost  a  day  on 
accouut  of  it.  At  Savannah  he  was  wounded  in 
the  right  knee.  His  health  was  greatly  impaired 
by  hardship  and  exposure,  and  it  is  hardly  possible 


that  he  will  ever  regain  his  former  robust  health. 
Mr.  Oakes  was  first  married  in  18G7,  to  Miss 
Melissa  Morrison,  who  became  Hie  mother  of  four 
children  (two  of  whom  are  living),  and  who  died 
in  1880.  The  two  children  remaining  are  Charles 
and  Eva,  who  are  living  with  their  father.  Mr. 
Oakes  was  married  a  second  time  in  1881,  to  Miss 
Margaret  Hickman,  and  the}-  have  one  child — 
Willie.  Mrs.  Oakes  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Our  subject  takes  no  active  part  in 
politics,  but  goes  regularly  to  the  polls,  and  votes 
the  Republican  ticket,  even  if  he  has  to  leave  a 
sick  bed,  as  at  the  last  election.  He  is  a  member 
of  Homer  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  but  on  account  of  frail 
health,  has  not  been  permitted  to  attend  the  regu- 
lar meetings.  The  most  of  his  time  is  spent  on 
his  snug  farm  of  110  acres,  which  is  finely  located 
on  section  7.  and  is  under  a  good  stale  of  cultivation. 


NDERSON  W.  ELDER.      The   subject  of 
this  notice  came  to  this  county  from  Ohio 
ll\    in   1878,   for  the   purpose  of  taking  charge 
tfgfj  of  the  large  farm  which  he  now   operates, 

and  which  comprises  320  acres,  the  east  half  of  sec- 
lion  34,  in  Sidell  Township.  His  efficient  manage- 
ment is  observable  in  the  well-cultivated  Gelds  and 
the  general  appearance  of  the  premises.  While 
operating  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  Mr.  Elder  is  also 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his  mental  capacities 
— a  man  who  has  read  and  observed  much,  and 
who  has  decided  ideas  coupled  with  the  faculty  of 
giving  them  expression,  and  with  the  good  sense 
which  usually  inspires  him  to  temperance  of  speech 
and  prevents  him  from  giving  offense  to  those  dif- 
fering from  him  in  opinion.  He  is  in  the  prime  of 
life,  active  and  energetic,  and  the  son  of  one 
of  the  most  wealthy  farmers  of  the  Buckeye 
State.  John  Elder,  who  was  the  owner  of  nearly 
1,000  acres  of  land  in  Claris  County,  Ohio,  and 
who  died  May  31,  1889,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  one  month  and  nineteen  days. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  near  Spring- 
field, in  Greene  Township,  (lark  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug. 
26,   1852,  and  was  there  reared  to  man's  estatl a 


630 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


farm.  About  1877,  lie  started  on  a  traveling-  tour, 
visiting  the  Eastern  States,  the  Dominion  of  Can- 
ada, also  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  after  which  he 
came  to  this  count}'.  He  was  married  in  1881,  to 
Miss  Libby,  daughter  of  W.  B.  Squires,  of  Sidell 
Township.  Mrs.  Elder  was  born  in  Iowa,  whence 
her  parents  later  came  to  Illinois,  then  removed  to 
Kentucky,  and  she  was  reared  in  these  two  States. 
Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  have  been 
born  four  children,  viz.:  Edna,  Inez,  Edith  and 
Jolmie  B.,  who  are  all  living  and  at  home  with 
their  parents,  and  are  looked  upon  by  the  latter 
with  pardonable  pride,  being  remarkably  interest- 
ing and  intelligent.  Mr.  Elder,  politically,  is  a 
sound  Republican,  and  is  able  to  give  a  reason  for 
the  faith  that  is  in  him.  He  is  no  office-seeker, 
and  has  had  very  little  to  do  with  public  affairs. 
simply  serving  on  the  Circuit  Jury. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Harris- 
burg,  Pa. ;  the  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Phebe  Casey,  was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio.  She 
died  in  1860  at  the  age  of  forty-live  years.  Nine 
children  comprised  the  parental  family,  who  were 
named  respectively,  Ann  J.,  Wallace,  Findlay,  Me- 
linda,  Samuel,  Anderson  W..  David,  Robert  and 
Charles. 

- — -&m- — 


Tp^ICHARD  R.  WORTHINGTON,  M.  D., 
)&y  physician  and  surgeon,  is  one  of  the 
•J^\  best  of  the  profession  in  his  community, 
^p;  where  he  has  resided  for  the  past  fifteen 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  Mason  County.  Ky., 
having  been  born  near  Maysville  on  Aug.  1  1, 
1851.  His  father  and  mother  were  also  natives  of 
the  same  county,  and  were  very  prominent  citizens 
there.  The  father,  the  Hon.  Samuel  Worthington, 
was  elected  as  a  Whig  to  the  State  Legislature  and 
was  noted  as  an  independent,  outspoken  man.  He 
died  in  his  native  county,  in  1862,  at  the  compar- 
atively early  age  of  fifty-four,  and  in  this  world's 
goods  he  was  fairly  well  off.  He  was  killed  by  one 
of  his  former  slaves.  His  wife  is  still  living  at 
her  old  home  and  is  a  lady  of  seventy-one  years  of 
age.  The  elder  Worthington  had  been  married 
three  times  and  by    his  fust    wife    was  the  father  of 


two  children,  who  grew  to  maturity.  He  had  three 
by  his  second  wife  and  eight  by  his  third,  four  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity;  the  latter  of  whom  were 
Mary  It.,  who  died  in  Mason  County.  Ivy.;  Anna; 
Richard  Runyon,  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written; 
and  Martha  L.  Anna  married  Elder  W.  G.  Cox, 
and  is  residing  at  Middletown,  Ky.  Martha  L.  is 
the  wife  of  J.  G.  Thompson,  who  is  a  prosperous 
merchant  and  land-owner  of  Fernleaf,  Ky. 

Dr.  Worthington  was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  at- 
tended the  common  school,  and  later  on.  the  col- 
lege at  Minerva.  Ky.,  which  institution  he  entered  at 
the  early  age  of  thirteen.  Here  he  continued  a 
student  for  three  years  when  he  relinquished  his 
studies  to  take  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  which 
Occupied  his  time  for  two  years.  In  1870.  he 
removed  to  Catlin,  Vermilion  County,  where  he 
began  to  read  medicine  under  Dr.  T.  II.  Runyon. 
He  continued  his  studies  in  this  manner  for  about 
eight  months,  when  he  entered  the  Medical  College 
of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  graduating  from  that  insti- 
tution in  the  class  of  1871.  In  October,  of  the 
same  year  he  located  at  Indianola,  entering  upon 
a  successfid  medical  career. 

He  was  married  in  187'J  to  Miss  Vina  McMellan, 
daughter  of  'Squire  William  McMellan,  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Indianola,  whose  biography  ap- 
pears in  this  volume.  She  was  born  in  Carroll 
Township,  and  attended  the  common  schools  of  her 
town,  gaining  a  good  education.  She  is  the  mother 
of  three  children — Samuel  Lester,  Chester  Allen 
and  Anna  Love.  Dr.  Worthington  put  in  a  stock 
of  drugs  the  first  year  he  located  at  this  place,  buy- 
ing out  the  store  operated  by  Dr.  .1.  L.  Hull.  His 
practice  has  increased  until  to-day  he  has  all  the  pa- 
tients that  he  can  attend  to.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
County  Medical  Association  and  is  constantly 
studying,  thus  keeping  apace  with  the  practical  de- 
tails in  the  improvements  of  medicine.  As  a  physi- 
cian he  is  patient,  constant,  sympathetic,  yet  in  the 
hour  of  extremity,  cool,  calm  and  courageous,  thus 
inspiring  the  sick  and  distressed  in  scenes  of  dan- 
ger, lie  is  the  Examining  Physician  for  the  Little 
Vermilion  (amp  of  Modern  Woodmen,  of  which 
he  is  a  charter  member.  He  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  1.  O.  O.  E.,  Lodge  No.  584,  and  passed 
through  chairs  of  that  order,   and   was  Represents- 


G* 


CA    OurUrtJSrUZ, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


633 


live  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  Ho  was  the  first  Presi- 
dent elected  under  the  incorporation  act  of  the  vil- 
lage ami  served  with  fidelity  and  intelligence,  and 
has  held  that  office  ever  since.  He  was  elected 
Supervisor  in  1  889. 

Dr.  Worthington  is  an  adherent  to  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Democratic  party  and  is  an  active 
worker  in  its  ranks.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
projectors  of  the  Indianola  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation, being  President,  of  that  organization.  He 
is  very  prominent  in  the  affairs  that  look  to  the 
improvement  of  his  town,  and  a  public-spirited 
citizen  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 


ffiOHN  F.  ROWAND,  Supervisor  of  Sidell 
Township, although  quiet  and  unobtrusive  in 
manner,  possesses  strength  of  character  and 
from  the  fact  that  he  has  just  entered  upon 
his  seventh  year  in  this  capacity,  it  is  evident  that 
he  stands  high  among  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  owning  and  operating  300 
acres  of  choice  land,  200  on  section  12  and  100  on 
section  1.  Nature  has  endowed  him  with  a  gen- 
en  his  fund  of  sound,  common  sense,  a  quality  des- 
cended to  him  from  a  most  excellent  ancestry. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  the  present 
site  of  Springfield  in  Clark  Count}-,  Ohio,  where 
his  birth  occurred  June  2,  1853.  His  parents, 
Edward  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Rowand  were  nat- 
ives respectively  of  Maryland  and  Ireland.  The 
father  emigrated  to  Ohio  at  an  early  date  and 
settled  on  a  tract  of  land  near  the  present  city  of 
Springfield  where  he  cleared  a  farm  from  the  wil- 
derness. He  was  first  married  to  a  Miss  Luce  who 
became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  all  of  win  mi 
lived  to  mature  years.  Of  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Smith  there  were  also  born  seven  children,  viz.: 
Edward  M.,  John  F.,  our  subject,  Isaac,  an  infant 
who  died  unnamed,  Margaret  J.,  Mary  E.  and 
Davis.     Of  these  six  are  living. 

The  Rowand  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1*57. 
and  settled  near  Paris  in  Edgar  County,  where 
they  lived  one  year;  then  coining   to   this   county 


they  located  where  the  city  of  Sidell  now  stands. 
The  father  was  a  very  able  man  and  especially  act- 
ive in  church  work.  lie  accumulated  a  comfortable 
property  but  finally  returned  East  as  far  as  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  about  1859.  Here  his  death  oc- 
curred in  18C1  when  he  was  seventy-four  years  old. 
The  mother  then  came  back  to  this  county  and  is 
now  living  at  the  old  homestead,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  southeast  of  Sidell. 

Our  subject  was  in  the  fifth  year  of  his  age  when 
his  parents  came  to  Illinois,  and  after  their  return 
to  Ohio  he  attended  school  in  Ross  County.  After 
the  death  of  his  father  he  went  to  live  with  his 
half-brother,  William  Rowand,  in  Clark  County 
and  remained  a  resident  of  the  Buckeye  State  until 
1869.  In  the  meantime,  upon  approaching  man- 
hood he  worked  ou  a  farm'at  *8  per  month,  during 
the  summer  and  attended  school  during  the  winter. 
He  earned  the  money  for  his  book's,  notwithstand- 
ing his  father  left  a  good  property.  One  of  the 
half-brothers  managed  to  hold  the  estate,  which 
was  in  litigation  for  a  period  of  five  years  before 
divided  equally  among  the  rightful  heirs,  being 
settled  in  1877. 

While  a  resident  of  Illinois  our  subject  was  married 
April  2,  1878,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Cross.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Ethan  O.  and  Nancy  Ann  (Webster) 
Cross  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1 862  and  settled  in  this 
county.  The  father  prosecuted  farming  and  died 
in  1884,  when  about  fifty  years  of  age.  The  mother 
had  passed  away  ten  years  before,  at  the  early  age 
of  thirty-eight  years.  Their  eight  children  were 
named  respectively,  Charles  E.,  Elizabeth  Almira, 
Sarah  Matilda,  Frank  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
months,  Fanny  B.,  Jennie  S.,  Bessie  who  died  when 
one  year  and  ten  months  old  and  Nettie  Adelaide 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowand  settled 
upon  200  acres  of  land  which  fell  to  our  subject  as 
his  share  of  his  father's  estate.  Upon  this  he  has 
effected  good  improvements  and  for  the  past  five 
years  has  been  largely  interested  in  live  stock, 
making  a  specialty  of  cattle.  In  1880  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  1  and  in  1881 
twenty  acres  on  the  same  section,  which  is  watered 
by  the  Little  Vermilion.  The  farm  is  well  equipped 
with  good  buildings  and  modern  machinery,  includ- 


fi34 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ing  a  windmill  and  an  artesian  well,  the  latter  210 
feel  deep. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  have  been 
born  four  children — John  F.,  Jr.,  Jennie  E.,  Charles 
1).  and  HattieM.,all  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rovvand 
are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Sheridan  in  which  Mr.  Rowand  is  serv- 
ing his  fifth  year  as  Elder.  Me  has  served  as  Town- 
ship Supervisor  and  in  politics  votes  the  straight 
Democratic  ticket.  Ho  is  quite  prominent  in  local 
politics  and  a  member  of  the  Democratic  County 
Central  Committee,  also  of  the  Democratic  Club  of 
Sidell. 

Nancy  Ann  Whit,  the  great-grandmother  of 
Mrs.  Rovvand,  was  the  daughter  of  a  Mr.  Zanes  after 
whom  the  town  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  was  named; 
she  was  married  to  Mr.  Maxwell  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  and  in  the  Revolutionary  War  carried 
bullets  in  her  apron  to  the  soldiers,  said  bullets 
being  •'run"  by  her  sister.  She  was  a  courageous 
and  loyal  old  lady — one  of  the  typical  grandames 
of  the  colonial  times.  A  portrait  of  Mr.  Rowand 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 


AR1US  BOSWELL  REID,  President  of  the 
Village  Hoard  and  Supervisor  of  George- 
town Township,  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  this  county,  with  whose 
interests  he  has  been  closely  identified  for  many 
years.  A  Kentuckian  by  birth,  his  native  place 
was  near  Maysville,  in  Fleming  County,  and  lie  is 
the  son  of  Joseph  C.  Reid,  who  was  born  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Maryland.  The  family  is  of  Irish 
origin.  Mrs.  Rebecca  (Montgomery)  Reid,  the 
mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
af  English  ancestry. 

Joseph  C.  Reid  was  first  married  to  Miss  Susan 
Lee,  in  Kentucky.  She  was  a  high-born  lady  and 
a  descendant  of  old  Gen.  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  Of  this  union  there  were  born 
three  children,  only  one  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years — a  daughter,  Mary  M.,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Scott,  and  at  the  time  of  her  death  left 
two  children — Marion  and  Alexander.   The  former 


was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war  and  died  during  that 
struggle.  Joseph  Reid  was  a  man  highly  endowed 
by  nature,  remarkably  intelligent  and  a  great  lover 
of  music  in  which  he  was  quite  proficient,  having  a 
line  voice  for  singing  and  skillfully  playing  the 
violin.  He  taught  school  during  his  early  man- 
hood and  in  the  meanwhile  prepared  the  manuscript 
for  an  arithmetical  text  book,  which,  however,  was 
never  published  but  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
family. 

The  father  of  our  subject  likewise  learned  the 
trade  of  a  shoemaker  which  he  followed  mostly 
<luring  the  winter  season,  while  in  the  summer  he 
was  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  a  small  farm. 
Horn  in  177.r>,  he  fought  under  Gen.  Harrison  as 
ensign  at  Ft.  .Meigs  in  1813,  anil  after  the  war  re- 
lumed to  his  home  in  Kentucky.  His  first  wife 
died  in  the  Blue  Grass  State  and  he  was  then  mar- 
ried to  the  mother  of  our  subject.  In  1835,  after 
the  birth  of  three  children  they  left  Kentucky, 
coming  to  Edgar  County,  this  State,  and  settling  in 
what  is  now  Bruellet  Creek  Township.  They  re- 
sided there  until  1850,  then  removed  to  Wayne 
County,  where  the  father  entered  120  acres  of  land 
on  his  war  claim.  He  only  lived  two  years  there- 
after, passing  away  in  1852.  ' 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Reid  sold 
the  farm  and  returned  to  Edgar  County.  Later 
she  came  to  live  with  her  son.  our  subject,  and 
died  at  his  residence,  Dec.  14.  1884,  when  seventy- 
five  years  old.  She  had  been  a  devoted  Christian 
for  more  than  twenty  years  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Joseph  Reid, 
politically,  first  belonged  to  the  old  Whig  par^ 
and  was  true  to  the  principles  which  afterward  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  Republican  party.  The  pa- 
rental household  included  four  children,  the  eld- 
est of  whom,  a  daughter,  Susan  J.,  married  Jason 
P..  Sprague,  who  later  became  Captain  of  Company 
1),  29th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  killed  on  the 
battle-field  of  Shiloh.  He  left  his  widow  with  six 
children — Sarah  A..  Edgar  II..  Thomas,  Wealthy 
A..  Charles  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Sprague  died  in  La 
bette  County,  Kan.,  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  The 
second  daughter,  Elizabeth  A.,  married  Shirley 
Trotter,  became  the  mother  of  three  children  and 
died  in   Wayne    County,  this   State:  Sally  F.  is    the 


1'ORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


G35 


widow  of  Francis  Robinson  and  resides  in  Wayne 
County;  she  lias  four  children. 

Tlic  subject  of  tins  sketch  was  born  .Inly  11, 
1833,  and  was  lint  two  and  one-half  yearsold  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois.  His  education 
was  confined  principally  to  his  own  home,  his  fa- 
ther being   his   tutor,   although    he   attended  for  a 

short    time    the    subscription    scl Is    in    Edgar 

County.  There  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  his 
future  wife.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and 
after  leaving  Wayne  County  the  last  lime  worked 
one  year  in  a  brick-yard  and  subsequently  was  em- 
ployed the  same  length  of  time  on  a  farm,  lie 
came  to  Georgetown  in  the  summer  of  1855  and 
entered  the  employ  of  Pike  Sprague  for  a  term  of 
three  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  was 
married,  duly  1  I.  1858,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Patrick  and  Lurena  (Wilson)  Cowan. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Reid  were  from  Virginia 
whence  they  removed  to  Indiana  and  then  to  this 
State,  settling  finally  in  Edgar  County.  Their 
family  consisted  of  nine  children,  <>(  whom  Sarah 
A  .  was  next  to  the  youngest.  She  was  born  in 
Illinois,  and  was  reared  in  Edgar  County;  hia- 
tal her  was  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the 
Methodist.  Episcopal  Church  in  Eastern  Illinois. 
Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Reid  have  made 
their  home  in  Georgetown,  and  have  a  snug  resi- 
dence in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  In  later 
years  our  subject  turned  his  attention  to  carpenter- 
ing and  has  built  a  great  many  fine  residences  in 
and  about  Georgetown  besides  churches  and  school 

buildings.      He    put  up   the    academy     building    at 

Vermilion  Grove  and  the  Friends'  churches  at 
Georgetown. 

Seven  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Reid,  but  the  first-born  died  in  infancy. 
Rebecca  A.,  the  fourth  child,  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  Mary  L.,  Robert  J.,  .lames  I"..  Alex.  C. 
and  Luranah^fe  the  survivors.  Miss  Mary  became 
the  wife  of  Kims  Campbell,  a  blacksmith  by  trade; 
they  live  in  Georgetown  and  are  the  parents  of  one 
child.  Robert  .1.  is  a  telegraph  operator  and  sta- 
tion agent  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company, 
at  Hayes  City,  Kan.;  .lames  F.,  an  expert  mechanic 
and  builder,  is  in  the  employ  of  the  P.  E.  Kane 
Bridge  Company,  of   Chicago,  making  his    head- 


quarters at  Lincoln,  Neb.,  where  he  is  at  present 
superintending  the  construction  and  laying  of  the 
iron  works  on  one  of  the  public  buildings  of  Lin- 
coln. Alex,  has  charge  of  Mr.  Reid's  farm  of 
forty  acres  and  lives  at  home.  Luranah  is  attend- 
ing school  at  Georgetown,  being  a  member  of  the 
class  of  '91. 

Politically,  Mr.  Reid  is  a  strong  Republican  and 
in  full  sympathy  with  the  principles  advocated  by 
that  party.  He  has  held  the  ollice  of  Commissoner 
of  Highways  with  great  credit  to  himself  for  the 
past  nine  years.  lie  has  been  School  Trustee  a 
number  of  years  and  for  several  terms  has  occupied 
his  present  position  as  President  of  the  Village 
Board.  In  the  spring  of  1885  the  Democrats 
brought  forward  an  opposition  candidate  for  Su- 
pervisor, but  notwithstanding  this  Mr.  Reid  was 
unanimously  elected  to  the  oflice.  He  has'served  as 
juryman  several  times  and  thus  has  made  himself 
useful  in  the  affairs  of  his  community,  whose  con- 
fidence and  esteem  he  enjoys  in  a  marked  degree. 
Both  he  and  Mrs.  Reid  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at.  George- 
town. Socially  Mr.  Reid  has  been  identified  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity  fora  period  of  twenty  years, 
belonging  to  Russell  Lodge  No.  154,  at  George- 
town, in  which  he  has  served  two  terms  as  Master 
and  is  now  Junior  Warden.  Personally  Mr.  Reid 
is  of  large  and  commanding  figure  with  a  counte- 
nance and  bearing  highly  indicative  of  his  true 
character — that  of  an  honest  man  and  a  gentleman. 

ellARLES  F.  GRAY.  Prominent  among 
the  manufacturers  of  Vermilion  County 
and  a  leading  citizen  of  Sidell,  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  who  has  been  known  to  the 
people  of  this  region  since  his  boyhood,  having 
grown  up  among  them,  being  the  son  of  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Sidell  Township.  His  specialty 
is  I  he  manufacture  of  tile  and  brick,  in  connection 
with  which  he  has  a  $15,000  plant  and  gives  em- 
ployment to  a  large  number  of  men.  In  addition 
to  being  a  young  man  of  more  than  ordinary  busi- 
ness   ability,    he   is    of  that    generous    and    genial 


636 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


temperament  by  which  he  makes  friends  wherever 
lie  goes  and  is  highly  esteemed,  not  only  by  his 
compeers,  but  by  his  subordinates.  His  aim  in 
dealing  with  his  employes  is  to  be  not  only  just. 
but  generous.  In  appearance  he  would  attract  at- 
tention most  any  where,  being  portly  and  robust, 
while  his  high  sense  of  honor  shines  out  through 
his  expressive  countenance  and  is  at  once  a  pass- 
port to  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellownien. 
His  business  affairs  necessarily  demand  much  time 
and  attention,  but  these  have  not  prevented  him 
from  taking  a  warm  interest  in  the  enterprises  set 
on  foot  for  the  good  of  his  community. 

In  glancing  at  the  antecedents  of  .Mr.  Gray  we 
find  that  his  father,  Harvey  M.,  was  born  near  Mid- 
dletown,  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  was  the  son 
of  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Hamilton  County, 
Ohio,  Lewis  <  iray,  who  located  as  early  as  I  800  near 
the  present  site  of  Cincinnati  and  established  the  first 
cooper  shop  in  that  place.  He  finally  became  a 
contractor  on  the  l!ig  Miami  Canal  and  accumu- 
lated a  large  property,  operating  both  a  mill  and  a 
distillery.  During  the  panic  of  18.i7  he  lost  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  property,  but  finally  regained 
partially  his  financial  standing  and  spent  his  last 
days  surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  life,  lie  died 
in  1 85G  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years  at  Jeffer- 
son, Clinton  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  had  owned  and 
conducted  a  hotel.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  of  English  ancestry.  The  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject  lived  to  be  ninety-six  years  old. 

Mrs.  Susan  (Harman)  Gray,  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  and  is 
still  living,  being  now  a  lady  of  sixty  years.  Her 
parents  were  Samuel  and  Mary  (Anderson)  Har- 
man, the  former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  whose 
parents  were  born  in  Germany.  The  maternal 
grandmother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey and  was  of  Scotch  descent.  Upon  their  re- 
moval to  Ohio  the  Ilarnians  settled  near  what  was 
then  Lebanon  and  engaged  in  farming  pursuits, 
and  there  the  childhood  and  youth  of  Mis.  Cray 
were  spent  until  her  marriage,  which  occurred  when 
she  was  a  maiden  of  seventeen. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  after  their  marriage 
loaded  up  their  wordly  effects  and  started  overland 
for  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Cray  with  his 


father  had  become  the  proprietor  of  a  cooper  shop 
at  Jefferson,  father  and  sou  prosecuted  coop- 
ing in  the  winter  and  carpentering  in  the  summer 
for  eleven  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  this  time 
Harvey  Gray  decided  to  strike  out  for  the  farther 
West.  By  this  time  the  household  included  six 
children  and  he  was  desirous  of  acquiring  more 
land,  also  in  hopes  to  regain  his  failing  health  by  a 
change  of  climate.  Upon  their  arrival  in  this 
county  they  unloaded  their  goods  directly  west  of 
the  present  site  of  Sy  mines'  burying  ground,  and 
Mrs.  Cray  witnessed  the  first  burial  there  in  the  fall 
following.  They  only  staid  there  one  year,  then 
removed  to  what  has  now  for  many  years  been 
familiarly  known  to  the  people  of  this  region  as 
the  Gray  homestead. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  an  important  mem- 
ber of  the  pioneer  community  and  aided  largely  in 
forwarding  the  enterprises  leading  to  its  advance- 
ment. Politically,  he  was  a  strong  Whig  and  cast 
his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Harrison  in  1810.  lie  was 
a  man  of  progressive  ideas  and  in  religion  was  a 
Universalist.  He  took  particular  interest  in  the 
establishment  of  schools,  and  carried  out  his  idea 
of  Christianity  by  assisting  those  in  need  immedi- 
ately around  him.  Many  a  poor  man  was  fed  from 
his  table  and  received  the  assistance  and  advice 
most  needed.  In  his  family  he  was  remarkably 
kind  and  indulgent,  a  lover  of  home  who  found 
his  highest  enjoyment  "there,  lie  improved  a  good 
farm  of  160  acres  and  left  his  family  in  comfort- 
able circumstances  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1  866. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Gray  dis- 
played remarkably  good  judgment  in  the  manage- 
ment of  her  family  and  her  property,  giving  to  her 
children  a  good  practical  education  and  training 
them  to  habits  of  industry  and  .sentiments  of 
honor.  She  is  a  blight,  intelligent  and  well-pre- 
served lady,  with  an  attractive  countenance,  sug- 
gestive of  much  beauty  in  younger  years,  and  her 
heart  has  never  grown  old.  The  record  of  her 
twelve  children  is  as  follows:  Samuel  who  married 
Miss  Loah  Harman,  is  occupying  a  part  of  the 
homestead  and  is  the  father  of  five  children; 
Martha  A.  married  G.  M.  Spry,  of  Sidell,  a  sketch 
of  whom   appears  elsewhere  in  this   work;  Hannah 


PORTRAIT   AND   BI<  >< ;  RAPIIICAL  ALBFM. 


63; 


.M.  became  the  wife  of  Oscar  Mitchell  and  died 
leaving  two  children,  Harvey  and  Birdie;  Sarah 
F.  is  junior  partner  of  the  firm  of   C.    F.  &   S.    I''. 

Gray  and  presides  over  the  <1 estic  affairs  of  her 

brother  Charles;  rda  E.  is  the  wife  of  George  T. 
Mason  of  Areola,  III.,  and  they  have  four  children. 
Mr.  Mason  is  associated  with  Chapman  Bros.,  pub- 
lishers of  this  work.  Emma  M.  was  first  married  to 
Henry  Shear  who  was  killed  in  a  well;  her  presenl 
husband  is  J.  R.  Morrison  and  they  live  on  a  farm 
near  Sidell;  they  have  one  child.  Laura  married  S. 
\V.  Baird,  a  farmer  near  [ndianola,  and  they  have 
one  child;  Frank  married  Miss  Lilly  Harman  and 
resides  in  Sidell;  Lewis  M.  died  when  a  promising 
youth  of  nineteen  years;  Albert  at  the  same  age 
and  Harvey  when  three  weeks  old. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  .Feb.  11, 
1859,  at  the  homestead  where  he  spent  his  boyhood, 
remaining  on  the  farm  until  twenty-four  years  old. 
lie  then  became  interested  in  the  tile  business  at. 
Sidell,  which  enterprise  was  first  inaugurated  by 
his  brothei',  Samuel  Gray,  backed  by  John  Sidell 
and  operated  under  the  firm  name  of  S.  Cray  & 
Co.  In  1883  it  was  merged  into  Gray  Bros.  The 
first  buildings  were  put  up  in  the  fall  of  1882,  but 
in  July  1,  1<S'SI  a  cyclone  tore  the  building  to 
pieces  and  the  $5,000  plant  was  destroyed  in  less 
time  than  it  takes  to  write  of  it.  The  property 
was  then  sold  under  a  mortgage  and  purchased  by 
Miss  Sarah  Gray  and  was  managed  by  our  subject 
for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  indebt- 
edness was  all  paid  and  the  firm  became  C.  F.  &  S. 
F.  Gray. 

Mr.  Gray  has  given  his  whole  time  and  attention 
to  his  present,  business  since  becoming  part  proprie- 
tor, and  as  a  result  of  his  enterprise  the  town  of 
Sidell  boasts  of  the  best  tile  factory  in  Eastern 
Illinois.  He  added  to  it  the  manufacture  of  brick 
in  the  spring  of  1888.  He  gives  employment  to 
about  twenty-three  men  and  enjoys  an  extensive 
patronage  throughout  the  county.  The  kilns  ami 
the  drying-room  machinery  are  models  in  their 
way,  and  constructed  after  the  most  approved  pat- 
terns. The  works  turn  out  about  150  miles  of 
tiling  annually,  running  winter  and  summer.  The 
brick  business  is  in  its  infancy,  but  there  is  every 
prospect     of     its    complete    success.        A     railroad 


switch  has  been  made  by  Mr.  Cray  so  that  lie  has 
shipping  facilities  over  two  roads,  the  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois  and  the  Chicago  &  Ohio  River. 

Although  the  personal  interests  of  Mr.  Gray 
necessarily  occupy  a  large  portion  of  Ids  time  and 
attention,  he  is  found  always  willing  to  put  1 1 i ^ 
shoulder  to  the  wheel  in  support  of  the  enterprises 
calculated  to  promote  the  interests  of  Sidell  and 
vicinity.  He  was  one  of  the  Leading  men  in  the 
erection  of  the  elegant  new  brick  school  building 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
for  the  pastfour  years.  He  belongs  to  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Palermo,  and  is  a  Trustee  and  Treasurer 
of  the  new  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Sidell 
which  lias  the  finest  church  edifice  in  the  county  out- 
side of  Danville.  He  served  as  Town  Clerk  one  year 
and  in  the  spring  of  1889  was  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  Supervisor,  but  his  ticket  being  in  the 
minority,  he  was  defeated.  Socially,  he  is  an 
active  member  of  the  I.  ( ).  0.  F.,  Peace  Dale,  No. 
225,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Encampment  at  Homer.  He  is 
likewise  identified  with  the  new  Masonic  lodge  at 
[ndianola  in  which  he  takes  much  interest.  Of 
strictly  temperance  principles,  he  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  lodge  in  Sidell,  and  is  a  man  upon 
whom  is  naturally  conferred  many  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  As  the  appointed  agent 
of  the  Sidell  heirs  he  is  looking  after  this  property 
with  that  conscientious  fidelity  to  duty  which  has 
marked  all  his  transactions,  and  given  him  a  posi- 
tion as  a  business  man  and  a  citizen  second  to  none 
in  his  county. 


^ON.    JACOB    II.  OAKWOOD,   a    man    of 
V  much  prominence  in  public  life  in  Vermilion 

County,  who  is  connected  with  its  agricul- 
tural interests,  owning  and  managing  a  val- 
uable farm  on  section  .°>I5,  Catlin  Township,  is  the 
representative  of  a  leading  and  well-known  pioneer 
family  of  this  county  whose  record  is  interwoven 
with  its  earl}-  history.  His  parents  came  here  in 
the  early  days  of  settlement,  and  the  father  being 
a  man   of   more  than  ordinary  ability    and    under- 


C38 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


standing,  though  entirely  a  self-made  and  self-edu- 
cated man.  soon  became  very  influential  in  the 
administration  of  public  affairs,  and  was  often 
sought  out  for  advice  and  counsel.  Oakwood 
Township,  where  he  located,  was  named  in  his 
honor,  and  during  his  life  he  was  instrumental  in 
advancing  its  growth. 

The  Oakwood  family  originally  came  from  Ger- 
many, but  so  long  ago  that  all  record  of  their 
arrival  in  this  country  has  been  lust.  They  were  a, 
thrifty,  enterprising,  well-to-do  people,  and  have 
been  land  owners  and  home  owners  from  their  ear- 
liest known  history.  They  settled  in  Virginia  in 
colonial  times,  and  the  first  member  of  the  family 
of  whom  personal  mention  is  made  is  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  who  owned  400  acres  of  land 
in  the  Old  Dominion  near  the  town  of  Abingdon 
and  close  to  the  Tennessee  line.  He  died  when 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  quite  young,  leaving  a 
widow,  one  son.  and  three  daughters.  One  of  his 
daughters  married  the  late  .Jacob  Hickman,  whose 
family  reside  in  this  county.  Another  married 
Peter  Hickman,  who  died,  leaving  two  sons  who 
settled  in  Missouri.  The  other  daughter  married 
a  Mr.  McC'racken  and  remained  in  Tennessee.  The 
grandmother  of  our  subject  married  again,  becom- 
ing the  wife  of  Peter  Hickman,  who  owned  800 
acres  of  land,  lying  partly  in  Virginia  and  partly 
in  Tennessee,  a  part  of  the  dwelling  house  being 
in  each  State.  The  grandmother  is  said  to  have 
been  a  woman  of  many  good  qualities,  and  her 
step-children  lauded  her  very  highly,  saving  that 
she  was  the  best  woman  in  the  world,  a  praise  not 
often  given  to  step-mothers. 

Henry  Oakwood,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  either  in  Virginia  or  Tennessee,  probably  on 
the  line  between  those  States,  and  there  he  was 
reared  to  a  vigorous  manhood,  remaining  at  home 
till  he  was  twenty  or  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
when,  animated  by  the  spirit  of  his  pioneer  sires, 
he  sought  to  build  a  home  for  himself  in  the  wilds 
of  the  more  recently  settled  State  of  Ohio,  and 
thus  became  an  early  settler  of  Brown  County. 
He  was  a  volunteer  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  the  battle  in  which  the  famous 
Indian  chief,  Tecumseh,  was  killed.  He  married 
Margaret  Remley,  who  was  probably  born  in  Green 


County,  Pa.,  their  marriage  taking  place  in  Bracken 
County.  Kv..  and  they  settled  in  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  on  land  which  he  had  previously  bought, 
and  there  he  was  busily  engaged  at  his  occupation 
of  farming.  In  October.  183:5,  he  and  his  wife 
with  their  nine  children  came  to  Vermilion  County, 
111.,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Oakwood  Town- 
ship the  following  spring,  being  among  its  earliest 
pioneers,  and  the  township  was  subsequently  named 
in  his  honor.  Although  lie  attended  school  but 
six  weeks  in  his  life,  Henry  Oakwood  was  fairly 
well  educated  for  the  times,  his  vigorous  intellect 
compensating  him  for  the  lack  of  educational  ad- 
vantages, and  being  a  man  of  keen  vision,  and 
well  balanced  mind,  well  dowered  with  firmness, 
activity  and  enterprise,  he  became  a  conspicuous 
figure  in  the  public  life  of  the  township  and  county, 
and  bore  an  honorable  part  in  their  government, 
holding  many  olHces  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  serving  as  County  Commissioner.  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  etc.  His  death  in  1855  was  consid- 
ered a  serious  blow  to  the  interests  of  the  commun- 
ity where  he  had  made  his  home  lor  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  his  memory  is  still  held  in  honor 
as  that  of  a  noble  man,  a  leading  pioneer,  and  a 
good  citizen.  His  wife,  who  was  in  every  way 
worthy  of  such  a  husband,  survived  him  till  l,s?7, 
when  she  loo  passed  away  in  Oakwood  Township. 
Of  their  family  of  nine  children,  six  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  were  born  in  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  and  all  lived  to  maturity. 

Jacob  II.  Oakwood,  the  subject  of  this  biograph- 
ical review,  was  their  eighth  child,  and  he  was 
born  Nov.  18,  1828.  He  was  about  live  years  old 
when  became  with  his  parents  to  Vermilion  County, 
ami  he  has  always  made  his  home  here  since  that 
time.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Oakwood 
Township,  receiving  such  educational  advantages 
as  were  afforded  to  the  youth  of  his  day.  In  1857 
he  established  himself  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Catlin  Milage,  and  was  successfully  engaged  that 
and  the  following  year,  and  in  the  years  1862,  18G3. 
Aside  from  that  he  has  given  his  attention  entirely 
to  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock  raising.  He  has 
a  farm  of  132  acres,  which  is  well  stocked,  and  in 
point  of  cultivation  and  improvements  is  equal  to 
the  other  farms  in  the  vicinity.     Here  he  and   his 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


639 


family  have  an  attractive  borne,  neat  in  it.s  ap- 
pointments, and  replete  with  all  the  comforts  that 
enhance  the  pleasure  of  living. 

Mr.  Oakwood  has  been  twice  married.  To  the 
wife  of  hi.s  early  manhood,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Isabella  Caraway,  he  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Catlin  Township,  Feb.  L3,  1851.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  (  McCorkle)  Caraway,  who 
died  in  Catlin  Township,  of  which  they  were  early 
pioneers.  She  was  a  native  of  this  township,  horn 
Nov.  27.  L834,  and  here  her  life  closed  Feb.  15, 
1882,  two  days  after  the  anniversary  ot  her  wed- 
ding that  had  occurred  thirty-one  years  before. 
Of  her  happy  married  life  with  our  subject  eight 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  .Mary  10.  died  Oct. 
8,  1864,  aged  fourteen  years;  Charles  11.  married 
Dora  Smith  of  Georgetown  Township;  George  W. 
married  Isabella  Graves;  Franklin  died  in  infancy; 
Emma  .1.  is  the  wife  of  L.  W.  Jeffres;  two  children 
who  died  in  infancy;  Anna,  living  at  home  with 
her  father.  Mr.  Oakwood  was  married  to  his  pres- 
ent estimable  wife,  formerly  Mrs.Rosanna(Coleman ) 
Alexander,  widow  of  the  late  .1.  .1.  Alexander,  in 
Danville.  111..  May   1,   1884. 

Our  subject  bears  worthily  the  mantle  of  his 
honored  sire,  and  since  the  hitter's  death  has  seemed 
to  till  bis  place,  and  lias  had  a  distinguished  public 
career.  His  fellow-citizens  have  twice  called  him 
to  cme  of  the  highest  offices  within  their  gift,  that 
of  State  Representative,  being  elected  as  the  candi- 
date of  the  Republican  party,  and  bis  course  as  a 
legislator  marked  him  as  a  wise  and  efficient  states- 
man, who  looked  carefully  after  the  interests  of 
his  State  and  county.  He  was  first  elected  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1872, 
and  served  one  term,  and  in  the  fall  of  LS7(J  he 
was  again  elected  as  a  member  of  that  honorable 
body.  During  his  second  term  occurred  the 
memorable  contest  for  the  United  States  Senator- 
ship  between  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  and  Judge  David 
Davis.  Mr.  Oakwood  has  filled  several  of  the 
local  offices  very  acceptably,  such  as  Township 
Clerk,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  etc.  He  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  the  movement  to  deepen  the  in- 
terest  in  agriculture,  to  advance  its  growth,  and  to 
promote  the  study  of  the  best  methods  of  conduct- 
ing  it  profitably,  first  in   bis  position  as  Secretary 


of  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Vermilion  County 
for  live  years,  and  then  as  President  of  that  organ- 
ization, which  position  he  filled  ably  and  intelli- 
gently for  the  long  term  of  twenty  years.  He  is 
identified  with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  as  a  member  of 
Catlin  Lodge.  No.  285.  He  is  a  public  spirited 
man  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  term,  has  the  dearest 
interests  of  his  county  and  township  at  heart,  and 
never  neglects  an  opportunity  to  promote  their 
welfare  in  every  way  possible.  His  personal  char- 
acter is  irreproachable  both  in  public  and  in  private 
life,  anil  he  is  ever  courteous,  considerate, and  affa- 
ble in  his  intercourse  with  all,  and  is  held  in  high 
regard  by  the  entire  community. 


rUA.NK  Y.  BARNETT,  one  of  the  leading 
builders  and  contractors  of  Indianola,  and 
a  very  rapid  and  efficient  workman,  has  left 

the  marks  of  his  skill  upon  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant buildings  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
Among  them  are  the  extensive  steam  grain  eleva- 
tors at  Sidell  and  Broadlands,  the  largest  structures 
of  their  kind  on  the  Chicago  and  Eastern  Illinois 
Railroad,  one  having  a  storage  capacity  of  65,000 
bushels,  and  a  loading  capacity  of  one  car  in  twenty 
minutes.  Both  are  litted  up  with  the  latest  and 
most  improved  machinery,  the  placing  of  which 
was  superintended  by  Mr.  Barnett,  he  setting  the 
engines  anil  locating  the  boilers,  lie  takes  pride 
in  bis  business  and  has  always  aimed  to  excel.  It 
must  be  admitted,  he  has  come  very  near  the  rea- 
lization of  his  hopes. 

A  native  of  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  our  subject 
was  born  within  two  miles  of  the  celebrated  Blue 
Lick  Springs,  whose  name  is  contemporary  with 
that  of  the  Indian  hunter,  Daniel  Boone.  His  fa- 
ther. Ambrose  Barnett,  was  the  son  of  John  T. 
Burnett,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  Blue 
t.iass  State.  The  great-grandfather,  John  Barnett, 
was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  noted  frontiers- 
man, conspicuous  for  his  bravery  and  daring,  and 
who  bore  a  wound  received  at  Fort  Meigs.  Indeed 
the  whole  family  were   prominent  in    the   govern- 


640 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


mental  affairs  of  Kentucky,  at  a  time  when  the  set- 
tlers were  seldom  ever  secure  from  the  ravages  of 
the  Indians,  and  the  agitation  following  the  out- 
break of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

In  1855  the  father  of  our  subject  emigrated 
from  his  native  State  to  Illinois,  settling  near  Paris, 
in  Edgar  County.  In  1863  he  changed  his  resi- 
dence to  this  county,  locating  on  a  tract  of  land  in 
Carroll  Township,  where  he  labored  as  a  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  departed  this  life  in  1874,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years.  The  men  of  the  Barnett 
family,  as  far  back  as  the  records  go,  were  cele- 
brated for  their  mechanical  genius,  being  able  to 
handle  edged  tools  of  all  kinds,  and  to  construct 
nearly  everything  required  in  those  days.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  survived  her  husband  a  num- 
ber of  years,  dying  in  1JSIS2,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine.  The  household  circle  was  completed  by  the 
birth  of  six  children,  of  whom  the  record  is  as  fol- 
lows: Frank  V.,  our  subject,  was  the  eldest  of  the 
family;  Elizabeth  .1.  became  the  wife  of  Robert 
Anderson,  and  lives  in  Western  Kansas;  Nancy 
married  William  Spicer,  and  lives  near  George- 
town, 111.;  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  Tillman  Smink, 
a  farmer  of  Sidell  Township;  .lohn  died  in  child- 
hood at  Paris.  Edgar  County;  .lames  A.  is  a 
carpenter  and  blacksmith  combined,  and  lives  in 
Indianola. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Aug.  MO. 
1 845,  and  studied  his  first  lessons  in  the  public 
school  at  May's  Lick  in  Kentucky.  He  was  a  boy 
of  ten  years  when  the  family  came  to  Illinois,  and 
distinctly  remembers  many  of  the  incidents  con- 
nected with  the  journey,  and  that  they  were  among 
the  first  travelers  over  the  new  thoroughfare, 
kno.vn  as  the  Terre  Haute.  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Rail- 
road, now  the  "Bee"  or  the  Indianapolis  &  St. 
Louis  line.  He  enjoyed  the  journey  immensely, 
and  at  its  end  made  himself  useful  in  the  building 
up  of  the  new  homestead.  Along  with  the  hard 
work  there  also  came  much  pleasure  and  recrea- 
tion, and  young  Barnett  being  very  skillful  with 
his  rifle  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  expert 
hunters  of  his  neighborhood,  bringing  down  many 
line  specimens  of  deer,  Mild  turkey  and  other 
game. 

During  those  times  also  our  subject  assisted  in 


the  plowing,  the  sowing  of  crops  and  the  harvest, 
besides  working  with  his  father  at  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter. His  education  was  obtained  mostly  during 
the  short  sessions  of  the  winter  school.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1865,  the  Civil  War  being  in  progress,  he 
entered  the  ranks  of  the  Union  Army  as  a  member 
of  Company  E,  150th  Illinois  Infantry,  which  went 
into  Camp  Butler  to  drill,  and  from  there  jour- 
neyed south,  where  the  regiment  was  held  as  a  re- 
serve at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  Cleveland, Tenn.,  Dalton. 
Atlanta  and  Griffin,  Ga.  Not  long  afterward  fol- 
lowed the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  forces,  and 
our  subject  received  his  final  discharge  without 
being  required  to  participate  in  any  active  engage- 
ment. He  was  blessed  usually  with  good  health, 
never  absent  at  roll  call,  never  in  a  hospital,  and 
never  reprimanded  for  any  misdemeanor. 

After  leaving  the  army  our  subject  resumed  the 
peaceful  pursuits  of  farm  life  one  year,  then  began 
to  work  with  a  ditching  machine  in  Edgar  and 
Vermilion  counties,  and  was  thus  occupied  four 
years.  In  1869  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Isabel,  daughter  of  John  Stark,  one  of  Ver- 
milion County's  earliest  pioneers.  This  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children,  namely : 
Carrie  E.;Sissie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ella  and 
John,  twins,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  Will- 
iam, also  deceased  in  infancy;  Melissa  and  Ru villa. 

Mr.  Barnett  has  never  had  any  weakness  for  of- 
ficial preferment,  although  he  has  his  political  pref- 
erences, which  may  be  guessed  at  from  the  fact 
that  he  is  best  known  in  political  circles  as  "the 
Democratic  pole-raiser."  At  this  business  he  has 
proved  himself  an  expert,  raising  liberty  poles  at 
Ridge  Farm,  Indianola,  Palermo,  Catlin,  George- 
town, Hume  and  other  places.  In  addition  to  the 
structures  already  mentioned  he  has  superintended 
the  erection  of  school-houses  at  Indianola  and  Si- 
dell, besides  other  important  structures  in  different 
parts  of  the  county. 

Socially,  Mr.  Barnett  was  Master  of  Lodge  No. 
265,  A.  E.  &  A.  M.,  in  1883-4-5  at  Indianola.  and 
has  filled  all  the  other  offices  of  the  lodge.  He  lias 
represented  it  three  times  in  the  Grand  Lodge  at 
Chicago,  and  is  a  warm  advocate  of  the  principles 
of  the  brotherhood.  In  business  and  social  circles 
he  is  a  general  favorite,  being  recognized  as  a  man 


PORTRAIT  AND   Hl<  >t !  RAP]  IICAI.   ALBUM 


643 


prompt   to    meel    his  obligations,  and    one  who-.' 
word  is  considered  as  good  as  bis  bond. 


WILLIAM  VEST  WINTERS.  We  find  this 
gentleman  in  posession  of  one  of  the  most 
attractive  homesteads  in  this  county,  located 
in  the  northwest  corner  of  Sidell  Township.  His 
farm  is  very  valuable,  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation, and  embellished  with  a  commodious  two- 
story  frame  residence  set  in  the  midst  of  a  well- 
kept  lawn,  surrounded  by  handsome  evergreens  and 
otber  shade  trees.  We  present,  on  another  page  a 
fine  vievv  of  this  pleasant  home  with  its  lovely  sur- 
roundings. A  fine  apple  orchard  adjacent  and  the 
well  regulated  outbuildings,  are  suggestive  of  the 
plenty  and  comfort  which  is  one  of  the  leading 
features  in  connection  with  this  home,  built  up  1>\ 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  township. 

Mr.  Winters  is  a  man  of  large  experience  and 
great  intelligence,  of  tine  personal  appearance  and 
unlimited  hospitality.  He  is  a  very  strong  Repub- 
lican, politically,  is  fond  of  reading  and  study,  and 
in  his  home  are  all  the  evidences  of  refined  tastes 
— music,  literature  and  the  embellishments  of 
modern  art.  The  family  is  universally  popular, 
and  occupies  an  enviable  position  among  the  intel- 
ligent people  of  this  region. 

A  native  of  Indiana,  our  subject  was  horn  Aug. 
19,  1824,  in  Washington  County,  twelve  miles 
south  of  Salem.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm  and  acquired 
his  early  education  in  the  subscription  schools,  lie 
first  visited  Illinois  when  a  youth  of  nineteen  or 
twenty  years,  but  remained  a  member  of  the  pa- 
rental household  until  his  marriage.  This  most 
interesting  event  in  his  life  occurred  on  the  27th 
of  March,  1847,  the  bride  being  Miss  Nancy, 
daughter  of  John  and  Betsey  Hepburn. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winters  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Carroll  County,  this  State,  where 
they  sojourned  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  Then, 
in  1868,  they  moved  back  to  Vermillion  County. 
Ind.  In  1*72  they  came  to  this  county,  and  for 
seven  years  thereafter  made  their  home  in  Ross- 
ville,  after    which    they    removed    to   their   present 


farm,  which  comprises  160  acres  of  choice  land 
ami  which,  with  its  appurtenances,  constitutes  one 
Of  the  most  desirable  estates  in  this  part  of  the 
count  \  . 

Nine  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Winters,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son.  Will- 
iam, married  Miss  Martha  Cosy  and  lives  on  a  farm 
in  Beadle  County,  Dak.;  they  have  eleven  children. 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  B.  W.  Macklin,  who  served 
through  the  entire  Civil  War,  and  is  now  farming 
in  Champaign  County;  they  have  six  children. 
Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Harvey  Thompson, 
also  of  Beadle  County,  Dak.,  ami  tuey  have  five 
children.  John, a  tinner  by  trade, resides  in  Huron, 
Beadle  Co.,  Dak.;  he  married  .Miss  Laura, daughter 
of  Dr.  Steele  of  Indiana,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren; Martin  married  a  Miss  Braden  and  died, 
leaving  his  widow  with  two  little  girls;  James 
married  .Miss  Rosa  Edwards,  and  is  farming  in 
Sidell  Township;  David  married  Miss  Qttie  Cus- 
ter, and  lives  at  the  homestead;  they  have  two 
children;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Tattman  of 
Sidell  Township,  anil  has  charge  of  the  homestead; 
Miranda,  the  youngest,  is  unmarried  and  remains 
with  her  parents. 

In  religious  matters  our  subject  and  his  excellent 
\  wife  believe  in  an  inspired  religion,  and  Mr.  Win- 
ters has  always  been  the  friend  of  education,  doing 
whatever  lay  in  his  power  to  assist  in  the  mainten- 
ance and  establishment  of  schools  in  his  township, 
and  has  occupied  the  unsalaried  office  of  Director 
several  terms. 

In  connection  with  his  farming  operation-;  Mr. 
Winters  has  followed  threshing  for  the  last  twenty- 
five  years,  and  thereby  has  added  a  snug  little  sum 
to  his  annual  income.  In  this  he  is  associated  with 
Benjamin  Macklin  ami  Samuel  Crow,  and  the  three 
are  accounted  as  among  the  leading  men  following 
this  business  in  Vermilion  and  Champaign  counties. 
They  have  a  complete  Rumley  steam  threshing 
outfit,  which   docs  beautiful   and  expeditious  work. 

The  offspring  of  a  good  family,  our  subject  is 
the  son  of  Timothy  and  Jane  (Scritchfield)  Win- 
ters, who  were  natives  respectively  of  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Ind.  The  father  made  farming  his 
principal    occupation,  although    he  also  operated  as 


644 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


a  pilot  on  the  White  River,  during  which  time  he 
landed  many  a  cargo  safely  at  its  destination,  tie 
served  in  the  War  of  1812  and  spent  his  last  days 
in  Indiana,  dying  in  the  prime  of  life.  The  mother 
survived  her  husband  only  one  year,  her  death 
taking  place  when  she  was  between  thirty-five  and 
forty  years  of  age.  .She  was  the  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Winters  and  the  mother  of  seven  children,  viz: 
Margaret,  William  V.,  our  subject,  Clinton  and 
Alexander,  who  died  in  infancy,  Mary,  Sarah  and 
McAllen.  Of  bis  tirst  marriage  there  had  been 
born  six  children. 


-I-HM* 


ELIM  ().  BALL.  This  gentleman,  a  vet- 
eran of  the  late  war  in  which  he  did  gal- 
lant service  for  bis  country,  is  a  fine 
representative  of  the  shrewd  and  energetic 
members  of  the  fanning  community  of  Pilot  Town- 
ship, who  are  prominent  factors  in  upholding  its 
material  prosperity,  and  are  among  its  most  intelli- 
gent and  public-spirited  civic  officials.  He  is 
prosperously  engaged  in  mixed  husbandry,  raising 
grain  and  rearing  stock,  and  bis  farm  on  section 
3G  is  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  pro- 
vided with  a  neat  and  tasty  set  of  buildings,  in- 
cluding a  commodious  and  well-built  residence  and 
a  substantial,  roomy  barn,  wtib  all  the  needful  ma- 
chinery for  lightening  its  labors. 

Mr.  Ball  comes  of  sterling  ancestry,  and  was 
born  in  West  Bloomfield,  Essex  Co.,  IS*.  J.,  Oct. 
5,  1834.  His  father,  Moses  Ball  was  born  in  the 
same  county  in  the  month  of  duly,  1801,  and  lived 
in  the  place  of  his  birth  till  the  year  1  837,  actively 
engaged  at  his  trade  as  a  mechanic,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  with  bis  family, 
and  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years,  respected  and  esteemed  as  a  man  of 
upright  character,  whose  long  life  has  been  a 
worthy  one.  The  good  wife  who  walked  hand  in 
hand  with  him  through  so  man}'  years  of  bis  life, 
numbering  more  than  half  a  century,  passed  away 
in  April,  1884.  Her  maiden  name  was  Jane  Camp- 
bell, and  she  was,  like  himself,  a  native  of  Essex 
County,  N.  J.     She    was    of  Scotch    lineage,   and 


among  her  ancestry  were  the  founders  of  the  city 
of  Newark,  N.  J.  To  her  and  her  husband  were 
born  eight  children,  six  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 
John  ('.,  deceased,  married  Annie  Davidson,  of 
Madison  County,  Ohio,  now  living  in  Nebraska, 
and  they  bad  five  children;  Sarah  is  a  retired 
school  teacher,  making  her  home  in  Ohio;  Isaac 
has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  was  Miss 
Stilt,  of  <  )hio,  and  they  had  two  children;  after  her 
death  lie  married  Mary  Trimble,  of  Johnson 
County,  Mo.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming,  and 
they  have  four  children.  Theodore,  living  in 
Blooinsburg,  Ohio,  married  Helen  Friend,  of  that 
Stale,  and  they  have  six  children;  Ilattie  married 
Mr.  Allison,  of  Vermilion  County,  111.,  formerly 
of  Terre  Haute,  Ind  ,  now  a  merchant  in  Cham- 
paign County,  111.,  and  they  have  two  children; 
Scott,  a  farmer  in  Colorado,  married  a  Miss  Lara- 
more  of  Ohio,  and  they  have  three  children;  Mary 
and  William   died   in  infancy. 

Selim  Ball,  of  this  biographical  review,  was  given 
a  common  school  education,  and  when  he  started 
out  in  life  bad  no  capital,  aside  from  a  strong 
young  manhood,  and  had  to  make  his  way  unaided 
to  the  honorable  position  he  has  since  achieved. 
In  January,  1858,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  in  a  wild  state,  but  shortly 
after  disposed  of  it  at  an  advance,  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  unimproved.  Selling  that  in 
18G4  he  turned  away  from  his  personal  interests  to 
offer  his  services  in  defence  of  the  stars  and  stripes, 
and  enlisted  in  the  loth  regiment  of  Illinois  In- 
fantry under  command  of  Col.  McWoods  and 
Captain  Wilson.  Our  subject  was  with  Sherman 
on  his  famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Washington  in  June,  18G.0,  having 
done  bis  duty  as  a  soldier  faithfully  and  efficiently. 

After  his  return  from  the  South  Mr.  Ball  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Homer,  in  Champaign  County, 
111.  This  be  subsequently  sold,  making  a  good 
profit  on  the  sum  paid  for  it,  and  then  invested 
some  of  his  money  in  his  present  farm  in  Pilot 
Township,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  highly  re- 
spected resident,  and,  as  before  noted,  has  been 
very  much  prospered  in  his  vocation. 

Mr.  Ball  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife. 
Eleanor  McCoy,  of  Ross   County,  Ohio,  was   born 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


645 


in  1830,  and  died  in  June,  1867.  Her  parents,  Al- 
exanderand  Martha  (Ocheltree)  McCoy,  were  early 
settlers  of  the  Buckeye  State  from  Kentucky.  By 
that  union  Mr.  Ball  became  the  father  of  live 
children,  Of  whom  Mary  and  Eleanor  are  deceased. 
and  of  the  others  it  is  recorded  that  Scott,  a  farmer. 
married  Belle  Franklin,  of  this  county,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Maggie;  Jessie  married  Benjamin 
Strickland,  a  fanner  of  this  county,  and  had  four 
children:  Karl.  Mabel,  Estella  and  Hans,  the  latter 
deceased.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to 
whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  1872  was  Ze- 
ruah  Roberts.  She  was  born  Nov.  22,  1854,  her 
parents,  Abraham  and  Elizabeth ( Walters)  Roberts, 
being  of  Welsh  and  English  origin.  They  came 
to  this  county  in  1865. 

The  pleasant  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
has  been  gladdened  by  the  birth  of  four  children, 
namely:    Austin  A.,  Sadie.  Elise,  Arena. 

Mr.  Kail  is  prompt  and  systematic  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  affairs,  and  brings  to  his  work  zeal 
and  a  good  degree  of  proficiency  in  carrying  it 
on  intelligently  by  the  most  approved  methods. 
These  traits  also  render  him  invaluable  as  a  town- 
Ship  official,  as  has  been  found  in  his  incumbency 
of  the  various  local  offices,  and  likewise  as  a  jury- 
man. In  him  the  Republican  party  has  an  active 
and  stanch  supporter.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers in  high  standing  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  being  among  its  most  earnest  workers,  and 
he  has  held  the  different  offices  of  the  church.  Mr. 
Ball  is  a  reader  of  good  literature,  keeps  himself 
closely  informed  on  all  topics  of  general  interest. 
and  can  converse  well  on  all  subjects. 

A  view  of  the  pleasant  rural  home  of  Mr.  ami 
Mrs.  Ball  is  presented  elsewhere  in  this  volume, 
and  is  a  fine  illustration  of  one  of  the  representa- 
tive residences  of  Vermilion  County. 

...      .«-.     .'^-^.Sl/.^-^'      _J.      ... 

•°*_^a  V-7»?ir--V  E^-~* 

&HOMAS  R.    RICE,    is  one   of  the   wealthy 

and  influential  farmers  of  Carroll  Township 
and  one  of  its  largest  land-owners.  His  home 
farm  consists  of  a  little  over  a  quarter  of  a  section  of 
the  productive  land  of  Illinois,  and  besides  this  he 


owns  about  120  acres  in  other  parts  of  the  county, 
all  of  which  he  has  accumulated  through  industry, 
sobriety  and  a  good  use  of  his  opportunities. 

Mr.  Rice  was  born  June  22,  182.")  in  eastern 
Tennessee.  His  father  and  mother.  Charles  and 
.Mary  Jane  (Rhea)  Rice,  were  also  natives  of  that 
State.  They  came  to  Ohio  when  Thomas  was  a 
child  of  two  years,  and  in  1835  settled  in  Ver- 
milion ( Jrove,  residing  for  a  few  years  before  that 
in  Madison  County.  Ind.  The  father  was  a  prom- 
inent farmer  and  when  he  died  was  considered  a 
wealthy  man.  His  death  occurred  when  he  was 
seventy-four  years  old,  and  his  wife  was  about, 
fifty-four  years  of  age  when  she  died.  They  had 
five  children — William.  Thomas  R.,  Jacob,  James 
and   Mary. 

Thomas  spent  part  of  his  boyhood  days  in  Indi- 
ana, but  most  of  his  younger  experience  has  been 
in  Illinois.  He  attended  private  subscription 
schools,  but  never  went  to  a  free  school  a  day  in 
his  life.  During  his  boyhood  days  his  health  was 
extremely  poor,  and  the  early  schools  of  the  sub- 
scription sort  that  obtained  in  Illinois,  were  not 
calculated  to  be  conducive  to  anybody's  health. 
Many  times  they  were  so  far  distant  that  it  occu- 
pied from  two  to  three  hours  to  reach  them,  and 
when  they  were  reached  they  were  destitute  of 
comfort  and  their  only  characteristic, perhaps,  that 
would  interest  the  scholar  was  the  frowns  and 
birch  rod  of  the  alleged  teacher.  To  compare 
these  schools  with  those  of  our  day,  would  be  as  a 
comparison  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  to  Eden.  Mr. 
Rice  grew  up  among  the  Quakers  of  Elwood  Town- 
ship, working  on  his  father's  farm  until  after  be 
attained  his  majority.  In  those  days  he  hauled 
wheat  to  Chicago,  for  which  he  received  fifty  cents 
per  bushel,  and  transported  shelled  corn  by  team 
to  Lafayette  getting  therefor  a  shilling  a  bushel. 

In  18G8,  Mr.  Rice  was  married  to  Susan  Baum. 
[See  sketches  of  the  Baums  in  this  Album.]  Af- 
ter marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  settled  on  a  farm, 
purchased  by  him  some  years  before,  where  they 
have  prospered.  They  have  two  chlildren — Min- 
nie May  and  Charles  F.  Their  elegant  brick  man- 
sion, situated  pleasantly  just  south  of  Indianola,  is 
a  beautiful  ami  commodious  one.  This  house  was 
erected  in  1879  and   contains   everything  to  make 


6  16 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


life  desirable,  while  the  entire  premises  give  evi- 
dence of  prosperity  and  good  management.  In 
the  pastures  of  this  farm  there  can  be  seen  some 
of  the  very  finest  cattle  and  horses  in  this  section 
of  the  country.  Mr.  Rice  is  respected  by  his  neigh- 
bors for  his  public-spiritedness,  and  many  good 
traits  of  character.  Politically,  he  acts  with  the 
Democratic  party. 


-wv-vtiiacrg,^@-  ' 


?>*£i&LRrvr~-isw- 


*  IjfclLLIAM  A.  VANNEMAN.  One  of  the 
\/*J//  IIIOSt  beautiful  homes  in  Carroll  Township 
Ww  is  that  of  Mr.  Yanneinan,  which  is  situated 
on  section  27.  Everything  about  it,  within  and 
without,  gives  evidence  of  the  touch  that  beauti- 
fies and  the  taste  that  refines.  Thrift  and  pros- 
perity have  gone  hand  in  hand  with  intelligence 
and  culture,  and  the  result  is  an  ideal  rural  home. 
It  has  taken  years,  however,  to  rear  this  monument 
to  man's  industry  and  woman's  refined  taste,  and 
the  proprietor  may  well  regard  it  and  the  broad, 
well-tilled  and  fertile  acres,  in  the  midst  of  which 
it  is  situated,  with  pardonable  pride,  for  both  the 
home  and  farm  at  large  are  speaking  witnesses  of 
the  career  of  patient  and  persevering  industry 
which  have  been  exercised  in  its  construction. 

The  life  of  our  subject  has  been  an  extremely 
busy  one,  in  which  he  has  used  his  brains  as  well  as 
his  hands,  and  his  prosperity  is  but  the  legitimate 
outcome  of  well  directed  and  intelligent  effort.  The 
career  of  such  a  man  cannot  but  prove  interesting, 
and  we  therefore  give  below  the  story  of  his  labors, 
which  furnishes  but  another  evidence  of  the  fact  that 
success  and  prosperity  seldom  fail  to  reward  the 
efforts  of  those  who  with  dilligence  and  frugality 
pursue  their  way,  and  are  content,  not  only  to 
labor,  but  to  wait. 

Mr.  Yanneman  comes  of  German  ancestry.  His 
grandparents  on  both  sides  of  the  bouse  emigrated 
to  America  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
War.  His  parents,  Andrew  and  Ann  (Miller)  Yan- 
neman, were  born  in  Salem  County,  N.  J.,  about 
the  beginning  of  the  present,  century.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  died  while  his  son 
William  was  but  an  infant,  leaving  besides  him  bis 


sisters,  Annie  and  Margaret.  The  former  is  now 
Mrs.  Waddington,  of  Salem,  N.  J.;  the  latter  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Simpkins,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years,  leaving  one  child. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  fine-looking 
tall  man,  with  blonde  complexion  and  light  blue 
eyes.  He  was  given  a  college  education,  and  after 
removing  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  operated  as  a 
fanner  and  teacher.  In  1839  he  came  to  this  State. 
and  settled  in  El  wood  Township,  but  a  few  years 
later  removed  to  Carroll  Township.  He  soon  be- 
came active  in  public  matters,  and  served  for  a 
number  of  years  as  Township  Supervisor  and  School 
Trustee.  During  the  war  he  was  Overseer  of  the 
Poor.  He  died  suddenly  of  heart  disease,  in  the 
seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age, and  until  six  months 
prior  to  his  decease  was  robust,  hearty,  and  appar- 
ently health}'  in  every  way. 

A  few  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Yanneinan 
the  mother  of  our  subject  married  Joseph  Mapes, 
by  whom  she  had  four  children — Emily,  Joseph  B., 
Thomas  and  Jane.  William  A.,  our  subject,  was 
born  March  11,  182(1,  and  lived  in  Salem  County, 
N.  J.,  until  a  boy  of  thirteen  years.  He  then  en- 
tered a  drug  store  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  having  in 
view  the  study  of  medicine.  The  lack  of  means 
necessary  to  give  him  a  college  education  com- 
pelled him  to  change  his  plans,  and  accordingly, 
returning  to  New  Jersey,  he  apprenticed  himself  to 
a  painter  and  graiuer.  After  serving  the  required 
time,  five  years,  be  at  the  age  of  twenty  and  a  half 
began  work  for  his  instructor  as  a  journeyman.  He 
soon  became  very  skillful,  and  was  given  steady 
employment  at  good  wages.  Painting,  notwith- 
standing he  liked  it,  was  injurious  to  his  health,  and 
a  change  of  occupation  became  a  necessity.  There- 
fore, at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  he  and  his 
brother-in-law,  Joshua  Waddington,  came  to  Illi- 
nois for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  agriculture  and 
stock-raising. 

Upon  their  arrival  in  this  county  our  subject  and 
Mr.  Waddington  purchased  the  farm,  then  consist- 
ing of  320  acres,  upon  which  Mr.  Yanneman's  home 
now  stands.  Before  the  deed  could  be  made  out 
Mr.  Vanneman  purchased  the  interest  of  his  brother- 
in-law,  and  in  1853  moved  his  family  from  New 
Jersey  to  this  county.     They  proceeded   by  rail  as 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


647 


fnr  as  LaFayette,  Ind.,  then  the  railroad  terminus 
of  the  West,  and  the  remainder  of  the  journey  was 
made  overhand  by  team. 

Being  now  installed  in  his  new  home,  in  a  new 
country,  Mr.  Vanneman  proceeded  with  the  task  of 
changing  the  virgin  prairie  into  productive  fields. 
He  worked  early  and  late.  Daylight  was  so  prec- 
ious Mini  so  necessary  for  pressing  work,  that  he 
made  his  needed  purchases  at  the  store  after  night- 
fall. The  cows  were  often  milked  before  daylight, 
and  after  dark.  In  connection  with  his  farm  work 
Mr.  Vanneman  followed  his  trade  of  painting, 
graining  and  decorating,  and  many  evidences  of 
his  skill  as  a  workman,  and  taste  as  an  artist,  may 
still  he  found  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  resides- 
The  interior  decorations  of  his  own  handsome  resi- 
dence are  highly  artistic,  and  exhibit  much  origin- 
ality. 

As  Mr.  Vanneman  prospered  he  added  to  his 
possessions,  and  enlarged  the  home  place  until  it 
embraced  nearly  10(1  acres  of  land.  He  also  ac- 
quired 400  acres  in  Sidell  Township,  and  twenty 
acres  in  the  heart  of  Ridge  Farm.  At  onetime  li is 
landed  possessions  in  Illinois  and  Iowa  amounted 
lo  about  1,600  acres.  When  Albert,  his  youngest 
son,  became  of  age  he  gave  him  and  his  other  two 
children.  Mary  and  Franklin,  each  eighty  acres  of 
land.  He  also  sold  several  tracts,  leaving  as  his 
present  estate  320  acres  in  Sidell  Townihip,  and  the 
homestead  in  Carroll  Township.  The  latter,  when 
Mr.  Vanneman  first  moved  upon  it,  in  1853,  con- 
tained much  swampy  land,  but  by  intelligent  ditch- 
ing, draining  and  tiling,  he  has  converted  the  swamp 
into  rich  and  productive  fields. whose  exhausfless  soil 
seems  to  know  no  deterioration.  As  the  result  of 
many  years  of  hard  labor  Mr.  Vanneman  is  now  in 
well-to-do  circumstances,  and  ranks  as  one  of  the 
wealthiest  and  most  influential  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  this  county. 

In  1849  Mr.  Vanneman  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  E.  Miller,  a  native  of  Cumberland  County, 
N.  .1.,  and  when  they  came  to  Illinois,  in  1853, 
they  were  the  proud  parents  of  two  bright  little 
girls.  The  first  great  shadow  fell  upon  the  house- 
hold in  the  death  of  the  wife  and  mother,  which 
occurred  June  17,  1876,  in  New  .Jersey,  whither 
she  had  gone  purposing  to  visit  the  Centennial  Ex- 


position  at  Philadelphia.  The  home  of  her  infancy 
and  youth  was  at  Bridgeton,  in  Edgar  County. 
where  her  father  occupied  himself  as  a  farmer  and 
tanner.  Mrs.  Vanneman  in  her  youth  was  a  Hicksite 
Friend,  but  after  her  marriage  she  and  her  husband 
joined  the  Orthodox  Friends.  She  had  three  sis- 
ters and  two  brothers — Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Anna. 
John  and  Franklin.  The  latter  is  now  a  blacksmith 
in  Indianola. 

Mary,  the  eldest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vanne- 
man. attended  school  at  Bloomingdalc,  Ind.:  Frank 
and  Albert  were  students  of  the  Friends'  Academj  . 
at  Vermilion  Grove,  and  later  Albert  graduated 
from  the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Bloomington, 
111;  Anne  M.,  the  youngest  daughter,  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  and  Howard,  the  youngest  born, 
died  when  but  eighteen  months  old;  Mary  M.  is 
the  wife  of  William  1).  Brown,  an  active  temper- 
ance worker,  and  a  recorded  minister  of  the  Friends' 
Church.  She  is  now  at,  Long  Beach,  Cal.  She  is 
the  mother  of  two  daughters — Ruth  and  Mattie, 
aged  sixteen  and  fourteen  years  respectively. 
Franklin,  the  third  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vanne- 
man, is  located  at  Hickory  Grove,  in  Sidell  Town 
ship;  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Canady,  and  is  the 
father  of  three  children.  Albert,  the  youngest 
child  living,  was  graduated  from  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, at  Bloomington,  III.,  and  soon  afterward 
starting  out  to  seek  his  fortune,  proceeded  to  Da- 
kota and  engaged  in  teaching  school.  He  is  now 
in  the  real-estate  business  in  California. 

On  the  14th  day  of  August,  1877,  Mr.  Vanne- 
man contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Miss  Emma 
('.,  daughter  of  Leonard  and  Catherine  (Baum) 
Patterson.  Leonard  Patterson  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  when  a  child  of  eight  years  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Brown  County,  Ohio.  John 
Patterson,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was  of  Irish 
descent,  and  a  man  who  in  stature  and  presence 
universally  commanded  attention,  being  very  large 
and  tall,  with  a  fair  complexion  and  blue  eyes.  He 
engaged  in  farming,  and  for  man}-  years  was  a  lay 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His 
mother,  Mary  Sellers,  was  a  native  of  Germany. 

Mr.  Patterson,  politically,  was  a  Whig  until  that 
party  went  out,  of  existence,  when  he  identified 
himself  with  the  Republicans,     lie  was   the  father 


(US 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  six  children — Augustus  D.,  Josephine  A..  Emma 
C,  John  H.,  Charles  M..  and  Albert  AV„  all  of 
whom  lived  to  mature  years.  The  last  mentioned 
was  drowned  in  the  Little  Vermilion  River,  when 
about  twenty-five  years  old  and  unmarried.  Mrs. 
Catherine  (Long)  Patterson  was  of  Polish  ancestry, 
and  in  whose  veins  flowed  the  blood  of  kings  and 
princes  of  that  unfortunate  country.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Charles  Baum,  who  after  the  dismem- 
berment of  Poland  was  banished  from  his  native 
land  by  the  Russians,  and  made  his  home  in  Ger- 
many  for  a  number  of  years.  He  came  to  America 
about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
served  with  the  militia  on  the  frontier,  protecting 
the  settlers  from  the  British  soldiery  and  their  sav- 
age allies.  After  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Baum  took 
up  his  residence  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  where  lie 
continued  to  live  until  the  year  after  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne's  treaty  witli  the  Indians.  Then  with  his 
family  he  moved  back  to  Ohio,  sailing  down  the 
"beautiful  river"  in  a  Hat  boat,  and  landing  near 
the  mouth  of  Bullskin  Creek.  Here  they  began 
their  first  settlement,  in  the  then  new  Territory  of 
Ohio. 

It  will  be  seen  therefore  that  Mrs.  Vanneman  is 
the  descendant  of  a  hardy-  rugged  and  liberty- 
roving  race.  Her  parents.  Leonard  and  Catherine 
(Baum)  Patterson,  were  married  in  Clermont 
County,  Ohio,  and  she  was  their  third  child  and 
eldest  daughter.  She  was  born  in  El  wood  Town- 
ship, this  county,  July  26,  1840.  Her  father  owned 
140  acres  of  choice  land,  and  was  in  good  circum- 
stances. He  was  well  read,  and  religiously  in- 
clined, though  not  a  member  of  any  church.  He 
died  Sept.  19,  1884. 

Mrs.  Vanneman  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  excel- 
lent education.  She  is  a  lover  of  music,  and  sup- 
plemented her  early  education  by  a  judicious  read- 
ing of  the  best  authors.  The  fine  library  which 
adds  to  the  attractions  of  this  beautiful  home  bears 
testimony  to  the  tastes  and  inclinations  of  its  in- 
mates. Personally  Mrs.  Vanneman  is  very  attract- 
ive, and  possesses  a  kindly  and  loveable  disposition. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Indianola,  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  its  affairs. 

Mr.  Vanneman  during  his  long  career  of  honoi 


able  industry  has  never  sought  or  accepted  office. 
An  anti-slavery  Whig,  and  a  Republican  during 
and  since  the  war.  he  has  remained  true  to  his  po- 
litical principles  with  neither  noise  nor  parade,  and 
has  been  the  stanch  friend  of  religion  and  educa- 
tion, contributing  liberally  in  aid  of  both,  and  en- 
dowing a  scholarship  in  Vermilion  Grove  Academy. 
He  has  served  as  School  Director  and  on  the  Petit 
Jury,  and  is  a  thorough  temperance  man,  although 
he  has  never  allied  himself  with  those  who  seek  to 
make  that  a  question  of  political  issue.  He  is  self- 
made  and  self-taught,  energetic  and  progressive, 
and  is  acknowledged  by  all  to  be  one  of  the  most 
public-spirited  citizens  of  his  county. 


fif'OHN  MENDKNHALL.  Although  four- 
score years  of  age,  this  old  and  highly  re- 
spected resident  of  Carroll  Township  is  still 
a  sprightly,  active  and  vigorous  man.  Of 
him  it  may  be  said  as  one  of  old.  "his  eye  is  not 
dimmed  nor  is  bis  natural  strength  abated."  His 
mind,  memory  and  body  have  withstood  the  rav- 
ages of  time.  As  the  result  of  a  temperate  and 
abstemious  life,  old  age  finds  him  free  from  tin' 
decrepitude  usually  consequent  upon  advanced 
years.  His  present  hale  appearance  and  rugged 
health  give  promise  of  another  decade  at  least,  of 
placid  and  peaceful  life. 

Mi-.  Mendenhall  is  the  scion  of  a  hardy  and  long- 
lived  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  the  son  of  Aaron  Men- 
denhall by  bis  second  wife.  Lydia  Anderson.  His 
father  was  born  in  Guilford,  N.  ('.,  near  the  scene 
of  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court-House,  and  fought 
between  the  British  and  the  Continentals  during 
the  Revolutionary  War.  His  paternal  grandfather. 
Richard  Mendenhall.  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
while  on  his  way  from  North  Carolina  to  Ohio,  soon 
after  the  opening  up  of  that  Territory,  and  was  one 
of  the  many  daring  and  intrepid  pioneers  who  lost 
their  lives  while  endeavoring  to  plant  civilization 
in  the  Western  wilderness  in  the  face  of  a  murder- 
ous and  merciless  savage  foe. 

At  this  time  the  father  of  our  subject  was  a. small 
child.      His  maternal  grandmother  was  a  native   of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


640 


Nantucket,  Mass.  After  marriage  she  removed  to 
Greene  Comity,  ( >)i i<>.  where  his  mother  was  horn. 
Prior  to  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Mendenhall  she  had 
buried  one  husband.  By  the  first,  a  Mr.  H'orney, 
she  became  the  mother  of  the  children — Hester, 
Paris,  Deborah,  Rhoda  and  Anderson,  are  all  de- 
ceased. By  her  marriage  with  Aaron  Mendenhall  she 
was  the  mother  of  six  children  :  John,  our  subject, 
was  born  Nov.  :i,  1  S<>9 ;  Aaron  died  half  a  century 
ago;  Lydia  is  the  widow  of  Joseph  Beard,  and  is 
living  in  Carroll  Township;  Nancy  is  the  wife  of 
M.  L.  Larrance,  of  Carroll  Township;  Elizabeth, 
the  widow  of  John  Mills,  also  lives  in  this  town 
ship,  and  Richard  died  here  iii  May,  1889. 

\\  lien  Mr.  Mendenhall  was  a  youth  of  fifteen 
years  his  parents,  leaving  the  Buckeye  state,  emi- 
grated tij  this  county  and  settled  upon  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Silas  Baird.  The  father  entered  210 
acres  Of  land  about,  the  year  1824,  when  Illinois 
was  one  vast  wilderness — a  prairie  peopled  only  by 
Indians  and  wild  animals.  Like  all  the  early  set- 
tlers his  parents  endured  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions incident  to  pioneer  life.  They  were,  however, 
brave  and  stout-hearted  and  did  successful  battle 
in  subduing  the  virgin  prairie  to  the  uses  of  agri- 
culture. Being  thrifty  and  industrious  people  their 
children  were  early  broken  into  farm  work.  John's 
rugged  frame  was  made  strong  ami  his  muscles 
were  hardened,  following  the  plow  and  tilling  the 
soil  with  the  rude  implements  in  use  in  those  prim- 
itive days.  His  educational  advantages  were  few, 
and  confined  to  such  instruction  as  could  be  ob- 
tained in  a  subscription  school,  whenever  an  itin- 
erant preacher  happened  along  anil  organized  one. 

Politically,  to  use  his  own  expressive  language, 
Mr.  Mendenhall  was  ''a  Whig  morning,  noon  and 
afternoon"  as  long  as  that  party  was  in  power.  lie 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Henry  Clay,  and  looked  upon 
that  leader  as  one  of  America's  greatest  statesmen. 
Later  he  became  a  decided  Republican.  He  served 
six  years  as  a  School  Director  and  was  never  sum- 
moned to  attend  court  other  than  as  a  petit  juror. 
Religiously,  he  has  been  a  Friend  for  twenty-five 
years  and  a  liberal  contributor  according  to  his 
means  to  the  support  of  Vermilion  Grove  Acad- 
emy. Nov.  24,  1831,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  and  Charity 


Mills.  Mrs.  Mendenhall  was  born  Nov.  8,  1HI2. 
twenty  miles  east  of  Knoxville  in  Jefferson  County, 
Tenn.  Her  parents  prior  to  this  had  removed  from 
North  Carolina.  Her  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
Mordecai  Mendenhall,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent, [n  this  family  there  were  eleven  children: 
Ruth  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years;  Wil- 
liams died  when  past  seventy;  Hannah  died  in 
1823,  when  a  maiden  of  eighteen  years;  Sarah  died 
in  is;:),  aged  nearly  eighty;  Ira  died  in  Missouri 
about  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four;  Miriam  is 
the  wife  of  II.  Hayworth,  of  Vermilion  Gi-ove;  Re- 
becca, Mrs.  Mendenhall,  was  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Millican  is  living  in  this  township,  :iged 
seventy- four;  John  died  at  about  the  age  of  thirty 
years,  probably  thirty  years  ago;  Charty  J.  died 
when  four  years  old,  and  Lanty  died  in   infancy. 

Mrs.  Mendenhall  was  nine  years  of  age  when  her 
parents,  in  1822,  removed  from  Tennessee  to  this 
State.  Her  educational  advantages,  like  those  of 
her  husband,  were  limited,  but  she  learned  to  read 
and  spell  at  home,  and  was  carefully  trained  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Quaker  faith.  Of  her  union  with 
our  subject  there  were  born  eleven  children,  and 
they  can  now  gather  about  them  forty-eight  grand- 
children and  seven  great-grandchildren.  Their 
eldest  child,  Millican.  died  when  about  fifty-five 
years  old;  James  died  when  a  lad  of  twelve;  Char- 
ity Jane,  Mrs.  Thomas  C.  Reese,  and  Sarah,  Mrs. 
John  W.  Elliott,  live  at  Ridge  Farm;  Francis 
Marion  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years  of  par- 
alysis contracted  in  the  army  during  the  late  war; 
Rhoda  died  at  the  interesting  age  of  eighteen  years; 
Aaron  H.  lives  on  a  farm  in  Carroll  Township; 
Lydia  died  when  four  years  old;  John  M.  is  a  far- 
mer and  a  resident  of  Carroll  Township;  Emeline 
married  Silas  Hester  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three  years,  leaving  four  children;  Louisa  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  10.  Baird  and  the  mother  of  five 
children  —  Lester  W.,  Albert  C,  Blanche  R.,  Algia 
M..  and  an  infant,  Wilber  J.  The  son.  Francis 
Minion,  enlisted  in  Company  A.  79th  Illinois  In- 
fantry, in  July,  1862,  and  served  until  Aug.  20, 
1864;    he  died  shortly  after  his  return    home. 

Mr.  Mendenhall  is  a  ruddy  faced,  well  built,  and 
well  preserved  old  gentleman,  one  of  the  finest 
specimens    of   an    octogenarian    in    Central  Illinois. 


650 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


His  mind  is  active,  his  memory  bright  and  clear, 
and  his  eyesight  good.  I  lis  healthful  looking  com- 
plexion, sparkling  eye,  and  vigorous,  active  step 
betoken  both  health  and  strength  not  usually  found 
in  one  so  aged.  His  wife  is  a  quiet,  placid-man- 
nered, motherly  looking  old  lad}',  and  but  three 
years  younger  than  her  husband.  She  does  not 
appear  to  be  much  above  sixty.  There  is  a  purity 
of  expression  in  her  face,  which  reveals  a  mind  that 
has  often  communed  in  prayer  with  Him  who 
doeth  all  things  well.  Although  she  has  known 
sorrow,  it  has  but  made  her  life  sweeter  and  her 
hope  brighter.  One  does  not  need  to  be  told  that 
she  is  a  sincere  and  earnest  Christian,  whose  faith 
will  endure  to  the  end. 


ft  OIIN  W.  FISHER,  of  Carroll  Township  is 
recognized  as  one  of  its  most  wealthy 
fanners,  who  has  accumulated  a  fine  property 
solely  by  the  exercise  of  his  own  inherent 
industry  and  perseverance.  His  early  advantages 
were  quite  limited,  he  being  thrown  largely  upon 
his  own  resources  ami  obliged  to  light  the  battle  of 
life  for  some  time  with  little  to  encourage  him. 
The  fact  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of  980  acres  of 
land  is  sufficient  indication  of  the  manner  in  which 
he  has  spent  his  time,  and  illustrates  forcibly  what 
a  man  may  accomplish  by  a  resolute  will,  prudence, 
economy  and  good  management. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Jan.  25, 
1840,  on  the  old  Fisher  homestead  in  this  town- 
ship where  he  grew  to  man's  estate  and  acquired  a 
practical  education  in  the  common  school.  He 
worked  on  the  farm  and  about  the  time  of  reaching 
his  majority,  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Mary 
L.  Dye.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  set- 
tled on  forty  acres  of  land  in  Carroll  Township, 
which  Mr.  Fisher  had  purchased  prior  to  this  time, 
and  which  formed  the  nucleus  of  his  present  large 
estate.  He  later  received  from  his  father's  estate 
176  acres,  and  like  the  wise  man  of  Scripture,  has 
been  enabled  to  add  to  his  talent  in  a  marked  de- 
gree. Upon  locating  here,  his  land  was  a  cornfield 
without  trees  or  buildings,  and   the  improvements 


which   embellish  the  present  homestead  have  been 
effected  by  him. 

Fight  children  were  born  of  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fisher,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son,  Kver- 
ettc,  died  at  the  interesting  age  of  fifteen  years; 
Charles  married  Miss  Jennie  Meyers  and  lives  in 
Sidell  Township,  they  have  one  child,  Charles, 
who  is  farming  near  Sidell;  Olive  died  when  two 
years  old;  Eddie  is  at  home  with  his  parents;  Ar- 
meda  married  Douglas  Miller  of  Carroll  Township, 
and  they  have  one  child.  Winona;  Mattie  died 
when  eight  years  old;  Josephine  and  Jacob  remain 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  Fisher  votes  the  straight 
Democratic  ticket,  but  in  looking  after  his  exten- 
sive fanning  interests,  has  little  time  to  devote  to 
politics. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  David  P.  and  Jane 
(Weaver)  Fisher,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and 
the  latter  of  Massachusetts.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  Michael  Weaver,  lived  to  be 
a  centenarian  and  was  one  of  the  leading  pioneers 
of  this  county,  to  which  he  came  from  Ohio  where 
he  had  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property. 
He  was  noted  for  his  strict  honesty  and  upright 
dealings  with  his  fellow  men.  The  Weaver  family 
was  of  excellent  ancestry,  and  various  members  of 
them  are  reverted  to  elsewhere  in  this  Album. 

David  P.  Fisher,  the  father  of  our  subject,  lived 
in  Indiana  before  coming  to  this  State  and  had 
onlv  *1  in  his  pocket  when  he  came  to  this  county. 
By  untiring  industry  and  great  prudence  in  living 
he  gained  a  solid  footing,  financially,  becoming  the 
owner  of  nearly  1,000  acres  of  land.  His  career  is 
that  of  an  upright  man  and  a  good  citizen  and  he 
lived  to  reach  the  age  of  seventy-two  3'ears,  passing 
away  in  1M80.  His  wife  survives  and  lives  with 
her  son  Michael,  being  now  seventy-six  years  old. 
The  five  children  of  the  parental  household  were 
named  respectively:  Michael,  John  W.,  our  sub- 
ject, Mary  J.,  George  W.  and  Lucinda.  Mary 
was  married  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years,  leaving  two  daughters,  Jennie  and  Nora. 
The  other  brothers  and  the  sister  of  our  subject 
are  still  living. 

Mrs.  Fisher  is  the  daughter  of  Lawrence  and 
Mary  Ann  (Van  Treese)  Dye,  to  whom  were  born 
nine    children,    viz.:    Hiram,   (deceased),  Martha, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BKXiKAPIIICAI.   ALBUM. 


65 1 


Phebe,  (deceased).  Elizabeth,  Albert  who  died  in 
infancy,  Angeline,  John,  Mary  L.,  Mrs.  Fisher.  All 
but  the  youngest  were  born  in  Kentucky.  Mrs. 
Fisher  was  only  one  and  one-half  years  old  when 
her  parents  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  George- 
town Township.  The  mother  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-three  years.  The  father  Lived  to  be  seventy 
years  old.  During  the  Civil  War  and  when  he 
was  past  fifty  years  old,  he  enlisted  as  a  Union 
soldier  from  conscientious  motives,  feeling  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  give  his  services  to  his  country. 


-* — o^o— 


Y  OHN  B.  HILDRETH,  one  of  the  first-class 
agriculturists  of  Carroll  Township,  owns 
and  operates  a  [well-regulated  farm  of  352 
acres,  ninety  acres  of  which  lie  in  Vermil- 
ion County  and  262  in  Edgar  County.  The  resi- 
dence is  in  the  former.  The  leading  features  in 
the  character  of  Mr.  Ilildreth  are  his  strict  atten- 
tion to  business,  his  promptness  in  meeting  hi> 
obligations  and  his  excellent  understanding  of  all 
the  branches  of  general  agriculture.  In  person, 
he  is  a  man  who  would  attract  attention  in  a  crowd. 
being  of  commanding  presence,  of  portly  figure 
and  a  handsome  and  intelligent  countenance.  lie 
numbers  his  friends  by  the  score  in  this  county  and 
welcomes  beneath  its  hospitable  roof  its  best  people. 
He  has  a  beautiful  home  where  he  has  effected 
modern  improvements,  including  a  commodious 
dwelling,  handsomely  and  conveniently  arranged 
and  second  to  none  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
His  standing  in  society  is  lirst-elass  and  in  his  politi- 
cal affiliations  he  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  The  Ilildreth  family  prior  to  their 
removal  to  Illinois  flourished  in  the  South,  sonic 
of  them  in  Bourbon  County,  Ivy.,  where  Alvin  K.. 
the  father  of  our  subject,  and  his  wife  Sarah  A., 
[tetter,  were  born  and  where  they  were  reared 
and  married.  Leaving  the  Blue  Grass  State  about 
1832  they  came  to  this  county  and  settled  on  the 
Little  Vermilion,  on  the  tract  of  new  land  from 
which  they  constructed  a  homestead,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  and  where  they 
died.  The  father  died  -luly  19,  187  I,  and  the  mother 


July  1.  1.S77.  There  were  born  to  them  eleven  chil- 
dren, viz:  Mary  K.,  William  II..  five  who  died  in 
infancy.  Sarah  A.. John  B.,  our  subject,  Louvisa  and 
I'arlhenia;  four  of  these  are  living  ami  residents  of 
Vermilion  and  Edgar  counties. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  March  19, 
1842,  in  Carroll  Township,  this  county,  and  here 
has  spent  his  entire  life.  He  was  at  an  early  age 
introduced  to  the  various  employments  of  the  farm 
and  chose  its  peaceful  pursuits  as  his  vocation. 
When  ready  to  establish  domestic  ties  of  his  own, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Philetta  Ross,  of  Edgar 
County.  This  lady  became  the  mother  of  four 
children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living — Carrie  A. 
is  the  wife  of  William  Black,  of  Carroll  Township, 
and  Alice  remains  at  home  with  her  father. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Miss  Eliza  Harnett,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Barnett,  and  of  this  union  there  have  been 
born  two  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living,  a 
daughter — Daisy.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject 
was  formerly  Miss  Sarah  A.  Cook,  and  they  have 
four  children — John  ().,  Emma,  May  Jennie  and 
Lennie  L. 


OBERT  S.  SLAUGHTER.  By  far  the 
greater  portion  of  the  solid  men  of  Ver- 
milion County  have  been  those  who  com- 
menced life  dependent  upon  their  own 
resources,  and  who,  gathering  together  their  posses- 
sions little  by  little,  were  blest  with  the  faculty  of 
being  able  to  fake  care  of  them.  It  is  not  alone 
the  man  who  is  able  to  make  money  that  is  able  to 
keep  it;  indeed  the  latter  faculty  seems  to  be  one 
of  the  most  importance,  and  the  ability  to  disburse 
with  good  judgment  and  free  from  avarice  is, 
perhaps,  the  best  quality  of  all. 

The  snug  farm  of  the  subject  of  this  notice 
comprises  eighty-one  and  one-half  acres  of  land 
on  section  25  in  Elwood  Township,  and  makes  a 
pleasant  and  comfortable  homestead,  every  acre  of 
which  he  earned  with  the  labor  of  his  hands.  It  is 
all  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  with  good 
buildings,  substantial  fences,  and  the  other  appli- 
ances necessary  to  the  modern   and  well-regulated 


052 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


estate.  Mr.  Slaughter  is  comparatively  n  young 
man,  having  been  born  Dee.  28;  1849,  and  is  a 
native  of  Hardin  County,  Ky.  His  father,  George 
R.  Slaughter,  also  a  native  of  that  county,  removed 
at  an  early  day  to  Vermillion  County.  Ind..  where 
lie  sojourned  two  years,  anil  until  1X00.  Thatyear 
he  came  to  Edgar  County.  III.,  settling  in  Prairie 
Township,  where  he   now  lives. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  passed 
quietly  and  uneventfully,  while  lie  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  and  attended  the  common 
school.  At  the  age  of  twenty- live  years  he  was 
married.  March  1,  1885.  to  Miss  Emma,  daughter 
of  John  Ilumrichous.  a  well-known  resident  of 
Elwood  Township,  and  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slaughter 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  a  daughter,  Artie 
Frances,  born  May  IS.  1886;  and  an  infant  un- 
named. Mrs.  Slaughter  was  born  m  Elwood  Town- 
ship, March  14.  1867,  and  remained  mostly  with 
her  parents  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  while 
our  subject  guides  his  life  by  the  Golden  Rule  ami 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  (irmly 
established  as  a  respected  citizen,  with  the  pros- 
pect of  a  competence  for  his  declining  years. 

-J #W*. -!~ 


/^  HR1STIAN  FAGNER.  The  character  and 
III      n  standing  of  a  man    are   usually   determined 

\^s  by  what  he  has  accomplished.  The  life- 
work  of  Mr.  Fagner  is  finely  illustrated  in  the 
amount  of  property  which  he  has  accumulated  ami 
the  comforts  by  which  he  is  surrounded.  He  has 
one  of  the  most  attractive  homesteads  in  township 
23,  range  12,  finely  located  on  section  :i:3.  This 
embraces  200  acres  of  choice  land  while  he  has  a 
farm  in  the  township  south. 

The  Fagner  farm  is  supplied  with  first-class  build 
ingsand  an  especially  line  and  commodious  barn — 
one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  Everything  about 
the  premises  are  kept  in  good  shape,  from  the  live- 
stock to  the  farm  machinery,  and  the  many  con- 
veniences which  the  proprietor  has  gathered  about 
himself  and  family  indicate  the  progressive  charac- 


ter of  the  man.  He  comes  of  substantial  stock  and 
is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in 
Dauphin  County,  Dec.  15.  1835.  When  a  year 
old  his  parents  removed  to  Lancaster  County, 
where  he  spent  his  youthful  days  until  reaching  his 
majority.  He  received  the  advantages  of  the  com- 
mon schools  and  became  familiar  with  farming  pur- 
suits as  carried  on  in  the  Keystone  State. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  our  subject,  ambitious 
to  do  for  himself,  left  the  parental  roof  and  making 
his  way  to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  located  in  Cov- 
ington, where  he  sojourned  eight  years,  employing 
himself  for  a  time  atanything  he  could  find  todo — 
principally  at  painting.  Thence  he  went  to  War- 
ren County,  one  mile  from  the  Illinois  line  and  re- 
mained there  ten  years.  In  18(17  he  rented  a  farm 
upon  which  he  operated  two  years;  prior  to  this  he 
had  worked  six  years  in  order  to  get  a  team.  In 
1877  he  crossed  over  into  Illinois  and  purchased 
200  acres  of  land  from  which  he  constructed  his 
present  admirable  farm.  The  years  which  followed 
were  replete  with  labor  and  the  exercise  of  great 
prudence  and  economy  in  living,  this  course  faith- 
fully followed  producing  the  results  which  we  look 
upon  to-day.  (hie  of  the  most  attractive  features  of 
the  homestead  is  a  fine  large  grove  adjacent  to  the 
residence,  while  around  it  is  choice  shrubbery,  and 
near  by.  a  fine  orchard  in  good  bearing  condition. 
with  trees  of  the  smaller  fruits. 

One  secret  of  Mr.  B'agner's  success  has  been  his 
faculty  of  attending  strictly  to  his  own  concerns. 
In  political  affairs  he  has  refused  to  be  bound  by 
party  lines,  and  supports  the  men  whom  he  consid- 
ers best  qualified  for  office,  independent  of  Repub- 
lican or  Democrat. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood  Miss 
Louisa  Sehwalen,  was  born  in  Schuylkill  County, 
Pa.,  Oct.  18,  1841,  and  they  were  married  Feb.  7. 
L861  in  Pennsylvania.  Soon  afterward  they  re- 
moved to  Indiana.  The  three  children  born  to 
them  are  all  living.  Frederick  E.,  is  a  resident  of 
Dakota;  Alice  married  John  Bauman,  of  Koss 
Township;  Anna  May  is  their  only  child;  William 
II.  remains  at  home  with  his  parents.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  John  Fagner.  a  native  of  Ger- 
many and  born  in  1802.  He  emigrated  to  America 
when  a  single  man.  settled  in  Pennsylvania  and  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


653 


there  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Miley,  He  came 
to  Indiana  in  1861  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Warren 
Comity,  near  the  Illinois  line,  "here  lie  spent,  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  1884,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  years.  The  wife  and 
mother  departed  hence  twenty-three  years  prior  lo 
the  decease  of  her  husband,  her  death  taking  place 
in  1861.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children. 
five  of  whom  are  living  and  located  mostly  in  Illi- 
nois and    Indiana. 


~—         -** *~ 

ffl  OTHER  A.  RIGGS.  This  gentleman  has 
I  (f§  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  since  1860,  and 
J'L- ^\  with  the  exception  of  two  years  has  spent 
that  entire  period  in  Vermilion  County.  He  was 
horn  in  Washington  County,  La..  Oct.  29,  1830, 
and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Cook  and  Bethany  (Axtell) 
Riggs,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  horn 
March  28,  1788,  and  the  latter  horn  in  Washington 
County,  Pa.,  April  7,  17'.»2.  Joseph  Riggs  was 
about  eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed 
from  New  Jersey  to  Washington  County  in  171)6. 
His  early  life  was  therefore  one  of  toil  and  hard- 
ship in  the  dense  wilderness.  All  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  the  occupation  of  farming  in  Washington 
County,  where  he  died  June  19,  1849,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-two  years,  two  months  and  twenty-two 
days.  He  had  been  married  three  times  and  was 
the  father  of  a  large  family,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  being  a  child  of  the  third  wife.  His  wife 
died  in  Dec.  1863,  aged  seventy  years  and  nine 
months.  Of  their  seven  children  five  are  yet  sur- 
viving: Hannah,  horn  Nov.  13,  181 '.I.  is  the  widow 
of  Cephas  Condit,  and  is  still  living  in  Pennsylva- 
nia; Eunice  was  horn  Sept.  21,  1824,  and  is  the 
wife  of  .lames  l'cdcn  and  lives  in  Danville,  this 
county;  Sophia  was  horn  Oct.  til.  1833;  she  is  un- 
married and  makes  her  home  with  her  brother  in 
Washington  County.  Pa.;  Joseph  was  born  ,7une 
I  s.  1838  and  also  lives  iii  the  last  mentioned  place; 
Luther  A.,  of  whom  this  written.  The  deceased 
were  named:  Lucinda,  horn  Nov.  2,  1*27,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Washington  Gregory  and  died  in 
this    county    April     HI.    1870,    and     Ksenafh.    horn 


I'eh.  23  1  N22.  who  was  the  wife  of  John  Peden  and 
died  April  "i.'1852.  in  Washington  County,  Pa. 

Luther  A.  Riggs  was  brought  up  to  farming,  first 
on  a  farm  on  Ten  Mile  Creek  in  his  native  county, 
which  had  belonged  to  his  grandfather,  descending 
to  his  father.  When  young,  however,  his  fat  her 
sold  his  place  and  removed  to  Greene  County.  Pa., 
returning  to  Washington  County  several  years 
afterward.  In  these  places  Luther  spent  his  early- 
life,  but  he  had  his  thoughts  turned  toward  the 
broad  prairies  of  the  West,  on  which  he  believed 
farming  could  be  more  easily  and  comfortably 
prosecuted.  When  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old 
he  made  an  arrangement  with  his  future  brother- 
in-law,  John  Carter,  to  come  with  him  to  Edgar 
County,  111.,  where  the  latter  had  rented  a  farm. 
Taking  his  own  team  and  putting  it  in  with  one  of 
.Mr.  Carter's  he  made  the  trip  alone  with  the  four 
horses,  his  wagon  loaded  with  household  goods. 
He  was  on  the  road  nineteen  days,  arriving  in 
Grand  View,  Edgar  Co.,  III..  April  10,  1857, 
where  he  remained  six  months,  returning  to  Penn- 
sylvania in  the  fall.  A  strong  attraction,  however, 
existed  in  Illinois,  which  brought  him  hack  to  Ed- 
gar County  with  a  view  of  settling  down,  and  on 
Aug  25,  1860,  he  was  there  married  to  Miss  Debo- 
rah Carter,  whom  he  had  known  about  all  his  life- 
time in  his  native  county. 

Mrs.  Riggs  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
April  '.I,  1828.  Her  parents  were  Harvey  and  Char- 
lotte (Clark)  Carter,  the  former  of  whom  lived  and 
died  there  in  September,  1840,  when  he  was  hut 
thirty-seven  years  of  age.  having  been  horn  in  the 
year  1  S03.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  nearly 
forty  years,  remaining  a  widow  and  doing  her  part 
nobly  in  bringing  up  her  family  of  seven  young 
children.  She  died  in  Vermilion  County  in  No- 
vember, 1878,  full  of  honors  and  years.  Her  eld- 
est son.  Ezckiel,  came  to  Edgar  County,  III.,  in 
185  I.  and  two  years  later  she,  with  the  rest  of  the 
family,  followed,  locating  near  him.  She  was  ac- 
companied by  her  sons,  William  and  Harvey,  and 
her  daughters  Deborah  and  Rebecca.  They  lived 
in  Edgar  County,  III.,  two  years  and  then  came  to 
Vermilion  County,  locating  on  a  farm  about  four- 
teen miles  southwest  of  Danville,  and  there  the 
faithful   wife    and  devoted    mother    lived    until    her 


654 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


death.  Four  of  her  sons,  Ezekiel,  John,  William 
nnd  Harvey  are  farmers  in  the  southwestern  portion 
of  the  county.  Her  daughter  Rebecca  is  the  widow 
of  John  Ross  and  resides  in  Rossville,  this  county. 
Another  daughter  named  Lottie,  died   in  girlhood. 

Mr.  Riggs  and  his  wife  removed  to  Vermilion 
County  in  the  autumn  of  1862  and  rented  a  farm 
in  Carroll  Township,  where  they  lived  two  years, 
then  rented  another  for  a  year.  His  first  purchase 
of  land  was  made  at  this  time,  when  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  uncultivated  prairie  which  was  destitute 
of  any  kind  of  vegetation  except  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  grass.  lie  built  a  small  house  into  which  he 
moved  in  the  spring  of  1866.  At  once  he  began 
the  labor  of  improving  it.  and  soon  had  a  part  of 
it  broken,  giving  to  it  much  hard  labor,  and  the  re 
suit  was  a  finely  cultivated  farm,  which  has  no.v 
on  it  good  buildings,  is  all  well  fenced  and  drained 
and  is  in  every  respect  (irst-class.  Here  he  made 
his  home  for  twenty-one  years  and  there  his  eldest 
son,  Harvey  J.,  now  lives.  As  the  years  rolled  by 
prosperity  came  to  the  pioneer  and  his  wife,  and 
easier  times  were  in  store  for  them.  Three  chil- 
dren grew  up  around  their  hearthstone,  and  as  they 
got  old  enough,  shared  and  lightened  the  labors  of 
their  parents.     One  child  died  in  infancy. 

In  the  spring  of  1**7  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riggs  gave 
up  their  old  home  and  removed  to  a  place  of  160 
acres,  which  he  had  bought  in  Grant  TowtfShip. 
Here  they  have  a  comfortable  home  and  g 1  sur- 
roundings, and  are  silling  in  the  twilight  of  old 
age,  enjoying  what  they  have  earned  by  long  years 
of  patient  labor  and  thrift.  The  farm  is  carried 
on  by  their  sons.  Cyrus  ami  Frank.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riggs  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  four  children,  as  follows:  Harvey  .1.,  born 
Aug.  23,  1861,  who  married  .Miss  Dora  West; 
Cyrus  A.  was  horn  Feb.  •">.  1864,  while  Frank  L., 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  April  15,  1870;  John  E. 
was  horn  Feb.  II.  1866,  and  died  July  31,  1866. 
They  have  also  an  adopted  daughter.  Flora  ]'>. 
Devenger,  whom  they  are  rearing  as  their  own.  and 
who  goes  by  her  adopted  parents'  name. 

During  the  more  than  thirty  years  that  have 
(lapsed  since  Mr.  Riggs  first  came  to  Illinois,  ureal 
changes  have  occurred,  and  since  taking  up  his 
residence   in   Vermilion  County   he  has    witnessed 


and  participated  in  its  growth,  from  its  wild  and 
unsettled  state  to  its  present  condition,  as  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  agricultural  counties  of  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State.  Mr.  Riggs  has  done 
his  share  in  ils  transformation.  He  has  been 
a  hard-working  man  all  his  life,  and  has  but  little 
time  or  inclination  for  politics,  and  has  held  but  a 
few  minor  offices.  In  his  fourteenth  year  he  joined 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  both  members  of  that  organization  at 
Pleasant  Ridge,  of  which  for  several  years  he  was 
an  Khler.  By  the  people  who  know  him  well,  Lu- 
ther A.  Riggs  is  spoken  of  as  an  honorable,  upright 
and  trust-worthy  man  and  most  excellent  citizen. 


v£g\  IIARLES  A.  BAKER,  one  of  the  younger 
!|!  n  members  of  the  farming  community  of  Ross 
^^zf*1  Township,  iscomfortably  established  on  sec- 
tion 9,  where  he  is  successfully  conducting  a  well- 
regulated  farm  and  has  seemingly  a  very  fair  out- 
look for  the  future.  lie  is  not  yet  twenty-eighl 
years  old,  having  been  born  Oct.  1 !».  1861,  in  Ilar- 
risburg,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.  When  a  little  lad  of  six 
years  he  went  to  live  with  his  Grandmother  Yost, 
in  Womelsdorf,  and  remained  with  her  until  four- 
teen years  old.  Thence  he  repaired  to  Allentown, 
Pa.,  where  he  attained  his  majority  and  after  one 
or  Iwo  changes,  came  to  this  State  in  1884  and 
located  at  Rossville,  this  county.  In  his  native 
Slate  he  had  gained  considerable  experience  in 
mercantile  business,  having  officiated  as  clerk  in 
both  a  grocery  and  dry-goods  store,  but  after 
coming  to  this  county,  he  took  up  house-painting, 
which  he  followed  a  year,  and  later  became  inter- 
ested in  farming  pursuits. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  by 
birth  a  Frenchman,  while  his  grandmother  was  of 
English  ancestry.  Their  son  Cornelius,  the  father 
of  Charles  A.  Baker,  was  born  and  reared  in  Dau- 
phin County.  Pa.  He  was  there  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Shower,  a  native  of  Lebanon  County,  Pa., 
and  who  died  in  1S72  fit  the  age  of  forty-four 
years,  leaving  a  family  of  eleven  children.  The 
father  is  still  living  and  a  resident  of  Reading.  Pa. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


655 


Tlie  brothers  and  sisters  of  our  subjecl  were  named 
respectively,  William  P>.,  Silas  ('..  Emma,  the  wife 
N.  D.  Redinger,  of  Allentown,  Pa.;  Leah,  Mrs. 
Isaac  Dc  Turk,  of  Rossvillc,  this  county;  Edwin 
( '..  Samuel  D.,  Katie,  Mrs.  Christopher  Garnian,  of 
of  Pennsylvania;  Harry  M.,  Magdalena,  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Rummel,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  and  who  died  in 
April.  1889;  and  Susan  ('.     The  father  married  for 

his  sec I  wife  Miss  Sally  A.  Snyder,  of  Reading, 

Pa.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  since  a  lad  of  fourteen  \  ears  and  since  1  86 1 
has  officiated  as  a  minister  of  that  body.  The 
mother  also  belonge  I  to  the  same  church  and  died 
firm  in  the  faith. 

Charles  A.  Baker  was  married  Feb.  28,  1888,    to 
Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Thomas  Armstrong,  a 

sketch  of  wl i   will    be   round    elsewhere  in    this 

Ami  m.  The  young  people  have  :i  very  nice  hoi  ic 
and  the  wishes  of  hosts  of  friends  for  their  future 
happiness  and  prosperity. 

'llo.MAS    REYNOLDS.      Gibbon    has   said 

well  that  every  man  has  two  educations,  

which  is  given  him,  and  the  cither  and  most 
important  that  which  he  gives  himself.  Sir  Walter 
Scott  emphasized  this,  when  he  said:  The  best  part 
of  a  man's  education  is  that  which  he  gives  himself. 
The  mind  has  been  endowed  with  no  more  powerful 
ambition  than  that  of  self-improvement.  The  self- 
made  man  carries  with  him  hi>  own  capital,  a  cap- 
ital unaffected  by  monetary  crises, 'an  investment 
whose  interest  is  not  regulated  by  success  of  spec- 
ulation— a  treasure  v.'hicl ne  can  dispute,  and  of 

which    no   one   can    deprive   him.       Such    a  man  is 

Th as  Reynolds,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.       He 

is  the  son  of  William  and  Gemima  (Mead)  Reyn- 
olds, natives  of  England,  who  lived  about  forty 
miles  northeast  of  London,  where  their  sun  Thomas 
was  born,  lie  is  purely  of  English  descent,  his  an- 
cestors having  been  members  of  the  established 
church  of  that  country  for  many  generations. 

Thomas  Reynolds  was  reared  in  his  nativecoun- 
iry.  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  Compulsory 
Education   Law.       The  father  being  in  limited  cir- 


cumstances, the  education  of  the  son  was  com- 
pletely licglccied;  all  the  knowledge,  therefore,  that 
he  has  acquired,  has  come  to  him  by  virtue  of  his 
own  untiring  labor  in  its  pursuit,  lie  was  married 
in  England  October  1854  t<>  .Miss  Ann.  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Sarah  Perry,  who  were  natives  of 

the  part  of  England,    fr which  he  himself  came. 

Miss   Perry's   family,   like  thai,  of  her   husband  was 
of  "Id  English  origin,  but  this  is  not  the  only  feature 
of  similarity  between  them  as  they  were  both  mem- 
bers "I   I  lie  -  one  eh u id i.   ( )f  this  marriage  there  was 
one  son.  Philip  by  name,  who  was  hum  in  England. 
On   dune  2.   in   the   year  1856,   our  subject  started 
on   a  voyage    to    America.       His   intention    was   to 
come  direct  to  the  United  staler  but  unfortunately 
the  steamship    "Canadia"   in   which    he  set  out  was 
wrecked.       This   occurred    about   forty    miles  from 
Quebec  after  a  cruise  of  eleven  days.       From  the 
Canadian  coast  they  were  taken  by  a  sailship  down 
the  St.  Lawrence  river.      As  soon  as  the '-Canadia" 
was  taken  off  the  Rock  on  which   she    was  wrecked, 
she  sink.    It  was  a  scene  never  to  be  forgotten,  but 
although  startling  it  was  not  as  dangerous  as  might 
have    been  expected,  as  the  passengers  and  crew 
were  all   saved,  by  what  seemed  to  sonic,  a  miracu- 
lous interposition  of  Providence.    I  laving  landed  in 
Quebec,  .Mr.  Reynolds  traveled  by  railroad  to  Loda. 
111.      From  here  he   walked  across  the  country  over 
a  matter  of  some  twenty  miles,  when  he  arrived   at 
Mr.     Mann's    residence,    which     was   situated    near 
Rossville.     He  was  offered  a  position  by  Mr.  Mann 
to  work  on  his  farm.        He  accepted    the   otter    and 
labored  by  the  month  for  about  seven  years.     Hav- 
ing in  this  manner  obtained  a  line  start,   he  did  not 
lest   until  he  had  worked  his  way  so  far  as  to  enable 
him    to    purchase     for   himself   a    line   farm   of  200 
acres.        His    estate   is  now  one  that  attracts  the  at- 
tention of  all  wdio  pass  that   way.       Its  picturesque 
neatness  and  the  care  and  taste  with  which  it  is  de- 
signed, cannot  but   be    admired.       The  shade  trees 
by    which   his   pretty   residence   is  surrounded    are 
unusually  tine  and  large.    Before  the  house  is  a  neatly 
sodded  lawn  and  the  beautiful   arrangement  of  the 
whole    grounds,   speaks    well    for   the    skill   of   the 
supervisor.       The    water  used   on  the  farm  is  con- 
veniently furnished  from  the  well  by  a  windmill. 
Notwithstanding  the   attention    which  is  paid  by 


656 


PORTRAIT  AND   Bll  .)<  ;  HA  I'll  IC'A  L   ALBUM. 


Mr.  Reynolds  to  the  cultivation  of  his  property  his 

lime  is  not  wholly  employed  in  that  one  pursuit, 
lie  takes  great  pleasure  in  the  raising  of  the  cattle, 
hogs  and  sheep,  with  which  his  farm  is  well 
stocked,  lie  is  also  greatly  interested  in  horses, 
his  favorite  being  the  Englishshire. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episeopal  Church  of  Wallace  Chapel. 
lie  has  eight  children  living,  their  names  are  as  fol- 
lows: Philip;  George  W.;  Susan,  now  Mrs.  John 
W.  Smock,  wdio  lives  in  Butler  Township,  this 
county,  and  is  the  parent  of  five  children:  Walter, 
Ida  Belle,  Martha,  Thomas  and  Minnie  M.  There 
were  two  other  children,  James  and  Sarah,  who 
unfortunately  died  when  young. 

When  our  subject  arrived  at  Loda  he  had  only 
one  cent,  and  was  in  debt  $200  to  his  brothers 
Philip  and  Samuel.  This  money  which  they  loaned 
him  had  paid  the  expenses  of  his  trip  from  Eng- 
land. The  life  of  this  gentleman  has  comprised  a 
most  interesting  array  of  facts  and  figures;  in  reading 
it  we  wonder  at  the  tact  and  perseverance  which 
marked  his  career.  His  trials  indeed  were  heavy 
ones,  so  burdensome  in  fact  that  only  a  strong  de- 
termination and  a  sturdy  nature,  such  as  his 
proved  to  be,  could  have  overcome  them.  He  is  a 
stanch  Republican  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  the 
interests  of  schools  and  churches. 


-«u|  NTHONY  LONG  is  a  young  man  of  more 
.fS/JJ,  than  ordinary  enterprise,  judgment  and 
capacity,  and  by  those  traits  has  already 
won  an  assured  success  as  a  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  although  he  began  life  a  few  years  ago 
in  comparative  poverty.  He  has  a  model  farm  of 
.'on  acres  of  land  of  exceptional  fertility,  carefully 
tilled  and  well  supplied  with  comfortable  buildings 
anil  good  machinery,  his  place  being  very  pleasantly 
located  on  section  34  of  the  pretty  township  of 
Pilot. 

Our  subject  is  of  Pennsylvania  origin.  His 
father,  Anthony  Long,  was  born  in  the  year  1805, 
mar  Harrisburg,  the  capital  of  the  Keystone  State. 
and    lived    in   that  region   many  years,  being  em- 


ployed as  a  carpenter  after  attaining  man's  estate. 
After  his  marriage  with  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
which  occurred  Dec.  20,  1813,  he  moved  with  his 
family  to  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  farming  among 
the  pioneers  of  Seneca  County,  and  was  also  profit- 
ably employed  at  his  trade.  In  1803  he  again  took 
up  his  westward  march,  and  coming  to  Vermilion 
County  purchased  a  farm  here,  and  devoted  the 
remainder  of  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  this 
rich  soil.  He  was  a  man  of  undoubted  worth  and 
stability  of  character,  and  during  his  residence 
here  his  conduct  merited  and  received  the  apprecia- 
tion of  all  in  the  community,  who  respected  him 
accordingly.  He  was  twice  married,  and  the  fol- 
lowing are  his  three  children  by  his  first  wife: 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Ephraim  Norris,  of  Seneca 
County.  Ohio;  Catherine,  the  wife  of  William 
Miller,  a  farmer  of  Wood  County.  Ohio;  Susanna, 
the  wife  of  Michael  Walker,  a  farmer  of  Williams 
County,  Ohio.  The  maiden  name  of  his  second 
wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Jane  Engler, 
and  she  was  born  in  Maryland,  Oct.  20,  1817,  and 
died  on  the  homestead  here  Nov.  27,  1879.  To 
them  three  children  came — Samuel.  Walter  and 
Anthony.  Samuel  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war. 
lie  enlisted  in  the  101st  Ohio  regiment  in  1862, 
engaged  in  many  hard  fought  battles,  and  while  in 
the  South  contracted  consumption,  of  which  he 
died  March  9.  1867,  thus  giving  up  his  life  for  his 
country  as  much  as  if  he  had  fallen  in  battle. 
Walter  was  born  March  23,  1851,  and  died  July 
23,  1869. 

Anthony  Long,  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in 
Seneca  County.  Ohio.  Oct.  21,  1855,  was  an  active, 
wide-awake  lad  of  eight  years  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  this  county,  and  he  was  already  large 
enough  to  be  of  great  use  to  his  father  on  the  farm, 
and  received  from  him  a  sound,  practical  training 
in  the  best  methods  of  conducting  agriculture. 
which  lias  been  of  great  profit  to  him  in  his  after 
career  as  an  independent  farmer.  His  educational 
advantages  were  necessarily  limited,  but  he  availed 
himself  of  what  schooling  he  could  get,  and  by- 
observation  and  reading  has  in  great  part  made  up 
for  the  early  deficiencies  of  his  education.  When 
he  first  began  life  for  himself  he  had  no  capital 
except   a   stout   heart,  strong  muscles  and  a  clear 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


657 


head,  and  after  marriage,  not  having  the  where- 
withal tn  buy  land,  he  rented  some  for  a  few  years. 
He  prudently  saved  his  money  till  he  was  enabled 
in  buy  eighty  acres  of  partly  improved  land,  and 
from  that  time  on  has  been  much  prospered  in  his 
undertakings,  so  that  ho  is  now  the  owner  of  200 
acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  in 
this  part  of  Vermilion  County,  and  has  it  under 
good  improvement,  as  before  noted.  He  engages 
i ti  mixed  husbandry,  raising  considerable  grain  and 
other  farm  products  and  rearing  stock  of  fine 
grades. 

Feb.  22,  1X77,  Mr.  Long  took  an  important  step 
in  his  life,  which  has  undoubtedly  contributed  much 
to  Ins  success,  as  on  that  date  he  and  Elizabeth 
Dixon  were  united  in  the  holy  bands  of  matrimony. 
She  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  horn  Oct.  9,  1856,  to 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Leeper)  Dixon,  who  were  of 
German  ancestry.  They  came  to  this  country  dur- 
ing the  late  war,  and  settled  in  Sangamon  County, 
111.  Two  children  have  blessed  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife:  Alice,  born  May  9,  1879; 
Maude,  born  Sept.  7,  1883. 

It  is  the  united  testimony  of  his  fellow-towns- 
men that  Mr.  Long  is  in  all  things  a  man  of  con- 
scientious principles  and  exemplary  habits,  one 
who  is  free  hearted,  kind  and  considerate,  and 
always  willing  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  others 
less  fortunate  than  himself.  He  and  his  wife  are 
regarded  as  among  the  most  worthy  and  consist- 
ent members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  they 
cheerfully  give  of  their  means  to  its  support.  Mr. 
Long  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  the  affairs  of 
his  country,  and  on  all  political  questions  >idcs 
with  the  Republican  party. 


.;*<;.*> 


JAMES  M.  CURRENT.  Elsewhere  in  this 
volume  is  presented  a  view  of  one  of  the 
most  inviting  homes  in  Vance  Township. 
It  belongs  to  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and 
comprises  a  well-regulated  farm,  embellished  with 
a  new  dwelling  and  the  other  necessary  buildings, 
pleasantly  located  on  section  11).  The  proprietor 
is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  his  community, 


prominent  in  religion. and  politics,  liberal-minded 
and  public-Spirited,  and  in  all  respects  a  liist-class 
citizen,  lie  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  was 
born  .Ian.  21.  1842,  being  the  son  of  one  of  its 
oldest  and  most  honored  pioneers,  William  Current, 
who  with  his  wife.  Mary  Baston,  were  natives  of 
Virginia. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Grandfather  Baston 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  his  county, 
having  much  to  do  with  its  affairs  generally.  Will- 
iam and  Mary  Current  were  married  in  their  native 
State,  and  resided  there  five  or  six  years  after  that 
event.  Coming  to  Vermilion  County  in  1827  they 
Settled  live  miles  northeast  of  Danville,  in  Newell 
Township,  and  endured  the  usual  experiences  of 
pioneer  life.  The  father  secured  a  tract  of  land 
and  built  up  a  good  homestead,  where  he  and  his 
excellent  wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
William  Current  departed  this  life  in  1851.  The 
mother  survived  her  husband  the  long  period  of 
thirty-three  years,  remaining  a  widow,  aim  dying 
in  1SS4.  He  was  born  in  1803,  and  his  wife  in 
18(17.  He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  the 
family  arrived  in  Illinois  in  time  to  experience  the 
rigors  of  the  winter  remarkable  for  the  deep  snow. 
The  household  circle  comprised  fourteen  children, 
se\  en  of  whom  are  living. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  the  eighth  child 
of  his  parents,  and  received  his  early  education  in 
the  old  log  structure  known  as  the  Lamb  school 
house.  Although  his  advantages  were  necessarily 
limited,  he  improved  his  opportunities,  and  by  a 
steady  course  of  reading  has  always  kept  himself 
well  informed  upon  current  events.  He  has  been 
a  Bible  student  all  his  life.  He  started  out  for 
himself  in  life  when  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  and 
when  ready  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own  was 
united  in  marriage,  Oct.  IK,  1859,  with  Miss  Mary 
E.  Lynch,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  Lynch, 
who  were  natives  of  Virginia. 

Our  subject  and  his  young  bride  began  their 
wedded  life  on  the  old  Current  homestead,  in  this 
county,  where  they  lived  until  1872;  then  remov- 
ing to  Danville  Mr.  Current  engaged  in  the  butch- 
ering and  grocery  business,  operating  thus  until 
1875,  when   he   established   himself  on  his  present 


658 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


farm.  This  comprises  170  acres  of  choice  land 
in  one  body,  and  the  whole  is  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  Mr.  Current  makes  a  specialty  of 
stock-raising  half  or  three-fourth  blooded  Short- 
horn eattle.  Poland-China  swine,  and  graded 
Clydesdale  horses.  In  the  early  days  he  set  out  an 
orchard,  which  is  now  in  fine  bearing  condition, 
and  his  resilience,  erected  in  1888,  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  neighborhood.  All  that  ample  means 
and  cultivated  tastes  can  do  has  been  brought 
about  in  the  erection  of  this  model  home. 

Of  the  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cur- 
rent two  died  at  the  ages  of  three  and  one.  Their 
eldest  son,  William  II.,  married  .Miss  Lavina  II.. 
daughter  of  Thomas  Gibson,  and  they  live  one  mile 
ea>t  of  the  homestead;  they  are  the  parents  of  one 
child.  Abraham  L.  married  Miss  Hester  A., 
daughter  of  Francis  Roderick,  of  Newell  Town- 
ship; is  the  father  of  one  child,  and  lives  three 
miles  south  of  his  father.  Martin  A.  and  Fay  Ray 
complete  the  family  circle.  The  former,  a  promising 
youth  of  nineteen  years,  is  a  student  in  the  Junior 
class  of  Chaddock  College,  at  Quincy,  111.,  where 
he  proposes  to  take  the  full  course. 

Mr.  Current  at  one  time  held  the  office  pf  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  but  finally  resigned.  He  has  also 
officiated  as  School  Director  and  Road  Overseer, 
and  in  politics  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket. 
haying  been  a  member  of  this  party  since  the  late 
war.  He  believes,  however,  in  voting  for  princi- 
ples and  not  men,  and  in  local  matters  supports  the 
men  whom  he  considers  best  qualified  to  serve  the 
interests  of  the  people.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Current 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
1850,  and  have  been  prominent  and  consistent 
members  since  that  time.  Our  subject  was  Assist- 
ant Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  prior  to 
his  marriage.  In  Danville  he  was  Steward  in  the 
North  Street  Church,  and  has  been  Class-Leader 
for  the  past  fourteen  years;  likewise  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school  thirteen  years,  still  hold- 
ing the  position.  His  excellent  wife  is  in  no  wise 
behind  him  in  all  good  works,  having  a  class  in  the 
Sunday-school,  and  laboring  as  she  has  opportunity 
in  the  Master's  vineyard. 

Abraham  Lynch,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Current, 
came    to    Illinois   at  an  early  day,  and  was    soon 


recognized   as  one   of  the  most  worthy  citizens  of 

Danville  Township.  His  family  included  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and  of  whom  Mrs. 
Current  was  the  second  child.  She  was  born  in 
Newell  Township,  this  county,  March  9.  184(1,  and 
like  her  husband  pursued  her  early  studies  in  a  log 
school  house  under  the  imperfect  system  of  instruc- 
tion given  at  that  day. 


YnllN  VAN  DUYN  was  born  in  Parke 
County.  End.,  April  28,  1835.  His  farm 
which  is  situated  on  section  lit  in  El  wood 
'  Township,  consists  of  1 50  acres  of  good  land 
all  of  which  is  cultivated  in  a  manner  that  will 
bring  about  the  highest  results.  He  is  successfully 
engaged  in  raising  graded  Shorthorns  ami  Poland- 
China  hogs. 

Cornelius  Van  Duyn,  the  father  of  John,  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  and  came  with  his  father  to 
Indiana,  when  a  boy.  The  mother  was  Catherine 
Blue,  a  native  of  Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  She  was 
the  mother  of  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
living:  John.  Cornelius.  Henry  J.,  William,  Tilgh- 
man  A.  11..  Luther  W .  and  James  C.  The  elder 
Van  Duyns  were  leading  citizens  of  their  time  and 
were  regarded  as  among  the  best  people  in  the 
country.  They  were  thrifty  and  intelligent,  and  in 
financial  matters,  generally  succeeded. 

John  Van  Duyn  received  a  limited  education  at 
the  subscription  schools  which  were  in  vogue  in  this 
country  during  the  pioneer  days.  The  school-house, 
where  he  learned  to  read  and  write  was  built  of 
logs  and  contained  a  fire-place  in  one  end,  slabs  for 
seats  and  oiled  paper  for  window  panes.  Let  the 
youth  of  to-day  contemplate  the  difficulties  which 
surrounded  their  fathers  and  grandfathers  in  their 
effort  to  get  an  education,  and  be  thankful  for  the 
splendid  school  privileges  they  now  enjoy  and 
strive  the  harder  to  improve  them.  Mr.  Van  Duyn 
came  to  Vermillion  Count}',  Ind.,  with  his  parents 
in  1 853, whence  he  removed  to  this  county  three  years 
later.  He  was  married  March  26,  1867,  to  Dorothy, 
daughter  of  Archibald  Edmonston,  a  native  of  Bun- 
combe County,  N.  C.       She  was  born  in  Vermilion 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


661 


County,  Ind.,  where  her  parents  located  in  1831. 
[Ier  father,  an  old  pioneer  of  Indiana,  was  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  1812.  Ilei  mother  Melissa  Ander- 
son, was  a  native  of  Mercer  County,  Ky.  The  lat- 
ter removed  with  her  parents  to  Dubois  County, 
Ind.,  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  and  in  1831,  she 
located  with  her  In  is  hand  in  Vermillion  County,  the 
>:une  State,  she  was  the  mother  of  eight  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living:  Thomas  A..  Mrs.  Van 
Duyn,  William,  Lerov  T.  and  Melissa.  Mother 
Edunonston  still  lives  in  Indiana,  six  miles  south  west 
of  Newport  and  is  eighty-four  years   old.      She  is 

possessed  of  extra  g I    health    for  a   lady  of  her 

years. 

.Mr.  and  Mis.  Nan  Dnyn  have  had  five  children 
and  but  one  is  living,  .Melissa,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Professor  Mitchell,  principal  of  the  Ridge  Farm 
school.  She  is  also  teaching  there  with  her  husband. 
She  began  work  in  her  profession  when  but  fifteen 
years  old.  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Stale  Normal 
School  of  Terre  Haute.  Both  have  State  certificates 
of  Illinois.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  child — 
Verne  V. 

By  his  own  efforts  Mr.  Van  Dnyn  has  prospered 
financially,  and  is  now  living  in  ease  and  comfort. 
He  is  generous  and  hospitable  and  is  never  happier 
than  when  he  is  smoothing  the  road  of  some  un- 
fortunate whose  footsteps  are  handicapped  in  the 
race  of  life. 


GARLAUGH.  The  extensive  tract  of  land 
familiarly  known  as  the  Garlaugh  farm 
is  operated  in  two  divisions  by  the  sub- 
IP)  ject  of  this  notice  and  his  brother,  Tay- 
lor Garlaugh,  and  comprises  some  of  the  finest  land 
lying  out  of  doors.  It  was  purchased  by  the  father 
in  1873  nt  the  time  of  the  famous  Sidell  land  sale, 
which  is  noted  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Garlaugh,  our  subject,  has  effected  many 
valuable  improvements  on  this  property,  erecting  a 
commodious  two-story  frame  dwelling,  a  good  barn 
and  cattle  sheds,  has  good  fences  and  the  latest  im- 
proved machinery  for  the  prosecution  of  his  calling. 
A  windmill  forms  one  of  the  appurtenances  and  the 
land  is  amply  watered  and  very  fertile.      In  riding 


past  the  farm  the  traveler  is  at  once  impressed 
with  the  idea  that  its  manager  is  not  only  a  man  of 
enterprise  and  energy,  1ml  is  one  bound  to  succeed. 
Mr.  Garlaugh  employs  two  men  and  four  two 
horse  teams  in  carrying  on  the  farm  and  feeds  an- 
nually 100  head  each  of  cattle  ami  swine.  lie 
makes  a  specialty  of  attending  to  his  own  concerns 
and  does  not  aspire  to  political  honors,  although 
thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  and  the  watch-cry  "America  for 
Americans." 

In  referring  to  the  parental  history  of  our  sub- 
ject we  find  that  his  father.  Jacob  Garlaugh,  was 
born  in  Greene  County.  Ohio,  and  remains  a  resi- 
dent of  that  State,  living  near  the  city  of  Dayton. 
The  mother,  formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  was 
born  in  Virginia  and  emigrated  to  Ohio  with  her 
parents  when  a  young  girl.  The  first  representa- 
tives of  the  Garlaugh  family  in  America  came  across 
the  water  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Maryland 
whence  Grandfather  Garlaugh  removed  to  Greene 
County,  Ohio,  1^1807.  The  homestead  which  he 
built  up  from  the  wilderness  has  never  passed  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  family  and  upon  it  the  father  of 
our  subject  is  still  living  with  his  estimable  wife 
at  the  ages  of  seventy-nine  and  sixty-nine  years 
respectively. 

Thirteen  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of 
our  subject — seven  sons  and  six  daughters — of  , 
whom  he  was  the  seventh.  He  first  opened  his  eves 
to  the  light  Feb.  17,  1853.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits,  re- 
maining a  member  of  the  parental  household  until 
coming  to  Illinois  in  187'J  when  a  man  of  twenty- 
six  years.  He  was  married  in  this  county  in  1883 
to  Miss  Nellie,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Elizabeth 
(Collison)  Martin  now  of  State  Line.  Mrs.  Gar- 
laugh was  born  at  Bixby,  111.,  and  completed  her 
studies  in  the  Normal  School  at  Danville.  Subse- 
quently she  followed  the  profession  of  a  teacher 
until  her  marriage.  She  became  the  mother  of  two 
children — Mamie  E.  and  Ida  M.  and  died  Dec.  26, 
1887.  The  young  wife  anil  mother  passed  away, 
deeply  mourned  by  her  husband  and  a  large  circle 
of  friends.  She  possessed  many  estimable  qualities 
and  in  her  death  our  subject  received  the  sympathy 
of  all  who  had  known    them    during  the  brief  years 


662 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBLM. 


of  their  happy  married  life.  Mr.  Garlaugb  is 
looked  u[x >n  as  one  of  the  rising  young  men  of  his 
community — one  eminently  worthy  of  a  record  in 
:i  work  designed  to  perpetuate  the  names  and  deeds 
of  the  leading  men  of  Vermilion  County. 

HARLES  W.F<  »RBES,the  leading  and  pioneer 
agricultural  implement  dealer  of  Sidell,  ear- 
^^'  ries  an  extensive  stock  of  merchandise  per- 
taining to  his  line  of  trade,  and  from  his  long 
residence  in  this  locality  and  his  substantial  traits 
of  character,  is  regarded  as  one  of  its  leading  men. 
A  native  of  .Medina  County,  Ohio,  lie  was  born 
March  17.  1853,  and  in  consequence  is  on  the 
sunny  side  of  forty  and  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous 
and  healthful  manhood.  His  career  has  been 
marked  by  success,  and  he  possesses  those  mental 
qualities  which  have  nut  only  been  of  great  service 
in  the  management  of  his  business  affairs,  but  has 
established  him  in  an  enviable  position  among  his 
fellowmen.  He  takes  a  warm  interest  in  the  growth 
of  the  village  and  as  a  liberal-minded  and  public- 
spirited  citizen,  contributes  as  he  is  able  toward  its 
advancement. 

Mr.  Forbes  is  the  offspring  of  a  good  family, 
being  the  son  of  Alex  and  Cornelia  Ann  I  Randall) 
Forbes  who  are  still  living  and  in  good  health,  the 
father  being  eighty-five  years  old  and  the  mother 
seventy-six.  Charles  W.  was  the  eighth  in  the 
family  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
the  other  four  being  Med  win,  George,  Hiram  and 
Marietta.  Alex  Forbes  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Medina  County,  Ohio;  where  he  operated 
prominently  as  a  builder  and  contractor  until  he 
retired  from  active  labor,  and  still  resides  in  Ohio. 

Our  subject  pursued  his  first  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  later  at  a  select  school  at  Litch- 
field. Ohio.  When  a  youth  of  eighteen  years  he 
became  interested  in  a  creamery  at  Wellington,  with 
which  he  was  connected  until  coming,  in  1881,  to 
Shelby  County  this  State.  He  built  a  creamery  in  the 
latter  place  which  he  operated  two  years  and  then 
removed  to  Rantoul,  where  he  prosecuted  the 
>aine  business  successfully  for  a    time,  then  selling 


out,  established  himself  in  Casey,  Clark  County, 
this  State,  where  he  built  another  creamery,  but 
only  sojourned  six  months,  coming  to  Sidell  in 
the  fall  of  1885.  In  his  business  here  he  has  been 
successful  from  the  start,  and  his  progress  may  be 
indicated  by  the  fact  that  his  sales  in  1885 
amounted  to  $10,000,  and  those  of  1888  to  $17,- 
000j  He  has  erected  a  commodious  store  with 
ware-rooms,  and  now  also  conducts  a  thriving 
trade  in  furniture  as  well  as  carriages  ami  wagons. 
He  has  put  up  a  tasteful  and  substantial  residence 
of  modern  architecture  at  the  corner  of  Gray  and 
Fnglish  streets,  which  with  its  surroundings  forms 
a  very  pleasant  ami  attractive  home. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Myru 
Fisher  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in 
Clarksliehl.  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Dee.  Id,  18711.  Mrs. 
Forbes  was  born  at  Rochester,  Lorain,  Co.,  that 
State,  February,  1807,  ami  is  the  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Olive  M.  (Cunningham)  Fisher,  the 
former  a  native  of  the  province  of  Ontario, 
Canada,  and  the  latter  of  Clarksfield,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Fisher  left  the  Dominion  when  a  young  man  and 
afterward  followed  the  trade  of  a  harness-maker  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  in  1870  when  he  was 
fifty  years  old.  The  parents  were  married  in  Clarks- 
field, Ohio.  The  mother  is  living  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Forbes;  she  is  now 
fifty  three  years  old.  Of  her  five  children,  Myra, 
Mrs.  Forbes,  was  the  eldest  born.  The  next  one, 
a  son,  Foster,  died  in  infancy;  Hiram  Way,  Frank 
S.  and  Emma  U. 

Mr.  Forbes,  politically,  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belong- 
ing to  Peace  Dale  Lodge,  No.  225.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  be- 
longing to  Sidell  Camp,  No.  405.  The  maternal 
grandmother  of  Mrs.  Fisher  was  married  the  first 
times  to  Corydon  Sheldon,  and  by  him  became  the 
mother  of  one  child,  Jairus  C,  who  was  a  representa- 
tive from  the  Fifteenth  District  of  Illinois  to  the 
Forty-ninth  Congress  and  served  two  terms.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband.  Mis.  Sheldon  was  mar- 
ried to  Hiram  Way  Cunningham,  and  to  them  were 
born  nine  children,  among  whom  was  the  mother 
of  Mrs.  Forbes  and  Joseph  Oscar  Cunningham. 
who  is  one  of    the  leading    lawyers  and  prominent 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


663 


citizens  of  Qrbana,  111.,  and  was  for  several  years 
Probate  Judge.  The  girlhood  of  Mrs.  Forbes  was 
spent  in   ClarksGeld,  Ohio,  and    she  attended    the 

High   Scl 1    al    Norwalk.     Later,  at    the  age   of 

seventeen,  she  entered  Baldwin  University,  taking 
the  classical  and  musical  courses,  and  continued  a 
student  there  for  some  time.  Afterward  she 
engaged  in  teaching  in  Huron  County,  Ohio,  follow- 
ing this  profession  for  four  years  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forbes  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  at  Sidell  in  which  Mr. 
Forbes  is  one  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees  and  is  on 
the  Building  Committee.  This  church  has  one  of 
the  finest  edifices  in  Vermilion  County,  outside  of 
Danville.  Mrs.  Forbes  was  the  first  President  of 
the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  which  was  established  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  means  to  build  anew  church. 


—=*- 


«-H    > 


EWITT  C.  BENNETT,  familiarly  known 
throughout  Carroll  Township  as  "Clint 
Beunett,"  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
young  men  of  his  community  and  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  operating  a  line  body  of  land  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  township.  He  has  worked 
his  way  up  from  an  humble  position  in  life,  signal- 
izing himself  by  his  industry  and  integrity  of  char- 
acter, and,  aside  from  being  on  the  highway  to 
success  financially,  has  fully  established  himself  in 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
The  fact  that  he  was  from  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  until  twenty-eight  —  a  period  of  ten  years  — 
the  '-right  hand  man  "  of  the  cattle  king,  John 
Sidell,  is  sufficient  indication  of  his  true  character 
and  furnishes  as  good  a  recommendation  as  he 
could  possibly  wish  for.  There  was  also  another 
party  in  the  employ  of  the  same  family,  namely, 
a  most  estimable  young  lady,  who  became  the  wife 
of  our  subject  and  whose  record  is  fully  equal  to 
that  of  her  husband  in  point  of  sterling  worth  of 
character  and  cultivated  tastes.  As  the  wife  of 
our  subject,  she  has  been  in  all  respects  his  true 
companion  and  helpmate,  and  they  are  justly 
proud   of   their    blooming  family  of  children,  and 


their  attractive  home,  which,  without  making  any 
pretensions  to  elegance,  is  the  place  where  affect  inn 
abides  and  to  which  they  frequently  welcome  the 
many  friends  and  acquaintances  who  have  watched 
their   career  with    kindly  interest . 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  was  born  in  Vance  Township,  June  I. 
1849.  lie  was  reared  in  Vance  and  Catlin  town- 
ships, acquiring  his  education  in  the  common  school, 
and  left  home,  as  we  have  already  indicated,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years.  While  in  the  employ  of  Air. 
Sidell.  he  drove  thousands  of  cattle  to  the  East, 
frequently  riding  night  and  day,  without  sleep  or 
rest.  1 1  is  father,  Philander  Bennett,  was  a  native 
of  New  York  State,  and  married  Miss  Sarah  Ann 
Wolf,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee.  In  the  biogra- 
phy of  Henry  J.  Bennett,  found  on  another  page 
in  this  volume,  will  be  noted  the  parental  history. 
Philander  Bennett  and  his  excellent  wife  are  still 
living,  making  their  home  in  Palermo,  Edgar 
County,  where  the  father  and  his  younger  sons  are 
operating  a  rented  farm.  Mr.  Bennett  is  now 
about  seventy-four  years  old  and  his  wife  ten 
years  his  junior.  They  are  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Ann  E.,  is  the  wife 
of  W.  M.  Jamison,  of  Catlin,  and  the  mother  of  six 
children:  Charles,  Kate.  Mary.  George,  Willie  and 
Bertie.  Henry  J.  was  the  second  born;  DeWitt 
Clinton,  our  subject,  was  the  third  child;  George 
Franklin  married  Miss  Rachel  Trimble, and  is  a  fann- 
er of  Dundee  County.  Neb.,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, Clinton,  Minnie.  Frank  and  a  babe  unnamed. 
.Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Jonah  Turner,  a  farmer  of 
Edgar  County;  they  have  no  children.  William  K. 
died  in  boyhood;  Jacob  remains  at  home  with  his 
father;  Ida  B.  married  Esau  Marsh,  resides  in 
Missouri,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children;  Allic 
married  Wilson  Glaze,  a  resident  of  Chrisman, 
Edgar  County,  and  they  have  two  children. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  married  in  1877  to  Mrs.  Nancy 
Jane  Spellman,  daughter  of  Jerry  and  Mary 
1.  Fuller.  Her  father  was  horn  in  Illinois  and 
her  mother  in  Campbell  County,  Ky.  The  par- 
ents were  married  in  the  latter  State  and  were  of 
Irish'  descent.  They  settled  first  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Fuller  engaged  in  teaming,  and 
later  removed   on  to    a    farm    in  Kentucky,    where 


664 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  death  took  place.  The  mother  was  sub- 
sequently married  to  John  (lark,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appprars  elsewhere  in  ibis  work,  ami  they 
are  living  at  Sidell.  Of  the  firs!  marriage  there 
were  born  seven  children,  viz:  Reuben,  John  and 
Mary  (who  died  young),  America,  Sarah.  Louisa 
and  Nancy  Jane.  Mrs.  Bennett  was  born  in  Cin- 
cinnati,  Ohio,  but  was  reared  in  Kentucky,  and 
when  nineteen  years  of  age  became  the  wife  of 
Thomas  B.  Spellman.  Of  this  union  there  was 
born  one  child. 

For  six  years  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bennett  continued  with  Mr.  Sidell  and  afterward 
began  farming  on  rented  land.  They  are  now  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely :  Sarah  I.,  Charles 
Clinton,  Jacob  C,  Bessie  W.  and  Luella.  Mr.  Ben- 
nett is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men at  Sidell,  and  has  filled  most  of  the  offices  of 
the  order.  Politically  he  votes  the  straight  Dem- 
ocratic ticket  and  has  been  School  Director  in  his 
district. 


:®H     North— sc 


DAM  STADLER.  The  armies  of  the 
SO  Statistics  exhibit — were  eom- 
<>  posed  of  one-third  foreigners,  or  their 
direct  descendants.  These,  or  their  par- 
ents, bad  come  from  countries  where  tyranny  held 
them  in  as  firm  a  grasp  as  the  negroes  were  held  in 
America,  and  their  condition  was  but  little  above 
that  of  the  slave  of  South  Carolina.  They  longed 
for  that  perfect  political  freedom  that  characterizes 
this  country,  and  in  consequence  fought  for  a  prin- 
ciple that  was  dear  to  them,  and  the  most  of  these 
people,  by  the  peculiar  laws  of  their  native  land, 
were  obliged  to  serve  in  the  army  The  person 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is  one  of  those  who 
had  seen  service  in  his  native  country. 

His  father  was  Christopher  Stadler,  .a  farmer  of 
Baden  and  a  native  of  that  country,  while  his 
mother,  Regina  (Horsch)  was  also  a  native  of  the 
same  province.  This  couple  were  married  in  Baden 
and  came  to  America  in  1854,  locating  in  Henry 
County,  Ind.,  with  their  son  Adam,  who  bad  come 
to  America  before  them.  The  father  died  in  1856 
aged  sixty-eight,  and    the  mother  is  still  living  in 


( (bin  with  one  of  her  daughters.  They  had  five 
children,  three  boys  and  two  girls,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living  in  America.  The  oldest  buy  died 
in  Germany.  Adam,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the 
second  child  of  the  family,  and  was  born  Dec.  28, 
1821,  in  Baden.  There  lie  went  to  school  until  he 
was  fourteen  years  old,  receiving  a  very  fine  edu- 
cation in  the  higher  mathematics  and  engineering, 
lie  finished  bis  schooling  in  the  military  academy 
of  Carlsrnhe,  the  capital  of  Baden,  graduating  from 
that  institution  and  receiving  his  diploma  in  1844, 
Previous  to  ibis,  he  served  his  time  as  an  appren- 
tice ai  the  cooper's  trade  and  continued  at  thai  for 
si\  years,  or  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 

In  1841  Mr.  Stadler  was  drafted  into  the  army. 
lb-  served  six  ironths  as  a  private  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  ranks  of  Corporal  and  Sergeant,  serv- 
ing in  these  positions  for  one  and  two  years  re- 
spectively. In  1848  the  rebellion  broke  out  in 
Baden  against  King  Leopold,  at  which  time  Mr. 
Stadler  was  serving  as  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 
The  army  in  which  be  was  doing  duty  was  directed 
against  the  rebels,  but  in  184'J  the  soldiers  became 
disaffected  and  rebelled  against  the  King.  Mr. 
Stadler  was  then  elected  as  Captain  of  the  same 
battery  of  artillery  in  which  he  had  served  pre. 
viously  as  a  loyal  soldier. 

His  company  fought  in  every  battle  in  1849  in 
the  rebel  army.  At  that  time  the  commander  of 
the  rebellions  soldiers  was  Gen.  Miroflefski,  who 
turned  out  to  be  a  traitor  to  the  cause.  He  was 
succeeded  by  (leu.  Franz  Sigel.  who  afterward 
distinguished  himself  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  laic  Rebellion.  Gen.  Sigel  was  in  command  of 
about  25.000  men  and  in  opposition  to  this  small 
army.  Prussia  sent  150,000  troops  and  the  States 
of  Wurtemburg,  Bavaria  and  Hesse-Darmstadt  fur- 
nished as  many  mure.  This  immense  army  of 
troops  succeeded  in  killing  many  of  the  rebels,  but 
failed  to  crush  them.  Sigel's  army  was  driven  into 
Switzerland  and  the  war  closed.  The  remnant  of 
this  little  army  two  months  after  was  dispersed. 
The  private  soldiers  were  allowed  to  go  where 
they  pleased,  but  the  officers  were  condemned  to 
be  shut  whenever  found  on  their  native  soil.  The 
natural  place  for  them  to  seek  refuge  was  in  America, 
and    here    they   came,   Mr.   Stadler    being    one    of 


PORTRAIT  AND  P.IOC  UAPI1ICAI.  ALBUM. 


665 


them.  He  came  in  the  same  vessel  that  brought 
Lawrence  Brentano,  now  of  Chicago  and  they  ar- 
rived at  New  York  in  Nov.  L849. 

Mr.  Sladler  was  married  May  2s,  1846  to  Sophia 
l'azell,  daughter  of  John  and  Caroline  (Sweitzer) 
Yazell.  Mrs.  Stadler  was  the  youngest  of  the 
family  and  was  born  Feb.  2,  1829.  She  received 
a  line  education,  and  married  Mr.  Stadler  while  he 
was  a  Sergeanl  in  the  army  6f  the  King.  While 
the  war  was  in  progress — in  which  her  husband 
took  su  active  a  pari — she  remained  at  Carlsruhe, 
and  when  the  army  was  driven  into  Switzerland, 
she  joined  her  husband  there  and  --ailed  with  him 
to  America.  They  wen!  to  Cincinnati,  where  he 
was  employed  al  his  trade,  and  also  in  a  brewery, 
for  one  yeai'.  At  this  time  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stadler  were  seized  with  typhoid  fever,  which  was 

followed  by  fever  and  ague,  their  illness  lasting  in 
all,  fourteen  months.  After  recovering  their 
health  they  removed  to  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Stadler 
stall i'«l  a.  cooper's  shop  and  remained  in  that  busi- 
ness for  fourteen  years.  lie  then  rented  a  farm. 
and  began  Hie  life  of  a  farmer. 

In  1861,  when  the  first  eall  for  troops  was  made 
by  President.   Lincoln,  Mr.  Stadler  enlisted    in   the 

12th   battery  of  Indiana   Volunteers,  o aauded 

by  Capt.  Stallings.  He  went  out  with  the  battery 
as  First  Lieutenant,  proceeding  from  hidianapolis 
to  st.  Louis  aud  thence  to  Fort  Donelson.  After 
the  fall  of  that  fort,  the  battery  was  ordered  to 
Nashville,  and  from  there  to  Pittsburg  Landing, 
am!  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  the  company  was 
changed  to  heavy  artillery,  ami  again  returned  to 
Nashville.  In  the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Stadler  resigued 
hi-  commission,  because  of  rheumatism,  lie  re- 
turncd  home  ami  again  took  up  his  work  on  the 
farm  in  Indiana.  lie  had  escaped  unhurt  in  the 
many  battles  in  which  he  was  engaged  both  in 
Germany  and  America,  and  while  in  the  service  in 
I  he  old  country,  he  had  three  horses  killed  while 
riding  them. 

In  October,  1867  Mr.  stadler  removed  to  Illinois 
and  bought  his  present  home  where  he  has  lived 
since.  lie  has  125  acres  of  good  land,  and  as  a 
farmer  he  has  been  Successful.  Mr.  and  Mis. 
Stadler  have  had  six  children,  three  sons  aid  three 

daughters,  five  of  whom   are  living:  George  C,  a 


banker,  married  Ada  Newton;  they  arc  living  in 
Monticello.  where  he  is  Clerk  of  the  Court,  and 
havi  two  children;  Adam  A.,  married  Anna  Bell, 
they  are  residing  at  Bement  and  are  the  parents  of 
line  child;  Kena  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Clark  Smith  of 
Cornelius.  Ore.;  Jacob  l'\.  married  Susan  Simpson, 
and  they  are  living  on  a  part  of  her  father's 
farm,  and  have  one  child;  Caroline  lives  at,  home 
with  her  parents,  and  is  an  accomplished  young 
lady,  being  noticeably  proficient  in  painting.  She 
has  executed  many  fine  specimens,  which  adorn 
her  father's   parlor. 

Mr.  stadler  is  a  strong  free-trade  Democrat  and 
while  he  is  not  an  ollice-sccker  he  takes  great  inter- 
est  in    politics.       lie     has    held     the    office    of    Road 

Overseer,  filling  the  position  with  his  usual  energy. 
Before  leaving  Baden  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stadler  were 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Protestant  Church, 
but,  since  coming  to  America  thej  have  been  united 

«iil 'eligious  organization   but  attend  church 

regularly.  They  arc;  held  in  high  esteem  by  all 
their   acquaintances  as  possessing   all  the   attributes 

i  hat  cluster  around  g I  neighbors,  andjlaw-abiding 

cit  izens. 


•    OIIN    POLLARD.      This  branch  of   the  Pol- 
lard family  is  noted  chiefly  for  its  mechan- 
ical   genius — the   ancestors   of    our    subject, 
/    being    peculiarly    gifted     in    this    in;  oner. 

William   Pollard,  the  father  of  our  subject,  learned 

mechanical    engineering    in    his    native    England 
when  quite  a  young  man.  and  the  paternal  grand 
father,    John    Pollard,  was   a    wheelwright,    mill- 
wright and  wood-worker  of  great  skill. 

To  William  and  Mary  Ann  (  Bartel)  Pollard, 
natives  of  Yorkshire,  England,  there  were  born 
live  children  in  their  native  country:  Paul  lives 
in  Carroll  Township;  John,  our  subject  was  the 
second  child;  Sarah  J.  in  the  wife  of  S.  P.  Dono- 
van, a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  Peter  died  in  infancy;  Martha  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Hull,  also  represented  elsewhere  in  this 

work.        The     father     crossed      the     Atlantic     seven 

time--  four  times   before  bringing  his  family  here. 


G6G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  1864 — when  he  located  in  Carroll  Township, 
this  county.  He  built  the  first  steam  sawmill  south 
of  Danville,  and,  besides  being  a  first  class  me- 
chanic, was  an  excellent  business  man.  and  soon 
found  himself  on  the  high  road  to  prosperity.  <  >f  a 
most  generous  and  easy  disposition,  it  was  often 
remarked  that  he  "was  too  good  for  his  own 
good."  He  could  never  say  "no"  when  solicited 
by  a  friend  for  a  favor,  consequently  he  appended 
his  name  to  various  notes  for  friends,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  usual  way,  namely,  the  loss  of  a 
large  amount  of  his  property.  He  lived,  however, 
to  rally  from  this  disaster,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  July  3,  1886,  left  his  family  in  comfortable 
circumstances;  he  was  then  aged  sixty-nine  years. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  making  her  home  in  In- 
dianola,  and  is  of  the  same  age  as  her  husband  was 
at  his  decease. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  like  his  parents,  was 
a  native  of  Yorkshire,  Englaud,  and  born  May  3, 
1847.  He  pursued  his  early  studies  under  careful 
instruction  in  a  private  school,  which  was  held 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  While  still  a  boy,  he  began  working  in  a 
factory  as  a  spinner,  anil  at  the  early  age  of  seven- 
teen was  given  the  position  of  overseer  in  the  spin- 
ning department  of  Scott's  Woolen  Mills,  in  Eng- 
land. After  a  time,  however,  he  conceived  the 
idea  of  coming  to  America,  so  gave  up  his  position 
and  sailed  across  the  Atlantic  with  his  brother, 
the  rest  of  the  family  coming  later. 

The  labors  of  young  Pollard  were  only  inter- 
rupted for  a  comparatively  brief  time,  and,  after 
reaching  Illinois,  he  entered  the  employ  of  his 
father  in  a  sawmill,  and  was  thus  occupied  until 
thirty  six  years  of  age.  Then,  as  proprietor,  he 
assumed  the  entire  charge.  Hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  feet  of  lumber  have  passed  through  his 
hands,  and  he  has  been  uniformly  successful  in  this 
department  of  industry.  He  purchases  the  logs  in 
the  rough,  and  from  them  manufactures  all  kinds 
of  lumber  for  building  and  other  purposes,  dealing 
mostly  in  the  finer  grades — oak.  walnut,  and  woods 
of  that  description.  He  has  built  up  a  regular 
patronage,  doing  an  extensive  custom  business. 

Mr.  Pollard  and  his  family  occupy  a  very  pleas- 
anut  and  comfortable    home.      His  farm  comprises 


choice  land,  with  a  neat  and  substantial  frame 
dwelling  and  the  other  buildings  necessary  for 
their  convenience  and  comfort.  He  was  married. 
Aug.  29,  1886,  to  Airs.  Fanny  (Thresher)  Hunt, 
daughter  of  Everett  Thresher  and  widow  of  Ely 
Hunt.  Mrs.  Pollard  was  born  in  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio,  Dec.  6,  1855.  The  maiden  name  of  her 
mother  was  Elizabeth  Collins,  and  both  parents 
were  born  in  Pickaway  County.  ( )hio.  Mr.  Thresher 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  when  a  boy  of 
eight  3'fars  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Coles  County.  Later  they  removed  to 
Douglas  County,  where  the  parents  still  live,  and 
are  comfortably  situated  upon  a  good  farm  of  their 
own.  Mr.  Thresher  is  sixty-seven  years  of  age, 
and  his  good  wife  fifty-nine.  Of  the  twelve  chil- 
dren born  to  them  ten  lived  to  mature  years,  viz: 
Sarah.  Hugh.  Fanny.  Mary,  John.  Mahala.  Minerva, 
Celia,  Henry  and  Oeorge. 

Miss  Fanny  Thresher  was  first  married  in  Doug- 
las County,  this  state,  to  Ely  Hunt,  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  ami  they  became  the  parents  of  one 
child — Lewis,  who  was  born  in  1877.  Mrs.  Hunt 
in  1882  occupied  the  position  of  a  clerk  in  Danville, 
where  she  met,  our  subject,  and  in  due  time  they 
were  married.  Both  our  subject  and  his  estimable 
wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  at  Indianola.  and  Mr.  Pol- 
lard, politically,  gives  his  unqualified  support  to 
the  I  )emocratic  party. 

A  view  of  Mr.  Pollard's  place  is  shown  elsewhere 
in   this  work. 

ELISIIA  C.  U.  F1TIIIAN.  The  Fithian  fam- 
ily has  been  widely  known  in  Central 
i  Illinois  for  many  years.  We  find  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  comfortably  located  on  section 
19,  in  Oakwood  Township,  where  he  has  followed 
agriculture  since  1854.  He  is  the  youngest  of 
three  sons,  the  offspring  of  Dr.  William  and  Orle- 
thea  T.  (Merry)  Fithian,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
where  they  were  reared,  educated  and  married,  and 
came  to  Illinois  as  early  as  1830.  [See  sketch  on 
another   page.]      They  settled    at    Danville,    where 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


06; 


the  father  followed  his  profession  continuously  until 
about  1879.  '1  he  manner  in  which  he  was  prospered 
is  indicated  from  the  fact  thai  lie  is  now  the  owner  of 
2,700  acres  of  land  in  Oakw 1  and  Vance  town- 
ships, 40(i  acres  being  in   timber  and   the  balance 

under  a  g 1  state  of  cultivation.    L  is  mostly  leased 

toother  parties,  and  our  subject  is  superintendent  of 
Hie  whole.  The  parental  family  comprised  three 
children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living,  the  eldest  son. 
George  B.,  having  died  in  1874.  The  son  besides 
our  subject  is  William  Henry,  a  resident  of  Fithian, 
III. 

The  subjed  of  this  notice  was  the  youngest  of 
his  parents'  three  sons,  and  was  horn  Nov.  8,  L837, 
in  Danville,  this  county.  lie  acquired  a  practical 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  began  farming  for  himself  on  the 
hind  which  he  now  occupies.  He  met  with  fair 
success,  and  on  the  10th  of  February,  1865,  estab- 
lished domestic  ties  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Annie  M.  Hays.  Mrs.  Fithian  was  the  third 
child  in  the  family  of  John  Hays,  who  came  to  Illi- 
nois from  Ohio,  in  1862,  and  settled  near  Homer, 
Champaign  County,  where  he  occupied  himself  in 
farming.  His  family  consisted  of  twelve  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs.  Fithian  was  born 
March  15,  1840,  in  Athens  Co.,  Ohio. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Fithian  has  continued 
the  superintendence  of  his  father's  farm.  The 
Doctor  is  now  past  his  ninetieth  year,  and  is  ipiile 
feeble  in  health,  lie  continues  a  resident  of  Dan- 
ville. He  has  been  a  very  prominent  man  in  his 
community — active,  energetic  and  public-spirited — 
and  the  town  of  Fithian,  which  was  laid  out,  by  the 
Indiana,  Bloomington  A-  Western  Railroad  Com- 
pany, was  named  in  his  honor.  Ilis  first  wife  died 
in  early  womanhood,  in  1887,  and  he  was  subse- 
quently married  to  Mrs.  Black,  the  widowed  mother 
of  Gen.  John  C.  Black,  and  she  died  in  1886. 
John  Hays,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Fithian,  died  on  the 
7th  of  August,  1886.  Her  mother  is  still  living. 
making  her  home  in  Muncie,  111.,  and  is  now 
seventy-one  years  old. 

Mr.  Fithian  is  quite  conservative  in  politics,  and 
has  always  been  a  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
casting  his  hist  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  I860, 
lie   was   personally    acquainted     with    him.    having 


often  met  him  at  his  father's  house,  the  martyred 
President  regarding  Dr.  Fithian  as  one  of  his  warm, 
personal  friends,  and  frequently  visiting  him.  Mr. 
Fithian  has  been  a  School  Director  for  many  years, 
and  socially  belongs  to  Fairinount  Lodge,  No.  590. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M..  with  which  he  has  been  connected 
for  about  sixteen  years.  The  live  children  of  our 
subject  and  his  estimable  wife  were  named,  re- 
spectively: Paid  H.,  Lalla  R.,  Klisha  C.  B.,  John 
C.  B.  and  David  W. 


DA.M  EATON.  There  is  nothing  in  life 
more  beautiful  and  attractive  than  a  se- 
ll) renc  and  quiet  old  age,  the  result  of  a  life 
well  spent,  with  a  conscience  void  of 
offense,  and  a  consciousness  of  having  lived  up- 
rightly and  in  a.  manner  deserving  of  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  mankind.  These  thoughts  in- 
voluntarily arise  in  noting  the  career  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  is  in  fair  circumstances,  and 
occupies  a  comfortable  homestead  on  section  I,  in 
Sidell  Township. 

Mr.  Eaton  is  a  man  of  large  experience,  a  native 
of  Barren  County,  Ky.,  and  born  near  Glasgow, 
March  1,  1«2"2.  His  early  studies  were  pursued  in 
the  subscription  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
he  accompanied  his  father's  family  in  their  various 
removals  through  Kentucky  to  Tennessee,  Missis- 
sippi and  Alabama.  In  the  meantime,  upon  reaching 
man's  estate  he  employed  himself  in  connection 
with  the  "  tobacco  and  the  cotton  and  the  corn." 
and  was  a  witness  of  all  the  phases  of  life  in  the 
Smith  during  that  period  and  prior  to  the  outbreak 
of  the  Rebellion.  In  Tennessee  he  found  his  wife, 
being  married  in  1  S-l  1  to  Miss  Frances  Giner,  a 
native  of  that  State. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eaton,  after  their  marriage,  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  and  thence,  in  1845,  to  In- 
diana, where  they  lived  seven  years,  and  where 
their  eldest  child  was  born.  In  1852  they  came  to 
this  county  and  set-tied  live  miles  east  of  Danville, 
where  our  subject  rented  a  farm  of  Dr.  Porter, 
upon  which  he  remained  ten  years.  Then,  in  1879 
with  the  results  of  his  labors,   he    purchased   eighty 


GG8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


acres  of  land,  from  which  he  constructed  his  pies 
ent  homestead.  lie  has  effected  good  improve- 
ments and  surrounded  himself  and  his  family  with 
all  the  comforts  of  life.  Living  at  peace  among 
his  neighbors  and  giving  his  chief  attention  to  the 
interests  immediately  connected  with  his  home,  he 
has  had  ample  time  to  reflect  upon  the  vicissitudes 
of  life  and  draw  his  own  conclusions  therefrom. 
The  four  living  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs  Eaton  are 
recorded  as  follows:  David  married  Miss  Rachel 
Raffet,  and  lived  in  Sidell ;  they  have  seven  children 
living.  Malen  married  Miss  Ida  Soyer,  lives  in 
this  township,  and  is  the  father  of  one  chill — Les- 
lie; Mary  is  the  wife  of  Simon  Hill,  of  Sidell.  and 
the}'  have  two  children — Elmer  and  Walter;  Pres- 
ton remains  at  home  with  his  parents.  Mr.  Eaton 
votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  New  Light  Church. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  were  David  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Thomas)  Eaton,  the  father  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee. They  were  married  in  Kentucky,  and  lived 
there  for  a  time  on  a  farm.  About  1815  they  re- 
moved tn  Indiana,  settling  in  Harrison  County, and 
later  came  to  this  county,  where  the  lather  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  The  mother  was 
eighty  years  old  at  the  time  of  her  decease.  Their 
family  consisted  of  eleven  children — four  sons  and 
seven  daughters — of  whom  Adam,  our  subject, 
was  the  second  born. 


"<&& 


AMUEL  W.  BAUM  is  one  of  the  many 
well-to-do  men  of  Carroll  Township,  and 
a  popular  stockman  of  Vermilion  County 
For  several  years  he  has  been  engaged  in 
breeding  Shorthorn  cattle,  and  at  this  writing  has 
on  hand  a  herd  of  his  favorite  breed  of  cattle  of 
good  pedigrees.  The  animal  standing  at  the  head 
of  this  fine  herd  of  cattle  is  the  celebrated  "Com- 
modore Barney,"  a  well-known  prize  winner,  and 
was  owned  by  the  late  Harvey  Sodowsky,  which  is 
a  guarantee  of  the  excellence  of  tin's  beautiful 
animal. 

Mr.  Baum  is  the  son  of   Samuel    Haum,  who  was 
a  very  popular  gentleman,  and  one  of  the  old   set- 


tles of  Carroll  Township.  His  mother  was  Sarah 
Weaver,  a  daughter  of  Michael  Weaver,  who  lived 
to  be  one  hundred  years  old.  The  elder  Baum  and 
Weaver  came  together  to  this  county  in  wagons 
drawn  by  oxen.  The  Baums  built  up  the  oldest 
city  in  the  county — Indianola — and  were  instru- 
mental in  directing  the  outside  world  to  the  fer- 
tility and  resources  of  Vermilion  County  as  a 
desirable  location.  The  Baums  were  also  distin- 
guished pioneers  of  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  and  of 
Clermont  County,  Ohio,  while  that  country  was 
under  territorial  rule.  The  grandfather,  Charles 
Baum,  was  a  gunsmith  by  trade.  He  volunteered 
in  the  War  of  1812,  but  was  thought  to  be  too 
valuable  a  man  to  enter  the  ranks,  so  he  was  em- 
ployed in  making  and  repairing  firearms.  He  made 
a  gun  for  his  own  use  in  the  army,  but  gave  it  to 
another  soldier.  lie  was  very  religiously  inclined, 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Samuel 
Baum  was  married  twice,  and  by  the  first  union 
had  eleven  children:  Oliver  P.,  Mary,  Elizabeth, 
Susan  A..  Catherine,  Francis,  Emiline,  Samuel  \\  .. 
William  and  Angeline. 

Samuel  W.  was  born  Feb.  15,  1843,  and  was 
reared  to  agriculture  in  this  county.  He  is  largely 
engaged  in  the  stock  business,  and  is  an  extensive 
shipper.  He  owns  several  farms,  the  homestead 
containing  600  acres.  All  his  land  has  been  im- 
proved by  himself,  as  when  he  bought  it,  it  was  in 
a  wild  condition.  His  farms  are  all  well  fenced, 
conveniently  arranged,  and  well  supplied  with 
water;  the  barns  are  commodious,  and  the  pastures 
are  of  the  very  best.  His  dwelling  is  a  comfort- 
able one.  and  in  it  can  be  found  a  genial  hostess, 
whose  hospitality  is  proverbial.  The  stock  on  this 
farm  is  of  the  very  finest.  Any  one  of  the  ani- 
mals would  take  a  prominent  place  at  a  fair  or  a 
fat  stock  show.  It  is  safe  to  make  the  assertion 
that  there  are  no  better  cattle  in  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois than  those  owned  by  Mr.  Baum. 

Mr.  Baum  was  married  to  Miss  Delia  E.  Stewart, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Cochrane)  Stew- 
art, the  former  being  a  native  of  Ohio,  while  the 
latter  was  a  daughter  of  Gen.  Cochrane,  a  hero  of 
the  War  of  1812,  and  who  represented  his  people 
in  the  Legislature.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart  came  to 
Georgetown  from  Woodford    County,   111.,  having 


PORTRAIT  AND   lUO< !  i!  API1  ICA  I.  ALBUM. 


661) 


settled  there  Brat  upon  coming  ti>  this  State.  They 
floated  down  the  Ohio  and  came  up  the  Mississippi 
mid  Illinois  rivers,  until  they  reached  their  des- 
tination. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewarl  are  both  living, 
and  in  this  world's  goods  are  well-to-do.  They  arc 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  all  girls:  Tamer  E. 
and  Mary  M.  (deceased),  twins;  Lovina,  Sarah  A. 
I  deceased  ).  Josephine,  Frances,  Delphine  and  I  )olly 
.1.  Mrs.  Baum  was  horn  in  Georgetown,  where  she 
attended  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
then  entered  the  High  School  at  Danville.  She  is 
an  accomplished  lady  and  a  faithful  wife.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Baum  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Baum  is  a  strong  Republican,  a  protectionist, 
and  a  friend  of  progress  and  prosperity.  He  be- 
lieves thai  his  party's  platforms  embody  political 
wisdom,  and  that  its  candidates,  as  a  rule,  are 
good,  and,  therefore,  he  votes  the  Republican 
ticket,  though  he  never  seeks  office.  Mr.  Rauui's 
reputation  among  those  who  know  him  hest.  is  irre- 
proachable. 


\~f/„.  KNRY  B.  CURRENT  has  a  pleasant  home 
f[j)  in  Newell  Township,  and  is  a  gentleman  of 
<Aw^  good  family  and  social  prominence  in  the 
i(jg)  community  in  which  he  lives.  His  parents. 
William  and  Mary  (  Bastian)  Current,  natives  of 
Monongalia  County,  W.  Va.,  emigrated  to  Illinois 
in  1827, and  located  iii  Newell  Township  about  one- 
half  mile  from  the  place  which  is  at  present  owned 
by  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Their  lot  was  the 
common  one  of  all  the  pioneers,  but  as  the  reward 
of  industry  and  frugality  they  were  enabled  to 
spend  their  latter  years  in  comfort  and  ease,  and 
now  sleep  side  by  side  in  the  silent  city  of  the  dead, 
known  locally  as  the  Lynch  Cemetery,  where  their 
final  resting  place  is  marked  by  a  handsome  monu- 
ment which  informs  the  passerby  that  the  mother 
entered  into  rest  in  the  year  1855,  and  the  father  in 
the  following  year,  the  date  of  his  departure  being 
1856. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Current  arrived  in 
Newell  Township  they  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land    on     which    they    erected    such     buildings    as 


they  could  afford,  which  it  musl  he  confessed  were 
built  with  an  eye  to  convenience  and  economy, 
rather  than  to  minister  to  the  Aesthetic  tastes  of  the 
beholder.     Bui  in  those  primitive  log  cabins  were 

to  he  found  people  of  intelligence  ami  frequently 
people  of  liberal  education,  who.  although  often 
obliged  to  deny  themselves  many  conveniences 
and  lindt  themselves  to  the  barest  necessaries  of  life 
were  yet  not  inhospitable  bul  welcomed  the  stran- 
ger and  traveler  with  warm  hearts,  and  provided 
for  his  needs  to  the  hest  of  their  ability. 

Under  such  conditions  and  amid  such  people  the 
youth  of  our  subject  was  passed.  His  parents 
reared  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  of  which  he 
was  the  eldest,  and  by  the  blessing  of  the  God  they 
served  they  were  enabled  to  add  to  their  original 
purchase  some  312  acres,  so  that  at  the  time  of  their 
decease  the  estate  which  was  left  to  their  heirs  em- 
braced 352  acres,  finely  improved  and  yielding  a 
gooil  income. 

Henry  B.  Current  was  born  on  the  4th  of. Inly. 
1821,  hence  was  a  mere  child  when  his  parents  be- 
came, residents  of  Illinois.  His  early  life  was  spent 
under  the  parental  roof,  where  he  received  the  usual 
schooling  of  the  times  and  pursued  the  ordinary 
round  of  duties  pertaining  to  a  boy's  life  on  a 
farm.  The  monotony  of  life  in  that  neighborhood 
was  broken  on  Feb.  10.  IK  12.  by  a  wedding,  the 
principal  actors  being  our  subject  and  Miss  Martha 
Shroff,  the  ceremony  taking  place  at  the  home  of 
the  brides's  parents.  Mrs.  Current's  parents  were 
natives  of  Ohio,  and  removed  to  Illinois,  in  which 
State  they  made  their  home  until  released  from 
earth's  trials  and  cares. 

Mis.  Current  was  an  estimable  woman  and  be- 
came the  mother  of  nine  children,  as  follows:  Will- 
i:i in,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Mary' is  the  wife  of  David  Cuningham; 
Margaret;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  ('.  Campbell;  Vallie, 
the  wife  of  M.  Elder;  Amanda  (deceased)  was  the 
wife  of  R.  Elder;  John  died  when  only  two  years 
and  six  months  old;  David  died  when  two  years 
I  old.  and  Rebecca  died  when  an  infant  of  three 
weeks.  Mrs.  Current  joined  her  departed  children 
in  the  beautiful  land  of  rest,  leaving  to  the  remain- 
ing members  of  her  family  the  bright  example  of 
;\    goodly    life.      Our    subject    was   again    united  in 


670 


PORTRAIT  AND  BTOCR  APHICAL  ALBUM. 


marriage,  taking  for  his  life  partner  Miss  Sarah 
Bewer,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Martha,  now 
Mrs.  Perry  Adams.  Following  the  death  of  his  sec- 
ond wife  our  subject  was  for  the  third  time  united 
in  the  bonds  of  matrimony,  with  Miss  Emma  Watts 
Aug.  17,  1881.  This  amiable  lady  is  a  daughter 
of  David  and  Frances  Watts,  natives  of  Eng- 
land, who  emigrated  to  America  while  young  and 
took  up  land  in  Vermilion  County,  making  a  com- 
fortable home  in  Newell  Township,  where  Miss 
Emma  was  horn  and  grew  into  sweet  and  gracious 
womanhood,  remaining  in  her  childhood's  home 
until  called  to  her  present  sphere  of  activity  and  use- 
fulness, where  she  is  the  presiding  genius  of  a  chast- 
ened yet  cheerful  family. 

The  faun  belonging  to  Mr.  Current  comprises 
320  acres  of  land  under  excellent  cultivation,  and 
is  well  supplied  with  all  necessary  outbuildings 
and  a  handsome,  commodious  residence,  which  is 
the  abode  of  peace,  plenty  and  content.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  popular  man  in  his  district  and  has  held 
the  office  of  Road  Commissioner;  the  right  of  a 
freeman  is  exercised  by  him  in  favor  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  The  Masonic  order  claims  him  as  a 
brother.  Mr.  and  .Airs.  Current  are  consistent 
members  and  regular  attendants  on  the  service  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


._4s_ 


-sv.^_ 


7|f-s- 


^ 


BRUCE  SMITH.  There  are  few  men 
more  widely  and  favorably  known  to  the 
citizens  of  Danville  and  vicinity  than  the 
^g)'  subject  of  this  notice.  Here  have  centered 
his  life-long  interests,  and  in  this  city  he  was  born, 
Dec.  2fi,  1847,  when  the  home  of  his  parents  was 
at  the  corner  of  what  is  now  Main  and  Franklin 
streets,  in  one  of  the  first  brick  buildings,  owned 
by  his  father.  Isaac  P.  Smith,  who  was  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  the  county. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  town  and  entered  upon  his  active 
business  career  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years, 
when  he  commenced  selling  the  Lafayette  ('mir- 
ier, which  came  in  on  the  lit  o'clock  P.  M.  train. 
and  which   he   would    deliver    afterward.      During 


the  day  he  was  employed  at  a  news-stand  to  deliver 
papers  to  regular  subscribers.  He  next  engaged  as 
clerk  in  a  hardware  store,  and  subsequently  was  in 
the  employ  of  T.  II.  Myers,  the  first  Mayor  of 
Danville,  and  Agent  of  the  United  States  Express 
Co.  He  also  operated  a  grocery  and  purchased 
furs  and  hides.  Young  Smith  was  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Myers  about  five  years,  and  in  the  mean- 
time officiated  as  clerk  for  the  Wabash  Railroad, 
and  for  Daniel  Gurley,  who  dealt  in  hides  and  furs. 

After  leaving  Mr.  Myers  for  the  last  time  our 
subject  entered  the  boot  and  shoe  store  of  I).  1!. 
Haggard,  where  lie  remained  one  year.  We  next 
find  him  in  the  employ  of  the  boot  and  shoe  mer- 
chant, Mr.  McClennathen.  He  next  assumed  the 
management  of  the  postoffice  and  the  book-store  of 
W.  T.  Cunningham,  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  public  square,  and  under  the  post  mastership  of 
of  Mr.  McKibben.  Later  the  office  was  moved  to 
Vermilion  street.  After  the  appointment  of  Sam 
uel  Fairchild  as  Postmaster,  Mr.  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  Postmaster,  and  remained  con- 
nected with  the  office  some  years. 

Upon  withdrawing  from  the  postoffice  Mr.  Smith 
established  in  the  grocery  business  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Franklin  streets,  but  sold  out  a  year  later 
and  became  bookkeeper  for  Smith  &  Piel,  butchers. 
During  1 87:5— '74  he  was,  on  account  of  ill-health, 
unable  to  engage  in  any  arduous  labor,  and  during 
the  latter  \  ear  repaired  to  Chicago  and  underwent 
a  surgical  operation  which  resulted  in  the  entire 
recovery  of  his  health.  Soon  afterward  he  was 
solicited  to  become  the  candidate  for  City  Treas- 
urer. He  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  418,  served 
his  term,  and  in  1875  was  re-elected,  beating  his 
two  opponents  by  187  votes.  Since  a  youth  of 
eighteen  years  he  has  been  occupying  his  leisure 
time  in  the  reading  of  law.  In  1878  he  entered 
the  office  of  the  Danville  Commercial,  a  few  weeks 
after  it  was  established,  and  the  way  in  which 
he  wrote  up  the  county  fair  so  pleased  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  paper  and  the-people  generally  that  he 
was  given  the  post  of  City  Editor,  which  he  held 
one  year.  Next  he  became  associated  with  the 
Danville  News,  and  in  due  time  resigned  this  posi- 
tion to  take  one  with  Mayor  Lawrence. 

In  the  Spring  of    1881  Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  six 


PORTRAIT  AND   UK  )( !  RA  I'll  K'A  I.   AI.F.UM. 


671 


candidates  f«>r  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  secured 
1302  out  of  1831  votes.  This  office  lie  held  four 
years,  and  in  the  meantime  continued  his  law 
studies,  lie  passed  a  written  examination  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Springfield,  and  as  a  .lustier 
of  the  Peace  acquitted  himself  so  satisfactorily  that 
lie  was  re-elected,  receiving  1831  out  of  2400 
rotes,  heating  the  closest  competitor  of  seven  can- 
didates by  299  votes.  In  the  spring  of  1889  he 
was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  by  125  major- 
ity, the  first  time  in  which  party  politics  had  any 
thing  to  do  with  the  election  of  this  officer.  He 
pursued  his  law  studies  first  under  Col.  Jesse  Har- 
per eighteen  months,  and  then  with  W.  R,  Law- 
rence six  months.  After  being  admitted  to  the  bar 
he  opened  an  office  on  East  Main  street  and  prac- 
ticed in  all  the  courts,  besides  discharging  the 
duties  of  his  office  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  lie 
also  operates  as  a  real-estate  dealer  and  loan  agent, 
and  has  just  put  out  a  Directory  for  the  city  of 
Danville.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  he  must  pos- 
sess «reat  energy  and  has  few  idle  hours.  So 
ciallv  he  belongs  to  the  I.  0.0.  F.,  the  K.  of  P., 
and  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  religious, 
views  he  coincides  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  at  one  time  officiated  as  Editor- 
in-chief  of  the  Danville  Argus,  and  as  Special 
Correspondent  of  the  Chicago  Time*,  and  Tribune. 
Isaac  1'.  Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
horn  near  Snow  Hill,  in  Worcester  County,  Md., 
in   1792.      His    boyhood    days  were    spent    upon    a 

farm  and  his  education   was  acquired  in    the  ( i- 

mon  school.  In  his  youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter,  also  that  of  a  baker,  and  later  became  a 
contractor  and  builder.  Of  his  first  marriage  there  i 
there  were  born  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  lived 
to  mature  years.  Finally  he  left  Maryland  and 
took  up  his  abode  in  Pickaway  County.  Ohio, 
where  he  entered  a  tract  of  land,  which  he  im- 
proved, and  also  followed  his  trade.  Later  he 
moved  to  Northern  Indiana,  whence  he  came  to 
this  county  in  the  summer  of  1832.  All  these 
journcyings  had  been  made  overland  with  teams, 
the  teams  being  utilized  in  hauling  the  goods, 
while  the  family  came  most  of  the  way  on  foot. 
After  arriving  in  this  county  Air.  Smith  entered  a 
tract  of  land  in  what    is    now    Danville    Township. 


and  situated  six  or  seven  miles  south  of  the  pres- 
ent city.  He  set  out  a  great  many  trees,  especi- 
ally sugar  maples,  from    which    he    made    a    large 

amount  of  maple  sugar,  and  lost  considerable  by 
the  Indians. 

-   <x-x>    - 


BRAJvl  MANN.     Picture  to  the  mind's  eye 
1     an  imposing  and  beautifully  appointed  resi- 


dence situated  on  a  gentle  rise  of  ground 
in  the  midst  of  shade  trees  and  shrubbery, 
with  tasteful  walks  and  driveway,  with  the  var- 
ious needed  carriage  barns  and  outbuildings  in  the 
rear,  a  choice  apple  orchard  of  bearing  trees  in 
good  condition  and  trees  of  the  smaller  fruits, 
yielding  abundantly  in  their  season,  and  we  have 
the  surroundings  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  Mann  family  originated  in  England  prob- 
ably several  hundred  years  ago, and  this  branch  of 
it  was  represented  in  the  United  States  about  1K34, 
by  Abram  Mann,  Sr. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
people  in  good  standing  in  their  community  and 
members  of  the  Church  of  England.  Their  son, 
Abram,  likewise  a  native  of  Bedfordshire,  was 
married  there  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Smith  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children  who  were  named 
respectively.  Mary  A.,  Catherine.  Abram,  our  sub- 
ject, and  John.  In  1835  the  whole  family  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  and  coming  to  Illinois 
settled  at  Danville.  Our  subject  although  a  mere 
boy  remembers  well  the  time  when  there  were  but 
few  houses  between  this  point  and  the  then  unim- 
portant little  town  of  Chicago.  There  were  but 
few  families  then  in  Ross  Township.  In  1  h;?7  the 
family  removed  to  this  latter  township  where  the 
parents  spent  their  last  days.  The  father  and 
mother  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
( Ihnrch. 

Abram  Mann.  Jr..  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  February,  1829, in  Bedfordshire, England, 
lie  chose  for  his  life  occupation  fanning  pursuits, 
and  remained  a  member  of  the  parental  household 
until  reaching  man's  estate.  He  was  married  to 
Mi^s  Margaret  Dale, daughter  of  John  J.  Dale,  who 
was     born    in     Maryland    and     removed     to    Clark 


672 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


County,  Ohio,  when  quite  young.  Upon  reaching 
man's  estate  lie  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Davison,  by  whom  he  became  the  father  of  eight 
children  in  Ohio  anil  one  after  their  removal  to 
Indiana.  In  I860  they  came  to  this  county,  settling 
in  Ross  Township  where  the  father  died  in  1878. 
Mis.  Dale  ami  seven  of  her  children  are  still  living'. 
One  son,  Daniel  D.,  served  in  the  Union  Army 
(luring  the  late  Civil  War  and  met  his  death  on  the 
battlefield  of  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.  The  father  of 
our  subject  at  his  death  left  a  fine  estate  including 
5.000  acres  of  land.  This  splendid  trad  of  land 
is  remarkably  rich  and  fertile  and  it  has  most  prop- 
erly been  embellished  with  one  of  the  finest  farm 
residences  in  the  county.  The  main  building  cov- 
ers an  area  of  50  x  57  feet  with  an  "  L  "  40  x  20 
feet,  is  two  stories  in  height  and  built  of   brick. 

In  addition  to  carrying  on  general  farming  Mr. 
Mann  for  many  years  dealt  extensively  in  cattle, 
horses  and  sheep.  The  accommodations  for  the 
shelter  of  stock  and  the  storage  of  grain  are  ample, 
while  the  farm  machinery  is  of  the  latest  improved 
pattern  and  all  the  other  appliances  are  fully  adapted 
to  the  general  purposes  and  employments  of  rural 
life.  Mr.  Mann  and  his  sister  are  both  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  doctrines 
of  which  they  were  carefully  trained  from  child- 
hood and  in  the  faith  of   which  their  parents   died. 

Mr.  Mann  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  in  1852 
and  has  since  given  his  support  to  the  Republican 
party.  During  the  late  Civil  War  he  contributed 
largely  to  the  support  of  the  Union  cause.  To  him 
and  bis  estimable  wife  there  were  born  two  children 
only,  both  sons,  John  and  George  Dale.  His 
brother  John  also  left  two  children,  Abraham  and 
Marian  who  are  now  living  with  him. 


ROF.  THEODORE  REYNOLDS  is  an 
eminent  educator  of  Vermilion  County, 
ami  is  a  gentleman  who  takes  agieat  inter- 
est in  anything  pertaining  to  the  education 
of  the  youth.  He  is  the  Principal  of  the  Ycrniiiion 
Academy,  Elwood  Township,  and  all  his  energies 
are   centered    in    this   institution.       He   is  a  tireless 


worker,  and  one  in  whose  hands  the  academy  will 
never  suffer,  for  nothing  escapes  his  notice  that 
will  forward  its  material  or  moral  welfare. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Elwood  Township, 
three  miles  east  of  Ridge  Farm,  on  June  7th.  1855. 
His  father.  Linton  Reynolds,  was  a  native  of  Indi- 
ana, and  in  his  early  life  a  wagon-maker  and  car- 
penter, but  of  late  years  he  has  followed  farming 
exclusively,  and  in  tins  line  of  business  he  has 
prospered,  being  a  man  of  intelligence  and  energy. 
I  lis  wife  was  Lydia.  daughter  of  Asa  Eolger,  a 
prominent  pioneer  of  this  county,  who  came  here 
from  Indiana  about  18:50,  with  her  parents,  when 
she  was  three  years  of  age,  and  therefore  has  been 
practically  reared  in  this  neighborhood.  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Reynolds  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living:  Theodore,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Luther,  Othello  and  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  Lewis). 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  the  Bloomingdale  Academy  and  Wabash 
College,  being  graduated  from  the  latter  in  June, 
1884,  with  a  degree  of  B.  S.,  and  in  1.S87  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  A.  M,  from  the  same  institution. 
Before  being  graduated  from  college  Mr.  Reynolds 
taught  school  for  five  years,  bis  first  effort  in  this 
direction  being  at  Locust  Corner,  in  Elwood  Town- 
ship. He  made  an  application  in  1881  for  bis 
present  position,  but  was  rejected.  After  his  rejec- 
tion he  taught  the  Vermilion  public  school  for 
eight  months,  commencing  in  September,  188  1,  and 
before  the  year  had  expired,  the  same  board  that 
had  rejected  him  gave  him  a  call  to  take  charge  of 
flic  academy,  which  he  accepted,  entering  upon  his 
duties  in  September,  1KS5.  He  has  remained  in 
charge  of  the  institution  since,  being  elected  for 
the  fifth  consecutive  year.  Mr  Reynolds  has 
given  great,  satisfaction  to  all  the  people  who  are 
connected  with  the  academy,  and  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  the  tenure  of  his  office  rests  solely  upon  his 
will. 

The  Vermilion  Academy  is  rapidly  coming  to 
the  front  as  a  standard  institution  of  learning.  It 
was  established  at  Vermilion  Grove  in  1874,  by  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  which 
meets  at  this  place  annually.  They  recognized  the 
fact  that  they  needed  a  place  where  their  people 
could  be  educated    in  the  same  manner  as  other  de- 


PORTRAIT  AND   Bloi ;  RAPHICAB  ALBUM. 


673 


nominational  schools,  and  the  result  of  their  delibe- 
rations in  this  direction  was  the  establishment  of 
tli is  Academy.  The  building  is  a  large  two-story 
structure,  built  <>f  brick,  and  was  erected  in  the 
year  named  by  private  subscriptions,  and  also  lias 
been  the  beneficiary  of  endowments.  The  incorpo- 
rators were  all  members  <>f  the  Quarterly  Meeting, 
and  in  1875,  when  the  corporation  was  formed,  a 
resolution  was  passed  creating  all  members  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  over  twenty-one  years  of  age 
legal  members  of  the  corporate  body,  thus  making 
the  school  the  property  of  the  church.  There  are 
about  seventy  students  in  attendance,  and  Mr. 
Reynolds  lias  one  assistant. 

Mr.  Reynolds  married  Lovina  J.,  daughter  of 
Samuel  KuvUendall.  The  latter  is  a  resident  of 
Indiana,  ami  a  farmer  living  near  Tern'  Haute. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  have  three  children — 
CoraB.,  Ethel  L.  and  Bertha.  Mr.  Reynolds  es- 
tablished a  graduating  course  and  nine  were  gradu- 
ated this  year.  The  commencement  exercises 
were  full  of  interest,  each  one  acquitting  himself 
and  herself  nobly.  As  a  matter  of  course,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reynolds  belong  to  the  Quaker  Church.  They 
are  very  highly  respected  in  the  community  as 
o I  neighbors  and  excellent  citizens. 


— i-«-&=S>^8-«- 


y  RS.  CATHERINE  T.  MORELAND,  widow 
of  Thomas  R.  Moreland,  is  one  of  the  most 
active  and  cheerful  of  the  elderly  ladies  of 
Carroll  Township,  and  is  a  general  favor- 
ite with  all,  old  and  young.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Susan  (Miller)  Hedges,  natives  of 
Botirbon  County,  Ky..  where  they  passed  their  en- 
tire lives,  ami  where  thei  r  remains  were  laid  to  rest 
to  await  the  resurrection  morn. 

Grandfather  John  Hedges  was  born  near  Balti- 
more, Md.,  on  his  father's  farm,  the  Hedges  having 
been  farmers  throughout  several  generations,  fol- 
lowing that  occupation  in  Maryland  and  Virginia. 
The  genealogy  of  the  Hedges  family  can  be  traced 
back  to  the  person  of  Sir  Charles  Hedges,  who  was  a 
worthy  English  Parliamentarian,  and  graduate  of 
Oxford   University,  from   which  institution  he  re- 


ceived his  diploma  in  1675.  He  was  appointed  one  of 
the  chief  Secretaries  of  State  under  Queen  Anne  in 
17(10,  and  about  the  same  time  was  returned  to  Par- 
liament in  which  body  he  held  a  seat  several  years, 
but  when  the  Whigs  obtained  control  of  the  go\ 
eminent  in  1707  he  was  dismissed.  At  his  death 
in  1711  he  left  one  son,  Charles,  who  on  hisdemise 
divided  his  vast  estate,  by  will,  between  his  family 
of  five  children  which  consisted  of  one  son  and 
four  daughters.  This  son.  Joseph,  emigrated  to 
America  where  he  made  a  home,  and  continued  to 
reside  in  this  country  until  his  death  which  oc- 
curred in  Prince  George's  County,  Md.  l-'roni 
him  spring  the  large  family  of  Hedges  in  America, 
and  a  vast  estate  estimated  at  $250,000,000  is  still 
left  in  England  awaiting  the  rightful  heirs  to 
prove  their  claim  and  secure  the  money. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  four  children  who 
grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Henry.  Zerilda  A.. 
Catherine  T.,  .Mary  A.  and  John  T.,  who  was  a  son 
of  Mr.  Peter  Hedges  by  his  second  wife  and  now 
resides  in  Bourbon  County.  Ky.  Mrs.  Moreland 
is  the  only  survivor  of  the  children  born  to  the 
first  wife.  She  was  born  Nov.  5,  1827,  in  Bour- 
bon County,  Ky..  where  she  passed  her  childhood 
and  young  ladyhood.  She  attended  the  best  pri- 
vate schools  in  the  county  and  completed  her 
education  at  a  seminary  taught  by  the  Sisters  in 
Lexington,  Ky.  She  entered  that  institution  when  a 
miss  of  fourteen  and  completed  the  course  with  high 
honor  when  about  eighteen,  having  endeared  herself 
by  her  many  good  qualities  ami  amiable  traits  of 
character  not  only  to  the  gentle  ladies  in  charge  of 
the  school,  but  also  to  her  school-mates  with 
whom  she  was  a  general  favorite. 

Miss  Catherine  took  upon  herself  the  duties  of 
wifehood  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen  years  in  ltf  17 
when  she  was  married  to  Thomas  R.  Moreland  in 
1817.  The  wedding  occurred  during  the  palmy 
days  of  slavery,  and  as  the  parents  of  Mrs.  More- 
land  owned  a  large  number  of  slaves,  the  exquisite 
fairness  of  the  dainty  bride  and  her  attendants,  was 
well  set  off  against  a  dusky  background  formed  by 
the  sable  followers  of  the  numerous  guests  usual 
on  such  occasions,  mingling  with  the  home  repre- 
sentatives of  the  "peculiar  institution."  Although 
the  colored  members  of  the  Hedges'  estate  occupied 


G74 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


a  servile  position,  their  love  and  esteem  was  lav- 
ishly bestowed  upon  young  ''missie,"  and  no  truer 
or  more  heartfelt  wishes  for  her  welfare  were 
uttered,  than  came  from  the  lips  of  the  so-called  in- 
ferior  race. 

Mr.  Moreland,  a  native  of  Bourbon  County. 
Ky.,  was  horn  March  27.  1827.  His  parents  Will- 
iam and  Margaret  (Wbaby)  Moreland,  were  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  they  were 
married  and  from  which  tliey  emigrated  to  Ken- 
tucky, establishing  themselves  in  the  above  named 
county,  and  making  that  their  lionie  during  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  They  prospered  in  the 
new  locality  and  reared  their  family  in  comfort 
giving  them  an  excellent  education. 

About  ten  years  after  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moreland  left  their  childhood's  home  and  located 
in  Carroll  Township,  Vermilion  Co..  111.,  the 
date  of  their  arrival  in  that  State  being  1857. 
Their  change  of  location  proved  a  fortunate  one 
as  they  prospered  finely  in  their  new  home,  and 
their  bark  glided  smoothly  over  the  stream  of 
life,  meeting  few  obstacles  to  hinder  its  progress 
until  1864,  when  Mr.  Moreland  crossed  over  the 
river,  leaving  Mrs.  Moreland  to  continue  the  jour- 
ney  onward  without  his  sympathy  and  companion- 
ship. Although  lonely  and  sad  at  times,  she  is.  at 
the  age  of  sixty-two,  a  cheerful,  active  lady,  a  de- 
sirable acquaintance  for  those  in  prosperity  and  a 
sympathetic  friend  to  those  in  adversity.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Moreland  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living,  their  resid- 
ences being  in  various  places  in  the  Stales  of  Indi- 
ana, Missouri  and  Illinois. 


r.  I 


^|  ON  All  M.DAVIS.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
established  himself  at  Ridge  Farm  in  the 
spring  of  1855,  where,  with  the  exception  of 
tRsMl  one  summer  spent  as  a  clerk  in  old  Bloom  field) 
he  has  since  lived  and  engaged  in  various  branches 
of  business.  He  is  now  engaged  as  a  furniture 
dealer  and  undertaker,  and  from  his  known  in- 
tegrity and  promptness  in  meeting  his  obligations, 
ranks   among   its    leading    business     men.       He  is 


well  educated  and  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence — one  who  has  made  the  most  of  his 
opportunities  in  life,  and  kept  his  eyes  open  to 
what  has  been  going  on  about  him.  He  numbers 
his  friends  by  the  score  in  Elwood  Township, 
where  his  familiar  figure  has  been  passing  to  and 
fro  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-four  years. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  sea  coast  near  Cape 
Lookout,  in  Carteret  County,  N.  C,  March  2,  1824. 
His  father,  Jesse  Davis,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county  and  of  Welsh  ancestry.  The  family  was 
first  represented  in  America  on  Nantucket  Island, 
whence  they  emigrated  to  different  parts  of  the 
country.  The  parents  of  our  subject  set  out  for  the 
North  in  the  spring  of  1832,  establishing  themselves 
at  Milton,  Wayne  Co..  Ind.,  where  our  subject  pur- 
sued his  early  studies  in  a  school  carried  on  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  In  due 
time  he  developed  into  a  teacher,  but  after  teach- 
ing two  terms,  desirous  of  adding  to  his  store  of 
knowledge,  he  entered  the  High  School  of  the 
Friends  at  New  Garden,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  O.  where 
he  spent  the  spring  and  summer  of  1847.  lie 
taught  school  the  following  winter  near  the  old 
homestead,  and  returned  to  Indiana  in  1848.  He 
was  a  resident  of  Henry  County  tor  nearly  a  year 
thereafter,  then  entered  the  Friends'  High  School 
near  Annapolis,  now  (Bloomiugdale),  lud.,  and 
studied  while  also  acting  as  assistant  teacher  a  por- 
tion of  the  time.  The  school  was  then  presided 
over  by  Prof.  Harvey  Thomas,  its  founder.  From 
this  place  our  subject,  in  the  fall  of  1849,  made  his 
way  to  Miami  County,  Ohio,  where  he  taught 
school  a  year  on  the  Still  Water,  near  Ludlow 
Falls,  where  there  is  an  extensive  cedar  grove, 
supposed  to  have  been  planted  by  the  Indians,  and 
which  was  an  object  of  admiration  to  both  resi- 
dents and  travelers. 

Mr.  Davis,  in  the  fall  of  1850,  came  to  this 
county  and  took  charge  of  the  public  school  at 
Vermilion  Grove,  which  numbered  lid  pupils, 
considered  at  that  day  something  remarkable.  He 
was  obliged  to  employ  assistants,  and  held  this 
position  iive  years,  after  which  became  to  Ridge 
Farm,  and  was  engaged  with  Abraham  Smith  in 
the  mercantile  business  for  a  few  years,  and  then 
with  Henry  C.  Smith  ayearor  two;  continuing  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


675 


business  in  company  with  a  brother  undci  the 
linn  name  of  Davis  Bros,  until  the  year  1867. 
Merchandising  vtas  a  lucrative  avocation  during 
these  years,  which  included  the  war  of  the  slave- 
holder's rebellion.  In  the  year  1872  the  brothers 
lmilt  the  Ridge  Farm flouring-mill,  which  they  sold 
six  months  thereafter,  and  our  subject  retired  from 
active  business  life  for  several  years. 

The  9th  of  November,  1875,  witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  with  Miss  Ella,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  F.  Jenkins,  and  who,  like  her  husband, 
was  also  a  popular  teacher  prior  to  her  marriage. 
They  have  three  children — Royal,  Ruby  and  Nellie. 
Mrs.  Frances  ('.  Jenkins,  the  mother  of  .Mrs.  Davis, 
is  n  prominent  minister  in  the  Friends"  Church,  a 
noted  temperance  worker,  and  an  active  member 
the  W.  C.  T.  I.  Mr.  Davis  and  his  wife  are  both 
connected  with  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  render 
efficient  service  in  every  Christian  enterprise,  being 
careful  to  devote  at  least  one  tenth  of  their  income 
to  benevolence.. 

In  the  year  188G  Mr.  Davis  purchased  a  furni- 
ture store  in  Ridge  Farm,  and  has  been  pleasantly 
employed  with  his  congenial  wife  in  pleasing  th'e 
tastes  of  their  great  host  of  friends  far  and  near. 
Mr.  Davis,  politically,  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  no  time  or  inclination  for  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  office. 


yfelLLIAM  II.  ROD  RICK.  As  a  native  cit- 
izen of  Vermilion  County,  horn  here  in 
pioneer  times,  son  of  one  of  the  very  ear- 
liest settlers,  this  gentleman  has  witnessed  the 
greater  part  of  its  development,  and  since  attaining 
manhood  has  home  an  honorable  part  in  promoting 
its  growth,  and  is  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interests.  He  owns  and  manages  a  good  farm  in 
Danville  Township,  and  is  numbered  among  its 
Substantial,  highly  respected  citizens. 

lie  was  born  in  Newell  Township,  this  county, 
April  24,  1833.  His  father.  Solomon  Rod  rick,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  Sept.  19,  1803.  His  grandfather, 
Daniel  Rodriek.  was  a  native  of  Germany,  was 
reared  and  married  there,  and   afterwards,  coming 


to  America,  settled  near  (  hillieothe,  ( >hio,  and  was 
a  pioneer  there,  lie  bough!  a  large  brad  of  land, 
on  which  he  built  a  log  house,  and  then  commenced 
to  clear  a  farm.  But  floods  in  the  Ohio  River 
Spoiled  his  crops  and  drowned  his  stock,  and  that 
disaster,  with  prior  claims  on  his  land,  ruined  him 
financially,  and  he  died  there  a  poor  man.  The 
father  Of   Our   subject    was    reared    in    that    pioneer 

home,  and  lived   there  until    1825.     He  then  came 

to  Illinois,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ver- 
milion County,  lie  entered  a  tract  of  ( tovernment 
land  in  Newell  Township,  improved  a  good  farm, 
and  resided  there  until  1884.  In  that  year,  having 
accumulated  a.  competency,  he  came  to  Danville  to 
make  his  home  for  the  future,  and  is  still  living 
here  in  honorable  retirement,  free  from  the  cares 
ami  labors  of  his  earlier  years.  lie  has  been 
three  times  married.  The  maiden  name  of  his  first 
wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Sarah  Brewer. 

William  Rodriek  obtained  his  education  in  the 
primitive  pioneer  schools,  taught  in  a  log  house, 
the  seats  being  made  by  splitting  logs  and  hewing 
one  side  and  inserting  wooden  pins  for  legs,  and 
the  rude  structure  was  heated  by  a  huge  fireplace 
with  a.  dirt  and  a  stick  chimney.  As  soon  as  lie 
was  large  enough,  the  active  lad  began  to  hunt 
deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other  game  that  abounded 
at  that  time,  and  he  supplied  the  family  larder  with 
delicious  venison,  etc.  There  were  no  railways 
here  in  those  early  days,  and  his  father  used  to 
draw  his  wheat  to  Chicago,  12;")  miles  distant,  sell- 
ing it  for  fifty  cents  a  bushel.  At  first  he  used  to 
cut  grain  with  a  sickle,  and  later  with  a  cradle,  and 
having  no  threshing  machine  his  grain  was  trodden 
out  by  horses  or  beaten  with  a  flail.  Our  subject 
remained  an  inmate  of  his  father's  house  until  lie 
married  and  established  a  home  of  his  own,  settling 
at  that  lime  on  the  farm  he  still  owns  and  occu- 
pies. It  was  heavily  timbered,  with  the  exception 
of  six  acres,  and  his  has  been  the  task  of  the  pio- 
neer to  develop  it  from  the  hand  of  nature  to  a 
well-cultivated  estate,  all  but  thirty  acres  cleared 
and  under  tillage,  neatly  fenced,  and  provided  with 
a  substantial,  roomy  set  of  frame  buildings,  the 
whole  forming  one  of  the  pleasantest  homes  in  the 
township. 

.Mr.  Rodriek  was   married    in     1853    to    Mary   A. 


676 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Brewer,  who  was,  like  himself,  a  native  of  Vermil- 
ion County,  born  in  Danville  to  William  ami  Sa 
rail  (Switzer)  Brewer.  To  them  came  ten  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living — Thomas  R.,  Sarah 
('.,  Mary  E..  Francis  and  Minnie  May,  six  having 
died  in  infancy.  Death  invaded  the  happy  house- 
hold of  our  subject  and  removed  the  loved  and 
loving  wife  and  mother. 

In  his  life-work  Mr.  Rodrick  has  shown  himself 
to  be  possessed  of  prudence,  thrift,  steadiness  of 
purpose,  and  other  traits  necessary  to  success  in 
any  calling.  And  while  laboring  to  gain  a  com- 
petence, lie  has  not  been  unmindful  of  his  duties  as 
a  good  man  and  a  reliable  citizen,  and  has  won  for 
himself  a  reputation  for  honesty  and  truthfulness, 
and  for  considerate  and  kindly  dealings  with  his 
neighbors,  who  hold  him  in  great  respect. 


xvv/v  -vtaefirg-SS- 


>**&^s)>zny&*'~  -\y\~- 


is^SIIOMAS  BRADY,  living  in  honorable  re- 
tirement in  ( 'at  1  in  Village  in  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  the  place,  and  one  of  the 
pleasantest  homes  in  the  county,  was  formerly 
largely  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
this  section,  and  still  owns  500  acres  of  very  valuable 
farming  land,  nearly  all  located  in  this  township. 
Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Vermilion  County,  born 
of  pioneer  parentage,  Oct.  8.  1832,  in  Danville 
Township,  and  he  may  well  be  proud  of  its  prog- 
ress and  of  the  part  that  he  has  played  in  bringing 
about  his  present  high  standing,  wealth  and  pros- 
lie  rity. 

The  father  of  Thomas  Brady,  John  Brady,  was 
born  in  the  old  commonwealth  of  Virginia,  while 
his  mother  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  married 
and  settled  in  Brown  County,  the  latter  State,  and 
remained  there  till  18152.  In  that  year  they  de- 
cided to  try  pioneer  life  still  farther  westward,  and 
pushing  their  way  to  Illinois,  they  located  in  Dan- 
ville Township  and  were  among  its  early  settlers. 
The  father  took  tip  land  and  busily  engaged  in  its 
improvement  till  death  removed  him  from  his 
sphere  of  usefulness  in  1855.  His  wife  died  in 
1848,  when  she  laid  aside  the  cares  and  toils  of 
earth  to   fall  into   that  dreamless  sleep    that    knows 


no  waking  this  side  of  the  grave.  Fourteen  children 
were  the  fruits  of  the  marriage  of  those  good  peo- 
ple, of  whom  Thomas  was  the  seventh.  His  enrly 
years  were  passed  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he 
learned  the  practical  part  of  a  farmer's  life,  and 
his  education  was  gleaned  in  the  log  school-houses 
of  those  days.  He  remained  an  inmate  of  the  pa- 
rental household  till  he  was  twenty-two  years  old, 
when  he  married  and  settled  in  a  home  of  his  own 
across  the  line  in  Catlin  Township,  and  was  a  resi- 
dent of  his  farm  there  till  1881,  giving  all  his  time 
and  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  to  such 
purpose  that  his  well  directed  labors  were  hand- 
somely rewarded  by  a  line  competence,  and  he  was 
enabled  to  take  his  place  among  the  wealthy,  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  this  section  of  the  country.  In 
the  year  just  mentioned  he  retired  from  the  active 
labors  of  his  farm  to  the  village,  where  he  erected 
his  present  commodious,  well-fitted    up  dwelling. 

Mr.  Brady  has  been  twice  married.  To  the  wife 
of  his  early  manhood,  America  Finley  by  name,  he 
was  wedded  in  Georgetown  Township.  She  was  a 
native  of  Vermilion  County,  and  a  daughter  of 
Mahlon  anil  Margaret  (Falls)  Finley,  deceased. 
Two  children  were  born  to  our  subject  by  that  mar- 
riage— Clarence  M.  and  George  M.  Mrs.  Brady 
was  a  woman  whose  character  combined  so  many 
line  traits  of  mind  and  heart  that  she  was  an  in- 
fluence for  good  to  those  about  her.  She  was  a 
woman  of  devoted  Christian  piety  and  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Her 
death,  which  occurred  in  Winfield,  Kan.,  May  8, 
188.'!,  while  on  a  health-seeking  tour,  was  a  loss  not 
only  to  her  family,  but  to  church  and  society,  and 
to  the  community  at  large,  where  she  was  so  well 
known  and  esteemed. 

Mr.  Brady  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  form- 
erly Miss  Lura  Williams,  March  21,  1885.  She  is 
a  native  of  Vermilion  Count}-,  born  .Ian.  20.  185! 
to  Myron  and  Sarah  (Sterrett)  Williams,  natives, 
respectively,  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  She 
was  the  second  child  of  their  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Brady  is  a  woman  of  true  refinement 
and  much  culture,  and  is  an  artist  of  much  merit, 
many  of  her  beautiful  pictures  adorning  the  walls 
of  the  attractive  home,  over  which  she  presides  so 
graciously,  warmly  co-operating  with   her  husband 


Residence  of JkgyMTIi®J^vs,SEGaSOr2J  (T19=Rlg)@AThiNTp.,VERMibioN  (So. 


Residence  of  W;W.,Kl:MT.^Ee.25.(T.2I=R.II.)NEWEi2ET¥!,VrERMiiai0Neo 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALIHJM. 


679 


in  extending  its  charming  hospitality  to  friend  or 
stranger. 

.Mr.  Brady  has  accumulated  wealth,  not  (inly  by 
steady  industry  ami  sound  judgment  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  his  business,  but  by  a  strictly  upright 
course  in  all  his  dealings  with  others  lias  won  the 
fullest  trust  of  his  fellow-townsmen.  He  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  his  political  beliefs,  but  has  never  sought 
office,  preferring  the  quiet  and  peace  of  his  happy 
fireside  to  the  turmoil  of  public  life.  Mrs.  Brady 
is  connected  with  the  Christian  Church  as  one  of 
its  most  zealous  workers  and  members. 


~  *> o^o-^Ax^yJ-.o+o.- <^- 

¥%  YV.  KENT  is  a  most  affable  and  Agreeable 
gentleman,  who  is  proud,  as  he  well  may 
he,  of  his  family  and  splendid  residence. 
Mr.  Kent  was  horn  in  1850,  on  the  26th  of  March, 
and  spent  his  lioyhood  days  near  State  Line,  Ind. 
In  1868  he  married  Miss  Emma  Cronkbite,  the 
daughter  of  Hosa  and  Elenor(Garrettson)Cronkhlte, 
natives  of  New  York,  from  which  State  they  came 
at  an  early  date,  and  settled  in  Warren  County.  Ind. 
Here  Mrs.  Kent  was  born  and  raised  with  her  five 
elder  sisters  and  brothers.  Her  union  with  Mr. 
Kent  was  blessed  with  six  children:  Claud ie  W., 
deceased  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  six  months; 
Perrine,  who  attended  college  at  Greencastle,  Ind., 
and  at  the  l)e  l'auw  University;  Clarence.  Stelle, and 
Grace,  who  died  at  tbe  age  of  four  months;  and 
Inez,  the  last,  who  was  twenty-three  months  old  at 
the  time  of  her  death. 

Mr.  Kent  lived  in  Indiana  until  1872,  when  he 
went  to  Kansas  and  located  in  Coffee  County. 
Here  he  farmed  for  eighteen  months,  after  which 
lie  came  back  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm  of  200  acres.  Year  by  year  he  increased  the 
extent  of  his  possessions  until    it   now  amounts  to 

460  acres,  which  he  has  improved  by  placing  ii) 

it  an  unusually  fine  building,  in  which  he  resides. 
This  house  was  in  fact  the  finest  in  the  county  at 
the  time  of  its  erection  in  1883.  The  arrangement 
of  his  land  is  as  artistic  as  it  is  convenient.  The 
laying  of  the  lawns,  the  fixing  of  the  shrubbery, 
and  the  placing  of  trees   and    walks,  speak    a  taste 


European  in  its  accuracy.  I  n  ids  stables  ma\  be 
found  studs  of  the  finest  horses,  and  lie  is  the  owner 
of  the  celebrated  stallion  "Medino."  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  line  Short-horn  cattle  and  Percberon 
horses. 

In  politics  Mr.  Kent  is  a  Democrat,  and  bis 
views  are  strong  and  well  founded,  and  his  opinion 
is  often  sought  to  settle  a  debate.  Although  he  is 
Stanch  in  his  ideas  he  has  never  aspired  to  the  hold- 
ing of  an  office.  Ml'.  Kent's  education  is  an  excel- 
lent one,  anil  his  stock  of  general  information  is 
unrivaled  by  that  of  any  man  in  the  township  in 
which  he  lived.  This  education  was  acquired  by 
hard  study  at  the  college  of  Crawfordsville,  Ind., 
of  which  he  is  a  graduate  of  the  business  course. 
It  is  not  learning  alone,  nor  is  it  physical  power 
that  makes  a  perfect  man.  but  it  is  the  combination 
of  both  of  these  attributes.  This  fact  is  fully  ap- 
preciated by  our  subject.  He  is  therefore  never 
tired  of  aiding  the  workingman  to  obtain  the 
knowledge  necessary  to  his  calling. 

Mr.  Kent  has  served  as  School  Director  in  his 
township  for  some  time.  He  affiliates  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  His  home  is  surrounded  with 
every  convenience  and  comfort,  and  he  is  generally 
appealed  to  in  local  matters,  as  he  takes  great  pride 
in  assisting  in  anything  whatever  that  may  serve  to 
aid  or  improve  his  surrounding  friends. 

In  all  the  township  in  which  he  lives,  there  is  no 
man  more  respected  and  looked  up  to  than  our  sub- 
ject. His  sound  judgment,  his  large  charities,  and 
his  kindly  disposition,  have  made  him  loved  and 
honored  by  all  who  know  him.  Mr.  Kent  has  one 
of  the  finest  residences  in  the  township,  a  view  of 
which  is  shown  elsewhere  in  this  work. 


~v^--"«j2££.'®^S 


■$%&37rz  ffv^-vw- 


OI1N  THOMAS  is  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural and  coal  interests  of  Vermilion 
County,  and  has  a  tine  farm  on  sections  21 
and  20,  Catlin  Township.  On  it  there  is  a 
valuable  deposit  of  coal  which  he  works,  while  at 
the  same  time  he  is  actively  engaged  in  the  culti- 
vation of  his  land.  Our  subject  is  of  mingled  Welsh 
and  English  ancestry,  although  his  parents,  Jacob 


680 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Sarah  Thomas,  were  both  natives  of  England. 
After  marriage  they  settled  in  the  southern  part  of 
Wales,  where  they  ultimately  died,  having  spent  a 
part  of  their  wedded  life,  however,  in  England, 
and  there  their  son  John,  of  this  biography-  was 
horn  Jan.  11.  1834,  near  the  town  of  Bristol,  in 
Gloucestershire.  His  parents  moving  to  Southern 
Wales,  he  was  reared  to  manhood  in  that  part  of 
the  country,  and  was  early  put  to  work  to  earn  his 
own  living  in  the  eoal  mines.  In  1851,  anxious  to 
better  his  prospects  in  life,  he  resolved  to  try  life 
in  the  New  World,  in  that  part  of  it  embraced  in 
the  United  States  of  America.  Accordiug  he  end- 
grated  to  these  shores  with  his  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren in  1851,  and  landing  in  New  York  made  his 
way  to  Tioga  County.  Pa.,  and  lived  there  and  in 
Ohio  for  some  years.  In  1857  he  came  from  Cam- 
bria County,  the  former  State,  to  Vermilion  County, 
and  has  ever  since  resided  here,  lie  was  at  first 
employed  in  the  coal  mines  in  the  vicinity  of  Dan- 
ville, but  about  1859  he  invested  some  of  his 
hard-earned  savings  in  his  present  farm  in  Catlin 
Township,  and  has  built  up  a  substantial  home  here. 
He  owns  160  acres  <>f  line  land,  and  by  its  cultiva- 
tion and  the  mining  of  the  valuable  coal  bank  on 
it.  derives  an  income  that  places  him  among  the  in- 
dependent, moneyed  men  of  his  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Thomas  has  been  three  times  married.  His 
first  marriage,  which  took  place  in  South  Wales, 
was  to  Miss  Jeanette  Price,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children,  John  and  Mary  Ann.  The  wife  and 
mother  departed  this  life  in  South  Wales.  Mr. 
Thomas  was  a  second  time  married  in  South  Wales, 
Miss  Ann  Davis  becoming  his  wife,  and  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born  to  them:  John,  Tom, 
Sarah,  Emma,  Anna,  Shadrack,  Meshack,  Abednegi  > 
and  Maltha.  Abednego,  Jacob  G.  and  Anna  are 
dead.  Mrs.  Thomas  accompanied  her  husband 
across  the  waters  from  their  old  home,  and  in  ISO.") 
closed  her  eyes  to  the  scenes  of  earth.  Mr. 
Thomas'  marriage  to  his  present  wife  took  place  in 
Danville,  111.,  March.  L868.  At  that  time  she  was 
the  widow  of  a  Mr.  Baker,  and  by  her  first  mar- 
riage had  five  children — Elizabeth  J.,  Eva  M., 
Cora  B.,  Mark  B.  and  Lewis  E. 

Mrs.  Thomas'  maiden  name  was  Paulina  Will- 
iams, and    she    is   a  daughter  of  Thomas  and    Pau- 


lina (Rote)  Williams,  the  fourth  child  in  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  and  was  born  in  Ripley,  Ind., 
March  21,  I  .s:>5.  Her  father  came  to  this  country 
from  his  native  England  when  he  was  fifteen  years 
old,  and  lived  to  quite  an  advanced  age,  dying  in 
Catlin  Township,  March  15,  1889.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  Mrs.  Thomas'  mother,  a  native  of 
Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  who  died  in  Ripley  County, 
Mr.  Williams  came  to  Vermilion  County  in  1851, 
ami  established  himself  permanently  in  Catlin 
Township,  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs. 
Catherine  (Palis)  Pate,  and  she  dying  in  Catlin 
Township,  he  was  again  married,  taking  to  wife 
Mrs.  Margaret  (Fruits)  Patterson,  who  is  still  a 
resident  of  Catlin  Township.  Mrs.  Thomas  is  a 
woman  of  more  than  average  ability  and  force  of 
character,  and  is  well  endowed  with  sound  sense 
and  good  judgment,  and  these  traits  have  made  her 
an  invaluable  helper  to  her  husband.  She  is  a 
cheerful  and  ready  giver,  possessing  a  charitable, 
sympathizing  nature,  and  is  highly  thought  of  by 
all  in  the  community. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  man  of  good  standing  in  the 
township,  and  his  thrift,  shrewd  management  of  his 
property,  and  methodical  habits  have  been  the 
means  of  placing  him  among  the  well-to-do  citizens 
of  the  place.  He  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Oak- 
wood  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  No.  564  at  Oakwood.  lie 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  having  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and 
is  an  anient  supporter  of  the  principles  of  that 
party.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have  a  comfortable 
home,  a  view  of  which  is  presented  elsewhere  in 
this  work,  and  there  they  welcome  and  most  hos- 
pitably entertain  their  many  friends. 

/£g\HARLES  T.  CARAWAY  is  a  son  of  one 
(((     n  °'  *^e  ear^est  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County, 

^^7  and  for  many  years  has  been  connected  with 
its  immense  farming  interests.  A  native  of  Catlin 
Township,  where  he  was  reared  and  the  most  of  his 
life  has  been  spent,  it  has  no  better  or  more  public 
spirited  citizen  that  he,  one  who  is  ever  interested 
in  its  welfare,  and  is  always  glad  to  promote  in  any 


PORTRAIT  AND   Bl< )( !  H.\  1M1ICAL  ALBUM. 


681 


way  in  his  power,  its  highest  interests,  material, 
social,  educational,  and  moral.  His  well-ordered 
farm  on  section  29  is  conducted  after  the  most  ap- 
proved methods,  so  as  to  produce  the  best  results 
with  the  least  expenditure  of  labor  and  time,  and  here 
he  has  built  up  a  home  that  is  not  rivalled  in 
pleasantness  and  comfort  by  any  in  its  vicinity. 
As  representing  one  of  the  many  beautiful  homes 
of  Vermilion  County,  we  are  pleased  to  present  to 
our  readers  a  view  of  Mr.  Caraway's  residence. 
Mr.  Carawav  is  a  fine  representative  of  the  citizen- 
soldiers  of  our  country,  who  in  the  trying  times  of 
the  late  Rebellion,  laid  aside  all  personal  aims,  and 
leaving  happy  homes  and  loved  friends,  went  forth 
to  Southern  battle-fields  to  fight  for  the  dear  old 
Hag  or  die  in  its  defense.  For  good  conduct  in 
camp  and  field,  anil  for  bravery  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy,  our  subject  was  promoted  from  the  ranks, 
anil  won  an  honorable  military  record,  of  which  he 
and  his  may  well  be  proud. 

Charles  T.  Caraway,  was  born  in  this  township 
I  let.  22,  1838,  the  posthumous  son  of  another 
Charles  Caraway,  whose  earthly  career  had  been 
untimely  ended  the  month  preceding  that  in  which 
our  subject  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  The  father 
was  a  son  of  Thomas  Caraway,  and  was  born  in  Green- 
briar  County,  W.  Ya.,in  1788.  After  attaining  to 
man's  estate  he  married  one  of  his  neighbor's  fair 
daughters,  Elizabeth  McCorkle  by  name,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  that  county.  They  lived  a  few 
years  in  their  native  State,  but  in  1829  made  their 
way  across  the  wild,  sparsely  settled  country  in- 
tervening between  their  old  home  and  this  .State, 
and  coming  to  Vermilion  County,  became  very 
early  pioneers  of  the  county.  They  located  in 
what  is  now  Catlin  Township,  and  here  a  few  years 
later  the  stalwart  husband  and  father  met  his  death, 
in  September,  1838,  while  yet  in  life's  prime,  leav- 
ing his  desolate  widow  with  four  children  and  an 
unborn  babe,  who  on  his  birth  was  named  Charles 
T.,  in  memory  of  his  father.  The  other  children 
were  Harriet,  Martha,  Isabella,  and  Ann  E.  The 
mother  afterward  married  Anson  Butler,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Catlin  Township  until  her  death, 
in  184*. 

Our  subject  grew  to  a  strong  and  vigorous  man- 
hood   in    Catlin    Township,    where    he    hits  always 


made  his  home,  ami  when  he  arrived  at  years  of 
discretion  chose  the  calling  of  agriculture,  for 
which  he  had  a  natural  aptitude,  and  has  ever  since 
made  if  his  life-work.  His  farm  comprises  ICO 
acres  of  valuable  hind,  w.hich  is  well  tilled,  and  he 
has  erected  good  buildings  for  every  necessary  pur- 
pose, including  a  neat  and  pretty  dwelling.  He  i- 
also  a  breeder  of  thorough. bred   Short-horn  cattle. 

In  the  opening  years  of  his  manhood  the  great 
Civil  War  broke  out,  and  our  subject,  thrilled  to 
the  heart  by  the  deep  and  abiding  love  of  country 
that  animated  so  many  of  the  true  and  patriotic 
spirits  of  this  great  Republic  in  those  trying  days, 
and  caused  them  to  leave  pleasant  firesides  and 
and  loving  friends  to  go  forth  to  battle  for  the 
grand  old  Stars  and  Stripes,  cast  aside  the  hopes 
and  ambitions  of  a  generous  young  mind,  and  the 
bright  prospects  of  a  successful  career  in  his  chosen 
calling,  to  join  his  brave  compatriots  on  Southern 
battle-fields  with  the  solemn  feeling  that  he  owed 
even  life  itself  to  his  native  land.  In  August,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  35th  Illinois  Infantry, 
as  a  private,  and  was  with  his  regiment  in  many  im- 
portant engagements  with  the  enemy,  including 
the  siege  of  Corinth,  battle  of  Stone  River,  Chick- 
ainauga  and  Mission  Ridge.  In  the  latter  battle 
he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  left  leg,  and  con- 
fined to  the  hospital  nine  months,  suffering  greatly. 
Soon  after  the  battle  of  Chickainauga  the  namesof 
himself  and  a  few  of  his  comrades  were  placed  on 
the  Roll  of  Honor,  on  account  of  meritorious  con- 
duct and  daring  in  the  encounter  with  the  enemy, 
by  order  of  Gen.  Roseerans.  Our  subject  also 
received  further  merited  mark  of  approval  for  his 
Courage  and  ability  as  a  soldier,  whereby  he  was 
raised  from  the  rank  and  file  to  the  position  of 
corporal. 

Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Caraway 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jennie  Dough- 
erty, their  union  being  solemnized  in  Decatur, 
Macon  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  22,  180'5.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Mary  (Myers)  Dougherty,  well 
known  and  highly  respected  residents  of  Catlin 
Township,  with  whose  interests  they  have  been 
identified  for  many  years.  The  father  was  born  in 
Montgomery  County,  Va..  Aug.  15,  181,r>,  and  the 
mother   in    Brown    County,   Ohio,    Dec.    1;"),    1815. 


682 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


After  marriage  they  lived  for  some  time  in  Ohio 
County,  Ind.,  whence  they  came  to  Vermilion 
County.  111.,  and  east  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneers 
that  had  preceded  them.  That  was  in  the  fall4of 
1856,  and  the}'  first  .settled  near  Tilton,  but  came 
from  there  in  1858  to  Catlin  Township,  which  has 
since  been  their  home.  Their  happy,  peaceful 
wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth 
of  six  children,  namely:  Andrew,  Sarah  A.,  Joseph, 
.Jennie,  Wallace  ami  Maggie.  Andrew  and  Maggie 
are  deceased.  Jennie,  Mrs.  (_!ara way,  born  in  Ohio 
County,  Ind.,  Oct.  20,  1814,  and  was  .twelve  years 
of  age  when  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  this 
county.  Four  children  have  been  born  of  her  union 
with  our  subject — an  infant  that  died  unnamed, 
Warren  E.,  Charles  H.  and  Nellie  B. 

Mr.  Caraway  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 
fellow-men.  not  only  for  his  loyalty  and  patriotism 
in  the  late  war,  but  for  his  conduct  in  the  more 
peaceful  pursuits  of  life  before  and  since  that  time. 
He  is  a  man  whose  honor  is  unquestioned,  and 
whose  strict  regard  for  what  is  right  is  beyond  dis- 
pute. His  public  spirit  is  commendable,  and  leads 
him  to  take  a  genuine  interest  in  all  that  concerns 
the  material,  moral,  or  educational  welfare  of  his 
native  township,  lie  has  been  connected  with  the 
administration  of  its  public  affairs  as  Highway 
Commissioner  and  in  various  school  offices.  Me  is 
prominently  identified  with  the] following  social  or- 
ganizations; Catlin  Lodge  No.  285,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.; 
Vermilion  Chapter  and  Athelstan  Commandery  at 
Danville,  and  politically,  belongs  to  the  Union 
Labor  party. 


*SS! 


'iff  AMES  J.  RICE,  coming  of  good  old  Revo- 
lutionary stock,  is  a  representative  pioneer 
of  Vermilion  County,  one  of  those  whose 
courageous,  self-sacrificing  toil  in  the  early 
and  later  years  of  the  settlement  of  the  county 
laid  a  solid  foundation  for  its  present  prosperity, 
in  which  they  have  also  been  factors,  and  who  have 
lived  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  the  seed  that  they 
planted  so  long  ago,  that  has  yielded  so  abundantly 
in  the  happy  homes,  smiling  farms,  and  busy  towns 


and  cities  now  flourishing  on  the  once  wild  prairies. 
Our  subject  came  to  Vermilion  County  as  early  as 
1835  and  in  1  Hill  came  to  his  present  location  in 
Pilot  Township.  Here  he  has  a  farm  of  320  acres 
of  choice,  highly  cultivated  land,  pleasantly  situ- 
ated on  sections  16  and  21. 

Mr.  Rice  was  born  in  Chautauqua  County.  N.Y., 
June  13,  1812.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  of 
Scotch  descent,  and  he  was  a  faithful  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  having  served  seven  years. 
Silas  Rice,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the 
eastern  part  of  New  York,  and  dying  when  he  was 
away  from  home,  the  dates  of  his  birth  and  death 
are  unknown.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
l'liebe  Leonard,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Cayuga 
County.  X.  Y.  She  died  in  Vermilion  County, 
III.,  in  1857,  at  a  ripe  old  age.  She  was  the  mother 
of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living, 
Lucy,  Hannah  and  James.  Lucy,  living  in  Dan 
ville,  this  county,  is  the  widow  of  Isaac  Balengee, 
who  was  in  the  rebel  army  during  the  late  war. 
She  has  four  children,  namely:  .lames  II.,  America, 
Minerva  and  Lucy.  Hannah  married  Charles  Clifton, 
of  Piqua  County,  Ohio,  now  a  farmer  near  Omaha. 
Neb.,  and  the}'  had  three  children,  Sarah.  George 
and  Elizabeth,  deceased. 

James  Rice,  of  whom  we  write,  received  a  lim- 
ited education  in  common  with  most  farmers'  boys 
of  his  time,  and  in  the  fall  of  1835,  in  the  opening 
years  of  his  manhood,  he  came  to  this  county,  hav- 
ing chosen  fanning  as  his  life-work,  and  deciding 
to  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  this  section 
of  the  country  who  had  preceded  him.  and  take 
advantage  of  the  rich  alluvial  soil  of  the  virgin 
prairies.  He  lived  nine  years  on  Salt  Fork,  and 
then  coming  to  Pilot  Township  took  up  his  abode 
in  the  eastern  part  of  it  and  dwelt  there  five  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  located  on  his 
present  farm,  whose  value  he  has  greatly  increased 
by  unremitting  toil,  wiseeconomy  and  a  judicious 
expenditure  of  mone}',  so  that  it  is  classed  anions 
the  fust  and  best  farms  of  the  vicinity.  Starting 
out  in  life  with  a  capital  of  #100,  he  has  thus  in- 
creased it  many  fold,  and  is  now  a  man  of  means 
and  is  accounted  one  of  the  solid,  substantial  citi- 
zens of  the  township. 

Mr.  Rice  was  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  a  wile 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


683 


who  has  been  to  him  all  that  a  true  woman  can 
lie    to  her  husband,   and    an    important  factor  in 

making  his  life  a  success,  as  she  has  worked  un- 
weariedly  at  his  side  for  the  highest  interests  of 
their  family.  Her  maiden  name  was  Mary  Davis, 
and  she  was  horn  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  Sept. 
13,  l!s-2.'i.  her  marriage  with  our  subjeel  taking 
place  in  Vermilion  County,  Sept.  II,  1845.  Her 
parents  were  Isaac  and  Klizabcth  (Coylc)  Davis. 
The  father  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1  T'.MI,  and  the 
mother  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  in  about  1799. 
The  father  died  in  1878  at  a  ripe  old  age,  and  the 
mother  in  March,  IN(I7.  They  were  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County,  coming  here 
in  IM32,  and  their  memory  is  held  in  respect. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom 
the  following  is  recorded:  Irene  married  F.  M. 
Brewer,  of  South  Carolina,  now  deceased,  and  she 
is  living  in  Champaign  County  IN.,  with  her 
two  children;  Emily  married  George  Wilson,  of 
Indiana,  now  living  in  Champaign  County,  and 
they  have  four  children;  Cynthia  A.  is  the  widow  of 
Milton  Cannon,  of  Ohio,  and  she  and  her  five  chil- 
dren are  living  in  Champaign  County;  Diana,  liv- 
ing in  Vermilion  County,  near  Muncie,  is  the 
widow  of  Daniel  Cannon  and  the  mother  of  two 
children;  Lura  J.  married  James  H.  West,  of 
Ohio,  now  deceased,  and  she  and  her  two  children 
are  living  in  Linn  County,  Kas. ;  Owen,  a  fanner, 
married  Sarah  Brown,  of  Arkansas.  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  our  subject,  and  they  have  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  Bruce  L.,  Isaac  L.,  George  C, 
Kinerefta  J.,  John  1).,  Mary  C. ;  Bruce  married 
Kmelinc  Ncff,  of  Indiana,  and  they  live  in  this 
county  with  their  six  children,  Mary.  Grant,  Min- 
nie. Oscar,  Lucy,  Elmer  J.;  Isaac,  a  farmer  in 
Ilico,  Benton  Co..  Ark.,  married  Clara  T.  Wilson, 
of  this  county,  and  they  have  two  children,  Carrie 
and  J.  J.:  George  C.  is  a  merchant  and  Postmaster 
in  Charity.  111.:  Knieretta  married  T.  J.  Mailer,  of 
Indiana,  now  a  farmer  in  this  county,  and  they 
have  three  children,  John  I..  Nellie  and  Lillie; 
John  1).,  merchant  and  Assistant  Postmaster  at 
Charity,  this  county,  married  Emma  Todd,  of 
Putnam  County.  Ind.;  Mary  C.  lives  at  home 
with  her   parents. 

Mr.  Rice  occupies  a  high  place  among    the  best 


citizens  of  Pilot  Township,  where  so  many  years 
of  his  life  have  been  passed,  and  his  strong  integ- 
rity in  word  and  deed  causes  him  to  Ik-  regarded 
with  absolute  trust  by  the  entire  community.  He 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Church  of  Christ 
and  has  held  the  office  of  Elder  for  man}- years. 
In  him  the  Prohibition  party  has  one  of  its  most 
earnest  and  and  consistent  supporters.  Mr.  Rice 
has  served  very  acceptably  on  the  juries  of  State 
and  county. 

-5-  <f>r|>  -:- 


LINER   P.   BALM  owns  and   carries  on  two 

farms,  the  homestead  containing  lfi">  acres, 
while  the  other  embraces  a  half-section  ad- 
joining the  village  of  Sidcll  on  the  east,  lie  also 
has  sixteen  and  three-fourths  acres  of  timber  land, 
close  to  Indianoli.  Therefore  Mr.  Bauin  may  be 
considered  one  of  the  leading  land  owners,  lb'  is 
a  very  extensive  farmer  and  one  whose  .success 
lias  been  steadily  growing  since  he  first  started  in 
life. 

His  father,  Samuel  Bauin.  settled  in  Carroll 
Township  in  182!b  in  company  with  Michael  Wea- 
ver, ami  was  one  of  the  prominent  pioneers.  The 
father  was  a  very  large  man.  weighing 365  pounds. 

The  grandfather.  Charles  Baum,wasa  prominent 
man  in  his  day,  and  noted  for  his  piety.  The 
great-grandfather  was  banished  from  Poland  and 
came  to  the  colonies,  where  he  soon  established  a 
reputation  for  patriotism  and  fidelity  to  American 
principles,  lie  married  Barbara  McDonald,  anil 
settled  in  Bucks  County.  Pa.,  immediately  succeed- 
ing the  struggle  tor  independence  in  1776'.  Soon 
after  Wayne's  treaty  with  the  Indians,  he  with  his 
family  sailed  down  the  Ohio  in  a  family  boat,  and 
made  the  first  settlement  in  that  territory,  close  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Bullskin  Creek.  He  died  full  of 
years  and  honors  in  Clermont  County,  in  the  State 
he  helped  to  form. 

The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  biography 
was  Sarah  Weaver,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Michael 
Weaver,  who  was  a  man  possessed  of  a  great  many 
peculiar  characteristics.  He  always  had  money  to 
loan,  but  would  never  take  more  than  six  per  cent. 


C,sl 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


for  its  use,  when  he  could  easily  ask  and  obtain 
forty.  He  was  a  rich  man  when  he  came  from 
Ohio  to  this  county,  in  1829,  and  many  a  pioneer 
owes  to  Michael  Weaver  a  debt  of  gratitude.  lie 
was  as  generous  and  open-hearted  a  man  as  ever 
lived.  lie  would  fix  the  price  for  his  corn  at  a 
reasonable  rate,  and  would  not  take  for  it  either  a 
higher  or  a  lower  price,  lie  adhered  inflexibly  to 
the  rule  that  it  was  not  right  to  extort  by  specula- 
tion or  any  other  method,  and  when  he  made  a  price 
on  any  commodity,  it  was  based  upon  actual  cost, 
witli  a  living  profit  added.  Mr.  Weaver  studiously 
endeavored  to  aid  the  pool',  but  he  invariably  re- 
fused to  loan  money  to  speculators.  By  this  it  will 
be  seen  that  his  peculiarities  were  all  virtues.  At 
I  he  great  age  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  one  years 
he  passed  away  to  his  reward.  The  mother  died 
when  she  was  about  forty  years  old,  leaving  eight 
children,  of  whom  Oliver  1'.  is  the  oldest.  His 
father  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Mrs.  Polly 
(Sandusky  )  Matkin,  four  children  being  born  of  this 
union. 

Oliver  P.  Baum,  was  born  in  January,  1828,  his 
birthplace  being  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  He  grew 
to  man's  estate  in  Carroll  Township,  and  at  the  age 
of  thirty-three  his  father  died,  leaving  him  a  good 
property.  He  has  been  engaged  in  feeding  cattle 
for  the  past  thirty  years.  The  market  places  for 
his  stock  are  Chicago  and  Buffalo,  where  he  is  well 
and  favorably  known  as  a  business  man.  He  also 
feeds  a  large  number  of  hogs,  and  in  this  branch 
of  stock-raising  he  is  equally  successful.  As  Mr. 
Baum  puts  it,  "nothing  but  prairie  grass  and  rattle- 
snakes were  on  the  land  in  Vermilion  County  when 
he  came  here."  He  passed  through  all  the  trials 
and  tribulations  of  a  pioneer,  and  has  witnessed 
Illinois  struggle  from  comparative  poverty  up  to 
affluence,  and  attain  the  proud  position  of  a  sov- 
erign  State.  Far  better  than  all  the  titles  that  roy- 
alty can  bestow,  is  the  simple  one  of  a  pioneer. 
The  nobility  has  torn  down,  while  the  mission  of 
the  pioneer  was  to  build  up,  and  when  the  awards 
are  given  to  mankind,  whose  will  be  the  highest? 

Mr.  Baum  erected  the  elegant  mansion  which  he 
now  occupies  in  1875,  and  in  its  construction  is 
exhibited  a  great  deal  of  common  sense.  He  also 
has  a  large  barn,  44x60,  which  is  a  model  of  strength 


and  utility.  His  place  is  laid  out  in  a  manner  to 
insure  good  results,  and  for  the  peifect  handling  of 
stock.  Taking  this  farm  as  a  whole,  including  its 
buildings,  surroundings  and  everything  connected 
with  it,  it  would  be  no  exaggeration  to  make  the 
statement  that  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  de- 
signed there  is  not  a  better  farm  in  Vermilion 
County. 

In  1871  Mr.  Baum  was  married  to  Miss  Helen 
McClenathen,  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  daugh- 
ter of  George  S.  and  Sarah  (Remley)  McClenathen, 
both  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  When  her 
parents  came  to  Danville  Township,  Mrs.  Baum  was 
five  years  old,  and  therefore  her  early  training  and 
growth  to  womanhood  occurred  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. Her  father  and  mother  are  both  living  in 
Faiimount.  retired  at  the  ages  of  seventy  and  sixty- 
four,  respectively.  The}'  had  twelve  children: 
.lames,  William,  Helen,  Lucy,  John,  Belle,  Anna. 
Kmma,  Owen,  Ethel,  Volney  and  George  Byron. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baum,  are  the  parents  of  one  child — 
Herbert.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Kingsley  Chapel, 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Baum  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party.  His  present  fortune 
and  position  in  society  are  based  upon  his  intelli- 
gence and  industry. 


f  OHN  J.  JACKSON,  a  popular  and  energetic 
farmer  of  Sidell  Township,  owns  and  oper- 
i  a'tes  1G0  acres  of  land  on  section  31,  town- 
ship 18.  ranch  1-1.  lie  is  a  native  of  Ohio  and 
was  born  Jan.  31,  1828.  His  parents  came  to  Clin- 
ton County,  Ind..  when  he  was  a  small  boy.  His 
father  and  mother,  John  and  Katie  (Ross)  Jackson, 
were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  before  leaving  that 
State  were  married.  From  there  they  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  forsome  time  and  in  1  <s 2 ! » 
emigrated  to  Indiana,  remaining  there  until  death 
called  them  away. 

The  father  was  an  early  settler  and  a  leading  man 
in  his  county  and  was  considered  one  of  the  best 
farmers  in  his  section.  He  died  in  1846  at  the 
early  age  of  forty -seven  years,  leaving  behind  him 
eight  children:  Christina,  Elizabeth,  Martha.  Henry, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


685 


John  J„  Abraham,  Andy  and  Amos.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  received  his  education  at  the 
subscription    schools — incident   to  the  days  <>f  his 

boyhood,  and  therefore  his  ad  vantages  for  securing 
an  education  were  limited.  His  father,  like  all  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Indiana,  was  extremely  poor, 
and  his  children  were  therefore  obliged  to  work  as 
soon  as  they  were  able.  John  J.,  being  the  oldest 
boy,  vyas  obliged  to  lake  the  lead  in  work,  and  was 
held  responsible,  in  a  measure,  for  its  being  well 
done,  and  to  this  fact  may  lie  traced  the  reason  of 
his  being  painstaking  in  everything  he  does. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  Mr.  Jackson  was 
married  to  Miss  Ellen  McCray,  a  native  <if  Vir- 
gia,  but  who  was  reared  to  maturity  in  Clinton 
County.  Ind.  After  marriage,  the  young  couple 
lived  in  the  latter  state  for  two  years  on  a  farm, 
after  which  they  removed  to  Coles  County,  III., 
and  in  the  fall  of  1853  they  took  up  their  residence 
in  Vermilion  County,  where  they  purchased  120 
acres  of  land,  which  is  a  part  of  the  quarter  sect  inn 
where  they  now  live.  There  was  a  log  house,  and 
forty  acres  broken  on  this  land  when  they  bought 
it.  and  independent  of  this,  there  were  no  improve- 
ments. By  his  first  wife  he  became  the  father  of 
two  children:  Susan  J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen years  and  five  months,  and  Laura,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Richard  Keys,  the  latter  couple  having 
three  children:  John  J.,  Grace  and  Lydia.  Mr. 
Keys  is  engaged  as  a  smelter  and  lead  miner  in  Jas- 
per County.  Mo.  Mr.  Jackson's  first  wife  died  in 
1  still  and  he  married  a  second  lime,  in  1881,  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Kieffcr.  widow  of  Frank  Kieffer  of  Ohio. 
She  was  born  in  Crawford  County.  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eleanor  (  Montgomery  )  An- 
drews. Iler  father's  people  were  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  her  mother  was  horn  near  Baltimore, 
Md. 

Mrs.  Jackson's  parents  removed  to  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  in  1N27.  where  they  first  met  each 
other  and  were  married.  They  later  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  on  a  farm  which  they 
purchased  from  the  Government.  Here  they  re- 
sided until  their  death,  the  father  dying  in  1878  at 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine,  while  the  mother  passed 
away  in  l!s71,  sixty-eight  years  old.  Twelve  of 
their    children   are    living:    Samuel,   John,    Hiram. 


Robert,  St.  Clair,  Madison,  Ella,  Charity,  Lemon. 
Jane.  Lois  and  Mary;  besides  there  were  two 
brothers  who  died  in  the  army — .Jacob  and  Frank. 
Two  sisters  also  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  are  the  parents  of  two 
children — Alta  Marie  and  Lemon  J.  Mrs.  Jackson 
attended  public  school  at  home  after  which,  at  the 
age  of  nineteen,  she  entered  Bucyrus  College,  her 
studies  embracing  the  scientific  course.  She  later 
took  up  her  studies  at  Olierlin  College,  where  she 
continued  a  student  for  a  short  time.  Mr.  Jackson 
is  a  leading  citizen  in  his  township,  where  he  has 
served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways  at  various 
limes  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  and  is  at 
present  holding  that  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  an  energetic  worker  in  its 
ranks,  and  socially  be  belongs  to  Palermo  Lodge. 
No.  (Ill),  located  at  Palermo.   Edgar  County. 


k  AVID  LAYTON.  In  passing  through  a  sec- 
tion of  country,  it  is  not  difficult  to 
determine  who  are  the  thrifty  and  enter- 
prising men,  and  who  are  the  drones  in  a 
community.  Occupying  a  part  of  section  19.  in 
Middle  Fork  Township,  is  the  Layton  farm,  built 
up  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  noticeable  on 
account  of  the  commodious  and  substantial  brick 
residence,  which  with  its  surroundings,  compris- 
ing all  the  appliances  of  the  well-regulated  country 
estate,  forms  the  home  of  our  subject,  and  which 
has  been  erected  by  his  own  thrift  and  energ3'.  lie 
is  one  of  the  many  who  began  life  poor  in  purse, 
and  who  have  presented  to  their  community  the 
spectacle  of  perseverance  amid  difficulties  and  the 
success  of   well-directed  effort. 

The  Layton  record  leads  us  back  to  the  paternal 
giand  fat  her  of  our  subject,  John  Layton,  who,  it  is 
believed,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  Early  in 
life  he  migrated  to  New  York  State,  where  he  lived 
many  years,  and  where,  it  is  believed,  he  was  first 
married.  Among  his  sons  was  Job.  the  father  of 
our  subject,  and  the  second  in  a  family  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  the  first  wife  was  the  mother. 
After    her    death    John     Layton    was    married    to   a 


686 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


widow  lady,  Mrs.   Ayers,  ami    with   her    spent   his 
last  days  in  New  York  State. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood 
iu  the  place  of  his  birth — Brown  County,  N.  Y. — 
and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Rachel,  daughter  of 
Alford  Rounds,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  In  the 
Rounds  family  there  were  perhaps  nine  children, 
who,  with  the  exception  of  two,  are  supposed  to 
have  been  born  in  New  York  State.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Layton,  like  those  of  her  husband,  spent 
their  last  years  there. 

Job  Layton  and  his  estimable  wife  also  became 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  David,  our 
subject,  was  the  eldest.  The  others  were  named 
respectively:  John,  Jacob,  James  E.,  Franklin, 
George,  Elizabeth,  Harriet — these  all  living — and 
one  deceased.  The  mother  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  David,  who  was  born  in 
1828.  was  reared  at  the  homestead  in  Brown 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  acquired  his  education  in 
the  subscription  schools.  In  1850  he  started  out 
to  paddle  his  own  canoe,  launching  his  little  craft 
for  the  far  West.  In  making  the  journey  thither, 
he  embarked  on  a  steamboat  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y., 
whence  he  proceeded  to  Toledo,  and  from  there  by 
canal  to  Covington.  Ind.,  where  he  took  up  his 
abode,  and  worked  on  a  farm  five  years,  by  the 
month,  for  one  man,  Mr.  R.  D.  Brown.  For  the 
first  year  he  received  $10  per  month,  and  was  given 
an  increase  of  salary  each  year  until  the  fourth, 
when  he  was  paid  *25  per  month  for  the  entire 
year.  This  at  that  time  was  considered  a  generous 
sum,  and  the  young  man  was  naturally  proud  of  it. 
He  saved  his  earnings,  and  when  he  left  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Brown,  purchased  a  ditching  machine  with 
which  he  operated  profitably,  earning  from  $1,000 
to  $1,200  per  year  for  several  years,  and  thus 
laid  the  foundation  of  future  competence. 

Being  thus  prospered,  it  is  rpiite  natural  that  Mr. 
Layton  at  the  proper  time  should  think  about  es- 
tablishing a  home  of  his  own.  A  young  man  of 
his  acquirements  was  naturally  a  favorite  among 
the  maidens  of  his  community,  and  he  chose  one  of 
its  most  estimable  young  ladies — Miss  Martha, 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Bows)  Wilson, 
their  wedding  taking  place  in  Indiana.  In  April, 
I  863,  they  settled  on  the  farm  where  the}'  now  live. 


Only  seventy  acres  had  been  plowed,  and  the  only 
improvement  was  a  little  log  house.  Into  this  the 
newly  wedded  pair  removed,  and  occupied  it  until 
they  were  enabled  to  do  better.  Our  subject  added 
to  his  first  purchase,  and  now  has  2,10  acres  of  land, 
all  fenced  and  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  now  nine  acres  of  timber.  Notwithstanding  he 
has  labored  assiduously,  and  has  suffered  somewhat 
from  the  toils  and  struggles  of  his  earlier  years,  he 
is  still  in  good  health,  and  can  accomplish  more 
than  many  a  younger  man. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were 
born  four  children,  namely:  Charles;  Anna,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Cardell;  C.  Grant,  who  is  in  the 
grocery  and  hardware  business  at  Potomac;  and 
William,  who  died  when  a  promising  youth  of  fif- 
teen years.  Mr.  Layton,  politically,  is  a  sound  Re- 
publican, ami  in  all  respects  a  worthy  representative 
of  the  worth  and  respectability  of  the  community. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Layton  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  the  father  learned  the  trade  of  a 
cabinet-maker,  which  he  followed  until  his  removal 
to  Indiana,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming. 


3"*-; 


<S  JMLLIAM  II.  DOWNS,  proprietor  of  the 
\^J//  "Southern  Hotel,"  of  Ridge  Farm,  al- 
Wvj  though  not  very  long  established  in  this 
place — coming  here  in  March,  1888 — is  giviHg  am- 
ple evidence  of  his  fitness  for  his  present  calling, 
and  has  become  exceedingly  popular  with  the 
traveling  public.  He  is  a  man  of  liberal  ideas,  en- 
terprising and  active,  studying  the  comfort  of  his 
guests,  and  attending  to  those  details  which  make 
up  the  sum  and  substance  of  a  successful  whole. 
He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  having  been  born  in 
Elwood  Township.  Oct.  25,  I860. 

Leander  Downs,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois when  a  boy.  They  settled  in  Clark  County 
111.,  and  Leander  when  reaching  man's  estate,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  A.  Inman, 
who  was  a  native  of  that  county.  Of  this  union 
there  were  born  three  children,  only  two  of   whom 


PORTRAIT  AM)   liluilRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


689 


are  living — Lilly  M.  and  our  subject.  The  former 
is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Cook,  of  Elwood  Town- 
ship. 

Y"oung  Downs  pursued  his  early  studies  in  the 
common  schools,  and  then  worked  with  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  his  marriage.  He  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  March,  1888, and  soon  after- 
ward purchased  the ''Southern  Hotel."  This  being 
in  aeed  of  many  repairs  he  refitted  it  entirely, 
greatly  improving  its  appearance,  and  instituting 
many  other  reforms.  In  addition  he  has  a  liven 
business  which  yields  him  good  returns.  Although 
usually  voting  with  the  Republican  party  he  med- 
dles very  little  with  politics,  making  a  specialty  el' 
attending  to  his  own  concerns. 

Our  subject  was  married  cm  the  8th  of  March, 
1881,  to  .Miss  Ella  E.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  I'nr- 
diun.  of  Ridge  Faun,  and  to  them  have  been  limn 
three  children — Maude,  Bertie  ami  Cassius.  .Mr. 
Downs  has  an  interest  in  his  father's  old  homestead, 
ami  from  various  sources  is  ill  I  he  cajoyineiil  of 
a  very  comfortable  income. 


ENJAMIN  I'.  DOUGHERTY.  The  family 
s^  history  of  this  gentleman,  who  is  a  success- 
/fM))l'  ful  hardware  merchant  of  Fairmonnt,  Ver- 
^s— /■  milion  Co.,  HI.,  possesses  more  than  ordi- 
nary interest  and  has  fortunately  been  carefully 
preserved  by  the  latter  representatives  who.  were,  as 
their  ancestors,  people  of  more  than  ordinary  in- 
telligence. This  branch  of  the  Doughertys  is  of 
Scotch  origin  and  the  great-grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  notice  was  an  active  participant  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  His  son,  Francis,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  horn  in  Maryland, 
March  29,  I769,and  died  Sept,  29,  I860,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-one  years  and  six  months. 
Christian  Dougherty,  the  wife  of  Francis  Dougherty. 
died  April  19,  18."i  1,  aged  seventy-five  years,  five 
months  and  sixteen  days.  He  was  master  of  two 
trades,  those  of  shoe-maker  and  stone-unison,  and 
also  carried  on  farming.  Among  his  children  was 
Samuel,  the  father  of  our  subject  who  was  horn 
near  Ripley,  Brown   Co.,   Ohio:  and     who    married 


.Miss  Jane  Dalby,   whose   native    place   was    near 
White  River  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  the  daughter  of 
Aaron  and  Christina  (Prong)  Dalby,  who  were 
married  Oct.  12,  1815.  The  mother  died  when  a 
young  woman,  and  at  her  death  was  the  mother  of 
five  children.  Grandfather  Dalby  was  subsequently 
married — Jan.  1.  1829 — to  Nancy  Ki/.er.  She  also 
died  and  he  was  married  the  third  time.  Jan.  23 
1837,  to  Henrietta  Catlin.  she  is  now  living  and 
is  the  wife  of  John  McFarland,  of  Oakwood  Town- 
ship. Aaron  Dalby  was  born  July  3.  1796,  and 
his  first  wife.  Christina,  was  born  Jan.  7.  of  that 
same  year.  Nancy  Kizer  was  born  Oct.  19.  1804, 
and  Henrietta  Catlin,  Nov.  111.  1821.  Mrs.  Jane 
(Dalby)  Dougherty,  the  mother  of  our  subject  was 
born  June  24,  1816,  and  was  married  to  Samuel 
Dougherty  Aug.  20,  1835.  Their  wedding  took 
place  al  the  homestead  where  Grandfather  Dalby 
settled  in  1832. 

Grandfather  Dougherty  after  coining  to  Illinois 
'n  1832,  settled  on  the  Little  Vermilion  River  in 
Carroll  Township,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  north- 
west of  where  Indianola  now  stands,  where  he  re- 
mained over  winter  then  purchased  land  from  the 
government  one  mile  north  of  where  Fail-mount, 
now  stands.  Samuel  after  his  marriage  lived  on 
the  farm  with  his  father  about  one  year,  which 
property  is  now  owned  by  the  widow  of  James 
Dougherty.  Later  they  removed  to  another  part 
of  the  homestead,  which  now  comprises  the  farm 
owned  by  George  Price  and  which  lies  on  the 
south  side  of  the  State  road.  It  was  purchased 
from  the  government  by  Grandfather  Dougherty. 
Samuel  with  the  help  of  his  neighbors  put  up  a  log 
house  upon  the  present  site  of  Mr.  Price's  residence 
and  in  that  humble  dwelling  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  Feb.  15,  1848. 

The  father  of  our  subject  commenced  life  in 
line  pioneer  style  upon  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  about 
sixty  rods  from  the  timber,  quite  isolated  and  being 
the  fartherest  from  the  timber  of  any  other  settler. 
Their  dwelling,  a  hewed  log  house,  was  finished  and 
furnished  in  the  most  primitive  style.  Their 
slumbers  were  often  disturbed  by  the  howling  of 
wolves  (frequently  poking  their  noses  in  the  cracks 
of  the  house)  which  often  lasted  the  greater  part  of 


690 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  night.  There  was  tlien  nothing  to  mark  the 
present  site  of  Danville  as  a  town,  and  nothing  but 
tall  grass  and  a  vast  prairie  between  Salt  Fork  anil 
Little  Vermilion  timber.  Being  on  the  State  road 
the  government  mails,  carried  by  stage,  stopped 
at  the  house  and  Mr.  Dougherty  officiated  as 
Postmaster  for  a  number  of  years.  The  nearest 
mill  was  at  Perrvville.  to  which  point  he  frequently 
hauled  his  oats,  while  he  drove  his  hogs  to  Chicago 
to  market. 

Upon  this  farm  of  120  acres  Samuel  Dougherty 
lived  and  labored  until  March,  1852,  effected  good 
improvements,  puttingup  building  and  planting  an 
orchard,  which  at  this  time  was  in  good  bearing 
condition.  His  entire  family  of  seven  children 
were  born  at  this  place.  He  finally,  however,  im- 
agined he  could  improve  his  condition  by  selling 
out.  and  on  the  Kith  of  March,  that  year,  removed 
to  another  farm  of  120  acres,  located  mi  section  1G, 
one  and  three-fourth  miles  south  of  Fair  mount. 
Here  he  proceeded  as  before,  opening  up  a  farm 
from  the  raw  prairie,  set  out  another  orchard,  ef- 
fected various  improvements  then  sold  again,  this 
time  to  Ellis  Adams,  whose  biography  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume. 

( )n  the  20th  of  November,  1856, Samuel  Dough- 
erty once  more  took  up  his  line  of  march  to  another 
farm  of  12n  acres,  three  miles  south  of  Fairmount, 
to  which  he  later  added  100  acres,  scarcely  any  of 
which  was  under  cultivation  at  the  time  of  purchase. 
There  he  continued  to  live  until  his  decease.  He 
found  that  the  labor  involved  in  the  improvement 
of  three  farms  was  altogether  too  great  for  an  or- 
dinary constitution,  and  there  followed  the  natural 
result — the  undermining  of  his  health — from  which 
he  suffered  for  years  prior  to  his  death.  He  had 
also  met  with  an  accident.  Nov.  21.  1867,  while 
loading  logs  on  a  wagon  with  his  eldest  son.  Will- 
iam: the  chain  breaking,  the  log  rolled  back  upon 
him  and  crushed  one  of  his  feet,  and  as  a  result  of 
this  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  until  March  I  1. 
1868.  lie  never  fully  recovered  from  the  shock 
of  this  and  the  debilitating  effect  of  his  other  ail- 
ments, and  passed  away  on  the  3d  of  January,  1871, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years,  seven  months  and 
six  da  vs. 

The  mother  of  our  subject   was   a   lady    of   fine 


constitution,  usually  remarkably  healthy  and 
weighing  over  200  pounds.  She  survived  her  bus- 
band  a  number  of  years,  dying  Feb.  22.  1878.  aged 
sixty-one  years,  seven  months  and  twenty-eight 
days.  Five  of  the  seven  children  born  to  them  are 
now  living,  and  Benjamin  F.  was  next  to  the 
youngest.  Nancy  K.  the  eldest  of  the  family  was 
was  born  Oct.  13,  1836.  and  was  married  Oct.  9. 
185  1  to  Alonzo  P.  Mitchell;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren and  live  in  Lowry  City,  Mo.  Harriet  Ann 
was  born  Jan.  27,  1838  and  was  married  June  22, 
1854  to  John  William  Cass:  they  have  six  children 
and  live  one  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Muneie. 
Mary  Elizabeth  was  born  March  22.  1840  and  was 
married  Nov.  27.  1864  to  John  M.  McCabe,  whose 
biography  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  they 
have  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living;  Will- 
iam Aaron  was  born  Feb.  2,  1812  and  was  married 
April  29,  1868  to  Miss  Margaret  Orr;  he  died  Nov. 
1.  1887  aged  forty-five  years,  and  his  widow  now 
lives  in  Fairmount.  Francis  Marion  was  born  April 
13,  1844,  and  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  73d  Illinois  Infantry,  known 
in  the  army  as  the  "Methodist  Regiment."  He 
died  from  the  effects  of  a  gun-shot  wound  at  Knox- 
ville.  Tenn.,  Feb.  14,  1864.  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years,  ten  months  and  one  (l;\y.  and  his  remains 
fill  a  soldier's  grave  in  the  National  cemeterv  at 
Knoxville.  Tenn.  He  and  his  brother  William 
weic  members  of  the  same  company,  enlisting  at 
the  same  time — in  August,  1*02.  leaving  our  sub- 
ject, a  lad  of  fourteen  years  of  age.  at  home  to  work 
the  farm.  The  youngest  child,  Christian  Jane,  was 
horn  Oet.  2.  1850,  and  was  married  to  David  Wal- 
lace. Nov.  12,  1868.  Mr.  Wallace  served  three 
years  in  the  1st  Indiana  Cavalry,  then  re-enlisted 
and  continued  in  the  army  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  one 
living  and  reside  five  and  one-half  miles  southeast 
of  Fairmount. 

In  December,  1.^62.  the  father  of  our  subject 
received  this  startling  telegram  from  Nashville, 
Tenn:  "Come,  Jesse  dead.  William  sick.'  (Jesse 
was  an  own  cousin  of  William. )  lie  responded  at 
once  and  upon  his  arrival  in  Nashville  found  Will- 
iam stricken  down  with  typhoid  fever,  and  nursed 
him  and  some  of  his  comrades  for  some  time  there- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOO  liAl'll  HAL  ALBUM. 


691 


after.  The  loss  of  res!  and  the  mental  strain  com- 
pletely shattered  the  health  of  Mr.  Dougherty,  so 
that  he  never  fully  recovered.  As  soon  as  William 
was  able.  In-  procured  his  discharge,  and  brought 
him  home,  almost  a  skeleton.  When  Francis  was 
shot,  the  father  was  notified  by  telegram,  and  im- 
mediately started  South,  but  could  only  get  as  far 
as  Louisville,  K\\.  where  he  learned  thai  his  boy  was 
beyond  his  earthly  aid,  having  gone  to  join  the  army 
above.  lie  left  money  to  have  the  body  shipped 
home.  Inil  owing  to  the  danger  of  an  attack  from 
the  rebels,  it  could  not  then  lie  done,  and  if  was 
never  done,  and  the  money  was  finally  returned  to 
him. 

Benjamin  F.  Dougherty  received,  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Vermilion  County,  at- 
tending upon  an  average  three  months  in  the  year 
for  five  years.  His  first  teacher,  when  he  was  six 
vears  old,  was  Lewis  Kirkpatrick,  and  his  last, 
I'ret.  Stevens.  During  the  last  three  months,  hav- 
ing completed  the  third  part  of  Hay's  Arithmetic, 
he  took  up  book-keeping,  and,  being  an  apt  pupil, 
made  line  progress.  He  has  been  a  reader  all  his 
life,  and  may  lie  justly  considered  one  among  the 
best  informed  men  of  his  neighborhood.  Every 
book  pertaining  to  the  late  Civil  War  has  been 
perused  by  him  with  absorbing  interest.  Being 
the  only  stay  of  his  parents,  he  remained  with 
them  until  they  no  longer  needed  his  filial  offices, 
laboring  twenty-three  years  on  (he  last  settled 
homestead,  and  he  has  the  consciousness  of  know- 
ing that  he  smoothed  their  pathway  down  the  hill 
of  life,  and  lightened  as  far  as  possible  their  afflic- 
tions and  their  losses. 

On  the  2Cth  of  September.,  1876, our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lilly,  daughter  of 
Thornton  and  Nancy  (Dickson)  Hubbard,  at  the 
home  of  her  uncle,  .lames  A.  Dickson.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hubbard  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
this  county,  owning  a  huge  farm  of  370  acres,  one 
and  one  half  miles  north  of  Muncie.  Mr.  Hubbard 
was  very  successful  as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
and  was  numbered  among  the  prominent  citizens  of 
this  county.  He  was  born  March  20.  1821,  near 
Chillicothe,  Ross  County,  Ohio,  and  departed  this 
life  at  his  homestead  Oct.  IS,  1886.  aged  sixty-live 
years,   six    months    and    twenty-eight   days.      Mrs 


Hubbard  was  born  May  l.  l s -2 7 .  in  Kentucky,  and 
passed  away  some  years  prior  to  the  decease  of  her 
husband,  dying  .Ian.  25,  1859.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Dougherty 
was  the  elder,  and  she  was  born  Sept.  1,  1855. 

Mr.  Dougherty  after  his  marriage  continued 
farming  until  early  in  1S.S0.  On  the  13th  of 
February,  that  year,  he  had  a  public  sale  of  his 
personal  property,  and  on  the  23d  was  removed 
to  Fairmount  on  a  feather  bed — the  result  of 
illness  from  being  overheated  in  the  harvest  field 
the  preceding  summer — without,  hope  of  recovery. 
But  after  moving  to  Fairmount.  his  health  im- 
proved somewhat,  and  in  the  summer  of  18*1  be 
drove  over  the  county,  canvassing  for  school  seats, 
which  farther  improved  his  health.  In  the  follow- 
ing fall  he  purchased  the  hardware  stock  in  his 
present  building,  having  in  the  meantime  sold  his 
farm,  lie  did  not  contemplate  continuing  in  the 
hardware  trade,  but  even  in  pool'  health  success  was 
the  result  of  his  efforts,  and  finally  he  changed  his 
mind  and  purchased  the  property  connected  with  his 
business,  together  with  his  home  in  Fairmount. 
lie  has  been  very  successful  in  trade,  and  besides 
his  stove  and  hardware  stock,  handles  a  general  line 
of  agricultural  implements  and  lumber. 

The  five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dough- 
erty arc  recorded  as  follows:  Willie  was  born 
April  17.  1879,  and  died  in  infancy;  Freddie  M. 
was  bom  April  13.  1880,  and  died  April  '.).  1881, 
aged  eleven  months  and  twenty-six  days;  Floyd 
Everett  was  born  May  20,  1882,  and  is  now  a 
bright  lad  of  seven  years;  Samuel  E.  was  born 
Jan.  22,  1884,  and  died  Jan.  24.  1889,  aged  live 
years  anil  two  days.  Little  Eddie  was  a  sweet, 
bright  child,  whose  mind  seemed  far  in  advance  of 
his  years.  He  was  gentle,  obedient  and  affectionate, 
not  only  with  the  home  circle,  but  with  all  his  asso- 
ciates.  A  short  time  previous  to  his  death  he  ap- 
peared to  comprehend  that  life  for  him  would  soon 
be  over,  and  told  his  mamma  that  "God  loved  him, 
and  would  take  care  of  him."  A  few  minutes  be- 
fore breathing  his  last  he  repeated  his  little  prayer, 
■■Now.  I  lay  mi'  down  to  sleep,"  and  soon  the  pure 
spirit  tied  to  be  forever  at  rest.  The  youngest 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dougherty.  Stella  !>..  was  born 
Feb.   1(1.  1886.    She  is  a  hearty  and  promising  child. 


692 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Fortunately  for  Mr.  Dougherty,  his  excellent 
wife  has  always  enjoyed  fine  health,  and  he  attrib- 
utes the  prolongation  of  his  life  to  her  affectionate 
care  and  attention.  Mr.  Dougherty  has  never  been 
an  active  politician  in  the  sense  of  office- seeking. 
On  the  contrary,  he  has  several  times  declined  to 
enter  upon  the  responsibilities  of  a  public  position. 
Since  becoming  a  voter,  he  has  uniformly  supported 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party  and  temper- 
ance, and  has  endeavored  to  exert  his  influence  on 
the  side  of  right.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
Fairmount  Building  and  Loan  Association,  he  was 
made  a  Director,  and  has  since  been  connected  with 
it  in  this  capacity. 

.Mrs.  Dougherty  became  identified  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  fourteen  years  ago,  and  at 
last  succeeded  in  bringing  her  husband  into  the 
fold,  he  having  united  with  this  chinch  quite  re- 
cently— Feb.  18,  1889.  He  has  always  been  a  be- 
liever in  the  Christian  religion,  but  his  poor  health 
interfered  largely  with  his  taking  part,  as  he  de- 
sired, in  the  duties  belonging  to  the  church  mem- 
ber. The  death  of  his  little  son  was  a  severe  blow 
to  him,  as  well  as  to  his  wife,  but  his  new  interest 
and  belief  in  the  comforting  and  redeeming  power 
of  the  Savior,  lias  given  him  strength  to  bear  his 
affliction,  and  to  believe  that  "He  doeth  all  things 
well." 

1=t'RANCIS  M.  ALLHANDS,  of  Danville,  took 
8-^gv   up  his  residence  at  this   place  in  the  fall   of 
Iks  1866,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year  following, 

was  elected  County  Treasurer  in  which  office  he 
served  ten  years.  Afterward  he  served  six  and 
one-half  years  as  Deputy  County  Clerk.  He  is 
thus  well  known  to  the  people  of  this  vicinity. 
He  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ind.,  Jan.  17. 
1832,  and  is  the  son  of  Andrew  Allhands,  a  native 
of  Butler  County.  Ohio.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Daniel  Allhands,  was  born,  it  is  believed,  in  Penn- 
sylvania of  German  parents,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Butler  County,  Ohio. 

Grandfather  Allhands  removed  from  Ohio  to 
Indiana  about  1830  and  purchasing  land  in  Mont-. 
gomciy  County  established    himself  there  for  life. 


His  son,  Andrew  was  reared  and  married  in  his 
native  county  and  later,  like  his  father,  removed 
to  Montgomery  County,  Ind..  where  he   purchased 

1 1  that  was  partially  improved,  and  later  sold  it 

at  an  advanced  price  and  purchased  again  in  that 
locality,  where  he  first  settled  in  a  log  house  and 
remained  there  until  1842. 

In  the  year  above  mentioned  the  father  of  our 
subject  set  out  for  Illinois,  making  the  journey 
overland  with  teams.  Upon  his  arrival  in  this 
county  he  purchased  a  tract  of  timber  land  four 
and  one-half  miles  west  of  the  present  site  of  Dan- 
ville and  upon  which  was  a  double  log  house  and 
forty  acres  cleared.  He  proceeded  with  the  im- 
provement of  his  property  and  there  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  resting  from  his  earthly  labors 
in  1851.  I  lis  first  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  in  her  girlhood,  Miss  Margaret  Swank,  a  native 
of  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
Swank  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  was  of  Ger- 
man  descent,  and,  like  Grandfather  Allhands,  a 
pioneer  of  Butler  County,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Margaret 
Allhands  departed  this  life  in  April,  181 1,  while 
still  a  young  woman. 

Our  subject  was  ten  years  old  when  he  came  to 
this  county  with  his  parents.  He  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  assisting  to  open  up  the  farm, 
while  lie  acquired  his  education  in  the  pioneer 
school.  This  was  before  the  time  of  railroads  and 
Chicago  was  the  principal  market  for  grain  and 
other  farm  produce.  Francis  M.  resided  with  his 
parents  until  eighteen  years  old,  then  started  for 
Oshkosh,  Wis.,  with  a  drove  of  horses  and  cattle, 
from  which  trip  he  returned  with  an  ox  team.  This 
now  nourishing  town  was  then  but  a  hamlet  and 
Indians  were  plentiful. 

Later  young  Allhands  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  which  he  followed  in  this  county  until  1861. 
There  was  now  need  for  his  services  as  a  soldier, 
and  he  enlisted  Sept.  20  that  year  in  Company  F, 
35th  Illinois  Infantry,  after  which  he  participated 
in  many  of  the  important  battles  of  the  war,  in- 
cluding the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  was  severely 
wounded  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  May  II,  1861,  and 
on  the  18th  of  July  following  suffered  amputation  at 
Nashville.  Tenn.  Being  unable  to  rejoin  his  regi- 
ment   he  was    given    his    honorable    discharge   and 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBIM. 


693 


reaohed  home  on  the  6th  of  January,  18(>,r>.  TUe 
spring  following  lie  was  elected  Assessor  of  Catlin 
Township  and  in  1866  took  up  his  abode  in  Dan- 
ville of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident. 

Mr.  Allhands  was  married  in  1858  to  Miss  Mary 
.1.  Ililliary.  a  native  of  this  county.  The  four 
children  born  of  this  union  were  named  respect- 
ively. Orvilla  A.,  (Want  W.,  Mcltie  M..  and  Mabel 
E.  Mr.  Allhands  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal, Church,  the  Republican  party,  and  Kenesaw 
Post,  G.  A.  R. 

\y,  OHN  J.  CAMPBELL,  a  prominent  and  well- 
informed  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Vermil- 
ion County,  was  born  March  1.  1854  in 
'*§z))  Newell  Township,  where  lie  passed  all  his 
boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm.  When  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  college  at  Craw- 
fordsville,  End.,  where  he  spent  one  year,  after 
which,  being  equipped  with  a  good  education,  he 
began  his  life  work,  that  of  farming. 

Mr.  Campbell's  father  and  mother  Corroyan 
Campbell  and  Man  (Britingham)  Campbell  were 
born  in  New  York  in  l«.'i.'3.  The  father  removed 
at  an  early  da}'  to  Wisconsin  where  he  engaged  in 
trade  and  where  he  was  successful.  The  wife  died 
in  1870. 

John  J.  Campbell  married  Catherine  Demand, 
daughter  of  John  II.  and  Tena  (Homan)  Gernand* 
who  are  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  who  came  to 
Vermilion  County  in  an  early  day  and  settled  on  a 
farm  one  mile  north  of  Danville,  where  Mr.  Ger- 
nand  now  resides.  His  wife  died  Oct.  16,  18G.'J 
and  is  now  resting  in  the  Danville  Cemetery.  Mrs. 
Campbell  received  her  education  in  Danville  where 

she  was  reared  to  womanh I,  and  is  the  oldest  in 

a  family  of  three  children.  She  was  born  Oct.  17, 
1856  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children:  Charles 
G.,  was  born  Nov.  '.*,  1876  and  is  at  home;  Stella 
S.  was  born  Sept.  12,  187K,  while  the  birth  of 
Nellie  A.  occurred  on  Oct.  S.  1885.  After  re- 
maining on  the  farm  for  about  six  years  Mr. 
Campbell  removed  to  Danville  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business,  which  he  successfully  prosecuted 


for  about  four  years,  when  he  went  back  to  his 
farm  where  be  now  resides,  enjoying  life  with 
everything  comfortable  surrounding  him.  His 
beautiful  home  consists  of  293  acres  of  splendid 
land,  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  the 
buildings  which  are  erected  here  are  of  a  substan- 
'tial  kind.  In  everything  pertaining  to  the  higher 
grades  of  live-stock  Mr.  Campbell  is  an  expert. 
lie  is  particularly  interested  in  Short-born  cattle 
of  the  Bates  family  and  Pomoto  strains,  lie  is 
al>o  devoting  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  the  im- 
provement in  the  breed  of  horses  and  owns  some  line 
specimens  of  the  Cleveland  bays.  As  a  stock-raiser 
there  is  none  more  successful  in  this  county  than 
he,  simply  because  he  invites  intelligence  to  guide 
his  efforts  in  this  direction,  lie  reads  extensively 
and  profits  thereby,  and  therein  lies  the  success 
of  many  a  man  who  is  engaged  in  stock-raising 
and  general  farming. 

Politically,  Mr.  Campbell  is  an  active  Democrat. 
He  is  always  ready  and  willing  to  make  an  honor- 
able fight  foi-  his  parly  which  he  does  wholly  on 
principle.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  while  his  wife  worships  with 
the  Presbyterians.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  Lodge  and  has  belonged  to  the  order 
since  1852.  There  is  not  a  man  in  Vermilion 
County  who  takes  hold  of  any  project  with  more 
energy  than  Mr.  Campbell,  and  of  course  he  is 
successful. 


-*M* 


> 


LIVER  P.  STUFFLEBEAM.  This  gentle- 
man represents  property  in  this  county  to 
the  extent  of  over  1,000  acres  of  land,  and 
occupies  an  elegant  brick  residence  in  Rossville — 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  county  outside  of  Danville. 
His  possessions  are  the  result  of  his  own  industry 
and  good  management.  During  the  years  of  his 
early  manhood  he  labored  early  and  late,  having  in 
view  the  accumulation  of  a  competence  foi  his 
later  years,  and  has  arrived  at  a  point  very  near 
the  realization  of  his  ambition.  The  example  of 
his  courage  under  difficulties,  is  one  which  may 
well  be  imitated  by  many  another  young  man  who. 
like  himself,  has  been  early    in    life    thrown  on  his 


694 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


own  resources.  Warren  Comity.  Ind.,  was  the  early 
(ramping  ground  of  our  subject,  where  his  birth 
look  place  Feb.  13,  1837.  lie  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  bis  native  count}',  acquiring  a  prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  school.  He  had 
been  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  seven  years  and 
made  his  home  with  his  maternal  uncle.  Zebulou 
I-'oster,  until  reaching  his   majority. 

Mr.  Stufflebearn  came  to  this  county  in  1858,  and 
in  I860  purchased  a  tract  of  raw  land  in  Ross 
Township.  He  at  once  set  about  its  improvement 
and  cultivation,  and  in  the  course  of  time  set  out 
fruit  and  shade  trees,  together  with  hedge  fencing, 
and  instituted  the  improvements  naturally  sug- 
gested to  the  enterprising  pioneer.  There  sprang 
up  seven  miles  west  of  it  the  town  of  Rossville,  and 
our  subject  occupied  that  farm  until  1872.  That 
year  he  removed  to  another  part  of  his  farm,  lying 
in  South  Branch  Township,  and  lived  there  until 
his  removal  to  Rossville.  Like  most  of  the  men 
around  him  he  eventually  became  interested  in 
stock-raising,  which  yielded  him  large  profits. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Sufflebeam  is  finely  located 
and  built  of  pressed  brick,  with  tasteful  trimmings, 
handsomely  finished,  and  within  bears  the  evi- 
dences of  refined  taste  and  ample  means.  A  large 
number  of  natural  shade-trees  furnish  a  delightful 
coolness  in  summer  and  protect  it  from  the  chilling 
winds  of  winter.  Near  by  is  a  ten-acre  private 
park,  heavily  wooded,  and  the  object  of  admiration 
in  all  the  country  around. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  Miss  Anna 
Johnson,  of  Tippecanoe  County,  Ind.,  was  cele- 
brated at  the  bride's  home,  March  U,  1862.  The 
household  circle  was  completed  by  the  birth  of 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Ilattie,  the 
eldest  born,  is  the  wife  of  II.  H.  Brown,  of  Grant 
Township,  and  the  mother  of  one  child.  The  other 
children,  Caroline,  Kittie,  Charles,  P. ail,  Abner, 
Marcia,  and  Myron  remain  under  the  home  roof, 
and  are  being  carefully  trained  and  educated. 

Mrs.  St  u  til  beam  was  born  May  12,  1841,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Abner  Johnson,  who  died  in  Tip- 
pecanoe County,  Ind.,  Dec.  1.  1885,  aged  seventy- 
one.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Hannah  (Fuller)  Johnson,  had 
preceded  him  to  the  silent  land,  her  death  taking 
place  in  January,  1881,    when  she  was  sixty-three 


years  of  age.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  John 
Stuffibeam,  who  was  born  in  Scoharie  County,  N. 
Y..  in  1795.  He  lived  there  until  reaching  man's 
estate,  and  then  started  for  the  West.  His  first 
wife  died  in  her  youth,  and  he  was  then  married  to 
Miss  Harriet  Ostrander.  in  Indiana.  Subsequently 
he  removed  to  Warren  County,  that  State,  and  tak- 
ing up  new  land  opened  a  farm  upon  which  he  lived 
and  labored  until  his  death  on  May  1,  1811.  Our 
subject,  who  was  the  child  of  the  second  wife,  was 
then  less  than  seven  years  of  age,  and  his  mother 
died  in  January,  1X4."i.  at  the  early  age  of  twenty- 
nine  years.  She  was  born  in  Kingston,  Ross  Co., 
Ohio.  By  her  death  four  children  were  left  in 
orphanage,  all  ot  whom  lived  to  mature  years,  and 
of  whom  Oliver  P.  was  the  eldest.  His  younger 
brother,  Morgan,  is  a  resilient  of  Warren  Count}', 
Ind.;  Miller  ().  lives  in  Kansas;  Margaret  married 
a  Mr.  Walters  and  they  live  in  Washington. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Michael  Stufflebeam,  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
upon  coming  to  America  located  on  land  in  Sco- 
harie County,  N.  Y..  where  he  operated  as  a  farmer 
a  number  of  years.  Later  he  came  West,  to  War- 
ren County.  Ind.,  and  spent  his  last  days  with 
his  son.  He  was  born  in  1710  and  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age.  His  wife  died  in  Scoharie  County.  N.  Y. 
Our  subject  politically  votes  the  straight  Repub- 
lican ticket,  but  otherwise  than  this  has  kept  aloof 
from  public  affairs,  preferring  to  devote  his  time 
and  talents  to  his  farming  interests. 

.INGHAM  C.GREEN.  There  is  no  better 
indication  of  a  man's  life  and  character 
than  the  fact  that  those  nearest  to  him  hold 
his  name  in  lasting  remembrance  and  evince 
a  desire  to  perpetuate  it  in  honor  anil  affection. 
The  subject  of  this  notice,  late  a  resident  of  Ross 
Township,  this  county,  departed  this  life  at  his 
homestead  on  section  25,  March  26,  1888,  and  has 
left  behind  him  the  record  of  an  upright  life,  till- 
ed in  with  benevolence,  honesty  of  purpose  and 
all  the  qualities  which  form  a  character  worthy  of 
imitation.     Mr.  Green  was  a  native  of  New  York, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


695 


Ontario  Comity,  and  was  born  in  September,  1817, 
Ilia  father,  Benjamin  Green,  is  supposed  to  have 
been  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  was  the  son 
of  Hezekiah  Green,  who  traced  In*  ancestry  to  Eng- 
land. 

Bingham  C.  spent  his  early  years  in  his  native 
county,  anil  came  to  Illinois  in  1 840,  settling  in 
this  county,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss  Jose- 
phine, daughter  of  Alonzo  and  Mary  A.  (Hill) 
Knight.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green 
settled  upon  the  farm  which  has  since  remained  the 
home  of  the  family.  It.  was  then  only  slightly 
improved, and  Mr. Green,  with  characteristic  energy 
anil  perseverance,  labored  early  and  late  in  the  Cul- 
tivation of  the  soil,  and  carrying  forward  the  im- 
provements naturally  suggested  to  the  enterprising 
and  progressive  citizen.  lie  added  to  his  landed 
estate,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  owner 
of  1,000  acres  largely  devoted  to  grain  and  stock- 
raising.  This  property  he  had  accumulated  solely 
by  his  own  industry  and  good  management,  having 
begun  life  without  means  and  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources. 

Mr.  Green  was  an  active  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  officiated  as 
Trustee  and  to  which  he  contributed  liberally  for 
its  support.  The  Green  homestead  is  excelled  by 
none  in  the  county  in  point  of  beauty  and  location 
and  natural  attractions,  which  have  been  augmented 
by  the  exercise  of  cultivated  tastes  and  ample 
means.  The  residence  stands  about,  200  yards 
from  the  road, and  is  approached  by  a  gravel  drive 
through  a  pretty  grove,  which  lends  coolness  in 
summer  and  protection  from  the  blasts  of  winter. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Green  were  natives  of  Ver- 
mont and  came  to  Illinois  in  their  youth.  Mr. 
Knight  for  many  years  operated  as  a  contractor, 
and  as  such  assisted  in  the  construction  of  tin' 
Erie  Canal.  Later  he  was  interested  in  a  saw-mill. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs. Green  there  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren: Ellen,  the  eldest  daughter,  is  the  wife  of 
William  A.  Yea/.el  of  this  county,  and  they  have 
seven  children;  May  married  C.  G.  Wilber,  of 
this  county,  and  they  have  two  children  ;  Maurice 
L.  married  Miss  Mary  Thompson  and  they  have 
two  children;  Charles  and  Eva  F.  remain  at  home 
with  their  mother;  Elwood   and  Clark   died  when 


quite  young.  Ellen  belongs  to  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  Mrs.  Green  with  her  other  children  is 
a  Methodist  in  religious  belief,  being  connected 
with  the  church  at  .Mann's  Chapel. 


* HfHfr-B-- 


i;s.  LUCINDA  COOPER  is  the  widow  of 
.John  E.  Cooper,  who  died  Aug.  8,  1882. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Larkin  and  Jennie 
(Boyce)  Cook;  the  father  was  a  native  of 
Ohio  or  Virginia,  the  mother  of  Ohio.  Her  parents 
were  married  in  Dearborn  County,  Ohio,  where 
they  lived  on  a  farm  for  some  time,  when  they 
removed  to  Indiana.  Afterward  they  again  removed 
in  1827  to  Vermilion  County,  III.  Her  father  was 
noted  for  his  strict  integrity,  and  with  his  amiable 
wife,  soon  became  known  far  and  wide  for  their 
genial  dispositions.  Their  home  became  famous 
for  hospitality,  and  they  were  the  leaders  in  all  the 
merry-making  around.  They  had  ten  children, 
Mrs.  Cooper  being  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 

Mrs.  Cooper  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Dear- 
born County,  Ind.  Although  but  four  years  old 
when  she  left  her  old  home  in  Indiana,  she  can 
remember  it  very  well,  and  loves  to  recall  incidents 
that  happened  there.  When  twenty-three  years 
old  she  married  Mr.  John  E.  Cooper,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  Although  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  Mr. 
Cooper  was  reared  in  Greene  County,  Ohio.  Coin- 
ing to  Illinois  when  eighteen,  he  met  and  married 
his  wife  when  he  was  twenty-seven.  Fourteen 
years  after  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  moved 
on  their  present  farm,  becoming  the  owners  of  100 
acres. 

Their  union  has  been  blessed  by  eleven  children: 
Robert  and  Eliza,  died  in  infancy;  George,  Clara. 
Johnnie,  Sallie,  Anna,  Charles,  Lizzie,  Kate  and 
Quinn.  George  married  Miss  Carrie  Moreland, 
and  they  live  in  Greeneastle,  Ind.  He  is  in  the 
livery  business.  They  have  three  children — Opa, 
Everett  and  Glen.  Jennie  married  Russell  Jones, 
ami  they  reside  on  their  farm  neat  Carthage,  Mo. 
They  have  one  child,  Bertie.  John  married  Miss 
Nora  Hill,  and  resides  in  Greeneastle,  Ind.,  being 
in  partnership  in  business  with   his  brother  George 


G9G 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


Tiny  have  three  children,  Elmo,  L.  G.,and  Jennie. 
Sal  lie  married  John  Gilky,  who  died  in  1879.  She 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  mother  at  the 
Cooper  homestead,  and  has  two  children — Sygna 
E.  and  (  >ra  A.  Anna  still  brightens  her  mother's 
home  with  her  presence.  Charles,  who  married 
Miss  Katie  Moreland,  resides  in  Carroll  Township, 
Vermilion  County,  where  he  has  a  fine  farm.  They 
have  two  children — Fleda  and  Louis.  Will  More- 
land,  now  of  Chrisnian.  III.,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  livery  business,  married  Lizzie,  who  died  in 
1'881,  leaving  one  child,  John.  Kate  married 
Jethrow  Jones,  a  commercial  man,  and  they  now 
live  in  Fort  Scott,  Kan.  They  have  four  children 
— Elgie,  Lelab,  J.  C.  and  Cora.  Quinn  manages 
the  home  farm,  and  has  proven  an  adept  in  agri- 
cultural matters. 

Mrs.  Cooper  is  a  lady  of  elegant  manners  and 
reliued  tastes,  belonging  to  one  of  the  best  families 
of  our  country.  She  has  the  finest  home  in  George- 
town Township  and  one  that  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  any  place  in  the  State. 


,*p^  USAN   E.   ROSS,    is     the     widow    of    John 

^^^,     Ross  and  is  operating   1  15  acres  of  land  in 

T\  //%i 
11/  )))   Sidell    Township.       She   is   a    daughter   of 

Samuel  and  Eleanor  McCray,  who  were 
horn  in  Virginia.  In  1832  Mr.  McCray  came  with 
his  father  to  Clinton  County,  Ind.,  where  he  be- 
came a  farmer.  He  continued  in  that  business 
with  a  large  degree  of  success  until  his  death  which 
occurred  in  1849  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  His 
wife  died  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Ross.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children :  John  C,  Mary  E., 
.lames  R.,  George  G.,  Susan  E.,  Nancy  E.,  Martha, 
and   Samuel.      Two  died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

Mrs  Ross  is  the  only  one  of  this  large  family  now 
living.  John  and  James  enlisted  during  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  and  the  former  was  shot  at  Mnr- 
freesboro,  where  he  died,  while  James  was  drowned 
in  the  Missouri  River  on  his  way  to  the  field  of 
battle.  So  it  will  be  seen  that  her  family  contrib- 
uted its  share  to  the  putting  down  of  the  great  re- 
bellion.     Mrs.   Ross    was   born   Oct.    17.  L831,  in 


Rockbridge  County.  \'a.  Her  early  days  in  her 
native  county  were  spent  on  her  father's  farm  and 
she  received  no  schooling  until  she  came  to  Indiana. 
On  March  '.».  1854,  she  was  married  to  John  Ross, 
who  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  came  to 
Indiana  in  an  early  day  with  his  parents.  He  con- 
tracted his  first  marriage  on  Feb.  11,  1838,  the 
bride  being  Rebecca  C.  Davis.  After  his  second 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  lived  on  a  farm  in 
Indiana,  for  a  year  ami  a  half,  and  in  the  early  part 
of  l8f>G,  he  and  his  wife  removed  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling on  the  hanks  of  the  Little  Vermilion  River. 
They  lived  with  Mr.  Ross's  brother  until  their 
house  on  their  present  farm  was  completed,  and  in 
this  house  Mr.  Ross  lived  until  the  day  of  his 
death,  and  Mrs.  Ross  has  continued  to  reside  there 
since.  They  became  the  parents  of  ten  children : 
Rebecca  J.;  .Mary  E.;  Martha  A.;  Samuel  J.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eleven  months;  Almeda;  two  in- 
fants who  died;  John  and  Williams,  twins,  the  lat- 
ter dying  al  the  age  of  two  years  and  six  months, 
and  Elizabeth.  Rebecca,  married  George  W.  Huff- 
man. She  died  in  1ST."),  leaving  two  hoys;  W'eldon 
O.  and  Charles  C.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  \V.  I). 
Lradfield,  who  is  now  in  charge  of  the  Ross  farm. 
They  own  a  farm  in  Kansas.  Martha  A.  married 
Isaac  M.  Cundiff.  a  resident  of  Saunders  County, 
Neh.  They  have  three  children:  L.  Lester.  Orville 
and  Elizabeth.  Almeda  married  J.  W.  McCoy,  of 
Wyandotte,  Kan.  They  have  one  child — Clarence 
1).  John  is  a  student  at  Galesburg,  111.,  and  grad- 
uated in  June.  1889.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
John  D.  Daniels,  a  teacher  residing  at  Archie. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  made  all  the  improvements 
on  their  farm,  which  are  quite  valuable.  They 
worked  hard  to  accomplish  an  end  and  nobly  suc- 
ceeded. Mr.  Ross  died  April  u,  1877.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  a  man  of 
most  excellent  character,  and  is  remembered  as  one 
of  the  kindest  men  in  this  community.  He  was 
commonly  called '-Uncle  John,"  which  is  an  evi- 
dence of  the  respect  borne  him  by  his  neighbors. 
He  and  his  wife  early  joined  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church,  he  remaining  a  consistent  and 
worthy  member  of  that,  organization  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  while  his  wife  still  worships  at 
the  same  place.       Mrs.    Ross   is  living  in  the  enjoy- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


697 


ment  of  what  she  1ms  earner!  by  the  early  sacri- 
fices <>f  her  pioneer  days,  and  there  is  not  a  person 
who  «ill  begrudge  her  any  comfort  she  may  enjoy. 
She  is  one  of  the  besl  of  women,  and  by  her  chil- 
dren, will  be  remembered  always  as  one  <>f  the 
kindest  of  mothers,  while  her  husband's  memory  will 
he  cherished  as  long  as  any  of  his  descendants 
live. 


ASPKK  JAMES  LA  NULL  V,  born  in  Dan- 
v  ville  Township,  Vermilion  County.  Feb.  25, 
SiJ/J  18.'J5.  in  the  pioneer  home  of  one  of  the 
well-known  early  settlers  of  this  region,  is  now  one 
of  its  representative  citizens.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  land  owners  of  the  township,  and 
is  a  man  of  weight  and  influence  in  the  community 
where  his  life  has  been  passed. 

Nathaniel  Langley,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Nelson  County,  Ky..  his  father  having 
been  a  pioneer  of  that  county,  spending'  his  last 
years  there.  The  father  was  reared  in  the  place  of 
his  birth,  and  was  there  married, continuing  to  live 
there  till  about  1830,  when  he  came  with  his  family 
to  this  county,  the  removal  being  made  with  teams. 
He  located  in  Danville  Township,  buying  seventy- 
acres  of  timber  land  on  section  27.  He  built  a 
log  house,  in  which  the  family  lived  about  three 
years.  He  then  sold  that  place,  and  bought  over 
200  acres  on  sections  2G  and  27,  this  township, and 
made  his  home  thereon  fill  death  called  him  to  a 
higher  sphere  in  1*18,  at  which  time  the  community 
lost  a  valuable  citizen — one  who  had  ever  taken  a 
warm  interest  in  its  welfare,  and  had  promoted  it 
to  the  best  of  his  ability.  The  maiden  name  of 
his  wife  was  Margaret  Holtshouser.  She  was  born 
in  Nelson  County.  Ky.,  a  daughter  of  John  Holts- 
houser, who  hail  gone  from  his  native  State,  North 
Carolina,  to  Kentucky  in  pioneer  times,  and  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Nelson  County. 
There  were  no  roads  at  that  time,  and  the  removal 
was  made  with  mules,  on  which  the  household 
goods  were  packed.  lie  cleared  a  farm,  and  was  a 
resilient  there  till  denth  closed  his  earthly  career, 
when  he  attained  the  age  of  nearly  one  hundred 
years,  his  wife  also  attaining  the   same   remarkable 


age.      The  mother  of   our  subject   died  on   the  home 

farm  in  1865.  There  were  four  children  born  of 
her  marriage:  Elizabeth  married  John  Stevenson, 
and  now  lives  in  Danville  Township;  Thomas  and 
Charles  are  dead. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest 
child  of  the  family.  He  attended  the  pioneer 
schools  taught  in  a  log  SChoolllOUSC,  with  home- 
made furniture,  the  benches  being  made  of  pun- 
cheon, with  pins  for  legs.  When  he  was  young, 
deer  and  other  wild  game  were  plentiful,  and  our 
subject  used  to  find  pleasure  in  hunting  and  sup- 
plying the  table  with  the  delicacies  of  the  chase. 
There  were  no  railroads  here  for  years,  and  his 
father  used  to  go  to  Chicago,  125  miles  distant, 
it  taking  from  seven  to  ten  days  to  make  the 
journey  over  the  rough  roads.  Our  subject  was 
thirteen  years  old  when  his  father  died,  and  he 
continued  to  live  with  his  mother  and  to  assist 
her  in  the  management  of  the  farm  till  her  death. 
After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  his  present  place, 
and  has  been  actively  engaged  in  carrying  it 
on.  He  has  been  very  much  prospered,  and  his 
496  acres  of  choice  land  are  in  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  the  improvements  compare  with 
the  best  in  the  township.  He  has  erected  a  fine  set 
of  frame  buildings,  with  all  the  modern  conve- 
niences, and  has  good  machinery  to  carry  on  his 
work. 

In  the  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  August, 
1805,  he  has  found  an  able  helpmate,  one  who  has 
co-operated  with  him  in  his  work,  and  makes  his 
home  comfortable  and  cosy.  Their  pleasant  house- 
hold circle  is  completed  by  the  presence  of  their 
nine  children — Leona.  Nora.  Margaret,  Hor tense, 
Isabelle,  Roseoe  C.  Joseph,  Bessie  and  .lames  Blaine. 
Mrs.  Langley's  maiden  name  was  Isabelle  Ander- 
son, and  she  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  N.  V.,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Martha  (Warner)  An- 
derson. Her  father  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  came  to  America 
in  1812.  He  located  in  New  York  State,  and  in 
1819  married  in  Albany.  A  few  years  afterwards 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Fulton  County,  and  engaged 
in  farming  there  till  his  death  , in  1851.  Mrs. 
Langley's  mother  was  born  in  Balston,  Saratoga 
Co.,  N.  V.      In  1852,  with  her  children,  she  moved 


698 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  Perrysville,  Ind..  ar.d  resided  there  several  years, 
Anally  coming  to  Danville,  where  she  died  in  the 
home  of  our  subject,  Dee.  16,  1877. 

Mr.  Langley  is  in  every  way  a  credit  to  the  citi- 
zenship of  his  native  county,  as  he  is  a  man  of  line 
personal  character,  whose  habits  are  exemplary, 
and  he  deserves  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  who  have  watched  his  career  with 
satisfaction.  In  him  the  Republican  party  of  tliis 
part  of  the  State  finds  one  of  its  most  intelligent, 
and  stanch  champions.  Mis.  Langley  is  a  valued 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  is  in 
all  respects  a  sincere  Christian. 


j>ILLIAM  11.  SCONCE.  Among  the  men 
who  looked  upon  Vermilion  County  in  its 
pioneer  clays,  the  subject  of  this  notice  is 
worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  mention.  He  has 
occupied  one  farm  since  1858,  a  period  of  thirty-one 
years,  having  settled  upon  it  when  it  was  nothing 
but  raw  prairie,  without  tree,  shrub,  of  building. 
He  labored  early  and  late  in  the  improvement  of  his 
property,  lived  economically  and  prudently,  and  at 
the  same  time  watched  the  growth  and  develep- 
ment  of  this  section  of  country  with  the  interest 
which  is  always  felt  by  the  intelligent  and  pro- 
gressive citizen.  lie  lent  a  helping  hand  to  those 
in  need  during  the  early  days,  and  has  not  yet 
parted  with  his  character  for  probity,  benevolence 
and  kindness.  Without  making  any  great  display 
in  the  world,  he  has  lived  the  life  of  an  honest  man 
and  a  good  citizen,  loyal  to  his  home  and  his  coun- 
try, and  contributing  his  full  share  toward  the 
progress  and  development  of  his  adopted  county. 
A  native  of  Bourbon  Count}',  Ky.,  our  subject- 
was  born  May  1,  1823,  and  spent  his  childhood  in 
the  Blue  Grass  .State.  lie  distinctly  remembers 
the  journey  to  Illinois,  and  that  the  family  crossed 
the  Ohio  River  at  Cincinnati  in  October,  1830. 
Later  they  crossed  the  Wabash  on  a  cold,  cloudy 
day.  and  arrived  at  Brooks  Point  the  latter  part  of 
the  month.  There  was  an  abundance  of  wild  game 
and  a  great  many  snakes,  and  in  the  spring  the 
horizon  was  darkened  by  the  smoke  of  prairie  fires. 


In  the  waters  of  the  Wabash  were  pike,  suckers, 
perch,  bass  and  other  choice  specimens  of  the  finny 
tribe. 

Mr.  Sconce  pursued  his  early  studies  in  a  log 
school-house,  with  its  huge  fireplace,  the  chimney 
outside  of  earth  and  sticks,  and  its  one  small  win- 
dow. The  seats  and  desks  were  home-made,  and 
the  school  was  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan 
three  months  every  winter.  His  father  engaged 
in  stock-raising,  selling  to  home  buyers.  Our  sub- 
ject made  three  trips  down  the  river  to  New  Oi- 
lcans with  produce  loaded  on  a  llatboat  or  barge, 
which  excursions  he  enjoyed  very  much,  because 
they  afforded  him  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
country. 

Our  subject  was  married  Oct.  18,  1855,  to  Miss 
Catherine,  born  Aug.  1,  1*37.  in  Burr,  Tipperary 
Co.,  Ireland,  to  .lohn  and  Mary  O'Marrow,  who 
were  natives  of  Ireland,  where  the  father  spent  his 
entire  life.  He  died  when  his  daughter,  the  wife 
of  our  subject,  was  small,  and  the  widowed  mother, 
with  her  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
sought  a  home  in  the  United  States.  The  date  of 
her  removal  from  Ireland  was  1811),  and  three 
months  were  consumed  in  crossing  the  ocean.  They 
settled  in  Xenia,  Ohio,  which  was  her  home  for  a 
period  of  more  than  seven  years.  In  1K.J7  she 
came  to  Georgetow-n,  111.,  and  on  the  18th  of  Oc- 
tober, as  before  mentioned,  she  was  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony  with  William  II.  Sconce. 
Mr.  Sconce  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  about 
this  time — eighty  acres — upon  which  he  settled 
with  his  young  wife  after  his  marriage,  and  which 
was  then  uncultivated  prairie.  Later  he  purchased 
another  eighty  acres,  and  brought  the  whole  to  a 
good  state  of  cultivation. 

Seven  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  estimable  wife,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
a  daughter,  Lucy  L.  L..  married  Charles  Thompson, 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  Sidell  Township,  and  they 
have  one  child — Mary  C.  The  next  daughter, 
Mary  M.  J.,  married  Joseph  Willison,  and  they 
have  live  children — Asil  William,  Norah  M.,  Or- 
rell  G.,  Joseph  E.  and  John  E.;  they  live  on  a  farm 
in  Carroll  Township,  and  are  doing  well.  Gerro 
Gordo  married  John  Cheney,  and  they  have  two 
children — Leslie  G.  and  a  babe  named  Treovie  O.- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


699 


tlicv  live  on  a  farm  in  Carroll  Township.  Lilly  F. 
married  Kemp  A.  Catlett,  a  farmer  and  a  stock- 
breeder of  Fulton  County,  and  they  live  near  Fair 
View;  they  had  one  child — Bessie  A.  Luella  mar- 
ried W.  ('.  Layton,  a  farmer  of  Fulton  County. 
.John  NY.  ('.  and  Althea  l>.  are  .-it  home  with  their 
parents. 

.Mr.  Sconce  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket 
mid  is  at  present  lli«'  Drain  Commissioner  of  his 
township.  Ilr  has  served  as  School  Director  sev- 
eral years.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity 
at  Georgetown,  while  his  estimable  wife  has  been 
a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  since  1861.  Their  daughters  Lucy  and 
Lilly  completed  their  studies  in  the  Normal  School 
at  Danville,  and  subsequently  engaged  as  teachers. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  L  and 
Lucy  (Spicer)  Sconce,  the  father  a  native  of  Nich- 
olas County,  Ky..  born  near  North  Middleton,  and 
the  mother  a  native  of  Bourbon  County.  They 
were  married  in  the  latter  county,  where  the  elder 
Sconce  carried  on  farming  until  emigrating  to  Illi- 
nois, in  l.S.'iO.  lie  settled  at  Brooks  Point,  about 
six  miles  south  of  Danville,  where  lie  engaged  in 
farming  and  was  prospered.  The  mother  died  at 
Brooks  Point  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years, 
leaving  nine  children,  of  whom  only  David  and 
Philemon  S.  are  living.  The  others  were  named, 
respectively:  Minerva  .1.,  Louisa  A.  1)..  John  R., 
Elizabeth  Lucy,  Martha  S.  and  Susanna  A.  These 
are  located  mostly  in  this  county. 

On  another  page  appeals  a  line  view  of  the 
pleasant  resilience  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sconce. 


e5§*J^L*4s=^_ 


yMLLIAM  II.  GARDNER,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Rossville  Weekly  Press,  Ross- 
ville, III.,  formerly  of  St.  Joseph  County. 
Mich.,  although  having  been  only  a  brief  time  a 
resident  Of  this  place,  has  already  established  him- 
self in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  citizens. 
He  is  a  gentleman  of  ability,  and  of  excellent  fam- 
ily, a  native  of  Steuben  County,  N.  Y..  and  born 
March  15.  1830. 

Hiram    Gardner,  the    lather  of  our   subject,  was 


born  in  Bristol  County,  R.  I.,  whence  he  removed 
to  Steuben  County,  N.  V.,  when  it  was  a  wilder- 
ness, constructed  a  comfortable  homestead  after 
years  of  industrious  labor,  and  there  spent  the  last 
years  of  his  life.  The  wife  of  his  youth  was  Miss 
Sarah  Patchen,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two 
Children.  Both  the  latter  are  living,  the  brother 
residing  at  Cooper's    Plains,  N.  V. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  up  amid  the 
scenes  of  pioneer  life  in  the  Empire  Stale,  receiv- 
ing such  education  as  the  imperfect  school  system 
of  that  day  afforded.  His  education  was  carried 
on  mostly  during  the  winter  season,  while  the  bal- 
ance of  the  year  he  made  himself  useful  around 
the  homestead,  manufacturing  rails  and  shingles, 
driving  oxen  and  utilizing  himself  in  whatever 
manner  required.  When  out  of  school  he  by  no 
means  neglected  his  books,  making  a  practice  of 
reading  as  time  and  opportunity  presented.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  years  he  commenced  teaching,  anil 
officiated  thereafter  as  a  pedagogue  for  a  period  of 
more  than  twenty  years.  Leaving  his  native  State 
in  the  spring  of  1856,  he  emigrated  to  Lee  County, 
III.,  where  he  employed  himself  in  farming  and 
teaching,  and  became  a  prominent  citizen  in  con- 
nection with  educational  affairs.  He  was  twice 
elected  Superintendent  of  Schools.  During  the  war 
he  got  out  timber  for  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment, and  upon  one  occasion  seven  days  from  the 
time  the  trees  stood  in  the  forest,  a  bridge  was 
made  of  them  spanning  a  river  in  Tennessee. 

Mr.  Gardner  has  been  engaged  in  the  newspaper 
work  since  1  Still,  being  formerly  part  owner  of  the 
Grand  Rapids  Democrat.  He  withdrew  from  this 
to  eiHer  the  otiice  of  H.  N.  F.  Lewis,,  publisher  of 
the  Western  Mural,  at  Chicago,  and  took  the  first 
order  for  advertising  for  that  paper,  nailing  up 
the  first  office  sign  for  it  in  Chicago.  He  con- 
ducted the  affairs  of  this  office  one  year,  when  the 
main  office  was  removed  from  Detroit  to  Chicago, 
and  Mr.  Gardner  became  traveling  correspondent 
and  editor.  Later  he  was  connected  with  the 
Humane  Journal  for  a  period  of  eleven  years.  He 
purchased  the  St.  Joseph  County  Republican  in 
May.  1888,  of  which  be  took  charge  in  the  July 
following.  It  was  a  spicy,  six-column  octavo  de- 
voted  to  the    interests  of  the  county   and  Repub- 


rim 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


lican  party,  At  present  lie  is  managing  the  affairs 
of  the  Rossvillc  Week!)/  Press  with  his  customary 
ability  and  tact. 

The  marriage  of  William  II.  Gardner  and  Miss 
Margaret  Holmes  was  celebrated  in  Homer,  N.  V.. 
Dec.  31,  1855.  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of 
Amasa  Holmes,  of  Homer,  and  of  her  union  with 
n ui- subject  there  were  horn  two  children,  one  of 
whom,  Frances,  became  the  wifejjof  Walter  Chad- 
band,  Superintendent  of  Rosehill  Cemetery.  They 
reside  in  the  beautiful  suburb  of  Roger's  Park, 
near  Chicago.  Mrs.  Margaret  (  Holmes)  Gardner 
departed  this  life  at  her  home,  in  Rogers  Park, 
March  2,  1888.  She  was  a  lady  highly  esteemed 
by  her  acquaintances,  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  an  active  Christian 
worker. 


fej)  to  being  a  thorough  and  skillful  farmer, 
this  gentleman  possesses  mechanical  genius 
of  no  mean  order,  is  expert  with  tools  and  occupied 
largely  as  a  carpenter  and  builder.  He  is  remark- 
ably industrious  and  energetic,  never  content  with 
being  idle,  and  operates  successfully  a  good  farm 
of  -JG7  acres  in  Georgetown  Township.  Lie  has 
siient  his  entire  life  in  this  region,  having  been 
born  in  Vermilion  County,  End.,  in  what  was  then 
called  Springfield,  Dec.  17,  184C.  The  opening 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  upon  the  farm  where 
he  made  himself  useful  as  his  size  and  strength 
permitted,  and  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
district  school.  In  the  meantime,  while  yet  a.  boy. 
he  began  to  use  carpenter  tools  and  in  1868  en- 
gaged as  a  contractor.  Thereafter  he  superin- 
tended the  building  of  many  houses  in  that  immed- 
iate vicinity.  He  also  at  the  same  time  engaged  in 
moving  houses,  and  operated  a  threshing  machine 
and  a  steam  sawmill  in  Georgetown  Township,  this 
county. 

When  twenty-two  years  old  Mr.  Richardson  was 
married,  in  1808  to  Miss  .Mary  P.,  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Cook)  Thornton.  Mrs.  Rich- 
ardson was  born  in  Elwood  Township,  Vermilion 
County,    and    removed    with    her   parents   to  Iowa 


when  a  small  child.  They  finally  returned  to  Ver- 
milion County,  where  they  are  now  living.  They 
had  a  family  of  four  children — Mary  E.,  Derinda, 
Matilda  Esther  and  Edom.  Miss  Mary  remained 
under  the  parental  roof,  acquiring  a  common-school 
education  and  becoming  familiar  with  all  house- 
wifely duties.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
have  also  been  born  four  children— Horace  M., 
Harmon  A..  Orpheus  A.  and  Alvia  A.  Mr.  aud 
Mrs.  Richardson  belong  to  the  Christian  Church 
and  Mr.  Richardson,  politically,  is  a  sound  Repub- 
lican. He  has  mingled  very  little  with  public  af- 
fairs, simply  serving  as  a  School  Director  in  his 
district  six  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Adoniram  .Uni- 
son and  Maria  (Taylor)  Richardson,  wdio  were 
natives  of  New  Hampshire  where  they  were  reared 
and  married.  After  marriage  they  emigrated  to 
Indiana,  settling  in  the  vicinity  of  Terre  Haute 
and  later  changed  their  residence  to  Vermilion 
County,  that  State.  The}'  finally  removed  to 
i  leorgetown  Township,  where  they  are  still  living, 
both  having  arrived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  - 
four  years.  They  are  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
viz. :  George  T;,  Mary  A.,  deceased;  Martha  A;, 
Francis  K.,  and  William  II..  deceased;  Sarah  E., 
John  T;,  Ferona  E.,  deceased  and  Francis  A. 


¥\ 


TLLIAM  I.  ALLEN,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Eastern  Illinois,  came  to  the 
State  in  1841  and  to  this  county  the  year 
following.  He  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Danville, 
and  for  three  years  thereafter  taught  the  village 
ami  adjoining  schools.  He  entered  land  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  northwestern  part  of  Hoopeston,  but 
at  that  time  a  tract  of  uncultivated  ground, 
over  which  deer,  wolves',  prairie  chickens  and  other 
wild  creatures  had  up  to  this  time  wandered  un- 
disturbed by  man.  There  was  not  a  tree  or  shrub  in 
sight  ami  the  pioneer,  after  erecting  his  cabin,  fre- 
quently stood  in  his  door  and  counted  numbers  of 
deer,  sometimes  as  high  as  sixty  in  one  herd. 

Mr.  Allen  came  to  this  county  a  single  man.  but 
after  becoming  settled  was  married,  Oct.  17,  1848, 


PORTRAIT  AND  1?I<  K  !  I!  A  1'IIICAL   ALBUM. 


7()l 


to  Miss  Emily  Newell.  lie  then  commenced  break- 
ing his  prairie  hind,  and  in  due  time  pul  up  a 
house  and  barn,  set  oul  an  orchard,  planted  hedges 
and  proceeded  with  the  improvements  naturally 
suggested  to  one  Of  his  progressive  mind  and  in- 
dustrious habits.  He  occupied  Ins  farm  during 
the  summer  months  and  in  winter  taught  school, 
and  studied  and  practiced  law  for  a  number  of 
years.  Finally  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Hoopes  and  set- 
tled six  miles  west  where  East  Lynn  now  stands. 
By  entering  and  purchase  lie  acquired  3,2110  acres 
Of  hind  which  was  mostly  devoted  to  grazing, 
although  he  carried  on  agriculture  considerably, 
lie  put  up  three  houses  and  effected  other  improve- 
ments, remaining  there  until  after  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War.  He  then  enlisted  m  Company  C, 
12th  Illinois  Infantry,  which  regiment  was  first 
ordered  to  Cairo  and  then  to  Paducah,  Ky.  Mr. 
Allen  in  due  time  was  presented  with  a  Captain's 
commission,  but  was  obliged  to  resign  on  account 
of  disability,  and  returned  home. 

Our  subject  now  occupied  his  farm  for  a  time, 
then  purchased  500  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  lioss- 
ville.  A  few  years  later  he  sold  out  once  more 
and  returned  to  the  northern  part  of  East  Lynn, 
which  was  located  on  a  part  of  the  old  farm,  about 
the  time  the  railroad  was  built  through.  In  1884 
be  went  to  Cherry  County,  Neb.,  but  in  1  888  re 
turned  to  lloopeston.  where  he  still  lives.  He  has 
built  up  for  himself  a  good  record,  serving  as 
County  Treasurer  two  terms  and  the  same  length 
of  time  as  School  Commissioner.  He  usually 
votes  with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  proud  of 
the  fact  that  in  all  his  life  he  never  east  a  ballot 
for  a  1  (emocrat. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  there  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, live  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Hugh  A. 
of  Holt  County,  Neb.;  Charles  A.,  who  is  repre- 
sented elsewhere  in  this  work;    Mary,  Mrs.  Tl las 

Van  Brunt;  Emily  N.,  who  is  unmarried;  Clyde  II. 
and  Martha,  who  died  in  January,  1  KSO  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years.  Mrs.  Emily  (Newell)  Allen 
was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1824  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  her  parents  when  a  small  child.  Newell 
Township  was  named  after  her  father,  .lames 
Newell,  who  was  a  prominent  farmer  and  useful 
citizen.      Our    subject's    father,  Asaph  Allen  was   a 


native  of  Massachusetts,  but  reared  in  Vermont 
and  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  McCloud.  They  emi- 
grated to  Franklin  County.  I  >hio,  settling  upon  land 
now  occupied  by  a  part  of  the  city  of  Columbus. 
Finally  the}7  removed  over  the  line  into  Madison 
County,  and  lived  until  a  few  years  ago  when  the 
fattier  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  The  mother 
of  Mr.  Allen  died  while  he  was  an  infant. 


*        WILLIAM   FLEMING,    editor  and   proprie- 

\/\l/l     tin-  of    the  lloopeston  Democrat,    was  born 
WW      iii  Gurnsey   County,  Ohio,  July   2,    1846, 
where  he  spent    a    large   portion    of  his  boyhood, 
moving    from    there    to    Birds    Run,    Tuscarawas 
County,  and  from  there  to    West  Lafayette,  Cosh- 
octon. Co.,  Ohio;    after    a    residence   at    the  latter 
place  a  number  of  years  he  went  to  Cadiz,  Harri- 
son, Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  learned   the  printing  busi- 
ness on  the  Sentinel,   published  by    the   Hon.  C.  N. 
Allen.   Here,  Mr.  Fleming  worked  till  the  war-fever 
seized  him.     Being  refused   the  privilege  of  volun- 
teering on  account  of  youthfulness,  by   Mr.  Allen, 
his  uncle,  he  repaired  to  Tod's  Barracks.  Columbus. 
Ohio,  and  on  the  19th  day  of  February,  1864,  vol- 
unteered for  the  Infantry  service  for  three  years  or 
dining  the  war.  and  was   assigned    to    Company  H, 
88th  Ohio  Infantry,    and    was  on    duty    at    Camp 
Chase,  Ohio,  guarding  and    transporting  prisoners 
all  of  the  term  of  his  service.       lie  was  discharged 
July  3,  1865,  by  reason  of  General  Order,  No.  136, 
headquarters,     Northern  Department,     Cincinnati. 
Ohio,"  the  war  being   over.     One    month    after    his 
discharge  from  the  army,  Mr.  Fleming's  father  died 
leaving  a  family    of   eight    children    and    with  no 
means    of    support.       With     characteristic    energy 
that  is  worthy  of  all  praise,    he    went    to  work  on  a 
railroad    section    at   $1.50    per  day,     to    keep  his 
brothers  and  sisters  together. 

After  three  years  of  hard  service  in  this  line  his 
brothers  grew  up.  so  that  they  could  take  care  of 
themselves  by  the  older  ones  working  out.  when 
Mr.  Fleming  returned  to  his  trade,  that  of  a  printer, 
engaging  in  an  office  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  remain- 
ing there  for  some  time,    but    finally    returning  to 


ro-> 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Crescent  City,  Iroquois  Co.,  111.,  where  he  married 
Miss  Fiances  Hunter,  on  the  2Gth  day  of  March, 
1874.  From  there  he  went  to  Hoopeston  and 
worked  for  seven  years  and  three  months  as  fine 
man  of  the  Chronicle.  He  was  finally  induced  to 
take  charge  of  the  Hoopeston  Journal  and  edit  and 
publish  it,  which  he  did  April  27,1882.  On  Novem- 
ber 10,  of  the  same  year,  he  bought  the  plant  and 
ran  the  paper  until  September,  3,  1885,  when  he 
sold  it  to  a  syndicate.  On  November  10,  he  flung 
to  the  breezes  the  Hoopeston  Independent,  which 
met  with  favor  with  the  people.  This  paper  lie 
published  eighteen  months,  when  he  bought  the 
Hoopeston  Journal  and  merged  the  two  papers 
into  the  Hoopeston  Democrat,  which  he  still  eon- 
ducts  with  ability  and  energy. 

By  his  first  wife  Mr.  Fleming  was  the  father  of 
two  children,  one  of  whom  is  still  living — Ella. 
His  first  wife  died  at  Hoopeston,  March  12.  1881. 
He  afterward  married  Mrs.  Alice  M.  Hitler  nee  <>.-- 
born,  and  by  this  union  two  boys  were  born— 
Leroy  and  Jay.  Thornton  Fleming,  the  father  of 
William,  was  a  merchant  of  West  Lafayette,  Ohio, 
and  married  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Gorseline.  He  died 
at  the  last  named  place,  and  his  wife  is  now  living 
at  Kearney,  Neb.  Mr.  Fleming  is  conducting  his 
paper  with  success,  and  it  is  looked  upon  as  a  re- 
liable journal.  His  advertising  patronage  is  good, 
and  upon  the  whole  he  is  scoring  a  success  in  his 
enterprise  of  maintaining  a  first-class  paper  at 
Hoopeston. 


%^  UGH  MONTGOMERY  ROBINSON,  of 
i  Champaign,  111.,  familiarly  known  in  Fair- 
mount  and  vicinity  as  "Mont  Robinson," 
^§|  while  not  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this 
county,  came  here  when  the  prairie  was  not  con- 
sidered suitable  for  human  habitations,  and  the 
residents  were  mostly  timber  settlers,  very  few 
having  yet  ventured  far  from  the  woods.  He  was 
born  in  Darrtown,  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  7,  1835, 
and  came  to  the  Wabash  Valley  in  the  spring  of 
1853.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
and  his  mother  was  a  member  of  the  Valliant(origin- 


ally  Valiant,  from  France)  family  from  the  eastern 
shore  of  Maryland,  some  of  whom  figured  conspicu- 
ously in  official  positions  in  Baltimore  and  other 
places  in  that  State. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  years  Mr.  Robinson  was 
married,  Nov.  28,  1855  to  Miss  Mary  Jane,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  Dickason  of  Perrysville.  For 
some  time  afterward  he  worked  at  Danville,  but 
was  deterred  from  moving  his  family  to  that  vil- 
lage on  account  of  its  notoriety  as  a  milk-sick  cen- 
ter. Very  few  people  moved  to  Danville  in  those 
days  on  that  account.  Later,  Mr.  Robinson  ven- 
tured within  three  miles  of  the  pLace  and  finally 
took  up  his  residence  within  it.  He  resided  there 
six  years  and  in  I862chauged  his  residence  to  Sid- 
ney. In  lHll.'i  he  removed  to  Fairmount,  of  which 
he  was  a  resident  until  July,  1889.  His  next  re- 
moval was  lo  Champaign,  in  order  to  establish  a 
new  Democratic  paper,  the  Champaign  Orbit. 

In  the  meantime,  in  1882,  Mr.  Robinson  was 
seized  with  Bright's  disease  ami  not  being  able 
to  follow  his  trade  of  shoe-making,  himself  and  his 
daughter,  Ida,  started  a  small  paper,  which  they 
named  the  Fairmount  Veto,  intending  only  to  pub- 
lish this  until  the   health   of    Mr.  Robinson   si Id 

be  restored  and  he  could  return  to  his  trade.  By 
means  of  an  exclusively  skimmed-milk  diet  Air. 
Robinson  not  only  regained  his  health,  but  was  even 
better  than  he  had  ever  been  before  in  all  his  life. 
and  indeed  is  practically  ten  years  vounger  than 
when  he  commenced  this  treatment.  He  wishes 
this  fact  recorded  so  that  other-  may  be  benefited 
by  the  experiment. 

The  Veto  became  eminently  successful  and  pop. 
ular  and  was  continued  until  the  removal  to  Cham- 
paign. Miss  Ida  Robinson  deserves  especial 
mention  for  the  part  she  has  borne  in  making  the 
Veto  a  signal  success.  In  1886,  in  connection  with 
this,  Miss  Ida  and  her  father  established  the  Sid- 
ney By-Way  and  this  loo  proved  a  fortunate  ven- 
ture. Afterward  Mr.  Robinson  turned  over  the 
establishment  to  his  widowed  daughter,  Mrs.  Eva 
Stewart,  who  is  conducting  it  singly  and  alone 
and  making  it  a  paying  institution. 

Mrs.  Mary  Jane  (Dickason)  Robinson  was  born 
in  Fountain  County.  Ind .,  March  1  !t.  1*37.  Eva 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALRI'M. 


703 


bom  in  Paris,  111..  Oct.  2.  1856.  Their  eldesi  son, 
Hart  Benton,  now  married  and  living  in  Sidney 
was  born  in  Danville.  Aug.  15,  1858;  Ida  was 
also  horn  in  Danville,  May  18,  I860;  I.arkin  Gray, 
the  youngest,  was  horn  in  Fairmount,  Aug.  13, 
1869.  They  now  reside  at  No.  311,  East  Clark 
Street,  Champaign,  where  they  will  welcome  any 
of  their  old-time  friends,  and  hope  to  cultivate 
new  lines. 


\l|  OSKI'II  Moss.  In  the  career  of  the  subject 
|  of  this  notice,  we  find  an  excellent  exam- 
ple for  young  men  just  embarking  in  the 
V&J  field  of  active  life,  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished by  a  man  beginning  poor,  but  honest, 
prudent  and  industrious.  Mr.  Moss  in  early  life  cn- 
joyed  lint  few  advantages.  His  school  days  were 
limited  nor  had  he  wealth  or  position  to  aid  him  in 
his  struggle  with  the  world.  He  was  obliged  to  rely 
solely  upon  his  own  efforts  to  win  for  him  success, 
and  lie  lias  reason  to  believe  that  his  labors  both  of 
hand  and  brain  have  not  been  for  naught.  He  is 
now  in  comfortable  circumstances,  retired  from 
active  labor,  and  has  a  very  pleasant  home,  com- 
prising a  well-tilled  farm  in  Middle  Fork  Town- 
ship. 

The  Moss  homestead  is  especially  noticeable  on 
account  of  its  modern  improvements,  including  a 
line  artesian  well  from  which  flows  a  constant 
stream  of  water  through  the  milk  house,  and  to  tanks 
in  the  barnyard  for  the  accommodation  of  the  stock 
and  whatever  other  purpose  required.  The  build- 
ings are  commodious  and  conveniently  arranged 
and  the  farm-machinery  is  first-class. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject  is  the  record  of  those  from  whom  he  sprang. 
His  "paternal  grandfather  Moss,  it  is  believed,  was 
born  in  Germany  and  after  his  emigration  to 
America  died  in  one  of  the  Eastern  States.  Among 
his  sons  was  John,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who 
spent  his  early  years  in  Ohio  where  ho  was  married. 
and  whence  he  came  to  Illinois  when  his  son,  Jo- 
seph, was  four  years  of  age.  The  latter  was  born 
in  Treble  County,  Ohio.  The  journey  to  this 
county  was  made  overland  by  teams,  the  party  con- 


sisting of  the  parents  of  our  subject  with  their 
three  children,  the  paternal  grandparents  and  the 
step-grandfather,  the  grandmother  having  died 
many  years  previously.  John  Moss  and  his  step- 
father entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity 
of  Georgetown,  this  county,  where  Mr.  Moss  estab- 
lished a  lanyard,  which  he  operated  until  the  fall 
of  1826,  when  his  labors  were  cut  short  by  his 
death. 

The  widowed  mother  of  our  subject,  Mrs.  Cathe- 
rine   Moss,    was   left    with    three    small    children. 

Joseph,  Jesse  and  Elmore.  They  experienced 
many  hardships  and  difficulties  until  Joseph  was  old 
enough  to  assi-t  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
When  he  was  thirteen  years  old  Ids  mother  was 
married  to  Mr.  George  Swisher,  and  Joseph  was 
bound  out  until  he  should  become  nineteen  years 
of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swisher  became  the  parents 
of  three  children,- — John,  George  and  a  daughter 
now  deceased.  The  mother  died  in  this  county 
about  l.si  1. 

Young  Moss,  when  released  from  his  bondage  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years,  began  to  paddle  his  own 
canoe  and  engaged  as  a  farm  laborer  by  the  month. 
His  honesty  and  industry  secured  him  friends  on 
every  hand  and  in  due  time  he  was  in  a  condition 
to  establish  a  home  of  his  own.  (  )n  the  17th  of 
April,  1845,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Delilah  Starr, 
who  like  himself  was  a  native  of  Preble  County, 
Ohio.  The  young  people  began  housekeeping  in  a 
log  cabin,  the  chinks  stopped  up  with  mud.  the 
(ire-place  laid  with  earth  and  the  floor  of  puncheon. 
The  chimney  was  built  outside  of  earth  and  sticks, 
and  a  clapboard  door  was  hung  on  wooden  hinges 
closing  with  a  wooden  latch  raised  by  a  string. 
They  occupied  this  domicile  one  summer  then  re- 
moved to  a  larger  cabin  but  furnished  pretty  much 
in  the  same  style.  Mr.  Moss  after  his  marriage  was 
employed  for  a  lime  in  a  earding-mill.  then  began 
farming  and  finally  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land 
near  Myersville,  fur  which  he  contracted  to  pay 
$350.  lie  paid  cash  down  $150,  and  eighteeu 
months  later  sold  the  land  at  an  advance  of  $50. 

About  L850  Mr.  Mossentered  160  acres  of  wild 
land  in  Middle  Fork  Township,  located  near  Blue 
Grass    Grove.        lie     put    up    a    small    frame  house. 

made    some  other   improvements  and  lived    there 


704 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


until  March,  1884.  In  that  year  he  purchased 
and  took  possession  of  his  present  home  where 
lie  has  twenty-seven  acres  of  choice  land  and 
elsewhere  has  3(10  acres,  all  improved,  besides 
property  in  Potomac.  lie  lias  given  his  son.  John 
B.,  eighty  acres  of  land,  thus  providing  him  witli 
a  fine  start  in  life.  His  daughter,  Sarah  A.,  is  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Wise.  These  two  are  the  only 
children  of  Mr.  Moss.  He  and  his  estimable  wile 
belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
which  Mr.  Moss  has  held  the  office  of  Steward  and 
Trustee.  He  identified  himself  with  the  church 
when  a  young  man,  twenty-two  years  of  age.  while 
Mrs.  Moss  has  been  a  member  since  a  maiden  of 
sixteen.  They  have  been  acquainted  with  each 
other  from  the  time  when  in  his  youth  our  subject 
assisted  father  Starr  in  the  harvest  field  and  raked 
hay  with  a  hand  rake. 

Peter  and  Catherine  (Ilevvet)  Starr,  the  parents 
of  Mrs.  Moss  were  natives  of  North  Carolina  and 
removed  to  Preble  County,  Ohio,  where  they  lived 
many  years  and  wdiere  Mrs.  Moss  was  born.  They 
came  to  this  county  in  in  1830  and  located  on  land 
three  miles  west  of  State  Line  City,  where  the}'  so- 
journed many  years.  After  the  parents  had  trav- 
eled the  journey  of  life  together  over  fifty  years 
and  were  too  old  to  be  left  alone,  they  took  up 
their  abode  with  our  subject.  Mr.  Starr  departed 
this  life  Feb.  20,  18(12.  The  mother  survived  her 
husband  many  years,  passing  away  "April  18,  1881. 


^  APT.  SAMUEL  FRAZIER.  This  honored 
(ll     n  °'C'  veteran  ot?  neal'ly  eighty-three  years,  is 

*^^y  one  of  the  pioneers  of  '33,  coming  to  this 
county  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-seven  years. 
During  the  long  period  of  fifty-six  years  which 
he  has  spent  in  Central  Illinois,  there  has  passed 
like  a  panorama  before  his  eyes  the  change 
which  has  transformed  the  wide  and  houseless  prai- 
rie into  the  homes  of  an  intelligent  and  civilized 
people.  The  slow  ox  team  of  the  early  emigrant 
has  given  place  to  the  hurry  and  dispatch  of  steam; 
three  important  wars  have  been  fought,  and  a  free 
people  each  time   come  off  victorious;   men    have 


changed  for  the  better  in  their  ideas  of  labor  and 
their  pride  in  progress,  and  the  intelligent  man  be- 
lieves that  the  world  is  growing  better  in  propor- 
tion to  its  increasing  population. 

The  middle  of  September,  1833,  found  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  established  on  a  tract  of  land 
two  miles  northwest  (if  what  is  now  Catlin.  but 
was  then  a  lonely  prairie.  His  life  prior  to  this 
had  been  spent  in  the  Buckeye  State,  where  he  was 
born  Sept.  13,  180(i.  in  the  Township  of  Hubbard, 
Trumbull  County.  When  a  lad  of  six  years  his 
father  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
returned  home  the  year  following,  disposed  of  his 
interests  in  Trumbull  County,  and  settled  at 
Springfield,  about  fifteeen  miles  from  Cincinnati. 
The  family  sojourned  there  four  years,  then  re- 
moved to  Dearborn  County,  Ind..  where  the  father 
secured  a  tract  of  land,  and  where  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  remained  with  them  until  a  youth  of 
eighteen  years.  Then,  desirous  of  a  change,  he 
began  following  the  river,  flatboaling  and  steam- 
boating,  and  in  1824  was  at  Natchez,  Miss.,  about 
the  time  of  the  visit  of  Gen.  Lafayette  at  that 
place.  Our  subject  looked  upon  the  present  great 
city  of  Cincinnati  before  a  single  pavement  was 
laid.  After  the  family  came  to  this  county  he  em- 
ployed himself  mostly  at  farming.  Prior  to  com- 
ing to  Illinois,  our  subject  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Miss  Buelah  Ann  Finley,  who  was  born  in  De- 
cember, 1812,  and  to  whom  he  was  married  March 
15,  1832. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Frazicr 
rented  land  over  the  line  in  Indiana,  raised  two 
crops  of  corn,  and  in  the  fall  of  1833,  purchased 
2oo  acres  of  land,  the  product  of  two  years'  work. 
The  spring  following  he  moved  upon  if  with  his 
wife  and  one  child,  making  the  journey  with  an 
ox  team,  and  being  fifteen  days  on  the  road.  Upon 
coming  to  this  county  Danville  was  a  little  town 
of  400  or  50(i  inhabitants,  but  it  had  already  been 
made  the  count}'  seat  and  a  court-house  had  been 
built.  Upon  li is  own  land  was  a  cabin  into  which 
Mr.  Frazier  rtioved  with  his  little  family,  and  for 
two  years  thereafter  confined  his  attention  to  the 
improvement  of  his  property,  breaking  eighty 
acres,  putting  up  a  barn,  and  making  an  addition 
lo  the  dwelling.      lie  then  sold  out   for  $1,000,  but 


PORTRAIT  AND   Plot  :  RAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


705 


afterwards  raised  another  crop  on  the  same  land. 
He  moved  into  Danville  in  February,  L8S8,  set- 
tling on  Vermilion  street,  between  Main  and  North 
streets,  where  he  lived    until    purchasing  property 

on  Main  street. 

About  1836  our  subject  entered  a  tract  of  land 
in  Champaign  County,  this  State,  which  he  sold 
two  years  later  at  a  handsome  price,  lie  conducted 
an  hotel  one  year,  then  purchased  property  on 
Main  street,  where  he  lias  erected  a  big  brick  block, 
extending  from  the  court-house  to  Hazel  street,  and 
known  as  the  Frazier  Block.  He  lived  there  for 
twenty-live  years,  carrying  on  his  hotel  live  years 
of  this  time.  In  1840  he  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Vermilion  County,  which  office  he  held  eightyears, 
being  the  third  man  elected  to  this  position.  Upon 
retiring  from  this  he  engaged  in  buying  cattle,  and 
made  many  a  trip  driving  these  through  to  Chi- 
cago, when  the  country  was  all  open  prairie. 

Merchandising  also  formed  one  of  the  enter- 
prises of  our  subject  as  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Frazier,  Lamb  &  Co.,  which  continued  two 
years.  Then  Mr.  Lamb  withdrew,  and  the  firm  be- 
came Frazier  &  Ccssie,  the  latter  the  son-in-law  of 
the  Captain.  After  two  years  the  latter  assumed 
sole  charge  of  the  business,  which  he  conducted 
probably  ten  years,  and  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
civil  war.  Strongly  imbued  with  the  Union  senti- 
ment, he  then  raised  the  first  company  of  men  in 
this  county — Company  C,  which  was  assigned  to 
the  12th  Infantry  under  Col.  John  McArthur.  Mr. 
Frazier  was  elected  captain,  and  proceeding  to 
Cairo,  served  three  months,  and  then  being  no 
longer  needed  returned  home  with  his  men,  and 
thereafter  gave  his  attention  to  his  business  affairs. 
Mrs.  Buelah  Ann  (Finley)  Frazier  became  the 
mother  of  twelve  children,  and  departed  this  life 
March  2.r),  1864,  leaving  four  children,  the  only 
ones  remaining  of  that  numerous  family.  Edward 
entered  the  army,  was  taken  ill,  returned  home  and 
died  ten  days  afterward,  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years;  Angeline  became  the  wife  of  James  II. 
Phillips  of  Danville,  and  is  now  the  mother  of  six 
children;  Mary  F.,  the  wife  of  M.  A.  Lapham,  is  a 
resident  of  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  the  mother  of  two 
children;  Florence,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Phillips,  lives  in 
Danville,  and  is    the  mother  of    four   children,  one 


of  whom  is  dead;  De  Witt  C.  married  Miss  Emma 
Reed,  and  is  a  practicing  attorney  of  Danville. 

In  lsill  ('apt.  Frazier  disposed  of  his  mercantile 
interests  and  purchased  his  present  home  at  the 
corner  of  North  and  Pine  streets,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  On  the  12th  of  April,  1865,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Nancy  Finley,  who  was  born 
Sept.  17,  1823,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
The  family  residence  is  a  fine  large  brick  struct- 
ure, and  after  standing  over  twenty  years  gives 
little  evidence  of  its  age.  At  the  time  of  its 
erection  it  was  considered  one  of  the  best  in  the 
town.  The  Captain  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  John  Quincy  Adams,  and  was  an  old  line  Whig 
until  the  abandonment  of  the  party  by  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Republicans.  lie  was  well  acquainted 
with  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  often  partook  of  his 
hospitality  in  the  above  named  block  while  prose- 
cuting his  law  business  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
Capt.  Frazer  reverts  to  those  episodes  with  pardon- 
able pride,  and  declares  that  Mr.  Lincoin  was  one 
of  the  most  congenial  and  companionable  men  it 
was  ever  his  lot  to  meet. 

The  Captain  for  over  half  a  century  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to 
which  his  first  wife  belonged,  and  with  which  the 
present  Mrs.  Frazier  is  also  connected.  He  was  for 
many  years  quite  active  ns  an  official  and  has  given 
liberally  to  its  support.  For  a  number  of  years 
Capt.  Frazier  operated  as  a  farmer,  and  is  the 
owner  of  700  acres  of  land  near  Catlin,  which  he 
has  since  divided  up  among  his  children.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  and  has  been  interested  in  most  of  the  en- 
terprises calculated  to  build  up  the  town.  He  con- 
stitutes one  of  the  old  landmarks,  and  will  lie 
kindly  remembered  long  after  he  has  been  gath- 
ered to  his  fathers. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Samuel  Frazier, 
Si-.,  u  native  of  Maryland,  born  on  the  eastern 
shore  across  the  bay  from  Baltimore.  He  lived  in 
that  vicinity  until  after  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Massey.  The3*  became  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  six  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years,  and 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  only  survivor,  the  eld- 
est dying  at  the  age  of  twenty-six.  The  family 
left   Maryland   in  the  spring  of   1806,  and  moved 


roo 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


across  the  mountains  into  Ohio  in  a  two-horse  cart, 
all  the  property  the  elder  Frazier  possessed.  There 
accompanied  him  six  men  and  one  woman  besides 
his  wife.  He  purchased  a  tract  of  timber  land  in 
Trumbull  County,  upon  which  he  labored  six  years 
and  worked  some  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking,  which 
he  had  learned   in  his   native  State. 

In  the  meantime  occurred  the  war  of  1812,  and 
the  elder  Frazier  joined  the  militia  and  was  n i > 
pointed  to  the  rank  of  Major.  After  the  surren- 
der of  Hull  the  Ohio  militia  was  called  out,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  months  the  command  was  muster- 
ed out.  The  Frazier  family  then  moved  to  Dear- 
born County,  Ind.,  where  they  resided  twenty 
years,  and  upon  leaving'  there,  about  1838,  came 
to  this  county.  The  father  purchased  land  adjoin- 
ing that  now  belonging  to  our  subject,  and  which 
is  still  owned  by  one  of  his  heirs — Mrs.  Lawrence. 
He  departed  this  life  in  1846,  and  his  wife  died  the 
following  year.  He  was  first  a  Whig,  politically. 
and  then  a  Republican,  a  man  of  decided  ideas,  and 
and  one  whose  opinions  were  generally  respected. 

David  Finley,  father  of  the  two  Mrs.  Fraziers, 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  Dec.  10,  1781,  and  was 
there  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Miller,  who  was  born 
April  14,  1787.  lie  departed  this  life  August  29, 
1853,  and  his  wife  passed  away  four  days  prior  to 
his  decease — August  25.  He  had  been  mostly  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits, but  for  a  number  of 
years  was  on  the  river,  running  to  New  Oilcans. 
His  daughters,  Buelah  and  Nancy,  were  born  in 
Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  and  the  latter  named  re- 
sided with  her  parents  until  the  time  of  their  death. 


*->&£&&&&* 


-v*— 


rjljUELL  TILLOTSON,  a  skillful,  practical 
farmer,  is  quietly  and  prosperously  carry- 
ing on  his  fanning  operations  on  his  farm. 
^^  one  of  the  best  and  most  highly  productive 
of  Pilot  Township,  very  pleasantly  located  on  sec- 
tion 36.  He  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  War- 
ren County,  Sept.  23,  1847.  His  grandparents  on 
both  sides  of  the  house  were  pioneers  of  Ohio  in 
the  early  days  of  its  settlement.  His  father,  Eph- 
raim    Tillotson,   was    born   in    Miami   County,  that 


stale,  in  1811.  his  ancestors  being  of  English  origin, 
and  he  a  descendant  of  the  same  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily as  that  famous  English  divine,  Archbishop  Til- 
lotson. The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  A.  Cronkhite,  was  also  born  in 
Miami  County.  After  her  marriage  with  the  father 
of  our  subject  they  came  westward  to  the  State  of 
Indiana  and  located  in  Warren  County,  and  there 
the  father  died  in  1884.  The  mother  survives  at 
an  advanced  age  and  makes  her  home  on  a  farm  in 
Vermilion  County.  Of  her  marriage  twelve  chil- 
dren were  born,  of  whom  the  following  eight  are 
living:  Walter,  a  farmer  of  this  county  married 
Lucetta  Endicott;  Madison,  who  lives  in  Louisiana, 
married  Kate  Goodwine,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren; Luther,  a  farmer,  married  Mary  E.  Myrick, 
and  they  have  five  children;  Wallace,  a  farmer  of 
this  county,  married  Emily  French,  and  they  have 
three  children;  Buell  is  our  subject:  Sarah  married 
Edward  Foster,  of  Indiana,  now  living  in  this 
county,  and  they  have  seven  children;  Rebecca 
married  J.  K.  Buettz,  a  retired  farmer  of  Potomac, 
and  they  have  six  children;  Frances  married 
Alonzo  W.  Knight,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and 
they  have  four  children:  Mary  married  Frank 
Henry,  a  retired  farmer  of  this  county,  and  they 
have  two  children. 

Buell  Tillotson  gleaned  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  a  practical  training  at  home 
that  fitted  him  to  cope  with  the  world  when  he  be- 
came independent.  When  he  Hrst  began  life  he  did 
not  have  the  wherewithal  to  buy  the  land  for  him- 
self, and  ns  he  was  very  desirous  ofcarrying  on  farm- 
ing he  rented  a  farm.  He  met  with  such  good  success 
in  that  venture  that  in  a  few  years  by  unremit- 
ting toil  and  frugal  economy  he  was  enabled  to  lay 
up  money  enough  to  buy  a  farm  of  his  own,  and  he 
became  the  possessor  of  one,  comprising  160  acres 
of  land  of  unsurpassed  fertility.  lie  now  has  it  under 
good  cultivation,  and  has  made  many  substantial 
improvements  that  have  greatly  increased  its  value, 
and  he  has  established  a  cozy,  comfortable  home 
for  his  family.  He  is  engaged  in  mixed  husbandry, 
and  besides  raising  grain  and  other  products  com- 
mon to  this  climate  raises  stock,  all  that  his  farm 
will  carry. 

Mr.  Tillotson   was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


707 


Lizzie  Wiles,  whose  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Denmark,  but  who  emigrated  at  an  early  date  to 
this  county,  where  Mrs.  Tillotson  was  born.  The 
wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  lias  been 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  two  children,  one 
alone  living,  a  daughter,  Luectta. 

Our  subject  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  with 
much  force  and  decision  of  character,  however, 
and  his  place  in  the  community  is  among  its  best 
and  most  deserving  citizens.  He  and  his  wife  are 
worthy  members  Of  the  Christian  Church,  as  is 
attested  by  their  conduct  in  the  every-day  affairs 
of  life.  Mr.  Tillotson  is  a  firm  ally  of  the  Repub 
liean  party,  taking  an  intelligent  interest  in  politi- 
cal matters.  lie  has  served  on  several  juries,  and 
is  in  every  way  fitted  to  perform  the  duties  attend- 
ant '.poll  good  citizenship. 


^  QUIRE  STEPHEN  s.  SHAW.      To  be  the 

founder  of  a  town  is  no  small  honor,  and 
next  to  the  founder  is  the  man  who  has 
made  it  the  object  of  his  fostering  care. 
The  town  of  Allerton  is  largely  indebted  to  Mr. 
Shaw,  who  bears  the  honor  of  being  the  first  Post- 
master, for  its  incipient  growth  and  development, 
and  for  the  interest  which  he  has  taken  in  its 
progress  and  welfare.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  integrity,  the  owner  of  a  good  property 
without  being  wealthy,  and  is  possessed  of  those 
substantial  and  reliable  traits  of  character  which 
have  made  him  a.  man  to  be  depended  upon  in 
whatever  he  says  and  where  assistance  is  needed 
in  furthering  every  good  and  worthy  enterprise. 

Our  subject  opened  his  infant  e\es  in  Jefferson 
County,  Ky.,  August  17,  1848,  but  while  a  small 
jhild  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Vigo  County, 
Ind..  where  he  attended  the  common  school,  and 
later  entered  the  seininarj-  at  Farmersburg,  which 
he  attended  four  years,  completing  a  normal 
course.  For  the  same  length  of  time  he  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Vigo  and  Parke  counties.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  187(5  and  rented  a  100-ncre  farm  in 
Champaign  County,  in  company  with  his  brother 
.lames,    and    where    he    remained    four   years.      For 


some  time  they  kept  bachelor's  hall,  but  Stephen  S. 
filially  resolved  it  was  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone, 
and  was  accordingly  married  .Ian.  21,  1881,  to  .Miss 
Llicretia  Ackers,  in  Douglas  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shaw  after  their  marriage  resided  for  a  time 
on  a  farm  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  then  coming  to 
this  county  settled  at  Allerton,  soon  after  which 
Mr.  Shaw  was  appointed  Postmaster  and  also  as- 
sumed an  interest  in  a  stock  of  groceries  and  general 
merchandise.  Since  that  time  his  interests  have 
centered  here,  ami  he  is  looked  up  to  as  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  the  place,  [n  the  spring  of  1889 
he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  ami  is  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  his  office  with  his  usual  good 
judgment,  giving  satisfaction  to  the  people.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  strong  Democrat.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  Temple  Shaw,  a  native  of  Jefferson 
County,  Ky.,  and  who  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Moore,  also  of  the  Blue  Grass  Stale.  Grandfather 
Jesse  Shaw  was  an  early  settler  of  Kentucky,  and 
his  father  came  from  Scotland.  The  Moore  family- 
flourished  in  Maryland.  The  parents  of  our  subject 
moved  to  Indiana  in  1855,  where  the  father  carried 
on  farming  successfully  and  became  well-to-do. 
Both  be  and  his  excellent  wife  are  still  living  and 
aged  respectively  seventy-four  ami  sixty-six  years. 
Mr.  Shaw  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
the  long  period  of  forty  years. 

Eleven  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Julia,  is  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Ridgeway,  her  second  husband  and  a  fanner 
of  Sullivan  County,  Ind.  She  is  the  mother  of 
three  children  by  each  husband,  the  first  one  being 
Elijah  Hanger.  Eliza  married  II.  A.  Pratt,  a 
barber  of  Waveland,  Ind..  and  died  childless  in 
1887.  Alex  married  Miss  Martha  Allen,  is  the 
father  of  two  children  and  operates  a  farm  in 
Vigo  County,  Ind.;  Martha  married  Benjamin  L. 
Dowell,  a  farmer  of  Vigo  County;  they  have  no 
children.  Stephen  S.,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  fifth 
child;  James  W„  married  Miss  Plina  Danes  and 
they  have  one  child;  Alice  married  William  Yaw, 
a  farmer  of  Vigo  County,  Ind., and  they  have  four 
children;  Mollieis  the  wife  of  John  Howell  of  Vigo 
County,  and  they  have  two  children;  Theodore 
married  Miss  Clara  Jones,  is  fanning  in  Vigo 
County,  ami  they  have  One  child;  Clara  remains  at 


708 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


home  with  her  parents;  Helen  became  the  wife  of 
Samuel  McMulin,  who  died  on  his  farm  in  Sullivan 
County,  Ind.,  and  she  now  makes  her  home  with 
her  parents;  she  has  one  child. 

Mrs.  Shaw  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
( Kanneer)  Ackers  of  Pennsylvania.  They  removed 
to  Douglas  County,  111.,  at  a  very  early  day  and 
are  still  living  on  the  farm  which  they  opened  up 
from  the  wilderness,  and  which  lies  eight  miles 
from  Allerton.  Mrs.  Shaw  was  the  seventh  in  a 
family  of  eleven  children;  she  was  horn  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  was  a  mere  child  when  her  parents 
came  to  this  State.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject 
there  have  been  born  four  children:  Russell. 
Charles  P.,  Freddie  (who  died  when  an  infant), 
and  Jennie  B. 

Mr.  Shaw  is  not  at  present  engaged  in  any  active 
business.  The  neat  and  shapely  family  residence 
was  put  up  in  1887,  and  with  its  surroundings  and 
furnishings,  forms  a  very  pleasant  and  attractive 
home.  Mr.  Shaw  socially  is  a  charter  member  of 
Centennial  Lodge,  in  Philo,  Campaign  County, 
from  which  he  was  demitted,  and  now  belongs  to 
Broadlands.  He  was  active  in  securing  a  dispen- 
sation from  Broadlands. 

■ ***  "'i^'i'll'S'S1* «" 


!|r^  OBERT  ELLIOTT  is  one  of  the  men  who 
JW^  have  done  much  to  develop  the  resources 
;4\\\,  of  this  county.  He  owns  and  lives  on  a 
^15.  farm  in  Ross  township,  situated  on  section 
7,  township  23,  ranges  10  and  11,  which  lias  been 
his  home  since  18(58.  He  was  born  in  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  about  fourteen  miles  east  of  Zanes- 
ville,  on  Sept  8,  182G,  his  parents  being  Francis 
and  .lane  (Hunter)  Elliott.  His  grandparents  on 
both  sides  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  and 
were  of  the  excellent  old  Scotch- Irish  Presbyterian 
stock,  which  has  given  to  our  country  many  of  its 
hest  citizens,  possessed  as  they  were  of  sturdy  in- 
dependence and  honesty,  traits  which  the  majority 
of  their  descendants  inherit  in  a  marked  degree. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
biography  was  also  named  Robert.  He  emigrated 
from   Ireland  many  years  ago,  and  after  landing  in 


America  came  direct  to  Muskingum  Count}',  Ohio, 
then  considered  the  Far  West.  He  and  his  wife 
settled  in  the  densely  wooded  country  and  there 
literally  hewed  out  a  home  in  the  wilderness.  Years 
afterward  Robert  Elliott  and  one  of  his  sons  re- 
moved to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm 
near  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Newark,  and 
there  the  elder  Elliott  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days. 

Francis  Elliott,  father  of  the  one  of  whom  this 
biography  is  written,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  was 
but  a  year  old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to 
America.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  had  his 
share  of  the  hard  work  necessary  to  clear  the  home- 
stead farm,  the  country  thereabout  being  very 
hilly  as  well  as  heavily  wooded.  He  did  not  ac- 
company his  father  to  Licking  County,  remaining 
in  Muskingum  County  until  his  death  which  oc- 
curred iii  1837,  when  he  was  in  the  prime  of  life, 
and  in  a  very  mysterious  manner.  He  left  his  house 
one  cold  and  slippery  morning  with  a  bag  of  grain 
on  his  back,  to  feed  his  cattle.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  a  brother  noticed  an  hour  afterward 
that  the  cattle  were  not  at  their  usual  feeding  place, 
and  going  out  to  ascertain  the  cause  found  their 
father  on  his  knees  by  a  stump,  dead.  It  was  sup- 
posed that  he  had  stumbled  and  fell,  breaking  his 
neck,  but  as  no  post  mortem  examination  was  held 
it  was  impossible  to  determine  exactly  the  cause  of 
his  death.  He  was  married,  in  Muskingum  County, 
to  Miss  Jane  Hunter,  who  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land County,  Pa.,  her  parents  being  also  from  the 
north  of  Ireland,  of  the  same  stock  as  her  husband's 
family.  She  proved  herself  a  noble  woman,  a  faith- 
ful wife  and  devoted  mother,  whose  memory  is  held 
in  veneration  by  her  children.  After  her  husband's 
untimely  death  she  devoted  herself  to  rearing  her 
family  and  saw  them  all  happily  married  and  set- 
lied,  and  then  she  herself  married  .lames  Howell, 
an  old  friend  and  neighbor.  She  died  in  1879,  aged 
about  sixty-seven  years. 

Francis  and  Jane  Elliott  had  eight  children.  The 
eldest,  Eliza,  who  was  married  to  James  llerdman. 
a  civil  engineer,  died  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  her 
husband  is  still  living;  William  is  married  to  Ethe- 
linda    Carter;    he   is   engaged  in   blacksmi thing  at 


PORTRAIT  AND   I5K  Ml  R  APIIICAL  ALHUM. 


;o:t 


Hamilton,  Mo.  The  next  in  order  is  Robert, 
.lames,  who  was  married  to  Electa  St.  Clair,  was  a 
fanner  living  on  the  old  homestead  when  lie  died; 
John  is  a  fanner  in  Oregon  and  was  married  bo 
Nancy  Owensbey,  who  died  in  that  state;  Mary 
.lane  is  the  wife  of  Johnson  Morgan,  a  carpenter  of 
Danville.  111.;  Margaret  Catherine  died  in  girlhood, 
and  Esther  is  married  to  Edward  Dunkin,  a  farmer 
of  Middle  Fork  Township,  this  county. 

Robert  E.,  of  whom  this  is  written,  spent  his 
boyhood  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  and  early 
learned  what  hard  work  was.  lie  lived  with  his 
parents  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  and  be- 
ing then  married  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
about  a  mile  from  his  old  home,  where  he  lived 
until  his  removal  to  Vermilion  County,  111.,  in  1863. 
His  farm  in  Ohio  was  hilly  and  rocky,  and  its  cul- 
tivation made  extremely  hard  labor.  Making  a 
visit  to  this  county  in  1861  to  his  sister  Mrs.  Dun- 
kin,  who  with  her  husband  had  settled  here  some 
years  before,  he  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  lay 
of  the  land  that  here  he  determined  to  make  his 
future  home,  lie  sold  his  land  in  the  East  and 
made  the  change  at  the  time  stated.  His  first  pur- 
chase in  this  county  was  a  farm  of  120  acres  north- 
east of  State  Line,  on  which  he  lived  for  four 
years,  when  he  sold  it  and  rented  for  two  years 
another  farm  in  the  same  neighborhood,  then  buy- 
ing his  present  homestead  of  160  acres,  upon  which 
he  has  lived  continuously  since.  When  he  bought 
this  place  eighty  acres  of  it  was  under  partial  cultiva- 
tion. The  outbuildings,  fences,  hedges, good  barns, 
commodious  two-story  house  28x28,  are  all  there- 
suit  of  his  own  labor  and  energy.  A  large  part  of 
this  land  was  swamp  ana  bog, the  eastern  eighty  acres, 
being  by  many  considered  worthless.  With  thor- 
ough ami  careful  draining  and  good  cultivation  he 
has  not  only  reclaimed  this  land  but  has  made  of  it 
one  of  the  most  fertile  pieces  of  soil  in  this  section 
of  the  county,  producing  fine  crops.  In  fact  he 
has  brought  every  acre  of  his  land  into  thorough 
condition,  not  a  foot  of  it  being  waste. 

Many  changes  have  taken  place  since  Mr.  Elliott 
settled  here  and  he  has  not  only  witnessed  the 
growth  and  development  of  this  part  of  the  county, 
but  has  himself  participated  in  it.  and  to  accom- 
plish this  great  result,  has  done  his  part.     He  is  an 


industrious  man  both  by  nature  and  habit,  and 
though  he  has  leached  a  position  where  his  own 
labor  is  not  necessary, still  his  active  habits  will  not 
permit  him  to  be  idle,  and  he  is  always  to  be  found 
usefully  employed  about  his  place. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  married  on  the  1  1th  of  Sep- 
tember 1818,  to  Miss  Nancy  Morgan,  daughter  of 
Morgan  Morgan,  her  mother's  maiden  name  being 
Nancy  Sisly,  and  who  died  when  her  daughter  was 
a  young  girl.  Mrs.  Elliott  was  born  July  30,  1831, 
in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  and  a  few  years  after 
that  date  her  parents  emigrated  to  New  Concord. 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Elliott  have  ten  children,  as 
follows.  Lewis  Henry,  the  eldest,  is  married  to 
Katie  Jenkins,  and  is  a  fanner  in  this  county; 
Nancy  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  D.  D.  Webb,  of 
Hoopeston;  Ida  May  is  the  wife  of  Ed  Leighton,  of 
Rossville;  Carrie  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years;  Edson  and  Elda  are  twins,  the 
former  assists  his  father  on  the  home  farm  and  the 
latter  at  present  teaching  school  in  Wichita,  Kan.; 
Hubert,  Morgan  and  Odessa  are  still  with  their 
father  and  mother,  while  an  infant  son,  Johnson, 
second  of  the  family,  died  before  the  removal 
from  Ohio. 

Mr.  Elliott  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Rossville,  of  which  he  has  for  over 
twenty  years  been  a  Deacon.  Those  people  who 
know  him  best  are  unanimous  in  the  opinion  that 
Robert  Elliott  is  a  thoroughly  manly  man.  No 
better  eulogy  can  be  pronounced  upon  anyone. 


fkM  ARGARET  RICHARDSON   is  the  widow 
II      \\\    of  the  late  Joseph   Richardson,   a    former 
I        IB   well-known  and  highly  esteemed  pioneer  of 
*  Vermilion   County.      This   venerable  lady 

still  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  on  section  10,  Pi- 
lot Township,  owning  120  acres  of  it,  which  her 
husband,  with  her  active  co-operation,  wrested 
from  the  wild  prairies  in  the  years  of  the  early  set- 
tlement of  this  part  of  Illinois.  She  has  witnessed 
with  pleasure  almost  the  entire  development  of  this 
section  of  the  country,  where  she  has  dwelt  for 
nearly  sixty  years,  and  has  lived  to  see  the  uneul- 


Tin 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tivated  prairie  and  forest  land  smiling  with  abun- 
dant harvests  and  the  home  of  a  prosperous  and 
contented  people. 

Mrs.  Richardson  was  born  Feb.  3,  1815.  She 
received  a  training  in  all  the  duties  pertaining  to 
the  care  of  a  family,  and  was  thus  enabled  to  act 
well  her  part  in  the  care  of  her  own  in  after  years. 
In  1832  she  was  wedded  to  Joseph  Richardson, and 
they  soon  came  to  establish  themselves  in  the  wilds 
of  Vermilion  County,  and  were  thus  early  pioneers 
of  this  section.  Mr.  Richardson  was  a  native  of 
the  State  of  Maryland,  and  when  he  was  a  mere 
lad,  his  parents  removed  to  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  and  subsequently  to  Ohio,  where  the  father 
died.  The  mother  survived  him,  and  coming  to 
Illinois,  her  life  closed  in  Vermilion  County  in 
1851. 

Mr.  and  Mis.  Richardson  settled  on  300  acres  of 
wild  land,  purchased  of  the  Government,  and 
passed  through  the  usual  experiences  and  hardships 
that  befall  pioneers  in  a  new  country,  but  by  per- 
severance they  overcame  every  obstacle,  and  by 
indefatigable  toil  were  enabled  to  build  up  a  good 
home.  After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Richardson 
received  as  her  share  of  the  property  the  Il'D  acres 
they  had  jointly  accumulated,  and  is  living  in  peace 
and  plenty,  enjoying  all  the  comforts  of  life,  as  she 
richly  deserves. 

Mr.  Richardson's  death  was  considered  a  loss  to 
the  community  where  he  had  dwelt  so  many  years. 
His  whole  course  of  life  won  him  the  thorough 
respect  and  regard  of  all  witli  whom  he  came  in 
contact,  and  his  reputation  in  his  adopted  town- 
ship was  of  the  highest  order.  In  him  the  United 
Brethern  Church  found  one  of  its  most  zealous  and 
valued  members,  who  ably  held  the  various  offices 
of  the  church  at  different  times.  In  .politics  he  was 
a  Arm  believer  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  was 
active  in  its  support. 

In  his  wife  Mr.  Richardson  found  a  true  com- 
panion and  a  useful  helpmate.  She  is  a  worthy. 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  her 
daily  life  has  always  been  guided  by  true  Christian 
principles,  as  shown  by  her  kindly,  helpful  conduct 
towards  her  neighbors  and  others;  she  lias  won 
a  warm  place  in  their  affections,  and  none  know 
her  but  to  respect  her.     The  snows   and    frosts   of 


seventy-four  winters  have  whitened  her  head,  but 
they  have  not  affected  her  heart,  and  none  appeal 
to  her  in  vain  who  need  her  assistance  or  sympathy. 
Of  the  two  children  born  to  her  and  her  husband — 
Mickham  and  William — the  latter  is  spared  to  her, 
and  with  his  children* and  grandchildren  bless  her 
declining  years  and  make  life  pleasant.  William,  a 
farmer  in  Vermilion  County,  married  Sarah  A. 
Rhodes,  of  Defiance,  Ohio,  and  they  have  four 
children — Joseph  C,  Samuel,  John  and  Mary  Ann. 
William's  son,  Samuel,  a  farmer  in  Montgomery 
County.  Kan.,  married  Miss  Clara  Smith,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Arthur  C.  and  Clemence  E. 


ANIKL  KICK,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  now  approaching  his  three  score  years 
and  ten,  and  is  afflicted  with  partial  blind- 
ness, but  he  has  made  it  the  business  of  his 
life  to  rise  above  circumstances  as  far  as  possible, 
and  gain  all  the  comfort  which  men  may  enjoy  by 
an  upright  and  honest  life  and  the  endeavor  to  do 
unto  others  as  he  would  be  done  by. 

Mr.  Rice  came  to  this  county  in  September,  1  863, 
settling  at  once  in  Sidell  Township.  He  is  the 
scion  of  a  good  family,  being  the  son  of  Elijah 
and  Sarah  (Rife)  Rice,  the  former  being  a  native 
of  Kentucky.  The  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Rice,  was  born  near  Centreville,  Ohio,  and  was  the 
son  of  James  Rice,  a  native  of  England.  The  lat- 
ter was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Centreville, 
and  upon  the  anniversary  of  his  one  hundredth 
birthday  his  many  descendants  assembled  there, 
and  in  the  hilarity  of  the  occasion  the  centenarian 
ran  a  race  with  our  subject,  then  a  boy  of  twelve 
or  thirteen  years,  and  came  out  ahead.  He  lived 
to  the  great  age  of  oue  hundred  and  thirty  years, 
but  during  the  last  fourteen  years  of  his  life  was 
blind.  Grandfather  Rice  fought  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War  in  Virginia  and  on  the  frontier  with  the 
Indians  in  Ohio;  he  lived  to  be  nearly  one  hun- 
dred years  old. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  was  married  in  Ken- 
tucky; the  mother  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
of  English  ami  Swiss  descent.     The   maiden   name 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


711 


of  ber  mother  was  Mary  Muncey,  a  native  of 
England.  Mrs.  Rice  removed  to  Kentucky  with  her 
parents  when  a  young  lady,  they  settling  in  Law- 
rence County.  Later  they  removed  to  Carter 
County  and  died  there  in  1851,  at  about  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years.  The  mother  subsequently  came 
to  this  county  and  lived  on  a  farm  near  Fairmount 
until  her  death  which  occurred  in  1866, when  she  was 
sixty-nine  years  old.  All  of  their  thirteen  children 
— with  the  exception  of  the  eldest  boy — grew  to 
mature  yoars;  nine  suns  and  three  daughters.  Our 
subject  was  the  fourth  chilil  and  second  son,  and 
the  eldest  son  now  living. 

Daniel  Rice  was  born  Oct.  2  1,  1820,  in  Lawrence 
County,  Ky.,  at  a  time  when  deer,  hear  and  other 
wild  animals  abounded  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State  among  the  Cumberland  Mountains.  He 
brought  down  many  of  these  with  his  trusty  rifle, 
shooting  nnc  day  six  deer,  and  another  day  one 
hear  with  foui-  culis.  In  hunting  the  latter  animals 
— the  black  bear — he  experienced  many  narrow 
escapes  as  this  animal  is  very  ferocious.  His 
opportunities  for  education  were  very  limited,  he 
attending  a  subscription  school  three  months  dur- 
ing the  winter,  in  a  log  school-house  with  a  teacher 
that  could  merely  read  and  write.  His  love  for  fine 
horses  was  developed  at  an  early  age,  and  indeed 
the  entire  Rice  family  has  been  distinguished  for 
its  love  of,  and  skill  in  training  this  noblest  of  all 
animals. 

Our  subject  continued  a  member  of  the  parental 
household  until  approaching  the  twenty-fifth  year 
of  his  nge;  when  he  was  married  in  August,  1845, 
to  Miss  Flora  Ann  Jourdan.  This  lady  was  born 
in  Greenup  County.  Ky..  and  was  eighteen  years 
old  at  the  time  of  her  wedding,  which  took  place 
under  her  father's  roof.  They  remained  residents 
of  the  Blue  Grass  State  until  after  the  birth  of  six 
children,  then  in  September.  L863,  came  to  this 
county.  Their  eldest  son,  William  .).,  married 
Miss  Martha  Pratt  and  they  have  one  child,  a  son, 
Carl;  he  is  engaged  as  a  stock  buyer  and  shipper 
at  Fairmount.  Mary  E.  married  G.  Dellart.  They 
settled  in  Kentucky  where  she  became  the  mother 
of  two  children — Annie  and  James — and  died. 
Albert  R.  D.  has  charge  of  the  homestead,  he 
married  Miss  Mary    E.  Moore,  who    died   leaving 


no  children;  he  makes  a  specialty  of  horse  training 
and  is  remarably  successful.  .lames  G.  married 
Miss  Faraba  .lane  Mugen;  they  have  two  children 
—  Waverly  W.  and  Robert — and  live  on  a  farm. 
Edward  A.  married  Josephine  Price  and  they  re- 
side on  a  farm  in  Sidell  Township;  they  have  three 
children — Charles,  Mary  E.  and  Walter.  Lemuel 
died  in  infancy. 

After  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Rice 
enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  Oct.  24,  1861.  from 
Carter  County,  Ky.,  in  Company  D,  22d  Kentucky 
Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Swygart 
on  the  Ohio  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war. 
Me  was  under  the  command  of  George  Morgan, 
and  engaged  in  various  skirmishes  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Kentucky.  At  Ashland  he  was  taken  se- 
verely ill  with  measles,  and  for  a  time  his  life  was 
despaired  of.  lie  was  finally  sent  home  on  a  fur- 
lough, but  returned  to  his  regiment  at  Baton  Rouge 
in  February,  1S64.  His  health  continued  poor 
and  he  was  obliged  to  accept  his  honorable  dis- 
charge, Ma}'  10,  following.  This  experience  ended 
in  nervous  prostration  and  undermined  his  health 
to  such  an  extent  that  he  has  never  been  the  same 
man  since. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Rice  while  at  home  on  his 
furlough,  brought  his  family  to  this  county  for 
safety  from  the  depredations  of  guerrillas.  After 
leaving  the  service  he  went  first  to  Arkansas  with 
a  view  of  looking  up  a  location  for  his  future 
home,  but  finally  returned  to  his  family  and  pur- 
chased land  iu  this  county.  His  first  wife  died 
and  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Eliza  .lane  Moore, 
daughter  of  William  J.  and  Susan  (Rawlings) 
Robertson.  The  latter  were  natives  respectively 
of  Kentucky  and  Virginia,  were  married  in  Indiana 
and  are  now  residents  of  West  Virginia.  Grand- 
father Rawlings  and  his  wife  were  from  Germany, 
while  Grandfather  Robertson  and  his  wife  were 
natives  of  Kentucky  and  of  Scotch  descent.  Mr. 
Moore  removed  to  Indiana  with  his  familj'  where 
he  operated  as  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  five  children — Martha  A., 
Eliza  .).,  John  W.,  Elijah  R..  and  Catherine. 

Mrs.  Rice  was  born  in  Parke  County,  Ind.,  and 
remained  with  her  parents  until  her  first  marriage, 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  to  William  H.  Moore 


712 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


If, 


of  Mint  county.  Of  this  union  there  were  born 
five  children— Mary  E.,  Charles  A.,  Millie  S.. 
Reuben  II.  and  William  W.  The  eldest  daughter 
became  the  wife  of  Albert  Rice  and  is  deceased; 
Charles  A.,  a  stock  man  is  married,  has  one  child 
and  lives  at  Colorado  Springs;  Millie  S.  is  the  wife 
of  Carl  Hiberger,  of  Wichita.  Kan.;  Reuben  H.  is 
a  newspaper  man  and  connected  with  one  of  the 
journals  of  Wichita;  William  W.  remains  with  his 
mother;  the  daughters  were  teachers  prior  to  their 
marriage,  one  of  them  beginning  at  the  early  age  of 
sixteen  years.  Mrs.  Rice  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  Mr.  Rice  in  his 
political  views  supports  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


— V 


ffiOHN  M.  CHI  MM  INS  is  the  senior  partner 
in  the  firm  of  Crimmins  &  Buchanan,  livery 
men  of  Sidell.  They  are  also  proprietors  of 
the  feed  and  sale  stable,  which  is  operated 
in  connection  with  their  livery  business.  He  is  a 
native  of  Clark  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  on 
April  15,  1 858.  His  father,  Morgan  Crimmins, 
and  mother,  Ellen  Eager,  were  natives  of  Ireland. 
where  they  were  married  in  1848.  A  few  days 
after  their  marriage  they  started  for  America,  and 
settled  first  in  Greene  County  and  eventually  in 
Clark  County,  Ohio,  where  they  followed  farming 
and  became  well-to-do,  although  the}-  landed  in 
the  United  States,  wholly  without  means.  The 
mother  is  still  living  on  the  Crimmins'  homestead 
in  Carroll  Township,  about  three  miles  east  of 
Sidell,  where  they  settled  in  1859.  Her  husband 
died  Jan.  22,  1889,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children — Robert,  Honora, 
Jeremiah,  John  M.  and  Maggie.  Robert  is  a  grain- 
buyer  at  Hildreth  Station;  Honora  is  residing  in 
Edgar  County,  111.,  and  married  to  Samuel  Stunk- 
ard, who  is  engaged  in  farming;  Jeremiah  is  in 
charge  of  the  old  homestead  in  Carroll  Township, 
while  Maggie  also  resides  in  the  same  township  and 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Ramsey. 

Mr.  Crimmins  was  but  a  babe  when  his  parents 
came  to    Illinois  and    has  substantially    lived   here 


most  of  the  time  since.  His  education  was  ac- 
quired at  the  public  schools,  which  has  been  sup- 
plemented by  extensive  reading.  He  remained  at 
home  until  lie  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when  on 
Christmas,  1878,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ella 
Stunkard,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Carroll 
Township.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Eliza- 
beth CHeavlin)  Stunkard.  Her  father  was  a  farmer 
and  came  to  Vermilion  County,  settling  in  Carroll 
Township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  sixty-six  years  old.  Her 
mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  Mi',  and 
Mrs.  Stunkard  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children, 
ten  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  Joseph,  Han- 
nah, Plnebe,  John.  James,  Jacob,  Samuel.  George, 
Ella  and  Sadie. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crimmins  are  living  in  a  quiet  way 
and  are  tilling  their  mission  in  the  world  as  good 
neighbors,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  I.  ().  O.  F., 
having  been  a  charter  member  of  Peace  Dale 
Lodge,  No.  225.  Mr.  Crimmins  is  a  firm  believer 
in  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic 
parly.  He  is  one  of  the  rising  young  men  of  his 
town,  highly  popular  and  possessing  great  business 
capability.  Morgan  Crimmins,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, after  coming  to  America  sent  money  back  to 
Ireland  to  pay  the  passage  of  three  relatives  and 
three  friends.  He  located  in  Clark  County,  Ohio, 
and  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  they  came  with  him. 
Some  of  them  are  still  living  in  Vermilion. 

ftfOSEPH  WHERRY  is  a  worthy  member  of 
the  farming  community  of  Catlin  Township, 
and  is  faithfully  performing  his  share  in  sus- 
taining its  prosperity.  His  farm  on  sec- 
tion 36  is  under  excellent  cultivation,  is  capable  of 
producing  fine  harvests,  and  compares  favorably 
w'th  others  in  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Wherry  is 
a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  born  in  Mason  County, 
Feb.  24,  1819,  to  James  and  Catherine  (Downing) 
Wherry,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  After  marriage 
his  parents  had  settled  in  Mason  County,  Ky.,  and 
thence  they  subsequentby  removed  to  Clinton 
County  Ohio,   where    their  last  years    were  spent. 


S 


PORTRAIT   AM)    BIOOKAPIIICAL   ALBUM. 


713 


They  were  people  of  merit,  sober-minded  and  in- 
dustrious, and  brought  up  the  thirteen  children 
born  t<>  them  iii  the  path  of  honesty  and  good 
habits. 

Our  subject  was  their  seventh  child,  and  he  was 
a  year  old  when  they  crossed  the  Ohio  to  make 
their  home  for  the  future  in  Clinton  County,  ami 
there  the  years  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were 
passed.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  the  shelter 
of  the  parental  roof  to  begin  an  independent  life, 
and  returning  to  his  native  State  and  county,  he 
found  employment  by  the  year  on  a  farm  and  thus 
engaged  there  nearly  eleven  years.  During  his 
residence  in  that  county  he  contracted  a  matrimon- 
ial alliance  with  Harriet  P.  Barclay,  April  I.  1817, 
and  to  them  five  children  were  born;  namely: 
Catherine.  CoraE.,  Florence  15.,  William  S.  and 
John  A.;  the  first  three  are  deceased.  This  wife  of 
his  early  years,  who  had  been  a  good  helpmate  and 
a  tender  mother  to  their  children,  departed  this 
life  in  Catlin  Township,  Oct  12,  I860.  Mr. 
Wherry's  second  marriage  took  place  in  Catlin 
Township,  and  was  to  Mrs.  Elsie  (Brady)  Bur- 
roughs,  daughter  of  John  and  Rosanna  Brady,  and 
widow  of  Jonathan  Burroughs.  She  was  a  native 
of  Brown  County,  Ohio,  born  May  20,  1828,  anil 
when  young  was  wedded  to  Jonathan  Burroughs, 
who  afterward  died  in  Catlin  Township,  leaving 
her  with  two  children — Mary  J.  and  Araininla. 
She  is  the  mother  of  two  children  by  her  present 
marriage,  Ida  and  Hannah.  She  is  a  capable,  kind- 
hearted  woman,  and  makes  her  husband  and  chil- 
dren comfortable  in  their  cozy  home. 

Mr.  Wherry  has  always  devoted  himself  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  thinking  to  improve  his 
prospects  on  the  fertile  soil  of  the  broad  prairies  of 
this  State,  he  came  here  with  his  family  from  Ken- 
tuck}-  in  1853,  locating  first  in  McLean  County, 
and  coming  to  this  county  two  years  later  and 
settling  in  Catlin  Township.  He  has  done  well 
since  he  has  been  here,  and  his  many  years  of  toil 
have  been  productive  of  good  results,  as  he  has  a 
desirable  farm  of  103  acres  of  land  of  exceeding 
fertility,  on  which  he  has  made  many  fine  improve- 
ments. 

Mr.  Wherry  is  a  man  of  excellent  character  and 
standing  in  this  community,  and  as  a  good  citizen, 


and  kind  neighbor,  and  a  steadfast  friend  is  all 
that  can  be  wished  for.  In  him  the  Democratic 
party  has  a  faithful  follower.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  exemplary  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  their  daily  conduct  is  guided  by  sin- 
cere religious  principles. 


|LBA  HONEYWELL.  The  man  who  has 
been  a  witness  of  the  great  changes  occur- 
ring in  Illinois  during  the  past  forty  years, 
and  has  given  to  these  his  intelligent  and 
thoughtful  attention,  is  worthy  of  more  that  a  pass- 
ing notice.  As  one  of  these  Mr.  Honeywell  stands 
prominently  among  the  pioneers  of  this  region, 
and  he  has  been  no  idler  during  the  labors  which 
have  transformed  a  wild  tract  of  country  into  the 
homes  of  an  industrious  and  intelligent  people.  He 
is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  little  city  of 
Hoopeston,  coming  here  soon  after  its  inception, 
about  1871,  and  he  has  since  been  a  resident  here 
most  of  the  time. 

Cayuga  County,  N.  V.,  is  the  native  place  of  our 
subject,  and  his  birth  occurred  Dec.  15,  1821.  When 
a  lad  of  twelve  years  he  removed  with  his  parents 
into  that  part  of  Steuben  now  call  Schuyler  County, 
N.Y.,  where  he  first  attended  the  common  school  and 
academy  of  that  period,  and  completed  his  studies 
at  Oneida  Institute,  near  Utica,  then  under  the 
presidency  of  the  noted  reformer  and  theologian, 
the  Rev.  Beriah  Green,  and  later  spent  several 
years  lecturing  on  temperance  and  anti-slavery, 
meantime  contributing  to  the  several  reformatory 
periodicals  of  the  day.  He  also  occupied  himself  con- 
siderably as  a  teacher  in  common  schools  and  acad- 
emics, and  was  one  of  the  first  to  actively  engage  in 
the  Abolition  movement.  He  served  as  a  delegate  to 
the  Buffalo  Convention,  which  nominated  JamesG. 
Birney,  the  Liberty  Party  candidate  for  President, 
,  and  subsequently  read  law  in  the  office  of  Gilbert  & 
Osborne,  a  prominent  law  firm  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
During  those  years  Mr.  Honeywell  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  many  eminent  men,  among  them 
Gerritt  Smith,  William  Goodell,  A I  van  Stewart  and 
others  interested  in  the  anti-slavery  movement. 


714 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Upon  leaving  Rochester  Mr.  Honeywell  removed 
to  New  York  City,  and  became  editor  of  the  New 
York  Eagle,  and  subsequently  became  connected 
with  the  American  Anti-Slavery  Society  of  New 
York  City,  and  for  four  years  was  sub-editor  of  the 
Anti-Slavery  Standard,  until  failing  health  com- 
pelled him  to  retire.  During  those  years  lie  made 
the  acquaintance  of  Wendell  Phillips,  Fred  Doug- 
las, William  Lloyd  Garrison,  .lames  Russell  Low- 
ell, Sidney  Howard  Gay,  and  many  other  men  of 
that  time  who,  for  the  sake  of  their  principles,  suf- 
fered to  a  large  extent  ostracism  from  society. 
This,  however,  instead  of  discouraging  either  Mr. 
Honeywell  or  his  compeers,  still  more^deeply  rooted 
their  principles,  and  while  Mr.  Honeywell  was 
called  to  other  fields  of  labor,  he  rejoiced  in  the 
fact  that  the  anti-slavery  cause  moved  on  and 
finally  triumphed. 

In  the  spring  of  1K53  Mr.  Honeywell  made  his 
way  to  Iroquois  County,  this  State,  landing  at  La- 
Pax  ette  on  the  I  Hh  of  April  from  a  packet-bout. 
The  people  were  then  talking  up  the  Wabash  Hail- 
road.  Mr.  Honeywell  located  in  Iroquois  County, 
III.,  purchasing  1,000  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now 
Stoekland  Township.  He  li veil  upon  this  three 
years,  effecting  considerable  improvement,  and  pur- 
chased 400  acres  additional.  While  teaching  and 
farming  he  never  failed,  whenever  opportunity  oc- 
curred, to  disseminate  his  anti-slavery  sentiments. 
In  the  spring  of  1850  he  started  out,  accompanied 
by  his  family,  and  traveled  all  through  Minnesota 
Territory,  arriving  in  Chicago  during  Fremont's 
campaign,  and  became  associated  with  the  Chicago 
News  (not  the  News  of  to-day),  and  which  was 
edited  and  controlled  by  the  Republican  element, 
which  was  then  being  brought  into  prominence 
and  in  which  year  the  party  was  organized  and 
named. 

Mr.  Honeywell  spent  that  winter  in  Chicago, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1857  removed  to  Logansport, 
Ind.,  where  he  established  himself  as  a  manufac- 
turer and  dealer  in  lumber,  and  also  taught  school 
for  several  terms  at  that  place  and  LaFayette. 
During  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War  he  was 
offered  the  appointment  of  Adjutant  in  the  arm}', 
but  circumstances  prevented  his  accepting  it,  and 
in  1803  he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Iroquois  County. 


He  proceeded  with  the  improvement  of  his  land,  and 

in  the  meantime  became  prominent  in  local  affairs, 
serving  as  Township  Supervisor  each  year  until 
1869,  when  he  was  elected  County  Clerk  for  four 
years,  and  served  in  this  capacity  until  1873.  In 
1871  he  purchased  land  on  the  present  site  of 
Hoopeston,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  office 
removed  here  with  his  family.  He  assisted  in  lay- 
ing out  the  town,  and  secured  the  location  of  the 
Chicago  railroad  to  the  place.  If  was  largely 
through  his  aid  that  the  town  grew  and  became 
prosperous,  being  a  portion  of  the  time  its  Mayor. 
He  made  two  subdivisions,  and  still  controls  the 
sale  of  lots,  lie  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
sugar  and  canning  factories  located  here,  and  was 
connected  with  them  until  the  latter  became  self- 
supporting,  expending  15,000,  for  which  he  received 
no  return. 

Meantime  anil  later  Mr.  Honeywell  gave  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits,  having  a  farm  of 
nearly  1,000  acres  adjoining  the  city.  He  was  one 
of  tin;  founders  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Walscka,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  as 
stockholder  and  director  for  a  period  of  twenty 
years.  In  addition  to  his  Illinois  property,  he  has 
several  hundred  acres  of  laud  and  a  tine  orange 
grove  in  Florida,  where  hi'  frequently  spends  his 
winters.  Altogether  he  is  the  owner  of  about 
3,000  acres  of  land,  much  of  it  rich  and  valuable, 
in  Iroquois,  Vermilion,  Cook,  Lake  and  Scott 
counties,  111,  and  in  Lake  ami  Marion  counties, 
Fla.  Politically,  until  about  1884,  he  supported 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  then  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  Prohibitionists,  and  lives  in 
hopes  that  the  entire  prohibition  of  the  manufac- 
ture and  sale  of  alcoholic  liquors  as  a  beverage, 
will  ultimately  be  secured.  He  is  a  man  of  decided 
views  and  opinions,  fearless  in  the  expression  of 
them,  and  while  necessarily  enunciating  some 
truths  distasteful  to  some  men,  is  nevertheless  held 
in  universal  respect. 

Our  subject  was  married  April  3,  1851,  in 
Schuyler  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Cornelia  Andrews, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Anson  Andrews,  and  they  are 
now  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  living  and 
named  respectively:  Fstella  Emma,  Florence  An- 
drews, Lillian  Amelia,  and  Sarah  Eliza,     The  eldest 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  AI.IHJM. 


715 


daughter  is  the  wife  of  John  ('.  Cromer,  and  the 

mother  of  one  child,  a  son,  Alba,  named  after  the 
grandfather;  Florence  possesses  considerable  talent 
as  an  artist,  teaching  both  portrait  and  landscape 
painting,  and  is  otherwise  quite  accomplished;  she 
remains  at  home  with  her  parents.  Lillian  occupies 
the  Chair  of  Mathematics  in  Hedding  College,  Knox 
Co..  111.;  Sarah  is  pursuing  her  studies  at  that  in- 
stitution. 

Mrs.  Honeywell  was  born  at  Sodus  l!ay.  on 
Lake  Ontario,  in  1S2"J,  and  lived  there  and  in  Yates 
County,-  N.  Y.,  with  her  parents  until  her  mar- 
riage. The  father  of  our  subject  was  Enoch  Hon- 
eywell, who  was  born  in  Westchester  County,  N.  V., 
in  1787.  He  received  his  education  mostly  in  that 
county  near  New  York  City,  and  upon  approach- 
ing manhood  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  patent 
wheel  heads  for  spinning,  which  proved  a  paying 
enterprise.  In  1816  he  made  his  way  to  Indiana, 
and  entered  Hid  acres  of  wild  hind,  embracing  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Terre  Haute,  where  he 
established  a  home  and  lived  for  several  years 
until  malaria  drove  him  away.  In  the  meantime 
he  engaged  Jin  farming  and  shipped  pork,  via  New 
Orleans  to  New  York  City,  going  with  his  mer- 
chandise himself.  He  subsequently  located  in 
Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  chair  mak- 
ing, and  lived  there  until  1836,  when  he  went  onto 
a  farm  in  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  1887. 

Mrs.  Eliza  (Dye)  Honeywell,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the 
parental  household  included  three  children,  of 
whom  Alba  was  the  eldest  born.  His  younger 
brother,  Gilbert,  is  living  in  Schuyler  County, 
N.  Y.  Emma,  the  only  sister,  married  a  Mr. 
Fenno;  and  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  in  the  same 
county.  Enoch  Honeywell  was  a  man  who,  under 
favorable  circumstances,  would  have  distinguished 
himself  in  the  world  of  letters,  being  a  ready  writer 
both  in  prose  and  poetry.  Our  subject  came  hon- 
estly by  his  hatred  of  slavery  and  his  love  of  tem- 
perance, having  inherited  the  sentiments  from  his 
honored  father.  Our  subject  was  at  one  time 
greatly  interested  in  the  l'ittman  System  of  Pho- 
netic Printing  and  Short-Hand.  He  was  editorially 
associated  with  Andrew  and   Boyle  in  1848,  and  in 


the  Anglo-Saxon,  a  newspaper  in  New  York  City, 
advocating  the  phonetic  reform,  and  printed  wholly 
in  the  new  type  advocated.  He  is  also  the  author 
of  several  works,  the  largest  of  which  (yet  un- 
published) is  an  exhaustive  treatise  on  language, 
embracing  all  its  departments  from  elementary 
phonetics  to  rhetoric  and  logic — in  all  eleven  books. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  in  addition  to  his 
other  views,  was  directly  opposed  to  Masonry  and 
all  secret  societies.  He  traveled  over  a  large 
portion  of  the  United  States,  and  although  promi- 
nent as  an  agitator,  never  sought  political  office. 
In  his  early  manhood  he  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  but  becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  apa- 
thy of  his  church  in  regard  to  the  slavery  question, 
he  left  it  and  identified  himself  with  the  Wesleyan 
Methodists,  remaining  with  them  until  his  decease, 
which  occurred  in  New  York  State  Jan.  14,  1887, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-nine  years.  He  re- 
tained his  faculties  in  a  remarkable  degree  until 
the  time  of  his  decease,  which  was  the  result  of  an 
accident.  He  hail  put  forth  a  number  of  pamphlets 
largely  at  his  own  expense,  and  wrote  scores  of 
newspaper  articles,  setting  forth  his  convictions, 
which  were  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
country.  The  wife  and  mother  departed  this  life 
in  I8GG,  when  about  seventy-four  years  old. 


THEODORE  LEMON,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  city  of  Danville,  was  born 
in  the  village  of  Bunker  Hill,  Va.,  Dec.  1(5, 
1S12,  and  here  began  the  study  of  medicine,  which 
he  completed  in  the  cities  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and 
Washington,  D.  C.  Here  he  turned  his  attention 
to  the  West  and  decided  to  locate  in  Danville,  this 
county,  for  another  brother,  Joseph  B.,  had  been 
for  a  year  a  resident  before  our  subject's  emigra- 
tion. In  1 835  he  made  the  trip  from  Virginia  by 
horse  and  wagon  in  company  with  an  uncle,  the 
Rev.  James  Chenoweth,  who  was  on  his  way  to 
the  AVest.  For  a  year  succeeding  his  arrival  in 
Danville,  Dr.  Lemon  taught  school  in  what  was  then 
the  Presbyterian  Church  building.  He  soon,  how- 
ever, acquired  a  practice    in   his    profession    which 


716 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


demanded  all  his  time  and  attention,  often  being 
in  that  day  compelled  to  ride  to  a  distance  of 
fifteen  or  twenty  miles  away  to  see  a  patient.  His 
success  was  assured  from  the  very  first,  and  he 
became  a  leading  physician  in  this  county,  in  which 
lie  passed  a  long  and  useful  life,  and  in  which  he 
became  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed.  He 
ever  evaded  notoriety,  but  was  called  by  his  fellow- 
citizens,  rather  against  his  will,  to  fill  several  pub- 
lic positions.  He  remained  a  student  all  his  life 
and  kept  abreast  of  all  of  the  latest  developments, 
not  only  in  the  profession  of  which  he  was  an 
honored  member,  but  he  gave  much  time  and 
thought  to  other  branches  of  advanced  studies. 
Especially  did  he  take  great  interest  in  mathemat- 
ics, of  which  exact  science  he  was  an  ardent 
student,  and  in  which  he  was  regarded  as  an  author- 
ity. He  died  Dec.  19,  1885,  in  his  seventy-fourth 
year. 

Dr.  Lemon  was  a  cousin  of  Hon.  Ward  Lamon, 
the  friend,  biographer,  and  counsellor  of  President 
Lincoln.  The  family  name  was  originally  spelled 
Lamon,  but  the  people  of  Danville  called  him 
Lemon,  and  the  Doctor  fell  into  that  way  of  spell- 
ing it,  until  it  has  now  become  the  recognized 
orthography.  He  was  a  quiet  and  courteous  gentle- 
man, who  always  conducted  himself  with  a  dignity 
and  self-respect  which  commanded  the  respect  of 
others,  and  won  for  him  hosts  of  sincere  friends 
and  the  esteem  of  the  entire  community.  During 
his  half-century's  residence  in  Danville  Dr.  Lemon 
had  witnessed  the  many  changes  and  developments 
which  transformed  it  from  a  mere  hamlet  to  a 
thriving  city,  and  he  was  ever  foremost  in  advo- 
cating all  measures  which  he  believed  tended  to  its 
growth  and  prosperity,  which  he  did  his  full  share 
in  promoting.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  the  following  yet 
survive:  Mary  E.  is  unmarried  and  is  a  resident 
of  Danville:  George  is  a  farmer  in  Texas;  Virginia 
1).,  widow  of  John  II.  Moores,  lives  in  Oregon;  R. 
Bruce  is  Judge  Advocate  of  the  Pension  Depart- 
ments  at  Washington,  D.  C;  Ella  E.  is  widow  of 
I.  R.  Moores,  and  is  also  a  resident  of  Oregon,  and 
Charles  E.  is  a  practicing  physician  at  Eairmount, 
in  this  county.  Those  deceased  were  named  re- 
spectively:   Joseph  B„  who  died    in  Danville;  Re- 


becca R.  was  wife  of  Dr.  Cromwell,  who  died  in 
Virginia;  she  subsequently  came  to  this  county, 
where  she  died;  James  C.  went  to  California,  where 
he  died;  Ann  E.,  who  was  the  wife  of  Carlisle 
Turner,  died  in  Danville;  John  E.,  who  was  a 
Union  soldier,  fills  an  unknown  grave  in  the  South, 
and  Lucy  A.,  who  was  the  wife  of  W.  T.  Cun- 
ningham, died  in  Danville. 

Sept.  11,  1848,  Dr.  Lemon  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lavinia  E.  Sconce,  who  was  born 
in  Bourbon  County,  Ivy.,  Jan.  20,  1828.  The  year 
following  that  of  her  birth  her  parents  removed  to 
Vermilion  County,  where  her  entire  life  since  has 
been  passed.  Her  father,  James  Sconce,  was  a 
cabinetmaker  by  trade  and  carried  on  a  shop  in 
Danville  lor  many  years.  lie  and  his  wife,  Mary, 
were  well  known  to  the  early  settlers,  they  them- 
selves ranking  as  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County. 
The  first  court  house,  a  small  wooden  building,  was 
erected  in  Danville  some  years  after  they  came 
here,  and  Mrs.  Lemon  remembers  that  the  few 
houses  then  comprising  Danville  were  grouped 
about  the  square,  which  was  then  covered  with 
hazle  brush.  She  has  since  that,  seen  the  then 
insignificant  village  become  the  thriving  city  of 
to-day.  Her  life  for  sixty  years  has  been  spent 
here,  and  she  is  now,  at  the  age  of  sixty -one, 
calmly  awaiting  the  summons  which  shall  reunite 
her  with  her  companion  of  nearly  forty  years.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Lemon,  James  and  Mary  Sconce, 
made  Danville  their  home  ever  after  their  first 
settlement  in  that  place.  He  died  in  1857,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three,  and  she  in  18C2,  when  nearly 
seventy  years  old.  Mr.  Sconce  was  a  man  of  quiet, 
retiring  disposition,  and  never  took  any  part  in 
public  affairs,  but  was  esteemed  as  an  honest  and 
worthy  citizen. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lemon  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  of  whom  three  died  in  infamy.  None 
are  married,  and  when  not  absent  from  the  city  on 
business  all  make  their  home  with  their  widowed 
mother.  They  are  named,  respectively:  Albert 
T.,  who  is  now  Town  Clerk  of  Danville;  Charles  V., 
Edward  B.,  Theodore  II.,  Mary  L.,  John  James, 
Lavinia  E.,  and  Lafayette  Fay.  All  of  the  sons 
have  adopted  music  as  a  profession,  and  all  are 
performers  of  note,  being  frequently  called  upon 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


717 


to  fill  engagements  all  over  the  country.  Their 
musical  predilections  were  derived  from  their  ma- 
ternal uncles,  who  were  well-known  musicians. 
The  family  have  the  entire  confidence,  good-will 
ami  esteem  of  the  entire  community,  as  well  en 
their  own  account,  as  on    that  of   their  honored 

father. 

<x^o   ' 

«jRTHUR  JONES,  an  enterprising,  prosper- 
!    ous  merchant  of  Catlin  Village  and  Super- 
visor of  the  township,  is  one  of  the  leading 

business  and  public  men  in  this  pari  of 
Vermilion  County.  Although  he  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, the  most  of  his  life  has  been  passed  in  this 
country,  and  he  is  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
American  spirit,  and  as  loyal  to  the  institutions  of 
the  United  States  as  if  he  were  to  the  manor  born. 
His  parents.  Henry  and  Sarah  (Hough)  Jones, 
were  born,  reared  and  married  in  England,  and  re- 
mained in  the  old  home  till  after  the  birth  of  their 
children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  They 
then  decided  to  emigrate  to  this  country,  hoping 
therein  to  give  their  family  a  better  start  in  life 
than  was  possible  in  the  old  country,  and.  with 
that  end  in  view  the  father  set  sail  from  London  in 
1849,  about  six  weeks  in  advance  of  the  remaining 
members  of  the  family, and  after  landing,  made  his 
way  to  this  State,  and.  selecting  Catlin  Township 
as  a  desirable-  point  to  locate,  he  was  soon  joined 
by  his  wife  and  children.  In  his  native  land  he 
had  been  a  brass  and  gas  finisher  and  contractor, 
but  after  coming  here,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
agriculture,  which  he  carried  on  till  1*50.  lie 
then  entered  into  the  mercantile  business  with  his 
son  Richard,  without,  however,  abandoning  his 
farming  interests.  He  was  a  valuable  citizen  "f 
this  community,  his  enterprise  materially  advanc- 
ing its  prosperity,  and  his  death,  in  November, 
1862,  was  esteemed  a  public  loss.  His  wife  pre- 
ceded him  to  that  "bourne  whence  no  traveler  re- 
turns," dying  in  1  856. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  London,  England,  July 
14,  1848,  and  he  was  a  year  old  the  very  day  the 
family  set  sail  for  this  country.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Catlin  Township,  and    being  a    bright,  apt 


scholar,  received  a  substantial  education,  attending 
first  the  public  schools,  and  then  becoming  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Commercial  College,  at  Westfield, 
Clark  Co..  111.,  where  lie  obtained  a  tine  business 
training  that  has  been  of  inestimable  service  to  him 
in  his  career  as  a  merchant.  When  he  left  college 
he  entered  his  brother  Richard's  store,  and  con- 
tinued with  him  as  a  clerk  till  the  hitter's  death, 
which  occurred  in  October,  1875.  After  that  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  Frederic, 
and  they  carried  on  the  business  together  two  or 
three  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
bought  out  Frederic's  interest,  and  has  since  man- 
aged the  business  alone.  He  has  a  commodious, 
well-fitted  up  store,  carries  a  full  stock  of  general 
merchandise,  and  has  a  large  and  profitable  trade. 
He  also  deals  extensively  in  coal  and  stock,  be- 
sides managing  a  fine  farm  of  ICO  acres. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  1870,  an  important 
event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Jones  occurred,  as  on  that 
date  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  .Miss  Emma 
I  >ickinson,  daughter  of  William  and  Emma  (  Barker) 
Dickinson,  natives  of  Lincolnshire,  England.  (For 
parental  history  see  sketch  of  William  Dickinson, 
which  appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume.) 
Mrs.  Jones  is,  like  her  husband,  of  English  birth, 
born  in  Lincolnshire,  Dec.  25.  1852,  and  she  was 
but  an  infant  of  six  or  eight  weeks  when  her  par- 
ents came  to  this  country,  ami  therefore  has  known 
no  other  home.  Five  children  have  been  born  of 
the  pleasant  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  namely:  Edward  A.,  William  II.,  Nettie  I'... 
Cora  M.  and  Dora  II.  Nettie  and  Cora,  who  were 
twins,  are  dead. 

Our  subject,  possessing  high  and  honorable  traits 
of  character, is  classed  among  the  most  estimable  and 
trustworthy  men  of  the  county,  and  his  fellow- 
citizens,  often  entrusting  to  his  wise  guidance  some 
of  the  most  responsible  offices  within  their  gift,  have 
found   him   to  be  an  invaluable  civic  official,  who 

places    the    interests  of     t lit-     public    above     private 

or  party  considerations.  Il<-  was  first  elected 
Supervisor  of  Catlin  Township  in  1880,  and  served 
one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  was  again 
called  to  that  important  position,  and  has  acted  in 
that  capacity  ever  since,  being  reelected  in  the 
spring  of  ims'.i.    He  is  prominently  connected  with 


18 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  Vermilion  County  Agricultural  Society,  and 
was  treasurer  of  that  organization  for  several 
years.  During  Gen.  Giant's  administration  lie 
was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Catlin  Township, 
and  held  that  office  thirteen  years,  giving  general 
satisfaction  to  all  without  regard  to  party.  Our 
subject  takes  an  active  part  in  politics,  ami  is  a 
leader  among  the  Republicans  of  this  section.  He 
is  identified  with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  as  a  member 
of  Catlin  Lodge  No.  285. 


IRAM  MAKEMSON  is  the  youngest  of 
fc  four  children  born  to  Andrew  and  Hannah 
Makemson,  natives  of  Kentucky,  where  they 
were  residents  of  Harrison  Comity  until 
1828,  when  they  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  Newell  Township,  about  two  and  one-half  miles 
from  where  their  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
now  resides.  Mr.  Andrew  Makemson  was  a  stal- 
wart Republican,  and  always  faithful  to  what  he 
considered  the  best  interests  of  his  country.  He 
and  his  wife  were  both  worthy  and  sincerely  good 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  were  highly 
esteemed  not  only  by  their  religious  associates  but 
also  by  the  large  circle  of  friends  which  their 
many  good  qualities  had  gathered  around  them. 
Their  death  was  a  loss  to  the  community,  and  they 
were  followed  to  their  last  resting  place  in  Lamb's 
Cemetery  by  a  large  concourse  of  relatives  and  ac- 
quaintances. Mr.  Makemson  died  in  1880.  and  his 
wife  in  1889. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ky.,  April  2,  1825,  hence  was  only  three 
years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois.  His 
youthful  days  were  enlivened  by  witnessing,  and 
when  old  enough  participating  in  the  various  hunt- 
ing parties  which  were  made  up  from  time  to  time 
in  the  neighborhood,  which  sometimes  had  for  their 
object  the  providing  of  food  for  the  table,  and  at 
others  the  dispersing  of  depredatory  [lacks  of  wolves 
or  roving  bands  of  Indians,  which  served  to  make 
things  lively  for  the  settlers,  and  varied  the  monot- 
ony of  the  usual  routine  of  farm  life. 

Mr.  Makemson  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
tree   until    he    reached   his   majority,  getting   such 


education  as  the  short  term  of  the  public  school 
each  year,  assisted  by  an  occasional  term  of  sub- 
scription school,  afforded,  and  making  himself  use- 
ful when  out  of  school  in  whatever  capacity  lie 
could  be  employed.  On  April  29th,  1852,  he  took 
to  wife  Miss  Prudence  Campbell,  a  charming 
maiden  of  Newell  Township,  where  she  was  born 
Sept.  18,  1834.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Almira  Campbell,  natives  of  New  York,  who  came 
to  Illinois  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement  and 
located  in  Newell  Township,  where  they  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children,  of  which  Mrs.  Makemson 
was  the  youngest. 

Upon  the  return  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Makemson 
from  Danville,  where  their  marriage  took  place, 
they  immediately  entered  into  possession  of  their 
present  home,  where  they  have  continued  to  reside 
happily  and  contentedly  ever  since,  rejoicing  in 
the  addition  to  their  family  of  five  children, 
namely:  Almira  1)..  who  remains  at  home  to  com- 
fort and  cheer  the  parents  for  the  absence  of  the 
other  members  of  the  family;  Mary  A.,  wile  of 
W.  W,  Current;  Bertha  P.,  wife  of  Morton  Bird, 
and  lives  in  this  county;  Sherman  T.  married  Miss 
Sadie  Bird,  on  the  1th  of  November.  1886,  and 
lives  on  a  portion  of  his  father's  farm.  Mrs.  Sher- 
man Makemson  is  a  daughter  of  Moser  and  Polly 
Bird,  and  shares  in  the  prosperity  and  excellent 
reputation  which  her  husband  justly  enjoys  as  a 
resident  of  the  township.  They  have  no  children. 
Joseph  C,  the  youngest  child,  is  also  at  home,  where 
he  assists  his  elder  sister  to  drive  dull  care  away 
from  the  old  place. 

Mr.  Makemson  owns,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
his  sons  operates,  an  estate  of  816  acres  of  land,  all 
lying  in  Newell  Township,  and  under  good  culti- 
tion.  Politically,  he  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  in  whose  principles  he  is  a  firm  believer. 


TlDHN    STALLINGS,    dealer    in    drugs  and 
medicines   at    Sidell,    was    born    in   Orange 
County,    Ind.,  June  7,   1862.     His  parents, 
Samuel   and    Martha  E.  Stallings,  were  na- 
tives of  Indiana;   the  mother  is  now  a  lady  of  fifty- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


710 


seven  years.  Ten  children  were  bora  to  them. 
nine  still  surviving.  They  are  named:  Charles, 
Belle  (Mrs.  Thompson),  Zino,  Reiley.  Elzora  (  Mrs, 
Price),  John,  our  subject;  .lames,  LeRoy,  and 
( (scar. 

John  Stallings  was  a  child  of  two  years  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Parke  County.  Ind..  and  in 
1870  removed  to  Fairmount,  III.,  where  the  father 
engaged  in  farming.  Our  subject,  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  entered  the  Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  having  previously  been 
graduated  by  the  Business  College  of  Ladoga,  Ind. 
He  was  graduated  by  the  Pharmaceutical  College 
with  the  class  df  '84.  He  then  engaged  with  A.  C. 
Mussel  white.  No.  50  Clark  street,  Chicago/and  con- 
tinued in  his  employ  until  1885,  when  he  set  up  a 
store  for  himself  at,  Sidell.  and  has  done  a  very 
satisfactory  business. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  wife.  Miss  Grace 
Cornelius,  daughter  of  John  Cornelius,  took  place 
at  the  bride's  home  July  28.  1885.  Mrs.  Stallings 
is  the  youngest  of  three  children  born  to  her  par- 
ents, namely:  William,  Lizzie,  and  Grace  Amanda. 
Oursubjecl  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Eva  Ella.  Mr.  Stallings  has  erected  a  line  and 
COmtnodiOUS  residence  on  Chicago  street,  of  this 
city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  P.,  Peace 
Dale  Lodge  No.  225,  of  which  order  he  is  at  pres- 
ent Treasurer.  lie  is  also  a  member  of  the  Modem 
Woodmen,  Sidell  Camp  No.  105,  and  a  stalwart 
Republican;  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  April  30, 
1889. 


»7|fS- 


<~ 


JAMES  W.  ORR.  Among  the  prominent 
business  men  of  Sidell  is  the  above-named 
gentleman,  who  is  a  lumber  and  grain  dealer. 
The  former  business  is  carried  on  under  the 
firm-name  of  Lyons  and  Orr,  but  the  grain  trade 
is  controlled  solely  by  Mr.  Orr.  His  father,  James 
Orr,  was  born  in  West  Virginia,  and  his  mother, 
formerly  Mary  Ross,  was  a  native  of  Greene 
County,  Pa.  For  ancestry  see  sketch  of  James  ( In 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  parental  family  numbered  four  children,  all 
boys,  of  "In  uii  the  subject  of  our  sketch  is  the  third 


in  order  of  birth;  he  was  born  in  Coles  County.  III.. 
April  15.1857.  When  he  was  two  years  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Edgar  County.  Ohio,  where  the 
son  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  township.  In  1885  he  engaged  in 
business  at  Sidell  in  which  he  has  continued  ever 
since.  In  1887  Mr.  I'.ushnell,  of  I  Ioopestown,  built 
the  largest  grain  elevator  in  the  county  at  Sidell. 
Mr.  Orr  married  Miss  Eliza  Todd,  daughter  of 
David  and  Maria  Todd  in   1884. 

Mrs.  Orr  was  born  in  Vermilion  County,  whither 
her  parents  moved  in  1851.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orr  are 
the  parents  of  one  child,  Edward  Lisle,  two  years 
old.  The  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Mr.  Orr  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
I.  ().().  F.  Lodge  No.  225.  Peace  Dale  of  Sidell, 
which  was  organized  in  1886,  and  of  which  he  is 
now  serving  as  Nice  Grand.  Mr.  Orr  is  the  owner 
of  forty  acres  in  the  addition  to  Sidell,  south.  The 
linn  are  doing  a  very  satisfactory  business  as  re- 
gards the  lumber  interests.  Mr.  Orr  usually  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party,  but  uses  his  own  judg- 
ment in  local  elections. 


-w-a^eH--*- 


jj>ACHARIAH  ROBERTSON,  who  resides  in 
Newell  Township,  is  a  son  of  Zachariah  and 
/l1—^/  Elizabeth  (Jones)  Robertson,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Robertson,  Sr.,  was  I  he  parent  of 
seven  children  by  his  first  wife,  the  mother  of  our 
subject.  He  was  a  Revolutionary  War  Veteran 
and  located  near  Brunswick.  III.,  in  1 837,  on  the 
land  which  Dr.  Henderson  now  owns.  During  his 
long  life  of  ninety  -four  years  he  was  associated 
with  the  Democratic  party  and  always  upheld  its 
principles;  he  and  his  good  wife  were  faithful  and 
consistent  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  and 
foremost  in  every  good  work.  His  death  took  place 
in  1839  and  that  of  his  wife  a  year  later. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  October  1, 
1822,  and  passed  the  early  years  of  his  life  in  his 
native  Kentucky,  then  removed  with  his  father  to 
Illinois  and  engaged  in  work  on  a  farm,  which  oc- 
cupation he  followed  the  rest  of  his  life.  Aug.  25, 
1842,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Abigail  Starr,  daugh- 


720 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ter  of  Peter  and  Catharine  Starr.  Mrs.  Robertson 
was  born  July  4.  1824,  in  Preble  County,  Ohio, 
and  after  a  life  of  usefulness  and  faithful  perform- 
ance of  duty,  was  ferried  over  the  river  by  the 
boatman  pale  to  the  beautiful  land  beyond,  her 
earthly  remains  being  laid  to  rest  Dec.  25,  187i). 

Mr.  Robertson  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth 
of  a  family  of  fifteen  children,  and  became  the 
father  of  sixteen  sons  and  daughters.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robertson  located  on  their  farm  in  1844,  and  it  has 
continued  to  be  the  family  residence  ever  since. 
Mr.  Robertson  procured  a  patent  from  the  Govern- 
ment which  he  still  holds,  it  having-  never  been 
transferred  to  any  other  person.  He  owns  at  pres- 
ent 105  acres  of  finely  improved  and  highly  culti- 
vated land.  Being  a  good  judge  of  horse  flesh  he  has 
always  kept  a  number  of  fine  animals  on  his  place 
to  either  trade  or  for  use.  He  has  always  manifested 
a  deep  interest  in  educational  matters  and  has  tilled 
the  office  of  School  Director  for  many  years.  In 
political  life  he  sustains  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party.  The  Methodist  Church  and 
Granger  Lodge  are  pleased  to  number  him  among 
their  most  useful  and  inlluential  members. 


^f|  AMES  STEELE  CATHERWOOD  is  the 
present  postmaster  of  Hoopeston,  taking 
charge  of  that  office  April  25, 1885.  Hoopes- 
ton and  Danville  are  the  only  two  presiden- 
tial offices  in  Vermilion  County.  He  is  engaged  in 
life  and  fire  insurance,  and  does  a  general  collect- 
ing business  in  connection  witli  the  firm  of  Allen 
&  Catherwood,  the  former  being  a  representative 
in  the  Legislature  from  this  district. 

Mr.  Catherwood  was  born  in  Belmont  County, 
Ohio,  April  12,  1845,  and  when  a  child  not  a  year 
old,  removed  into  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  where 
his  father  engaged  in  farming.  The  family  resided 
there  until  .lames  was  twelve  years  of  age,  when 
they  removed  to  Shelby  County,  111.  Here  he  re- 
mained engaged  on  the  farm  until  1859,  when  he 
removed  to  Christian  County,  111.,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  common  schools. 
He  enlisted  April  7,  in  the  1 15th  Illinois  Infantry. 


This  regiment  served  in  the  western  army  under 
Rosecrans,  and  was  at  Raleigh.  Mo.,  from  April 
until  September,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service.  After  coming  of  age,  he  attended  school 
at  Mount  Zion,  and  then  going  to  Penns3dvania. 
attended  school  at  Concord  Hill  Academy.  After 
leaving  this  institution,  be  came  back  to  Illinois, 
and  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  for  a  year 
with  his  older  brother  at  Stonington.  In  August, 
180'!),  he  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
the  stock  business,  being  four  years  in  Salem,  one 
in  McPherson  and  two  in  Ellsworth.  He  and  bis 
I  not  her  worked  in  this  manner,  keeping  ahead  of 
civilization,  where  their  stock  could  feed,  and  in  the 
winter  time  retracing  their  steps  to  where  they  could 
procure  food  for  their  animals.  They7  continued 
in  this  business  for  five  years,  their  herd  averag- 
ing from  1,2(10  to  1,500  head  many  times,  the  enter- 
prise being  financially  a  success,  until  the  last  year 
of  their  operation,  when  they  lost  about  16,000  by 
reason  of  an  unusual  panic  in  the  business.  In 
1874  they  sold  out,  and  James  came  to  Indianapo- 
lis, and  engaged  as  a  commercial  traveler  for  a  linn 
of  that  city,  following  this  business  for  three  years 
and  traveling  in  the  States  of  Illinois  and  Indiana, 
and  occasionally  in  Ohio.  In  September,  1H77,  Mr, 
Catherwood  removed  to  Howard  County,  Ind.,and 
engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business  at 
Fairfield.  Here  on  the  26th  day  of  December  of 
the  same  year,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Ilartwell. 
In  December,  1K79,  he  again  took  up  his  residence 
in  Indianapolis,  and  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery 
business,  which  was  successful,  and  in  1882  became 
to  Hoopeston,  and  engaged  in  the  grain  business 
until  he  was  appointed  postmaster.  Mr.  Cather- 
wood, from  its  inception,  has  been  Secretary  of  the 
North  Vermilion  Loan  Association,  and  has  filled 
the  difficult  duties  of  that  office  with  rare  ability 
and  fidelity. 

Mrs.  Catherwood  was  born  on  Dec.  1(1,  1847, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Ilartwell,  who  died 
when  she  was  nine  years  of  age.  She  spent  the 
early  part  of  her  life  in  Ohio.  She  received  a  fin- 
nished  education, 'and  after  coming  to  Danville,  be- 
gan literary  work.  Her  first  labors  in  that  direction 
were  for  Lippincott.  She  wrote  for  this  house  for 
several   years,  when  she    turned    her   attention    to 


PORTRAIT  AN!)  BIOGRAPHICAL  AI.IUJM. 


"21 


juvenile  literature,  writing  for  the  Si.  Nicholas  and 
Harper's  Bazar.     Her  first  story   for  the    Century 

Mdijii-.iiii'  was  the  immensely  popular  "Romance of 
Dullard."  She  lias  written  several  popular  hooks, 
including  "Rocky  Fork,"  "The  Dogberry  Bunch," 
"Old  Caravan  Days,"  "The  Bells  of  Ste.  Anne,"  all 
of  which  were  juveniles;  and  two  historical  ro- 
mances, "The  Romance  of  Dollard,"  and  "The 
Story  of  Tonty." 

Dr.  Marcus  Ilartwell,  father  of  Mrs.  Catherw I. 

was  born  Oct.  18.  1821,  and  died  on  Jan.  27.  1857. 
lie  received  his  early  education  at  Worthington 
College,  and  after  leaving  school  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  at  Columbus.  Ohio.  He  practiced  in 
that  State  for  two  or  three  years,  when,  in  1851,  he 
removed  to  Milford,  111.,  and  there  he  remained 
practicing  his  profession  until  his  death.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Phoebe  Thompson  in  Fairfield  County, 
Dec.  21,  1846.  The  result  of  this  union  was  seven 
children,  of  whom  only  three  lived  to  mature  age. 
Mrs.  Catherwood  is  the  oldest  child;  Roxanna, 
now  Mrs.  Smith,  is  living  near  Portland,  Ore., 
where  her  brother,  Marcus,  also  resides.  Mrs.  Hart- 
well  died  on  Feb.  3,  1858,  aged  thirty-three  years. 
Dr.  Ilartwell  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party, 
having  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont. 

Mi.  and  Mrs.  Catherwood  are  the  parents  of  bul 
one  child,  a  daughter,  named  Hazel.  He  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  Democratic  pari}',  but  has  never 
been  a  political  aspirant,  lie  organized  the  first 
Democratic  club  in  Hoopeston,  and  through  the 
influence  of  Gen.  Black  of  Danville,  was  appointed 
postmaster,  which  position  he  has  filled  to  the  en- 
tire  satisfaction  of  all  the  patrons  of  the  office.  His 
commission  will  expire  in  January.  1890. 


r»»F- 


IIOMAS  ARMSTRONG.  It  is  usually  safe 
to  judge  of  a  man's  character  by  what  he 
has  accomplished,  both  as  a  financier  and  a 
member  of  the  community.  We  find  Mr.  Arm- 
strong occupying  one  of  the  most  beautiful  farms 
in  Ross  Township,  where  he  has  a  choice  body  of 
land    well  drained  and  very  productive;   indeed,  it 


stands  second  to  none  in  this  part  of  the  county 
and  has  been  brought  to  its  present  condition 
solely  by  the  unflagging  industry  of  its  proprietor. 
Mr.  Anderson  labored  early  and  late  during  the 
first  years  of  his  residence  upon  it.  expending  a 
large  amount  of  time  and  money,  and  is  now  enjoy- 
ing ample  returns.  At  the  same  time,  while  hav- 
ing extensive  interests  of  his  own  to  look  after,  he 
has  distinguished  himself  as  liberal-minded  and 
public-spirited,  encouraging  the  enterprises  calcu- 
lated for  the  best  good  of  the  people  around  him 
and  keeping  himself  well  posted  upon  matters  of 
national  interest.  During  the  progress  of  the 
Civil  War  he  took  an  active  part  in  raising  funds 
lo  prosecute  the  struggle  for  union  and  liberty,  and 
this  in  itself  is  a  lasting  honor  to  his  name. 

In  looking  at  the  antecedents  of  our  subject  we 
find  that  he  springs  from  an  excellent  family,  being 
the  son  of  Robert  Armstrong,  the  sou  of  James 
Armstrong,  who  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pa.,  and  when  a  young  man  emigrated  to  Kentucky. 
A  few  years  later  he  pushed  on  into  Ohio,  settling 
in  Chillicothe,  where  he  employed  himself  consid- 
erably as  a  carpenter  and  assisted  in  the  erection 
of  the  first  house  built  in  that  city.  He  also  oper- 
ated as  a  survejor  and  was  one  of  the  Commission- 
ers who  located  the  city  of  Columbus  and  assisted 
in* the  laying  out  of  the  town.  He  was  recognized 
as  a  useful  and  intelligent  citizen,  and  after  filling 
other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  was 
elected  Associate  Judge  of  one  of  the  courts  and  is 
still  remembered  by  his  grandson  as  making  a 
dignified  appearance  on  the  bench. 

The  parents  of  Grandfather  Armstrong  were 
buried  three  miles  north  of  Chillicothe  on  the  old 
Armstrong  farm.  Grandmother  Armstrong  and 
her  children  were  at  one  time  captured  by  the  In- 
dians and  held  prisoners  three  years,  this  being 
prior  to  the  birth  of  her  son  James.  Her  husband 
had  gone  to  the  mill  and  upon  returning  he  found 
his  house  burned  to  the  groud  and  his  wife  and 
four  children  missing.  Grandmother  Armstrong 
finally  made  her  escape  and  walked  the  whole  dis- 
stance  ><(  about  500  miles  to  her  home  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  she  and  her  husband  were  reunited. 
After  Hie  birth  of  their  son  James,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,    the  family  removed    lo  Kentucky, 


722 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  in  company  with  a  party  of  six  men  went  up 
the  Ohio  and  Sciota  rivers  in  a  keel  boat  to  Chilli- 
cothe,  where  the  grandparents  spent  their  last 
days. 

It  is  believed  that  Grandfather  James  Armstrong 
was  married  in  Westmoreland  County,  l'a.  His 
wife  was  Nancy  Fulton,  a  near  relative  of  Robert 
Fulton,  the  inventor  of  the  steamboat.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely:  John, 
Robert,  the  father  of  our  subject,  James,  Jr.,  Jane, 
Maria,  Eliza  and  Rachel,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. The  great-grandfather  was  born  in  En- 
gland and  emigrated  to  America  at  an  early  date. 
The  Fulton  family  was  of  Irish  ancestry.  Robert 
Armstrong  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  in 
1801,  on  the  old  farm  three  miles  north  of  Chilli- 
cothe  and  was  there  reared  to  manhood.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Rhoda  Earl,  in  HS24.  The  young  people  soon 
afterward  removed  to  Madison  County,  that  State, 
and  settled  upon  a  farm.  There  were  born  to 
them  ten  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Fulton,  is 
now  the  owner  of  the  old  homestead;  Thomas,  our 
subject,  was  the  second  child;  Maria  married  Ed- 
ward Cowling,  and  died  in  Ohio;  Albert  came  to 
this  county,  and  died  in  1853;  Robert  is  a  resident 
of  Missouri;  Elizabeth  married  John  McMillen, 
and  lives  in  Kansas  City.  Mo.;  William  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomington,  111. ;  James  lives  in  Henry 
County,  Rio. ;  John  F.  is  in  Livingston  County, 
this  State;  Mary  J.  married  Riley  McMillen,  and 
lives  in  Henry  County.  Mo. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Earl)  Armstrong,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  departed  this  life  while  a  young 
woman,  in  1844,  and  was  buried  at  London,  Ohio; 
the  father  survived  for  a  period  of  twenty-two 
years,  dying  in  1866.  Thomas,  our  subject,  was 
born  April  18.  1826,  and  reared  in  Madison 
County,  Ohio.  In  1818  he  made  his  way  to  this 
State  and  settled  in  Hancock  County,  where  he 
lived  two  years,  and  upon  his  removal  thence 
came  l<>  this  county.  Here  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Miss  Nancy  Smith,  daughter  of  William 
Smith,  to  whom  he  was  married  August  24.  1850. 
They  have  four  children  living,  the  eldest  of 
whom.  Isabelle,  was  first  married  to  Calvin  Lamb, 
in  March,    187*.      He  died,  and  she  was    then  mar- 


ried to  James  Alison,  in  March.  1888;  they  are 
living  at  Armstrong,  this  county.  Thomas  J., 
James  L.  and  Catherine  M.,  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Baker, 
remain  upon  the  homestead.  The  deceased  are. 
Mary,  who  died  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  her  age, 
and  an  infant  son  who  died  unnamed;  the  wife  and 
mother  departed  this  life,  Nov.  27,  1878. 

Our  subject  was  soon  recognized  as  a  valued 
addition  to  the  community  of  Ross  Township  and 
was  tendered  from  time  to  time  nearl}'  all  the  local 
ollices.  He,  however,  had  about  all  he  could  at- 
tend to  in  the  management  of  his  farm,  and  simply 
discharged  the  duties  of  Tax  Collector  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  declining  other  responsibilities.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  extensive  land-owners  in  the 
county,  having  in  his  home  farm  1,546  acres,  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  He  came  to  this  county 
with  a  capital  of  $1,500  given  him  by  his  father, 
and  aside  from  the  farm  mentioned  has  775  acres, 
upon  a  part  of  which  the  village  of  Armstrong,  in 
Middle  Fork  Township,  is  now  located.  For  the 
last  few  years  he  has  been  largely  interested  in 
live-stock,  mainly  cattls  and  swine.  On  his  home 
farm  are  five  tenement  houses  besides  his  own  pri- 
vate residence,  which  is  beautifully  situated  about 
forty  rods  from  the  road,  with  a  handsome  drive 
and  a  beautiful  lawn  with  shrubbery  and  ornamen- 
tal trees.  The  graded  road  which  leads  from  his 
house  to  the  village  of  Rossville,  about  one  mile 
distant,  is  the  result  of  his  enterprise. 

Mrs.  Armstrong  was  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  politics  our  sub- 
ject is  an  ardent  Republican.  No  man  has  done 
more  in  the  building  up  of  his  township  than  he. 
lie  put  up  the  first  two  houses  in  the  village  of 
Rossville,  the  site  of  which  was  donated  by  Alvin 
Gilbert  and  Joseph  Satterthwaite,  in  1858.  That 
first  house  is  still  standing,  but  the  other  was  re- 
moved a  few  years  ago.  Upon  the  farm  of  out- 
subject  is  a  tile  factory,  from  which  Mr.  Arm- 
strong has  manufactured  §15,000  worth  of  tiling, 
the  most  of  which  has  been  used  in  the  drainage  of 
his  home  farm,  while  on  his  other  farm  he  has  laid 
§10.000  worth. 

On  the  26th  of  September,  1864,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  Rossville  a  committee  was  formed  to  solicit 
funds    for  the  prosecution    of    the    Union    cause. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


723 


Alvin  Gilbert  was  chosen  Cli 
strong  one  of  the  members, 
by  subscription    in    Ross  and 
sum    of    $7,768.50,    and     M 


airman  and  Mr.  Arm- 

The  committee  raised 

Grant  townships  the 

r.    Gilbert    yave    his 


check  for  enough  to  swell  the  amount  to  $8,000. 
We  give  below  the  names  of  contributors  and 
the  amount  they  thus  donated,  and  which  is  suffic- 
cient comment  upon  the  spirit  of  that  time  and  place: 


Alvin  Gilbert 

S.  I).  Thompson 

T.  R.  Bicknel 

Miller  Finlej' 

L.  S.  Metcalf 

Thomas  Armstrong. . 

Allium  Mann 

John  Mann 

Richard   Bicknell.  .  .  . 

James  B.  Davis 

J.  J.   Davison 

Z.  B.  Holliway 

Perry  Cossatt 

William  Spcrry 

II.  Cossett 

Hugh  McGrannahan . 
William  Anderson  . .  . 

.1.  II.  Fairchiids 

William  II.  Martin   .  . 

John  Martin 

Curtis  Elliott 

Charles   llavanna.  .  .  , 

John  D.  Collet 

Thomas   Smith 

James  Haas 

John  Cork 

Wesley  Swisher 

Elijah  Hale 

Thomas  Edward  .... 
William  Harrison.  .  . 
Fulton  Armstrong..  . 

E.  S.  Towersen 

Fred  ( Irooms 

R.  B.  Ray 

William  Pilkerton  .  .  . 
Thomas  Williams.  .  .  . 

James  Carter 

Parker  Satterwhite. . . 

J.  A.  Bradley 

Wesley  T.  Harris.  .  .  . 

Samuel  Thomas 

George  Steely 

Mali  Ion  Lewen 

<  reorge  Ruth 

William   Smith 

Frederick  Tilton 
John  S.  Tinvnseiiil .  .  . 

Abel  Tilton 

Samuel  Bennett 


.$00 
.  30 
.  30 
.  50 
.  30 
.  GO 
.  90 
.  90 
.  ISO 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  10 
5 
.  30 
.  30 
.  5 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  40 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 
.  30 


Simon  Bennett  30 

S.  W.  Gatches 30 

William  Edwards 30 

V.  R.  Boardman 30 

J.  R.  Hoover 30 

I  )a\  is  Pervines 30 

James  H.  Petty 30 

W.  II.  Compton 30 

Edward    Fisher 30 

S.  Y.  Davison 30 

James  R.  Crandal 30 

Johnson   Henderson 30 

James  Co  lei 30 

Henry  Boyd 30 

Isaac  Cruder 30 

William  I.  Allen 30 

Thomas  Campbell 30 

John  Yates 30 

John  Title 30 

Chancy  Dayton 30 

George  R.  Messic 30 

John  Putnam 30 

Al  Davis 30 

Frank  May 30 

Ephraim   Edwards 30 

Samuel  Merchant 30 

John  I  livens 30 

John  Smith 30 

W.  D.  Foulke 30 

Andrew  Kerr 30 

William  Ludlow 30 

William  York 30 

L.  M.   Thompson 30 

John  Sines 30 

Thomas  McKibben 25 

Van  B.  Hass 30 

Bennet  B.  Crook 30 

J.  R.  Stewart 10 

C.  O.  Davis 30 

John  Ellison 30 

Harry   Brown 30 

William  Ross 30 

Jacob  Bottroff 30 

William  Yining 30 

R.  Pendergrass 30 

Henry   Dayton 30 

Watts  Finley 30 

E.  B.  Jenkins 30 

John  Bridgeman 30 


D.  F.  Baker 30 

Philip  Holmes 30 

G.  C.  Davis 30 

Daniel  Knight 30 

W.  A.  Boardman 20 

James  Dayton 3(1 

A.  H.  Grenana 30 

W.  I).  Hanley 30 

A.  M.  Davis 30 

( leorge  Inglas 3(1 

John  Davidson 30 

W.  W.  Harris 30 

E.  F.  Yates 30 

Brien  Carter 30 

Jacob  Dale 30 

O.  P.  Stufflebeam 30 

Miles  Stufflebeam 30 

George  A.  Collins 30 

Henry  Calarsttern 30 

Isaac  Dale 30 

Josiah  Hivens 30 

James  Mi  Lane 30 

Andrew  Lane 30 

Joseph  Lane 30 

Enoch  Watkins 30 

Henry  Conner 30 

Isaac  Clapp 30 

William  Kight 30 

John  Holmes 30 

Ed  Foster 30 

J.  W.  McKibben 30 

William  H.  Collins 30 

John  W.  Collins 30 

M.  M.  Allison 30 

E.  MeElhaney 30 

John  Ellwell 30 

J.  J.  Grant 30 

S.  Andrews 30 

Lemuel  S.  Bigges 30 

William  P.  Hanah 30 

J.  W.  McTagget 30 

John  A.  Clapp 30 

William  Salmons 30 

J.  H.  Johnston 30 

F.  A.  Randolph :in 

Enoch  Bullock ;(o 

Bernard  Pullers 30 

'Thomas  J.  Jones 30 

J.  J.  Jones 30 


724 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


There  were  a  few  more  whose  names  are  not 
herein  mentioned  and  whose  contributions  were 
obtained  oh  the  second  round,  nearly  every  one  of 
whom  gave  as  much  more  as  is  mentioned  in  the 
foregoing  list,  until  the  desired  sum  was  raised  to 
clear  the  township  from  a  draft.  Prior  to  this 
there  had  been  raised  about  $5,000  in  the  township 
in  the  way  of  bounties. 

Mr.  Armstrong  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  support  of  the  schools  and  churches  of  Koss- 
ville  and  all  the  other  measures  calculated  for  the 
advancement  of  the  people,  socially,  morally  and 
financially.  He  controls  the  operations  of  his 
farm,  hiring  the  men  who  live  in  his  houses  for 
cash  and  each  one  [laying  his  lent  in  the  same  way. 
The  work  is  let  out  by  the  job,  and  accordingly 
the  man  who  works  the  hardest  makes  the  most 
money.  The  plowing  is  done  by  the  acre,  the  corn 
cultivated  in  the  same  manner  and  gathered  by 
the  bushel.  Each  man  furnishes  his  own  team  and 
implements.  Mr.  Armstrong  pays  for  breaking.  *1 
per  acre;  cutting  of  corn-stalks,  15  cents  per  acre; 
harrowing,  15  cents  per  acre;  planting,  17  cents  per 
acre;  cultivating,  35  cents  per  acre  for  each  time 
gone  over.  .Mr.  Armstrong  determines  as  to  the 
time  and  manner  in  which  all  the  work  shall  be 
done.  This  simple  method  of  transacting  business 
is  at  once  understood  by  all  concerned  and  settle- 
ments are  made  without  any  trouble.  The  career 
of  Mr.  Armstrong  has  been  from  the  Start  distin- 
guished by  this  systematic  manner  of  transacting 
business,  and  thus  he  knows  at  all  times  how  he  is 
standing  financially. 

/p^EORGE  D.  HUFFMAN.  To  most  minds 
(f(  <— ,   there  is  something  very  praiseworthy  in  not 

\^j|  only  the  accumulation  of  property,  but  in 
transmitting  that  property  from  one  generation  to 
another;  and  almost  invariably  the  homestead 
which  remains  with  one  family  is  regarded  by  the 
people  as  something  possessing  more  than  ordinary 
interest  and  value.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
owns  and  occupies  the  old  homestead  of  his  father, 
which  was  built    up    by    the    latter    from  a  tract  of 


wild,  uncultivated  land,  and  which  now  stands  as 
an  illustration  of  what  persevering  industry  and 
determination  may  accomplish.  The  Huffman 
family  are  widely  and  favorably  known  in  their 
community,  and  represent  its  best  elements. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Harrison 
County.  Ky.,  May  11,  1829,  and  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Illinois  when  a  child  four  years  of 
age.  He  is  the  son  of  Daniel  P.  and  Elizabeth 
Huffman,  who  left  the  Blue  Grass  State  in  the  fall 
of  1  832,  and  coming  to  this  county,  settled  in  Newell 
Township,  not  far  from  the  present  site  of  the  fam- 
ily residence.  The  father  only  lived  four  years 
thereafter,  his  decease  taking  place  in  1836.  The 
mother  survived  her  husband  twenty-one  years, 
dying  in  1857.  There  being  no  burying  ground 
within  ten  miles,  the  remains  of  the  parents  were 
laid  to  rest  in  a  pleasant  spot  on  the  farm,  a  few 
yards  from  the  present  residence,  and  a  fine  monu- 
ment marks  the  spot.  The  father's  first  purchase 
was  169  acres  of  land,  and  the  property  has  never 
changed  hands  except  to  pass  from  father  to  son. 
•Our  subject,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  was  at 
an  early  age  invested  with  much  responsibility, and 
remained  the  main  stay  and  support  of  his  mother 
until  her  death.  The  farm  was  mostly  developed 
by  him,  and  was  literally  transformed  from  a  wil- 
derness to  a  valuable  homestead.  In  his  boyhood 
he  attended  the  subscription  school  two  winters, 
and  this  comprised  the  greater  part  of  his  educa- 
tion. He  has,  however,  been  a  reader,  and  keeps 
himself  well  informed  upon  matters  of  general  in- 
terest. He  put  up  the  comfortable  house  in  which 
he  now  lives,  and  added  all  the  other  improvements 
which  have  combined  to  made  a  valuable  estate. 

Mr.  Huffman  has  been  a  man  quite  prominent  in 
his  community,  serving  as  Road  Commissioner  six 
years,  and  has  been  a  school  Director  in  his  district 
for  a  period  of  thirty  years.  He  has  taken  a  par- 
ticular interest  in  education,  believing  that  the 
young  should  be  given  all  the  advantages  which 
will  fit  them  for  honest  and  intelligent  citizens.  In 
politics  he  is  a  sound  Democrat,  and  in  religious 
matters  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

The  18th  of  September,  1865,  was  a  day  memo- 
rable in  the  life  of  our  subject,  made  so  by  his 
marriage  with    Miss    Mary,    daughter  of   John  and 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


72:. 


Elizabeth  Cox.  This  lady  rcmovedjwitb  her  parents 
from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  after  a  comparatively 
brief  sojourn  there  they  came  to  this  county.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  there  have  been  born  seven 
children,  the  two  eldest  <  if  whom  John  F.  and  Daniel 
P.  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  months.  <  leorge  I),  died 
when  three  months  old;  Emily  J.  is  the  wife  of 
John  F.  C  ruler;  Mary  E.  married  Charles  Richie; 
Edna  A.  died  when  three  years  old;  Ellie  M.  re- 
mains at  home  with  her  parents.  All  of  the  de- 
ceased children  were  buried  in  the  family  cemetery, 
and  beautiful  stones  mark  the  spot. 


-WV.- \*£ej2'©-3g-* 


>^g£s2»ZOT».~  -w*. 


ENXIN  II.  ROUSE.  Pleasant  is  the  task 
of  the  biographer  \v\in\  employed  in  re- 
counting the  life  and  history  of  those  who. 
bravely  enduring  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions of  pioneer  life  in  western  wilds,  have  by 
laborious  industry  and  sagacious  management  of 
affairs,  seemed  a  competence  for  their  declining 
years,  together  with  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
their  fellow-citizens.  Such  a  career  is  the  one  now 
given  us  to  contemplate,  and  thus  it  began:  To 
Reason  and  Martha  (Olehy)  Rouse,  of  Scioto 
County,  Ohio,  Feb.  14,  1828,  was  born  a  son,  our 
subject.  His  father  is  thought  to  have  been  born 
in  Delaware,  as  it  is  known  that  his  grandfather, 
Solomon  Rouse,  supposed  from  the  best  informa- 
tion at  hand  to  have  been  a  native  of  England,  re- 
moved in  1815  from  Delaware  to  Ohio.  He  was 
an  early  settler  in  the  Scioto  Valley,  where  he 
bought  a  tract  of  timber  laud  and  improved  it  as  a 
farm,  spending  thereon  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Here  his  son  Reason  grew  up  and  married,  his  bride 
being  a  native  of  Frederic  County,  \'a.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Dennis  Olehy,  who  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, near  Kilkenny,  and  coming  to  America  in 
1790,  settled  in  that  county,  and  lived  thereuntil 
his  death.  In  18ol  Mr.  Rouse  sold  out  his  interest 
in  Ohio  and  prepared  to  remove  with  his  family  to 
Illinois.  Just  on  the  eve  of  their  intended  depar- 
ture he  sickened  ami  died.  Two  weeks  later  Mrs. 
Rouse  started  with  her  six  children  and  made  the 
entire  journey  with  teams,  driving  the  stock  before 


them.  At  that  time  this  part  of  the  country  was 
but  sparsely  populated,  the  land  being  yet  owned 
!  by  the  Government,  the  settlers  selecting  the  tim- 
ber along  the  streams.  .Mrs.  Rouse  bought  eighty 
acres  of  forest  covered  land,  two  and  one-half 
miles  from  the  present  site  of  the  court-house  in 
Danville.  The  family  spent  the  winter  in  a  vacant 
log  cabin  near  by.  Before  the  close  of  the  season 
the  mother  was  taken  ill,  and  in  April,  1832,  she 
died.  After  that  sad  event  live  of  the  orphan 
children  returned  to  Ohio,  and  resided  for  the  next 
three  years  with  uncles  and  aunts,  at  the  end  of 
that  time  coming  back  to  Illinois.  Our  subject 
was  taken  into  the  family  of  his  uncle,  Dennis 
Olehy,  in  this  county,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  Here  he  remained  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  The  log  house 
in  which  he  received  his  first  schooling  was  a  most 
primitive  structure,  window  glasses  being  conspic- 
uously absent,  a  piece  of  paper,  smeared  with'grease, 
inserted  in  an  aperture  made  by  taking  out  a  piece 
of  a  log,  admitting  the  light  somewhat  dimly. 
Benches  for  seats  were  made  of  split  poles  fitted 
with  wooden  legs.  When  not  in  school  young 
Rouse  worked  with  his  nncle  on  the  farm,  improv- 
ing the  land.  He  distinctly  remembers  being  sent 
out  frequently  in  early  spring  to  drive  deer  from 
the  wheat  field.  Wild  turkeys  were  common,  so 
that  the  tables  of  our  pioneers  can  hardly  have 
lacked  for  game.  For  many  years  LaFayette, 
Ind.,  was  the  nearest  market.  A  great  deal  of 
produce  was  taken  on  flat  boats  to  New  Orleans. 
The  boats  were  built  on  the  Vermilion  River,  tloated 
down  that  stream  and  the  Wabash  to  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi.  At  nineteen  our  subject  took  a  new 
start  in  life  by  working  out  at  $7  a  month,  continu- 
ing this  for  the  next  three  years.  He  then  hired 
land  and  cultivated  for  five  years.  In  this  way  he 
acquired  means  which  enabled  him  to  obtain  a 
farm  for  himself.  He  bought'eighty  acres  of  wild 
prairie  land  in  Catlin  Township  for  $4  an  acre. 
On  this  he  built  a  frame  house,  in  which  he  lived 
with  his  family  until  188'.),  when  he  left  the  farm 
in  charge  of  his  son  Reason,  and  moved  with  the 
other  members  of  his  household  into  Danville, 
where  he  now  resides. 

On  the  30th  of  October,   1850,   took    place   the 


720 


PORTRAIT  AND  BKM  1  KAIMIICAL  ALBUM. 


marriage  of  Dennis  Rouse  and  Louisa  Olehy,  of 
Scioto  Count}-,  Ohio.  Two  children  were  the  fruit 
of  this  union — Reason  A.  and  Dennis  A.  Reason 
married  Feb.  20,  1 889,  Dolly  J.  Stewart,  and  lives 
on  the  home  farm  near  Catlin.  Mrs.  Rouse  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Ritter)  Olehy,  of 
Scioto  County,  Ohio.  A  virtuous  woman,  looking 
well  to  the  ways  of  her  household,  she  has  mater- 
ially aided  her  husband  in  the  building  of  their 
common  fortune. 

Mr.  Rouse  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  suc- 
cess in  the  prosecution  of  his  calling,  and  has  con- 
tinued to  add  at  intervals  to  his  original  purchase 
until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  1,090  acres  of  well- 
improved  farm  land,  besides  his  city  property. 
Having  begun  life  a  poor  boy  with  two  strong 
hands,  a  stout  heart,  and  little  more,  he  may  point 
to  his  possessions  with  pardonable  pride  as  the  rich 
result  of  self-denying  toil.  A  pioneer  farmer,  one 
who  has  taken  the  lead  in  reclaiming  the  wilderness, 
causing  hitherto  untitled  soil  to  laugh  with  the 
harvest,  is  a  public  benefactor.  His  estate  is  more 
honorable  than  that  of  the  lucky  speculator  in 
Wall  Street.  Laboring  not  for  selfish  ends  alone, 
he  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  has 
materially  increased  the  sum  of  the  world's  wealth. 
and  has  so  far  made  it  practjcally  a  better  world 
to  live  in. 


ERIAH  HAWORTII  resides  on  section  11, 
range  12,  Elwood  Township,  Vermilion 
County,  near  the  place  where  he  was  born, 
Sept.  1.5,  1847.  The  father  of  Beriah  was 
named  David,  who  is  now  deceased.  Our  subject 
was  educated  in  Vermilion  Grove  Seminary,  and 
has  always  followed  farming  as  his  occupation,  and 
has  lived  in  this  township  on  his  present  farm  as 
long  as  he  can  remember. 

Our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Anna  Lewis  (Oct.  30,  1879),  daughter  of  William 
Lewis  (deceased)  a  pioneer  of  Crab  Apple  Grove, 
just  across  the  line  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  but  has 
lived  mostly  in  this  county.  Three  children  have 
come  to  brighten  the  home   of  our  subject,  named 


respectively:  Carrie  M.,  born  Sept.  13,  1882;  Ho- 
mer, Oct.  12,  1884;  and    Mary.  Dec.  (!,  18H8. 

Mr.  Haworth  owns  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres 
of  good  land,  and  in  connection  with  his  agricultu- 
ral pursuits  is  engaged  in  stock-raising.  His  favor- 
ites are  the  Clydesdale  and  Morgan  horses,  Short- 
horn cattle  and  Poland-China  swine. 

Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Quaker  Church.  Mr.  Haworth, 
politically,  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket, 
but  has  carefully  refrained  from  the  cares  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  office,  preferring  to  give  his  time 
and  attention  to  his  farming  interests. 


THOMAS  PRATT.  This  gentleman  is  a  suc- 
KKll  uess^11'  farmer  and  stock-grower,  and  stands 
among  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Catlin 
Township,  lie  is  a  native-born  citizen  of  Vermil- 
ion County ;  the  most  of  his  life  has  been  passed 
within  its  limits,  and  he  is  one  of  the  many  who 
have  furthered  its  progress  in  various  directions, 
till  it  stands  in  the  foremost  rank  among  its  sister 
counties  in  this  part  of  Illinois.  He  and  his  family 
are  living  on  the  old  Sandusky  homestead,  on  sec- 
tion 3,  one  of  the  pleasantest  and  most  desirable 
estates  in  the  vicinity,  which  he  purchased  some 
years  ago,  and  has  since  greatly  increased  its  value. 
It  comprises  240  acres  of  land  of  exceeding  fer- 
tility, well  adapted  to  general  farming,  to  which 
Mr.  Pratt  devotes  it.  He  has  been  extensively  en- 
gaged in  buying  and  shipping  stock  of  all  kinds, 
and  now  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  Short-horn 
cattle.  Our  subject  owns,  besides  his  homestead, 
seventy-three  acres  of  fine  land. 

Mr.Pratt  comes  of  sturdy  Indiana  stock,  his 
father,  Jonathan  Pratt,  and  his  mother,  Nancj 
(Stevens)  Pratt,  both  being  natives  of  that  State 
the  former  being  born  in  Ripley  County,  and  the 
latter  in  Jasper  County.  They  met  and  were  mar- 
ried at  Danville,  in  this  county,  and  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  this  portion  of  the  State. 
They  began  their  wedded  life  at  Brook's  Point, 
but  subsequently  removed  from  there  into  the  Big 
Vermilion  River  district,  and    while  living  there, 


PORTRAIT  AM"   BIOORAP1IICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Pratt  enlisted  in  the  Rangers  soon  after  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  He  had  served  nearly  a  year, 
proving  to  be  a  fearless,  efficient  soldier,  when  he 
died  of  cholera,  near  Galena,  within  six  clays  of 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service.  The  mother 
afterward  married  John  McCarty,  and  removing 
to  the  vicinity  of  Westville,  spent  her  last  days 
there. 

Our  subject  was  the  youngest  of  the  two  chil- 
dren born  to  his  parents,  a  girl  and  a  boy,  and 
his  birth  took  place  Nov.  <">,  1831,  at  what  was 
then  known  as  Brook's  Point.  He  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  that  place  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Big  Vermilion  River,  and  received  as  good  school- 
ing as  was  obtainable  in  those  pioneer  days.  At 
one  time  he  was  engaged  for  a  year  in  the  butcher- 
ing business  in  Danville,  and  was  also  interested 
in  a  market  in  that  city.  He  subsequently  went 
to  Westville,  in  Georgetown  Township,  this  county, 
and  was  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain  from 
that  point  the  ensuing  five  years.  For  about  fifteen 
years  he  was  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  stock 
of  all  kinds  in  connection  with  farming.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Georgetown  Township  with  his 
family  till  the  spring  of  1880,  when  he  removed 
with  them  to  this  township,  having  purchased  the 
old  Sandusky  farm,  as  before  mentioned.  He  has 
his  land  under  admirable  tillage,  has  a  good  class 
of  neat  and  conveniently  arranged  buildings,  and 
a  home  replete  with  all  the  comforts  that  add  so 
largely  to  the  enjoyment  of  life. 

Mr.  Pratt  was  first  married  at  Brook's  Point, 
Feb.  20,  1851,  to  Miss  Nancy  Scott,  who  was  bom 
in  that  plate  Jan.  23,  182U.  There  her  life  was 
brought  to  a  peaceful  close  ere  it  had  fairly  reached 
its  meridian,  and  she  fell  into  that  sleep  that  knows 
n<i  waking,  Dec.  5,  1 M70.  Light  children  were 
born  of  her  marriage  with  our  subject,  as  follows: 
Laura,  wife  of  J.  B.  Clayton;  Jonathan,  who  mar- 
ried Agnes  Cherington;  Margaret,  the  wife  of 
Wesley  Thompson;  Vista,  the  wife  of  M.  I).  Hut- 
sonpillar;  Henry  C;  Mary  E„  the  wife  of  Clay 
Sandusky;  Charles  II.;  and  Lewis.  May  20,  1871, 
Mr.  Pratt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
E.  Clayton,  his  present  wife.  She  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  C.  and  Esther  (Sny- 
der) Clayton,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  the 


latter  of  Ohio.  They  came  to  Vermilion  County 
from  Ohio  in  1854,  "hen  Mrs.  Pratt  was  a  child  of 
nine  years,  and  t  hey  spent  their  last  years  in  <  George- 
town Township.  They  had  nine  children,  six 
daughters  and  three  sons.  Mary  E.  being  the  sev- 
enth in  order  of  birth.  She  was  born  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  Aug.  19,  1845.  Her  union  with  our 
subject  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of 
two  children,  Esther  N.  and  Thomas  C. 

Mr.  Pratt  is  a  man  of  strong,  decisive  character, 
lias  a  well-balanced  mind,  and  is  quite  capable  of 
thinking  and  acting  for  himself,  and  especially  is 
this  true  in  regard  to  his  political  convictions,  and 
he  is  a  firm  advocate  of  the  Democrat  policy  in  the 
management  of  national  affairs.  He  bears  an  un- 
sullied reputation,  and  is  considered  in  every  way 
a  desirable  acquisition  to  the  citizenship  of  this 
community. 


+41*+ 


1SS  SARAH  WEBSTER  is  the  daughter  of 

Reuben  ami  Elizabeth  (White)  Webster, 
natives  of  Indiana  and  Ohio  respectively; 
they  eloped  and  were  married  in  the  former 
State  and  after  a  short  stay  returned  home  and 
were  forgiven.  The  father  farmed  in  (ireene 
County,  Ohio,  for  some  time,  when  he  went  to 
visit  a  brother  in  Indiana,  where  he  suddenly  died 
attheageof  about  fifty-six;  he  was  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  faith  he  died.  The 
mother  is  still  living  in  Da)  ton,  Ohio;  she  is  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  father  agreed  with  the  rest  of  the  celebrated 
Webster  family  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and 
was  in  polities  a  strong  anti-slavery  man,  a  Whig 
and  a  Republican.  Seven  children  resulted  from  the 
union  of  the  elder  Webster  and  wife,  named  as  fol- 
lows: Nancy  A.,  Sarah,  our  subject,  John,  Minerva, 
Adelaide;  Matilda  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen; 
and  George,  who  died,  when  seven  years  old. 
Nancy  married  Mr.  Kthan  Cross,  in  (ireene  County, 
Ohio.  They  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Ver- 
milion County,  Sidell  Township,  where  Mrs.  Cross 
died  anil  was  soon  followed  by  her  husband;  they 
had  six  children.  John  enlisted  in  the  army  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three,  and  was  killed  in  the  first  act 


728 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


ive  engagement  in  which  he  participated;  Minerva 
became  the  wife  of  William  Mullen  and  resides  in 
Sidell  Township  on  a  farm;  Adelaide  is  at  home  in 
Dayton,  Ohio. 

The  families  of  the  JSidells'  and  the  Websters'  had 
lived  neighbors  in  Ohio  for  some  time,  and  a  strong 
affection  grew  up  between  the  two  mistresses.  Mrs. 
Sidell  having  no  girls,  onr  subject  then  a  child  of 
eight  years,  was  by  mutual  consent  adopted  into 
the  Sidell  family,  and  was  a  lady  of  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  when  John  Sidell,  the  cattle  king  of 
Illinois,  removed  to  the  township  which  later  bore 
his  name.  Mrs.  Sidell  died  in  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Sidell 
was  a  second  time  married,  his  wife  dying  a  few 
years  after  coming  to  this  State,  leaving  three 
children.  Our  subject  continued  to  be  the  mistress 
of  the  Sidell  mansion  until  the  death  of  the  owner, 
which  occurred  in  Jan.  1889.  She  has,  therefore, 
been  almost  a  mother  to  the  children  by  the  second 
marriage. 

Miss  Webster  is  very  prominent  in  the  religious 
and  social  circles  of  Sidell,  being  President  of  the 
Ladies  Aid  Society  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  She  is  also  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday-school 
of  Sidell. 

GlEORGE  W.  SMITH,  one  of  the  worthy 
^  and  representative  citizens  of  Elwood  Town- 
__J  ship  is  residing  on  section  18.  He  is  a 
native  of  "Washington  County,  East  Tenn.,  where 
he  was  born,  Sept.  27.  181!).  His  father,  Jesse 
Smith,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  having  been  born 
near  Winchester  in  1794.  He  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  a  tanner  and  farmer  and  migrated  to 
Tennessee  when  a  boy.  Thence  he  came  in  18.">2 
to  this  county  and  settled  on  section  18  which  af- 
terward became  the  property  of  our  subject.  Upon 
his  settling  here  the  land  was  in  its  primitive  con- 
dition;  Indians  were  numerous;  deer,  turkeys  and 
thousands  of  prairie  chickens  could  be  had  for  the 
shooting.  Mr.  Smith's  entry  of  land  consisted  of 
160  acres  and  which  was  subsequently  added  to  by 
the  purchase  of  many  more  acres.  The  mother  of 
our  subject,  whose  maiden    name  was  Mary  Carri- 


ger,  was  the  daughter  of  Michael  Carriger,  now  de- 
ceased. She  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  William,  John, 
Isaac,  and  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Baum. 

Our  subject  received  a  limited  education  in  the 
subscription  school  held  in  a  log  cabin  with  its  slab 
scats,  wall  desks,  etc.  This  early  training  was  sup- 
plemented by  attendance  at  the  schools  in  George- 
town, and  Vermilion  Grove  which  education  fitted 
him  the  better  for  coping  with  life's  difficulties 
when  he  should  launch  out  for  himself.  Our  sub- 
ject chose  farming  and  stock  raising  for  his  occu- 
pation and  has  had  no  reason  to  regret  his  choice. 
In  those  early  days  there  were  no  steam  cars  rush- 
ing over  the  country  and  emigrants  came  in  wagons 
bringing  their  few  household  effects  along  with 
them.  In  order  to  find  a  market  for  their  stock 
they  had  to  drive  them  to  Wisconsin.  Pork  sold 
for  $1.50  per  hundred  and  ^ood  cows  for  $10. 
They  also  hauled  produce  to  Chicago  and  our  sub- 
ject often  drove  a  team  to  and  from  that  now 
great  city,  and  on  the  return  trip  loaded  his  wagon 
with  salt.  Upon  his  first  trip  to  Chicago,  that  city- 
was  about  the  size  of  Ridge  Farm  at  the  present 
time.  (1889.) 

On  the  luth  day  of  January,  1352,  our  subject 
took  a  very  important  step  in  his  life,  namely  his 
marriage  to  Elizabeth  Hester.  Mrs.  Smith's  father, 
John  Hester,  was  a  pioneer  of  Tazewell  County, 
this  State.  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  that  county  and 
by  her  union  with  our  subject  has  become  the 
mother  of  six  children,  who  bear  the  names  of  Mary 
J.,  Francis  P.,  Amanda,  Isaac,  Perry  and  Delia. 
Mrs.  Smith  passed  from  earth  Feb.  1,  1888.  Both 
our  subject  and  his  wife  have  for  many  jears  been 
active  and  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Ridge  Farm. 

Mr.  Smith  holds  a  leading  position  among  the 
citizens  of  his  township  and  is  one  of  its  represent- 
ative farmers,  owning  1.236  acres  of  land.  This 
he  has  divided  among  his  children,  reserving  eighty 
acres  for  himself.  During  the  early  settlement  of 
the  county,  our  subject  sold  a  cow  to  George  Geb- 
hart  for  $9  and  took  his  pay  in  rail  making  at 
forty  cents  per  100.  Soon  after  the  State  road  was 
laid  out,  our  subject,  his  father  and  brother  secured 
six  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  team  of  horses  and  plowed 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


729 


the  furrows  in  order  bo  locatea  track  from  Elwood 
t<>  Chrisman.  This  undertaking  required  all  day 
and  they  received  from  Amos  Williams,  the  con- 
tractor, 15.  The  many  friends  of  Mr.  Smith  rec- 
ognize in  him  such  character  and  personal  worth  as 
entitles  him  to  a  position  among  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  the  count  v. 


AMES  F.  HILL.  M.  1).,  followed  his  pro- 
fession in  Indianola  for  twenty-one  years, 
but  retired  from  its  active  pursuits  several 
years  ago  and  now  lives  in  the  quiel  enjoy- 
ment of  his  modest  income  at  his  comfortable  home 
in  the  above  named  city.  He  is  a  native  of  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Hull,  who 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  that  county  from  the 
East,  while  in  his  early  childhood.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  reared  in  Ross  County,  where  he 
received  a  good  common-school  education,  and 
after  leaving  school  was  apprenticed  to  a  brick- 
mason.  Upon  completing  his  term  of  apprentice- 
ship to  that  trade,  he  returned  to  his  favorite  oc- 
cupation of  fanning,  which  he  followed  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  varied  with  work  at  his  trade, 
which  was  confined  principally  to  building  brick 
chimneys.  When  t lie  United  States  came  to  blows 
with  Great  Britian  in  1812,  he  enlisted  in  his  coun- 
try's service  and  returned  blow  for  blow,  doing 
good  service  till  the  haughty  British  finally  aban- 
doned the  attempt  to  re-conquer  the  vigorous 
young  Republic,  which  the  Revolutionary  heroes 
had  established  on  the  soil  of  America.  lie  de- 
parted this  life  at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  in  Cov- 
ington. Ind,  whithar  he  had  removed  in  the  fall  of 
L829. 

The  mother  of  Dr.  Hull  was  Margaret  Long,  a 
native  of  Pick  Count}',  Ohio;  she  was  born 
near  Circleville,  and  passed  her  youth  in  that 
county,  which  was  also  the  place  of  her  marriage 
and  residence  during  the  early  years  of  her  wed- 
ded life.  She  died  when  our  subject  was  but 
twelve  years  old  leaving  him  and  a  younger 
brother  and  sister  to  the  care   of  their  father,  who 


married  a  second  time  and  became  the  parent  of 
two  more  children.  Following  the  loss  of  the 
second  wife  the  father  was  again  married. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  May  31, 
1821. and  when  eight  years  of  age  removed  in  the 
care  of  his  parents  to  Covington.  Ind.,  where  the 
father  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  Gov- 
ernment and  began  fanning.  His  early  life  was 
passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  a  farmer's  boy  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen  years  when  he  was 
apprenticed  to  learn  the  tanners  and  curriers' 
trade,  which  occupation  lie  followed  some  six  or 
seven  years  [during  which  time  he  was  married, 
Nov.  1,  1813,  to  Miss  Gemima  Baum,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Hull  removed  to  Foun- 
tain County,  Ind.,  when  she  was  only  one  year  old, 
and  that  remained  her  home  until  her  marriage  as 
above  stated  in  Covington,  Ind.  to  Dr.  Hull. 

The  first  records  of  the  family  of  Mrs.  Hull  are 
found  in  Pennsylvania,  where,  her  mother's  father 
figured  as  a  German  Baptist  or  Dunkard  preacher. 
He  was  a  good  German  scholar  but  never  learned 
to  either  speak  or  write  the  English  language. 
Her  paternal  grandfather  and  mother  were  also 
German  scholars  and  confined  their  reading  and 
nearly  all  their  conversation  to  that  language.  Her 
father,  Jonas  Baum  served  honorably  throughout 
the  War  of  1812. 

Dr.  Hull  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  Weldon,  of  Covington,  continuing 
there  some  three  or  four  years  when  he  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  near  Paxton,  Ford  Co.,  111., 
where  he  purchased  a  piece  of  land.  He  remained 
there  about  three  years  then  removed  to  Iliggins- 
ville,  Vermilion  County,  in  1859,  when  after  a 
short  stay  in  that  place  he  moved  to  Marysville, 
where  he  followed  his  profession  until  he  finally 
Located  in  Dallas  now  Indianola,  in  1869. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hull  have  had  eight  children,  five 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  They  are  named  res- 
pectively: Francis  ML,  Kissy  B.,  William  W.,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Martha  A.;  .lames  M.  died  an 
infant;  John  0.  Freemont;  Emma  S.  died  when 
four  years  old;  and  Edwin  M. 

Dr.  Hull  has  had  an  extensive  practice  in  his 
profession,  as  large,  perhaps,  as  any  physician  in 
Indianola,  and  was  at  oue    time   quite  wealthy  not- 


730 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


withstanding  his  generous  liberality,  but  his  kind- 
ness was  cruelly  taken  advantage  of  by  a  man 
engaged  in  the  business  of  buying  horses  for  the 
western  trade.  This  man  persuaded  Dr.  Hull  to 
endorse  his  notes,  but  after  securing  the  horses  by 
means  of  the  security  furnished  by  them,  decamped 
taking  the  animals  but  leaving  the  debts,  which,  of 
course,  were  collected  off  the  unfortunate  doctor 
and  caused  him  the  loss  of  several  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  lived  in  retire- 
ment for  the  last  four  or  live  years,  advancing  age 
and  delicate  health  compelling  him  to  relinquish  the 
calls  made  upon  hiin  except  those  whose  urgency 
would  not  admit  of  refusal.  He  and  his  excellent. 
wife  are  consistent  Christians  and  liberal  contribu- 
tors to  every  good  work  and  are  worthy  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  The  Doctor  is  a  Mason  on 
holding  his  membership  in  the  Vermilion  Lodge 
No.  265. 

The  pecuniary  interests  of  Dr.  Hull  have  all  been 
centered  at  Indianola.  He  was  one  of  the  ineorpor- 
ters  of  the  village  and  has  served  on  the  Village 
Board  a  position  which  afforded  him  the  opportu- 
nity of  advancing  the  interests  of  his  constituents, 
lie  was  an  old  line  Whig,  but  at  the  disruption  of 
parties  consequent  upon  the  agitation  of  the  slavery 
question,  and  the  formation  of  new  ones  based 
upon  that  issue.  He  cast  his  lot  with  the  Republi- 
cans, voting  for  John  C.  Fremont,  after  whom  he 
named  his  son — .1.  C.  Fremont  Hull. 


*-# 


-5~ 


^r^FORCE  W.  ANKRUM  who  was  born  Oct. 
(((,—,  19,  1826,  in  Berkeley  County,  Va.,  was 
V^^4I  raised  at  Ridge  Farm  where  he  lived  with 
his  father,  who  was  a  weaver,  his  mother  and  nine 
brothers,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Anthony 
L..  John,  Elwood,  David,  Wesley  and  Harrison; 
one  of  these  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  and 
Asa  who  came  to  this  county  in  1837  settling  in 
this  township,  near  Yankee  Point,  died  at  the  age 
of  forty -seven. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  primary  edu- 
cation in  a  log  cabin  with  puncheon  floor,  greased 


paper  window  panes,  clapboard  roof,  and  split-log 
seats.  When  still  a  boy  he  learned  the  weaver's 
trade  at  which  he  was  very  apt  and  soon  became 
proficient  in  weaving  double  coverlets,  carpets, 
woolen  and  cotton  goods.  He  followed  this  trade 
until  his  health  began  to  fail  and  then  became  a 
farmer.  He  plowed  with  the  old  fashioned  plow, 
with  wooden  moldboard  and  had  to  carry  a  paddle 
with  him  to  clean  off  the  plow  every  few  minutes. 

Oct.  4,  1800,  Mr.  Ankrum  married  Sarah  Canada, 
a  daughter  of  Frederick  Canada,  a  pioneer  of  this 
township.  They  became  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren. Thej' were  named  as  follows;  Donnie  E., 
Harrison  !>.,  Lilly  A.,  and  Frederick  B.  Donnie 
was  married  to  James  L.  Bell  of  this  township  anil 
had  one  child,  Georgia.  Lilly  married  John  II. 
Davis  of  the  Ridge  and  has  no  children. 

He,  of  whom  we  write  never  sought  official 
honors,  but  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  at  the 
Kidge  where  he  had  a  fine  residence  and  250  acres 
of  land. 


I,  ERRICK  PATTON,  late  of  section  29  El- 
wood Township  and  now  deceased,  first 
saw  the  light  near  Zanesville,  Ohio,  having 
been  born  March  27,  1830.  His  parents 
dying  when  he  was  quite  small  he  accompanied  his 
older  brothers  and  sisters  to  Hamilton  County, 
Ind.,  to  which  they  removed.  His  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  primitive  school  house  so  many  times 
described  in  this  volume,  with  its  puncheon  floor, 
clapboard  roof  and  split-log  seats.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  many  disadvantages  which  he  labored  under, 
our  subject  acquired  a  fair  education  and  later 
turned  his  attention  to  agriculture,  in  which  occu- 
pation he  was  successfully  engaged  until  his  death. 
The  subject  of  this  biography  was  married  July 
11.  l«.r)L',  to  Miss  Priscilla  Mendenhall.  daughter  of 
James  Mendenhall,  deceased.  This  congenial  union 
has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living.  They  were  named  respect- 
ively: Mahlon  R.,  .Mary  J.  (Mrs.  Lancaster),  Davis 
R.,  Lilla  E.  and  Ira  E.  Mr.  Patton,  of  this  sketch. 
passed  from  life  Feb.  15,  1870.  He  was  a  devoted 
and  consistent  member  of   the  Society  of  Friends, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


r  31 


of  which  Society  Lis  family  wore  also  members. 
Our  subject  lived  in  such  a  manner  as  to  command 
the  respect  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  and  now  that 
he  has  gone, will  always  lie  remembered  as  an  acth  e 
and  useful  member  of  the  community. 


-*>-*■> 


&&&&f&^ 


0~  HARLES  A.WRIGHT  is  a  young  man  of 
great  promise,  universally  esteemed  for  his 
many   sterling  .qualities,  prominent  among 

which  are  courtesy,  good  judgment,  ability  and  his 
exhibition  of  public  spirit.  He  came  from  a  most 
excellent  family,  his  father  being  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Sidell  Township.  lie  has  been  par- 
ticularly active  in  furthering  the  advancement  of 
his  stirring  little  village,  and  his  name  will  go 
down  in  its  history  as  one  of  its  earliest  and  most 
enterprising  journalists. 

Mr.  Wright  is  also  a  young  man  of  considerable 
means,  owning  a  large  farm,  printing  office  and 
Other  property.  He  may  well  look  forward  to  a 
promising  future.  If  Sidell  ever  becomes  a  large 
town,  its  growth  may  be  attributed  in  a  large  meas- 
ure to  the  enterprise  and  public  spirit  of  Mr. Wright. 
The  Sidell  Journal  was  established  May  1,  by 
James  E.  Whipple,  of  Cayuga,  Ind.,  who  sold  the 
plant,  after  operating  it  fourteen  weeks,  to  Mr. 
Wright,  who  took  charge  of  it  August  1,  of  that 
year.  It  was  an  eight-page  folio,  bright,  newsy 
and  well  printed,  and  was  one  of  the  chief  instru- 
ments in  the  growth  of  the  town.  Mr.  Wright 
leased  his  office  building  and  presses  to  T.  M.  Mor- 
gan, who  is  now  publishing  the  Sidell  Wayside. 

Mr.  Wright  is  the  son  of  Silas  Wright,  who 
came  to  Vermilion  County  in  1846,  and  who  was  a 
resident  here  for  more  than  forty  years.  lie  died 
on  the  6th  day  of  May,  1886,  his  wife  following 
him  to  the  grave  five  weeks  later.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  children:  William  IL,  Charles  A., 
Ella  M., Mabel,  and  George  A.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years.  William  is  a  farmer  in  Sidell 
Township;  Ella  M.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Church, 
a  miller  of  the  same  place;  Mabel  resides  at  home 
with  her  brother  William.  Charles,  of  whom  this 
is  written,  was  born  April  15,  1860,  in    this    town- 


ship, on  the  old  Wright  homestead,  where  his  early 
life  was  passed,  lie  attended  the  public  schools  of 
this  county,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  lie  en- 
tered the  Norma]  School  at  Danville,  where  he 
continued  his  studies  until  his  duties  called  him 
home  to  labor  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  inher- 
ited after  the  decease  of  his  parents.  In  [887  he 
went,  to  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  where  he  purchased  :i 
car-load  of  Texas  ponies,  and  shipped  them  to 
Sidell,  and  there  sold  them.  He  has  also  dealt  ex- 
tensively in  mules,  purchased  at  St.  Louis  and 
shipped  north.  On  Dec.  12,  1888,  he  was  appointed 
postal  clerk  on  the  route  from  Chicago  to  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  and  in  -March.  1889,  he  resigned  this 
position.  He  is  an  advocate  of  temperance,  hav- 
ing been  a  charter  member  of  the  Good  Templars' 
Lodge  at  Sidell. 

Although  young  in  years,  Mr.  Wright  hasalarge 
knowledge  of  the  world,  and  is  therefore  well  fitted 
to  fill  any  position  to  which  lie  may  aspire,  lie  is 
an  enthusiastic  Democrat,  and  will  employ  all  hon- 
orable means  for  the  success  of  his  parly,  while 
he  and  his  newspaperare  potent  factors  in  the  Demo- 
cratic cause. 

J)EV.  DAVID  COAKE,  farmer  and  preacher 
of  the  gospel,  a  resident  of  Danville  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Carter  County,  Ky.,  Oct. 
j)  6,  1848.  His  great-grandfather,  of  thesame 
Dame,  came  to  America  with  his  family  in  colonial 
times,  and  fought  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
He  settled  in  Scott  County,  W.Va.,  and  there  spent 
his  last  years.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
three  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  country  He  was  reared  in  Scott  County. 
After  his  marriage  to  Rebecca  Flannery,  a  native 
of  Seott  County,  he  removed  to  Lee  County,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  till  his  death.  His  son. 
Henry  ,1.  Coake,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
that  county,  Aug.  18,  1818.  At  twenty  years  of 
age.  his  father  being  dead,  the  young  man  went  with 
his  mother  to  Kentucky.  He  there  married  Lienor 
Rowe,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Lienor  (Littleton) 
Rowe,  of  Carter  County.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coake  re- 


l:\-l 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sided  in  that  county  till  1863,  when  they  came  to 
Illinois,  and  purchased  the  farm  that  he  and  his 
son  now  occupy,  which  is  beautifully  located  on 
section  10,  Danville  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  present  sketch  was  in  his  fif- 
teenth year,  when  he  accompanied  his  father  and 
mother  to  this  place,  lie  married  in  1875  Miss 
Ann  Willim,  a  natiVeof  Carter  County.  Ky., daugh- 
ter of  Edward  and  Clara  C.  (Duncan)  Willim. 
Of  their  happy  wedded  life  one  child  has  been 
horn,  Bertha.  David  Coake  united  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  be- 
gan preaching  at  thirty-six.  Bred  to  agriculture, 
a  lover  of  the  country  and  its  peaceful  pursuits, 
Mr.  Coake.  in  taking  up  the  clerical  profession,  did 
not  abandon  the  plough,  and  has  not  ceased  sowing 
seed  in  material  soil  since  he  began  the  culture  of 
spiritual  fields.  No  doubt,  in  practice  the  blending 
of  the  two  vocations  is  a  benefit  to  both.  Sharing 
on  the  week  day,  the  labors  of  the  people,  yet  not 
engrossed  by  them,  partaking  of  their  joys  and 
anxieties,  yet  not  bound  up  in  worldly  cares,  he  is 
better  fitted  to  give  counsel  to  the  erring,  advice 
to  the  inquiring,  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  weak 
and  stumbling,  and  to  speak  of  heavenly  things 
to  those  who  are  bidding  farewell  to  things  of 
earth. 


.«.;.»-. 


eHAULKS  CHURCH,  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Rice  &  Church,  general  stock  buyers 
and  shippers  of  Sidell,  is  also  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Sidell  Star  Feed  Mills.  He  was  born  in 
Catlin  Township  and  reared  there.  His  father, 
William  A.  Church,  is  one  of  the  substantial  farm- 
ers of  this  township,  and  is  a  native  of  this  county. 
The  grandfather,  Alexander  Church,  is  still  living, 
is  in  his  eighty-seventh  year  and  was  one  of  the 
first  pioneers  of  this  county,  where  he  came  in 
1821,  from  Virginia.  Our  subject's  mother  is 
Hester  (Douglas)  Church,  a  member  of  the  Douglas 
family  from  which  the  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas 
came.  Alexander  Church  and  wife  are  the  parents 
of  five  children,  namely:  Sarah  1).,  William  .1.. 
Annie  L.,  Thomas  W.  and  Charles  S.  Sarah  is  the 
wife  of  J.  Acree  of  Danville;   William    is   farming 


in   Catlin  Township;  Annie   L.  married    L.  Bushy, 

who  also  farms  in  Catlin  Township;  Thomas  W. 
lives  at  home  with  his  parents. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  Feb.  9.  1864. 
lie  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  at 
Danville.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  our  subject 
met  and  married  his  wife,  Miss  Ella  Wright,  lie 
came  to  Sidell  Nov.  8.  1888  and  bought  village 
property  and  the  feed  mill  the  same  fall.  He  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  W.  J.  Rice  and 
they  are  now  shipping  hogs  to  Chicago  and 
Indianapolis. 

Our  subject  owns  a  fine  farm  of  100  acres  north 
of  Sidell,  and  has  placed  tenants  on  it.  Mr.  Church, 
in  his  political  sentiments,  is  firmly  established 
upon  the  Republican  foundation,  and  is  a  young 
man  of  character,  ability  and  enterprise. 


ON.  DAVID  D.  EVANS,  Judge  of  the 
County  Court  of  Vermilion  County,  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of 
Wv  Central  Illinois.  A  close  student  and  an 
extensive  reader,  he  is  not  only  well  versed  in  the 
duties  of  his  profession,  but  in  all  respects  is  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  capacities.  Not  alone 
has  he  distinguished  himself  at  the  bar,  but  in  his 
private  life  and  as  a  citizen  possesses  those  traits 
of  character  which  form  the  basis  of  all  good  so- 
ciety. In  politics  lie  is  a  sound  Republican,  and 
has  had  a  sensible  influence  amid  the  councils  of 
his  party  in  Illinois,  serving  in  various  positions 
of  trust  and  responsibility.  In  1870  he  was  a  del- 
egate to  the  National  Republican  Convention  that 
met  at  Cincinnati. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near  Ebens- 
burg,  Cambria  Co.,  Pa..  April  29,  1829.  His 
grandfather  on  his  father's  side  was  a  freeholder 
in  the  north  of  Wales.  Having  a  large  family  and 
his  land  being  subject  to  the  English  law  of  entail- 
ment, lie  concluded  to  sell  his  life  estate  to  his  old- 
est son  and  move  to  America,  to  give  his  other 
children  a  chance  for  fame  and  fortune  in  a  free 
country.  Ik  settled  in  Pennsylvania  about  the 
year  1780,  but  soon   thereafter  died,  leaving  only 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


733 


Mil  example  of  industry  and  energy,  as  an  inherit- 
ance to  liis  family.  David  Evans,  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  learned  the  tradeof  a  stone 
mason  and  followed  that  business  as  a  workman 
and  contractor  until  about  the  year  1810,  when  he 
married  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Ebensburg,  I'm. 
He  followed  the  business  of  a  fanner  and  contractor 
the  balance  of  his  life,  and  died  in  Ebensburg,  Dec. 
19,  1859. 

Thirteen  children  were  born  to  David  Evans, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Seven  are  still  liv- 
ing. His  wife,  Anna,  was  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Wees  Lloyd.  Mr.  Lloyd  came  from  Wales  about 
the  year  177'.»,  and  was  a  fellow  emigrant  with  the 
father  of  ex-Gov.  Bibb.  The  latter  went  to  Ohio. 
but  Mr.  Lloyd  settled  in  the  woods  where  now 
stands  the  quaint  old  town  of  Ebensburg,  Pa. 
There  he  chopped  out  a  farm,  fought  the  wolf  from 
the  door,  preached  the  Gospel  and  raised  his  fam- 
ily. Soon  after  settling  in  these  then  western  wilds 
he  procured  the  organization  of  a  new  county,  and 
caused  it  to  be  called  Cambria,  in  honor  of  the  an- 
cient, name  of  Wales.  He  also  donated  fifty  acres 
of  his  farm  and  laid  out  a  town,  which  he  called 
Ebensburg  in  honor  of  a  deceased  son,  named 
Ebeu  or  Ebenezer,  and  procured  its  selection  as  the 
county  seat  of  the  county. 

In  his  old  age  Mr.  Lloyd  again  became  smitten 
with  the  spirit  of  emigration  and  the  western  fe- 
ver, and  started  for  the  village  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Finding  it  only  a  few  log  huts  among  the  hills,  and 
not  liking  its  scenery,  nor  foreseeing  its  future,  he 
pushed  on  to  the  southern  part  of  Butler  County, 
that  State,  where  he  again  met  his  friend  and  fel- 
low emigrant,  Mr.  Bibb.  Here,  with  a  part  of  his 
family,  on  the  rich  bottoms  of  Paddy's  Run,  near 
the  village  of  New  London,  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  days,  dying  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  about 
ninety  years. 

Mr.  Evans,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  with  the  exception  of  one  summer,  when 
he  was  employed  in  a  blacksmith  shop  with  a  broth- 
er-in-law.  His  early  education  and  advantages 
were  extremely  limited.  He  was  a  stranger  to  the 
inside  of  a  school  house  until  in  his  tenth  year. 
For  a  few  years  thereafter  he   attended  a    country 


district  school  for  about  two  months  each  winter. 
Commencing  in  his  twenty-fourth  year,  he  attend- 
ed several  terms  of  theEcleCtic  Institute  at  Hiram. 
Ohio,  paying  his  way  without  assistance  from  any 
source,  teaching  school  in  the  winter  and  working 
in  the  harvest  field  during  the  summer  vacations. 
One  of  his  fellow  students  at  the  Eclectic  Institute 
was  the  late  1'res.  Garfield.  Upon  leaving  Hiram, 
Mr.  Evans  went  to  Southern  Ohio,  where  he  taught 
school  one  term  at  West  Elkton,  Preble  County 
and  for  live  years  and  six  months  in  one  house  at 
Miltonville,  Butler  County.  While  teaching  he 
commenced  reading  law,  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment, of  the  University  of  Michigan  in  I860,  and 
was  graduated  with  his  class  in  1863. 

While  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  the  gov- 
ernment had  the  support  and  warmest  sympathy 
of  Mr.  Evans,  his  military  service  was  of  but  little 
material  assistance.  Soon  after  going  to  the  field 
he  was  attacked  with  a  malignant  type  of  typhoid 
fever  which  unfitted  him  for  duty,  and  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  in  the  fall  of  1864.  After  his 
recovery  he  repaired  to  Danville,  111.,  taught  school 
for  a  few  terms,  and  in  18G5-6G  he  was  editor  and 
part  proprietor  of  the  Danville  Plaindealer.  He 
commenced  the  active  practice  of  law  in  the  fall 
of  1866,  and  continued  successfully  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1882.  He  then  became  a  candidate  for  the 
Republican  nomination  for  the  office  of  County 
Judge.  After  a  close  and  somewhat  acrimonious 
contest,  lie  succeeded  against  a  very  popular  oppo- 
nent, and  was  elected  without  opposition  by  the 
Democrats.  He  found  the  affairs  of  the  office  in 
exceedingly  bad  condition,  straightened  them  out. 
and  revolutionized  the  heretofore  loose  practice  of 
the  court.  At,  the  end  of  the  term  he  was  renom- 
inated without  much  opposition,  and  was  re-elected 
over  m  slroiii,''  Democratic  opponent  by  the  largest 
majority  of  any  Republican  on  the  ticket.  Hestill 
keeps  up  the  business  and  the  vigorous  practice  of 
the  court.  He  is  in  excellent  health,  ami  good  for 
twenty  years  more  of  active  life. 

Judge  Evans  was  married  to  Mrs.  Edwilda  A. 
Sconce,  Oct.  0,  1807.  To  them  three  children  have 
been  born,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Lloyd  Cromwell, 
died  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  age.  The  second 
child,  Ruth  Edwilda,  died  in  infancy.   WaldoCarl, 


JU 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  youngest,  remains  to  his  parents,  and  is  now 
(1889)  in  his  thirteenth  year.  Mrs.  Evans  was  born 
in  Berkeley  County.  W.  Va.,  July  31.  L838,  ami 
is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Edward  and  Rebecca  Bruce 
(Lemon)  Cromwell.  Mrs.  Cromwell  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  Lemon,  who  came  from  Berkeley 
County,  W.  Va.,  to  Danville  at  an  early  day.  Dr. 
Cromwell  practiced  in  Kentucky,  and  died  while 
Mrs.  Evans  was  an  infant.  Mrs.  Cromwell  like- 
wise passed  from  eartli  many  years  ago.  Their 
daughter,  Edwilda  A.  Cromwell,  was  first  married 
to  George  Fithian,  a  son  of  Dr.  William  Fithian, 
who  is  still  living,  and  over  ninety  years  old.  Of 
this  union  there  was  born  one  child,  Will  E.  Fith- 
ian, now  of  San  Antonio,  Texas*  Mrs.  Fithian 
was  married  the  second  time  to  Lafayette  II. 
Sconce,  of  Danville,  who  only  lived  a  short  time 
after  his  marriage. 

.Mr.  Evans  is  a  member  of  Olive  Branch  Lodge, 
No.  45,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Vermilion  Chapter,  No. 
82,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of  Athelstan  Commandery,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  Damascus  Lodge  K.  of  P. 


'    C.  FREEMAN    will  be  remembered  as  the 
polite  and  efficient  gentleman  who  for  fif- 


teen years  has  served  the  city  of  Danville 
as  its  City  Clerk.  Forced  to  resign  that 
position,  which  he  had  creditably  held  for  the  last 
fifteen  years,  on  account  of  being  troubled  with 
heart  disease,  he  refused  to  again  become  a  candi- 
date for  the  otlice.  He  was  born  Aug.  7,  1832, 
at  Beallsville,  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  eight  miles 
from  Blaine's  birthplace.  His  father.  Lewis  Free- 
man, was  a  very  prosperous  merchant,  who  died 
at  the  early  age  of  thirty-five  years.  The  subject 
of  our  sketch  attended  the  common  school  until 
the  age  of  fourteen,  when  he  began  to  clerk 
at  different  points  in  the  county  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Edgar 
County,  this  State,  and  worked  on  a  farm  until 
1861.  He  was  subject  to  asthma,  but  the  Western 
country  agreed  with  him  and  in  a  great  measure 
he  regained  his  health. 

Miss   Jennie   R.  Newkiik.  who    became    the  wife 


of  our  subject  in  1850.  was  the  daughter  of  George 
and  Maria  Newkirk,  of  Washington  County,  Pa. 
She  came  of  a  family  distinguished  for  their  hon- 
esty and  patriotism.  In  1859,  the  year  of  their 
marriage,  she  came  to  Illinois  with  her  husband. 
In  1861  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freeman  came  to  Fair  mount, 
Vermilion  Count}-,  where  Mr.  Freeman  became 
Station  Agent  and  Postmaster.  In  1807  lie  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  station  at  State  Line,  Ind., 
aKo  on  the  Wabash,  and  continued  in  the  employ 
of  the  Wabash  until  1872.  In  1874  he  was  elected 
City  Clerk,  which  position  he  held  for  fifteen  years. 
His  first  wife  lived  about  two  years  and  left  two 
children:  Charles  A.,  an  infant  who  died  a  fjw 
days  after  the  mother,  and  Ella  Nora,  now  living. 
Mr.  Freeman  was  married  a  second  time  in  1864, 
to  Miss  Mary  W.  Dustin,  born  in  Enfield,  N.  II., 
and  daughter  of  Sylvester  and  Marilla  (Wells) 
I  iiistin.  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Harry  L.. 
Fred  I)..  Albert  1).,  Nettie  J.  and  Edmund  <; 

Mr.  Freeman's  life  and  position  in  connection 
with  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company,  as  well  as 
with  the  city  of  Danville,  has  implied  a  great  deal 
of  responsibility  as  the  custodian  of  thousands  of 
dollars,  both  for  the  Wabash  and  the  city.  Mr. 
Freeman  has  been  a  Mason  since  1854  and  became 
a  Knight  Templar  in  18«2.  He  is  a  member  of 
Athelstan  Commandery  of  Danville,  No.  45.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  Frank- 
lin Lodge,  No.  409.  A  very  decided  Republican, 
lie  with  his  son  are  the  only  members  of  the  family 
belonging  to  that  part}'.  Since  his  retirement  from 
office  he  has  led  a  quiet  and  retired  life  at  his  home 
in  Danville. 


JONATHAN  LARRANCE,  late  a  resident  of 
I  section  35.  Elwood  Township,  is  a  native  of 
]  this  county,  having  spent  his  entire  life  in 
^'  the  township  where  he  first  saw  the  light. 
Jan.  7.  1834.  The  parents  of  our  subject.  John 
and  Ruth  Larrance,  emigrated  to  this  county  from 
Last  Tennessee  in  the  fall  of  1827  and  immediately 
set  about  establishing  for  themselvesa  comfortable 
home,  which  they  succeeded  admirably  in  doing. 
The  subject  of    this   biography  conned   his  Mist 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


735 


lessons  in  Vermilion  Seminary,  now  Vermilion 
Academy,  which  was  quite  an  improvement  over 
the  primitive  log  cabin  in  which  the  most  of  the 
youth  of  those  days  were  obliged  to  gel  an  educa- 
tion. Mr.  Larrance,  however,  upon  launching  out 
in  life  on  his  own  account,  chose  farming  for  his 
vocation  and  had  no  cause  for  regretting  his  choice. 

The  first  important  step  in  the  life  of  our  sub 
ject  upon  establishing  a  home  of  his  own  was  his 
marriage.  Dec.  5.  1861,  with  Miss  Hannah,  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  and  Mary  McGee,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Mrs.  I.arrance  was  born  in  Tuscar- 
was  County,  Ohio.  Jan.  28,  1837,  and  of  her 
union  with  our  subject  has  become  the  mother  of 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living,  viz. : 
Perry  M.,  born  Aug.  22,  1862;  John,  May  27. 
L865;  Alice,  .March  5,  1807;  Laura,  Sept.  1,  1870; 
Mark,  April  17.  1874;  Martha  E..  Dec.  25,  1876. 
One  son,  Marion,  born  Dec.  10,  1868,  died  May  6, 
1870.  Perry  married  Miss  Nancy  K.  Black, and  lives 
On  a  part  of  the  old  homestead;  he  is  the  father  of 
a  daughter,  Annie;  Alice  was  married  to  Charles 
Canady,  of  Georgetown   Township,  this  county. 

Our  subject  was  the  owner  of  2'J5  acres  of  excel- 
lent farming  land,  which  has  since  been  divided 
among  his  heirs.  He  also  held  a  half  interest  in  the 
Ridge  Farm  Tile  Factory,  which  has  since  been 
sold.  He  passed  from  earth  .Ian.  25,  1885,  regret- 
ted and  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  had 
earned  for  himself  a  position  among  the  honorable 
and  upright  citizens  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Larrance,  although  never  seeking  political 
preferment,  always  cast  his  vote  and  influence  cm 
the  side  of  right.  Socially  he  was  a  Freemason, 
and  religiously  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 


^# 


<jr^)RS( 
lEstO)  aft 


RSOM  FRENCH  was  the  son  of  George,  and 
the  grandson  of  Henry  French.  The  latter, 
iV—^l  after  being  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ersom, 
left  his  home  in  Germany  and  sought  a  new  field 
of  labor  under  the  banner  of  freedom,  in  the  land 
of  liberty.  After  this  worthy  couple  had  been  in 
the  United  States  for  some  time,  there  was  born  to 
them  a  son,  to  whom  they  gave  the  name  of  George. 


His  birth  occurred  in  Mercer  County,  Ky.  Hemy 
French,  when    in  Germany,  had  learned  the  trades 

of  blacksmith  and  gunsmith.  Besides  their  sun 
George,  who  was  the  third  son,  they  had  six  other 
children — two  hoys  and  four  girls.  After  a  happy 
and  peaceful  life  the  father  and  mother  died,  at  the 

old    homestead    in    Mercer   County.     (', ge,   the 

father  of  our  subject,  was  brought  up  in  Kentucky, 
where  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Sterman,  in  about  1800.  Miss  Sterman's  grand- 
father was  a  reliable,  trustworthy  man.  which  is 
evinced  by  the  fact  that  as  a  guard  he  was  with 
(ieii.  Washington  for  seven  years  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary War.  after  which  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  North  Carolina,  or  Virginia.  In  1809  George 
Ficnch  and  his  wife  removed  to  Knox  County, 
Intl..  where  Ersom,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born,  in  April.  LSI  I.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
War  of  LSI  2  the  father  took  his  family  hack  to 
Kentucky,  left  them  with  his  parents  and  returned 
to  Indiana,  where  he  became  wagoner  for  the 
soldiers.  The  road  on  which  he  traveled  was  that 
extending  between  Forts  Knox  and  Harrison. 

( )n  two  occasions  his  wagons  loaded  with  provi- 
sions were  captured  by  Indians.  They  burned  the 
wagons,  took  possession  of  the  eatables,  and  hail  if 
not  been  for  the  fleetness  of  his  horse,  Oeorge 
French  would  not  have  escaped  as  he  did  without 
injury.  lie  drove  a  team  of  five  horses,  the  leader 
of  which  was  a  remarkably  swift  mare.  After  the 
close  of  the  war,  Mr.  French  brought  his  family 
back  to  Indiana  ami  settled  northeast  of  Vincennes. 
After  a  few  years,  being  dissatisfied  with  his  resi- 
dence, he  removed  to  a  place  near  Terre  Haute  on 
the  prairie,  where  he  spent  his  last  days,  leaving 
eleven  children,  whose  names  were  as  follows: 
Umphery,  Henry.  John,  Ersom,  Mary,  Erastus, 
Thomas.  Elizabeth.  George.  Washington,  and  Mary 
,1.  Mrs.  George  French  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years;  she  evidently  inherited  in  part  her 
mother's  longevity,  that  lady  having  lived  to  be 
ninety-three  years  of  age. 

Our  subject  while  in  Indiana,  was  made  ac- 
quainted with  Miss  Harriet  Clem,  whom  he  greatly 
admired,  and  in  the  course  of  time  he  married  her. 
They  bad  one  daughter,  named  after  her  mother, 
Harriet.    This  daughter  is  now  Mrs.  Elijah  Cheno- 


f36 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


with.  His  first  wife  died,  and  Mr.  French  took  as  his 
next  partner  in  life  Mrs.  Eliza  (Boling)  Carrol,  a 
widow,  by  which  marriage  he  had  three  children, 
viz.,  Truman  P.,  George,  now  deceased,  and  Algy 
D.  In  1852  Ersom  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
this  township,  where  he  has  since  lived.  In  1850 
he  traveled  to  Kansas,  which  he  left  later  on  ac- 
count of  the  frontier  ruffians.  He  naturally  found 
it  difficult  to  live  with  men  whose  political  opin- 
ions were  so  diametrically  opposed  to  his  own, 
especially  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  of  which  they 
approved  and  wished  to  have  extended,  and  of 
which  he  as  heartily  disapproved  and  desired  to 
have  abolished.  Our  subject  then  located  on  a 
farm  in  this  county,  where  he  lived  until  the  death 
of  his  wife,  in  February,  188G.  Since  this  event 
his  son,  Dr.  Truman,  and  his  family  have  lived 
with  him,  at  his  house  adjacent  to  the  village  of 
Armstrong,  which  is  partly  on  his  farm.  Truman, 
after  having  finished  his  studies  in  the  common 
school,  attended  Rush  Medical  College,  at  Chi- 
cago, and  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.  The  school  where 
he  commenced  his  studies  when  a  child,  was  a  pri- 
vate one,  which  had  been  built  by  our  subject  and 
three  other  men.  After  Truman's  graduation,  he 
first  practiced  in  Ogden  seven  years,  but  finally 
canie  to  this  village,  January,  1880.  He  has  now 
had  a  good  practice  here  for  about  seventeen  years 
and  still  continues   to  be  successful. 

On  March  1,  1*77,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eu- 
genia I.,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Mary  A.  (Blan- 
chard)  Robinson,  of  Peoria  County,  this  State. 
His  two  boys,  George  M.  and  Morris  D.,  are  still 
living.  The  household  was  last  summer  increased 
by  the  birth  of  another  child,  a  boy  who  died  when 
seven  weeks  old.  Together  with  two  stores  and 
other  buildings  in  the  village,  Truman  French  is 
owner  of  the  farm,  including  eighty  acres  on  which 
lie  lives.  Our  subject  and  his  ancestors  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  the  family  was 
well  known  for  its  knowledge  and  intelligence. 
A.  D.,  one  of  the  sons  of  Ersom  and  brother  of  Tru- 
man French,  was  also  graduated  at  the  Chicago  and 
Indianapolis  medical  colleges;  he  practiced  at  Po- 
tomac, 111.,  until  the  spring  of  1880.  He  then  went 
to  Crete,  Neb.,  where  he  now  is  busily  employed 
with  his  profession. 


Algy  D.  was  married  at  Potomac,  111.,  to  Miss 
Mamie  Morse.  Their  only  daughter  Gracie  E.  hav- 
ing died  when  two  years  of  age.  the  parents  are 
left  childless. 

Truman  P.  French  is  the  much  respected  Master 
of  the  Potomac  Lodge,  No.  782,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
which  he  is  a  charter  member.  The  duties  of 
Ersom  French  and  his  sons  have  been  of  a  brilliant 
nature  and  such  as  require  the  greatest  and  most 
solid  as  well  as  useful  of  the  civic  virtues,  integrity, 
forethought,  justice  and  steady,  inexhaustible  in- 
dustry. 


<|  MLLIAM  McMILLIX,  of  Carroll  Town- 
\/jJ//  ship  is  a  native  of  Somerset  Township, 
WW  Washington  Co.,  Pa.  I  lis  father,  Robert 
McMillen,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  his 
mother,  Elizabeth  (Thompson-*  McMillin  was  a  na- 
tive 'of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  of  Scotch 
parentage.  The  grandfather  also  bore  the  given 
name  of  Robert,  which  he  received  in  his  native 
country,  Ireland.  The  date  of  his  emigration  to 
America  is  not  known  for  certain,  but  it  was  some- 
time before  the  Revolution. 

The  revolution  of  the  American  Colonies  was 
completed;  the  Constitution  was  formulated  and 
accepted  by  the  requisite  number  of  Stales;  a  new 
Nation  aspired  to  a  place  among  the  Governments 
of  the  World,  but  although  the  ship  of  State  was 
successfully  launched  on  the  ocean  of  progress, 
there  were  yet  many  dangers  to  be  encountered  and 
many  difficulties  to  be  overcome  before  the  youth- 
ful Republic  could  establish  its  claim  to  a  perma- 
nent position  among  the  Nations  of  the  earth.  One 
of  the  earliest  questions  to  confront  the  new  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States  was  the  one  relating  to 
the  manner  of  securing  a  revenue  adequate  to  the 
requirements  of  the  recently  adopted  Constitution. 
After  much  consultation  and  mature  reflection  a 
system  of  taxation  was  adopted  which  seemed  to 
the  bends  of  the  departments  reasonable  and  just, 
but  which  created  considerable  opposition  in  some 
quarters;  the  farmers  of  Pennsylvania  in  particular 
conceived  themselves  aggrieved  by  the  tax  on 
whisky,  a  considerable  quantity  of  which  was  man- 


PORTRAIT  AND  RIOORAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


73< 


ufactured  by  them  and  constituted  :i  large  part  of 
their  income;  they  therefore  refused  to  pay  it  and 
organized  a  rebellion  against  the  enforcement  of 
the,  to  them,  obnoxious  tax.  This  evenl  known  as 
the  Whisky  Insurrection  threatened  to  he  formida- 
ble lint  the  President  promptly  sent  a  force,  com- 
posed principally  of  volunteers,  against  them, 
which  speedily  subjugated  and  reduced  them  to 
obedience.  As  a  volunteer  on  that  occasion  the 
father  of  Mr.  McMillin  took  an  honorable  part. 
serving  in  the  Government  ranks  with  great  credit. 
On  being  mustered  out  of  service  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  trouble  Mr.  McMillin  returned  home  and 
resumed  work  at  his   trade. 

The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  died  in 
middle  life  leaving  three  children  who  were  care- 
fully reared  by  a  sister  of  their  father.  Robert,  the 
eldest,  was  born  in  1808,  and  although  SO  old  is 
still  active  and  enterprising.  lie  resides  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  and  is  the  parent  of  eight  chil- 
dren, who  are  all  living.  William,  the  second 
child,  is  the  subject  of  this  notice.  Elizabeth  is 
the  youngest. 

William  McMillin  was  born  in  1810  and  reared 
in  Bentlysville,  Pa.  Although  his  father  never 
acquired  possession  of  any  land,  William  was  early 
put  to  work  on  a  farm  beginning  the  task  of  earn- 
ing his  own  living  when  a  lad  of  only  twelve,  and 
commencing  to  plough  at  the  age  of  thirteen  when 
he  received  the  sum  of  twelve  and  one-half  cents  a 
day,  performing  the  work  with  an  old  fashioned 
wooden  mould-board  plow.  He  continued  to  fol- 
low this  occupation  as  long  as  he  remained  in 
Pennsylvania.  In  1853  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Hill,  a  (laughter  of  William  and  Annie 
(Lindsy)  Hill,  both  natives  of  Crawford  County, 
Pa.  The  father  was  a  stone  cutter  and  built  ni.ni\ 
an  abutment  and  arch  for  the  bridges  which  span 
the  Allegheny  River.  They  were  the  parents  of 
live  children,  namely:  John,  Jacob,  Sheldon,  Mary, 
and  Alonza. 

Mrs.  McMillin  was  a  native  of  Crawford  County, 
Pa.,  but  removed  to  Washington  County,  where 
she  made  the  acquaintance  of  our  subject.  The 
journey  to  Illinois  was  made  overland  in  a  wagon. 
After  a  short  pause  in  Vermilion  County  Mr.  Mc- 
Millin   located    in    Edgar    County,   where    he    re- 


mained about  one  year,  removing  in  the  following 
spring  to  Vermilion  County  where  he  purchased 
200  acres  of  land  close  by  where  Sidell  now  stands. 
The  land  was  partially  improved,  and  he  continued 
to  reside  on  it  for  some  years  but  there  were  no 
schools  and  he  had  a  family  of  children,  so  he  sold 
out  to  John  Sidell  and  once  more  removed,  locat- 
ing the  next  time  in  Indianola. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMillin  are  the  parents  of  six 
children,  lor  several  years  they  kept  a  hotel  and 
later  bought  150  acres  of  land  two  miles  south  of 
Indianola.  which  is  their  present  home.  Mr.  Mc- 
Millin has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  last 
twenty  years  and  in  all  that  time  has  never  had  a 
single  decision  of  his  reversed  in  the  higher  courts, 
which  shows  that  his  ability  as  a  jurist  stands  de- 
servedly high. 

\f  ONATIIAN  DILLON  resides  on  section 
15,  Elwood  Township.  He  is  a  native  of 
Clinton  County,  Ohio,  having  been  born 
there  Feb.  12,  1820.  His  father,  Luke 
Dillon  (deceased  ), was  a  native  of  Guilford  County, 
N.  C,  and  came  to  Ohio  when  seventeen  years  old, 
and  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  the  fall  of  1830 
purchased  a  large  farm  one  mile  north  of  George- 
town, when  it  was  a  wild  country  inhabited  by  a 
few  settlers,  and  wild  animals  were  many. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  upon  a 
farm,  and  received  a  limited  education  in  the  primi- 
tive log  schoolhouse  with  split-pole  seats,  clap- 
board roof,  clapboard  ceiling,  huge  fireplace  in 
one  end  of  the  room;  stick  and  clay  chimney,  and 
log  out  for  a  window.  The  family  to  which  our 
subject  belonged  first  lived  in  a  log  house  with  one 
room  which  afterward  had  a  kitchen  built  on  it.  The 
family  consisted  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living:  Naomi,  James  W.,  Hannah,  Jonathan.  Will- 
iam and  George.  One  son,  John  L.,  First  Lieu- 
tenat  of  a  company  in  the  38th  Illinois  Infantry, 
in  the  late  war,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River;  the  others  were:  Sallie,  Ruth  and  Jesse,  all 
grown  up  and  had  been  married. 

The  marriage  of  our   subject   occurred   Oct.   13, 


738 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1841,  to  Charity  Haworth,  daughter  of  Dillon 
Haworth  (dec-eased).  By  her  union  with  our  sub- 
ject there  have  been  born  three  children,  named 
respectively:  Mary,  Ruth  (deceased)  and  Barclay. 
Mary  married  Joseph  Henderson,  of  this  township, 
and  is  the  mother  of  five  children — William.  Lu- 
eretia  E..  Minnie,  Rosa  and  Josephine.  Barclay 
married  Li/./.ie  Haworth,  and  resides  in  Graham 
County;  Iowa;  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
six  children.  Mrs.  Dillon  died  May  21,  1850,  and 
subsequently  Mr.  Dillon  was  again  married  to 
Mas.  Permelia  Henderson.  Dec.  2G,  1853,  widow 
of  George  Henderson  and  daughter  of  Charles 
Madden  (deceased),  a  pioneer  of  this  township. 
By  this  second  union  our  subject  has  become  the 
father  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living 
— Charles.  Emily,  .lane.  Lucy.  Lewis  and  Sallie. 
Charles  married  a  Miss  Emory,  and  lives  in  this 
township;  Emily  married  John  Pugh,  of  Edgar 
County,  this  State,  and  has  six  children;  Jane 
married  Garrett  ().  Heron;  Lucy  became  the  wife 
of  John  Canaday,  of  this  township;  and  Lewis 
married  Flora  Wolf. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  owns  an  extensive 
farm  of  22s  acres,  and.  in  connection  with  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  devotes  considerable  time  to 
stock-raising.  His  favorites  are  the  Poland-China 
swine  and  the  Short-horn  cattle.  Religiously,  our 
subject  and  some  of  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  he  is  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican. 


;h-A  ILLER  T.  FIN  LEV.  In  the  history  of 
countries  and  men  the  world  over,  it  is  an 
"  acknowledged  fact  that  those  who  have 
performed  the  grandest  part  on  life's  stage 
have  arisen  from  an  humble  position  in  life  and 
through  difficulties  which  called  forth  their  great- 
est energies.  He  who  has  succeeded  under  the 
stress  of  circumstances  deserves  all  the  credit 
which  his  fellowmen  can  bestow  upon  him;  for 
where  one  has  succcded  ten  have  failed  and  relapsed 
into  obscurity. 

The  career  of    Mr.  Fi nicy   is  one  of    more  than 
ordinary  interest,  illustrating    in  a  marked  manner 


what  a  man  may  accomplish  through  steady  per- 
s(  verance  and  a  strong  will.  He  is  one  of  the 
oldest  settlers  in  Grant  Township,  and  occupies  a 
farm  of  600  acres  on  sectiou  24,  township  23, 
range  12.  lie  also  owns  another  farm  of  300 
acres  in  the  same  township  on  sections  27  and  28, 
besides  two  acres  of  town  lots  and  other  property 
in  Rossville.  He  had  to  beein  with,  a  land  war- 
rent  for  1(50  acres  from  his  brother  David,  who 
died  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  from  that  he  has 
built  up  his  present  fortune  with,  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say,  the  exercise  of  rare  good  judg- 
ment and  great  industry  and  economy.  He  is 
known  to  most  of  the  people  of  this  region,  who 
have  watched  his  prosperous  career  with  the  inter- 
est which  is  naturally  felt  in  looking  upon  those 
who  have  achieved  success  under  many  disadvant- 
ages. 

Mr.  Finley  was  born  in  Ripley  County.  Ind.. 
Jan.  20,  182G,  but  while  he  was  a  small  child  his 
parents  came  to  this  county,  settling  in  183:5  near 
the  present  site  of  Catlin.  The  father  took  up  new 
land  and  labored  very  hard  to  improve  it.  He 
was  not  destined,  however,  to  realize  his  hope,  and 
becoming  involved  in  debt,  a  large  portion  of  his 
property  had  to  be  sacrificed  for  much  less  than 
what  it  was  really  worth.  Both  parents  died  in 
1852  within  three  days  of  each  other.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  sister,  Nancy,  remained  with  their 
parents  until  the  latter  no  longer  needed  their  filial 
offices.  Then  the  sister  lived  with  her  brother 
until  her  marriage  with  Capt.  Samuel  Frazier,  of 
Danville,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  on  an- 
other pane  in  this  volume. 

Before  the  death  of  his  parents  our  subject  had 
begun  operating  on  his  quarter  section  of  land 
heretofore  spoken  of,  and  in  due  time  added  forty 
acres,  and  entered  in  earnest  upon  its  improvement 
and  cultivation.  He  put  up  a  little  frame  house  of 
two  rooms  and  there  later  himself,  his  sister  and 
his  brother.  Watts,  lived  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising.  As  he  increased  the  value  of  his 
land  and  there  were  furnished  better  facilities  for 
the  transportation  of  produce,  he  gradually  aban- 
doned the  live-stock  business  and  gave  his  atten- 
tion more  generally  to  farming.  He  invested  his 
surplus  capital  in  additional  land,  and  is  now  one  of 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


739 


the  loading  land -owners  in  the  township.  In  1874 
he  completed  a  handsome  and  commodious  resi- 
dence— one  of  the  finest  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try— and  upon  which  he  expended  $4,000.  He 
has  a  fine  bain  also,  occupying  an  area  of  10x  It 
feet  with  a  solid  stone  basement  and  all  the  other 
buildings  and  appliances  necessary  to  the  complete 
equipment  of  the  modern  rural  homestead.  lie 
avails  himself  of  the  most  approved  machinery  and 
Keeps  himself  well  posted  upon  both  agriculture 
and  politics. 

Although  a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples, Mr.  Finley  has  no  political  aspirations,  but 
no  man  rejoices  more  in  the  success  of  his  party 
as  he  declares  that  he  would  rather  have  lost 
a  *.">'n0  bill  than  that  Harrison  should  have 
failed  of  election.  Upon  two  different  occasions  he 
left  the  farm  anil  removed  to  Rossville,  deciding 
to  retire  from  active  labor,  but  found  lime  hang- 
ing heavy  on  his  hands  and  twice  went  back  to  the 
farm  where,  although  not  performing  any  of  its 
duties,  he  is  busily  employed  looking  after  its 
extensive  interests.  He  is  a  member  of  the  .Metho- 
dist Church  at  Rossville,  and  has  always  con- 
tributed to  the  support  of  churches  both  at  Hoopes- 
ton  and  Rossville. 

In  preparing  to  celebrate  Independence  day  in 
[867  Air.  Finley  fortified  himself  with  a  congenial 
companion  on  the  3d  of  duly  that  year,  being  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Rebecca  Pate,  an  occasion  both  will 
remember  as  long  as  life  lasts.  They  commenced 
their  wedded  lives  together  in  Grant  Township 
and  is  due  time  there  were  born  to  them  three 
children — Nannie  J.,  Gertie  and  Edith.  They  still 
make  their  home  with  their  parents  and  are  being 
given  the  educational  and  social  advantages  befit- 
ting their  birth  and  station.  Mrs.  Finley  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Rossville  to  which  our  subject  has  contributed 
generously,  especially  in  the  erection  of  their 
church  edifice  at  Iloopeston. 

Mrs.  Finley  was  born  in  Ripley  County,  Ind.. 
Sept.  2.  1830,  and  is  the  daughter  of  .lane  and 
Nehemiah  Morehouse  who  arc  now  deceased.  She 
remained  a  resident  of  her  native  county  until  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  Rate,  then  came  with  him  to 
this  county,  settling    near  C'atlin.  where    the  death 


of  Mr.  Pate  took  place  in  18(17.  David  Finley, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  lived  till  the  advanced  age  of  seven- 
ty-two years.  He  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Law- 
renceburg,  Ohio,  when  a  young  man  and  was  there 
married  to  Miss  Nancy  Miller.  Upon  leaving  the 
Buckeye  State  they  settled  in  Ripley  County,  Ind.. 
whence  they  came  to  Illinois.  Their  family  in- 
cluded seventeen  children,  thirteen  of  which  lived 
to  mature  age.  Mr.  Finley  followed  farming  all 
his  life,  the  most  of  which  he  spent  on  the  frontier. 
Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Henderson. 

~— ^>^^^^— 

UILLIAM  FITHIAN,  M.D..  for  many  years 
a  well  known  resident  of  Danville,  and  one 
Wy/  of  its  most  popular  practitioners,  was  born 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  April  7,  1799.  His  father, 
George  Fithian,  a  native  of  Elizabeth  town,  N.  J., 
was  reared  and  married  in  that  Slate.  Afterward 
he  removed  to  the  Northwest  Territory,  and  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Cincinnati  and  the 
first  to  engage  in  mercantile  business  there.  A  few 
years  later,  however,  he  removed  to  Springfield, 
Ohio,  where  he  lived  but  a  short  time.  When  the 
town  of  Urbana  was  laid  out  he  removed  thence,  and 
erected  the  first  house  in  the  place.  This  was  a 
commodious  log  building,  which  he  opened  as  a 
publichouse  and  kept  a  tavern  several  years. 
Finally  he  and  his  wife  came  to  this  count}',  and 
spent  their  declining  years  in  Danville  with  their 
son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  their  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  Danville  Cemetery. 

William  Fithian  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  1812.  Most  of  the 
able-bodied  men  of  the  neighborhood  enlisted  in 
Hie  service,  and  when  the  Indians  became  trouble- 
some the  elder  men  were  called  into  the  service, 
leaving  the  younger  ones  at  home.  These  latter 
organized  themselves  as  homeguards,  and  young 
Fithian  joined  them.  When  seventeen  years  old  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Joseph  Car- 
ter, a  successful  and  eminent  physician  of  Urbana, 
Ohio.  He  commenced  practice  at  Mechanicsburg, 
el.ven   miles   east  of  Urbana,  and   after  two  years 


740 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


formed  a  partnership  with  his  preceptor,  Dr.  Car- 
ter, with  whom  he  practiced  until  1830. 

Dr.  Fithian  now  decided  to  move  to  the  frontier, 
and  accordingly,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  came 
overland  by  team  to  this  county,  settling  in  Dan- 
ville when  there  were  hut  few  families  upon  its  pre- 
sent site.  Indians  still  lingered  here,  while  (Icel- 
and other  wild  game  was  plentiful.  The  surround- 
ing country  was  very  thinly  settled,  the  land  being 
mostly  owned  by  the  Government  and  for  sale  at 
$1.25  per  acre.  The  doctor  had  saved  some  money 
while  practicing  and  began  entering  land,  acquir- 
ing in  due  time  a  goodly  area.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  a  successful  practice,  covering  miles  of  the 
surrounding  country,  and  even  extending  as  far  as 
Chicago.  lie  pursued  this  prosperous  course  for 
upwards  of  fifty  years,  anil  became  the  owner  of 
land  not  only  in  Vermilion  County;  but  indifferent 
parts  of  the  State.  He  now  has  a  well  improved 
farm  of  2.500  acres  in  this  county,  which  is  oper- 
ated by  his  sons. 

The  doctor  has  been  four  times  married.  His 
first  wife,  Francis  L.  Shain,  died  two  years  after 
her  marriage  without  children.  He  was  then  wed- 
ded to  Miss  Oleatha  T.  Berry,  a  native  of  Urbana, 
Ohio,  who  became  the  mother  of  four  children,  of 
whom  George  and  John  are  both  deceased.  Tin' 
survivors  are  Henry  and  Elisha  C.  B.  Mrs.  Oleatha 
Fithian  only  lived  eight  3'ears  after  her  marriage. 
His  fourth  wife  was  Miss  Josephine  L.  Black,  who 
remained  his  companion  for  a  period  of  sixteen 
years,  and  then  she,  too,  passed  away. 


-er- 


«|fl?  LLEN  LEWIS.  It  is  fifty-one  years  since 
^•'l-  [J  Mr.  Lewis,  the  oldest  living  resident  of  his 
township,  first  set  foot  upon  the  soil  of  Ver- 
milion County.  He  had  emigrated  hither 
from  his  native  State  of  New  York,  coming  on 
foot  the  entire  distance,  with  the  exception  of  four- 
teen miles,  being  about  one  month  on  the  way. 
1 1  is  purpose  was  to  secure  a  tract  of  new  land  in  the 
u  ild  West,  anil  which  he  hoped  in  time  would 
prove  to  him  a  valuable  acquisition,  although  the 
prospect    then    was    anything    but    flattering.      He 


entered  ninety-seven  acres  on  section  22.  After  a 
six  months'  stay,  he  went  back  to  New  York  State, 
where  he  remained  three  years  and  was  married  to 
Miss  Jeanette  Green. 

Upon  returning  to  this  county  for  permanent 
settlement,  our  subject  and  his  young  wife  made 
the  trip  from  Chicago  to  Rossville  in  a  "  prairie 
schooner."  They  sojourned  near  Rossville  four  or 
live  years,  then  rented  an  hotel,  which  furnished 
one  of  the  early  stopping  places  for  travelers  com- 
ing from  Milford,  and  was  the  first  house  of  its 
kind  in  this  region.  Mr.  Lewis  officiated  as  "  mine 
host"  three  or  four  years.  He  had  entered  con- 
siderable laud  in  the  meantime,  but  finally  con- 
cluding it  was  of  little  value,  sold  it  at  $4  nr*.'i  per 
acre.  There  were  few  people  coming  in  a't  first. 
ami  wild  animals,  especially  deer,  were  plentiful. 
Of  these  he  believes  that  he  has  seen  as  many  as 
:300  in  one  day,  so  whatever  else  the  settlers  lacked 
in  the  way  of  provisions,  there  was  plenty  of  wild 
meats,  and  in  the  summer  season  there  were  quant- 
ifies of  gooseberries,  mulberries,  blackberries,  etc. 

Mr.  Lewis  during  his  residence  in  this  county 
has  improved  a  great  many  acres  of  land.  His 
present  farm  cost  him  only  $1  per  acre,  and  he  set- 
tled upon  it  in  1853.  Prior  to  the  establishment  of 
a  postoflice  at  Rossville  he  was  made  Postmaster  of 
a  place  called  Rio,  and  this  frequently  was  the  re- 
sult of  an  income  for  the  Postmaster  of  only  #1.25 
per  quarter  or  about  $5  or  $ii  a  year.  Mr.  Lewis 
was  the  first  Postmaster  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
and  held  this  office  for  about  four  years.  He  as- 
sisted  in  the  establishment  of  Hie  first  school,  and 
has  a  large  portion  of  the  time  officiated  as  School 
Treasurer. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were 
born  four  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living. 
The  son,  Sylvester,  married  Miss  Ilattie  Clanahan; 
they  have  four  children,  and  live  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  north  of  the  old  farm.  Isabelle,  the  daugh- 
ter, is  the  wife  of  Albert  Board  man,  and  they  arc 
living  in  Rossville,  for  the  purpose  of  educating 
their  two  children.  Mrs.  Jeanette  (Green)  Lewis 
was  born  in  Ontario  County,  N.  Y..  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Green,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  that  region,  and  whose  farm  ad- 
joined that  of  the  Lewis  family.     Mr.   Green  died 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


711 


some  years  ago;  be  was  the  father  of    Ira  Green, 
who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  Ai.ia  m. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Sylvester  and 
Catherine  (Dubois)  Lewis,and  the  father  was  born 
in  New  York  State,  near  the  Hudson  River,  lie 
came  to  the  West  while  it  was  a  wilderness,  living 
in  the  woods  four  years  before  seeing  a  wagon.  He 
opened  up  a  good  farm  upon  which  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  belonged  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  while  his  wife  was  a  Baptist  in 
religion.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children. 
Allen,  our  subject,  in  religious  matters,  inclines  In 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  member 
at  Rossville.  lie  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  resi- 
dents of  bis  township,  and  has  made  for  himself  a 
good  record  as  a  man  and  a  citizen. 


bON.  CHARLES  A.  ALLEN,  member  of 
)  the  Thirty-Sixth  General  Assembly  from 
the  Thirty-First  District  of  Illinois,  was 
((j5)j  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1884, 
1886  and  1888,  and  is  consequently  serving  bis 
third  term.  He  has  brought  to  bis  position  line 
natural  abilities,  a  large  experience,  anil  a  con- 
scientious fidelity  to  duty,  which  has  enabled  him 
to  study  the  best  interests  of  his  constituents,  to 
whom  he  has  given  uniform  satisfaction. 

Mr.  Allen  is  recognized  as  a  gentleman  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  and  has  been  prominent  in 
the  councils  of  his  part}-  for  years,  both  in  Cen- 
tral Illinois  and  in  the  Legislative  balls  at  the 
Capitol  of  the  State.  In  1885  he  served  on  the 
Judiciary  Committee  and  with  several  other  im- 
portant bodies,  and  in  1887  was  Chairman  of  the 
Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commission,  being  that 
year  also  on  the  Judiciary  Committee.  In  1889 
be  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Corpora- 
tions and  Educational  Institutions,  while  at  the 
same  time  remaining  with  the  Judiciary  Commit 
tee.  During  the  lively  discussion  over  the  matter 
of  Gen.  Logan's  appointment  be  was  the  first  man 
on  the  roll  call,  at  that  time  a  very  important 
position. 

All  the  interests  of  Mr.  Allen  have  been  centred 


in  this  county  and  vicinity,  and  here  he  has  spent 
nearly  his  entire  life.  lie  was  born  in  Danville, 
July  26,  1851,  and  two  years  later  the  family  re- 
moved to  the  Ridge,  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county,  where  they  were  the  earliest  settlers. 
Young  Allen  after  leaving  the  district  school  en- 
tered the  law  department  of  the  Michigan  State 
University,  by  which  be  was  graduated  in  1876. 
He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Ross- 
ville. where  he  remained  until  1881.  when  the  new- 
town  of  Hoopeston  began  to  assume  encouraging 
proportions,  and  he.  accordingly,  removed  thither, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In  connection 
with  his  practice  he  has  dealt  considerably  in  real 
estate,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  1,200  acres  of 
land.  In  the  meantime  he  became  one  of  the  most 
prominent  attorne3's  of  this  part  of  the  county, 
and  he  has  held  various  responsible  positions  con- 
nected with  local  affairs.  Socially,  be  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  K.  of  P.,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  the  I.  ( ).  0.  F. 

In  Rossville,  on  the  4th  of  April.  1879,  Mr. 
Allen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Thompson,  daughter  of  L.  M.  Thompson,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  elsewheie  in  this  volume.  Of 
this  union  there  have  been  born  two  bright  chil- 
dren, both  sons — John  N.  and  Lawrence  T.  The 
family  residence  is  pleasantly  situated,  and  forms 
an  attractive  resort  for  its  most  cultivated  and  re- 
fined element. 

The  father  of  our  subject  is  William  I.  Allen, 
the  first  man  to  settle  along  the  Northern  line  of 
this  county.  He  is  still  living,  and  is  represented 
on  another  page  in  this  work. 


— V 


#«# 


*,  AVID  R.  SMITH,  one  of  the  self-made 
men  of  Elwood  Township,  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  17.  His  native  State 
was  West  Virginia,  he  having  been  born 
there  Sept.  17.  1824.  His  father,  Isaac  Smith,  now 
deceased,  was  a  native  of  East  Tennessee  and  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Martha  Ross, 
claims  Virginia  as  the  place  of  her  birth.  The 
parental  household  numbered  seven   children,  two 


742 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  whom  are  deceased.  Those  living  are  named: 
Isaac,  John,  Lydia  A.,  Hannah  and  David  R.,  our 
subject. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  to  this 
county  when  a  lad  of  ten  or  twelve  years  and  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  customary  log 
school  house  with  its  puncheon  floor,  clapboard 
roof,  slab  seats  and  wall  desks.  His  first  step 
towards  establishing  a  home  for  himself  was  his 
marriage  April  8,  185t>,  to  Lydia  MeNeese,  daugh- 
ter of  William  MeNeese,  who  is  now  deceased. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  born  six 
children,  only  three  of  whom  arc  living — Alfred, 
Pleasant  and  Isaac.  Alfred  took  to  wife  Mahala 
Biggs  of  Georgetown,  they  have  no  children; 
Pleasant  married  Miss  Viola  Biggs  and  resides  in 
this  township;  they  have  one  child  a  daughter, 
Edna.  Our  subject  is  the  possessor  of  sixty  acres 
of  good  farming  land  and  which  yields  him  a 
comfortable  income.  He  has  served  his  township 
Several  years  in  the  capacity  of  School  Director. 
and  has  also  held  the  position  of  Path  Master  and 
Constable,  the  latter  office  three  years.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  .Smith  are  members  and  active  workers 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  casts  his  vote  and  influence  with 
the  Republican  party. 


\  RS.  MARY  PATTERSON.  Indianola  claims 

one    of    the    oldest    children    of   Vermil- 


ion County  in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Mary 
Patterson.  She  was  born  in  what  is  now 
Carroll  Township,  June  13,  1823,  and  is  the  daugh- 
of  Simeon  and  Nancy  (Mundle)  Cox.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  in  the  bracing 
mountain  air  lie  grew  to  manhood.  While  sojourn- 
ing awhile  in  Pennsylvania,  he  met  and  married  a 
daughter  of  the  Keystone  Slate.  Eollowing  his 
occupation  of  a  millwright,  he  built  a  number  of 
mills  in  his  immediate  neighborhood,  but  in  the 
year  1823  emigrated  to  Carroll  Township.  He 
also  built  several  mills  in  this  vicinity,  although 
making  a  farm  his  home  until  his  death.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cox   had    thirteen    children:  Charles,  Abner, 


Lot,  Thomas,  George,  Adeline,  Melinda,  Mary, 
Jane,  Louisa,    Priscilla,  Annie   I),  and    Minerva  I-;. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  attained  to  years  of 
maturity  in  Carroll  Township,  enduring  the  vicis- 
situdes and  enjoying  the  pleasures  of  pioneers  of 
those  days.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  she  was 
married  to  Mr.  Elijah  Patterson,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, but  reared  to  manhood  in  Brown  County, 
Ohio.  Upon  reaching  manhood,  stories  of  the 
Great  West  attracted  him  thither,  but  after  his 
marriage  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  twelve  or  thirteen  years.  For  a 
second  time  he  cast  his  lot  with  those  brave  pio- 
neers of  the  desolate  frontier,  and,  with  his  fam- 
ily, settled  in  Carroll  Township,  which  was  his 
home  until  death  called  him  away  in  1875,  at  the 
age  of  sixty  two  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  George,  Simeon,  Eugene  D.,  Ann 
E..  Emma  C,  Franklin  P..  Leander,  John  W.. 
.Mary  J.  and  Louella.  Of  these,  John  and  Mary 
died  at  the  ages  of  four  years  and  three  months  re- 
spectively. The  others  reside  as  thus  stated ;  George 
lives  in  Chicago,  being  a  commission  merchant  in 
the  Union  Stockyards;  his  sister,  Ann  E.,  resides 
with  him.  Simeon  is  a  barber  in  Indianola,  and 
Eugene  1).  is  a  carpenter  in  the  same  town;  Emma 
C.  married  Mr.  James  J.  Heal}',  who  is  a  merchant 
in  Indianola,  and  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  vol- 
ume; Franklin  P.,  Leander  and  Louella  are  still 
at  the  old  homestead. 

Mrs.  Patterson  is  an  intelligent  and  devoted 
Christian,  having  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Indianola  for  a  period  of 
more  than  thirty  years.  During  a  long  life  of  use- 
fulness she  has  made  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and 
is  known  and  loved  for  miles  around.  Glancin" 
back  through  more  than  half  a  century,  and  com- 
paring the  condition  of  the  country  then  with  wnat 
it  is  to-day,  she  feels  that  the  years  have  not  onh/ 
brought  prosperity  to  the  country,  but  have 
brought  to  her  the  right  of  enjoying  well-earned 
repose  in  the  bosom  of  her  family.  In  her  child- 
hood's home  she  could  stand  at  the  door,  and  as 
far  as  the  eve  could  reach  there  appeared  nothing 
but  the  seemingly  boundless  prairie,  save  where 
the  solitude  was   broken  by  the  fleeing  deer  or  the 


PORTRAIT  AND   BlOO  UAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


7  1 3 


wandering  huntsman.  Indians  sometimes  came 
near  the  lonely  cabins,  but  even  :it  that  early  date 
they  were  drifting  toward  the  setting  Sun.  The 
same  child,  now  grown  to  lie  a  prosperous  and  ven- 
erated woman,  can  still  stand  at  the  door  of  her 
comfortable  home  and  witness  the  changes  which 
time  has  wrought  on  the  old  familiar  landscape. 
The  former  solitude  is  now  as  a  blooming  garden, 
with  prosperous  people  and  elegant  residences.  But 
among  all  these  present  residents  the  name  of  Mrs. 
.Mary  Patterson  will  be  remembered  with  pleasure 
long  after  she  lias  passed  from  among  those  who 
love  her. 

„    vrx>    . 


<X^O~ 


1>.  JOHN  HOLE,  a  dentist  of  rare  talent. 
makes  his  residence  at  Ridge  Farm,  lie 
was  born  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  in 
1831,  and  is  a  son  of  donah  Hole,  a  native 
of  Loudoun  County,  Ya..  and  who  is  now  deceased. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was,  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Ellis,  a  distinguished  Quaker. 
Mrs.  Hole  was  a  native  of  Culpeper  County,  Ya.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Jacob  Hole,  married 
Mary  Thomas,  sister  of  Col.  Thomas  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  Jonah  Hole,  father  of  our  subject 
was  a  Quaker  minister  and  preached  throughout 
Canada,  the  Carolinas,  New  England  and  the  Mid- 
dle States. 

Our  subject  migrated  to  Champaign  County, 
Ohio  with  his  parents  in  1840,  where  they  settled 
on  a  farm.  His  education  was  received  in  the  cus- 
tomary log  school-house  of  those  days.  He  remained 
with  his  parents  until  September  1851,  at  which 
time  he  went  to  Oregon,  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  Missouri,  remaining  there  only  a  year,  when  he 
retraced  Ins  footsteps  to  Illinois,  settling  at  Ridge 
Farm  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  bears  the 
distinction  of  being  the  oldest  settler  but  one  of 
the  village. 

Margaret  L.  Rice  became  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
Aug.  13,  18.")3.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Eliza  Rice,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Eleven 
children  have  come  to  bless  this  union,  seven  of 
whom  are  living:  Lewis  W„  Lydia,  Oliver  C, 
Margaret   L.,  Charles  W.,   Louisa    J.   and    Frank. 


Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Evans  .1.  Arnold  and  resides 
at  St.  Augustine,  Fla. :  she  is  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Rolla  and  M.  Pearline.  Mr.  Arnold  is 
Grand  Master  of  the  I.  O.  < ).  F.  of  Florida;  Oliver 
married  Lucy  Castle,  is  the  father  of  one  child. 
Melvin,  and  makes  his  home  in  Hutchinson,  Kan.; 
Margaret  became  the  wife  of  Hugh  F.  Gilkerson 
and  resides  at  Ridge  Farm,  where  her  husband  is 
Township  Collector  and  architect;  she  is  the 
mother  of   one  son,  Noble. 

Socially,  Dr.  Hole  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  was  Master  of  the  lodge  five  years. 
Mrs.  Hole  is  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  Doctor  sympathizes  with 
the  Republican  party  in  his  political  views.  He 
was  Railway  Postal  Clerk  on  the  Danville  and 
Cairo  route  for  eleven  years.  In  1861  he  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  dentist  and  has  since  followed 
that  profession  with  the  exception  of  the  eleven 
years  above  mentioned.  Our  subject  has  the 
marriage  certificate  of  one  of  his  ancestors — Wil- 
loughby  Warder  and  Mary  Howell,  who  were  mar- 
ried June  4,  1696.  It  is  printed  and  written  on 
parchment  and  bears  the  signatures  of  William 
Penn,  George  Whitehead  and  other  noted  Quakers. 
He  also  has  in  his  possession  a  lease  given  his  an- 
cestors, to  a  part  of  the  land  where  Philadelphia 
now  stands,  and  which  was  executed  in  1785.  Of 
sterling  worth  and  integrity.  Dr.  Hole  is  accorded 
that  tacit  respect  earned  by  the  pioneer  of  Illinois, 
and  is  a  man  whose  word  is  considered  as  good  as 
his  bond. 


AMUEL  THOMPSON,  one  of  the  well- 
known  farmers,  now  residing  on  section 
35,  Elwood  Township,  was  born  either  in 
this  or  Edgar  County,  Oct.  6,  IS:!.").  His 
father.  .lames  Thompson,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  came  to  the  Blue  River  Valley,  Ind.,  when  a 
young  married  man,  and  removed  to  this  county 
before  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  His 
mother  was  Elizabeth  May,  also  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  Sept.  1  I,  1858.  The  parental 
household  numbered  ten  children,  live  of  whom 
are  living,  viz:    William,  Thomas,   George,    Isaac- 


744 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  our  subject.  William  and  Thomas  are  resi- 
dents of  this  township;  George  lives  in  Prairie 
Township,  Edgar  County,  and  Isaac  lives  in  Arkan- 
sas City,  Kan. 

Our  subject  received  his  first  education  at  a  sub- 
scription school,  held  in  a  log  cabin  with  puncheon 
floor,  split-log  seats  with  pin  legs,  and  having  for 
desks  a  lot;  hewed  and  pinned  to  the  wall.  Greased 
paper  also  served  for  window  panes;  a  huge  fire- 
place in  one  end;  clapboard  roof.  After  receiving 
his  education  our  subject  began  to  shift  for  him- 
self, and  chose  farming  for  his  occupation,  which 
he  has  always  followed  successfully. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  Aug.  28,  lK.jy.  to 
Miss  Osie  Grosser,  daughter  of  Jacob  Crosser,  now 
deceased,  and  who  was  also  a  pioneer  of  this 
county.  Mrs.  Thompson  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship, and  has  become  the  mother  of  seven  children: 
Sylvanus,  Sylvester,  Flora.  Charlie,  Dora.  Amanda, 
and  William  C.  Sylvanus  married  Lucy  Mangus; 
lives  in  this  township,  and  has  two  children — Frank 
and  Osie.  Sylvester  married  Minerva  Jane  IIol- 
lingsworth,  and  lives  in  this  township;  they  have 
one  child — Verney. 

Our  subject  never  was  an  office-seeker,  and  re- 
ligiously is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  His  son.  Sylvanus,  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  that  denomination.  Mr.  Thompson  is 
the  proprietor  of  17:">i  acres  of  fine  land.  He 
turns  his  attention  mostly  to  the  raising  of  stock, 
his  favorites  being  the  graded  Short-horn  cattle 
and  Poland  China  swine. 

f)ONATHAN  KILBOURN  was  born  in  Ham- 
ilton County,  Ohio,  in  1817.  His  father, 
Joseph  Kilbourn,  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut. His  ancestors  came  to  America  among 
the  first  emigrants  and  became  early  settlers  of  this 
county.  The  father  was  reared  in  his  native  State 
and  received  a  general  education,  which  fitted  him 
for  teaching.  He  removed  from  Connecticut  in 
the  year  1805,  and  made  the  trip  overland  to  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  and  thence  down  the  Ohio  River  to 
Cincinnati,  then  a   very   small   place.     He  located 


near  Ml.  Pleasant,  and  bought  a  tract  of  timber 
land  and  built  a  log  house  thereon.  He  taught 
school  during  the  winter  and  the  rest  of  the  year 
released  land,  and  resided  in  Hamilton  County 
until  his  death.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Miss  Rebecca  Howe,  a  native  of 
the  same  State  as  her  husband,  and  who  depart ed 
this  life  six  weeks  after  his  death,  in  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio. 

Jonathan  Kilbourn  was  a  lad  of  five  years  when 
his  parents  died,  and  he  was  left  to  the  care  of  his 
elder  brothers  and  sisters  until  he  could  take  care 
of  himself,  which  he  did  at  the  age  of  twelve  or 
fourteen  years,  when  he  worked  out  for  £1  a  month; 
he  continued  to  work  out  for  several  years.  He 
saved  his  earnings  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Venice,  Ohio,  which  he  continued  until 
the  year  1854,  vlien  he  came  to  Danville.  Vermil- 
ion County,  and  bought  sixty  acres  of  land,  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  resided  there  until  1868. 
lie  then  sold  it  and  bought  where  he  now  resides, 
which  consists  of  2G0  acres  of  laud  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Vermilion  River.  lie  has  retired  from 
active  labor  and  his  sons  run  the  farm. 

Our  subject  was  married  on  May  12,  184(1,  to 
Susan  M.  Lutes,  a  native  of  Butler  County,  Ohio. 
By  this  union  there  have  been  six  children  born  to 
them,  viz:  Sarah  married  J.  B.  Bradford,  and  re- 
sides in  California;  Perley  P.  lives  in  Oregon; 
Emma,  Andrew,  William,  and  Herbert  are  still 
under  the  parental  roof. 


-^-$%&<- 

WILLIAM  PATTERSON  is  the  owner  of  1  60 
acres  of  prime  land  on  section  34,  Elwood 
Township,  Vermilion  County.  lie  was 
bom  Feb.  22,  1824,  in  Granger  County,  East  Tenn. 
His  father  was  Andrew  Patterson  (deceased),  native 
of  the  same  State  as  his  son,  who  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  this  county  in  1827.  They  settled  at  Yankee 
Point,  in  this  township,  among  Indians  and  wild 
animals,  such  as  deer,  wolves,  wild  hogs,  and  an 
abundance  of  turkeys,  pheasants,  prairie  chickens, 
and  other  wild  fowl.  The  pioneers  settled  in  and 
along  the  timber,  thinking  the  prairie  could  never 
be   utilized    for    anything   except    grazing.      They 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


745 


went  to  Sugar  and  Goal  Creeks,  in  Parke  County, 
Ind.,  for  their  milling,  but  later  mills  were  built 
over  the  country  run  by  horse  power.  The  bolting 
was  done  by  turning  a  crank  by  hand. 

Our  subject  endured  all  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions incident  to  pioneer  Life.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  mother  was  Amelia  Golden,  daughter  of 
William  Golden  (deceased),  who  came  from  Gran- 
ger County,  Tenn.,  in  1824,  settling  in  this  town- 
ship nt  Yankee  Point.  She  became  the  mother  of 
six  children,  our  subject    being   the    eldest.     The 

others  are:      Thomas,  Sarah   (Mrs.  Campbell),  John 

(deceased),  Elizabeth  ( Mrs.  Campbell),  and  Golden. 
All  live  in  this  county,  the  girls  in  Georgetown 
Township  and  the  hoys  in  this  township. 

William  Patterson  led  Mary  Tatty  to  the  mar- 
riage altar,  Jan.  It:.  1853.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Eli  Patty,  deceased,  who  came  to  this  county  from 
Carroll  County,  Ind.,  in  1847.  They  have  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  yet  living,  viz :  John,  Pleasant,  Cathe- 
rine, and  Lincoln.  They  are  all  single  and  still 
under  the  home  roof.  In  18")  I  our  subject  went  to 
Broadland,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Champaign 
County,  III.,  improved  a  fine  farm,  and  was  residing 
there  when  Mike  Sullivan  first  started  his  noted 
Broadland  farm;  he  remained  there  until  tin-  spring 
of  1861,  when  he  returned  to  this  township,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Religiously,  both  Mr.  Pat- 
terson and  his  excellent  wife  are  members  in  good 
standing  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
where  much  respect  is  given  this  worthy  old  pio- 
neer. 

•fcgfe&S- ■ 


'  OHN  FOLGER  resides  on  section  25,  Harri- 
son's Purchase,  Elwood  Township,  and  was 
born  in  the  same  township  on  Sept.  17,  1829. 
He  was  the  son  of  Latham  Folger,  a  whaler, 
who  was  taken  prisoner  while  in  whaling  during 
the  Revolutionary  War,  by  the  British,  and  because 
he  would  not  consent  to  fight,  was  taken  to  a  small 
rocky  islaud,  and  left  to  starve  to  death,  but  to  his 
good  fortune  an  American  vessel  soon  came  along 
aud  rescued  him.  He  was  then  a  resident  of  Nan- 
tucket Island.     Benjamin  Franklin's  mother  was  a 


Folger,  and  was  related  to  Grandfather  Folger,  be- 
ing his  first  cousin.  Ex-Secretary  of  the  United 
States  Treasurer  Folger.  was  also  a  member  of  the 
same   family. 

Latham  Folger,  the  father  of  the  one  of  whom 
we  write,  entered  land  in  the  Harrison  Purchase, 
and  wa-  a  tanner,  shoe-maker  and  a  manufacturer 
of  horse  collars.  He  ran  a  tannery,  and  the  above 
named  trades  in  Elwood  from  the  spring  of  1829 
until  1845,  when  he  settled  OD  his  hind  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Elwood  Township,  where  he  carried  on 
farming  extensively.  The  mother  of  our  subjeel 
was  Elizabeth  Starbuck.  She  became  the  mother 
of  ten  children,  namely  :  Walter,  Erasmus.  Matilda, 
who  married  a  Mi.  Haworth,  and  is  now  deceased; 
Lydia,  married  Mr.  Reynolds,  and  is  a  twin  of  Ma- 
tilda: our  subject,  Mary.  Mrs.  Mills;  Uriah,  Sarah, 
(Mrs.  Dubre),  Rachael  (Mrs.  Ellis)  and  Thomas. 
The  father  died  early  in  the  year  of  1k."jL\  and 
the  mother  departed  this  life  in  the  fall  of    1S7!». 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the 
tan-yard,  and  later  he  worked  on  the  farm,  lie  ob- 
tained his  education  at  the  Vermilion  Academy 
and  at  Bloomingdale.  Ind.,  under  Professors  Thomas 
ami  llobhs.  He  then  acted  in  the  capacity  of  a 
pedagogue  for  three  winters,  but  finally  chose  farm- 
ing for  his  life  occupation.  In  September,  1852, 
occurred  an  interesting  event  in  the  life  of  our  sub- 
ject, namely,  his  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Mahlon  and  Ruth  Reynolds.  Mrs.  Folger 
first  saw  the  light  March  !S.  1831,  in  Parke  County, 
Ind.,  and  remained  a  resident  of  that  county  until 
her  marriage. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  nine  children,  all  living  but 
two.  Ida  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years; 
she  was  a  student  in  the  State  Industrial  College, 
Champaign,  111.,  and  a  bright  and  accomplished 
young  lady.  Her  death  was  caused  by  hard  study, 
which  injured  her  brain  and  ultimately  resulted  in 
her  death.  The  remaining  children  were  named, 
respectively:  Alonzo  M.,  Julius,  Adolphus  D.,  Ro- 
mania .1.,  Rachael  E.,  Clotillie  and  Lottie  R.  The 
eldest  son,  Alonzo,  married  Carrie  Castle;  they  live 
in  Dana.  Ind..  and  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  a 
son,  Ray.  Julius  was  married  to  Annie  Jordan,  is 
the  father  of   two  children,   only   one   of    whom   is 


744> 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


living,  Alvin;  lie  makes  his  residence  in  Pontiac, 
Mich.  Romania  became  the  wife  of  Jacob  M.  IIol- 
lingsworth,    resides    in   Prairie    Township,    Edgar 

County,  this  State,  and  is  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren— Harry,  Esther  and  an  infant  girl. 

Mr.  Folger  is  the  possessor  of  154  acres  of  line 
farming  land,  and  has  added  stock  raising  to  his 
fanning  interests.  His  favorites  are  the  graded 
Short-horn  and  full-blooded  Durhams,  with  regis- 
tered pedigree,  lie  also  has  some  fine  horses  of  the 
Clydesdale,  Norman  ami  Whip  breeds.  His  hogs 
arc  the  Poland-China  and  Berkshire's. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger,  together  with  their  chil- 
dren, have  for  many  years  been  active  members  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  in  which  communion  our 
subject  was  a  minister.  He  traveled  quite  exten- 
sively attending  the  annual  meetings  at  Philadel- 
phia, Baltimore,  and  Lawrence,  Kan.,  defraying  his 
own  expenses.  He  also  attended  many  of  the 
yearly  meetings  in  Indiana  and  Oskaloosa,  Iowa. 
He  now  Alls  the  pulpit  at  various  points  in  this 
State  and  in  Indiana.  Himself  and  wife  are  held 
in  the  highest  possible  regard  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends,  who  recognize  in  them  such  character  and 
personal  worth  as  entitle  them  to  a  position  among 
the  representative  citizens  of  the  county. 


->€*£~e- 


WfelLLIAM  CHANDLER,  a  retired  farmer 
and  a  resident  of  Bismarck,  was  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  this  county,  coming  to 
this  region  with  his  parents  when  a  lx>3'  of  seven 
years.  The  country  was  but  little  removed  from 
its  primitive  condition  and  not  many  years  prior  to 
this  was  mostly  the  tramping  ground  of  the  Indian. 
Wild  animals  were  still  plentiful  and  only  here  and 
there  was  erected  the  cabin  of  the  adventurous  set- 
tler.  Some  who  came  in  grew  discouraged  and 
moved  away,  usually  returning  to  their  old  homes. 
The  Chandler  family,  however,  had  come  to  stay 
and  thej7  prepared  themselves  for  every  emergency, 
labored  early  and  late,  endured  many  hardships 
and  privations  and  in  due  time  reaped  the  reward 
of  their  toil  and  sacrifices. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch   was  born  in  Harrison 


County,  Ky.,  Sept.  5,  1821,  ami  was  the  fifth  in  a 
family  of  nine  children,  the  offspring  of  John  and 
Polly  (Jones)  Chandler.  The  parents  were  mar- 
ried in  the  Blue  Grass  State,  but  in  1828  resolved 
to  seek  their  fortunes  in  the  West  and  made  their 
way  to  this  county,  arriving  here  on  the  1 6th  of 
November,  that  year.  They  located  on  a  tract  of 
wild  laud  in  Newell  Township,  where  the  father 
tilled  the  soil  and  made  some  improvements,  then,  in 
1853,  sold  out  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  young 
town  of  Danville,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  passing  away  in  1859.  The  mother  had 
died  at  the  farm  some  time  previously. 

Our  subject  remained  a  member  of  his  father's 
household  until  reaching  Ins  majority,  acquiring  a 
limited  education  in  the  subscription  schools. 
Then  .starting  out  for  himself  he  settled  on  a  tract 
of  land  a  short  distance  from  the  farm  of  his  father, 
becoming  the  owner  of  fifty-one  acres.  Shortly 
afterward,  however,  he  sold  this  and  purchased  140 
acres  which  he  improved  and  which  he  occupied 
until  1864.  Then  selling  out  once  more  he  changed 
his  residence  to  Danville  wdiere  he  remained  ten 
years.  In  187  1  he  removed  to  Bismarck  of  which 
he  has  since  been  a  resident. 

Mr.  Chandler  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years  to  Miss  Melinda,  daughter  of  William 
and  Mary  Cunningham.  Mrs.  Chandler  was  the 
eighth  in  a  family  of  eleven  children.  She  became 
the  mother  of  Ave  children  and  departed  this  life 
in  1803.  Their  eldest  daughter,  Mary  (i.,  is  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Clay  pool;  Emma  A.  married  James 
R.  Hoover  and  is  living  at  St.  Lawrence,  Dak.; 
Rosetta  C. ;  William  J.  and  Laura  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Howard  S.  Hicks  of  Milford,  111.  In  politics  Mr. 
Chandler  uniformly  supports  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  and  at  present  holds  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Notary  Public.  He  served 
two  years  as  Assessor  of  Newell  Township  and  is 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  this  community. 
In  religious  matters  he  is  identified  with  the 
Christian  Church.  He  has  been  an  interested  wit- 
ness of  the  marvelous  changes  going  on  in  the  great 
West,  since  he  came  to  years  of  discretion,  and  has 
pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way  as  an  honest 
man  and  a  good  citizen,  encouraging  those  projects 
calculated  for   the   moral  elevation   of   the  people. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


717 


anil  lending  his  influence  to  the  enterprises  calcu- 
lated to  develop  the  county.  The  old  settlers  are 
fast  passing  away  and  in  recounting  their  names 
and  deeds  the  career  of  Mr.  Chandler  can  by  no 
means  lie  allowed  to  pass  unnoticed. 


lOSIAHS.  SANDUSKY,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  in  this  section  of  Illinois,  and 
one  whose  operations  as  a  stockman  are 
/  among  the  first  in  this  great  Slate,  owns  and 
occupies  1 .000  acres  of  land  in  Carroll  Township, 
where  he  handles  all  kinds  of  stock  and  lino  road 
and  trotting  horses.  His  stock  dealings  embrace 
the  best  strains  of  blood  that  can  be  procured,  and 
in  his  selections  he  is  aided  by  great  experience 
and  a  natural  aptitude  for  the  business. 

His  father  rvnd  mother,  Abraham  and  Jane  (Mc- 
Dowell) Sandusky,  were  natives  of  Bourbon 
County,  Ky..  the  former's  birth  occurring  on  March 
29,  1793,  while  the  mother  was  born  on  Dec.  16, 
171I2.  The  grandparents  were  among  the  brave 
pioneers  whose  fortitude  aided  in  the  settlement  of 
Kentucky,  and  who  were  constantly  in  peril  1)3' 
reason  of  the  desperate  red  men  of  that  region  be- 
ing  particularly  troublesome.  The  Sandusky 
family  contains  what  is  commonly  known  as  "  blue 
blood,"  as  it  descended  from  the  nobility  of  Poland. 
The  original  Sodowsky,  as  he  spelled  and  pro- 
nounced his  name,  was  a  distinguished  nobleman 
of  that  country,  and  by  reason  of  his  desire  to  aid 
the  downtrodden,  he  was  forever  banished  from  his 
native  land.  He  came  to  America  in  1756,  and 
soon  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  American  colo- 
nists. He  married  the  sister  of  Gov.  Inslip,  of 
Virginia,  and  later  on.  while  in  the  vicinity  of 
Lake  Erie,  was  brutally  murdered  by  the  Indians, 
who  had  been  imposed  upon  by  the  whites,  and  in 
the  fury  of  their  revenge  attacked  the  first  white 
man  they  met.  This  happened  to  be  Sodowsky,  their 
best  friend.  They  regretted  their  deed  very  much, 
and,  in  order  to  partly  atone  for  the  crime,  sought 
to  show  their  respect  to  their  murdered  friend  by 
naming  a  bay  in  Lake  Erie  "  Sandusky,"  from 
which    was   named    the    Ohio    city.     The  mother's 


people  were  early  settlers  and  patriots  of  this 
country,  and  the  McDowell's  were  m  leading  family 
of  Kentucky. 

The  parents  of  Josiah  had  live  children  when 
they  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1837,  where  they 
settled  on  the  land  now  owned  by  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  old  cabin  still  stands  close  to  ils 
original  site,  which  was  where  the  magnificent  man- 
sion, erected  by  .losinh  in  1872,  now  stands.  The 
parents  continued  to  prosper  fur  a  long  time,  and 
were  indeed  model  fanners.  Their  memory  will 
be  cherished  by  all  their  acquaintances  as  noble 
people.  The  father  died  in  1865,  while  the  mother 
passed  away  a.  year  previous.  Eight  children  were 
left  to  mourn  their  loss,  whose  names  are  herewith 
given:  Harvey,  Elizabeth,  Polly,  Agnes  (who 
died  young),  William,  Abraham,  Euphemia  .lane, 
and  Josiah.  Harvey  was  the  oidy  one  of  the 
children  who  spelled  his  name  in  the  Polish  man- 
lier, the  rest  changing  it  to  Sandusky. 

Josiah  Sandusky  was  born  in  this  county  on 
Sept.  11,  1837,  ami  in  the  township  where  he  now 
resides  he  grew  to  manhood.  His  father  was  a 
most  industrious  man.  and  he  expected  his  boys  to 
follow  his  footsteps  in  this  regard.  At  the  age  of 
six  years  Josiah  was  afflicted  with  the  white  swell- 
ing which  crippled  him  in  his  left  leg.  lie  attended 
the  schools  of  the  township  and  his  education  was 
gained  from  this  source,  lie  succeeded  to  the 
management  of  the  farm  of  500  acres  given  him 
by  his  father. 

Josiah  Sandusky  was  married  Dec.  IK.  1 873,  to 
Miss  Susan  Moreland.  who  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Catherine  (Hedges)  Moreland,  of  English  an- 
cestry. The  latter  came  to  Illinois  in  18.57, 
settling  in  Carroll  Township,  and  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  who  lived  to  be  men  and  women. 
Their  names  follow:  Mary  E.,  Margaret  Susan, 
Fannie,  William,  Peter  II.,  John,  Carrie,  and  Katie. 
Mis.  Sandusky  was  a  native  of  Bourbon  Count}', 
Ky.,  and  removed  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when 
she  was  a  little  girl  of  six.  She  attended  the 
Sister's  School  at  St,  Mary's,  near  Terre  Haute, 
where  she  acquired  a  fine  education,  and  is  an  ac- 
complished lady.  Before  his  marriage  Mr.  San- 
dusky erected  a  brick  mansion,  upon  which  lie 
spent  $20,000   in    building   and    in    beautifying  the 


748 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


grounds,  and  since  that  time  he  has  added  500  acres 
to  his  farm,  making  it  the  most  valuable  place  in 
lliis  part  of  the  county.  His  father  was  a  great 
stockman,  and  his  inclinations  all  tended  to  the 
breeding  of  fine  stock.  So  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  inherited  his  love  for  the 
business  in  which  he  is  now  engaged.  He  keeps 
constantly  on  hand  a  large  herd  of  thoroughbred 
cattle  ami  horses,  which  he  exhibits  at  the  fairs, 
generally  securing  prizes  and  honors.  He  has  sold 
cattle  for  breeding  purposes  in  nearly  every  State 
in  the  Union,  and  his  mind  does  not  run  to  cattle 
alone.  He  is  a  good  judge  of  horses,  and  owns 
many  tine  animals  that  are  prize  winners,  his 
specialty  being  road  animals  and  trotters.  He  has 
several  horses  whose  record  reaches  below  2:20. 
Sheep,  swine,  and  poultry  are  also  seen  on  this 
magnificent  estate. 

The  allurements  clustering  around  otlicial  posi- 
tion have  never  had  any  charms  for  Mr.  Sandusky, 
and  while  he  is  a  thoroughgoing,  aggressive  Repub- 
lican, he  never  permits  politics  to  interfere  with  his 
business  in  any  manner. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sandusky  are  the  parents  of  five 
children,  three  living,  named:  Pearl,  born  .Ian.  22, 
1878;  Abraham  J.,  Oct.  2,  1883;  and  William  11.. 
May  27,  1880.     Two  died  unnamed. 


^p^EORGE  BARNETT  is  the  son  of  one  of 
'II  (—]  Vermilion  County's  earliest  pioneers  and 
^^5  most  highly  respected  citizens.  He  is  pleas- 
antly located  on  his  farm  of  160  acres  immediately 
west  of  the  village  of  Sidell. 

Robert  E.  Barnett,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  a  pioneer  of  Vermilion  County, 
arriving  there  sometime  in  1828  or  1830,  coming 
from  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  which  was  the  State  of 
his  nativity,  he  having  been  born  there  in  1800. 
The  mother  of  Mr.  Barnett  was  Miss  Rebecca 
Moore,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  farm  belonging  to 
her  father,  on  which  she  was  born,  is  now  embraced 
within  the  limits  of  Columbus.  His  grandfather, 
George  Barnett,  emigrated  to  Illinois  with  his  family 
about  1828  or   1830,  and   established  himself  on  a 


farm  southeast  of  what  is  now  the  village  of  Sidell, 
at  the  head  of  Little  Vermilion  timber. 

Robert  E.  Barnett  was  a  young  gentleman  of 
twentj'-two  or  three  years  when  he  tried  his  fortune 
in  Illinois  for  the  first  time,  but  he  had  received  a 
good  education,  which  was  a  commodity  rather 
scarce  in  the  wilds  of  a  new  country  at  that  time, 
and  was  correspondingly  highly  appreciated.  He. 
therefore,  found  no  difficulty  in  getting  himself 
appointed  to  the  position  of  teacher  for  the  district. 
So  far  as  known,  his  was  the  first  school  to  be  opened 
in  the  township,  and  he  naturally  felt  somewhat 
elated  to  find  himself  occupying  the  elevated  posi- 
tion of  "  schoolmaster ;"  however,  pupils  were  not 
numerous,  and  he  soon  wearied  of  the  monotony 
inseparable  from  a  country  teacher's  life,  so  after 
teaching  a  few  terms,  he  abandoned  the  profession 
and  betook  himself  to  a  more  lucrative,  if  not  more 
congenial  calling.  He  engaged  in  the  business  of 
general  merchandise  at  Eugene,  Ind.  One  of  the 
prettiest  young  ladies  in  town  was  a  customer  at 
his  store,  and,  being  of  an  obliging  disposition,  he 
frequently  found  it  convenient  to  call  at  her  father's 
house,  presumably  to  inform  them  of  rare  bargains 
to  be  had  at  the  store,  but  hy-and-by  the  services 
of  a  minister  were  requested,  and  the  ceremony  that 
followed  secured  for  the  enterprising  young  mer- 
chant a  partner  whose  interest  in  the  business  was 
equal  to  his  own  and  who  engaged  for  life.  Im- 
mediately following  their  marriage  the  young  couple 
began  housekeeping,  and  remained  residents  of 
that  city  until  after  the  birth  of  all  their  children, 
whose  names  were:  Jane,  Alice,  Thomas  (died 
unmarried  at  the  age  of  forty),  (Jeorge,  and  John. 
Mr.  Barnett  continued  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  Indiana  until  the  spring  of  1858,  when  he 
removed  to  Illinois,  on  to  the  farm  which  had  been 
previously  purchased  by  his  father.  He  conducted 
the  operations  of  the  farm  with  such  energy  and  pru- 
dence that  he  soon  became  quite  wealthy,  owning  at 
one  time  some  sixteen  or  seventeen  thousand  acres 
of  excellent  land,  which  was  well  stocked  and  im- 
proved, but  unfortunately  for  the  continuance 
of  his  prosperity,  he.  through  misplaced  confidence 
in  a  supposed  friend  and  honest  man,  lost  about 
$13,000,  which  necessitated  the  putting  of  his  estate 
into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  at  the  time  of  his  death. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BlOORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


749 


Hi-  departed  this  life  in  l.SNil.  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  The  mother  survives  and  makes  her  home 
in  Danville,  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  Alice, 
where  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  she  occupies 
"grand-ma's  corner,"  and  tells  the  little  ones  who 
like  to  surround  her  easy  chair,  story  after  story  of 
the  olden  time,  which  are  more  fascinating  to  their 
youthful  minds  than  the  most  thrilling  fairy  tales. 

Mr.  George  Barnett  was  born  September  I.  1848, 
in  Eugene;  Ind..  and  was  a  small  boy  when  his 
father  moved  to  the  farm  in  Illinois.  The  public 
schools  of  Eugene  numbered  him  among  their 
brightest  pupils,  but  before  he  had  advanced  far 
in  his  studies  he  was  obliged  to  leave  consequent 
upon  the  removal  of  the  family  mentioned  above. 
He  pursued  his  studies  for  some  time  longer  in  the 
schools  of  Illinois,  but  was  compelled  to  abandon 
the  study  of  hooks  in  any  regular  fashion  and 
betake  himself  to  work  at  something  that  would 
assist  the  family  in  the  struggle  for  a  livelihood. 
His  lir.sl  work  was  begun  on  his  father's  farm,  when 
he  was  about  fourteen  years  old.  After  some 
months  spent  in  that  manner  he  was  enabled  to 
resume  his  pursuit  of  knowledge,  and  entered  the 
Academy  of  Moreland,  Ind.,  where  he  continued 
(me  year,  studying  diligently  and  making  good  pro- 
gress, then  returned  to  the  farm  and  settled  down 
to  regular  work,  which  he  continued  uninterrupt- 
edly until  he  reached  his  majority. 

.Mr.  Bametl  and  Miss  Lizzie  Keys,  a  native  of 
Washington  County.  Pa,,  were  married  in  1877, 
al  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents,  William 
and  Emily  (Mills)  Keys,  in  Palermo,  Edgar  Co., 
Ind.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Barnett  arc  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  and  are  passing  the  evening  of  lift' 
in  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  their  pleasant  home,  in 
Palermo,  Mr.  Keys  having  retired  from  the  active 
pursuit,  of  his  business.  Mrs.  Barnett  was  one  of 
a  family  of  eight  children,  their  names  being:  Har- 
riet. Sarah.  Richard,  Cassey,  Setb,  Hugh,  Will  and 
Lizzie,  who  was  a  mere  child  when  her  parents 
removed  from  their  home,  in  Pennsylvania,  to 
Illinois. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Barnett  has  been  increased  by 
the  addition  of  three  children:  Lena.  Alice  and 
.lane.  The  second  daughter  died  when  an  infant, 
the  other  two  are  at   home   attending  school,  where 


their  bright  minds  and  pleasant  manners  make  them 
general  favorites.  Two  years  before  marriage  Mr. 
Barnett  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  L.  T.  Davis,  of  Palermo,  and  entered  upon 
the  business  id'  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
They  operate  a  farm  of  960  acres  of  land,  which 
they  have  managed  for  seven  years,  meeting  with 

gOOd  success. 

As  before  stated.  Mr.  Barnett's  father  died  in- 
solvent, but  the  two  sons,  by  hard  work  and  good 
management,  succeeded  in  rescuing  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  large  estate  from  the  general  wreck 
so  that  they  now  have  a  tract  of  580  acres  clear  of 
debt  and  under  good  cultivation.  In  l.s.x-j.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Barnett  established  themselves  in  their 
present  home,  which  is  one  calculated  to  create  in 
the  hearts  of  the  dwellers  in  crowded  cities  a  long- 
ing for  the  delights  of  country  life.  Their  home  is 
indeed  a  charming  one,  and  being  situated  only 
about  2KI  rods  from  the  village  pOStofHce  of  Sidell. 
they  enjoy  all  the  comforts  of  rural  life  and  the 
conveniences  of  town. 

Mr.  Barnett  was  elected  Township  Clerk  several 
years  ago,  and  has  been  re-elected  every  year  since, 
so  that  he  is  now  serving  his  sixth  term  with  honor 
to  himself  and  entire  satisfaction  to  his  constit- 
uents. 


BNER  SNOW  was   born  at  Butler's  Point, 
Vermilion  County,  Oct.  28,    1828,    where 


he  has  resided  continuously  since.  His 
father,  Marcus  Snow,  was  born  in  Monl- 
pellier,  Yt.,  while  his  mother,  wdiose  maiden  name 
was  Annis  Butler,  was  a  native  of  Chittenden 
County,  the  same  State.  Marcus  Snow  emigrated 
from  Vermont  to  Ohio  but  did  not  remain  there 
long,  eventually  removing  to  Vermilion  County 
with  .lames  Butler  in  a  very  early  day.  The  latter, 
Mrs.  Snow's  father,  settled  at  Butler's  Point,  where 
the  father  anil  mother  spent  their  last  days.  The 
parents  of  Abner  Snow  were  married  in  Vermilion 
County  and  settled  where  Westville  now  stands, 
but  lived  there  only  a  few  years  when  they  re- 
moved to  Catlin  Township,  locating  on  land  that, 
was  situated  nil  the  State    I'oad,    near  the  residence 


750 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBKM. 


of  Jesse  Davis.  Here  the  elder  Snow  and  his  wife 
prospered,  lived  and  died.  They  were  among  the 
people  who  came  here  when  Vermilion  County  was 
a  wilderness  for  the  purpose  of  building  up  a  home 
for  themselves  and  their  children  and  they  met 
with  success.  Their  reputation  in  their  neighbor- 
hood was  that  of  honest,  hardworking  and  intelli- 
gent people.  Mrs.  Snow,  the  mother  of  Abner, 
outlived  her  husband  and  became  the  wife  of  Cyrus 
Douglas.  Marcus  Snow  is  the  father  of  six  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  one  daughter,  Abner  being  the 
second  son. 

Aimer  Snow,  as  has  been  stated,  has  always  lived 
in  this  county,  a  larger  portion  of  the  time  in 
Catlin  Township.  Here  he  lias  successfully  followed 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  counted  as  one  of  the 
prosperous  men  in  this  section.  By  his  inherited 
industry  and  good  management  he  has  accumu- 
lated a  fine  property  and  now  owns  285  acres  of 
good,  rich  soil.  General  fanning  occupied  flic 
most  of  his  time.  He  was  married  in  this  county 
to  a  Miss  Ashman  by  whom  he  is  the  father  of  five 
children:  Albert,  Jessie,  William,  Lucius  M.  and 
Bertha  A. 

Mr.  Snow  is  an  active  Republican,  but  the  allure- 
ments of  office  has  little  charms  for  him.  He  is 
contented  to  carry  on  his  fine  farm,  believing  that 
the  honors  gained  by  making  a  home  for  himself 
and  children  transcend  all  others. 


sIIOMAS  M.  MORGAN.  The  journalistic 
profession  of  Illinois  finds  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative in  the  able  and  popular  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Sidell  Wayside,  who  is  a  man  of 
excellent  education,  cultivated  tastes  and  literary 
ability.  Before  entering  upon  the  sketch  of  his 
life,  it  may  be  well  to  devote  some  space  to  his  an- 
cestors. His  grandfather.  Daniel  Morgan,  was  a 
member  of  a  family  of  Scotch  origin,  which  had 
settled  in  Virginia  in  colonial  times.  He  was  a 
nephew  of  Gen.  Daniel  Morgan  of  Revolutionary 
fame,  and  became  the  grandfather  of  Gen.  John 
H.  Morgan,  who  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  Con- 
federate army  during  the   late  civil  war.     He    set- 


tled in  Kentucky  about  1790  and  resided  there 
until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1869.  The  father  of 
our  subject  when  a  young  man  learned  the  black- 
smithing  trade.  During  the  Mexican  war  he  en- 
listed in  the  famous  Kentucky  regiment  known  as 
the  Salt  River  Tigers,  only  seventeen  men  of  which, 
out  of  an  enrollment  of  104,  survived  the  san- 
guinary contests  of  thatconflict.  He  was  honor- 
ably discharged  at  Newport  Barracks,  Ky.,  after 
having  served  two  years  and  eight  days.  He  was 
married  in  1852  to  Martha  E.  Watson,  who,  like 
himself,  was  a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State,  a 
member  of  an  old  Virginia  family  who  settled  in 
Kentucky  at  an  early  date.  After  following  his 
trade  for  a  short  time  in  Kentucky  he  removed  to 
Macon  County.  III.,  and  later  to  Wabash  County. 
Inil.,  where  he  died  in  the  year  1882  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six.  Our  subject's  mother  is  still  living  at 
the  ai^e  of  fifty-two,  and  resides  with  her  parents 
near  'Moweaqua,  Shelby  Co.,  III.  She  is  the 
mother  of  eleven  children:  Thomas  M.,  Worth  M.. 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three;  Sylvester  V.,  Sarah 
J.,  Olive,  Ida  M.,  Mary  B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
one  and  a  half  years;  Luella,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  fourteen;  Delia  A.,  Estella  and  Charles  W. 
Sylvester  V.  is  now  connected  with  a  prominent 
Kansas  City  house;  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  Benja- 
min Phillips,  and  resides  in  Wabash  County,  Ind.; 
Olive  is  the  wife  of  Wesley  Pyle,  a  prominent 
young  farmer  of  Wabash  County,  Ind.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  family,  with  the  exception  of  our 
subject,  are   unmarried. 

Thomas  M.  Morgan  was  bom  in  Anderson  Coun- 
ty, Ky.,  May  10,  1853.  He  was  but  live  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois,  where 
two  years  of  his  childhood  were  spent  in  Macon 
County.  His  parents  then  removed  to  Wabash 
County.  Ind..  where  his  young  manhood  was  passed. 
Having  been  crippled  by  an  accident  at  the  age  of 
thirteen,  his  school  da}'S  were  limited  to  a  period 
twenty  months.  This  accident  occurring  at  the 
very  period  of  life  when  an  active  boy  finds  most 
enjoyment,  he  passed  many  weary  hours  while  his 
youthful  companions  were  enjoying  the  sports 
titled  to  their  years.  For  three  years  and  a  half  he 
walked  upon  crutches,  but  his  mind  seemed  to  de- 
velop   more    rapidly  on   account  of   his    bodily    in- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


751 


firmity.  IK-  pursued  his  studiesat  home,  carrying 
on  the  work  with  great  zest,  and  alone  and  unas- 
sisted took  up  the  studies  of  algebra,  geometry, 
ancient  and  modern  history,  and  carried  on  :i 
varied  course  of  reading.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  took  up  the  profession  of  teacher,  his  first  school 
being  at  Stockdale,  Wabash  Co.,  Ind.  From  this 
time  until  1882,  he  continued  in  this  profession. 
teaching  in  different  counties  in  Indiana  and  llii 
nois.  In  1882  he  entered  upon  a  more  public  Life, 
taki.ig  the  stump  in  Indiana  as  a  Submission  Dem- 
ocrat, favoring  the  submission  of  the  prohibition 
amendment  to  the  people.  In  1885,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  district  and 
graded  schools.  In  thesuramer  of  l,s,s7  he  became 
city  editor  of  the  Danville  Daily  and  Weekly  Prr.ss. 
beginning  his  labors  with  its  first  issue,  and  contin- 
uing on  the  /'/-cs-.s-  staff  until  the  succeeding  sum- 
mer, when  he  was  obliged  to  withdraw  on  account 
of  his  frail  health.  In  the  spring  of  1889  he  took 
charge  of  the  Sidell  Wayside.  It  is  a  bright, 
newsy  sheet,  a.  credit  to  southern  Vermilion  Coun- 
ty, and  is  deservedly  enjoying  a  good  circulation. 
Like  a  tine  journalist,  Mr.  Morgan  conducts  his 
paper  according  to  his  own  best  judgment,  with- 
out regard  to  fear  or  favor.  Politically  the  sheet 
is  independent,  although  the  publisher  is  looking 
forward  to  the  time  when  he  can  publish  a  ted  hot 
Democratic  paper,  he  being  a  staunch  adherent  of 
the  principles  of   Democracy. 

Mr.  Morgan  was  married  .bine  7.  1888,  to  Miss 
Lulu  Montgomery  of  Coles  County,  III.  Her 
father,  Rev.  O.  W.  .Montgomery,  now  of  Newman, 
111.,  is  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  clerical  profession  since  his  twenty- 
eighth  year.  He  now  belongs  to  the  Foster  Pres- 
bytery of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
1 1  is  wife,  formerly  Miss  Sarah  A.  Rankin,  was  also 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  but  grew  up  in  Missouri, 
where  she  was  married.  .She  was  the  mother  of 
twelve  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  They 
arc  named  respectively:  John  T..  Mack  A.,  Man 
E.,  George  W..  Samuel  T.,  Laura  M.,  U.  Lincoln. 
Lulu  S..  Carrie  M.,  Donald  R.,  Finis  E.,  the  de- 
ceased infant  having  borne  the  name  of  Rosa.  Mrs. 
Morgan  was  born  in  Caland,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April 
2.    1*117.    and    grew    to    womanhood    in    her   native 


Slate,  living  at  various  places,  where  her  father 
served  his  different  congregations.  She  became  a 
pupil  of  Bethany  Academy  at  the  age  of  twelve  and 
was  also  a  student  in  the  Southern  Illinois  College 
for  three  years.  She  is  a  most  estimable  youno 
lady  of  refined  character  and  cultured  mind  and 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  educa- 
tional profession  in  this  and  in  Coles  (' ity. 

Mr.  Morgan  is  a  very  well  read  man  and  having 
decided  literary  tastes,  covering  a  range  from  the 
precision  and  accuracy  of  Geometry  and  similar 
sciences  to  the  imaginative  ami  the  descriptive 
charms  of  poetry,  though  perhaps  he  most  enjoys 
historical  writing.  He  is  an  ardent  admirer  of 
Buckle,  Draper,  Hume,  Macauley,  Hegel,  Sehlegel, 
Castelar  and  others.  He  is  not  only  an  admirer  of 
literature  in  various  forms  but  himself  wields  the 
pen  of  a  ready  writer  and  has  written  dialectic,  di- 
dactic and  lyric   [ ms.       Among  the  former  we 

mention  ••Them  01'  Fashioned  Days;"  "When  the 
Days  are  Groin'  "Warm  and  the  Fields  are  Gettjn' 
Green ;"  "How  we  worshiped  in  the  Forties."  Of 
his  lyric-  poems:  --Songs  Unsung;"  "The  Reward:" 
••Sorrow;"  and  "A  New  Year's  Greeting."  Among 
his  didactic  poems  we  mention  but  two:  "Two 
Pictures"  and  "Dream-seen  Days." 

Mrs.  Morgan  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  while  her  husband  strongly 
favors  the  Methodist   doctrine. 


*3M* 


?RANK  CARTER  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
merchants  at  Indianola.  A  prosperous  busi- 
ness man  in  the  grocery  and  queenswarc  line, 

he  has  grown  up  in  this  neighborh 1  anil  is  known 

and  respected  by  everyone.  His  father,  Abraham 
Carter,  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  date  ami  was 
married,  in  Carroll  Township,  to  Eliza  A.  Bacon, 
sister  of  Sarah  and  Oliver  Bacon,  sketches  of  whose 
lives  will  be  found  on  another  page  in  this  volume. 
After  marrying  the  father  removed  to  Peoria 
County  and  resided  there  and  in  Tazewell  County 
seven  years.  He  farmed  and  was  engaged  in  the 
butcher  business  at  Peoria,  and  died  in  1869  at 
Peoria  at  the  age  of  forty  -live  years,  leaving- a  wife 


752 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  three  children — Charles  A.,  Frank  A.  and  Will- 
iam II.,  now  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk  of  Vermilion 
County. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  horn  Oct.  18, 1860, 
in  Tazewell  County,  this  State.  About  nine  years 
old  when  his  father  died  he  began  life  under  difli- 
culties.  His  mother  moved  back  to  Carroll  Town- 
ship, Vermilion,  Co.,  and  our  subject  found  a  home 
with  an  uncle  on  "Woodlawn  Farm"  where  he  re- 
mained for  twelve  years.  He  attended  school  at 
Indianola  during'  the  winters  and  obtained  a  very 
fair  education.  As  he  grew  older  he  became  his 
uncle's  show  boy  and  took  great  pride  in  leading 
the  celebrated  prize-winners  from  "Woodlawn" 
into  the  show  ring.  He  remained  with  his  uncle 
until  1884,  and  in  188(5  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  with  his  brother,  William  II.  The  latter 
was  the  manager  until  two  years  ago  when  his 
brother  Frank  took  the  helm.  I5esides  their  store 
business  they  purchase  wool  at  Indianola  and 
Villa  drove,  and  also  deal  in  all  kinds  of  produce. 
The  village  of  Indianola  may  well  feel  proud  to 
own  two  brothers  of  the  sterling  qualities  that  dis- 
tinguish these  two  estimable  young  men.  Their 
aged  mother  is  well  provided  and  cared  for  by  their 
filial  love.  Being  yet  in  the  noon  of  life  Frank 
Carter  may  well  look  forward  to  a  bright  and  pros- 
perous future.  Mr.  Carter  was  the  choice  of  the 
Republicans  of  Carroll  Township  for  Collector  in 
I  ss."]-H6-H7.  which  position  he  held  with  credit  and 
honor  during  his  term  of  office.  A  member  of  the 
Indianola  Republican  Club  ho  was  delegate  to  the 
Republican  County  Convention.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  Indianola  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation, and  is  a  strong  Repnblican. 


ARON  DALBEY.  The  late  Civil  War  de- 
veloped some  rare  characters,  the  depths 
of  which  would  probably  never  have  been 
disturbed  had  it  not  been  for  this  revolution 
which  shook  the  country  from  turret  to  foundation 
stone.  There  were  then  brought  to  the  surface 
that  God-given  quality — the  love  of  the  true  man 
for  his  native  land — and  the  extent  of  the  sacrifices 


which  he  was  willing  to  make  to  save  her  from  dis- 
memberment. Among  all  those  who  are  written 
of  in  this  volume  there  was  probably  no  truer  pat- 
riot during  the  war  than  Aaron  Dal  be  j',  and  lie 
justly  esteems  the  period  of  his  life  spent  in  the 
Union  Army  as  one  of  the  brightest  spots  in  his 
whole  career.  We  give  this  matter  prominence  be- 
cause it  is  a  subject  dear  to  his  heart  and  he  has 
lost  none  of  the  patriotic  affection  which  enabled 
him  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  to  lay  aside  all  per- 
sonal ties  and  give  his  best  efforts  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union.  We  now  find  him  comfortably 
located  in  a  quiet  country  home,  embracing  a  well- 
regulated  farm  on  section  11.  in  Vance  Township, 
where,  since  the  war,  he  has  gathered  around  him 
all  of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of 
life. 

In  reverting  to  the  family  history  of  our  subject 
we  find  that  his  father,  James  Dalbey,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  in  politics 
an  old-line  Whig.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  SewelLa 
native  of  Ohio,  April  4,  1820,  the  wedding  taking- 
place  in  Clinton  County  .that  State.  They  lived  there 
about  fourteen  years.  Mr.  Dalbey  engaged  as  a 
groceryman,  a  farmer  and  an  hotel-keeper,  con- 
ducting the  old-fashioned  country  tavern  after  the 
most  approved  methods  of  those  times. 

About  this  time  the  lead  mines  near  Dubuque 
were  being  opened  up  and  the  demand  for  carpen- 
ters was  great,  so  the  father  of  our  subject  re- 
moved thither  with  his  family  in  1  8,'J5,  purposing 
to  work  at  his  trade.  He  found  the  times  very  hard 
and  the  country  peopled  largely  with  desperate 
characters,  among  whom  a  murder  was  committed 
nearly  every  night.  This  state  of  things  made  it 
impossible  for  him  to  remain  and  so  he  established 
himself  at  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  lived  three  years 
and  worked  at  his  trade.  He  then  returned  to 
( >hio.  where  he  sojourned  two  years,  and  from  there 
removed  to  Peru,  Ind..  but  only  remained  there 
eight  months.  In  August,  1843,  he  came  to  this 
county,  and  on  the  19th  of  October  following 
passed  from  earth  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years. 
He  was  a  well  educated  man  and  especially  fine 
penman. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  survived  her  first 
husband  for  the  long  period   of  nearly  forty-eight 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


53 


years.  She  was  born  March  12,  ISO.'!,  and  died 
Feb.  26,  1885.  when  nearly  eighty-two  years  old. 
The  parental  household  was  completed  by  the  birth 
of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Aaron. 
our  subject,  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  and 
was  born  in  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  April  25,  L831. 
He  attended  school  at  Quincy,  111.,  and  also  in 
Ohio  a  short  time  and  in  Indiana,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  time  to  avail  himself  of  instruction  in 
the  subscription  schools  here.  Being  the  eldest 
son,  he.  after  the  death  of  his  father,  naturally  in 
due  time,  assumed  many  responsibilities,  and  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years  worked  out  for  $:>  per  month, 
six  months,  from  spring  until  fall.  The  year  fol- 
lowing he  was  employed  by  the  same  man,  with  an 
increase  of  salary  of  $1  per  month. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  married  a  second 
time  to  James  Elliott.  Our  subject  was  bound  out 
for  a  term  of  six  years  to  Alvin  Stearns.  Becom- 
ing dissatistied  with  the  arrangement,  he  served  out 
only  half  his  time,  and  went  to  Ohio  to  learn  a 
trade.  He  came  back  to  Illinois,  however,  a  year 
later,  and  employed  himself  at  whatever  he  could 
find  to  do,  being  at  one  time  the  partner  of  Aaron 
Hardin  in  splitting  rails  and  cord  wood.  Their 
best  week's  work  was  forty-eight  cords  of  wood, 
cut  split  and  piled,  and  this  was  done  at  twenty- 
five  cents  per  cord,  when  rails  were  forty-five  cents 
per   100. 

The  next  most  important  event  in  the  life  of  our 
Subject  was  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Dec.  •_'.">. 
1854,  with  Miss  Martha  E.  Custer.  The  newly 
wedded  pair  commenced  the  journey  of  life  to- 
gether at  the  old  Custer  homestead,  which  is  now 
the  property  of  our  subject,  and  Mr.  Dalbey  there- 
after farmed  on  rented  land  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War.  In  1862  he  went  one  day  to  assist 
a  neighbor  with  his  work,  and  when  he  came  back 
with  his  pitchfork  over  his  shoulder,  his  attitude 
and  bearing  were  such  that  his  wife  exclaimed 
when  she  saw  him  coming,  "there, I  bet  he  is  going 
to  the  war."  He  entered  the  house  and  asked  for 
some  clothing,  and  in  ten  minutes  was  off  for  Ho- 
mer, and  joining  some  of  his  comrades,  repaired 
with  them  to  Camp  Butler,  and  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  7-5<l  Illinois  Infantry. 

Mr.    Dalbey  accompanied    his   regiment   to  the 


front,  and  first  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Perry  ville. 
Oct.  8,  1862.  In  the  early  part  of  the  engage- 
ment he  was  in  the  front  line  of  battle,  and  hail 
only  discharged  six  or  seven  shots  when  a  rebel 
bullet  struck  him  in  the  right  side  of  the  abdomen, 
passing  through  the  upper  lobe  of  the  liver,  and 
came  out  at  the  right  of  the  spine,  grazing  the 
point  of  one  of  the  vertebrae.  The  ball,  before  en- 
tering his  body,  struck  the  cap  box  on  his  belt, 
passed  through  the  box  and  his  belt,  through  his 
coat,,  the  waistband  on  his  pants,  then  through  his 
body,  and  returning  cut  through  the  waistband  and 
"body  belt,,"  and  knocked  the  handle  off  the 
butcher  knife  on  his  belt,  leaving  the  blade  in  its 
scabbard  and  glanced  off  to  the  rear.  He  pulled 
out  of  the  wound  a  bunch  of  the  wood  from  his  cap 
box,  some  cotton-batting  from  his  coat,  and  a  metal 
primer  which  he  carried  in  the  box.  He  was  taken 
to  the  field  hospital,  and  a  rubber  tube  pulled 
through  his  body  twice.  He  was  then  conveyed  to 
the  Perry  ville  General  Hospital,  where  he  remained 
until  October,  1863,  and  was  then  transferred  to 
New  Albany,  Ind.  He  was  discharged  from  the 
hospital  there,  Jan.  20,  1864. 

Mr.  Dalbey  now  returned  to  his  family,  and  al- 
though he  has  been  almost  wholly  disabled  for 
work  since  that  time  he  declares  he  is  ready  to  fight 
the  battle  over  again  if  the  occasion  arises.  He 
and  his  excellent  wife  have  no  children  of  their 
own.  but  have  performed  the  part  of  parents  to  a 
boy  and  girl,  the  former  the  son  of  a  comrade  of 
Mr.  Dalbey.  who  was  discharged  from  the  army  for 
disability,  and  died.  The  boy  Joe  II.  Summers,  be- 
came an  inmate  of  their  home  at  the  age  of  seven 
years,  and  remained  there  until  twenty-one.  He  is 
now  married  and  lives  in  Mendon,  Neb.  The  girl 
Mary  J.  Custer  was  taken  by  them  when  but  eleven 
months  old.  and  is  still  with  them,  now  grown  to 
womanhood. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  in  view  of  his  war 
record,  that  Mr.  Dalbey.  politically,  is  a  decided' 
Republican.  He  had  two  brothers  in  the  army, 
one  of  whom,  Albert,  enlisted  in  Company  C,  25th 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  at  Murf reesboro  was  wounded 
through  the  wiist  and  arm.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  first  term  of  enlistment  he  entered  the  veteran 
reserve  corps  from    which    he    was   honorably   dis- 


754 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


charged.  Another  brother,  William  II.  II.,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  In  1840,  and  en- 
listed in  Company  I),  63d  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
was  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  magazine  at  Co- 
lumbia. S.  C,  Feb.  19,  1865,  being  terribly  man- 
gled and  blown  into  a  river.  He  had  strength, 
however,  to  swim  ashore  and  was  taken  to  the  hos- 
pital where  he  died.  He  had  been  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Sergeant.  Mr.  Dalbey  has  officiated  as 
Road  Overseer,  and  is  a  member  of  Homer  Post 
No.  263,  <i.  A.  R. 

Jacob  M.  Custer,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Dalbey,  was, 
with  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Ocheltree.  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. They  came  to  Illinois  in  1849,  settling  in 
this  county,  but  later  removed  to  Champaign 
County,  where  the  death  of  Mr.  Custer  took  place, 
Sept.  17,  1865.  His  widow  subsequently  married 
John  L.  Myers,  who  has  since  died,  and  Mrs.  Myers 
is  now  living  at  Homer,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living  and  of  whom  Mrs.  Dalbey  was 
next  to  the  eldest.  She  was  born  Sept.  4,  1836,  in 
Fayette  County  Ohio,  received  a  fair  education  and 
was  married  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  She  is 
a  very  estimable  lady  of  more  than  usual  benev- 
olence, and  is  a  member  of  the  Homer  Woman's  Re- 
lief Corps,  No.  69.  She  was  at  one  time  President 
of  this  body,  and  was  presented  with  a  very  fine 
gold  badge  as  Past  President  by  the  members  of 
her  corps  as  a  token  of  their  appreciation  of  her 
worth  and  services.  She  has  never  missed  a  meet- 
ing, either  regular  or  special  since  its  organization, 
in  April.  I KK7.  In  religious  matters,  she  belongs 
to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Dalbey  during  the  days  of  his  early  manhood 
was  an  expert  hunter  and  has  brought  down  many 
a  deer  in  this  county.  He  is  naturally  possessed 
of  great  courage  and  bearing,  but  is  uniformly 
kind-hearted  to  all  except  the  enemies  of  his 
country. 


/2=§EORGE  D.  HUFFMAN.     A  man  is  usua 
if  ^f1  J1"1^™'  kv  llis  surroundings,  and  if  they  : 
v^^|    what  he  has  brought  about  himself  it  is  s: 
to  say  they  are  a  good  indication  of  his  character. 
Mr.  Huffman  may  usually  lie  found  at  one  of  the 


ally 
are 

safe 


best  farms  in  Newell  Township,  a  homestead  which 
he  has  built  up  by  his  own  enterprise,  and  which, 
with  its  substantial  improvements  and  thoroughly 
cultivated  fields,  reflects  greatly  to  his  credit,  his 
industry  and  his  good  taste.  It  is  evident  that  he 
planted  his  standard  high,  and  the  evidences  of  his 
skill  and  thoroughness  are  on  every  hand.  The 
farm  buildings  are  neat,  commodious  and  conven- 
ient; he  has  a  goodly  assortment  of  live-stock,  well 
fed  and  comfortable,  and  he  avails  himself  of  mod- 
ern machinery  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  which 
yields  him  a  handsome  income.  As  a  member  of 
the  community  he  occupies  no  secondary  position. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ky.,  May  1  4,  1829,  and  is  the  son  of  Dan- 
iel P.  and  Elizabeth  (Switzer)  Huffman,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Maryland. 
The  parents  were  taken  to  Kentucky  when  children, 
where  they  attained  to  manhood  and  womanhood 
and  were  married.  There  also  their  ten  children 
were  born,  eight  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years. 
In  due  time  they  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
what  is  now  Newell  Township,  Vermilion  County, 
where  the  death  of  the  father  took  place  in  Octo- 
ber. 1836,  while  he  was  in  his  prime.  The  mother 
survived  her  husband  nearly  twenty-one  years,  her 
death  occurring  in  January,  1857. 

The  Huffman  family  came  to  this  region  in  1832, 
where  Oeorge  D..  our  subject,  reached  man's  es- 
tate and  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  acquired  a 
common-school  education,  and  like  his  father  before 
him  chose  farming  for  his  vocation.  After  reach- 
ing the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his  age  he  was  married 
Sept.  18,  1856,  to  Miss  Mary  Cox.  Mrs.  Huffman 
was  born  in  Parke  County.  End.,  Aug.  19,  1831 
and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Cox, 
who  were  natives  of  Butler  County,  Ohio.  They 
left  the  Buckeye  State  in  1830,  locating  in  Parke 
County,  Ind.,  and  in  1857  changed  their  residence 
to  Newell  Township,  Vermilion  Co.,  III.,  where 
Mrs.  Cox  died  in  July,  1864.  The  father  died  in 
1H72. 

The  record  of  the  seven  ehildren  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Huffman  is  as  follows:  John  F.  was  born 
June  21,  1857,  and  died  October  30,  1858;  Daniel 
P.  was  born  December  1,  1858,  and  died  April  3, 
1860;   Oeorge  D.  was  born  Feb.    1.  1861,  and  died 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


755 


April  3,  following;  Emily  J.  was  born  Feb.  l.r>, 
1862;  Mary  E.  May  22,  1865;  Edna  A.  was  born 
Dec.  17,  18(19.  and  died  March  6,  187:!;  Ellie  M. 
was  born  Feb.  5,  1*75.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huff- 
man are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church, 

Our  subject  in  connection  with  general  agricul- 
ture keeps  a  goodly  quantity  of  live  slock,  and  has 
by  a  course  of  economy  and  prudence  laid  by  suf- 
ficient to  secure  him  against  want  in  his  old  age. 
He  lias  uniformly  signalized  himself  as  a  liberal 
and  public  spirited  citizen,  taking  a  warm  interest 
in  educational  affairs,  and  serving  as  School  Di- 
rector and  School  Trustee  for  over  thirty  years. 
lie  was  Commissioner  ot  Highways  six  years,  and 
has  held  other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility. 
Without  any  desire  for  the  spoils  of  office,  he  has 
kept  himself  thoroughly  posted  in  regard  to  mat- 
ters of  general  interest,  and  gives  his  unqualified 
support  to  the  Democratic  party. 


~  EORGE  DILLON,  Esq.,  was  born  in  George- 

Gtown.  Vermilion  Co.,  this  State,  Jan.  111. 
1837.  His  father  and  grandfather  were  na- 
tives of  North  Carolina  and  removed  to  Ohio  in 
the  early  settlement  of  that  State.  They  settled 
several  miles  south  of  Cincinnati,  where  they  bought 
timbered  land  and  resided  there  until  the  death  of 
the  grandfather.  The  father,  Luke  Dillon,  was  fif- 
teen years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  and  resided 
until  183d,  when  he  came  to  Vermilion  County  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  six  children.  The 
journey  was  made  with  a  six-horse  team,  bringing 
his  household  goods,  while  the  party  cooked  and 
camped  on  the  way.  He  located  near  the  present 
site  of  Georgetown  and  bought  a  tract  of  land, 
where  he  resided  in  a  log  cabin  for  a  time,  when  he 
built  one  of  the  first  frame  houses  in  that  section 
of  the  country  and  resided  there  until  his  death. 
His  son  George  attended  the  early  schools  of  his 
native  county  and  resided  with  his  father,  assisting 
him  on  a  farm  until  the  death  of  the  latter  and 
then   remained   with   his  brothers  and  sisters  until 


the  age  of  twenty -one.  lie  then  brought  a  farm 
near  Georgetown,  where  he  remained  until  enlist- 
ing in  the  army,  in  1*62.  He  was  a  member  of 
Company  D,  25th  Illinois  Infantry,  where  he  served 
until  February,  1805.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Perrysville,  Ky.,  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge, 
and  was  with  Sherman  when  he  started  from  Chat- 
tanooga to  the  Atlantic  and  served  in  various  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes  until  June  7,  when  he  was 
wounded  in  the  right  arm  and  sent  to  the  hospital, 
where  his  arm  was  amputated  close  to  the  shoulder 
and  he  returned  home  in  February,  1865.  A  strong 
Republican  in  politics  he  has  held  several  offices. 
In  1866  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk  of  Georgetown. 
In  1867  he  was  elected  Assessor  and  Collector  and 
re-elected  in  1868.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  was 
elected  Circuit  Clerk  of  Vermilion  County,  and 
twice  re-elected  and  held  office  for  twelve  years. 
In  April,  1889,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  in   1887  was  elected  Assistant  Supervisor. 

George  Dillon  married,  in  1861,  Miss  Desde- 
mona  F.  Martin,  born  in  Georgetown  in  1841.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Martin,  who 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Vermilion 
County.  They  had  six  children:  Lucretia,  Alma, 
Hannah,  William  S.,  Grace.  Joseph  G.  and  Robert 
M.  Since  his  retirement  from  public  life  he  has  not 
been  engaged  in  any  active  business  but  has  dealt 
some  in  real  estate.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dillon  are  active 
and  energetic  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and 
are  among  the  most  respected  and  estimable  people 
in  the  community. 


~^?£&Z&rZ>*^ 


ITELL  TILLOTSON,  a  skillful,  practical 
farmer,  is  quietly  and  prosperously  carry- 
ing on  his  farming  operations  on  his  farm, 
&  one  of  the  best  and  most  highly  productive 
of  Pilot  Township,  very  pleasantly  located  on  sec- 
tion 36.  He  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  War- 
ren County,  Sept.  23,  1847.  His  grandparents  on 
both  sides  of  the  house  were  pioneers  of  Ohio  in 
the  early  days  of  its  settlement,  His  father, 
Epbraim  Tillotson,'  was  born  in  Miami  County, 
that  State,  in    1811.  his  ancestors  being  of  English 


756 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


origin  and  he  a  descendant  of  the  same  branch  of 
the  family  as  that  famous  English  divine.  Arch- 
bishop Tillotson.  The  mother  of  the  subject, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  A.  Cronkhite,  was 
also  born  in  Miami  County.  After  her  marriage 
with  the  father  of  our  subject,  they  came  westward 
to  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  located  in  Warren 
County,  and  from  there  removed  to  Vermilion 
County,  111.,  where  the  father  died  in  1884.  The 
mother  survives  at  an  advanced  age  and  makes  her 
home  on  a  farm  in  Vermilion  County.  Of  her 
marriage  twelve  children  were  born,  of  whom  the 
following  eight  are  living:  Walter,  a  farmer  of  this 
county,  married  Lucetta  Endicott;  Madison,  who 
lives  in  Louisiana,  married  Kate  Goodwine,  and 
they  have  three  children:  Luther,  a  farmer,  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Myrick,  and  they  have  five  children; 
Wallace,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  married  Emily 
French,  and  they  have  three  children;  Buell  is  our 
subject;  Sarah  married  Edward  Foster,  of  Indiana, 
now  living  in  this  county,  and  they  have  seven 
children;  Rebecca  married  J.  K.  Buettz,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Potomac,  ami  they  have  six  children; 
Frances  married  Alonzo  W.  Knight,  a  farmer  of 
this  county,  and  they  have  four  children;  Mary 
married  Frank  Henry,  a  retired  farmer  of  this 
county,  and  they  have   two  children. 

Buell  Tillotson  gleaned  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  a  practical  training  at  home 
that  fitted  him  to  cope  with  the  world  when  he 
became  independent.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1856 
with  his  father.  When  he  began  life  on  his  own 
account  he  did  not  have  the  wherewithal  to  buy 
land  for  himself,  and  as  he  was  very  desirous  to 
carry  on  farming  he  rented  a  farm.  lie  met  with 
such  good  success  in  that  venture  that  in  a  few 
years,  by  unremitting  toil  and  frugal  economy,  he 
was  enabled  to  lay  up  money  enough  to  buy  a 
farm  of  his  own,  and  he  became  the  possessor  of 
one  comprising  160  acres  of  land  of  unsurpassed 
fertility,  and  now  has  it  under  good  cultivation,  and 
has  made  many  substantial  improvements  that  have 
greatly  increased  its  value,  and  he  has  established  a 
cozy,  comfortable  home  for  his  family.  He  is  en- 
gaged  in  mixed  husbandry,  and  besides  raising 
grain  and  other  products  common  to  this  climate, 
raises  stock,  all  that  his  farm  will  carry. 


Mr.  Tillotson  was  married  April  8,  1885,  to  Miss 
Lizzie  Wiles,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Margaret 
Wiles,  residents  of  Vermilion  County,  111.  She 
was  born  in  this  county,  and  was  one  of  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living  at  the  present  time, 
Mrs.  Tillotson  and  her  brother,  Lankford  Wiles. 
The  father.  Aaron  Wiles,  died  in  1869,  and  his 
I  widow  married  again  in  1873,  being  then  united 
with  Thomas  P.  Mryie,  by  whom  she  had  one  child, 
a  daughter,  Myrta,  now  ten  years  old.  The  wedded 
life  of  our  subject  and  his  excellent  wife  has  been 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  two  children,  of 
whom  one  alone  lives.  Lucetta. 

The  great-uncle  of  our  subject,  Simon  Buell. 
(who  was  also  an  uncle  of  Major-General  I).  C. 
Hncll  of  the  late  war)  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
Indian  fighter,  and  pioneer,  and  could  tell  many 
interesting  and  thrilling  stories  of  adventures  and 
hair-breadth  escapes  from  Indian  tomahawks,  in 
connection  with  the  settlement  of  eastern  Ohioand 
western  New  York.  When  a  boy  he  was  once 
captured  by  the  Indians,  but  escaped  in  company 
with  two  men,  and  with  them  traveled  night  and 
day  until  they  arrived  at  an  American  settlement. 
One  night  they  slept  in  a  pit,  around  which  some- 
thing stealthily  crept  all  night,  peering  over  at 
them  with  eyes  like  coals  of  Are.  The  lad  saw  and 
watched  all  the  movements  of  the  animal  with 
quivering  but  suppressed  excitement,  but  the 
others  slept  through  the  danger,  and  he  feared  to 
awaken  them  lest  the  noise  would  endanger  their 
lives,  and  as  he  was  between  the  two  he  thought  if 
it  jumped  on  any  of  them  it  would  be  on  those 
outside.  When  morning  came  the  animal  left  with 
wild,  mournful  screams  that  made  the  woods  ring, 
and  then  they  discovered  that  it  was  a  panther. 
Another  incident  illustrates  the  animosity  existing 
between  the  Tories  and  Whigs  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  as  well  as  the  coolness  and 
courage  of  oneof  those  brave  veterans.  Mr.Buell  had 
returned  to  his  farm  only  to  find  it  devastated  h\- 
the  invading  armies,  and  was  one  day  walking  over 
it,  viewing  the  ruins  and  thinking  how  best  he 
could  rebuild  the  burned  house  and  fences,  when  a 
bullet  whistled  close  to  his  ear.  He  knew  at  once 
that  it  was  from  a  Tory  enemy,  and  also  concluded 
from  the  interval  between  the    whistle  of  the    bul- 


■ 


'•>??<,     • 


9&&Je&nce  of  JOHN  N.ENGELMANN*K*zS2  (r/SL/tJ£)Gat£at  Townshi/t.  Vermilion  (Jourtty. 


, _, 


■ 
■ 


%fe&/xfcr<s;eo/"GEO.fA>J\U&RS.j?y';<?s.7'&72,  tDanrille  Townshifi,  Vertnilion  County- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


759 


let  and  the  report  of  the  gun  ihat  it  was  at  long 
range.  Instantly  his  mind  was  made  up,  and  with- 
out stopping  or  changing  his  gait  in  the  least  lie 
leisurely  sauntered  on,  wishing  to  make  his  enemj 
believe  he  had  not  even  heard  the  shot.  The  ruse 
was  successful,  as  the  shot  was  not  repeated. 

Our  subject  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  with 
much  force  and  decision  of  character,  however, 
and  his  place  in  this  community  is  among  its  best 
and  most  deserving  c  itizens.  He  and  his  wife  arc 
worthy  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  as  is 
attested  by  their  conduct  in  the  every-day  affairs 
of  life.  Mr.  Tillotson  is  a  firm  ally  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  taking  an  Intelligent  interest  in 
political  matters.  He  has  served  on  several  juries, 
and  is  in  every  way  fitted  to  perform  the  duties 
attendant,  upon  good  citizenship. 

JOHN  N.  ENGELMANN  is  entitled  to  rep. 
resentation  in  this  Biographical  Album  as 
an  intelligent,  p'actical  member  of  the 
farming  community  of  Vermilion  County 
He  is  classed  among  our  self-made  men.  as  he  be- 
gan life  with  no  capital,  but  a  sturdy,  self-reliant, 
capable  manhood,  and  has  become  independent 
and  prosperous,  and,  as  old  age  approaches,  finds 
himself  in  possession  of  a  comfortable  competence, 
and  well  fortified  against  want  and  poverty.  His 
farm  on  section  22,  Catlin  Township,  is  provided 
with  an  excellent  class  of  buildings,  and  its 
soil  is  admirably  tilled,  yielding  abundant  harvests 
in  repayment  for  the  labor  and  money  bestowed 
on  it. 

Our  subject  was  horn  in  Prussia,  duly  2i),  1828, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  Nicholas  and  Margaret 
(Kimmel)  Engelmann.  The  wife  died  in  Ger- 
many. The  father  snbsccpientl y  emigrated  to  this 
country,  and   after  a  time  removed  to   Du  Quoin, 

111.,    where    he    died.       The    boyh I    and    youth 

of  our  subject  were  passed  in  his  native  country, 
but  in  the  early  years  of  his  manhood  he  deter- 
mined to  cross  the  Atlantic  and  seek  in  the 
I'nitcd  States  of  America  the  prosperity  denied 
him  at  home.  In  March,  18.54,  he  left  the  beloved 
Fatherland    on    an     American-bound    vessel,    and 


twenty-eight  days  later  the  ocean  was  between 
him  and  the  familiar  scenes  amid  which  he  had 
been  reared,  lie  disembarked  at.  New  York  and 
made  his  way  from  that  city  to  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  digging  coal,  which 
employment  he  had  followed  in  the  Old  Country. 
He  lived  in  different  places  in  Ohio  till  1857,  when 
he  came  to  Vermilion  County  to  avail  himself  of 
the  many  advantages  it,  offered  a  poor  man  to 
make  his  way  to  comparative  affluence.  Liking  the 
country  here,  he  decided  to  remove  his  family  to 
this  county,  and  settle  here  permanently.  At  first 
they  lived  in  Danville  Township,  hut  a  year  later 
Mr.  Engelmann  came  to  Catlin  Township  with  his 
wife  and  children,  and  rented  a  farm  live  years; 
and  at,  the  same  time  he  worked  in  the  coal  mines 
in  the  winter,  carrying  on  his  farming  operations 
during  the  other  seasons  of  the  year.  In  1864  he 
hail  been  so  prudent  and  industrious,  that  he 
had  managed  to  save  up  quite  a  little  sum  of 
money,  and  was  enabled  to  purchase  eighty  acres 
of  land,  which  is  included  in  his  present  farm.  In 
the  busy  years  that  followed  he  made  many  val- 
uable improvements,  erecting  a  substantial,  well- 
built  dwelling,  a  good  barn  and  other  neccessary 
outbuildings,  and  placed  his  land  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  devoting  himself  entirely  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  bought  more  land,  and  his 
farm  now  comprises  120  acres  of  fine  farming  land 
that  compares  in  fertility  and  productiveness  with 
the  best  in  the   township. 

During  these  years  of  toil  Mr.  Engelmann  has 
not  been  without  the  assistance  of  a  good  wife, 
who  has  been  to  him  all  that  a  faithful  helpmate 
could  be.  They  were  united  in  marriage  in  their 
native  Prussia,  in  September,  1853.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Maria  Schuetz,  and  she  was  born  Dec. 
18,  1834.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Maria  (Graser)  Schuetz),  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  were  buried  in  this  township.  Their 
happy  wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  Mr.  ami 
Mrs.  Eugelman  by  the  birth  of  eight  children,  as 
follows:  Nicholas,  Jacob,  Mary  F..  MargarettaS., 
John  W.,  Sophia,  Charles  and  Elizabeth;  all  are 
living. 

In  our  subject  his  fellow-townsmen  find  those 
desirable   qualities   and   manly  traits  of  character 


rco 


POR1RAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


that  make  him  a  useful  citizen  and  a  good  neigh- 
bor, one  in  whom  they  may  place  their  trust  with 
a  surety  that  it  will  not  be  abused.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  faithfully  supports  his  party 
at  the  polls.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  ex- 
emplary members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and 
carry  their  Christian  faith  into  their  everyday 
lives. 

A  fine  lithographic  view  of  the  handsome  resi- 
dence, farm  and  outbuildings  on  the  place  of  Mr. 
Engelmann  is  shown  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

\R_^ENRY  PUZEY.  Colonies  of  Englishmen 
ji/jY  have  settled  in  various  portions  of  the  West, 
£>^'  composed  of  people  who  were  well-to-do  in 
(ji§J)  their  own  country  and  the  sons  of  wealthy 
parents.  In  a  great  many  instances  they  have 
found  the  country  contrary  to  what  they  pictured 
it,  and  becoming  discouraged,  have  returned  to 
their  native  country.  The  majority  of  the  people 
spoken  of  came  here  imbued  with  the  idea  that  dol- 
lars grew  on  bushes,  and  that  it  required  no  effort 
to  march  along  to  prosperity.  In  all  this  they 
were  mistaken.  Labor  is  its  own  reward  in  America, 
as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  this  world.  The  man 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch  was  a  well-to-do  and 
representative  business  man  of  London,  having 
been  connected  with  one  of  the  leading  dry  goods 
houses  of  the  metropolis  of  the  world.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  refinement,  education,  and  possesses 
knowledge  of  the  world,  and  without  any  previous 
experience  that  agriculture  gives,  he  came  here  to 
win  a  place  as  a  farmer,  and  he  has  met  with  un- 
qualified success.  All  the  characteristics  of  Mr. 
Puzey  bear  out  the  assertion  that  he  is  a  typical 
English  gentleman. 

His"  father,  Joseph  Puze3r,  was  a  native  of 
England  and  a  man  prominent  in  his  country.  His 
mother  was  descended  from  France  and  her  name 
was  Beatrice  Blanche  before  her  marriage.  Her 
people  during  the  time  of  the  French  Revolution 
sought  safety  on  the  British  Island  and  eventually 
became  English  subjects.  The  father  died  in  Eng- 
land, and  was  seventy  years  old,  while  the  mother 


is  still  residing  in  England  and  is  eighty-five  years 
of  age.  (She  reared  ten  children  to  maturity,  of 
which  but  three  arc  living  in  America:  Henry, 
Thomas  and  Albert.  Henry,  of  whom  this  sketch 
is  written,  is  the  oldest  child,  and  was  born  Aug. 
16,  1826,  in  Berkshire,  England.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  such  as  was  obtainable  in  the  private 
schools  of  his  own  class  and  those  connected  with 
the  Episcopal  Church.  He  passed  bis  entire  child- 
hood under  his  father's  roof  on  the  farm  in  Berk- 
shire, and  as  he  grew  up  he  desired  to  enter 
mercantile  pursuits,  and  under  the  direction  of  his 
father  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  dry  goods  house 
owned  by  his  father's  brother,  Henry  Puzey.  at 
Bow.  London,  where  for  five  years  he  served  an 
apprenticeship,  his  father  paying  forty  pounds  ster- 
ling as  tuition,  clothing  him  beside.  Showing  a 
great  deal  of  natural  aptitude  for  bis  chosen  voca- 
tion, he  remained  with  this  house  during  the  five 
years  of  his  apprenticeship  and  four  years  longer, 
receiving  an  annual  salary  varying  from  twenty  to 
forty  pounds  sterling  from  his  first  to  his  last  year 
in  that  business. 

The  years  of  manhood  were  now  dawning  upon 
him,  and  as  time  passed  by  his  inclination  grew 
stronger  to  see  more  of  the  world,  and  so  his  at- 
tention was  naturally  directed  to  America.  His 
experience  in  London  was  very  valuable  to  him  as 
a  business  man.  In  the  latter  part  of  April,  1850, 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  landing  at  Castle  Garden, 
New  York  City.  From  the  metropolis  of  the  New 
World  he  came  directly  to  Vermilion  County. 
Land  was  very  cheap  in  Illinois  at  that  time,  yet 
with  all  his  money  he  could  scarcely  buy  forty 
acres.  Here  he  was,  almost  at  the  end  of  civiliza- 
tion, without  means  and  without  experience  save 
as  a  dry  goods  clerk  in  London.  He  was  about  to 
conclude  that  he  had  made  the  great  mistake  of  his 
life,  but  a  determined  will  to  succeed  kept  him 
steadily  and  persistently  following  out  his  original 
idea  of  growing  up  with  the  American  West. 
After  remaining  here  seven  years  he  returned  to 
England,  where,  in  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Hannah,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Rymer, 
who  were  well-to-do  farmers  of  Gloucestershire, 
England.  Both  her  parents  were  born  at  the  same 
place,  and  after  a  lifetime  of  industry  and  prosper- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


76] 


ity,  died  at  seventy  and  sixty  years  respectively. 
Mrs.  Puzey  was  brought   up   in    Gloucestershire, 

where  she  was  educated  in  g I    private  schools, 

r 1 1 1 •  I  her  early  religious  instruction  was  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Puzey  remained 
eighteen  months  in  their  native  land,  before  they 
took  their  final  departure  for  their  uew  home  in 
America,  where  they  arrived,  aftera  pleasant  jour- 
ney, in  the  latter  part  of  1858.  Through  the  in- 
telligent use  of  his  opportunities  and  enhanced  by 
an  endowment  from  his  wife's  estate,  Mr.  Puzey 
has  prospered  and  become  independent,  financially 
speaking.  He  has  become  a  most  excellent  farmer 
and  is  a  thorough  American  at  heart. 

Mr.  Puzey  owns  two  farms,  the  homestead  con- 
taining 340  acres,  and  operated  by  himself,  and  a 
quarter  section  upon  which  he  has  tenants.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Puzey  have  five  children :  Joseph,  .lames 
l;..  Thomas.  Francis  E.  and  Henry,  all  of  whom 
are  at  home.  Mr.  Puzey's  career  is  a  brilliant 
illustration  of  the  fact  that  a  poor  man  is  better  off 
in  America  than  in  England,  and  that  success  is 
always  a  reward  of  industry.  This  worthy  couple 
are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  England. 


i  LANSON  N.  ALBRIGHT.  Farming,  there 
is  little  doubt,  stands  at  the  front  of  all 
the  industries,  for  without  it  men  could 
scarcely  exist  and  carry  on  the  multitu- 
dinous labors  of  the  world.  As  time  passes  it  is 
coming  to  be  looked  upon  in  its  true  light  as  an 
art  and  a  science,  and  is  being  prosecuted  by  some 
of  the  most  intelligent  and  able  men  living.  While 
many  arc  interested  in  other  projects  besides,  he 
who  has  a  surplus  amount  of  capital  invests  it 
wisely  when  he  devotes  a  portion  of  it  to  the 
acqisition  of  landed  estates  and  the  tilling  of  the 
soil.  The  reputation  of  this  county  as  a  dwelling 
place,  the  richness  of  its  resources  and  its  standing 
to-day  is  mainly  due  to  the  excellence  of  its  farm- 
in;?  population.  Among  the  men  who  have  assisted 
it  to  its  present  position  may  be  most  properly 
mentioned  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Alanson  Albright  represents  valuable  farm  prop- 


erty to  the  amount  of  Km  acres  of  land  in  Boss 
Township,  and  occupies  a  well-regulated  home- 
stead on  section  20.  After  bringing  his  land  to  a 
good  state  of  cultivation  he  fumed  his  attention 
largely  to  live-stock,  and  thus  hud  the  foundation 
of  a  snug  fortune.  His  career  has  been  signalized 
by  that  honesty  and  integrity  which  has  gained 
him  the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  raised 
him  to  an  enviable  position  in  his  community.  He 
was  born  June  12,  1824,  in  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of 
David  Albright.  His  father  was  George  Albright, 
Jr.,  he  was  the  son  of  George  Albright,  Sr.,  the 
two  latter  natives  of  Switzerland,  where  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  reared  his  family  and 
spent  his  entire  life. 

George  Albright,  Jr.,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  emigrated  from  the  land  of  William 
Tell  with  his  brother  Jacob,  when  they  were  boys, 
and  they  sold  themselves  to  a  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  farmer,  Mr.  Grubb,  for  three  years  to  pay  their 
passage  across  the  ocean.  In  view  of  this  fact  it 
is  believed  they  ran  away  from  home.  Grand- 
father Albright  served  his  three  years  and  then  was 
married  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Barbara 
Cradlebaugh,  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  As 
the  conflict  increased  in  importance  he  finally  left 
his  young  wife  and  shouldering  a  musket  entered 
the  arm}'  and  served  under  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne 
for  seven  years.  Jacob  was  also  in  the  arm}'  at  the 
same  time.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Jacob  Al- 
bright located  in  YorkCounty,  Pa.  Notwithstand- 
ing his  early  escapade  he  was  piously  inclined,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  religious  matters, organizing 
the  Albright  Church,  and  giving  his  life  to  the 
ministry  thereafter.  He  spent  his  last  years  in 
York  County.  Grandfather  Albright  settled  on 
Dunkin's  Island,  in  Perry  Count}-.  Pa.,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  At  that  place  was 
born  his  son,  David,  the  father  of  our  subject.  To 
the  old  Revolutionary  hero  there  was  awarded  by 
the  Government  Gill  acres  of  land  in  what  after, 
ward  became  Ohio  Territory  and  upon  which  is 
now  situated  the  City  of  Columbus.  This  prop- 
erty naturally  fell  to  David,  and  he.  in  1796.  visited 
it.  and  considering  it  of  little  value,  returned  Hast 
and  located  in  Virginia,  where  he  employed  him- 
self at   his    trade    of  distiller   two  years.     At    the 


702 


PORTRAIT  AND   l',IO< :  RAPII1CAL  ALBUM. 


expiration  of  this  time,  returning  to  Pennsylvania, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  PUebe  Newman.  In  due 
time  there  was  former!  a  little  settlement  in  Fair- 
field Bounty,  Ohio,  and  the  father  of  our  subject 
traded  his  land  for  a  marc  a  cow  and  $25  in  money. 
The  family  removed  to  that  county  in  the  mean- 
time, and  there  our  subject  was  born,  in  Perry 
Township.  June  12,  1821.  Soon  afterward  his 
parents  removed  to  Pickaway  County,  in  the  same 
State,  where  he  was  reared. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
the  following  children,  namely:  Samuel.  Betsy. 
Hannah.  Alanson  N.,  Louis,  Jackson,  Polly,  Oliver 
P.  and  Frederick.  Five  of  them  are  living  and 
located  mostly  in  this  county.  In  1840  the  parents 
resolved  upon  another  change  of  residence,  and 
removed  to  Clinton  County,  Ind.,  where  they  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  fron- 
tier life.  George  Albright  was  an  expert  hunter, 
a  sport  in  which  he  took  great  satisfaction  and  de- 
light. He  lived  to  be  about  ninety  years  old.  The 
mother  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

Our  subject  was  a  youth  of  fifteen  years  when 
he  removed  with  his  father's  family  from  Ohio  to 
Indiana.  About  that  time  he  started  out  for  him- 
self, and  engaged  by  the  month  to  drive  cattle  from 
Indiana  to  the  Eastern  markets.  He  was  then  em- 
ployed until  the  fall  of  1855.  In  the  meantime  he 
was  married,  Jan.  10,  1854,  to  Bliss  Jane,  daughter 
of  William  Beevens.  of  New  York  State.  In  1843 
he  made  his  way  to  this  county  and  herded  and 
drove  cattle,  prior  to  the  time  of  any  settlement 
within  its  limits.  It  was  he  who  named  Lean 
Creek.  About  1858  he  began  farming  in  Vance 
Township,  but  afterward  made  several  trips  East 
with  stock.  He  also  visited  the  South,  selling 
stock  in  several  of  the  Southern  States,  as  well  as 
the  Eest. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Albright  came  to  this  State 
probably  early  in  the  fifties.  Mrs.  Albright  died 
in  1859,  while  a  young  woman,  leaving  no  children. 
Our  subject,  on  the  17th  of  November,  1861,  con- 
tracted a  second  marriage  with  Miss  Ama  Plevins; 
of  this  there  was  two  children,  one  is  still  living. 
His  second  wife  died  in  1858.  The  daughter's 
lrmic  is  Hannah  Jane.  His  third  wife  was  Athinda, 
daughter    of  Henry   and    Fve   (Hamaker)  Groves. 


This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Susan,  Mrs.  W.  R.  Braden  of  this  county; 
George  W.  1).,  Mary  E.  C,  Frederick  R.,  Charles 
P.,  Aaron  J.  K.  and  Laura  A.  M.,  all  of  whom  are 
living.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Albright 
was  George  Grove,  a  native  of  Holland,  where  he 
spent  his  entire  life  and  reared  his  family.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  their  mar- 
riage occurring  in  Dauphin  County,  Pa.  They 
settled  in  Sangamon  County,  111.,  in  182  1,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The 
Hamaker  family  also  located  there  at  an  early  day. 
<  Grandfather  Grove  and  his  wife  were  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Baptist  Church.  Grandfather 
Hamaker  was  a  preacher  in  this  Church.  Mrs. 
Albright  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  Albright  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Taylor.  Further  than  keeping  himself  well 
posted  upon  current  events,  he  has  had  little  to  do 
with  public  affairs  or  the  responsibilities  of  office, 
lie  is,  however,  President  of  the  Agricultural 
Society  of  Ross  Township,  and  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic Fraternity,  bodge  No.  527,  at  Rossville,  of 
which  he  is  a  charter  member.  He  has  been  a 
Mason  for  the  long  period  of  forty-five  years,  be- 
coming identified  with  the  fraternity  in  Circleville, 
Ohio. 


!  WILSK  TILTON  is  a  prominent  merchant 
and  Postmaster  in  the  township,  in  which  he 
lives.  His  father  Enoch  Tilton,  was  born 
in  Fayette  Count}',  Pa.  His  mother  Elizabeth  Wil- 
son, was  born  in  Beaver  County,  of  the  same  State. 
They  settled  in  the  place  of  her  birth,  and  from 
there  moved  to  Ripley  County,  Ind.,  in  1814.  It 
was  here  that  Mr.  Tilton  died.  Not  long  after 
this,  his  wife  also  died  at  Potomac,  this  county,  in 
1887,  leaving  a  family  of  nine  sons,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  second.  The  place  of  his  birth  was 
Beaver  County,  Pa.,  and  the  time  Jan.  8,  183G.  In 
18G2  he  traveled  to  this  count}',  and  taught  school 
for  four  3'ears.  Thus  far  thirteen  years  of  his 
life  had  been  spent  in  teaching,  as  he  had  been  a 
school-master  nine  years  prior  to  his  coming  to 
Vermilion  County,     lie  then  found  employment  as 


PORTRAIT  AM)    BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


763 


clerk  under  the  late  Richard  James.  Tins  position 
he  kept  for  two  years,  after  which,  in  1868  he 
formed  a  partnership,  and  went  into  business  for 
himself.  Eventually  Mr.  Tilton  bought  out  the  en- 
tire business,  which  lie  has  since  conducted  in  his 
own  name.  He  carries  an  unusually  fine  stock  of 
merchandise.  In  addition  to  his  store  at  Catlin,  lie 
owns  one  which  is  operated  by  his  son. 

Mr.  Tilton  was  appointed  Postmaster  under  the 
administration  of  Cleveland.  He  had  held  the 
Office  of  Superintendent,  and  almost  all  the  offices 
in  the  township.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Vermilion  County  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, being  its  President  for  three  months,  and  its 
Vice-President  for  several  years.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Catlin  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  No. 
285.  and  was  Master  of  the  lodge  five  years. 

Our  subject's  life  is  a  noble  record  of  vast  en- 
ergy, untiring  labor,  and  fervent,  and  unfading 
courage.  Those  who  knew  him  familiarly,  loved 
and  valued  him  more  and  more,'  the  longer  their 
intercourse  lasted.  His  marriage  with  Elizabeth 
Albright,  occurred  in  Ripley  County,  Ind.  They 
had  three  children:  Charles  Virgil,  who  is  in  com- 
pany with  his  father;  Elsie  Venus,  who  is  the  wife 
of  A.  McGregor;  and  Bertie  Victor.  Mr.  Tilton 
has  been  a  correspondent  of  the  Danville  JTeics  for 
fifteen  years.  Mr.  Tilton  is  rather  a  reserved  man. 
and  boasts  very  little  of  the  good  and  loveable 
traits  and  sentiments  which  he  so  happily  possesses. 

F011N  W.  GILDINGS,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Danville,  and  a  native  of  that  place,  was 
born  April  21,1842.  His  father,  William 
Giddings,  was  born  in  Bedfordshire,  Eng- 
land, and  was  there  reared  and  married.  He  was 
the  only  member  of  the  family  that  came  to  Amer- 
ica. He  learned  the  trade  of  a  wagon  maker  in  his 
native  land,  and  was  a  journeyman  till  1837,  when 
He  sailed  from  London  early  in  that  year, [and  was 
a  journeyman  till  1837,  when  he  sailed  from  Lon- 
don early  in  that  year,  and  in  due  time  landed  at 
New  York.  He  came  directly  to  Danville,  the 
journey  being  made  by  the  way  of  the  lakes,  canal 


and  teams.  When  he  came  to  Danville  he  was 
wealthy  in  everything  but  money,  that  is  to  say, 
lie  was  in  the  possession  of  good  spirits  and  of  anj 
amount  of  hope.  The  town  was  then  a  small  place. 
Heat  once  commenced  work  at  his  trade  as  a 
journeyman,  and  with  his  savings  he  bought  his 
employer's  business,  anil  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  wagons  and  plows.  The  plows  lie  first 
made  were  constructed  with  wooden  mould  boards. 
The  forests  were  searched  to  find  trees  that  had  the 
right  shape  for  this  portion  of  the  plow.  Later  lie 
manufactured  carriages,  wagons  and  steel  plows, 
and  in  this  business  lie  built  up  an  extensive  trade, 
in  which  he  was  engaged  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  September,  1875.  For 
many  years  there  was  no  railroad  built  to  Dan- 
ville, and  he  procured  his  supplies  from  Cincinnati 
by  teams.  After  a  few  years  Chicago  became  the 
commercial  center,  and  he  changed  his  place  of 
buying  to  that  place,  but  still  the  only  mode  of 
transportation  was  with  horses  or  oxen.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  and  the  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  article,  was  Caroline  Kitchener.  She 
was  born  in  Bedfordshire,  England,  and  died  in 
Danville  in  1874.  Herself  and  her  brother  Charles 
were  the  only  members  of  her  family  that  came 
to  America.  Charles  settled  near  Worcester,  Mass., 
and  is  now  deceased.  In  the  family  of  William 
Giddings  were  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living:  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  John  .1.  Partlow.  and 
lives  in  Danville;  Caroline  is  dead;  Charles, George 
and  Albeit  live  in  Danville;  Eliza  married  Harvey 
Riggs,  and  is  now  residing  in  Spink  County,  Dak.; 
Laura  is  the  widow  of  Edwin  Martin,  and  lives  in 
Danville. 

John  W.  Giddings  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  city,  and  when  but  a  boy  commenced 
work  in  his  father's  shop,  and  thoroughly  learned 
the  art  of  carriage  painting.  He  thus  continued  at 
work  until  May,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  71st  Illinois  Infantry,  for  the  period  of 
ninety  days.  He  was  sick  nearly  all  the  time  of 
his  service,  and  was  discharged  in  October,  1862, 
when  he  returned  home,  remaining  ill  for  one  year 
after  his  return.  He  again  entered  the  army,  in 
May,  1864,  this  time  enlisting  in  the  135th  Illinois 
Infantry,  serving  until  the  following  fall,  when  he 


r<;  i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  discharged  on  account  of  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service.  In  18G5,  with  his  brother  Charles, 
and  brother-in-law,  O.  S.  Stewart,  a  partnership 
business  was  formed  under  the  firm  name  of  Gid- 
dings, Stewart  &  Co.,  the  firm  succeeding  to  his 
father's  business.  This  linn  continued  four  or 
five  years  in  business,  when  lie  and  his  brother 
bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Stewart,  and  so  con- 
tinued until  1876,  when  he  purchased  his  brother's 
interest  also,  and  was  thus  the  sole  proprietor.  In 
1879  he  formed  a  partnership  with  James  A.  Pat- 
terson, adding  to  the  business. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  18(17,  Mr.  Giddings 
married  Samantha  A.  McKee,  who  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  this  State.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Elijah  and  Abigail  (Starr)  McKee.  Mr.  McKee 
was  born  in  Fleming  County,  Ky.  Mr.  McKce's 
father,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Giddings,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  emigrated  to  Kentucky  at 
an  early  day.  He  resided  there  until  1838,  when 
he  came  to  Vermilion  County,  the  trip  being  made 
with  teams.  He  settled  two  miles  east  of  Dan- 
ville, and  bought  timber  land  and  built  a  log  house. 
He  resided  on  the  old  farm  until  his  death.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  Giddings  was  eighteen  years  old 
when  he  came  to  this  county.  He  taught  school 
several  terms,  and  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  was 
learning  the  trade  of  a  wagon-maker,  lie  fol- 
lowed this  occupation  until  1860,  when  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
a  position  he  held  eight  years.  His  death  occurred 
March  5,  1869.  Mrs.  Giddings  maternal  grand- 
father, Absalom  Starr,  removed  from  Ohio  to  this 
State  in  1821.  The  journey  was  made  with  ox 
teams.  They  remained  awhile  near  Palestine,  Ind., 
and  while  there  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Giddings  was 
born.  They  came  to  Danville  in  1821.  and  Mr. 
Starr  is  among  the  first  settlers  of  Vermilion 
County,  his  deed  being  the  first  one  ever  recorded 
on  the  county  books.  The  land  is  located  two 
miles  west  of  Georgetown,  and  was  originally  heav- 
ily timbered.  He  resided  here  on  the  old  home- 
stead until  his  death.  His  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven. 

John  W.  Giddings  has  inherited,  in  a  full  meas- 
ure, the  characteristics  of  his  father.  He  is  an 
energetic,  capable  and  honorable  business  man,  and 


though  his  father  came  here  a  poor  man,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the  wealthiest 
men  of  Danville,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  the 
junior  Giddings  would  have  followed  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  worthy  father  had  he  been  placed  in 
his  position,  Mr.  Giddings  has  a  beautiful  resi- 
dence, built  in  18*7.  and  located  on  Hazel  street. 
where  he  lives  happily  with  his  family.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Giddings  worship  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows. 


s<l         ii   R.    CHANDLER.       The 
AfiJ//     nian  in  a  world  containing 
^/vy      and  sorrow,  shines  out  lik 


R.    CHANDLER.       The    life    of  a    good 

so  much  of  sin 
ike  the  noonday 
sun  and  redeems  the  earth  from  the  gloom  which 
would  otherwise  envelop  it.  The  early  settlement 
of  the  Great  West  developed  many  brave  and  cour- 
ageous spirits  who  encountered  untold  difliculti- 
ties  in  the  struggle  of  life  on  the  frontier,  and  who 
in  addition  to  bravely  fighting  the  battles  which 
immediately  beset  them,  also  lent  a  helping  hand 
to  their  fellow  creatures,  stimulating  them  to  ex- 
ertion at  the  time  which  tried  men's  souls  and  en- 
abled them  to  breast  the  waves  and  reach  a  safe 
harbor. 

These  thoughts  are  suggested  in  recalling  the 
history  of  Mr.  Chandler,  now  of  Bismark  and  who 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  most  of  the  time  for 
the  long  period  of  sixty -one  years,  having  come 
here  as  early  as  1828.  It  is  hardly  neecessary  to 
say  that  the  soil  of  this  region  had  then  scarcely 
been  pressed  b}'  the  foot  of  a  white  man.  Indians, 
prairie  wolves  and  other  dangerous  creatures  were 
plentiful,  also  deer  and  wild  game  of  all  kinds.  It 
was  some  years  before  rapid  settlement  commenced, 
and  he,  who  first  ventured  into  these  wilds  practi- 
cally took  his  life  in  his  hands.  The  extraordi- 
nary change  which  has  passed  over  the  face  of  the 
of  the  country  during  the  last  half  century  has 
been  witnessed  by  our  subject  with  that  warm 
interest  and  satisfaction  which  can  only  be  felt  by 
the  intelligent  and  thoughtful  mind.  Now  over  a 
once  uncultivated    waste  are  seen   beautiful  farms 


PORTRAIT  AM)    BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


765 


and  prosperous  villages  and  a  vast  population  oc- 
cupying themselves  with  agricultural  and  various 
other  industries  needed  to  serve  so  great  a  country. 
In  bringing  about  this  condition  of  things,  Mr. 
Chandler  may  be  properly  classed  among  those 
men  who  have  contributed  their  full  quota  to  the 
present  wealth  and  well-being  of  Illinois. 

A  native  of  Harrison  County.  Ky.,  Mr.  Chand- 
ler was  born  Dec.  5,  1 821,  and  is  the  son  of  Jehu  and 
Polly  (Swinford)  Chandler,  the  former  a  native  of 
Wilmington,  Del.,  and  the  latter  of  Harrison 
County,  Ky.  The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to 
Illinois  in  1*2*.  locating  first  in  Newell  Township, 
Vermilion  County,  where  they  resided  until  1854. 
Then,  laying  aside  the  more  active  duties  of  life, 
they  removed  to  Danville,  and  Jehu  Chandler 
rested  from  earthly  labors  in  February.  1859. 
The  mother  that  same  year  returned  to  Newell 
Township,  where  her  death  took  place  in  April, 
1862.  Their  remains  rest  side  by  side  in  Walnut 
Corner  Cemetery,  Newell  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  in  the  seventh 
year  of  his  age  when  he  came  to  Newell  Township 
with  his  parents,  and  this  with  the  exception  of 
ten  years  has  since  remained  his  home,  lie  fol- 
lowed carpentering  in  Danville  from  1861  to  1*71, 
then  returned  to  Newell  Township  and  still  con- 
tinued to  work  as  a  carpenter  until  1880.  In  1882 
he  commenced  buying  and  shipping  grain  of  all 
kinds,  paying  the  highest  market  price  and  realiz- 
ing therefrom  a  handsome  profit.  In  the  meantime 
he  became  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  was  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  most  liberal  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  his  township.  He  served  as 
Assessor  during  the  years  1859-GO  and  in  1860  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  position  he 
held  four  years.  Prior  to  this  he  was  elected 
School  Director  and  Township  Trustee,  and  ever 
maintained  his  warm  interest  in  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion and  all  of  those  projects  having  for  their  ob- 
ject the  moral  welfare  of  the  people 

Mr.  Chandler  was  again  brought  to  the  front  in 
1885,  being  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  serving 
his  time  acceptably,  and  was  re-elected  in  1889. 
To  the  duties  of  this  office  he  has  brought  that 
sound  judgment  and  temperance  of  action  which 
have  gained   him   the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all 


with  whom   he   has  dealt.      From    188.")    to  1889  he 
officiated  as  a  Notary  Public. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Malinda 
Cunningham  was  celebrated  Nov.  21.  1*11.  This 
lady  was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Cunn- 
ingham, both  of  whom  wen-  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. The  latter  soon  after  their  marriage  removed 
to  Harrison  County,  Ky..  and  thence,  in  1829,  to 
Newell  Township,  Vermilion  Co.,  111.,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  days.  The  mother 
died  in  September,  1*11.  Mr.  Cunningham  sur- 
vived his  wife  a  number  of  years,  passing  away  in 
May,  1852.  Their  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in 
what  is  known  as  Brierly  Cemetery,  in  Newell 
Township.  Mrs.  Chandler  was  reared  principally 
in  Newell  Township,  and  by  her  union  with  our 
subject  became  the  mother  of  the  following  children : 
Mary  J.,  Emma,  Ann.  Rosetta  ('.,  William  J.  and 
Laura  E.,  all  of  whom  are  living,  but  the  mother 
passed  to  her  long  home  Sept.  5,  1863.  She  was 
a  lady  of  many  excellent  qualities  and  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  in  the  faith  of 
which  she  died.  Her  remains  repose  in  Brierly  Ceme- 
tery. Mr. Chandler  has  been  identified  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church  forty-three  years.  In  1874  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Bismark,  which  was  laid  out  in 
1872.  He  keeps  himself  well  posted  in  regard  to 
State  and  National  affairs,  and  is  a  strong  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  No  man  in  the  county  stands 
higher,  and  none  are  more  deserving  of  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  their  fellow-men. 


HARLES  W.  WARNER,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  "Hoopeston  Daily  and  Weekly 
%)  Chronicle"  is  conducting  the  only  daily 
paper  in  the  county  outside  of  Danville.  He  is 
making  of  it  a  newsy,  local  sheet,  pleasing  to  the 
people  most  concerned  and  in  connection  there- 
with is  building  up  a  thriving  job  department.  He 
is  a  gentleman  enterprising  and  intelligent,  an  easv 
and  forcible  writer  and  evidently  possessed  of  the 
proper  idea  in  connection  with  running  a  local 
paper.     The  interests  of  the  people  of  this  section 


7<;c 


PORTRAIT  AND  IJKN  J  KAl'IIICAL  ALBUM. 


are  held  uppermost  and  the  Chronicle  has  become 
one  of  its  indispensable  institutions. 

The  first  three  years  of  the  life  of  our  subject 
were  spent  in  Montgomery  County,  End.,  where  lie 
was  horn  .Ian.  24.  ls.'iT.  In  I860  his  parents  re- 
moved to  West  Lebanon  in  the  same  State,  where 
they  lived  four  years,  then  changed  their  residence 
to  Rossville,  in  this  county,  and  in  this  latter  place 
Charles  W.  completed  his  education  by  attendance 
at  the  High  School,  lie  subsequently  taught  school 
two  terms  in  Champaign  County,  near  Homer. 
Later  he  assumed  the  duties  of  Deputy  County 
Clerk  under  John  W.  Dale  at  Danville  and  from 
there  came  to  Hoopeston  in  February,  1879.  and 
became  associated  with  the  Chronicle,  assisting-  in 
both  the  editorial  and  mechanical  departments  of 
the  paper.  With  the  exception  of  four  months 
spent  as  a  Clerk  in  the  State  Legislature  during 
the  session  of  the  Thirty-second  General  Assembly. 
he  remained  in  this  capacity  until  July,  1882.  He 
then  leased  the  plant  of  the  Chronicle,  the  "Daily" 
then  having  been  started  only  three  months  before. 
Its  continuation  was   consequently  an  uncertainty. 

Mr.  Warner,  however,  renewed  his  lease  from 
year  to  year  at  the  same  time  enlarging  the  circu- 
lation of  the  paper  and  introducing  new  facilities 
for  the  prosecution  of  job  work.  In  1887  he  pur- 
chased the  entire  concern  and  the  prospect  is  that 
the  Chronicle  and  its  appurtenances  will  continue 
to  prosper  and  grow  strong.  In  addition  to  this 
business,  Mr.  Warner  is  connected  with  the  Illinois 
Canning  Company  of  which  he  has  been  Secretary 
since  its  organization,  in  1887.  In  the  K.  of  P.  he 
stands  high,  being  the  firstConimander  of  his  lodge. 
He  has  had  no  political  aspirations  for  himself, 
but  labors  vigorously  in  behalf  of  the  Republican 
party  and  is  occasionally  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
various  party  conventions.  His  industry  and  good 
judgment  are  made  serviceable  in  many  respects  in 
local  affairs,  both  social  and  political.  June  15, 
1889,  he  was  elected  by  his  Republican  friends,  pa- 
trons of  the  Hoopeston  post-office,  to  the  position 
of  Postmaster.  He  was  immediately  appointed  by 
President  Harrison  and  now  holds  that  position. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Lillian 
M.  Clark  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in 
Hoopeston,  Dec.  13,  188:3.     Mrs.  Warner  is  a  na- 


tive of  Wenona.  this  State  and  was  born  May  9, 
1864.  She  came  to  Hoopeston  with  her  parents  in 
1  873.  The  latter  were  W.  R.  and  Henrietta  I! 
(Fitton)  Clark,  who  continue  residents  of  this 
place.  She  is  possessed  of  great  skill  as  an  artist 
and  decorator. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Abner  and 
Mary  (Cadwallader)  Warner,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Loss  County,  Ohio,  April  11,1811. 
lie  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  Buckeye 
State  and  prior  to  his  marriage  removed  to  Indiana, 
settling  near  Crawfordsville  where  he  met  .Miss 
Cadwallader  and  they  were  married  March  9.  1851. 
Mr.  Warner  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  during 
his  early  manhood,  but  after  his  removal  to  Ross- 
ville engaged  in  mercantile  business  which  he  pros- 
ecuted until  187G.  He  then  retired  from  active 
business  and  departed  this  life  July  15,  1888. 
lie  was  a  plain  and  unassuming  man  and  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  near  Craw- 
fordsville, Ind.,  and  lived  there  with  her  parents 
until  her  marriage.  Her  union  with  Mr.  Warner 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children,  only  two  of 
whom  are  living — our  subject,  and  Perry  M..  the 
latter  residing  on  a  farm  near  Rossville,  and  the 
mother  makes  her  home  with  him.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Isaac  Warner,  a  na- 
tive of  Philadelphia.  Early  in  life  he  emigrated  to 
Ohio  where  he  became  the  owner  of  land  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Winder,  who  also  died  in  Ohio. 

--    •-  .•^-^aui-^    ~> . 


LBFRT  G.  OLMSTED  is  a  worthy  de- 
scendant of  Puritan  ancestry,  his  fore- 
fathers having  been  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  New  England.  In  a 
later  day  and  generation  his  grandparents  and 
parents  became  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County,  and 
here  the  most  of  his  life  has  been  passed.  He  has 
not  only  been  a  witness  of  the  marvelous  growth  of 
this  section  of  the  county  in  the  fifty  years  that  he 
has  lived  here  as  boy  and  man.  but  it  has  been  his 
good  fortune  to  aid  in  its  upbuilding.      For  many 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


J  69 


years  he  has  been  intimately  connected  with  the 
material  prosperity  of  Catlin  Township  as  a  progres- 
sive and  skillful  agriculturist,  and  as  one  of  its  most 
influential  public  officers.  He  owns  a  farm  on 
section  23,  that  in  all  its  appointments  and  improve- 
ments is  equal  to  any  Other  in  this  locality,  and 
here  lie  and  his  wife  have  an  attractive  home,  tu 
which  they  welcome  many  friends,  as  they  have  a 
warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  Hie  entire  commun- 
ity. 

Stanley  Olmsted,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born    in    the  city    of    Hartford,  Conn.,   to  George 
Olmsted.  Sr..  and  his  wife,  Hannah  (Roberts)  Olm- 
sted,   natives    of  New    England.      They    came   to 
Vermilion  County  from  Ohio  in  is:!!),  and  he  died 
here  two  years  later.    His  wife  did  not  long-  survive 
him,  dying  in  September,  1843.  Their  son.  Stanley, 
married  Almira  Green,  a   native   of  Vermont,  and 
they  began  the   journey  of  life  together  in  James- 
town,   Chautauqua    Co.,    N.    Y„    where    lie    was 
busily  engaged  for  several  years  in  constructing  a 
farm  from    the  primeval    forests  of   that  section  of 
the  country.     He  subsequently  removed  from  there 
with  his  family  to  Marietta,  Washington  Co.,  Ohio, 
but   after    living  there   live   years,   he   came    with 
them,  in    1831),  to  Vermilion    County,  making  the 
journey    down    the    Ohio    River,    up    the   Wabash 
River  to   Perrysville,  and  thence  going  to  what  is 
now    known    as    Batestown,   and    settling    in    that 
vicinity  among  the  pioneers  that  had  preceded  them 
to   this"  then  wild,  sparsely  settled    country.      The 
father  operated    a  sawmill  known  as  Olmsted  Mill, 
and    besides    manufacturing    lumber,    engaged    in 
building   flatboats,  that  being  the  only  mill  where 
such  boats  were    built,  and   the   most  of    those  that 
were  made    in    this    section  of    the  country   were 
built  there,    lie  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  quite  a  prominent  man  in  his  commun- 
ity, and    his  death,  in  1848,  was  considered  a  loss 
to  the  township.     His  widow  was  re-married  aboul 
ten  years  afterwards,  becoming  the  wife  of  Thomas 
W.  Douglas,  and  is  still  living  in  Catlin  Township 
at  an  advanced  age.     She  holds  to   the   Presbyter- 
ian faith,  and  is  a  sincere  Christian. 

Of  the  ten  children  that  blessed  the  union  of 
Stanley  Omsted  and  wife,  our  subjeel  was  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth.    He  was  born  in  the  vicinity 


of   Jamestown,   Chautauqua   Co..  N.   Y.,  Oct.    1  1, 
1831.      He   was  a  lad  of  about  eight  years  when  he 
accompanied    his   parents  and  grandparents  to  this 
county,   and    the   remaining  years  of  his  boyhood 
and    his  youth    were  passed  in  Danville  and  Catlin 
townships.      His  education  was  obtained  in  the  old 
log  school-house  of  those  early  days.      Heearlv  be- 
gan life  for  himself,  as  he  was  but  seventeen    years 
of   age    when  his  father  died,  and  the  main  charge 
of  the  family  devolved  upon  him,  he  renting   land 
and  working  at  farming  to  support  those  depend- 
ent  upon   him.      When   he   was  twenty-four  years 
old  he  married  and  rented  a  farm  in  Catlin  Town- 
ship  the  ensuing  seven  years,  the  place  belonging 
to  Harry  Sandusky.     After  that  he  bought  a  small 
place  in  Catlin  Village,  and  continued  renting  land 
for   three  years.      The  second  year  after  the  pur- 
chase of  the  County   Farm   in   1867,    he    was    ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of   it,  and  he  was  found  to 
be  the  right  man  in  the  right   place,  faithfully  and 
conscienciously  discharging  the  duties  of  that  oner- 
ous position,  by  his  skillful  farming  improving  the 
land,  and  treating  the  poor  people  under  his  charge 
with  firmness  and  kindness.     He  retained  that  office 
eight  years,  and   then   tendered  his   resignation,  as 
he  decided  to  investsomeof  his  money  in  land  and 
go  to  farming  on  his  own  account.     Soon  after  he 
took  possession  of  the   land  he  now  owns  and  op- 
erates, it  having  been  the  homestead  of  the  parents 
of  Mrs.  Omsted,  of  which  she  inherited  a  portion. 
The  balance  was  purchased   by  Mr.  Omsted.      His 
present  farm  consists  of  180  acres  of  land,  exceed- 
ingly rich   and    productive,  and   he  has  been  con- 
stantly   making     improvements    till    the    place    is 
considered  :one   of   the   best  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  has  erected  a  good  set  of  farm  buildings  and  a 
pleasant   residence,    finely    located    somewhat  back 
from  the  highway. 

This  homestead  formerly  belonged  to  Mrs.  Olm- 
sted's parents,  Thomas  N.  anil  Mary  Brown  (San- 
dusky )  Wright,  early  pioneers  of  Vermilion  County, 
and  here  she  was  born  and  bred,  and  on  this  spot, 
under  an  apple  tree  in  the  yard,  her  marriage  with 
our  subject  was  solemnized  July  22,  1855,  and  here 
her  life  has  thus  far  been  spent  happily  and  se- 
renely. She  has  never  been  very  far  from  this 
home  of  her   birth,  and   has    never    ridden    in    the 


770 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cars,  or  even  beyond  the  limits  of  the  county.  Mrs. 
Olmsted  is  a.  notable  housekeeper,  and  is  well 
versed  in  the  art  of  making  those  about  her  com- 
fortable, and  everyone  who  crosses  her  threshhold 
is  sure  of  a  cheerful  welcome.  Her  parents  were 
born  in  Bourbon  County.  Ky.,  and  when  the  father 
was  nineteen  years  old  and  the  mother  twenty, 
they  came  to  Vermilion  County,  and  were  united 
in  marriage  six  weeks  later,  in  the  year  1831,  near 
Indianola,  and  immediately  settled  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Olmsted.  Mr.  Wright  built  a 
log  cabin,  and  in  that  humble  abode  they  began 
their  wedded  life.  May  31,  1851,  Mrs.  Wright 
died,  leaving  five  children,  of  whom  Elizabeth 
Ann,  Mrs.  Olmsted,  was  the  eldest.  The  father 
was  afterwards  married  to  Nancy  Dougherty,  and 
he  died  Nov.  18,  1872,  on  the  homestead  that  he 
had  eliminated  from  the  wild  prairies.  Mrs.  Olm- 
sted was  born  Sept.  22,  1832.  In  this  home  of  her 
girlhood  and  womanhood  five  children  have  blessed 
her  wedded  life  with  our  subject,  namely:  Mary 
B.,  the  wife  of  John  II.  Palmer;  Charles,  who  mar- 
ried Agnes  Emmett,  who  died  Nov.  17,  1887; 
William  C,  who  married  Miss  Eva  Beck;  George 
E. ;  and  Albert  C. 

Mr.  Olmsted  has  been  a  valuable  citizen  of  this 
section  of  Vermilion  County  since  attaining  man- 
hood, as  he  is  a  man  of  good  personal  habits,  is  just 
and  honest  in  his  dealings,  wise  and  safe  in  coun- 
sel, and  has  always  exerted  his  influence  to  advance 
the  interests  of  his  community  morally,  socially 
and  educationally.  He  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  public  life  of  this  township,  has  held  the 
office  of  Supervisor  two  terms,  and  for  eleven  years 
was  School  Trustee.  He  is  a  valued  member  of 
Catlin  Lodge  No.  285,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  has 
been  Master  of  the  lodge.  In  politics  he  sides 
with  the  Democrats,  and  is  a  strong  supporter  of 
party  principles.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the 
acts  of  their  daily  lives  show  them  to  be  consistent 
Christians. 

A  tine  lithographic  view  of  the  handsome  home 
and  surroundings  of  Mr.  Olmsted  is  shown  else- 
where in  this  volume. 


w 


ILLIAM  W.  BARR.  This  highly-esteemed 
oid  resident  of  Edgar  County  has  had  a 
'  road  experience  of  Western  life  and  dur- 
ing his  younger  years  spent  some  time  in  the 
mining  regions  of  California  and  Montana.  He 
suffered  the  usual  experiences  of  the  travel  across 
the  plains  in  the  early  times,  coming  in  contact 
with  all  kinds  of  men  and  frequently  encountering 
danger  from  Indians  and  the  cosmopolitan  popu- 
lation which  sought  that  region  from  most  all 
portions  of  the  civilized  world.  He,  however,  was 
mainly  prosperous  in  his  undertaking  and  would 
probably  have  sojourned  there  longer,  but  was 
constrained  to  return  on  account  of  his  aged 
mother  for  whom  he  cared  a  number  of  years  until 
her  death.  His  present  homestead  is  a  well-regu- 
lated farm  of  120  acres,  lying  on  section  1  in  Edgar 
Township  and  he  stands  well  among  the  people  of 
his  community. 

Mr.  Barr  was  born  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
city  of  Cincinnati,  in  Hamilton  County,  Ohio, 
April  14,  1824.  When  a  child  of  six  years  his 
parents  emigrated  to  Illinois  overland  with  teams 
of  horses  and  oxen,  crossing  the  Wabash  River  at 
Perryville  where  they  spent  the  winter.  In  the 
spring  of  1831  they  came  to  Edgar  County,  111. 
and  settled  on  a  tract  of  wild  land,  that  which  con- 
stitutes the  present  farm  of  our  subject,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  lived  in  a  log  cabin.  The  Pot- 
tawatomie Indians  had  not  yet  left  this  region  and 
our  subject  has  seen  as  many  as  300  at  a  time. 
There  was  an  abundance  of  game  including  large 
numbers  of  deer,  also  wolves,  and  in  hunting  the 
latter  the  settlers  frequently  banded  together. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  at  the  farm 
which  he  now  occupies,  growing  up  with  limited 
school  advantages,  his  studies  being  conducted  in 
the  log  cabin  mostly  during  the  winter  season.  He 
remained  under  the  home  roof  until  twenty-one 
yrears  old,  then  in  the  spring  of  1845  started  on 
foot  for  the  Oalena  lead  mines  accompanied  by  a 
friend.  Sometimes  they  would  walk  nearly  a  whole 
day  without  seeing  a  single  house.  Upon  his  arrival 
at  Janesville,  Wis.,  Mr.  Barr  abandoned  his  first 
intention  of  lead  mining  and  engaged  to  work  on 
a  farm.  He  remained  in  the  Badger  State  until 
the   fall   of  the  year  and   rode   home  in  a  wagon. 


PORTRAIT  AM)  I'.K  )( i  RAl'lIICAL  ALBUM. 


771 


lie  sojourned  with  the  family  until  the  following 
spring. 

Our  subject  now  set  out  for  Piatt  County  where 
he  worked  on  a  farm  several  months,  then  in  the 
fall  returned  home,  remaining  there  that  winter. 
In  1846, crossing  the  Mississippi,  he* went  on  horse- 
hack  into  Mahaska  County,  Iowa,  but  stayed  there 
only  six  months,  then  went  to  Marion  County  and 
assisted  in  the  erection  of  a  sawmill  four  miles 
north  of  Pella  on  the  Skunk  River.  In  the  fall  of 
1848  lie  engaged  in  rafting  and  boating  on  the 
Des  Moines  and  Mississippi  rivers  as  far  as  St. 
Louis,  following  this  one  season.  In  the  spring  of 
1850  our  subject  started  for  California  witli  an  ox 
team  taking  the  North  Platte  route,  and  crossed 
the  plains  to  Salt  Lake  City  where  he  heard  Brigham 
Young  preach  two  sermons.  After  a  journey  of 
four  and  one-half  months  he  reached  Placerville 
almost  out  of  funds  but  managed  to  buy  an  old 
shovel  and  pick  and  commenced  working  in  the 
mines.  A  few  days  later,  however,  he  went  further 
south  to  the  vicinity  of  Sonora  on  the  Stanislaus 
River  and  sojourned  in  that  vicinity  over  two 
years  doing  well.  In  June.  1853,  he  started  home- 
ward via  the  Panama  route  and  when  reaching  this 
county  purchased  his  present  farm.  lie  brought 
his  mother  to  his  home  and  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  until  the  spring  of  1864. 

Our  subject  now  started  for  Montana  with  an  ox 
team,  joining  a  train  at  Qskaloosa  and  once  more 
went  over  the  plains,  this  time  finding  a  few  scat- 
tering houses  along  the  route  for  200  miles  west 
of  Omaha.  At  one  Lime  while  in  camp  the  party 
were  attacked  by  700  Indians  against  300  of  their 
own  number.  The3_  fought  from  7  a.  m.  until  4 
p.  M..then  disbanded  and  left  forty  of  their  numbei 
dead  on  the  field.  Mr.  Barr  and  others  made 
their  way  to  Virginia  City  where  he  stayed  four 
months  engaged  in  mining,  then  repaired  to  Silver 
Bow  Creek  and  stayed  there  mining  until  the  fall 
of  1865.  He  then  set  out  for  home  down  the 
Yellow  Stone  and  Missouri  rivers  on  a  Satboat  to 
Omaha,  then  joined  a  train  and  in  due  time  reached 
home  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits. 

Mr.  Barr  has  made  all  his  improvements  on  his 
present    place,    breaking    the     first    sod.    building 


fences,  setting  out  forest  and  fruit  trees  and  adding 
from  time  to  time  the  various  conveniences  neces- 
sary to  successful  agriculture.  He  makes  a  specialty 
of  stock-raising,  having  a  good  quality  of  cattle 
anil  swine  and  Norman  draft  horses.  He  was 
married  in  Edgar  Township  in  185-1  to  Miss  Letitia 
Wood  who  was  born  in  Clairrnont  County,  Ohio, 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents,  William  and 
Sally  (Stinson)  Wood,  at  an  early  day.  Mr.  Wood 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  the  parental  family 
consisted  of  twelve  children. 

The  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr 
are  recorded  as  follows:  Sarah  J.  became  the  wife 
of  L.  C.  Stewart,  a  farmer  of  Champaign  County, 
111.;  Mary  E.,  is  the  wife  of  Richard  Daniels,  and 
they  live  at  the  homestead;  Rosetta  is  also  with 
her  parents;  J.  William  owns  and  operates  160  acres 
of  land  in  Gilliam  County,  Ore. ;  Anna  B.,  Elizabeth 
and  Oliver  are  unmarried  aud  at  home.  Mr.  Ban-. 
politically,  is  a  staunch  Democrat  and  has  been  a 
School  Director  in  his  district  for  many  years,  lie 
was  Commissioner  of  Highways  two  years  and  has 
served  as  Road  Supervisor. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  William  Barr,  Sr., 
a  native  of  Ireland  from  which  country  the  paternal 
grandfather  came  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  William 
was  a  lad  of  nine  years  when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic 
and  was  reared  in  the  cities  of  Pittsburg  and 
Philadelphia.  When  reaching  manhood  he  went 
to  Ohio  where  he  was  married  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Hamilton  County.  In  18.30  he  started 
with  a  team  for  the  West  and  coming  to  Edgar 
County,  111.  entered  eighty  acres  of  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  son,  our  subject.  He  put  up  a  log 
house,  brought  the  land  to  a  state  of  cultivation 
and  purchased  forty  acres  additional,  owning  at  the 
time  of  his  death  120  acres.  His  decease  occurred 
in  1852,  when  he  was  sixty-five  years  old.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  Predestinarian  Baptist  and  officiated 
for  a  time  as  a  Deacon. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Mildred  Carter;  she  was  born  in  Virginia 
which  was  also  the  birthplace  of  her  father,  George 
Cartel',  who  had  the  honor  of  occupying  the  posi- 
tion of  overseer  of  the  slaves  of  Gen.  Washington. 
Later  he  moved  to  Kentucky  where   he  was  a  pio- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


neer  settler  and  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  The 
mother  <>f  our  subject  spent  her  last  days  with  the 
latter,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  three. 
The  five  children  of  the  parental  family  were 
named  respectively,  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  the 
mother  by  a  prior  marriage  to  a  Mr.  Davis; 
Mary  J.,  a  resident  of  Oregon;  William  W..  our 
subject;  James,  living  near  Georgetown  in  Ver- 
milion County,  III.,  and  John  C,  a  resident,  of 
Oskaloosa,  Iowa.  The  latter  during  the  late  war 
served  in  an  Iowa  regiment. 


1RAM  FRAS1ER,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Hunter  Township,  owns  and  occupies  a  neal 
homestead  on  section  7.  containing  ln'o 
acres.  1  10  on  section  G,  and  forty-five  acres 
on  section  8,  where  he  has  good  improvements,  and 
the  modern  embellishments  of  a  well-regulated 
farm.  A  native  of  Floyd  County,  Ky.,  he  was 
born  Oct.  8,  1  825,  and  is  the  son  of  Weeks  and  Anna 
(Sammons)  Frasier,  who  were  either  natives  of 
Kentucky,  or  went  there  with  their  respective  par- 
ents from  Virginia  when  very  young.  The  pater- 
nal grandfather  of  our  subject,  William  Frasier.  by 
name,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  whence  he  removed 
to  Kentucky  at  a  very  early  day.  and  lived  there 
many  years.  When  quite  well  advanced  in  life,  lie 
emigrated  to  Illinois  and  spent  his  last  days  in  Dan- 
ville, Vermilion  County. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  also  be 
came  a  resident  of  the  Blue  Grass  State  at  a  very 
early  period  in  its  history,  and  there  spent  his  last 
days.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married 
there,  and  remained  there  several  years.  About 
1831  they  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  the  father  en- 
tered a  tract  of  land  from  the  Government,  located 
in  Stratum  Township,  where  he  lived  many  years 
and  built  up  a  home  from  the  wilderness.  He 
erected  his  log  cabin  in  the  woods,  and  cleared  the 
timber  by  degrees,  bringing  the  soil  to  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  In  these  labors  young  Hiram  took 
an  active  part.  The  present  nourishing  town  of 
Paris  was  then  a  hamlet  of  a  few  log  houses  am!  a 
market  place.    Oursu'ijccl  attended  school  in  Strat- 


um Township,  the  temple  of  learning  being  like  the 
other  structures  around,  built  of  logs  and  finished 
with  a  puncheon  floor,  and  the  seats  and  desks 
manufactured  from  slabs,  the  former  set  upon  rude 
wooden  legs.  When  -writing,  the  pupils  would  sit 
with  their  faces  to  the  wall,  and  when  .studying 
would  turn  around  and  sit  with  their  backs  against 
their  writing  desks,  which  was  a  long  piece  of  tim- 
ber fastened  to  the  wall,  and  upheld  by  wooden 
pins.  A  large  fireplace  extended  across  one  end  of 
the  building,  and  the  chimney  was  built  outside  of 
earth  and  sticks.  The  school  was  maintained  on 
the  subscription  plan,  and  the  teacher  "boarded 
around."  The  '-institution"  was  conducted  about 
three  months  in  the  year  during  the  winter  season. 

Thus  the  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
spent  in  a  comparatively  uneventful  manner  until 
he  began  to  make  preparations  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  home  of  his  own.  The  maiden  whom  he 
had  chosen  for  his  wife,  was  Mi>>  Isabel,  daughter 
of  Levi  and  Elizabeth  (Bell)  Mann,  and  they  were 
married  Jan.  18,  1*855.  Mrs.  Frasier  was  born  near 
Greencastle,  Ind.,  and  came  to  this  county  with  her 
parents  about  1854.  Mr.  Mann  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  the  son  of  an  old  Virginian  of  German 
ancestry.  Benjamin  Bell  the  maternal  grandfather, 
i-,  supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
When  leaving  the  Keystone  State,  lie  emigrated 
first  to  Darke  County.  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  Put- 
man  County,  Ind.  He  sojourned  in  the  Hoosier 
State  a  number  of  years,  then  pushed  on  westward 
across  the  Mississippi  into  Hamilton  County,  Iowa, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  five 
years. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were 
horn  six  children,  namely:  Jackson  I.,  Anna  J., 
Levi  D.,  Indiola,  Stephen  I).. and  Mary  C  who  are 
all  living.  The  Frasier  homestead  embraces  G.'ill 
acres  of  land  upon  a  part  of  which  our  subject  ami 
ins  wife  began  housekeeping  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage. Mr.  Frasier  politically  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat,, and  has  lieeu  quite  prominent  in  local  affairs. 
sen  ing  as  Township  Supervisor,  two  terms.  Com- 
missioner one  term,  and  otherwise  identified  with 
its  best  interests.  In  185*2  he  crossed  the  plains 
with  a  span  of  mules  and  a  buggy  from  Omaha. 
Neb.,  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and  from  that  point    went 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


77;; 


*+-*- 


;*l       IjfelLLIAM  A.ZIMMERLY,  a  native  of  Grand 
\/\l/i     View  Township,and  a  son  of  one  of  its  ear- 

Ww  liest  pioneers,  owns  and  occupies  his  father's 
old  homestead,  comprising  a  well  regulated  farm  on 
section  :;<;.  He  is  easily  recognised  as  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  and  occupies  a 
good  position  in  the  community,  being  prominent 
in  social  and  business  circles,  and  at  diffeient  times 
elected  to  the  various  local  offices.  His  farm  is 
embellished  by  one  of  the  best  houses  in  this  sec- 
tion, a  roomy  and  substantial  structure,  finely 
adapted  to  all  the  purposes  of  farm  life.  The  other 
buildings,  together  with  the  machinery  and  live 
stock,  indicate  the  supervision  of  the  thorough  and 
skillful  modern  agriculturalist. 

Jacob  Zimmerly,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  son  of  Jacob,  Sr., 
who  was  born  in  Germany.  Grandfather  Zimmerly 
emigrated  to  Illinois  about  fifty-two  years  ago,  set- 
tling in  Symmes  Township,  this  county.  Father 
and  son  died  the  same  year,  about  forty-seven  years 
ago.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girl- 
hood. Miss  Becky  Hays,  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
After  the  death  of  Mr.  Zimmerly,  sic  was  married 
to  Atwell  Sisson  and  became  a  widow  a  second 
lime.     She    is    still    living,   unking  her  home  with 

l.i  i   -on,  William    A.,    our   subject,  and  is  seventy  - 


with  a  team  to  Sacramento,  Cal.,  "  here  he  remained 
aboul  two  and  one  half  years.  He  returned  via 
the  water  route  from  Sau  Francisco  on  the  steam- 
ship "Golden  Gate"  to  the  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
then  traveled  forty  miles  on  muleback  to  the  Cha- 
gres  River,  where  he  took  a  train  to  Aspinwall,  and 
thence  sailed  by  (lie  ocean  steamer  "George  Law," 
to  New  York  City,  after  which  he  returned  home. 
lie  considers  the  time  and  money  involved  as  well 
spent. 

To  the  parents  Of  our  subject  there  were  born 
five  sons  and  five  daughters,  namely:  James,  born 
in  Floyd  County.  Ky.,  May  11.  1818;  William. 
Hiram.  I.ucinda.  Thomas,  Jonathan,  Holly,  Fannie, 
Nancy  .1.,  and  Sarah  A.  Four  of  these  are  living, 
and  residents  of  Illinois.  Missouri  and  Dakota. 


fi  mi   years  old.      She  en  joys  g 1  health  and  is  able 

to  relate  many  an  intersting  incident  of  life  in  the 
pioneer  days. 

The  par. "ds  of  our  subject  were  married  in 
Illinois.  i:i  is;;;.,  and  began  their  wedded  life 
together  at,  the  place  now  owned  by  their  son.  Wil- 
liam A.  It  was  then  merely  a  tract  of  wild  land, 
and  they  commenced  at  first  principles  to  construct 
a  homestead.  The.  father  was  successful  in  his 
labors  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  was  recognised  as 
oiu'  of  the  leading  men  of  his  community.  The 
household  circle  was  completed  by  the  birth  of 
three  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living. 
William  A.,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born 
-Ian.  24, 1841.  lie  studied  his  first  lessons  in  a  little 
log  cabin,  at  a  school  conducted  on  the  subscription 
plan,  and  carried  fin  in  the  winter  season  only. 
His  educational  advantages  were  thus  very  limited, 
but  by  reading  and  observation  he  kept  himself 
posted  in  regard  to  important  events,  and  thus 
bears  fair  comparison  with  the  intelligent  men 
around  him.  lie  took  upon  himself  the  sterner 
duties  of  life  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  assuming 
the  management  of  the  home  farm,  which  he  has 
Since  operated,  and  in  connection  with  its  cultiva- 
tion he  has  for  many  years  been  interested  in  live 
stock,  buying,  feeding  and  shipping. 

Our  subject,  in  1862,  brought  a  bride  to  the  old 
roof  tree,  being  married.  toMiss  Arminta,  daughter 
of  Lemuel  Walls,  of  Symmes  Township.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  live  children,  only  three  of  whom 
are  living;  and  .Mrs.  Zimmerly  departed  this  life  in 
L875.  Horatio  V.,  the  eldest  son,  married  Miss 
Chrissy  Walz,  is  the  father  of  one  child,  and  is 
farming  in  Grand  View  Township.  The  other 
sims,  Andrew  A.  and  Jacob  L.,  are  at  home  with 
their  father.  Mr.  Zimmerly,  in  1877,  contracted  a 
second  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Walz.  daughter  of 
.lames  Walz,  late  of  Embarras  Township.  This 
lady  was  born  April  8,  1842,  in  this  county,  and  with 
our  subject  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Christian  Church  in  which  Mr.  Zimmerly  officiates 
as  Deacon. 

The  Zimmerly  homestead  comprises  190  acres 
of  land,  140  acres  of  which  are  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  Our  subject,  in  1875.  put  up  a  two 
story    brick    residence,   at,  a   COSt  Of  $2,000,    which 


774 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


with  its  surroundings  approaches  very  nearly  the 
ideal  rural  home.  Mr.  Zimmerly  since  becoming 
a  voting  citizen  has  given  his  support  to  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  is  quite  active 
in  politics,  and  is  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to 
the  various  conventions.  He  has  served  as  Road 
Commissioner  three  years,  Supervisor  two  years, 
School  Director  nine  years  and  School  Trustee  four 
years,  and  is  still  holding  the  latter  position. 
Socially  he  belongs  to  Grand  View  Lodge  No. 
614  I.  O.  O.  F. 


Jy|  AJOR  ELVIS  P.  SHAW  is  one  of  the  very 
oldest  living  residents  of  Paris,  and  since 
1822  has  resided  on  the  property  where 
he  now  lives.  His  father  came  to  this 
county  in  that  year,  and  entered  the  quarter  sec- 
tion, where  his  son  is  now  living,  before  the  county 
was  organized.  Smith  Shaw,  the  father,  was  born 
on  the  line  between  North  and  South  Carolina,  in 
Guildford  County,  of  the  former  State,  January 
20,  1784,  and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Charles- 
ton and  engaged  in  clerking  for  his  older  brother. 
On  Feb.  12,  1805,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
McMinn.  in  Wilson  County,  Tenn.,  where  he  was 
visiting  at  the  time.  He  lived  there  until  the 
spring  of  180C,  when,  with  his  father,  William,  he 
went  to  Christian  County,  Ky.  The  family  after- 
ward removed  to  .St.  Charles  County,  Mo.,  but  the 
Indian  troubles  drove  him  from  that  country  back 
to  Kentucky,  where  they  stayed  a  short  time, 
removing  again,  this  time,  to  Indiana.  There  they 
raised  one  crop,  when  they  removed  to  Craw- 
ford County,  111.,  where  Elvis  P.  was  born, 
March  4,  181C.  The  father  removed  to  Edgar 
County  in  the  fall  of  1822,  locating  the  quarter 
section  on  which  the  home  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  now  stands. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  houses  on  what  is 
now  called  the  city  of  Paris.  The  Shaws  built  their 
cabin  near  a  spring  on  a  tract  of  land  now  near  East 
Court  street,  and  after  a  short  time  they  moved  on 
the  hill  where  Elvis  P.  now  resides,  and  there 
erected   a  frame  house,    on  the  site  of  which  Mr 


Shaw  erected  his  present  residence,  in  1855,  which 
is  still  standing.  The  elder  Shaw  improved  his 
land  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  this 
ground  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  13, 
1838,  having  spent  most  of  his  time  as  a  pioneer. 
In  the  early  da3's  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  Vin- 
cennes  for  his  flour.  His  nearest  grocery  was  at 
Palestine.  The  office  of  County  Commissioner 
was  held  by  him,  he  being  the  first  to  fill  that  posi- 
tion in  Edgar  County,  and  he  was  active  in  secur- 
ing the  location  of  the  town  of  Paris  on  its  present 
plat.  He  was  also  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  held 
many  other  local  offices.  The  circuit  riders  of  the 
early  days  always  found  a  home  with  Smith  Shaw, 
who  was  a  strict  Methodist,  and  the  first  sermon 
preached  in  this  county  was  at  his  home.  He  was 
an  active  worker  in  the  causeof  his  church.  Eliza- 
beth McMinn  was  also  horn  in  Guildford  County, 
N.  G,  July  20,  178S,  removing  with  her  parents  to 
Tennessee,  where  she  married  Mr.  Shaw.  She  died 
Jan.  16,  1875. 

Of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  Shaw,  the 
following  record  is  given:  The  lion.  James  D. 
Shaw  moved  to  Arkansas  in  1839,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  served  in  both  houses  of  the 
Legislature  of  that  Stale;  Martha  Ann  married 
Amos  Williams,  and  lived  in  Danville  until  her 
death  ;  Charlotte  F.  married  the  Rev.  A.  L.  Rislev, 
a  Methodist  minister.  She  diedatLebanon.il!.; 
Julia  H.  married  I.  11.  Alexander,  who  died,  and 
her  second  husband  was  Dr.  Fithian.  Her  death 
occurred  in  1849;  William  N.  lived  a  long  time  in 
Iowa.  He  traveled  all  over  California  and  Oregon, 
finally  dying  in  Bates  County,  Mo,  in  1870;  our 
subject,  Elvis  P;  Harvey  S.  is  a  Methodist  minis- 
ter, and  is  now  living  in  McPhersou,  Kan.,  with  his 
son;  Mary  J.  is  the  widow  of  James  B.  Crawford, 
who  spent  an  active  business  life  in  Paris.  She  is 
now  with  her  son  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Cornelia  J. 
married  Samuel  T.  Newland.  and  removed  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1850.  She  is  now  matron  of  the  conval- 
escent Ladies'  Ward  of  the  Insane  Asylum  at 
Stockton.  Cal.;  Jurretta  died  in  1822;  Albert  F. 
died  March  31,  1885;  Elizabeth  Amanda  is  the 
widow  of  Dr.  Smith,  and  is  now  living  in  Paris; 
Daniel  M.  died  in  LS47  ;  Alfred  M.  died  in  1  S32  ;  ( »r- 
lando  C.  was  a  victim  of  the  late  Rebellion,  having 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


77o 


been  killed  in  West  Virginia,  in  L861,  while  in  tbe 
army.     He  was  the  youngest  of  the  fifteen  children. 

Elvis  P.  Shaw  received  a  practical  education  in 
the  common  schools,  after  which  he  worked  on  a 
farm  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  trade,  hav- 
ing previously  been  in  the  business  as  a  clerk  at 
Danville,  Milwaukee  and  in  Iowa.  He  continued 
in  that  line  from  1844  until  1853,  and  from  that 
time  until  his  retirement  in  1 872  was  carrying  on 
a  livery,  grocery  and  other  business.  He  was 
obliged  to  give  up  work  on  account  of  his  health 
iu  the  last  year  mentioned,  and  has  since  done  but 
little.  He  has  held  different  official  positions  in 
the  county,  always  filling  them  with  fidelity  and 
intelligence.  In  1861,  he  was  commissioned  as 
Major  in  the  10th  Illinois  Cavalry,  commanding 
the  1st  Battalion.  He  made  a  good  record  in  the 
Western  Department. 

Mr.  Shaw  married  Mrs.  Emily  (Smith)  nee 
Street,  Jan.  13,  1853.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Charles  E.,  who  is  now  in  business  in  Paris, 
and  lives  in  the  same  house  with  his  father.  He 
married  Miss  Lillie  J.  Shepherd.  They  have  five 
children  all  living.  The  wife  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Shelby  County,  Ky.,  March  4, 
1823.  She  married  Mr.  Shaw  at  Grand  View,  111. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  Mr. 
Shaw  politically  is  a  stanch  Republican,  but  in  the 
days  of  the  Whig  party  acted  with  that  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 


NDREW  MERKLE.  The  Merkle  family 
deserves  honorable  mention  in  noting  the 
prominent  people  of  Edgar  County.  They 
are  possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  intel- 
ligence, are  industrious,  thrifty  and  well-to-do  and 
have  contributed  largely  to  the  moral,  social  and 
financial  interests  of  this  section.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  one  of  the  most  worthy  representa- 
tives of  the  name,  a  man  who  has  made  for  himself 
a  good  position  among  his  fellow-citizens  and  an 
i  1  ant  home  in  the  shape  of  a  well-cultivated  farm 
i,i  3  10   acres,   finely  located  on  section  14,  in  Em- 


barras  Township.  The  dwelling  with  its  pleasant 
surroundings  is  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  attrac- 
tion, while  the  barn,  outbuildings,  live-stock,  fruit 
and  shade  trees  and  the  improved  machinery  for 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil  are  fully  indicative  of 
the  character  of  the  proprietor. 

A  native  of  Ross  Counts',  Ohio,  our  subject  was 
born  March  16,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of  Charles 
Merkle,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  who  came 
to  the  United  States  when  a  young  man.  The  lat- 
ter subsequently  married  Miss  Eve  Slager,  a  native 
of  his  own  country,  and  afterward  occupied  him- 
self in  farming  pursuits.  We  find  him  established 
in  Embarras  Township  in  1853,  where  he  operated 
successfully  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  building  up  a 
good  homestead  upon  which  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  After  a  residence  of  thirty-two 
years  in  Edgar  County  he  departed  hence  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1885.  The  mother  is  still  living.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  them  five  are  living,  viz.: 
Andrew,  our  subject,  Charles,  Henry,  Douglas  and 
Mary  F.     The  deceased  are  Louisa  and  Jacob. 

Andrew  Merkle,  like  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
acquired  his  education  under  the  disadvantages  of 
life  in  a  new  country,  but  was  taught  those  habits 
of  industry  and  frugality  which  have  brought  him 
success.  He  chose  farming  for  his  occupation,  at 
which  he  began  his  apprenticeship  when  a  mere 
boy.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  a  young 
man  of  nearly  twenty-three  years,  and  was  then 
married  in  February,  1871,  to  Miss  Maggie  Slager. 
They  commenced  life  together  in  a  manner  corres- 
ponding to  their  circumstances  and  established 
themselves  at  their  present  homestead  in  March, 
1871.  There  have  born  to  them  three  children — 
Charles,  Eve  and  Minnie,  who  are  at  home  with 
their  parents.  In  connection  with  general  agri- 
culture Mr.  Merkle  makes  a  specialty  of  stock- 
raising,  in  which  industry  he  has  been  very  success- 
ful. He  votes  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  has 
always  declined  the  honors  and  responsibilities  of 
office.  Eighty  acres  of  his  land  lie  in  Shiloh 
Township.  The  residence  is  a  fine,  two-story  brick 
structure,  the  main  part  occupying  an  area  of 
36x16  feet.  There  have  been  built  to  it  two  addi- 
tions, also  of  brick,  one  story  in  height,  and  there 
is  a  dry,  light  cellar  llxli  feet   walled   with  brick, 


770 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  which  furnishes  a  tine  receptacle  for  the  ample 
stores  of  fruit  and  vegetables  which  are  placed 
within  it  in  the  fall  for  winter  use.  North,  and 
across  the  road  is  a  commodious  barn  40x40  feet 
in  dimensions  with  12-foot  posts,  with  an  8-foot 
shed  on  the  east  side  and  a  12-foot  shed  on  the 
west,  thus  providing  ample  shelter  for  stock. 
There  is  one  tenement  house  in  Embarras  Town- 
ship and  another  in  Shiloh.  The  farm  is  conducted 
with  that  thoroughness  and  skill  which  never  fails 
to  yield  handsome  returns,  and  Mr.  Merkle  with 
his  family  enjoys  all  the  comforts  and  main'  of  the 
luxuries  of  life. 


~w\.  —*4£j2ri<M@'' 


'  *@^3/ZT£rerr~-w~- 


ENRY  WALLING.  Here  and  there  we  find 
k^  a  man  having  the  proper  conception  of  life 
in  the  rural  districts,  and  the  opportunities 
lur  displaying  his  energy,  taste  and  skill, 
both  in  agriculture  and  in  building  up  a  homestead. 
Nature,  which  has  done  so  much  for  the  country 
residents,  sometimes  find  little  assistance  or  appre- 
ciation among  the  individuals  who  choose  farming 
for  their  vocation,  and  it  is  most  gratifying  to  meet 
those  who  are  alive  to  their  opportunities  and  their 
calling.  The  subject  of  this  notice,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  Elbridge  Township  and  one  of  its  most 
skillful  farmers  and  stock-growers,  is  pleasantly 
situated  on  section  13,  two  miles  southwest  of  Ver- 
milion, where  he  has  been  established  since  1809. 
In  the  building  up  of  his  homestead  and  the  culti- 
vation of  the  soil  it  is  evident  that  his  heart  is  in  his 
work,  and  that  he  lias  been  endowed  with  more 
than  ordinary  capacities  both  as  a  farmer  and  a 
man  wideawake  in  business  matters. 

The  offspring  of  a  good  family,  our  subject  is 
the  son  of  Lewis  and  Eliza  (Boyd)  Walling,  who 
were  both  natives  of  Franklin  County,  Ind.,  and 
was  born  Aug.  7,  1812.  in  Bedford  County,  Iowa. 
Soon  afterward  the  family  returned  to  Indiana, 
where  Henry  pursued  his  early  studies  in  the  com- 
mon school,  mostly  in  the  winter  season  and  as- 
sisted his  father  in  general  farm  work  until  reach- 
ing man's  estate.  Then  ready  to  establish  a  home 
of  his  own  he  took  unto  himself  a  wife  and    help- 


mate. Miss  .Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Stacy  and  Mary 
Fenton,  of  Butler  County.  Ohio,  the  wedding  being 
celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in  Butler 
County.  The  young  people  sojourned  for  a  time 
in  the  Hoosier  State,  and  then,  in  1869,  came  to 
this  county  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  they 
now  live. 

Three  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  all  living.  The  eldest,  Flor- 
ence, is  the  wife  of  Walter  Thompson,  an  enterpris- 
ing young  farmer  and  they  live  near  Vermilion; 
Jennie  and  Ernest  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Mr.  Walling,  politically,  affiliates  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Com- 
missioner. Socially,  he  belongs  to  Lecture  Lodge. 
No.  563, 1.  O.  O.  F..  at  Vermilion,  of  which  be  has 
been  a  member  since  1875.  He  is  not  identified 
with  any  religious  denomination,  but  Mrs.  Walling 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
To  the  parents  of  Mr.  Walling  there  were  born 
nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  His  father, 
politically,  was  in  early  life  an  Old-Line  Whig, 
and  later  a  Republican.  Both  lie  and  his  wife 
belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church.  She  spent 
her  last  days  in  Franklin  County,  Ind.:  the  father 
died  in  Mississippi. 


"^ 


m  EREMIAH  V.  LYCAN,  Sr.  Among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Edgar  County,  111.,  who  ventured 
within  its  limits  as  early  as  1831  was  the 
father  of  our  subject,  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  one  amply  able  to  contend  with  the  dif- 
ficulties of  life  on  the  frontier.  He  made  the  jour- 
ney with  his  family  from  Morgan  County,  Ky.,  in 
October  of  the  year  above  mentioned,  overland  by 
wagons  and  ox-teams.  He  settled  in  the  timber 
when  the  flourishing  city  of  Paris  was  but  a 
hamlet  of  a  few  houses.  The  nearest  point  for  sup- 
plies was  Terre  Haute.  Ind.,  where  the  settlers  ob- 
tained their  salt,  while  they  manufactured  their 
sugar  from  the  trees. 

Mr.  Lycan,  Sr..  in  1832,  having  cleared  a  spot  of 
ground  around  his  cabin  home  set  out  an  orchard 
and    proceeded    as    rapidly    as    possible    with  the 


PORTRAIT   AND   ISHH  i  P  A  PIIICA  L   ALBUM. 


777 


further  clearing  of  the  land  and  the  cultivation  of 

the  soil.  In  the  meantime  his  apple  tret's  nourished 
.■uid  some  years  later  he  hauled  the  fruit  from  them 
to  Chicago  by  wagon  to  market.  Parents  and  chil- 
dren labored  together  in  clearing  the  farm  which 
lie  had  secured  on  a  trade,  and  subsequently  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  at  $1.50  per  acre.  Then 
disposing  of  this  he  entered  120  acres  from  the 
Governmenl  and  here  built  up  a  homestead  where 
he  and  his  wife  spent  their  last  days.  They  were 
members  of  the  Fredestinarian  Baptist  Church. 
Their  family  consisted  of  eight  children,  all  of 
whom  lived  to  mature  years  and  four  of  whom 
survive. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Elizabeth  James,  daughter  of  Tobias  James,  a 
native  of  South  Carolina.  Thence  the  latter  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky  and  settled  with  Daniel  Boone 
at  Hooncsboro;  later  he  removed  to  Montgomery 
County,  that  State,  and  finally  crossing  the  Missi>- 
sippi  took  up  his  abode  in  Randolph  County,  Mo., 
where  his  life  ended.  He  was  married  in  his  na- 
tive State  and  there  a  part  of  his  family  of  six  chil- 
dren were  born.  The  others  were  born  in  Kentucky . 
and  of  these  Elizabeth  was  the  eldest.  Gooden 
Lycan,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Wilkes  County,  N.  C.  lie  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  removed  to  Virginia,  where  it 
is  believed  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  a  boy  of  eleven 
years  when  he  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  with  his 
parents.  He  attended  school  in  a  hewn  log  house 
with  the  floor  and  seats  made  of  plank,  the  latter 
upheld  by  rude  wooden  legs.  The  structure  was 
heated  by  a  large  fireplace  at  each  end,  and  the 
chimney  was  built  outside  of  brick.  The  teachers 
of  those  days  were  not  expected  to  have  a  classical 
education,  and  enforced  their  rules  largely  by  the 
use  of  the  birch  rod.  Thus  amid  the  pioneer  scenes 
of  life  on  the  frontier  our  subject  developed  into 
manhood,  and  when  ready  to  establish  a  home  of 
his  own  was  married,  in  Symmes  Township,  Edgar 
County,  to  Miss  Lydia  Ogden. 

Mrs.  Lycan  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ky., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Nancy  (O'llair) 
( >gden.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
removed  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents,  Stephen  and 


Lydia  (CumptOll)  Ogden  when  a  young  man. 
They  lived  there  until  about  1834,  then  the  father 
and  children  (the  mother  having  died  in  Kentucky) 
emigrated  to  Edgar  County.  III.,  settling  ou  sec- 
tion 36  in  Symmes  Township,  where  the  grand- 
father, together  with  the  parents  of  our  subject 
spent  their  last  days.  Grandfather  Michael  O'llair 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  upon  emigrating  to 
America  located  in  Morgan  County,  Ky.,  and  died 
there. 

Mr.  Lycan  located  upon  his  present  farm  in  1831. 
lie  was  at  one  time  the  owner  of  about  1,000  acres 
of  land  but  has  divided  the  greater  portion  of  this 
among  his  children,  having  now  the  homestead  of 
240  acres.  Upon  this  he  has  erected  a  tasteful  and 
commodious  farm  house,  a  substantial  barn  and  the 
other  buildings  necessary  for  his  convenience  and 
the  successful  prosecution  of  agriculture.  The  first 
orchard  which  he  planted  has  long  since  given  way 
to  a  younger  growth  of  trees  and  the  farm  has  been 
continuously  undergoing  the  process  of  improve- 
ment, so  that  it  is  now  a  very  valuable  piece  of 
property.  Mr.  Lycan  when  a  young  man  was  a 
First  Lieutenant  in  a  company  of  militia,  and  still 
has  in  his  possession  the  commission  then  given 
him.  He  served  as  Supervisor  when  Paris  and 
Symmes  Townships  were  one.  When  they  were 
divided  he  was  ousted  by  the  Democratic  element. 
He  gives  his  support  to  the  Republican  party,  but 
his  extensive  farming  interests  have  led  him  to 
meddle  but  very  little  with  public  affairs. 

The  twelve  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  recorded  as  follows:  Of  John  M., 
a  sketch  will  appear  elsewhere  in  this  work;  James 
N.  is  living  with  his  father;  Harvey  N.  is  living 
in  Buck  Township;  Nancy  A.  is  the  wife  T.  M. 
Slemons,  and  they  live  in  Paris;  Emily  is  the  wife 
of  Rilen  Barnett,  and  they  live  in  Piatt  County, 
this  State;  Sally,  Mrs.  W".  C.  Slemons,  lives  in  Paris; 
William  Riley  lives  in  Symmes  Township;  Mary 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Luther  Tate  and  lives  near  Grand 
View;  Lydia  B..  the  twin  sister  of  Mary,  is  the  wife 
of  Jacob  Perisho,  living  near  Grand  View;  Jere- 
miah V.  is  married  and  lives  on  the  home  farm 
with  his  parents;  he  is  the  owner  of  295  acres  of 
land  comprising  a  part  of  the  original  farm  estab- 
lished by  his  honored  father.     His  wife  was  form- 


778 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


erly  Miss  Ella  O'Hair,  daughter  of  Julin  W.  O'Hair, 
of  Symnies  Township,  and  they  have  two  sons — 
Chester  N.  and  Asa  B.  Miss  Laura  Lycan  became 
the  wife  of  S.  H.  Preston,  of  Symmes  Township; 
Olivia  R.  became  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Perisho,  like- 
wise a  farmer  of  Symmes  Township. 

'OHN  M.  LYCAN.  Among  the  well-to-do 
native-born  citizens  of  Edgar  County  may 
be  properly  mentioned  the  subject  of  this 
biography  —  one  of  the  younger  residents  of 
Paris  Township  —  located  at  a  well-regulated  farm 
on  section  5.  He  was  born  in  Symmes  Township, 
Sept.  1,  1843,  where  he  developed  into  manhood, 
attended  the  district  school,  and  made  himself  use- 
ful around  his  father's  homestead  until  ready  to 
commence  operations  on  his  own  account.  He 
distinctly  remembers  the  time  when  the  farm 
which  he  now  occupies  (and  which  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  township)  was  an  open  prairie  where  he 
herded  cattle  and  frequently  from  morning  till 
sunset  saw  scarcely  a  traveler  going  on  his  lonely 
journey  across  the  country.  Times  have  wonder- 
fully changed  since  then,  and  the  boy  born  on  the 
frontier  grew  up  with  the  country  and  has  become 
one  of  its  most  praiseworthy  citizens. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Jeremiah  V. 
Lycan,  who  came  to  Edgar  County  with  his  parents 
when  a  boy  of  twelve  years,  about  1831.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  in  opening  up  the  new  farm  from 
the  wild  prairie  and  after  his  marriage  settled  on 
it.  To  the  elder  Lycan  and  li is  excellent  wife 
there  was  born  a  family  of  twelve  children,  who 
present  the  remarkable  spectacle  of  a  group  still 
unbroken  by  death  —  parents  and  children  being 
all  living  and  the  former  still  occupying  the  same 
homestead  where  they  settled  when  beginning  their 
wedded  life  together. 

Jeremiah  Lycan,  Sr.,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  one  of  the  Carolinas, 
whence  he  removed  first  to  Virginia  and  then  to 
Kentucky.  Later  he  came  to  Illinois  and  entered 
a  tract  of  land,  from  which  he  built  up  a  farm 
where   he   and    his    good    wife,  Elizabeth  (James) 


Lycan,  spent  their  last  days,  and  upon  which  in  a 
quiet  and  secluded  spot  their  remains  were  laid  to 
rest  side  by  side.  On  the  mother's  side  of  the 
house  the  grandparents  were  Jesse  and  Nancy 
'O'Hair)  Ogden,  both  natives  of  Kentucky.  They 
emigrated  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  when  their 
daughter.  Lydia,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  a 
mere  child,  but  she  still  remembers  many  incidents 
of  the  journey,  which  was  made  overland  by  team. 
They  located  on  a  tract  of  Government  land  in 
Symmes  Township  and  Grandfather  Ogden  became 
one  of  the  leading  landholders  of  this  section. 
Botli  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  last  days  upon  the 
old  farm,  where  they  settled  first  and  where  they 
were  buried. 

Probably  the  most  important  and  interesting 
event  in  the  early  life  of  our  subject  was  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  Oct.  18,  187G,  the  bride  be- 
ing Miss  Nancy  Perisho,  a  lady  of  Symmes 
Township  and  the  daughter  of  Hervey  and 
Elizabeth  (Ogden)  Perisho.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Lycan  came  to  Edgar  County  when  children  with 
their  respective  parents.  The  family  originated 
in  Frame,  where  the  paternal  grandfather,  Joseph 
Perisho,  was  born.  He  was  kidnapped  by  a  fisher- 
man when  three  years  old  and  brought  to  North 
Carolina.  Later  he  removed  to  Virginia  and  was 
msrried  to  Barbara  Zink,  a  native  of  Germany. 
Thence  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Washington 
County,  Ind.,  where  their  son,  Hervey,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Lycan.  was  born  in  1815,  before  Indiana 
had  been  transformed  from  a  territory  into  a  state. 

IIerve3'  Perisho  upon  coming  to  Edgar  County, 
III.,  settled  in  Grand  Mew  Township,  where  his 
children  were  reared.  Later  he  removed  to  Symmes 
Township,  where  he  now  lives  and  where  the 
mother  died  in  June,  1888.  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years.  There  were  then  seven  children  sur- 
viving, two  of  whom  are  since  deceased.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  there  have  been  born  four  children, 
only  two  of  whom  are  living:  Lydia  I.  and  Laura 
E.  Jeremiah  V.  died  when  two  years  old.  and  one 
child  died  unnamed  in  infancy.  Mr.  Lycan  is  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  comprising  his 
homestead,  while  he  operates  eight}'  acres  adjoin- 
ing belonging  to  his  father.  Besides  carrying  on 
general    agriculture,    he    is    interested     in    draft 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIO  .KAI'IMCAI.  ALBUM. 


77!i 


horses  and  is  part  owner  of  one  very  fine  equine  of 
English  and  Belgian  stuck,  an  animal  of  great 
beauty  and  symmetry  and  weighing  about  1,800 
His.  During  thc>  progress  of  the  late  Civil  War 
Mr.  Lycan  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company 
E,  66th  Illinois  Infantry.  Western  Sharp-shooters, 
and  served  until  July,  1865,  going  through  the 
Atlanta  campaign.  Later  he  marched  from  Pu- 
laski, Tenn..  to  Washington,  being  under  lire 
almost  constantly  for  about  four  months.  He 
escaped,  however,  without  a  wound  and  was  pres- 
ent in  the  grand  review  at  the  capital  city.  As  an 
ox-soldier  he  is  identified  with  the  <l.  A.  R.,  Dris- 
kell  Post,  No.  2(111.  at  Paris.  He  is  likewise  a  Mas- 
ter Mason,  belonging  to  Paris  Lodge.  No.  268. 
Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  and  is  serving  his  fourth  consecutive  term  as 
Assistant  Supervisor  of  Paris  Township. 


*^?£&Z&<^ 


\f/OHN  K.  BOYER.  In  the  life  history  of  this 
individual  we  have  the  career  of  a  man  who 
has  made  his  way  up  from  poverty  in  a  log 
cabin,  to  a  position  of  wealth  and  influence' 
while  at  the  same  time  he  has  maintained  his  integ- 
rity, and  to-day  he  bears  the  reputation  of  being 
an  honest,  upright  citizen,  a  Christian  in  the  true 
Sense  of  the  term,  an  ardent  temperance  worker, 
and  the  encourager  and  helper  of  all  those  enterprises 
calculated  to  benefit  mankind.  A  pioneer  of  L824, 
he  came  to  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  when  there  was  only 
here  and  there  a  lonely  cabin,  while  Indians  still 
lingered  in  this  region,  and  wild  animals  were  plen- 
tiful. In  fact,  he  was  one  of  the  two  first  children 
brought  within  the  present  limits  of  Kansas  Town- 
ship; the  other  child  being  his  brother,  Ephraim; 
and  for  six  months  they  were  the  only  children  in 
the  township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Oldham 
Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  18,  1820.  and  was  a  child  of  three 
years  when  brought  to  Edgar  Co.,  HI.,  by  his  pa- 
rente.  His  father.  Frederick  Lover,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  son  of  Philip  Boyer,  who 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
When  the  latter  was  ended  Grandfather  Boyer  set- 


tled in  (  lldham  ( lounty,  Ky.,  when  his  son  Frederick 
was  a  child  of  three  years.  The  latter  was  reared 
there  on  a  farm,  anil  learned  blacksmithing.  which 
he  followed  many  years,  lie  had  inherited  patriot- 
ism from  his  sire,  and  fought  under  lien.  Harrison 
in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  married  in  Kentucky 
and  came  to  Edgar  County,  III.,  in  the  spring  of 
1  82  I.  secured  a  tract  of  government  land,  cleared  a 
little  spot  of  land  and  put  up  a  small  log  cabin. 
The  pioneer  home  was  located  live  miles  southeast 
of  the  present  town  of  Kansas.  Wild  animals 
abounded  and  Indians  frequently  camped  near  by. 
Our  subject  remembers  seeing  as  many  as  fifty-two 
deer  in  one  herd.  Wild  turkeys  were  numerous, 
also  wildcats  and  catamounts,  and  occasionally  a 
panther,  together  with  bears  and  wolves.  Their 
Indian  neighbors  were  peaceable  and  quiet,  and 
offered  them  no  molestation. 

The  Boyer  family  occupied  that  little  1  Ix  Hi 
cabin  in  the  woods  for  a  number  of  years.  It 
consisted  of  one  room  only,  with  a  puncheon 
floor,  the  door  and  roof  made  of  clapboards,  the 
chimney  built  outside,  of  clay  and  sticks,  and  a  rude 
fireplace  before  which  the  mother  did  her  cooking, 
occupied  nearly  one  end  of  the  building.  Their 
wheat  was  ground  into  flour  in  a  mill  operated  by 
horse-power,  likewise  their  corn  meal,  hut  some 
times  not  being  able  to  get  to  the  mill,  the  corn 
was  pounded  in  a  mortar  consisting  of  a  hole 
burned  in  the  top  of  a  stump,  the  pounder  being 
fastened  to  a  spring  pole  over  it.  They  raised  flax 
from  which  the  mother  spun  and  wove  the  cloth 
for  the  family  garments.  Some  of  the  pioneers 
wore  clothing  made  from  the  lint  of  nettles  and 
others  wore  buckskin  pants.  The  fashions  caused 
people  very  little  trouble  in  those  days,  the  main 
concern  being  lo  keep  warm  in  winter  and  cool  in 
summer.  Whatever  was  the  welfare  and  sorrow  of 
one  neighbor  was  of  interest  to  all.  They  bore 
each  other's  burdens  and  rejoiced  in  each  other's 
successes. 

Mrs.  Naomi  (Kcster)  Boyer,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  the  daughter  of  William  Kester,  and 
was  born  in  Oldham  Co.,  Ky.  Only  three  of  the 
five  children  comprising  the  parental  household  are 
now  living,  viz.:  John  K.,  our  subject;  William  F. 
and  Presley  P.,  all  of  whom  are  residents  of  Kan- 


7«0 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


£as,  111.  Ephraim  died  when  a  lad  of  fourteen 
years.  The  mother  departed  this  life  in  1835, 
when  a  young  woman.  The  father  was  subsequently 
married  to  Fanny  A.  Kester,  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Kcs- 
ter;  to  them  was  born  one  child.  Frederick  N.,  who 
is  at  present  a  resident  of  Olney,  111.,  where  he 
officiates  as  general  freight  agent  of  the  Chicago 
&  Ohio  Railroad  Co.  Frederick  Lover,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  died  in  1840,  and  his  remains  were 
laid  to  rest  at  the  old  homestead,  on  the  land  which 
he  had  entered  from  the  government. 

Although  a  mere  child  upon  coming  to  Illinois, 
our  subject  retains  a  vivid  recollection  of  many  of 
the  incidents  attending  the  preparations  for  emi- 
gration and  those  which  happened  on  the  way.  Be- 
fore leaving  Kentucky  he  rode  on  horseback  over 
twenty  miles,  his  father  leading  the  horse,  to  see 
his  great-great-grandmother  Kester,  who  knit  him 
a  pair  of  socks,  which  he  still  basin  his  possession. 
This  was  before  he  had  attained  his  third  year. 
The  first  representatives  of  the  Kester  family  in 
America,  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  William  Penn, 
and  from  what  can  be  gathered  of  them,  they  were 
evidently  people  of  sound  moral  principles,  and 
generally  well  to  dn  financially. 

Ths  early  education  of  our  subject  was  conduct- 
ed in  a  log  school-house,  one  of  those  structures 
which  have  been  so  often  described  in  this  vol- 
ume. '1  hat  was  before  the  days  of  glass,  n  hen  they 
studied  their  lessons  by  the  light  emitted  through 
greased  paper  for  window  panes.  The  seats  and 
floor  were  of  split  logs,  and  the  pedagogue  of  those 
times  was  not  expected  to  possess  a  classical  educa- 
tion. Young  Boyer  went  to  mill  fur  the  family 
when  he  was  too  young  to  lead  a  horse,  and  would 
ride  one  horse  while  another  was  tied  to  the  tail  of 
the  one  lie  rode,  the  latter  carrying  the  sack  of 
grain. 

In  these  excursions  our  subject  was  obliged  to 
start  before  daylight.  In  the  swampy  places  there 
were  corduroy  roads — logs  laid  crosswise — and 
upon  one  occasion  when  he  had  one  horse  only, 
the  animal  tripped  and  fell,  throwing  boy  and  sack 
headlong.  The  boy  was  too  small  to  lift  the  sack 
of  corn,  and  while  the  horse  was  down  he  rolled 
the  sack  on  to  it,  then  climbed  on  top  of  the  sack 
and  caused   the  horse  to  get  up.    He  was  justifiably 


one  of  the  proudest  boys  in  the  State  that  day.  to 
think  that  he  thus  found  a  way  out  of  his  difficul- 
ties, and  this,  too,  before  daylight.  Upon  another 
occasion,  when  returning  from  mill  with  two  others 
in  the  night,  they  traveled  Indian  file,  there  being 
no  wagon  track,  young  Boyer  was  separated  from 
his  companions,  one  of  whom  rode  in  front  and 
the  other  in  the  rear  from  him.  The  latter,  losing 
his  hat.  stopped  to  recover  it.  and  in  the  meantime 
the  horse  of  our  subject  left  the  main  path,  the 
man  in  front  being  so  far  in  advance  that  he  could 
not  see  him.  The  other  followed,  supposing  that 
his  companions  were  all  right,  and  young  Boyer 
was  left  in  the  woods  nearly  all  night.  He  did 
not  dare  to  dismount  on  account  of  the  wolves,  so 
laid  his  head  on  the  sack  of  flour  and  slept  while 
the  horse  was  grazing.  In  the  meantime  the 
alarm  had  been  given  at  home  and  the  whole  neigh- 
borhood turned  out  to  hunt  him,  his  uncle  finding 
him  about  one  o'clock  in  the   night. 

Pioneer  life  abounded  with  these  little  incidents, 
which  served  to  relieve  its  monotony.  After  at- 
taining manhood  our  subject  finished  his  education 
in  the  High  School  at  Marshall,  where  he  attended 
one  year.  Prior  to  this  he  had  taught  school  con- 
siderably, while  he  worked  on  the  farm  in  the  sum- 
mer; In  1852  he  established  himself  as  a  general 
merchant  at  Whitesville,  in  Coles  County,  but  the 
year  following  removed  his  store  to  what  was  then 
Midway,  but  is  now  Kansas.  In  the  year  1872 
he  sold  out  and  turned  his  attention  exclusively  to 
grain  and  stock,  with  which  he  had  heretofore  had 
considerable  experience.  Later  he  wisely  retired 
from  active  business,  and  is  now  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  early  accumulations.  He  owns  180 
acres  of  land  in  Shiloh  Township,  and  2.000  acres 
in  Trigo  Co.,  Kan.  He  also  has  two  residences  and 
a  store  building  in  the  latter  town,  besides  sixteen 
lots  in  Mattoon  and  thirty  in  Brocton,  which  town 
he  laid  out. 

Among  the  important  and  interesting  events  in 
the  life  of  our  subject  was  his  marriage  August  .'51. 
1843,  with  Miss  Rachel  E.,  daughter  of  Edward 
Pinnell,  a  well  known  resident  of  Edgar  County, 
and  long  since  deceased.  Mr.  Pinnell  emigrated 
to  Illinois  from  Oldham  Co.,  Ky..  settling  in  Kan- 
sas Township,  in  1830.     This  union  resulted  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOCRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


781 


birth  of  six  children,  only  oneof  whom  is  living, 
a  daughter,  Drusilla  A.  One  sun.  Edward  P.,  mar- 
ried Miss  Belle  E.  Steele,  and  was  accidentally  shot 
while  hunting  in  1872.  He  left  two  children — 
Everette  E.  and  Leona.  Drusilla  is  the  wife  of 
Jasper  II.  McGrew,a  druggisl  of  Kansas,  and  they 
have  one  child,  :i  daughter,  Myrtle. 

Mr.  Hover,  politically  supports  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  no  office  seeker 
but  under  Presidents  Fillmore,  Pierce  and  Buch- 
anan officiated  as  postmaster,  aqd  for  six  years  rep- 
resented Kansas  Township  in  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors.  He  is  warmly  interested  in  tem- 
perance work,  and  has  been  instrumental  in  keep- 
ing saloons  out  of  the  town.  lli>  religious  beliefs 
coincide  with  those  of  the  Christian  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a  leading  member. 


ENJAMIN  O.  CURTIS,  horticulturist  and 
crop  reporter,  is  proprietor  of  oneof  the 
|j  finest  and  oldest  nurseries  in  the  State.  He 
served  an  apprenticeship  at  this  business  in 
his  boyhood,  and  it  seems  one  to  which  he  is  es- 
pecially adapted,  judging  from  the  success  which 
has  clowned  his  efforts.  This  nursery  was  estab- 
lished by  his  father,  Joseph  Curtis,  seventy  years 
ago,  being  the  first  industry  of  the  kind  in  the 
State,  and  enjoys  a  patronage  extending  far  be- 
yond its  limits. 

In  addition  to  his  skill  in  his  chosen  calling,  Mr. 
Curtis  is  one  of  the  most  popular  men  of  Edgar 
Township,  and  his  domestic  affairs  are  presided 
over  by  a  lady  in  every  way  lilted  for  her  position 
as  bis  wife.  Both  occupy  a  high  social  position, 
ami  entertain  in  their  hospitable  home  the  most 
cultivated  people  of  their  community.  The  home- 
stead comprises  168  acres  of  land,  lying  on  sections 
3,  12  and  1  I.  and  Mr.  Curtis  has  forty-eighl  acres 
in  Hunter  Township.  He  has  spent  his  entire  lite 
in  Edgar  County,  having  been  born  in  Stratton 
rownship  March  lib  1824,  and  was  reared  on  the 
pioneer  farm  during  the  early  settlement  of  the 
country,  when  wild  game  was  plentiful,  and  re- 
members seiing  from    sevi  ntem    to  twenty  deer  in 


a  herd.  In  his  youth  he  frequently  joined  in  the  wolf 
hunts,  which  the  neighbors  instituted  at  stated  pe- 
riods in  their  efforts  to  exterminate  this  dangerous 
and  mischievous  animal. 

Mr.  Curtis,  under  the  instruction  of  his  honored 
father,  commenced  grafting  trees  when  a  boy.  His 
school  advantages  were  limited,  he  attending  a 
few  weeks  during  the  winter  season,  pursuing  his 
studies  in  a  log  cabin,  but  was  mostly  educated  at 
home  by  the  fireside,  although  at  times  attending 
a  night  school.  He  remained  with  the  family  until 
twenty-two  years  old,  but  prior  to  this  time  had 
been  mostly  in  charge  of  his  father's  nursery. 
He  now  started  a  nursery  of  his  own  in  Paris 
Township,  which  be  operated  ten  years  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brother.  David  S.  Later  he  was  the 
owner  of  about  3,000  acres,  entered  upon  a  Mexi- 
can land  warrant.  In  1848  he  entered  from  the 
Government  his  present  place  of  168  acres. 

While  occupied  with  his  nursery  near  Paris.  Mr. 
Curtis  proceeded  with  the  improvement  of  his 
land.  In  1856  he  removed  to  bis  present  home- 
stead, where  he  had  already  established  his  nursery. 
He  had  at  time  about  1,200  acres,  which  he  leased 
to  other  parties.  He  labored  industriously,  eat  I  \ 
and  late,  in  the  improvement  of  his  land  and  erect- 
ing the  needed  buildings,  besides  looking  after  his 
nursery  business  and  gathering  in  new  varieties  of 
fruit  and  shrubbery.  In  this  line  he  excels,  and  is 
credited  with  having  the  largest  variety  of  choice 
fruit  and  ornamental  trees  of  any  -man  in  the 
county,  and  it  might  be  truthfully  said,  of  all  of 
them  taken  together.  Twenty  acres  are  devoted 
to  an  apple  orchard,  while  he  has  five  acres  in 
pears,  three  acres  in  general  nursery  stock  and 
eight  acres  in  young  walnut  trees.  He  pays  special 
attention  to  the  cultivation  of  strawberries,  and 
by  his  study  of  the  different  plants  has  been  en- 
abled  to  originate  not  only  new  kinds  of  these,  but 
of  most  of  the  other  fruits. 

Mr.  Curtis  avails  himself  of  the  leading  periodi- 
cals  pertaining  to  this  industry,  keeping  himself 
well  informed  and  gleaning  useful  knowledge  from 
the  experience  of  others.  In  connection  with  his 
nursery,  be  carried  on  general  farming  until  within 
the  last  six  years,  but  during  this  time  has  given 
his  principal  attention  to  the  nursery.   He  has  each 


782 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


year  a  fine  exhibit  of  fruit  at  the  county  fairs,  and 
is  in  the  habit  of  carrying  off  the  blue  ribbons. 
Not  only  does  he  stand  first  at  these,  but  at  the 
State  fairs.  He  has  disposed  of  portions  of  his 
land  from  time  to  time,  until  he  has  now  only  the 
homestead,  the  land  of  which  has  been  brought  to 
a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  is  valuable. 

The  3d  of  September,  1850.  witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject,  at  Paris,  with  Miss  Jennie 
\V.  Stout,  who  was  born  at  that  place  Feb.  5,  1828. 

Adiiel  Stout,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Curtis,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  March  25,  1800,  and  was  taken  to 
Ohio  in  early  childhood,  where  he  was  reared  to 
man's  estate.  The  paternal  grandfather,  .John  N. 
Stout,  was  a  messenger  boy  in  the  American  army 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  After  his  removal 
to  Ohio,  where  lie  settled  in  Adams  Count}',  he  fol- 
lowed carpentering,  and  there  spent  his  last  days. 
His  son  Adriel,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Curtis,  was  a 
potter  by  trade,  which  he  followed  in  Ohio  until 
1822.  Then,  coming  to  Illinois,  he  located  near 
Paris,  in  Edgar  County,  and  entered  160  acres  of 
land,  from  which  he  improved  a  farm,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  being  instru- 
mental in  its  organization,  and  in  which  he  offici- 
ated as  Elder  for  thirty-three  years,  and  signalized 
himself  as  a  remarkably  earnest  worker  in  the  Sun- 
day-school. 

Mrs.  Eliza  (Means)  Stout,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Curtis,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  William  Means,  who,  upon  leaving  the 
South,  settled  first  in  Ohio.  In  1822  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  spent  his  last  days  in  Edgar  County. 
He  likewise  served  in  the  Rt  volutionary  Mar.  Mrs. 
Stout  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
She  became  the  mother  of  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  grew  to  mature  years.  Nancy,  Mrs.  McCord, 
was  a  resident  of  Paris,  and  is  now  deceased;  John 
is  farming  in  Paris  Township;  Hattieand  James  are 
deceased ;  Mary,  Mrs.  Athon, resides  in  Edgar  Town- 
ship; James,  the  youngest,  born  about  December, 
1842,  during  the  first  year  of  the  Civil  War  en- 
listed in  Company  E.  12th  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  in  April.  1862. 

Mrs.  Curtis  was  born  Feb.  5,  1828.  and  received 
a   good    education,  attending   the   High    School  at 


Paris,  and  completed  her  studies  in  the  academy. 
Subsequently  she  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  period 
of  six  years.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  was 
born  one  child  only — Mary  E..  who  died  in  1882. 
in  the  bloom  of  womanhood. 

Mr.  Curtis,  politically,  gives  his  undivided  sup- 
port to  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
which  he  frequently  serves  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions.  He  has  been  School  Director 
several  years,  and  also  Road  Supervisor,  and  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Mrs.  Curtis  belongs  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  at  Paris.  The  horticultural  in- 
terests of  this  region  have  received  a  great  im- 
petus from  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Curtis  for  their 
advancement.  His  whole  heart  is  in  the  work,  and 
he  makes  of  it  an  art  and  a  science.  He  was 
appointed  Crop  Reporter  in  the  year  1879,  and 
sends  the  results  of  his  observations  both  to 
Springfield  and  Washington,  and  gives  reports  of 
the  special  conventions  held  in  different  parts  of 
the  country. 

Rev.  Joseph  Curtis,  Jr.,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey, and  was  the  son  of  Joseph 
Curtis,  Sr..  wiio  was  of  Welsh  extraction  and  sup- 
posed to  be  a  descendant  of  one  of  six  brothers 
who  emigrated  to  America  during  the  Colonial 
times.  He  was  a  farmer  in  New  Jersev  in  the 
early  day,  whence  he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Manchester,  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  after  having  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  which  he  was  a 
special  despatch  carrier  for  Gen.  Washington. 
When  eighty-five  years  old  he  came  to  Illinois  to 
live  with  his  grandson,  our  subject,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight,  firm  in  the  faith  of  the  Quaker 
belief,  in  which  he  had  been  reared. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  quite  young  when 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  he  lived  there 
until  1818.  In  the  meantime  he  was  married,  but 
not  content  with  the  progress  he  was  making  fi- 
nancially, determined  to  seek  the  Farther  West. 
The  family  set  out  on  a  keel-boat  to  Terre  Haute. 
I nd.,  taking  with  them  300  bushels  of  dried  fruit, 
which  they  sold  at  $3  per  bushel.  Mr.  Curtis  in 
1819  located  in  what  was  then  Wayne,  but  is  now 
Stratton  Township,  entering  a  tract  of  Govern- 
ment  land — 320  acres — and  paying   therefor  $1.25 


■  PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


r83 


per  acre.  He  was  the  sixth  man  to  locate  In  Edgar 
County.  He  carried  on  the  improvement  of  his 
land  and  established  the  first  nursery  in  Illinois. 

The  labors  connected  with  this  were  more  con- 
genial to  his  tastes,  and  he  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness most  of  the  time  during  the  balance  of  his 
life,  and  made  sales  all  over  the  country. 

Politically,  the  father  of  our  subject,  upon  be- 
coming a  voting  citizen,  identified  himself  with 
the  old  Whig  party.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  he 
united  in  boyhood  and  officiated  as  Class  Leader 
and  local  preacher.  He  also  traveled  one  year 
preaching.  He  organized  the  first  class  meeting 
in  the  county,  and  labored  earnestly  upon  the  be- 
half of  souls.  He  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six  years.  His  wife,  who  in  her  girlhood  was 
Hannah  Shelby,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  David  Shelby,  also  a  native  of 
that  State.  The  latter  was  of  English  descent,  and 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Later  he  re- 
moved to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
his  last  days.  Miss  Hannah  received  a  good  edu- 
cation and  taught  school  several  years  before  her 
marriage.  She  died  in  Stratton  Township,  III.,  in 
the  ninety-fifth  year  of  her  age.  The  parental 
family  consisted  of  six  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Joseph,  died  when  a  year  old;  David  S.  is 
a  resident  of  Hunter  Township;  Harvey  W.  makes 
his  home  in  Topeka,  Kan.;  Benjamin  O.,  our  sub- 
ject, was  the  fourth  child;  Isaac  H.  is  a  resident 
of  Edgar  Township;  and  George  is  deceased. 
David  Shelby  was  a  captain  in  the  79th  Illinois  In- 
fantry during  the  late  Civil  War,  enlisting  in  180 1, 
and  serving  until  he  resigned  his  commission. 

OHN  N.  COOPER,  late  of  Shiloh  Township, 
was  a  striking  illustration  of  the  results  of 
perseverance  and  energy,  lie  came  to  Ed- 
jT/1  gar  County,  III.,  in  1861.  and  began  opera- 
tions on  ten  acres  of  land,  preferring  to  have  a 
small  spot  which  he  could  call  his  own  and  clear 
of  debt  than  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  a  large 
area  unpaid   for.      It  was  mostly  covered  with  tim- 


•5s 


ber,  and  there  was  much  labor  involved  in  clear- 
ing it  and  preparing  the  soil  for  cultivation.  He 
made  good  progress,  however,  was  prospered  in 
his  labors,  and  added  to  his  possessions  by  degrees 
until  he  had  a  farm  of  100  acres  under  cultivation 
and  improved  with  good  buildings.  He  departed 
this  life  at  the  homestead  which  he  had  thus  built 
up,  April  1,  1889. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of 
this  county  and  a  man  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  did  a  large  amount  of  pioneer  labor  and 
performed  his  lull  quota  in  redeeming  this  portion 
of  the  county  from  a  state  of  nature.  A  man  of 
irreproachable  character,  he  possessed  high  moral 
sentiments  and  had  been  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  since  a  youth  of  sixteen 
years.  He  was  diligent  in  Christian  work,  offici- 
ating as  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  and 
laboring  for  the  Master  as  opportunity  occurred. 
He  was  an  ardent  Republican  politically  and  prom- 
inent in  local  affairs,  serving  as  School  Director 
and  Road  Commissioner  and  otherwise  identifying 
himself  with  the  best  interests  of  his  community. 
He  was  a  warm  admirer  of  the  principles  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  belonged  to  Bloomfield 
Lodge  at  Chrisman.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Protective  Association  of   Edgar  County. 

The  marriage  of  John  N.  Cooper  with  Mrs. 
Margaret  (Fleming)  Allen  occurred  May  1.  1856, 
in  Parke  County,  Ind.  This  lady  is  the  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Annie  (Wasson)  Fleming,  the  father 
a  native  of  County  Down.  Ireland,  and  the  mother 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Fleming  was  a 
weaver  by  trade,  which  he  followed  in  Ireland 
until  emigrating  to  America,  at  the  age  of  about 
twenty-one  years.  Afterward,  locating  near  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  he  first  engaged  in  farming  there,  then 
removed  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
his  last  days.  He  had  been  reared  a  Presbyterian 
and  in  the  principles  of  this  faith  passed  away. 
Grandfather  Robert  Wasson  was  likewise  a  native 
of  Ireland,  where  he  grew  to  man's  estate  and  was 
married.  He  was  likewise  a  Presbyterian  in  relig- 
ion, and  after  coming  to  America  occupied  himself 
as  a  farmer  in  Pennsylvania  until  his  death.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Cooper,  after  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band  came    to   Illinois  and    died    in    Bond  County 


784 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


about  1879.  The  parental  family  consisted  of  six 
children,  viz.;  James  and  Andrew  twins,  deceased; 
William,  deceased;  Russell  and  Mary  A.,  residents 
of  Bond  County,  111.,  and  Margaret,  Mrs.  Cooper, 
who  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  James  during 
the  late  Civil  War  enlisted  in  an  Indiana  regiment, 
was  captured  by  the  rebels  at  Chattanooga  and 
taken  to  Libby  Prison.  While  confined  there  he 
became  so  feeble  from  the  want  of  proper  food,  that 
after  being  exchanged  he  died  before  he  could 
reach  his  home. 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  Jan. 
5,  1834,  and  in  1839  was  taken  by  her  mother  to 
Indiana  by  way  of  the  Wabash  River.  They  set- 
tled among  the  pioneers  of  Parke  County,  at  a  time 
when  the  Indians  were  often  to  be  seen  and  wild 
game  was  plentiful.  She  received  very  good 
school  advantages  for  those  days,  and  being  natu- 
rally bright  and  observant  grew  up  an  attractive 
young  lady.  She  remained  with  her  mother  until 
her  first  marriage,  with  Allison  Allen,  which  took 
place  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  June  20,  1851. 
Mr.  Allen  was  a  native  of  that  county,  and  his 
father  had  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Mr. 
Allen  was  a  well  educated  man.  and  after  leaving 
his  father's  farm  engaged  as  a  clerk  at  Clinton. 
Ind.,  until  his  marriage.  Later  he  assisted  at  the 
operation  of  a  sawmill  near  Hillsdale,  and  died  in 
1854.  After  his  decease  his  widow  returned  to 
her  mother  and  remained  there  until  her  marriage 
with  Mr.  Cooper. 

John  Cooper,  the  father  of  Thomas,  emigrated 
from  Ohio  to  Vigo  County,  Ind.,  where  he  was  one 
of  its  earliest  pioneers.  He  was  successful  as  a 
farmer  and  accumulated  a  good  property.  In  18(51 
he  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  where  he  spent  his 
last  days.  Mrs.  Cooper,  since  the  death  of  her 
husband,  has  successfully  managed  the  farm,  which 
is  located  in  Mulberry  Grove,  about  five  miles 
from  the  markets,  and  of  which  Mrs.  Cooper  is  the 
oldest  remaining  settler.  She  is  a  lady  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  and  lias  kept  up  the  home- 
stead in  its  old-time  style,  operating  successfully 
in  grain  and  stock  —  cattle,  sheep  and  swine.  She 
keeps  about  ten  head  of  horses  and  seventy-five 
head  of  sheep.  The  buildings  are  all  that  could 
be  desired  on  a  homestead,  while  the  farming  oper- 


ations   are    prosecuted    with    the    latest  improved 
machinery. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  there  were  born  six 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter,  Linnie, 
married  James  Gunning,  a  farmer  of  Shiloh  Town- 
ship; Minerva  is  the  wife  of  Perry  Conrey,  of  Shi- 
loh Township;  Benjamin  was  one  of  the  first  three 
men  to  settle  in  Greeley  County,  Kan.,  where  he 
has  320  acres  of  land  and  is  well-to-do.  Edwin 
owns  160  acres  of  land  in  Greeley  County,  Kan., 
and  has  town  property  in  Horace.  James  and  Hat- 
tie  remain  at  home  with  their  mother.  Of  Mrs. 
Cooper's  first  marriage  there  were  bom  two  chil- 
dren: Robert  resides  in  Clinton.  Ind.,  and  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Charles  Smith,  live  in  Rogers,  Benton 
Co.,  Ark.  Mrs.  Cooper  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when  a  young  girl  of 
fourteen  years  and  has  since  continued  with  it. 
She  assisted  materially  in  the  building  of  the 
church  edifice  at  Shiloh.  She  is  a  lady  who  keeps 
herself  well  informed  upon  current  events  and  be- 
lieves in  the  prohibition  party.  Her  children 
have  grown  up  around  her,  bright,  intelligent  and 
well  educated,  and  are  proving  themselves  useful 
and  praiseworthy  members  of  society. 


— -'l*3'j[ 't'2"  ~ — 

Ol'GLAS  MERKLE.  The  old  Merkle 
homestead,  which  was  established  in  pio- 
neer da3-s  on  section  5  in  Embarras  Town- 
ship, has  become  one  of  its  most  familiar 
landmarks.  Upon  it  lives  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  where  he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light  Sept.  6,  1861.  Next  to  the  honor  of  bein^'  a 
pioneer  is  that  of  being  the  son  of  one,  and  one 
who  has  taken  upon  himself  the  duty  of  perpetu- 
ating in  a  worthy  manner  the  homestead  built  up 
by  his  sire.  Mr.  Merkle  takes  pride  in  his  farming 
operations,  and  aims  to  excel.  In  addition  to 
general  agriculture,  he  makes  a  specialty  of  stock- 
raising,  an  industry  which  lias  laid  the  foundation 
for  much  wealth  in  Central  Illinois. 

Charles  Merkle,  the  father  of  our  subject  and  a 
native  of  Germany,  was  among  those  who  first 
ventured    to    Embarras    Township    after    it    was 


«-« 


& 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


7*7 


opened  for  settlement.  He  secured  a  tract  of  land 
from  the  Government,  and,  with  the  thrift  and 
prudence  characteristic  of  his  nationality,  labored, 

economized  and  waited  for  results.  He  took  unto 
himself  for  his  wife  Miss  Eve  Stager,  likewise  a 
native  of  the  Fatherland.  They  lived  and  labored 
many  years  together,  and  the  father  passed  away 
at  the  homestead  which  witnessed  so  many  years 
of  labor  and  hardship,  but  which  at  the  last  pro- 
vided them  with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  The 
mother  is  still  living. 

Our  subject  pursued  his  first  studies  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  taking  kindly  to  his  books  and  mak- 
ing good  progress.  In  due  time  he  was  prepared 
to  enter  Westtield  College,  where  he  completed  his 
studies,  and  then,  returning  to  the  old  roof  tree, 
remained  there  until  a  little  over  twenty-six  years 
of  age.  He  was  then  married,  Sept.  29,  1887,  to 
Miss  Kttie,  daughter  of  Thomas  Ferguson,  of  Em- 
bnrras  Township.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  one  child,  a  daughter,  Etoille. 

Mr.  Merkle  is  the  owner  of  214  acres  of  land. 
and  is  largely  interested  in  graded  Short-horn 
cattle,  Berkshire  swine  and  English  draft  horses, 
lie  has  a  one-third  interest  in  the  especially  fine 
animal  "Old  Times."  which  was  imported  from 
England  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  weighs  1,820 
pounds.  He  also  has  a  thorough-bred  Kentucky 
pacer,  "Pert,"  weighing  1,200  pounds.  He  lets  a 
portion  of  his  land  to  other  parties,  and  the  bal- 
ance is  largely  in  pasture.  Politically,  Mr.  Merkle 
supports  the  Democratic  party,  but,  aside  from 
casting  his  ballot  at  general  elections,  has  very 
little  to  do  with  public  affairs.  He  never  seeks 
office,  declining  to  spoil  a  first-class  farmer  for  the 
sake  of  official  honors.  Although  not  connected 
with  any  religious  organization,  he  believes  in  the 
establishment  and  maintenance  of  churches,  and 
gives   liberally   toward  the   support  of  the  Gospel. 


-*~£XSr<r 


JtOHN  CUMMINS,  a  veteran  of    eighty-four 
years,  is  next  to  the  oldest  man  now  living 
in   this  county,  to  which  he  came  when  it 
was    practically  a  wilderness.     On    another 
page   we  present  a  fine  portrait  of  this  pioneer  and 


honored  citizen.  Helms  witnessed  with  lively  in- 
terest the  extraordinary  scenes  which  have  trans- 
formed a  wild  and  uncultivated  tract  of  country 
into  the  homes  of  an  enlightened  and  prosperous 
people,  and  has  aided  as  best  lie  could  in  bringing 
about  this  marvelous  change.  He  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  being  present  at 
the  battle  of  Bad  Axe,  when  the  Indians  were  sum- 
marily put  to  flight.  Farming  has  been  his  occu- 
pation through  life,  but  in  1877  he  retired  from 
active  labor,  and  now  occupies  a  comfortable  home 
on  section  24,  in  Elbridge  Township,  about  one 
mile  south  of  Vermilion.  Here  he  has  220  acres  of 
thoroughly  cultivated  land,  which  yields  abund- 
antly the  richest  crops  of  Central  Illinois.  He  took 
possession  of  this  when  it  was  in  its  wild  and  prim- 
itive state,  and  by  the  exercise  of  unflagging  indus- 
try brought  the  soil  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
and  added  each  year  in  improvements  something 
to  the  value  and  beauty  of  his  property.  His 
industry  and  frugality  were  in  due  time  amply 
rewarded,  and  now,  sitting  under  his  own  vine 
and  fig  tree  he  frequently  reviews  the  events  of  a 
life  filled  with  many  interesting  incidents  and  spent 
worthily,  uprightly  and  in  a  manner  that  has  com- 
manded the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 

A  Kentuckian  by  birth,  Mr.  Cummins  was  born 
in  Harrison  County,  Dec.  25,  180.5,  where  he  so- 
journed until  a  man  of  twenty-five  years,  assisting 
bis  father  on  the  farm.  In  18.'50,  he  started  for  the 
Great  West,  having  in  view  this  county,  where  he 
landed  just  one-half  mile  from  his  present  location. 
He  entered  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Government, 
and  to  this  devoted  the  best  efforts  of  his  life,  with 
results  that  ought  to  satisfy  any  reasonable  man. 
In  1828,  feeling  that  it  was  not  good  for  man  to 
be  alone,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nancy,  daughter  of  Robert  Chapman,  who  with 
his  excellent  wife,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  Of 
the  thirteen  children  resulting  from  this  union 
nine  are  still  living.  Joseph  and  Margaret  are 
deceased;  Robert  is  farming  in  this  Township; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  C.  Beckman  of  Vermilion; 
Jane  married  William  Reines,  and  they  are  living 
on  a  farm  in  Montgomery  County;  Eunice  is  the 
wife  of  B.  Davis,  and  they  live  in  Redmond,  this 


788 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


county;  Julia  married  George  Davis,  and  both  are 
deceased;  William  is  married  and  farming  in  Kan- 
sas; Leanah  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Cummins  of  .Jas- 
per County,  this  State;  Elizabeth  married  E. 
Stubbs,  and  is  now  deceased;  Evangeline  and 
Angelinc  were  twins;  the  former  is  the  wife  of 
William  Stubbs  of  Vermilion,  and  the  latter  is  the 
wife  of  Julian  Smith.  M.D.,  a  physician  of  El  Paso, 
Woodford  County;  Nancy.  Mrs.  Taylor  Gross, 
lives,  with  her  husband,  at  the  paternal  homestead. 
After  forty-eight  years  of  congenial  companion- 
ship, our  subject  and  his  devoted  wife  were  separ- 
ated by  death,  Mrs.  Cummins  passing  away  in  I  *7  I. 
She  was  a  lady  possessing  many  estimable  qualities, 
and  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Her  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in 
Vermilion  Cemetery,  near  the  home  she  had  occu- 
pied for  so  many  years.  Mr.  Cummins  is  identified 
with  the  United  Brethren  Church,  attending  ser- 
vices at  Vermilion.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Jackson,  and  is  a  staunch  supportei  of  the 
Democratic  party.  Aside  from  serving  as  Road 
Commissioner,  he  lias  had  little  to  do  with  public 
affairs,  and  has  always  maintained  a  warm  interest 
in  educational  matters, and  encouraged  the  establish- 
ment and  maintainence  of  schools,  believing  this  is 
the  surest  road  to  a  good  and  worthy  citizenship. 


-& 


\;SAAC  II.  CURTIS.  In  making  note  of  the 
early  settlers  and  prominent  mm  of  Edgar 
County,  we  find  the  Curtis  family  occupying  a. 
leading  position,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  one 
of  its  finest  representatives,  lie  at  one  time  was  an 
extensive  land  owner,  and  has  now  a  line  large  farm 
of  452  acres,  lying  all  in  one  body  on  section  4. 
The  homestead  invariably  attracts  the  attention  of 
the  passing  traveler,  being  embellished  with  com- 
fortable buildings  and  delightful  groves',  and  at  all 
points  indicating  the  industry  and  good  judgment 
with  which  it  lias  been  perpetuated.  The  proprie- 
tor, like  the  other  members  of  this  family,  is  a 
leader  both  in  the  social  and  business  circles  of  the 
community,  being  a  man  whom  the  people  regard 
with  high  favor,  and  one  who  is  eminently  worthy 


of  their  esteem.     His  ancestral  history  will  be  found 
in  the  sketch  of  his  brother,   Benjamin   ().   Curtis, 

elsewhere   ill   this  Volume. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was    born    in   Stratton 
Township,  near  l'aris.  Aug.  7,  182G.     His  father  is 
one  of  the  oldest  and  leading  nursery    men  in    Illi- 
nois, to  which  he  brought  the  first   steel   plow   that 
ever  disturbed  its  soil.      Isaac  H.,  like  his  brothers, 
served  an  apprenticeship  at  this  business,  under  the 
instruction  of    his  honored  father.      1 1  is  early  edu- 
cation was   acquired  in  the  primitive  schools    con- 
ducted on  the  subscription  plan  during  the   winter 
season.      He    grew  up  with  well-developed  muscles 
and  mentally  imbued  with  those  sentiments  of  hon- 
or and  honesty  which  have  raised  him  to  an    envi- 
able position  among  his  fellow-men.      He  remained 
at  the   parental   homestead   until    twenty    years  of 
age,  then  entered  into  partnership   with   his    broth- 
ers,   they   operating    together   one   year.      In     1848 
Isaac  purchased   Hill    acres   of    laud,   including    the 
present  site  of  Wetzel  Station,  paying  therefore  #5 
per  acre.      Upon  this  he  moved  and  proceeded  with 
its  improvement  and  cultivation,  making  his  home 
there  until  the  spring  of   1851.     He  then   returned 
to  the  old  homestead  which  be  operated  two  years, 
and   in    1855   purchased   his   present    farm  of    654 
acres,  at  $15  per  acre.     There  were  then  upon  it  no 
improvements — the   whole    being   an   uncultivated 
prairie  without  a  twig  or  tree.      He    began    opera- 
tions with  a  breaking  team  of    four   oxen,    and    la- 
bored early  and  late   from   year   to   year  until   the 
wild  land  began  to  assume  the  proportions  of  a  well- 
regulated  farm. 

Mr.  Curtis  put  up  a  dwelling  in  due  time,  and 
planted  fruit  and  forest  trees,  devoting  twenty 
acres  to  an  ample  orchard  and  live  acres  to  a  wal- 
nut grove.  He  made  ditches,  laid  tiling  and 
planted  hedge  for  fencing  and  cross  fencing,  also 
made  considerable  wire  fence  around  bis  gelds. 
After  a  time  he  parted  with  a  portion  of  his  land, 
having  now  152  acres  in  prime  condition.  At  one 
time  he  was  the  owner  of  1.701)  acres,  all  of  which 
he  operated,  with  the  assistance  of  twenty-five 
teams,  and  devoted  1,000  acres  to  corn  alone.  For 
some  of  this  land  he  paid  as  high  as  $30  per  acre, 
and  sold  it  at  a  good  advance  in  price.  Stock- 
raising  entered  largely  into  his  operations,  althoug 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


789 


his  hobby  is  grain,  and  from  bis  well-cultivatefl 
Gelds  lie  seldom  failed  to  reap  abundant  harvests. 
Finally,  however,  the  undue  rains  of  several  sea- 
sons and  low  prices  of  grain,  compelled  him  to  part 
with  some  of  his  land,  although  he  has  still  suffi- 
cient to  engage  all  his  time  and  attention. 

Nearly  forty  years  ago  our  subject  was  married 
in  October,  1849,  at  the  bride's  home  in  Edgar 
Township,  to  Miss  Rachel  Lawrence.  This  lady 
was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1*2!.).  and  Was  the  daughter  of 
John  G.  Lawrence,  who  emigrated  from  the  Buck- 
eye State  in  1833,  and  settled  in  Edgar  Township, 
among  its  earliest  pioneers.  He  carried  on  farming 
successfully,  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
community.  He  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
alsu  occupied  Other  offices  of  trust  and  responsibil- 
ity, and  after  a  well  spent  life,  departed  hence  at 
Paris  about  L869.  Our  subject  is  the  father  of  a 
family  of  thirteen  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  <  )r- 
lando,  is  a  successful  farmer  of  Edgar  Township. 
owning  240  acres  of  choice  land;  Joseph,  the  sec- 
ond, is  living  in  Edgar  Township;  Hannah,  Ahge- 
line,  George,  and  William,  are  deceased;  John  G., 
Charles  W.,  Elizabeth,  Maria,  Rachel,  Sarah,  and 
Nellie  Grant,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of 
Isaac,  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Sarah  and 
Maria  are  occupied  as  teachers;  the  latter  attended 
the  musical  conservatory  at  Indianapolis,  and  ( >ber- 
lin.  Ohio,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  music.  The 
wife  of  our  subject  also  taught  school  prior  to  her 
marriage. 

The  farm  of  our  subject  is  finely  located  eight 
miles  from  Paris,  and  forms  a  most  delightful  rural 
home.  The  dwelling  is  neat  and  commodious,  and 
the  barn  admirably  adapted  to  the  shelter  of  stock, 
and  the  Storage  of  grain.  Mr.  Curtis  has  modern  farm 
machinery,  including  hay-scales  and  a  windmill. 
together  with  tanks  from  which  water  is  made  con- 
venient for  home  and  stock  use.  The  whole  prem- 
ises gives  ample  evidence  of  being  under  the  man- 
agement of  a  thorough  and  skillful  agriculturist. 

Mr.  Curtis,  politically,  is  a  decided  Republican, 
and  has  been  of  great  service  to  his  party  in  this 
section,  going  as  a  delegate  to  the  County  Conven- 
tions, and  otherwise  contributing  of  his  time  and 
means  to  further  the  principles  in  which  he  believes, 
one  of  winch  is.  protection  to  American   industries. 


He  has  served  as  a  Director  in  his  school  distrtct 
for  a  number  of  ye:  rs,  and  lias  given  his  uniform 
encouragement  to  all  enterprises  set  on  foot  for  the 
good  of  the  community.  His  estimable  wife  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal (  hurch. 


(» I..  JACKSON  M.  SHEETS  is  the  editor  and 

proprietor  of  the  Paris  Republican,  which 
{'  was  established  Jan.  I,  1877,  by  Joseph  M. 
Prior,  as  a  weekly  publication,  and  was  conducted 
by  him  for  lifteen  months.  On  April  1,  L878, 
Col.  Sheets  purchased  the  plant,  and  has  since 
guided  it  on  to  prosperity.  In  1880  he  com- 
menced the  publication  of  a  daily  edition  which  has 
been  a  success  from  the  start. 

Jackson  M.  Sheets  was  born  near  Baldwinsville, 
Edgar  Co..  111..  Oct,  6,  IS  II.  He  lived  on  a  farm 
until  1858  when  he  engaged  at  work  on  the  Wa- 
bash Valley  Blade,  which  was  printed  at  Paris. 
He  continued  in  this  occupation  until  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  I  of  the 
21st  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  in  as  cor- 
poral, and  served  as  such  until  his  discharge,  which 
he  received  by  reason  of  wounds  contracted  while 
in  the  line  of  duty.  The  following  is  his  war  rec- 
ord condensed,  which  will  be  found  interesting. 

Col.  Sheets  was  engaged  in  the  operations  in 
the  West,  and  part  of  Missouri,  in  following  Jeff 
Thompson,  who  was  mounted  while  our  soldiers 
consisted  of  infantry.  His  command  went  from 
there  to  Arkansas  and  was  then  called  back  to  Shi- 
loh,  from  there  it  went  to  Cap.  Girardeau.  The 
regiment  was  at  the  siege  of  Coiinth.  The  21st 
Regiment  was  originally  commanded  by  <ien.  Ulys- 
ses s.  Granl  anil  in  his  memoirs  complimentary 
mention  is  made  of  the  old  regiment,  anil  its  con- 
nection with  the  Siege^Of  Corinth.  Mr.  Sheets  was 
on  the  breast  works  the  morning  the  magazine  blew 
up  during  that  siege.  The  regiment  then  joined 
the  Army  of  the  Ohio  under  Gen.  Buell  and 
inarched  through  'Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  a  dis- 

tanceof  500  miles  under  a  sweltering  southern  Mill. 
.Mr.  Sheets  was   in    the   battle   of    Champion     Hill-. 


790 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  company  being  the  first  in  the  fight.  From 
there  he  went  to  Knob  Gap  where  he  lost  every- 
thing- he  had.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Stone  River,  a  ball  passing  through  the  breast  clear 
through  his  body.  After  this  he  was  sent  to  the 
field  hospital,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Nash- 
ville. From  there  he  was  sent  to  Louisville, 
Cincinnati  and  Camp  Dennison,  being  seven  months 
in  hospitals.      He  was  discharged  Aug.  17,  18G3. 

After  his  return  from  the  army  he  read  medicine 
for  awhile,  and  in  March,  1865,  was  appointed 
military  State  Agent  for  Illinois,  with  the  rank  of 
colonel,  holding  this  position  until  the  war  closed. 
By  act  of  legislature  of  January,  1865,  the  Gover- 
nor appointed  six  Military  State  Agents  with  rank 
of  colonel,  assigning  them  to  different  military  de- 
partments in  the  South,  to  look  after  the  interests 
of  Illinois  soldiers  in  the  field  and  hospitals.  He 
has  held  the  position  of  Postmaster  for  one  term, 
and  City  and  Township  Clerk  one  term  each,  and 
has  been  honored  by  being  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  serving  eleven  years.  He  was  a  Presidential 
Elector  in  1880,  and  cast  his  vote  as  such  for  Gar- 
field and  Arthur.  Since  that  time  he  has  held  no 
office,  but  finds  that  his  time  is  fully  occupied  in 
attending  to  the  duties  of  editor.  Col.  Sheets  is 
an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  has  been  since  Jan.  3,  1868.  He  has 
been  the  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  and 
held  the  various  offices  of  his  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  all  the  Masonic  bodies  in  Paris  and  has 
sat  in  the  chair  of  High  Priest  in  the  Chapter,  and 
is  a  charter  member  of  the  Commandery.  While 
not  an  active  member,  he  has  belonged  to  the  Odd 
Fellows  for  a  long  time. 

Col.  Sheets  was  married  to  Miss  Nannie  Clark, 
May  26,  1866.  She  was  born  in  Monroe  County, 
Ohio,  March  12,  1846,  and  when  quite  young,  came 
to  Paris,  with  her  parents.  Her  father,  Daniel 
Clark,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Paris. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheets  are  the  parents  of  one  daugh- 
ter— Bessie.  Reuben  Sheets,  father  of  Jackson  M., 
was  born  in  Rockingham  County.  Va.,  where  he 
married  Miss  Rozier,  who  died  at  middle  age.  lie 
then  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Ilenning.  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  notice.  To  the  first  marriage 
were  born  five  children  and    to  the  latter  seven,  all 


of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  The  father  removed 
to  the  farm  where  Jackson  was  born,  near  Bald- 
winsville,  in  1830,  where  he  lived  until  1850  when 
he  removed  to  Edgar  Township,  dying  there  in 
.May,  1857.     His  wife  died  in  1848. 

Col.  Sheets  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  his 
city  and  county  and  is  always  found  at  the  front 
in  anything  that  will  promote  the  interests  of  Ed- 
gar County.  He  is  an  able  and  conscientious 
newspaper  writer,  and  his  publication  is  a  credit  to 
this  part  of  Illinois. 


ALFXAN'DER  MOSS.    Agriculture  at  the 
present  da}-  is  conducted  as  a  science  and 
an  art  and  those  men  who  have  been   the 
Vjj  most  successful  in  following  it,  are  those 

who  have  made  of  it  a  study  and  availed  them- 
selves by  reading  and  observation  of  the  experi- 
ence of  others  and.  the  various  appliances  turned 
out  by  the  inventor.  Especially  is  this  the  case 
in  Central  Illinois,  whose  farmers  comprise  the 
wealthiest  portion  of  the  population.  Among 
those  who  have  operated  successfully  in  Edgar 
County,  is  Alexander  Moss,  who  represents  landed 
property  to  the  amount  of  730  acres  in  Edgar 
Township.  This  is  located  on  sections  31,  36  and 
32,  and  lies  on  both  sides  of  the  State  road,  five 
and  one-half  miles  from  the  city  of  Paris.  It  is 
amply  watered  by  Bruellet  Creek  and  is  a  fine  body 
of  land,  thorough!}'  adapted  to  the  rich  crops 
of  this  region  and  particularly  to  live  stock  pur- 
poses. As  a  dealer  in  cattle  Mr.  Moss  is  an  un- 
qualified success  and  of  late  years  has  been  largely 
engaged  in  buying  and  shipping.  He  has  fine 
buildings  and  improvements,  a  handsome  and  sub- 
stantial residence,  and  a  home  presided  over  by  one 
of  the  most  estimable  and  intelligent  ladies  of  this 
region.  The  family  circle  is  the  crown  and  sub- 
stance of  his  belongings,  and  presents  the  picture 
of  a  contented  and  happy  household,  seeking  their 
chief  satisfaction  among  themselves  and  bidding 
defiance  to  the  storms  of  the  outside  world. 

In  noting  the  ancestry  of   our  subject  we  find 
that  his  father,  Henry  Moss,  was  born  in  Rocking- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


791 


ham  County,  Va.,  in  1791.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Jacob  Moss,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
where  he  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits.  After 
crossing  the  Atlantic  he  settled  in  the  Old  Domin- 
ion, and  there  it  is  believed  spent  his  last  days. 
Henry  Moss  was  reared  to  man's  estate  in  his 
native  county,  and  served  in  the  War  of  IH12. 
After  its  close  lie  emigrated  to  Clark  County,  Ohio, 
and  entered  a  tract  of  timbered  land  near  what  is 
now  the  city  of  Springfield.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  that  region,  and  through  the 
exercise  of  great  industry  cleared  three  farms  of 
1G0  acres  each.  He  was  still  not  satislied  with  the 
acquirements  and  in  1854  disposed  of  his  possess- 
ions in  the  Buckeye  State  and  gathering  together 
his  family  and  household  effects  started  overland 
by  team  for  the  prairies  of  Illinois.  He  located  on 
the  .State  road  adjoining  Bloomlield,  where  lie  first 
secured  277  acres  of  land  in  Paris  Township,  and 
206  acres  elsewhere,  and  carried  on  farming  until 
his  death,  which  occured  in  1867,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-six  years.  He  joined  the  Republican  party 
soon  after  its  organization  and  remained  one  of  its 
firmest  adherents. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Barbara  Arbogaest.  She  was  born  in  Pendleton 
County,  Va.  and  removed  with  her  parents  to  Ohio  at 
an  early  day.  The  family  was  of  German  descent. 
To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
seven  children — Eliza,  (Mrs.  Arthur)  is  a  resident 
of  Paris;  Belmira  is  deceased  ;  Amanda,  (Mrs.  Crab- 
tree)  lives  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa;  Henry  is  de- 
ceased; Harriet,  (Mrs.  Arthur)  lives  in  .Paris; 
Harrison  is  farming  in  Edgar  Township;  Alexan- 
der, our  subject  was  the  youngest  born.  Harrison 
during  the  Civil  War  served  in  the  79th  Illinois 
Infantry  and  was  captured  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  He  was  taken  South  and  confined  in 
Southern  prisons  eighteen  months  when  he  made 
his  escape,  rejoining  his  regiment  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near  Spring- 
field, Clark  Co.,  Ohio,  April  26,  1811.  He  lived 
there  on  a  farm  of  until  a  boy  of  thirteen,  then  in 
1353,  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  and  was 
reared  to  manhood  near  Bioomfield.  He  attended 
school  until  eighteen  j'ears  old,  studying  one  win- 


ter in  the  High  School.  Subsequently  he  was  a 
student  at  Antioch  College,  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  about  one  year.  Upon 
returning  home,  the  Civil  War  being  in  progress, 
lie  enlisted  Aug.  1,  1862,  in  Company  D,  79th  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  in  which  he  was  mustered  in  as  Ser- 
geant at  Mattoon  and  soon  afterward  went  to  the 
front  with  his  regiment,  lb'  participated  in  some 
of  the  most  important  battles  in  the  war,  being  at 
Stone  River  in  1765,  latter  at  Liberty  Gap,  the 
battles  of  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge,  and 
was  also  under  Grant  during  the  campaign  in  Last 
Tennessee,  when  they  were  sent  to  relieve  Burn- 
side.  Later,  they  were  assigned  to  the  command 
of  Sherman  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. Mr.  Moss  was  also  in  the  fight,  at  Rocky 
Face  Ridge.  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Dallas  and 
Peach  Tree  Creek.  He  was  the  only  man  in  his 
regiment  who  participated  in  every  battle  in  which 
it  engaged,  and  in  all  met  the  enemy  upon  seven- 
teen different  occasions.  He  vvas  mustered  out  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.  and  received  his  final  discharge  at 
at  Springfield,  111.,  June  21,  1865,  with  the  rank  of 
Orderly  Sergeant,  which  was  conferred  upon  him 
soon  after  the  battle  of  Liberty  Gap,  in  which  he 
acquitted  himself  with  unusual  credit. 

Upon  his  return  from  the  armj  our  subject  began 
business  for  himself,  farming  and  handling  live- 
stock. He  met  with  such  success  that  in  1867  he 
was  enabled  to  purchase  255  acres  of  land  which 
he  added  to  by  degrees  until  he  now  has  one  of  the 
largest  farms  in  this  section.  It  is  all  under  the 
plow  and  enclosed  with  substantial  fencing  and 
well  supplied  with  running  water.  Mr.  Moss 
planted  an  apple  orchard  and  forest  trees,  and 
there  is  an  abundance  of  small  fruits  for  the  use  of 
the  family.  The  residence  and  its  surroundings 
present  the  picture  of  an  attractive  rural  home, 
whose  chief  characteristics  are  peace  and  plenty,  and 
which  is  conducted  in  such  a  manner  as  to  yield  the 
best  results  financially.  Mr.  Moss  feeds  annually 
100  to  200  head  of  cattle.  In  the  operation  of  the 
farm  he  employs  three  teams  of  powerful  draft 
horses. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Edgar  Township, 
Jan.  1,  1869  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Hazelton,  who  was 
born  in  Chester,  N.  H.     She   received  a  good  edu- 


i:>2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cation  and  came  to  Edgar  County  to  visit  an  aunt 
in  1865.  She  remained  with  her  and  engaged  in 
teaching  until  her  marriage.  Her  union  with  our 
subject  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children, 
live  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Frank  H.,  Chester 
A.,  Josephine  M.,  Mabel  A.,  and  Maude  A.;  they 
are  at  home  with  their  parents.  -Mr.  Moss,  politi- 
cally, it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say.  is  a  sound  Re- 
publican. He  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R.  post,' ami 
has  officiated  as  a  School  Director  in  his  District 
for  many  years.  His  example  of  thrift  and  in- 
dustry is  worthy  of  emulation  and  has  been  the 
means  of  placing  him  in  an  enviable  position 
among  his  fellow  citizens,  both  socially  and  finan- 
ically.  lie  has  been  the  uniform  encourager  of 
those  enterprises  calculated  to  benefit  the  people 
and  is  in  all  respects  a  leading  citizen,  amply 
worthy  of  representation  in  a  work  designed  to  per- 
petuate the  records  of  those  who  have  been  most 
active  in  promoting  the  interests  of  Edgar  County. 


1  /  EEFER  LAUFMAN.     Among  the  men  who 
'^Twvx        have  achieved    financial    success  and    like- 

i  \  wise  been  prominent  in  social  and  official 
\§)  circles,  the  subject  of  this  biography. 
Clerk  of  the  County  Court,  is  entitled  to  more 
than  a  passing  notice.  He  spends  the  greater  por- 
tion of  his  time  at  a  well-improved  farm  of  240 
acres  on  section  18  in  Sims  Township,  and  which 
farm  has  been  the  scene  of  his  labors  for  many 
years  and  until  the  time  when,  finding  himself  on 
a  solid  basis  financially,  he  had  time  to  turn  his 
attention  in  another  direction.  For  six  years  prior 
to  1886  he  represented  his  township  in  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  and  was  then  elected  Clerk 
of  the  County  Court,  which  position  he  still  holds, 
and  is  acquitting  himself  with  great  credit  and 
satisfaction  to  his  fellow-citizens. 

A  native  of  Franklin  County.  Pa.,  our  subject 
was  born  June  21.  1824,  and  when  a  lad  of  eight 
years  removed  with  his  parents  to  William  sport, 
Md.  Two  years  later,  however,  they  returned  to 
Franklin  County,  l'a..  and  thence  removed  to 
Wayne  County,  Ohio.      From  there,    in  1838,  they 


emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Edgar  County 
when  our  subject  was  about  fifteen  years  old.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  its 
most  important  interests,  and  has  watched  its 
growth  and  development  with  the  satisfaction  only 
felt  bj-  its  most  intelligent  and  efficient  men. 

The  Laufman  family  incoming  to  Edgar  County, 
111.,  located  in  the  heavy  timber  along  its  Southern 
line  so  that  the  father  could  obtain  tan  bark,  he 
being  a  tanner  by  trade.  In  due  time  he  estab- 
lished a  tan  yard,  and  in  this  Keefer  was  employed 
nntil  1816.  and  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican 
War.  He  then  entered  the  army  as  a  volunteer 
in  Company  II,  4th  Illinois  Infantry,  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  E.  D.  Baker,  who  later  served  as  a 
General  during  the  Rebellion.  Young  Laufman 
was  promoted  to  Sergeant,  and  saved  out  of  $8  per 
month  enough  money  to  enter  forty  acres  of  land 
on  a  soldier's  land  warrant.  This  land  he  still 
owns  and  occupies. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  our  subject  resumed 
work  with  his  father  at  tanning  and  farming,  and 
the\  thus  operated  together  several  years.  In  the 
meantime  the  father  entered  eighty  acres  of  land, 
from  which  he  constructed  a  good  farm,  which  af- 
forded him  a  comfortable  home  in  his  last  days. 
Jacob  Laufman  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  where 
he  lived  until  approaching  manhood,  and  then  en- 
tered the  army  during  the  War  of  1812,  volun- 
teering in  the  defence  of  the  city  of  Baltimore. 
When  his  services  were  no  longer  required  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  State,  and  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Gideon  and  Susannah  Keefer. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Philip 
Laufman.  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1767, 
and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was 
but  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  when  entering  the  army, 
and  was  under  the  direct  command  of  Gen.  Wash- 
ington, being  present  at  the  surrender  of  Corn- 
wallis.  His  wife,  Mary  E.  Pence,  was  born  in 
1772,  and  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 

Grandfather  Laufman  after  the  independence 
ol  the  colonists  had  been  established  returned  to 
his  native  Slate  and  was  married.  He  became  the 
father  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Jacob  was  the 
second  born.  He  followed  the  peaceful  pursuits 
of  agriculture  and,  with  his  estimable    wife,  spent 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


793 


li is  last  days  upon  the  soil  of  the  Keystone  state. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  Grandfather  L.  was  one  of  the  chief  pillars. 
1  le  was  always  interested  in  worthy  public  enter- 
prises, and  was  for  many  years  a  Steward  of  the 
County  Infirmary.  The  maternal  great-grand- 
fatherof  our  subject  was  Christian  Keefer,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  178."),  where  lie  spent  his 
entire  life. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  Sims 
Township.  Nov.  9,  1849,  to  Miss  Harriet  .Shively, 
who  was  horn  in  Muskingum  County.  Ohio,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  William  anil  Tolly  (Brown) 
Shively.  The  latter  were  natives  of  Virginia, 
whence  they  removed  to  Ohio  during  its  early  set- 
tlement. They  left  the  Buckeye  State  in  is  I.",. 
and,  coming  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  here  spent 
their  last  days.  To  Mr  and  Mrs.  Laufman  there 
have  been  born  nine  children.  The  eldest.  Ro- 
seltha.  is  the  wife  of  Garrett  Snedeker,  and  they 
live  at  Redmon,  this  county;  Orlando  was  married 
and  died.  Leaving  his  widow,  formerly  Sarah  .1. 
Morton,  with  six  children;  Edward  married  Miss 
Nancy  Welch,  and  is  the  father  of  three  children; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Charles  McFarland.  lives  in  Terre 
Haute. and  is  the  mother  of  four  children  ;  Jacob  mar- 
ried Miss  Katie  Lewis. and  they  have  two  children; 
Margaret,  Mrs.  Goodman  Forsythe,  is  the  mother  of 
three  children ;  William  is  at  home;  Harriet  is  the 
wife  of  Nelson  Campbell,  and  the  mother  of  one 
child;  Cyrus  is  the  youngest  of  the  family,  and  is 
at  home. 

During  his  career  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  with 
Mexico,  Mr.  Laufman  participated  in  the  bom- 
bardment of  Vera  Cruz,  and  was  also  in  the  battle 
of  Cerro  Gordo,  and  for  his  great  courage  and 
daring  promoted  to  Second  Sergeant.  lie  is  a 
stanch  Democrat,  politically,  and  socially,  belongs 
to  Elbridge  Lodge  No.  579,  A.  V.  A:  A.  M.,  with 
which  lie  has  been  connected  many  years.  The 
ample  property  which  he  possesses  has  been  accu- 
mulated by  his  own  industry  and  perseverance. 
He  started  out  in  life  at,  the  fool  of  the  ladder 
and,  without  other  resources  than  that  which 
kindly  nature  had  given  him,  in  the  possession  of 
a  willingness  to  perform  any  honorable  labor 
which  would  enable  him  to  get  a  comfortable   liv- 


ing ami  something  besides.  He  has  always  put  his 
own  shoulder  to  Hie  wheel  and  adhered  closely  to 
the  advice  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  attending  as 
much  as  possible  to  his  own  concerns,  not  trusting 
to  others  thai  which  he  should  look  after  himself. 
This  has  been  the  secret  of  many  a  man's  success, 
and  has  proven  a  mole  reliable  capital  than  an  abun- 
dance of  money  without  it. 


^ILLIAM  II.  HILDRETH.     The   family    of 

which  the  subject-  of  this  notice  is  a  most 
'^V  worthy  offshoot,  came  to  Edgar  County 
about  L832,  when  William  II.  was  a  child  of  three 
years,  having  made  the  journey  from  Bourbon 
County.  Ivy.,  by  team,  where  our  subject  was  born 
in  1829.  His  parents.  Alvin  K.  and  Sally  <  Hitter) 
llildreth,  were  respectively  of  English  and  German 
descent.  They  likewise  were  born  in  Kentucky, 
where  the  father  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits, 
and  grew  up  inured  to  labor  and  trained  in  habits 
of  industry  and  economy.  He  possessed  all  the 
hardihood  and  courage  of  the  native  Kentuckian, 
and  was  well  fitted  to  enter  upon  the  task  before 
him,  when  venturing'  into  the  wilds  of  a  new  coun- 
try. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
1802,  landed  in  Vermilion  County,  111.,  with  about 
$400,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  left  a  large  es- 
tate consisting  of  over  2,600  acres  of  choice  land, 
nearly  all  in  one  body,  and  the  most  of  it  under 
cultivation.  Besides  this  he  had  a  large  amount  of 
personal  property.  In  his  prosperity  he  gener- 
ously acknowledged  that  in  his  accumulations  he 
was  assisted  largely  by  his  faithful,  sensible  and 
capable  wife,  who  was  a  lady  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary intelligence,  and  in  whose  good  judgment  and 
womanly  counsel  he  had  the  most  implicit  confi- 
dence. In  the  days  of  their  prosperity  they  uni- 
formly remembered  those  less  fortunate,  and  for  the 
last  twenty  years  of  their  active  lives,  they  prac- 
tically kept  an  open  house  for  the  needy,  none  of 
whom  were  ever  turned  empty  from  their  door. 

Alvin  K.  llildreth.  while  not  a  member  of  any 
religious  organization,  contributed  liberally  of    his 


794 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


means  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 
churches.  He  believed  in  a  future  state,  and  in 
all  his  dealings  endeavored  to  follow  the  precepts 
of  the  Golden  Rule,  doing  unto  his  neighbor  as  he 
would  be  done  by.  He  departed  this  life  July  19, 
1874,  and  was  followed  by  the  faithful,  affectionate 
and  devoted  wife  and  mother;  she  was  born  in 
Bourbon  County.  Ky.,  in  1810,  and  died  July  15, 
187G.  Their  names  will  be  long  held  in  grateful 
remembrance  in  the  community  of  which  they  were 
such  valued  members,  and  where  they  reared  their 
family  to  take  their  places  as  -useful  and  worthy 
citizens. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  given  the  rudi- 
ments of  a  common-school  education  in  the  district 
where  he  was  reared,  and  was  at  an  early  age  taught 
to  make  himself  useful  about  the  new  farm.  The 
father  was  largely  interested  in  stock-raising,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  cattle  and  mules,  and  handling 
considerable  numbers  of  horses,  sheep,  and  swine. 
William  at  an  early  age  was  entrusted  with  the  pur- 
chase of  live-stock,  to  which  business  he  seemed 
peculiarly  adapted,  and  operated  with  excellent 
judgment.  He  remained  at  home  and  worked  with 
his  father  until  a  man  of  thirty-seven  years,  and  at 
that  time  had  a  good  property  of  his  own.  Up  to 
this  period  he  had  remained  a  bachelor,  but  in  1869 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Horn, 
daughter  of  Dr.  A.  and  Harriet  (Linton)  Horn,  the 
former  of  whom  is  a  well-known  veterinary  surgeon 
of  Edgar  County,  and  a  very  able  man  in  other  re- 
spects. The  children  of  William  II.  and  Mary  E. 
Hildreth,  are  as  follows:  John,  Alvin  K.,  Henry  C, 
Alice.  Minnie  M.,  and  Larina;  James  H.  and  Will- 
iam are  deceased.  Mrs.  Hildreth  is  a  very  indus- 
trious and  economical  woman,  and  has  extraordi- 
nary good  business  proclivities,  hence,  is  good  coun- 
sel and  a  helpmate  for  him  in  carrying  on  his  business 
successfully. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hildreth  began  their  wedded  life 
together  on  the  large  farm  which  they  now  occupy 
and  which  comprises  70(1  acres  of  fertile  land  under 
a  thorough  state  of  cultivation,  and  all  in  one  body.  . 
It  is  entirely  surrounded  with  a  hedge  fence,  and  the 
fields  are  divided  with  the  same,  making  a  broad 
and  beautiful  picture  in  the  landscape.  Mr.  Hil- 
dreth has  laid  probably  (3,000  rods  of  tiling,  and 


thus  thoroughly  drained,  the  soil  is  very  produc- 
tive. Forests  and  fruit  trees  serve  to  embellish 
the  homestead,  and  a  new  residence  is  now  (July, 
1889)  in  course  of  completion.  This  structure, 
when  finished,  will  be  one  of  the  finest  of  its  kind 
in  the  township.  There  is  a  fine  barn  and  all  the 
other  buildings  necessary  for  the  shelter  of  stock 
and  the  storage  of  grain,  while  the  most  modern  ma- 
chinery Is  used  in  tilling  the  soil. 

For  the  past  few  years  Mr.  Hildreth  has  engaged 
extensively  as  a  dealer  in  live-stock,  wdiich  has 
yielded  him  handsome  returns.  The  land  which  he 
received  from  his  father's  estate,  was  mostly  in  its 
primitive  condition,  and  he  has  made  all  the  im- 
provements which  are  upon  it.  Mr.  Hildreth  is  re-  ^ 
ligiouslya  firm  believer  in  the  Spiritualistic  philo- 
sophy, and  has  one  of  the  largest  libraries  in  the 
county.  He  is  thoroughly  well  informed  on  most 
of  the  great  issues  of  the  day,  and  has  never  sought 
or  held  office,  except  some  of  the  minor  offices  of 
his  township.  He  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  men  of  the 
county,  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing 
the  passage  of  the  Chicago  &  Ohio  River  Railroad 
through  this  section.  There  was  at  the  time  a  bit- 
ter contest  over  this  road,  but  the  persistence  of 
Mr.  Hildreth,  resulted  in  its  being  built  through  its 
present  location,  instead  of  three  miles  west.  He 
gave  $1,000  in  money,  and  the  right  of  way,  be- 
sides weeks  of  hard  labor. 

Notwithstanding  a  man  may  have  been  subjected 
to  the  most  careful  and  thorough  training  in  his 
youth,  this  is  given  in  vain  unless  he  has  within 
him  the  elements  of  industry  and  perseverance. 
Mr.  Hildreth  has  displayed  these  qualities  in  an  un- 
usual degree,  and  it  has  been  noticeable  all  through 
his  life  since  reaching  years  of  discretion,  that  what- 
ever he  has  undertaken,  has  been  followed  up  as 
long  as  there  was  a  possibility  of  his  attaining  his 
purpose.  It  is  said  that  "all  things  come  to  those 
who  wait."  Mr.  Hildreth  has  not  been  content  to 
wait  alone,  but  has  labored  industriously  in  the 
meantime,  and  has  perpetuated  in  a  most  praise- 
worthy manner  the  honorable  name  of  his  father, 
and  his  own  will  be  held  in  remembrance  years  af- 
ter his  active  mind  and  hand  shall  have  ceased  their 
labors,     it  is  to  such  men  as  lie  that  the  great  State 


RESIDENCE    OF      W.  K  .H  A  R  RIS,  SEC.  1 1.,  PARIS   TR,  EDGAR    CO 


R  ESIDENCE  OF  D.A.COFFMAN,  SEC.4.  GRANDVIEWTR,  EDGAR  CO. 


RES.    OF  JAMES      FO  RSTER,  S  EC.  £5.  E  LB  R  I DGE  TP,   EDGAR   CO. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


797 


of  Illinois  is  indebted  for  her  wealth  and  prosper- 
ity, and  the  achievements  which  have  given  her  no 
secondary  position  as  a  commonwealth  of  the  Great 
West.  It  is  gratifying  to  be  able  to  preserve  the 
life  history  of  such  an  individual — one  which  will 
be  perused  with  interest  by  not  only  his  immediate 
descendants,  but  by  all  those  who  have  any  interest 
in  the  prosperity  of  Illinois. 


\E&,  R.  CHARLES  W.  MARTI  NIP:.  The  lit- 
tle village  of  Palermo,  or  Hickory  Grove, 
as  it  is  more  familiarly  called,  is  the  oldest 
village  in  Young  America  Township.  It 
lies  one  mile  south  of  the  Vermilion  County  line, 
and  three  miles  east  of  Douglas  County,  west  of  the 
center  of  the  township.  Besides  a  store  or  two.  it 
has  had  from  the  outset  of  its  career  that  familiar 
personage  known  as  the  "village  doctor."  Before 
1870,  several  persons  authorized  to  write  "M.  D." 
after  their  names,  had  located  in  this  village,  ling- 
ered a  year  or  two,  and  then  removed  to  other 
fields.  In  the  above  mentioned  year,  however,  a 
new  candidate  for  the  favor  and  friendship,  and 
patronage  of  the  people  of  Palermo  and  vicinity, 
made  his  appearance  in  the  person  of  a  young  man, 
who  introduced  himself  as  Charles  W.  Martinie. 
He  came  unheralded  by  any  reputation  achieved  in 
the  art  of  healing.  His  only  credentials  were  a 
fine  appearance,  a  frank,  open  countenance,  and  a 
general  makeup,  physically  and  mentally,  indica- 
tive of  earnestness,  energy,  and  a  fixed  determina- 
tion to  succeed  where  others  had  failed  and  fallen 
by  the  wayside.  He  seems  to  have  pinned  his  faith 
to  the' old  adage,  that  success  is  sure  to  come  to 
him  who  has  learned  to  "labor  and  to  wait."  He  la- 
bored hard,  patiently,  steadily,  and  perseveringly 
amid  many  discouragements,  and  much  that  was 
disheartening,  but  he  succeeded,  and  now  after 
nineteen  years,  he  not  only  has  a  lucrative  and  pay- 
ing practice,  but  is  a  large  land  owner  and  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  member  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lives.  He  is  essentially  a  self-made  man, 
and  a  successful  and  skillful  physician. 

The  following  sketch  of  his  career  will  show  how 


he  has  won  his  way  by  his  own  efforts.  Charles  W. 
Martinie  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Ky.,  Nov.  7, 
1847.  His  parents,  David  and  Mary  Martinie, 
were  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  were  of  German  ex- 
traction. At  the  outset  of  his  career  his  father  fol- 
lowed farming.  In  1850,  however,  he  embarked  in 
mercantile  business  in  Port  Royal,  Ky.,  in  which 
he  continued  until  1863.  After  engaging  again  in 
farming,  he  went  into  the  grocery  business.  Ho  is 
now  at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  enjoying  well-earned 
rest.  His  residence  is  in  Arlington,  Ky.,  where  he 
lives  in  comfort  on  the  revenues  derived  from  his 
lands. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  he  was 
about  ten  years  of  age.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on 
the  farm,  and  he  early  became  acquainted  with  hard 
but  healthful  work,  which  tended  to  finally  develop 
a  robust  form,  and  fit  it  for  sustaining  a  vigorous, 
active  mind. 

Dr.  Martinie's  parents  had  five  children  born 
unto  them,  he  being  the  eldest.  The  second  born, 
Alice  I.,  married  J.  W.  Churchill.  She  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1886,  near  Prairie  View,  Champaign  Co.,  III., 
leaving  three  children.  Her  husband  was  a  farmer. 
John,  the  next  born,  died  in  infancy;  O.  S.,  the 
fourth  child,  resides  near  Fithian,  III.;  Ethelliert 
E.  died  March  15,  1887;  he  grew  to  manhood, 
studied  medicine  and  graduated  from  Miami  Medi- 
cal College,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  practiced  three 
years  in  Vermilion  County,  this  State.  He  died  at 
Prairie  View,  Champaign  Co.,  111.  Hewasayoung 
man  of  fine  education,  and  gave  promise  of  an  hon- 
orable and  successful  career  as  a  physician. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  after  passing  his  boy- 
hood on  a  farm,  and  getting  such  an  education  as  a 
few  months  each  year  at  the  common  schools  af- 
forded, became  possessed  of  a  desire  to  drink  still 
deeper  at  the  fountain  of  knowledge;  and  accord- 
ingly at  the  age  of  seventeen  commenced  a  course 
of  study  in  the  Battle  Ground  College  near  LaFay- 
ette,  Ind.  He  remained  here  three  years,  when  at 
the  age  of  twenty  years  he  entered  the  office  of 
his  uncle.  Dr.  C.  E.  Triplett  in  Morocco,  Ind., 
where  for  another  three  years  he  diligently  applied 
himself  to  the  study  of  medicine.  This  course  of 
reading  under  his  uncle's  supervision,  was  followed 
by  an  attendance  during    the   winter  of    1869-70, 


798 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


upon  a  course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago.  With  this  preparation  for  his  life's  work, 
he  came  to  Palermo,  and  on  June  20,  1870,  began 
the  practice  of  medicine,  among  the  people  who  are 
now  liis  friends,  neighbors,  and  patrons.  He  came 
among  them  empty  handed,  but  not  empty  headed, 
and  they  soon  found  him  deserving  of  their  confi- 
dence both  as  a  man  and  as  a  physician. 

In  the  fall  of  1873,  having  accumulated  a  little 
means,  and  being  desirous  of  still  further  qualify- 
ing himself  for  the  successful  pursuit  of  his  pro- 
fession, he  went  to  Cincinnati  and  became  a  student 
in  the  Miami  Medical  College,  from  which  lie  grad- 
uated in  the  spring  of  1874.  After  his  graduation 
he  returned   to  Palermo,  and  resumed  his  practice. 

On  July  2,  1871,  Dr.  Martinie  married  Miss 
Mary  M.  Marshall,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Chris- 
tian Marshall.  Mrs.  Martinie  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa..  Nov.  5,  1.SJ7.  and  is  two  days 
older  than  her  husband.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction. 
They  had  two  children  beside  herself — George,  who 
died  in  boyhood,  and  Abner  J.,  who  is  now  in  Col- 
orado.     He  is  unmarried. 

Mr.  Martinie's  father  died  when  he  was  an  infant. 
His  mother  survived  him  until  ten  years  ago,  when 
she  too  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  sixty-one 
years.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Martinie — Nellie  May,  who  died  in  1873,  at 
the  age  of  eleven  months,  and  Charles  A-.  who  is 
now  eleven  years  old. 

Dr.  Martinie  has  never  sought  or  held  any  public 
ofiice.  Though  a  Democrat,  he  takes  no  active 
part  in  politics  beyond  voting,  preferring  to  devote 
all  his  energies  to  his  profession.  He  belongs  to 
but  one  secret  order,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge,  anil  is, 
a  member  of  Palermo  Lodge  No.  6  10.  He  and  Mrs. 
Martinie  are  consistent  members  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  line  personal  appearance. 
He  is  about  six  feet  tall,  his  form  being  well  pro- 
portioned to  his  height.  His  well  poised  head, 
erect  figure,  firm  yet  elastic  step  betoken  health, 
vigor,  buoyant  spirits  and  manly  dignity.  His  hair 
is  dark,  beard  of  a  slightly  reddish  color,  his  eyes 
blue,  and  his  complexion  of  a  clear  healthful  hue. 
He  has  the  appearance  of  being  in  the  very   prime 


and  vigor  of  his  strength,  and  of  possessing  a  con- 
stitution equal  to  the  demands  of  the  arduous  duties 
and  exposures  incident  to  his  profession.  Dr.  Mar- 
tinie lias  not  only  been  a  student  of  medicine  dur- 
ing bis  years  of  practice,  but  he  has  also  kept  him- 
self abreast  of  all  the  current  thought  of  the  times. 
His  private  library  is  well  selected,  and  contains 
the  latest  works  of  the  world's  best  thinkers. 

As  the  result  of  industry,  application,  prudent 
economy  and  business  foresight  and  judgment.  Dr. 
Martinie  is  to-day  in  well-to-do  circumstances.  Be- 
sides his  pleasant  and  attractive  home  in  Palermo, 
lie  owns  640  acres  of  rich  and  well-cultivated  land 
in  one  body  in  sections  26  and  35  Sidell  Township. 
Vermilion  Co..  HI.  As  has  been  already  set  forth, 
his  practice  is  large  and  lucrative,  and  he  gives  it 
the  same  clear  and  conscientious  attention  that  he 
did  in  the  days  before  fortune  began  to  favor  him 
with  her  smiles.  The  people  who  have  known  him 
for  the  past  nineteen  years,  have  not  only  confidence 
in  his  professional  skill,  but  have  accorded  him  a 
high  place  in  their  esteem  because  of  his  sterling  in- 
tegrity as  a  man  and  a  citizen. 


OllN  B.  GALWAY  was  bom  Oct.  31,  1826, 
in  East  Bethlehem  Township,  Washington 
Co.,  I'a.     His   father,  James  Galway    was  a 

■(Cg)/'  native  of  Chester  County.  Pa.,  and  was  born 
in  the  year  17H7.  His  grandfather,  Robert  Gal- 
way, emigrated  to  America  from  the  County  Mon- 
agban,  Ireland,  in  1775.  the  year  of  the  breaking- 
out  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  landed  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  having  no  love  for  British  tyranny, 
soon  joined  the  patriotic  forces.  He  served  in  Max- 
well's brigade,  participating  in  a  number  of  battles 
and  skirmishes,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
Brandy  wine.  Cliadd's  Ford  and  Paoli.  At  the  lat- 
ter place  be  received  a  bayonet  wound  in  the  side, 
from  which  he  never  fully  recovered.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  visited  Ireland  and  married  his 
second  cousin,  Elizabeth  Galway,  with  whom  lie  re- 
turned to  America,  and  settled  in  Eastern  Penn- 
sylvania. He  died  in  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century,  at  about  sixty  years  of  age.      His  wife  sur- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


799 


vived  him  twenty  years,  and  died  about  the  year 
1835.  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Ohio.  She  with  her  husband 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr. 
Robert  Oalway  was  a  farmer. 

James  Galway  whom  we  have  before  mentioned, 
was  bom  and  reared  on  a  farm,  lie  was  educated 
in  the  subscription  schools,  among  the  Quakers  of 
Chester  County.  He  was  a  close  student  and  a 
great  teacher  during  Ids  time.  .lames  left  Chester 
County  when  about  twenty-five  years  old,  and  went 
to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a  year  or  so.  when  he 
returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  began  farming  in 
Washington  County.  In  December,  L825  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  II.  Beatty,  daughter  of  James 
and  Margaret  Beatty.  Mr.  Beatty  was  born  hear 
Shepherdsburg,and  his  wife  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.  He  was  of  English  ancestry,  and  she  of  Scotch- 
Irish. 

There  were  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
six  children:  John  B.,  William  B..  Robert  P.,  Da- 
vid II.,  Joseph.  James  II..  and  Margaret.  William 
B.  lives  just  east  of  the  one  of  whom  we  write.  A 
sketch  of  William  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work; 
Robert  P.  died  in  1861,  leaving  a  widow  and  one 
child;  David  II..  in  answer  to  his  country's  call, 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  D.  25th  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  was  promoted  to  Sergeant-Major  of 
his  regiment,  and  would,  doubtless,  have  won  his 
wax  to  higher  honors,  had  he  not  died  very  sud- 
denly of  rheumatism  of  the  heart  in  December. 
1862;  James  H.  died  when  a  boy,  and  Margaret 
when  two  years  old;  Joseph  is  a  bachelor  and  lives 
with  our  subject. 

John  15.  Galway  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Mitch- 
ell, daughter  of  John  and  Christy  Anna  Mitchell, 
( let.  30,  1851.  Mrs.  Galway  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County.  Pa..  Sept.  1.  1828.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  of  Irish  ancestry.  Her 
mother  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  her 
daughter,  and  came  of  German  ancestry.  Three 
years  after  the  marriage  of  our  subject  and  wife, 
they  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Carroll 
Township,  Vermilion  County.  A  year  after  this 
Mr.  (ialway  removed  to  this  county  and  rented  the 
place  now  occupied  by  H.  Kendall  in  Young  Amer- 
ica Township.  In  1861,  having  by  industry,  fru- 
gality and  economy,  accumulated    some   means,  he 


purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  13,  range 
13,  Young  America  Township.  To  this  modest  be- 
ginning be  has  made  additions  Ity  purchase,  until 
bis  present  estate  nbers  .MM)  acres  of  well-culti- 
vated and  exceedingly  fertile  land.  It  is  Sufficiently 
high  to  be  well  drained,  and  is  one  of  the  most  pic- 
turesque locations  found  in  the  county. 

Though  repeatedly  solicited  to  run  for  office, 
Mr.  (ialway  would  not  consent  to  accept  any  but 
such  as  connected  him  with  township  affairs  in 
which  lie  had  a  personal  interest.  He  was  the  first 
Town  Supervisor  in  1857,  and  served  six  years. 
He  served  as  Township  Treasurer  thirteen  years, 
and  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  three  years.  He  is 
the  oldest  Republican  in  Edgar  County;  was  one 
before  the  party  was  formed.  When  he  lived  along 
the  National  road,  which  runs  through  Terre  Haute, 
lie  used  to  see  gangs  of  negroes  being  driven  to 
Missouri  to  be  sold  to  the  slave  owners  of  thatState. 
The  sight  of  these  unfortunates — some  wdiite  to  all 
appearances — firmly  fixed  him  in  his  anti-slavery 
principles,  and  made  him  a  Republican  before  there 
was  a  Republican  party  in  Illinois.  He  has  been 
an  active  member  of  his  party,  and  has  frequently 
served  on  the  County  Committee.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Burns  Lodge  No.  292,  Knights  of  Honor,  in 
which  he  holds  the  office  of  Vice-Dictator.  He  is 
a  member  and  Elder  in  the  Christian  Church. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Galway.  The  oldest.  Roxana  is  the  wifa  of  John 
().  Kizer,  a  livery  man  of  Metcalf;  they  have  one 
child.  James  II..  who  farms  part  of  the  homestead, 
married  Daisey  Kizer,  cousin  to  Roxana's  husband ; 
they  have  four  children;  Josephine  and  the  fourth 
child  are  deceased,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 


re         c. 


¥  WILLIAM  BLACKBURN,  one  of  the  oldest 
native  citizens  of  this  county  and  a  retired 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  good  circum- 
stances, has  his  home  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city 
and  is  passing  his  declining  years  amid  the  com- 
forts which  a  lifetime  of  industry  and  economy 
have  insured  for  his  old  age.  He  was  born  about, 
five  miles  east  of   Paris  in  Stralton  Township.  Oct. 


800 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


15,  1823,  and  is  the  son  of  James  M.  and  Cassan- 
dra (Widner)  Blackburn,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  near  what  is  now  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  in  1797 
and  removed  to  Indiana  with  his  parents  when 
quite  young;  Mrs.  Blackburn  was  born  on  the 
Wabash,  near  Vincennes,  Ind.,  in  1799. 

William  Blackburn,  Sr.,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Sullivan  County,  Ind.,  where  he 
met  his  death  accidentally  at  a  barn-raising.  1 1  is 
wife,  Elizabeth  McClenahan,  lived  to  a  very  old 
age,  dying  at  the  home  of  her  son,  James  M.,  in 
her  ninety-second  year.  She  was  an  interesting 
and  estimable  old  lady,  one  who  had  lived  in  this 
county  for  many  years  and  is  spoken  of  with  great 
respect  by  her  descendants.  To  her  and  her  hus- 
band there  was  born  a  numerous  family  of  whom 
only  one  son,  Alexander  Blackburn  is  living  and  a 
resident  of  Macomb,  this  State. 

James  M.  Blackburn,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  the  eldest  child  of  his  parents  and  he  lived  in 
Indiana  until  he  was  twenty- three  years  old,  where 
he  was  married.  In  1820,  he  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  young  wife,  settling  on  the  place  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in  Stratton 
Township,  Sept.  21,  1883,  in  his  eighty-seventh 
year.  He  was  always  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
and  a  man  of  very  positive  and  decided  views. 
His  opportunities  for  education  were  limited  in  his 
youth,  but  by  reading  and  observation  he  became 
an  unusually  well-informed  man.  From  the  teach- 
ings of  his  pious  mother  he  imbibed  religious  ten- 
dencies and  he  was  a  church  member  for  over  fifty 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Paris.  During  the  Black  Hawk 
War  he  raised  two  companies  of  volunteers,  which 
were  joined  to  others  and  he  was  elected  colonel 
of  the  regiment  taking  the  field  under  Gen.  M.  J. 
Alexander.  This  regiment  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  Blackhawk  was  cap- 
tured and  the  war  ended. 

Mrs.  Cassandra  Blackburn  was  one  of  the  first  if 
not  the  very  first  white  child  born  on  the  Wabash. 
Her  father,  John  Widner,  was  a  pioneer  of  Knox 
County,  Ind.,  settling  within  twenty  miles  of  the 
present  site  of  Vincennes,  where  there  was  a  fort 
which  afforded  partial  protection  from  the  Indians. 


He  was  of  Irish  descent,  while  his  wife  traced  her 
ancestry  to  Wales.  He  lived  to  be  quite  an  aged 
man  and  both  parents  died  in  Knox  County,  Ind., 
the  mother  in  August  1833,  fifty  j'ears  prior  to  the 
decease  of  her  husband.  The  latter  was  subse- 
quently married  to  Mrs.  Rachael  (Shelby)  Webster, 
one  of  the  Shelby  family  numerous  in  Ohio. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
six  children:  Mary  Ann  became  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Patrick,  now  of  Mattoon,  111.,  and  died  at  her 
father's  house  in  this  county  a  year  after  marriage; 
William,  our  subject  was  the  second  born;  John 
is  practicing  law  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Alexan- 
der is  farming  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead ; 
Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Martin,  a 
merchant  of  Newton,  111.,  where  she  died;  Cassan- 
dra, the  youngest  is  the  wife  of  W.  O.  Wilson, 
Supervisor  of  Stratton  Township,  and  lives  at  the 
old  Blackburn  homestead.  By  the  second  marriage 
there  was  one  child,  David  S.,  now  a  farmer  at 
Buena  Ventura,  Cal. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  at  the 
place  of  his  birth  in  Stratton  Township,  where  he 
lived  until  his  marriage  at  the  age  of  twenty-five, 
working  for  his  father  on  the  farm  and  buying  and 
selling  cattle  for  him.  His  common  school  educa- 
tion was  supplemented  by  a  short  course  at  Vena- 
ble's  Academy  in  Paris  and  his  early  life  was  like 
that  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  county, 
lie  remembers  the  time  when  there  was  not  a  corn- 
field a  mile  west  of  Paris,  the  country  being  open 
prairie,  and  in  the  other  direction  toward  his  home, 
there  were  little  or  no  improvements  and  not  a  hab- 
itation in  all  the  six  miles.  The  first  person  to 
settle  upon  this  waste  was  a  man  who  built  a  mill 
on  Sugar  Creek  to  which  young  Blackburn  often 
rode  a  horse  with  a  sack  of  corn,  bringing  home  a 
sack  of  meal,  and  keeping  one  at  the  mill  so  as  not 
to  be  obliged  to  wait  for  his  grist.  In  those  days 
there  were  herds  of  deer  on  the  prairies;  wild 
turkeys  were  plentiful,  and  wolves  were  too  numer- 
ous to  be  agreeable,  greatly  annoying  farmers  for 
whose  poultry  and  young  pigs  or  lambs  they  had  a 
special  liking. 

The  difference  between  that  time  and  the  present 
is  shown  by  an  incident  which  happened  during  the 
childhood   days  of  our  subject.     His    father  had 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


801 


discovered  a  bee  tree  standing  near  what  is  now 
the  center  of  Paris.  William  and  his  brother 
Alexander,  now  living  in  Macomb,  took  their  axis 
with  several  buckets  and  cutting  down  the  tree 
filled  the  buckets  with  honey,  then  they  shot  a 
deer  and  returned  home,  being  of  course  well  loaded 
down.  Shortly  afterward  the  family  enjoyed  a 
richer  feast  than  is  often  set  before  the  present 
residents  of  Paris.  Upon  the  occasion  of  the  first 
death  of  the  neighborhood,  father  Blackburn  rode 
eight  miles  on  horse  back  to  order  a  coffin  and  re- 
turned in  the  same  manner,  bringing  it  with  him. 
The  land  was  cultivated  by  plows  with  wooden 
mold  boards  and  an  iron  share.  The  hay  was 
turned  with  wooden  forks  and  all  the  other  farm 
implements  were  of  a  like  primitive  character.  The 
present  generation  can  scarcely  realize  how  their 
fathers  farmed  in  those  days,  but  the  hardships  and 
trials  they  endured  and  overcame  made  possible 
the  ease  and  prosperity  enjoyed  to-day  by  their 
descendants. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  settled  on  a  farm 
near  (irand  View,  this  county,  where  he  lived 
nearly  twenty-two  years,  then  removed  to  his 
present  home.  Here  he  erected  a  commodious 
brick  residence  on  a  lot  of  forty-five  acres,  but  he 
owns  320  acres  a  mile  west  and  cultivates  a  part 
of  the  old  homestead,  which  is  now  the  property 
of  his  brother,  Alexander  M.,  who  is  not  in  very 
good  health.  He  handles  about  100  head  of  cattle 
annually,  together  witli  horses  and  swine.  His 
first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married,  Nov.  8,  1848, 
was  Miss  Rebecca  Tate,  a  native  of  Virginia  ami 
who  died  at  the  homestead  near  Grandview,  Feb. 
19,  185G.  Her  parents,  John  and  Nancy  (Moffat) 
Tate,  came  to  this  county  from  Virginia  and  set- 
tled near  Grand  View,  where  both  died.  By  this 
union  there  were  three  children,  namely:  James 
M.,  who  died  in  1851,  when  a  year  and  three 
months  old;  Nancy  M.,  the  widow  of  John  Gano, 
who  was  a  fanner  near  Grand  View;  she  is  now 
living  with  her  father;  and  John  Tate  theyoungest 
who  died  in  infancy  shortly  after  the  death  of  his 
mother. 

Mr.  Blackburn,  Oct.  14,  185(i,  was  the  second 
time  wedded  to  Miss  Louisa  Downard,  who  was 
born  in  Newport,  Ky.,  in  1832.     Her  parents  were 


Thomas  and  Margaret  Logan  Downard,  the  mother 
being  of  the  same  family  as  the  celebrated  Gen. 
John  A.  Logan.  The  seven  children  born  to  this 
union  are  all  living:  Cassandra  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Guthrie,  a  resident  of  Paris;  Milton  A.  is 
farming  in  Edgar  Township;  William  T.  lives 
with  his  parents;  Margaret  L.  is  at  home;  James 
M.  is  married  and  lives  on  a  farm  given  him  by  his 
father,  a  mile  from  the  homestead;  John  W.  and 
Nellie  remain  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Blackburn  was  Supervisor  of  the  township, 
while  living  in  Grand  View  and  has  twice  held  the 
same  office  in  Paris  Township.  Since  twenty  years 
of  age  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which,  while  at  Grand  View,  he  was  an 
Elder  for  many  years.  Soon  after  removing  to 
Paris  he  was  elected  an  Elder  in  the  church  at  that 
place,  which  office  he  has  since  held.  Not  only  is 
Mr.  Blackburn  one  of  the  oldest  native  born  citi- 
zens of  Edgar  County,  but  the  testimony  of  his 
neighbors  is,  that  he  is  rightly  classed  as  one  of  its 
most  esteemed  inhabitants. 


ENRY  H.  FOUTS.  There  is  probably  no 
more  hospitable  home  within  the  limits  of 
Edgar  Township,  than  that  occupied  by  the 
subject  of  this  notice  and  his  interesting 
He  is  a  man  who,  although,  like  most 
others  has  met  with  his  reverses,  yet  has  been  en- 
abled to  extract  much  solid  comfort  from  life  and 
is  disposed  to  make  the  best  of  circumstances.  His 
farm,  131  acres  in  extent,  occupies  a  part  of  sec- 
tions 20,  21  and  28,  the  dwelling  being  on  the  first 
mentioned.  The  land  is  naturally  fertile  and  under 
careful  management  yields  a  comfortable  living  to 
our  subject  and  his  family. 

The  Fouts  family  is  of  German  descent  and  it  is 
believed  was  first  represented  in  America  bj'  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  settled  in 
Maryland  and  became  the  father  of  a  family  among 
whom  was  Andrew  who  upon  reaching  manhood 
became  owner  of  a  plantation  and  slaves  in  North 
Carolina.  He  served  as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War   and  spent  his  last  days  in  his  native 


802 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


State.  In  the  meantime  he  was  married  and  be- 
came the  father  of  a  family,  among  his  sons  be- 
ing David,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born 
in  Guilford  County,  N.  ('..  and  upon  reaching 
man's  estate,  cleared  a  farm  from  the  timber.  He 
likewise  converted  this  in  a  plantation,  principally 
devoted  to  tobacco.  He  left  North  Carolina,  how- 
ever, and  emigrating  to  Indiana  settled  among'the 
earliest  pioneers  of  Washington  County.  By  entry 
and  purchase  he  became  the  owner  of  1,200  acres 
of  land  and  was  prosperous.  He  served  as  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  during  the  greater  part  of  his  resi- 
dence there  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Politically,  he  was  a  Jackson 
Democrat  of  the  strongest  type,  He  died  in  185(3. 
Mrs.  Martha  (Parr)  Fonts,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Guilford,  N.  C  and  was 
the  daughter  of  .Indue  Arthur  Parr  who  was  horn 
in  Virginia  and  when  a  boy  removed  with  his 
parents  to  North  Carolina.  Later  he  served  under 
Gen.  Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Princeton,  where  he 
was  wounded  three  times — in  the  breast,  right 
thigh  and  left  knee — carrying  the  two  last  balls  to 
his  grave.  He  also  suffered  from  frozen  toes. 
After  the  war  was  ended  he  returned  to  his  native 
State  where  he  became  owner  of  a  plantation  which 
he  operated  until  1803.  Then  leaving  the  South 
he  made  his  way  to  Washington  County,  Ind., 
overland  by  teams,  constructed  a  home  from  the 
wilderness  and  became  a  prosperous  and  highly 
respected  citizen.  He  served  as  Judge  and  Asses- 
sor a  number  of  terms  and  there  spent  his  last 
days.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  Indiana 
at  the  early  age  of  thirty -six  years  and  the  father 
was  subsequently  married  the  second  time.  Of  the 
first  union  there  were  born  six  children,  viz.: 
Washington,  Enoch  and  Solomon  deceased;  Henry 
H.,  our  subject;  Malinda.  deceased,  and  Martha. 
Of  the  second  marriage  there  were  burn  seven 
children  —  Melissa,  a  resident  of  Washington 
County,  Ind.;  Rachel,  deceased;  Mary,  of  Washing- 
ton County;  David,  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Merrill 
of  Pawnee  County,  Neb.;  Benton  and  John,  the 
two  latter  deceased.  David  during  the  Civil  War 
enlisted,  in  1861.  in  the  35th  Missouri  Infantry 
and  served  as  a  Captain  until  the  close  of  the  war. 


Merrill  served  in  an  Indian  regiment  nearly  from 
the  beginning  until  the  close.  Benton  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  s;nae  regiment, served  until  the  close  and 
died  soon  after  reaching  home.  John,  who  served 
in  the  army  with  his  brothers,  died  at  St.  Louis, 
Mo. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near  Salem. 
Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  April  I,  1814.  He  attended 
school  a  few  months  in  the  winter  season  until  a 
lad  of  fourteen  years,  then  commenced  running  on 
the  Louisville  canal  as  -grog  boss."  Three  months 
of  this  life  satisfied  him  ami  returning  to  terra 
firma  he  engaged  in  a  wholesale  coffee  house  at 
Louisville, Ky.,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Af- 
terward he  ran  a  storeboat  one  year  for  another  party 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  commenced  Hat- 
boating  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans.  Inl832  he 
commenced  running  a  snag  boat  in  the  Ohio  River 
one  year,  making   thirteen   trips  on   the  flat  boats. 

Finally  Mr.  Fonts  determined  to  change  his  oc- 
cupation,  and  going  to  Carroll  County,  Ind.,  in 
I  835,  entered  160  acres  of  land.  He  cleared  a  part 
of  this  and  operated  it  until  in  September,  1836, 
when  he  sold  out  and  changed  the  scene  of  his 
operations  to  Delphi.  There  he  engaged  as  a  car- 
penter, following  this  business  three  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1839  he  started  out  for  Vermillion  County. 
Ind..  overland  by  team,  crossing  the  Wabash  at  Cov- 
ington. He  located  in  Clinton,  Vermilion  County, 
and  for  a  few  years  worked  on  a  farm.  In  IS  in  hi' 
repaired  to  Feeder  Dam  on  the  Fel  River  and  took 
the  contract  for  building  a  dam  and  three  miles  of 
a  canal  which  occupied  him  three  years.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  associated  himself  with  a  partner 
who  ran  away  with  the  money  and  consequently 
Mr.  Fouls  returned  to  Clinton  barren  of  resources. 

We  next  find  our  subject  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Mississippi  in  Lawrence  County.  Mo.,  where  he 
commenced  trading  with  the  Indians  and  where  he 
sojourned  four  years.  He  then  came  up  into  Ver- 
million County.  Ind.,  where  he  farmed  until  1858 
and  that  year  changed  his  resilience  again  to  Young 
America  Township,  Edgar  Co.  111.  Here  he 
rented  land  and  began  dealing  in  live-stock,  feed- 
ing and  shipping  at  which  he  continued  very  suc- 
cessfully until  1871.  That  year  he  purchased  fifty - 
six  acres  of  land   in   Edgar    Township    and    which 


PORTRAIT  AND   B10< 3 EtA I'll ICAL  ALBUM. 


803 


was  then  in  its  wild  state.  He  commenced  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  and  added  to  it  until 
it  assumed  the  proportions  of  his  present  farm.  He 
labored  industriously  many  years,  bringing  the 
whole  to  a  state  of  Cultivation,  building  fences. 
setting  out  groves  and  an  orchard  and  in  the  mean- 
time carried  on  his  live-stock  operations.  He  put 
up  a  house  and  ham  and  instituted  two  fish  ponds, 
one  of  which  is  stocked  with  gold  lish  and  another 
with  German  carp. 

Our  subject  was  Brat  married  in  Washington 
County,  End.,  Sept.  17.  1835,  to  Miss  Lueinda 
Menaugb  who  was  a  native  of  that  county -and  died 
in  1838,  leaving  one  child.  The  latter,  a  daugh- 
ter. .Martha,  is  now  the  wife  of  II.  M.  Roush,  who 
is  a  prosperous  fanner  owning  320  acres  of  land  in 
Cass  County,  Mo.  To  the  present  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject, formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  I).  Boswell,  our  sub- 
ject was  married  at  Clinton,  Ind.,  Feb.  27,  IS  to. 
This  lady  is  the  daughter  of  <  l arret  Boswell,  a  native 
of  Stokes  County,  111.  Her  paternal  grandfather. 
William  Boswell.  was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  a  na- 
tive of  Albemarle  Count)'  where  he  became  owner  of 
a  plantation  and  slaves.  He  was  also  a  practical  mil- 
ler and  took  an  active  part  in  the  whiskey  insurrec- 
tion which  has  become  a  matter  of  history.  In  IK2f), 
leaving  the  South,  he  emigrated  to  Washington 
County.  Ind.,  but  only  remained  there  two  years, 
lie  then  removed  to  Vermillion  County,  that  State 
where  he  entered  a  large  tract  of  land  upon  which  he 
farmed  until  18:34.  Then  crossing  the  Mississippi  he 
located  on  a  large  farm  in  Lawrence  County,  Mo., 
where  he  operated  .successfully  as  a  stockman  and 
spent  his  last  days.  He  was  a  Whig,  politically, 
and  traced  his  ancestry  to  England. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  and  married 
in  Stokes  County.  N.  C.  whence  he  emigrated  to 
Vermillion  County.  Ind.,  in  1827.  lie  entered 
land  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1 843,  then  re- 
moved to  Lawrence  County,  Mo., and  from  there  later 
to  Audrain  County  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  lie 
was  a  peaceable  ami  law-abiding  citizen  and  a  niem- 
in  food  standing  of  the  Baptist  Church.  His  wife. 
Mrs.  Martha  (Dowling)  Boswell.  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia and  was  the  grand-daughter  of  Thomas 
Dowling,  a  native  of  Ireland.  The  latter  emigrated 
to  America  when   a   boy    and    located    in    Virginia 


where  he  learned    tailoring,    finally  operated  as  a 

merchant  tailor  and  there  spenl  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1876 
in  Audrain  County.  Mo.,  at  the  age  of  seventy - 
seven  years.  The  parental  family  consisted  of  ten 
children,  viz  :  Albert,  a  resident  of  Iowa;  William 
of  Missouri;  Thomas, deceased; David, in  Washing- 
ton; Benjamin  in  Oregon:  F.veline,  deceased ;  Eliz- 
abeth. Mrs.  Fonts;  Margaret  ami  Mary  deceased; 
and  Martha,  a  resident  of  Missouri.  Thomas  dur- 
ing the  Rebellion  was  pressed  into  the  Confederate 
army  and  was  never  heard  from  afterward.  It  is 
believed  he  was  shot  for  refusing  to  light  against 
the  Hag  of  1  is  country. 

Mrs.  Fouls  was 'horn  in  Stokes  County,  N.  C, 
Jan.  1").  1822,  and  was  three  years  old  when  her 
parents  removed  to  Indiana.  She  learned  to  card 
and  spin  cotton  and  was  also  taught  all  the  other 
housewifely  duties  by  her  excellent  mother.  Of 
her  union  with  our  subject  there  have  been  born 
fifteen  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter, 
Mary,  died  when  nine  months  old.  Albert  B.  is 
farming  in  Audrain  County,  Mo.;  David  W.  is  a 
resident  of  Chrisman;  John  H.  operates  the  home 
farm ;  Sarah  J.  became  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Hurst 
and  is  deceased;  Melissa  A.  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Julian  and  resides  in  Bloomfield,  III.;  James  T.  en- 
listed in  the  Union  army  in  the  spring  of  18G5  in 
an  Illinois  regiment  and  died  in  New  Orleans, 
while  on  his  way  home  after  the  close  of  the  war; 
Joseph  G.  remaines  at  home  with  his  parents- 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Silas  Welsh  of  Washington 
County.  Kan.;  Mariah  married  George  Sours  and 
re-ides  in  Neosha  County,  Kan.;  Harriet  E.  is  the 
wife  of  A.  Hawkins  of  Edgar  Township;  Nancy  is 
the  wife  of  C.  Stanfield  of  Edgar;  George  W.  is  de- 
ceased; Andrew  J.  is  farming  in  Edgar  Town- 
ship; Emma  A.  is  the  wife  of  John  Wright,  a 
farmer  of  Edgar  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fonts 
rejoice  in  the  possession  of  thirty-six  grandchildren 
am'  five  great-grandchildren.  They  contemplate 
the  celebration  of  their  golden  wedding  in  February, 
1890. 

Mr.  Fouls  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen. 
Jackson  and  has  since  given  his  unwavering  ad- 
hesion to  the  Democratic  party.  lie  has  labored 
:i-  opportunity  offered    in    the    furtherance    of    his 


804 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


political  principles,  frequently  serving  as  a  delegate 
to  the  various  conventions.  He  has  served  on  the 
grand  and  petit  juries,  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
several  years,  Commissioner  of  Highways  three 
years,  and  has  been  a  School  Director  for  the  long 
period  of  thirty  years.  Socially,  he  belongs  to 
Bloomfield  Lodge,  No.  148,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  at 
Chrisman,  in  which  he  has  served  as  Deacon  and  is 
also  a  member  of  Edgar  Chapter,  No.  32.  His 
estimable  wife  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Chrisman.  Nothing  seems  to  suit  them  better  than 
the  entertainment  of  their  many  friends  under 
their  pleasant  roof  tree,  while  the  stranger  likewise 
receives  cordial  welcome  and  carries  away  with  him 
pleasant  remembrances  of  the  Fouts  family. 


ORACE  R.  PLUMB.  Among  the  hardy 
W  spirits  who  established  themselves  on  the 
frontier  in  the  early  days,  Mr.  Plumb  is  de- 
serving of  honorable  mention.  He  selected 
a  piece  of  land  within  the  present  limits  of  Shiloh 
Township  prior  to  its  organization  and  assisted  in 
this  important  process.  A  man  of  sound  common 
sense,  steady  habits  and  great  industry  and  perse- 
verance he,  from  a  small  beginning,  has  accumu- 
lated a  fine  property.  This  includes  a  valuable 
farm  of  200  acres,  nicely  located  on  sections  2,  3 
and  4,  where  he  has  gathered  around  him  all  the 
comforts  and  conveniences  of  modern  farm  life. 
He  is  a  man  of  decided  views  and  great  force  of 
character,  a  Democrat,  politically,  and  has  been 
given  important  positions  in  connection  with  the 
local  affairs,  serving  as  Town  Clerk  and  Assessor 
two  terms,  School  Director  six  3'ears,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent the  Road  Commissioner  of  his  District  and  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Jackson- 
ville, Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  Dec.  27,  1837,  and  spent 
his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  town,  pursu- 
ing his  first  studies  in  the  primary  schools  and 
later  attending  one  term  in  the  academy  in  Roe, 
Mass.  In  1857,  when  a  youth  of  sixteen  years  he 
started  for  the  West,  proceeding  by  rail  to  Chicago, 


and  made  his  home  with  his  maternal  uncle  at  Elk 
Grove,  Cook  Count}-.  He  sojourned  there  on  a 
farm  until  1860,  which  year  witnessed  his  advent 
into  Edgar  County.  Here  he  located  in  Hunter 
Township,  where  he  lived  until  1868.  That  year 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm  in 
Shiloh  Township,  which  was  then  apart  of  Young 
America  Township,  and  of  which  our  subject  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers.  A  large  portion  of  the 
country  was  unoccupied  except  by  wild  animals, 
and  the  settlers  often  banded  together  to  hunt 
wolves.  Deer  were  also  plentiful,  besides  wild 
turkeys  and  other  game,  so  that  whatever  else  the 
pioneers  lacked  in  the  way  of  provisions  they  were 
never  without  good  meat. 

Mr.  Plumb  proceeded  with  the  improvement  of 
his  farm  as  rapidly  as  possible  and  was  prospered 
in  his  labors.  Afterward  he  purchased  fort}-  acres 
at  a  time  until  his  farm  assumes  its  present  pro- 
portions. He  has  brought  the  whole  to  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  built  substantial  fences  and 
laid  tiling  wherever  necessary  for  drainage.  He 
has  a  substantial  dwelling  and  a  good  barn,  to- 
gether with  other  buildings,  necessary  for  his 
comfort  and  convenience.  He  likewise  set  out  for- 
est and  fruit  trees,  and  has  of  late  years  turned  his 
attention  to  live  stock,  feeding  one  car-load  of  cattle 
per  year  and  a  goodly  number  of  swine. 

In  noting  the  parental  history  of  our  subject  we 
tind  that  his  father,  Saxton  Plumb,  was  a  native  of 
Stonington,  Conn.,  and  a  son  of  James  Plumb, 
who  was  also  born  there  and  during  his  younger 
years  he  followed  the  sea.  He  finally  moved  from 
his  native  place  to  Windham  County,  Vt.,  where  he 
opened  up  a  farm  from  the  wilderness,  became  the 
owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  there  spent  his 
last  days.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Capt.  Samuel  Plumb,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
who  likewise  was  a  seafaring  man,  which  it  is  sup- 
posed he  followed  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  The 
first  representatives  of  the  Plumb  family  in  Amer- 
ica came  over  from  England  in  1632,  soon  after 
the  Pilgrim  fathers,  and  settled  near  the  Plymoth 
Rock.  From  them  it  is  believed  sprang  all  the 
families  of  this  name  in  the  United  States.  The 
great-grandfather  owned  his  vessel  and  traded  be- 
tween the  West  Indies  and  New  England. 


/L^t^O    U^r^^^^^^^) 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


807 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  man's 
estate  in  Vermont,  where  lie  was  engaged  as  a 
clothier    and    manufacturer   at   Jacksonville.     He 

also  owned  and  operated  a  gristmill  there.  Finally 
removing  to  Norlh  Adams,  Mass.,  he  associated 
himself  with  a  partner  and  they  carried  on  the 
manufacture  of  cloth  under  the  linn  name  of  Handy 
&  Plumb.  Mr.  Plumb  finally  removed  back  to 
Jacksonville,  Vt.,  where  he  sojourned  until  1854. 
That  year  he  came  to  the  West  and  sojourned  with 
his  children  in  Chicago  two  years.  In  1856  he 
came  to  Edgar  County  and  spent  his  last  days 
with  J.  Y.  McCulloch,  in  Hunter  Township.  He 
had  been  a  prominent  man  in  bis  native  place  and 
named  the  village  of  Jacksonville,  of  which  he 
officiated  as  Postmaster  and  put  up  its  first  building. 
In  politics,  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat. 

Mrs.  Harriet  (Roberts)  Plumb,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Whitingham,  Yt.,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Hon.  John  Roberts,  a  native  of  Green- 
field, Mass.,  whence  he  removed  to  the  Green 
Mountain  State  with  his  father  early  in  life,  and 
learned  to  write  on  birch  bark  by  the  light  of  the 
fire.  Beyond  this  his  educational  advantages  were 
very  limited,  but  he  was  possessed  of  great  energy 
and  industry,  and  in  addition  to  becoming  a  skillful 
and  successful  farmer,  studied  law  in  his  liesure 
hours  and  qualified  himself  for  an  Attorney.  He 
built  up  a  successful  practice,  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  Sheriff  and  finally  became  Judge  of  the 
County  Court,  in  which  position  he  served  three 
terms  in  succession.  Still  climbing  upward,  he  was 
elected  to  represent  his  County  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature ,]where  he  served  six  terms  and  about  1852  was 
made  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for 
Governor.  In  religion  he  was  a  Universalist  and 
spent  his  last  days  in  the  Green  Mountain  State. 

The  maternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Hon.  James  Roberts,  native  of  Greenfield,  Mass. 
and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Windham  County, 
Vt.,  being  one  of  three  men  who  obtained  a  char- 
ter to  enter  the  wilderness  and  clear  a  farm.  He 
also  became  prominent  in  political  affairs  and  rep- 
resented the  County  in  the  State  Legislature.  He 
assisted  in  laying  out  the  town  of  Whitingham, 
and  named  it.  He  traced  his  ancestry  to  Wales. 
He  gave  his  children  a  good  education,   which  his 


granddaughter,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  also  en- 
joyed. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
four  children,  viz:  Sarah  a  resident  of  Shiloh 
Township;  Olive  the  wife  of  of  J.  V.  McCulloch.  a 
fanner  of  Hunter  Township;  John  a  chair  manufac- 
turer of  Baldwinsville,  Mass.;  and  Horace  R.  of 
this  sketch. 


•>.♦*.• 


GEORGE  O.  DJNSMORE,  whose  portrait 
— .  appears  in  this  Album,  ranks  among  the 
prominent  and  influential  men  of  Ross 
Township,  where  he  is  the  owner  of  320  acres 
of  choice  land,  lying  on  sections  1!)  and  20. 
He  has  effected  modern  improvements,  and  is 
by  habit  and  disposition  moral,  frugal  and  indus- 
trious, a  man  taking  a  genuine  interest  in  his  home 
and  his  family,  and  one  who  has  provided  for  the 
latter  in  the  most  generous  and  admirable  manner. 
His  labors  as  an  agriculturist  have  been  more  than 
ordinarily  successful  and  he  has  the  prospect  of  an 
ample  competence  for  his  old  age. 

Our  subject  is  the  offspring  of  an  excellent  fam- 
ily, being  the  son  of  Hon.  J.  T.  G.  Dinsmore,  who 
was  born  in  Windham,  N.  II.,  in  1800.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  from 
which  he  was  driven  in  the  time  of  Queen  Anne,  on 
account  of  the  religious  persecution,  and  fleeing  to 
the  North  of  Ireland,  lived  there  until  setting  sail 
to  America.  He  located  in  New  Hampshire  near 
the  present  site  of  Windham,  and  became  the  owner 
of  a  large  farm  upon  which  he  resided  until  his 
death. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  after  his  marriage  purchased 
200  acres  of  land  near  Derry,  N.  II.,  upon  which 
he  operated  a  number  of  years,  then  removing  to 
the  town  and  purchasing  a  gristmill,  which  he  con- 
ducted successfully  until  his  death.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  solid  supporters  of  the  Democratic- 
party  and  officiated  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  served  nine  terms  in  the 
State  Legislature  and  was  at  one  time  a  Captain  in 
in  the  New  Hampshire  militia.  His  religious 
principles  accorded  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Meth- 


808 


PORTRAIT  AND   I4IO<  i  RAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


odLst  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  was  a  promi- 
nent member,  officiating  as  Steward  and  forming 
one  of  its  chief  pillars. 

Mrs.  Mehitable  (Mellorn)  Dinsmore,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  was  likewise  a  native  of  the  (Mil 
Granite  State,  born  near  the  city  of  Salem  and  the 
daughter  of  Cadford  Mellorn,  who  followed  farm- 
ing and  died  in  New  Hampshire.  The  twelve 
children  of  the  parental  family  were  named  respec- 
tively: James,  deceased;  Cadford  M.,  a  resident  of 
Exter;  George  <  >..  our  subject;  Silas  A.;  Susan  K. 
and  Ruth  A.  are  deceased;  Ira  is  a  resident  of  Col- 
chester, Conn.;  John  T.  G.  Jr.,  of  Manchester; 
Martha  B.  (Mrs.  Morse);  Kate  M.  a  resident  of 
Boston;  Theodore  of  Parsons,  Kan.;  and  Hattie 
living  in  Massachusetts.  Rev.  C.  M..  during  the 
late  war  officiated  as  chaplain  and  Theodore  was  a 
drummer. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Windham, 
N.  H..  July  7,  1828,  and  spent  his  childhood  and 
youth  among  the  hills  of  his  native  State,  assisting 
his  father  on  the  farm  and  receiving  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  common  school.  lie  completed  his 
studies  in  the  academy  at  Derry,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  and  then  remained  on  the  farm 
until  reaching  his  majority.  Upon  leaving  home 
he  repaired  to  Chicopee  Falls,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
employed  in  a  manufactory  for  two  years.  Failing 
health  compelled  him  to  change  his  occupation  and 
location,  and  in  the  fall  of  1852  he  started  to  the 
West  making  his  way  by  rail  and  wagon  to  this 
county,  and  at  Bloomfield  was  engaged  as  clerk  for 
two  years.  The  next  three  years  were  occupied  at 
farming,  and  he  then  associated  himself  in  partner- 
ship with  an  other  man  and  commenced  raising, 
grazing  and  feeding  live  stock,  doing  his  own 
shipping,  and  this  occupied  his  time  until  1857, 
when  he  commenced  renting  land  and  in  the  spring 
of  1 860  purchased  the  farm  which  he  now  owns 
and  occupies,  paying  for  it  $10  per  acre.  It  was 
raw  prairie,  the  most  of  which  he  broke  with  ox- 
teams,  and  gradually  effected  the  improvements, 
which  has  made  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  home- 
stead in  the  county,  lie  planted  a  goodly  quantity 
of  hedge  and  has  given  his  attention  to  sheep  rais- 
ing, usually  shearing  a  large  number  each  year. 
He  has  a  goodly  supply  of  modern  machinery  with 


a  windmill,  water  tank,  and  an  artesian  well  from 
which  water  is  conveyed  to  whatever  point  needed. 
At  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  500  acres  of 
land. 

In  October,  1852.  Mr.  Dinsmore  was  married  in 
his  native  State  to  Miss  Annette  F.  Hazel  ton,  who 
was  born  near  Chester,  N.  II.,  acquired  a  thorough 
education  and  occupied  herself  as  a  teacher.  She 
became  the  mother  of  five  childrenand  died  at  the 
homestead  in  this  county  in  1800.  Their  eldest 
child.  Abbie.  is  the  wife  of  A.  P.  Morse,  a  farmer 
and  miller  of  Chester,  N.  H.,  and  is  the  mother  of 
two  children — Leroy  and  Mary  A.  Emory  H.  is 
operating  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Ross  Township; 
he  married  Miss  Sadie  Tustison,  and  they  have  two 
children — Robert  M.,  and  Mary  A.  John  T.  G. 
married  Miss  Ida  Kenton,  operates  forty  acres  of 
land  in  Ross  Township,  and  is  the  father  of  two 
children — (ieorge  O.,  Jr..  and  Mark  F.  Bert  is  at- 
tending school  at  Greencastle,  Ind.;  Sadie  remains 
at  home  and  occupies  herself   as  a  music  teacher. 

Mr.  Dinsmore  in  1870  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Fanny  Choat,  who  was  born  in 
Derry,  N.  II.  He  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party  and  is  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
various  conventions.  He  has  served  as  School 
Trustee  for  the  last  eighteen  years;  Road  Commis- 
sioner eighteen  years,  and  Assessor  one  year.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  fraternity  at 
Christman.  and  in  religious  belief  coincides  with 
with  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  being  associated  with  the  society  at  Mt. 
( (live,  where  he  is  a  Trustee  and  Steward. 


'*&£&&&**' 


/^p^EN.   MILTON   K.    ALEXANDER,    late  of 
HI  —   Pan's    ami   now  deceased,  was    one    of  the 


[(  j—j   Raris,   and    no 
Vi=JAi    most    eminent 


citizens  and  a  resident  there 
for  a  great  many  years.  The  Alexander  family 
came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and  settled  in 
North  Carolina  prior  to  the  Revolution.  In  1775 
six  of  them  signed  the  celebrated  Mecklenburg 
Declaration  of  Independence.  The  father  of  Mil- 
ton K.  was  John  B.  Alexander,  who  was  born  in 
Charlotte,  Mecklenburg  Co.,  N,  C,  about  the  year 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


809 


1705.  lie  lived  there  until  a  short  time  before  his 
marriage,  then  removed  to  Elbert  County,  (in.,  and 
in  that  place  was  married  to  Miss  Barbara  King,  who 
was  born  in  Scotland.  In  ism  the  family  removed 
to  Williamson  County.  Middle  Tenn..  where  they 
were  pioneers. 

In  the  above  mentioned  place  Mr.  Alexander 
built  a  log  cabin  and  cleared  a  small  farm,  which 
he  occupied  until  1811,  removing  in  that  year  to 
Lincoln  County  in  the  same  State.  Seven  years 
were  passed  in  that  place,  when  in  1818,  another 
move  was  determined  upon,  this  time  to  Lawrence 
County,  Ala.,  nine  miles  east  of  Monlton,  the  county 
seat.  That  was  then  an  entirely  new  country,  and 
land  had  jusl  been  offered  for  sale.  The  admission 
of  Illinois  as  a  State  in  1818,  drew  many  emi- 
grants to  it,  and  in  1820 the  Alexanders  were  found 
in  the  line  of  travel,  coming  to  this  part  of  Clark 
County  (within  whose  limits  Edgar  County  was 
then  included)  in  November  of  that  year.  The 
ensuing  winter  was  passed  on  the  hanks  of  the  Lit- 
tle Vermilion  River,  four  miles  west  of  George- 
town, where  they  had  but,  one  neighbor,  Henry 
Johnson,  wdio  had  settled  there  two  months  before 
their  arrival. 

John  B.  Alexander  bought  a  quarter  section  of 
land  the  next  spring,  near  the  present  site  of  Bald- 
winsville,  and  lived  there  until  1825.  He  then  en- 
tered a  large  farm  west  of  Georgetown,  staying 
there  until  his  numerous  family  were  all  grown, 
(with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  passed  in  or 
near  Paris.)  and  then  he  went  to  Danville, where  his 
death  took  place  in  1850,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  Upon  the  division  of  Clark  County  in  1823, 
he  was  elected  one  of  the  first  Commissioners,  and 
as  such  assisted  in  forming  the  county  into  its 
original  five  townships.  In  this  same  year  he  was 
appointed  the  first  postmaster,  but  soon  resigned. 
Milton  K.,who  was  engaged  in  mercantile  and  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  in  the  new  town  of  Paris,  which 
had  been  made  the  count}-  seat,  was  appointed  in 
his  stead.  The  elder  Alexander  was  a  man  of 
prominence,  and  held  various  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  His  wife,  Barbara,  passed  away  in 
March.  1817,  three  years  prior  to  his  death,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one. 

Gen.  Milton    K.    Alexander    was  born    in    Elbert 


County,  Ga.,  Jan.  2.'!.  1796,  and  was  the  fifth  in  a 
family  of  twelve  children.  Although  but  a  boy  at  the 
time  he  took  part  in  the  war  of  1812,  enlisting  in 
the  Tennessee  Mounted  Volunteers.  He  was  cho- 
sen First  Lieutenant  of  his  company,  and  until  the 
taking  of  Pe.nsacola,  Nov.  0,  181  1.  was  under  the 
direct  command  of  Gen.  Jackson,  who  upon  going 
to  New  Orleans  with  the  main  pari  of  his  army, 
left  Lieut.  Alexander  with  that  part  of  the  com- 
mand detailed  to  chastise  the  rebellious  Seminole 
Indians.  In  this  campaign,  in  the  everglades  of 
Florida,  he  contracted  a  disease  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  never  fully  recovered.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  father's  home 
in  Lincoln  County,  Tenn..  and  was  married  Dec. 
16,  1819.  to  Miss  Mary  Shields  of  Giles  County. 
Tenn.,  and  lived  there  until  Nov.  1823,  then  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  which  was  three  years  after  his 
father  and  family  came. 

In  1823  Gen.  Alexander  located  in  Paris,  and  at 
once  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which  he 
continued  for  many  years.  Upon  the  resignation 
of  his  father  as  postmaster,  he  assumed  the  position, 
which  he  held  for  a  period  of  twenty-live  years.  In 
February,  1826,  he  was  appointed  clerk  for  the 
County  Commissioners,  and  acted  in  that  capacity 
until  September,  1837.  In  1826  he  was  also  elected 
and  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  l'Jlh  Illinois  Mil- 
itia by  Gov.  Coles,  and  in  December,  1830,  was 
appointed  aid-de  camp  to  Gov.  Reynolds.  In  this 
capacity  he  accompanied  the  Governor  to  Rock 
Island  in  1831,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian 
troubles  preceding  the  Black  Hawk  War.  The  ster- 
ling character  and  ability  of  Gen.  Alexander  led  to 
his  promotion  in  1832  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier 
General,  commanding  the  2d  Brigade  of  Illinois 
Volunteers.  He  served  all  through  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  and  at  its  close  returned  to  his  home  in  Paris. 

While  quietly  attending  to  his  business  in  Paris. 
Gen.  Alexander  was.  without  solicitation  on  his 
part,  elected  by  the  General  Assembly  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Public 
Works,  an  office  of  great  trust  and  responsibility, 
charged,  as  the  members  were,  with  the  disburse- 
ment of  the  $10,000,000  appropriated  by  the  State 
for  a  general  system  of  internal  improvements. 
Upon  the  meeting  of    the   Board,    Gen.  Alexander 


810 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


w:is  chosen  its  president,  and  retained  the  position 
until  the  whole  system  of  internal  improvements 
was  abandoned  by  the  State.  In  the  cares  and  re- 
sponsibilities involved  in  the  discbarge  of  the  on- 
erous duties  entrusted  to  him.  Gen.  Alexander  ever 
displayed  those  qualities  of  keen  judgment  and 
practical  ability  which  were  his  prominent  charac- 
teristics through  life.  No  jobs  were  allowed  to  lie 
smuggled  through  while  he  held  the  reins,  and 
upon  retiring  from  his  arduous  and  often  trying 
labors,  he  did  so  with  a  reputation  unsullied  by  a 
single  act  which  could  be  termed  questionable.  In 
fact,  in  the  discharge  of  the  many  responsible  du- 
ties imposed  upon  him  during  his  long  and  useful 
life,  no  single  act  of  his  was  ever  performed  from 
any  other  motive  than  a  desire  to  honorably,  faith- 
fully, and  to  the  best  of  his  ability  fulfil]  the 
wishes  of  the  people  who  trusted  him. 

In  his  private  life  Gen.  Alexander  was  no  less 
worthy.  He  was  a  faithful  husband,  a  kind  and 
devoted  father,  and  he  brought  up  his  children  in 
the  same  Christian  principles  in  which  he  believed. 
In  1830  lie  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Paris,  and  of  this  remained  a  consistent  member 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  July  7,  185G,  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years.  No  citizen  of  Edgar 
County  ever  left  behind  him  a  brighter  record  or 
a  more  spotless  character  than  did  Gen.  Alexander. 
His  wife,  Mary,  died  Jan.  1,  1866,  aged  nearly  six- 
ty-five years.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  are  deceased:  J.  Washington 
S.  was  a  Union  soldier,  Colonel  of  the  21st  Illinois 
Infantry  (became  Colonel  after  Gen.  Grant's  pro- 
motion) and  was  killed  on  the  second  day  of  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  while  leading  his  regiment 
at  the  very  moment  he  received  an  order  to  re- 
treat. He  left  one  child,  a  daughter,  since  deceas- 
ed. James  C.  Alexander  had  also  served  in  the 
Union  army,  and  died  in  March.  186:"),  from  dis- 
ease contracted  therein.  Gertrude  was  the  wife  of 
J.  A.  Ross,  a  merchant  of  Paris,  and  died  there  in 
the  spring  of  1871.  Of  the  surviving  children  the 
record  is  as  follows:  Jane  C.  is  the  widow  of  Dr.  John 
Tenbrook.  a  sketch  of  whom  is  given  elsewhere  in 
this  volume;  Angeline  M.,  is  the  widow  of  Dr.  U. 
G.  McMillan,  formerly  a  wholesale  druggist  of 
Cincinnati,  and  she  now  lives  in  Paris  with  her  sis- 


ter, Mrs.  Tenbrook;  Mary  E.  is  the  widow  of 
Fleming  R.  Payne,  formerly  a  practicing  physician 
at  Marshall.  111.:  Jacintha  A.  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
lett  H.  Judson,  now  of  Paris,  but  who  for  many 
years  was  a  merchant  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.;  Lucy 
A.  is  the  wife  of  R.  Bruce  Lam  on,  Judge  Advo- 
cate in  the  Land  Department  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
When  Gen.  Alexander  first  came  to  this  county, 
in  November,  1823.  he  went  to  live  with  his  father 
on  the  North  Arm  of  the  Grand  Prairie  at  Hald- 
winsville, .Edgar  County,  then  Clark  County,  for 
the  winter.  The  following  spring,  when  the  towii 
of  Paris  was  laid  out  he  removed  there,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  residence  being 
mi  the  northeast  corner  of  Central  avenue  and 
Washington  street.  His  first  residence  was  a  log 
cabin,  one  end  of  which  the  family  occupied  as  a 
dwelling,  the  other  being  devoted  to  the  store  and 
postottice.  After  returning  from  the  Black  Hawk 
War  Gen.  Alexander  commenced  the  erection  of 
the  first  brick  residence  built  in  Paris.  It  is  the 
same  residence  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Dr.  Ten- 
brook, and  the  oldest  house  in  the  city,  at  the  same 
time  beginning  the  erection  of  his  store  building 
fin  the  southeast  corner  of  the  square  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  street.  The  store  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  but  the  resilience  is  still  standing,  and  though 
the  oldest  house  in  Paris,  so  thorough  was  its  con- 
st ruction  that  it  is  to-day  one  of  the  best  structures 
in  the  city,  and  is  in  a  state  of  complete  repair. 
It  is  a  commodious  and  comfortable  dwelling  and 
many  are  the  important  personages  to  whom  its 
hospitality  has  been  extended  in  bygone  days. 
In  politics  Gen.  Alexander  was  always  a  stanch 
Democrat. 

OIIN  C.  PALMER,  abstracter  of  titles,  and 
dealer  in  real-estate  and  loans,  Paris,  III., 
has  been  a  resident  of  that  city  for  the  past 
eighteen  years.  He  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton County,  Ohio,  Jan.  7,  1837,  his  parents  being 
James  and  Polly  (Tuttle)  Palmer.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and  the  mother  of 
Connecticut.  The  grandparents.  Pemberton  and 
Mary   E.   (Harris)   Palmer,  emigrated   to   Ohio  in 


PORTRAIT  AND   ISIOO  RAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


811 


1821  with  their  family,  and  were  among  tlie  pio- 
neers of  that  part  of  the  State  called  "the  Ohio  Pur- 
chase" of  the  Northwestern  Territory.  In  that  place 
Pemberton  Palmer  bought  a  farm  on  which  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  After  his  death 
his  widow  went  to  make  her  home  with  a  son  in 
Iowa,  and  there  she  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-six  years. 

James  Palmer  learned  the  trade  of  a  maker  of 
tombstones  and  monuments,  but  later  in  life 
adopted  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  at  which  lie 
worked  on  his  own  account  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  until 
1855,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant. Iowa,  remaining  there  two  years.  His  next 
field  of  labor  was  in  Topeka,  Kan.,  and  that  was 
his  last  homestead,  as  he  preempted  a  farm  near 
that  city  and  spent  his  remaining  days  there.  In 
1878  he  passed  away,  when  he  was  nearly  seventy- 
five  years  old.  He  had  been  a  stirring,  active  man 
all  his  life,  and  took  agreat  deal  of  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  He  was  in  matters  political  an  Old- 
Line  Whig,  and  at  the  disruption  of  that  party 
adopted  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
with  whose  platform  he  was  in  sympathy.  He 
could  never  be  prevailed  upon  to  accept  office  for 
himself,  though  he  would  use  his  utmost  exertions 
to  secure  positions  of  trust  for  his  friends.  He 
believed  that  every  man  has  a  right  to  his  own 
opinions.  He  was  a  member  of  the  I'niversalist 
Church,  but  sincere  in  his  belief,  and  always  lived 
np  to  what  he  believed  to  be  right.  He  was  an 
honest,  upright  man  who  acquired  the  respect  of 
and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  an  advo- 
cate of  temperance  and  a  member  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance. 

James  Palmer  and  his  wife  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  eight  survive:  Sarah  M.,  who  was  the  wife 
of  H.  \V.  Seevers,  died  in  Kansas;  Mary  E.  is  the 
widow  of  William  A.  Collins,  who  was  Sergeant 
Major  in  an  Ohio  regiment  during  the  Civil  War, 
and  died  from  the  results  of  exposure  in  the  army; 
She  is  now  living  in  Arizona.  Luther  was  a  cab- 
inet-maker, and  is  now  a  resident  of  Topeka,  Kan.; 
Alpheus.  a  retired  farmer,  lives  in  Topeka;  John 
C,  our  subject,  was  the  next  by  birth;  Jane  T.,  is 
the  wife  of  R.  A.  Randlett,  also  of  Topeka,  a  rail- 
road  employee;  Ernest  L.,  is  interested  in  mining 


in  Colorado;  Emily  V.,  is  the  wife  of  D.  W.  Bout- 
well,  a  carpenter  in  Kansas,  his  home  being  in  To- 
peka; Josephine  L.  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Stafford,  also 
a  railroad  employe  in  Topeka.  Alpheus  was  in 
Kansas  during  the  time  of  the  Border  War  in  which 
he  took  an  active  part,  in  the  ranks  of  the  free- 
soilers,  lighting  under  the  well-known  Gen.  James 
II.  Lane,  but  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  keep  out 
of  personal  trouble. 

John  C.  Palmer,  our  subject,  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Iowa.  He  re- 
mained behind  them  a  year  longer,  then  came  West 
to  Iowa.  The  next  year  he  accompanied  them  on 
their  removal  to  Kansas.  There  he  was  living  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  and  in  April,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  A..  5th  Kansas  Cavalry  in 
(Jen.  James  II.  Lane's  Brigane,  serving  during  the 
whole  war. 

On  returning  to  the  pursuits  of  peace  Mr.  Palmer 

bought  a    farm    near   Topeka.   Kan i    which   he 

lived  from  1865  until  1871,  in  which  year  he  came 
to  Paris.  He  had  learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet- 
maker from  his  father,  but  on  coming  here  he  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  business,  the  firm  being  Gor- 
don it  Palmer,  carrying  on  that  business  until  1882. 
In  1874  he  also  engagi d  in  the   merchant-tailoring 

trade  under  the   firm   name   of   Palmer  &  Wieder. 

i 

This  connection  continued  for  two  years,  and  when 
it  was  dissolved  Mi-.  Palmer  continued  the  business 
alone  until  1881.  During  that  year  he  sold  out  and 
bought  the  business  of  the  firm  of  F.  R.  Axson  & 
Co.,  and  the  Edgar  County  Abstract  Company. 
Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  abstracting 
of  titles,  and  dealing  in  real-estate  and  loans. 

Upon  reaching  the  age  of  twenty-seven  Mr.  Pal- 
mer was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  M.  M  ( lordon, 
daughter  of  James  anil  May  (Riley)  Gordon,  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  and  then  residents  of  Paris, 
where  they  had  settled  at  an  early  day.  Their  first 
home  was  in  Bloom  field,  this  county.  The  father 
died  in  Paris  in  October,  1884,  having  reached  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Mrs.  Gordon 
lives  in  Paris,  and  is  now  in  her  eighty-third  year. 

Mrs.  Palmer  was  born  in  Bloomfield,  this  county, 
Avg.  21,  1835.  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  two  making  their 
homes   in   Paris,  J.  M..  a  chair  manufacturer,   and 


8 1 2 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


until  the  close  of  the  conflict.  Although  having 
enjoyed  the  proud  distinction  of  battling  for  his 
country's  life  in  her  two  earliest  struggles  for  free- 
dom, he  was  jet  a  modest  pleasant,  intelligent  man 
and  an  agreeable  neighbor. 

( »ur  subject  was  one  of  a.  family  of  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  yet  living,  the  survivors  being 
besides  our  subject,  Edward  and  Amanda,  now 
Mrs.  Grace.  After  the  decease  of  the  father  of  our 
subject,  his  mother  was  again  united  in  marriage, 
taking  for  her  life  partner  Mr.  William  Ranney. 
This  union  resulted  in  three  children — John  and 
Thomas  deceased;  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Matkins; 
Thomas  served  all  through  the  late  war  in  the 
United  States  army  under  Col.  Van  Sellars  and 
died  in  New  Orleans  just  after  the  war  closed  and 
before  coming  home. 

When  our  subject  was  about  six  or  seven  years 
old,  his  parents  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Frank- 
lin County,  Ind.,  taking  him  with  them,  but  he  re- 
turned to  Kentucky  in  a  few  years  and  made  his 
home  with  his  grandfather  Weaver.  In  the  autumn 
of  1833  he  changed  his  location  to  AVarren  County, 
Ind.,  and  remained  there  about  three  years,  coming 
to  this  county  in  the  spring  of  183G.  The  growing 
period  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  a  farm,  where 
bis  chances  of  obtaining  an  education  were  exceed- 
ingly circumscribed,  being  limited  to  such  schooling 
as  was  afforded  by  the  teachers  of  pioneer  times 
dining  the  few  months  of  the  year  that  the  log 
cabins  called  school-houses,  were  kept  open.  Not 
only  were  the  terms  short,  the  seats  of  split  logs, 
the  doors  puncheon  and  the  roof  of  clap  boards, 
but  the  teachers  themselves  were  drawn  from  a  class, 
who  were  in  general  only  a  little  better  educated 
than  their  neighbors. 

Notwithstanding  the  imperfect  schools,  our  sub- 
ject kept  his  eyes  open  and  was  a  close  observer  of 
nature's  operations  and  made  diligent  use  of  all  the 
advantages  coming  in  his  way.  He  thus  secured 
a  practical  education  that  has  been  of  more  use  to 
him  in  the  battle  of  life  than  a  classical  course  in 
some  of  our  best  colleges  has  been  to  many  another 
boy. 

Methods  of  agriculture  were  very  primitive  dur- 
ing the  youth  and  manhood  of  our  subject.  He 
plowed  with  a  wooden  moldboard  and   reaped   the 


O.  B.  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  A  daugh- 
ter, E.  F.,  is  the  wife  of  Luther  B.  Huston,  of  Tay- 
lor County,  Iowa,  and  another  daughter,  E.  F.,  is 
the  widow  of  John  A.  Peck,  and  is  living  near  To- 
peka,  Kan. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  have  had  two  children., 
both  of  whom  have,  however,  been  removed  by 
death.  Mary  G.  died  at  the  age  of  five  years,  and 
Nellie  M.  when  fifteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Palmer 
is  a  member  of  the  City  Council  of  Paris,  also  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  the  Paris 
Lodge  No.  208,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  to  Edgar  Chapter 
No.  32,  R.  A.  M. ;  to  Young  Council  ,No.  9,  and 
Palestine  Coinmandery,  No.  27,  K.  T.  lie  is  also 
a  member  of  Charity  Lodge,  No.  100,  A.  O.U.  W., 
and  of  Driskcll  Post,  No.  209,  G.  A.  R.  A  man  of 
integrity  of  character,  upright  in  his  business  deal- 
ings, and  of  good  judgment,  he  commands  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

«  IMLLIAMG.  CULBERTSON,  a  wealthy,  in- 
\rJ//  telligent  and  highly  respected  citizen  of 
WW  Buck  Township,  Edgar  County,  resides  in 
an  elegant  brick  residence,  which  cost  $8,000  on 
section  HI.  range  12.  He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky 
where  he  was  born  Aug.  22.  1817,  in  Fleming 
County.  His  father,  James  Culbertson,  now  de- 
ceased, was  a  native  of  Mason  County,  Ky..  and 
was  a  son  of  James  Culbertson,  who  was  a  native 
of  Scotland  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  the 
early  history  of  our  country,  and  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  Washington  settlement,  near  Mays- 
ville,  Ky.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  saddler 
by  trade  and  did  an  extensive  business  in  Flem- 
ingsburg.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Sarah 
Weaver,  daughter  of  Phillip  Weaver,  who  was  a 
Revolutionary  hero  and  was  present  at  the  sur- 
render of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  When  the 
British  again  made  war  on  our  infant  country  in 
1812.  his  ardent  spirit  would  not  permit  him  to 
remain  at  home  while  others  put  their  life  in  jeop- 
ardy to  sustain  our  country's  honor  and  he  en- 
tered the  service  and  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of 
a   wagon    master,    which    post  he  filled  honorably 


r  PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


813 


grain  with  a  sickle  When  our  subject  came  to 
this  county  in  L836  he  Located  in  Sims  Town- 
ship in  the  timber  on  Big  (reek.  Having  always 
lived  in  the  forest  the  settlers  of  that  day  though! 

it  was  impossible  to  live  with  any  degree  of  com- 
fort or  safely  on  the  prairie,  hence  they  selected 
places  for  their  new  homes,  where  the  timber  grew 
the  thickest.  The  soil  of  the  prairie  bail  never  been 
upturned  and  exposed  to  the  transforming  influ- 
ences of  the  sun.  and  it  had  rarely  had  its  bosom 
pressed  by  the  foot  of  a  white  man  before  their 
coming.  Resides  the  Indians  the  only  other  white 
people  who  had  visited  this  region  ere  the  pioneer 
with  his  Hide  implements  of  agriculture,  were  the 
scouts  and  hunters  who  bail  at  long  intervals  rested 
during  the  noonday  sun  under  the  shade  of  the 
trees  along  Big  Creek  and  slaked  their  thirst  and 
that  of  their  faithful  horses  with  the  flowing 
waters  of  the  stream. 

The  first  house  that  our  subject  was  the  possessor 
of  in  this  hitherto  untrodden  country  was  composed 
of  logs.  The  logs  were  unhewn  and  built  so  as  to 
form  a  double  wall  all  around  and  the  building  was 
completed  with  a  puncheon  floor  and  clapboard 
rout".  A  whip  saw  was  used  in  preparing  the  lum- 
ber necei-sary  for  the  buildings  that  were  first 
erected.  Our  subject  entered  lt)0  acres  in  Sims 
Township  and  cultivated  it.  until  1*17,  when  he 
came  to  his  present  place  and  again  made  a  set- 
tlement on  the  wild  prairie.  Here  he  set  diligently 
to  work  and  put  up  a  temporary  dwelling  to  shel- 
ter himself  not,  only  from  the  elements,  but  also 
from  the  droves  of  prairie  wolves  that  daily  passed 
across  his  land,  frequently  coming  so  close  to  the 
house  that  he  could  have  shot  them  from  his  front 
door.  Industry,  economy  and  enterprise  have  re- 
sulted in  bringing  up  his  estate  from  its  primitive 
condition  to  its  present  superior  .-tale  of  cultivation 
and   prosperity. 

Mr.  CulbertSOn  is  a  third  cousin  of  Charles  Cul- 
bertson,  the  noted  fanner  and  line  stock  raiser  of 
Newman.  III.  He  owns  662  acres  of  land,  which  is 
devoted  to  the  purposes  of  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  His  stock  consists  of  fine  Norman 
and   Hamblelonian    horses   and    short-horn    cattle. 

The  first  Shorn-horn  cattle  and  the  first  imported 
Norman  horse  ever  brought  to  Edgar  County  were 


secured  by  his  means.  His  enterprise  did  not  slop 
here  but  he  also  brought  the  first  Southdown  sheep 
to  this  county  importing  them  from  Kentucky.  His 
Sheep  are  all  of  that  breed  as  he  believes  them  to 
be  the  best  for  his  purpose  that  can  be  secured.  His 
hogs  are  Poland-China  and  are  kept  in  the  same 
line  condition  that  he  keeps  his  Other  stock.  Our 
subject  and  his  family  live  in  a  fine  brick  residence, 
two  stories  high  and  fifty  feel  square  with  an  ob- 
servatory on  the  top,  ten  feet  square.  The  house 
was  built  during  the  war  at  a  cost  of  over  $8,000 
and  is  not  only  an  elegant  structure  but  is  well 
planned  and  convenient  and  reflects  great  credit  upon 
its  owner. 

In  1848  Mi*.  Culbertson  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy 
Ledgerwood,  a  daughter  of  William  Ledgerwood, 
deceased,  a  pioneer  of  Carlisle,  Ind..  who  located 
there  when  Indiana  was  a  territory  and  brought 
bis  slaves  with  him  from  the  South.  .Mrs.  Culbert- 
son was  born  in  Carlisle,  lnd..  and  was  one  of  a 
family  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living — 
William,  Elizabeth,  Blanche,  Florence,  Edward  and 
Samuel.  The  eldest  daughter,  Sarah  ('..died  when 
a  young  lady.  She  had  spent  the  winter  at  Austin, 
Tex.,  hoping  to  improve  her  health,  but  not  re- 
ceiving any  benefit  she  started  for  home  but  died 
on  the  train,  when  near  MattOOn,  111.  William 
married  Pauline  Townsend,  a  lad}'  whose  home  was 
in  Austin,  Tex.  He  has  no  children  but  lives  in  a 
pleasant  home  in  Paris.  Elizabeth  married  Harry 
Mcl'hillips  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  has  one 
child — Letha.  Blanche  married  Ilugar  Hodge,  of 
Paris  and  has  One  child — Walter  M. 

Our  subject  is  a  well  educated  and  intelligent 
man  and  owes  it  to  his  own  unaided  efforts,  he  hav- 
ing improved  his  spare  moments  in  reading  and 
studying  books  and  periodicals  of  an  instructive 
nature.  His  family  is  one  of  unusual  intelligence 
and  his  children  are  receiving  the  best  education 
that  first-class  magazines,  a  well-filled  library  and 
superior  schools  can  afford.  Politically,  he  is  a 
stanch  and  true  Republican,  unswerving  in  his  al- 
legiance to  his  chosen  principles  but  has  never 
sought  nor  accepted  an  office.  He  and  his  family 
are  constant  attendants  upon  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Paris  and  liberal  contributors  to  its  sup- 
port and    Mr.   Culbertson   is   a  consistent   member. 


811 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mrs.  Culbertson  was  a  lady  of  strong  intelligence, 
warm  affections  and  of  a  very  cheerful,  domestic 
turn  of  mind.  Her  death  several  years  ago  was  a 
severe  loss  to  her  family  hut  they  find  consolation 
in  the  hope  of  seeing  her  in  the  better  world, 
where  partings  are  no  more.  Her  last  hours  were 
soothed  by  the  consolation  of  religion,  she  being 
a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Paris. 

Mr.  Culbertson  although  not  so  young  in  years 
as  when  he  listened  to  the  howling  of  the  prairie 
wolves  on  the  dark  nights  succeeding  his  first  entry 
into  this  part  of  the  county,  yet  enjoys  the  youth 
and  vigor  of  mind  that,  being  at  peace  with  thft 
world,  never  grows  old  but  outwears  the  body 
leaving  it  at  last  as  a  worn  out  garment.  His  eye 
is  yet  bright,  his  step  as  elastic  and  his  nerves  as 
firm  as  in  the  hey  day  of  youth.  The  neighbors  of  our 
subject  are  justified  in  holding  him  in  high  esteem, 
for  his  enterprise  has  been  a  means  of  greatly  im- 
proving the  stock  of  the  neighborhood.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  excellent  strain  of  Hambletonian  and 
Norman  horses  of  which  mention  has  been  made 
before,  he  has  a  fine  Kentucky  trotter  for  which  he 
[iaid  $100. 


ooo 


0^  IIARLES  NEWCOMB  has  resided  in  Prai- 
rie Township  since  1827,  and  is  therefore 
_^l  the  oldest  inhabitant  now  residing  here.  He 
was  born  in  Flemingsburg,  Ky.,  Sept.  20,  1*22. 
His  education  was  received  at  the  pay  schools, 
which  were  held  in  log  houses  with  rail  seats  and 
no  floors.  While  he  was  very  young  when  he  came 
to  Illinois,  he  underwent  all  the  hardships  incident 
to  pioneer  life. 

His  father;  Daniel,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
removed  to  Kentucky  when  he  was  3'oung.  lie 
there  engaged  in  farming,  owning  a  farm  of  335 
acres  of  land.  In  1827  he  removed  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Edgar  County,  on  the  present  place  occu- 
pied by  his  heirs.  He  constructed  a  log  house  on 
his  700  acres  of  land,  which  lie  purchased  from  the 
Government,  and  from  the  start  was  successful, 
lie  resided  here  until  his  death;  which  occurred  in 
1806,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.    His  wife  was 


Annie  Coharn,  and  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Her 
ancestors  came  from  Ireland.  She  died  at  the  res- 
idence of  her  son  Charles  in  1863.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  left 
ten  children:  Jefferson,  Delila,  Daniel,  Nancy, 
Robert,  Juda,  Charles,  Isabella,  Mary  and  William. 
The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Dan- 
iel N.  Newcomb,  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
early  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  distinguished  himself  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  held  the  rank  of  captain. 
He  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  purchased  land 
of  the  celebrated  Daniel  Boone.  Here  he  died  in' 
the  faith  of  the  Dunkard  Church. 

Charles  Newcomb  was  but  a  lad  of  five  years 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father  from  Ken- 
tucky. The  journey  was  made  by  wagon  and  con- 
sumed fourteen  days.  At  that  time  this  county 
was  almost  wholly  uninhabited,  and  wild  game  of 
all  kinds  was  seen  on  every  hand.  He  became  a 
great  hunter,  and  where  civilization  now  exists  he 
has  killed  many  a  deer,  wolf  and  wild  turkey.  Set- 
tlers were  very  scarce  in  those  days,  and  therefore 
it  was  difficult  to  build  school  houses  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  few,  but  within  a  short  time 
after  their  arrival,  a  school  house  was  erected  of 
the  most  primitive  kind,  and  in  it  Mr.  Newcomb 
received  his  schooling.  At  this  time  there  were 
plenty  of  Indians,  who  remained  in  this  region  for 
six  or  seven  years  after  the  Newcombs  emigrated 
here,  but  they  were  entirely  peaceable.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-seven  Charles  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself.  He  engaged  in  buying  and  raising  cattle, 
and  driving  them  to  Chicago,  a  town  then  of  but 
1,000  people.  The  time  consumed  in  reaching  the 
village  by  the  lake  was  fifteen  days.  When  his 
father  died  he  bought  the  old  homestead  of  the 
heirs,  and  is  residing  there.  He  has  made  a  great 
many  improvements  on  it,  and  has  now  200  acres 
of  land  highly  cultivated  and  well  drained.  He 
erected  houses,  barns,  etc.,  and  planted  groves, 
and  orchards  of  apples  and  peaches,  until  his  place 
is  a  model  in  every  respect.  He  is  interested  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Scotland,  being  in  partner- 
ship with  his  son.  Mr.  Newcomb  has  traveled  a 
great  deal  in  search  of  a  place  that  he  would  like 
better  than  Edgar  County,  but  has  failed  to  find  it, 


Residence  of  John   Mason,  Sec.  15.  ElbridgeTownship,  Edgar  Co 





Residence  or  J.  D.Scott, Sec. 24  PrairieTowns hip, Edgar  Co. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


si  7 


and  is  now  satisfied  that  lie  is  well  situated.  Stock- 
raising,  buying  and  feeding  cattle  and  hogs,  and 
shipping  them  to  Chicago  and  Indianapolis  now 
employs  the  most  of  his  time.  He  raises  Durham 
cattle  and  Clydesdale  and  Norman  horses,  and 
finds  it  profitable. 

In  IS  17  the  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Miss 
Mary  J.  Jones,  who  was  born  in  this  county,  and 
whose  parents  came  to  Illinois  in  1825.  She  was 
one  of  the  popular  teachers  of  Edgar  County 
before  her  marriage,  and  is  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren: Nancy  A.  married  M.  Inghram,  who  is  en- 
geged  in  farming;  Daniel  is  a  farmer  of  Prairie 
Township;  Warren  resides  in  Scotland,  where  he  is 
a  merchant  and  holds  the  office  of  Supervisor;  Ella 
is  at  home.  She  has  attended  high  school  at  Paris 
and  Terre  Haute,  and  has  received  a  first  grade  cer- 
tificate as  a  teacher.  She  is  in  the  millinery  busi 
ness  at  Scotland,  and  is  Assistant  Postmaster. 

Mr.  Newcomb  is  a  strong  Republican  and  is  one 
who  helped  to  build  the  famous  Harrison  and  Mor- 
ton ball,  which  rolled  from  this  county  to  Wash- 
ington, spreading  enthusiasm  [in  its  wake.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  Township  Treasurer  for  fifteen 
years,  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  The  positions 
of  Assessor  and  Collector  have  been  filled  by  him 
with  fidelity.  Mr.  Newcomb  is  now  retired  from 
active  business  and  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  well 
spent  life  and  the  respect  of  all  his  acquaintances. 

J/OHN  MASON.  The  honest  and  intelligent 
I  farmer  is  finely  illustrated  in  the  subject  of 
I  this  notice  who  is  considered  one  of  the 
'  best  citizens  of  Elbridge  Township.  He 
owns  240  acres  of  thoroughly  cultivated  land  finely 
situated  on  sections  15  and  16,  and  has  been  a  res- 
ident of  this  count}'  since  1 838.  He  was  born  in 
Casey  County,  Ivy.,  Dec.  6,  1815,  and  there  re- 
ceived such  education  as  the  schools  of  that  time 
and  place  afforded.  He  lived  with  his  father  in 
his  native  county  until  he  was  twenty-three  years 
old  and  then  the  whole  family  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Elbridge  Township,  this  county,  where 
the  parents  sojourned  until  18C5.     That  year  they 


emigrated  across  the  Mississippi  into  Knox  County, 
Mo.,  where  they  spent  their  last  days. 

After  his  parents  came  to  Illinois  our  subject 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  having  in  view  the 
establishment  of  a  home  of  his  own.  In  1811  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sidney  Davis,  daughter  of  George 
Davis,  who  with  his  wife  were  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Of  this  union  there  were  born  ten  children,  and 
the  mother  died  in  1806.  Her  life  had  been  such 
as  to  gather  around  her  many  friends  and  she  was 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Their 
eldest  son,  William  W.,  died  in  the  army  at  the  age 
of  twenty  one  years.  George  is  a  resident  of 
Douglas  County,  this  State;  Ellis  lives  in  Sti'atton 
Township,  this  county;  Warren.  I),  is  farming  in 
Douglas  County;  Sarah  is  unmarried  and  remains 
at  home  with  her  father;  Mary  M.  is  the  wife  of  T.  E. 
Pennington,  living  in  the  northern  part  of  this 
county;  John  J.  is  a  resident  of  Grand  View  Town- 
ship; Roda  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Brown  and 
they  live  in  Red m on;  and  Francis  M.  lives  in 
Douglas  County. 

Mr.  Mason   in    1861)    contracted  a  second   mar 
riage  with  Miss  Fanny,  daughter   of   David   Poll, 
who    with   his     wife    was  a    native  of    Kentucky. 
Later,  they  removed  to  Edgar  County,  where  their 
daughter  Fanny  was  born  May  15,  182S.     She  has 
forty  acres  of  land  in  her  own  right.    Of  her  union 
with  Mr.  Mason  there  are  no  children.     Although 
not  an  aspirant  for  public  oflice  Mr.  Mason    is  de- 
cided in  his  views  and  opinions  and  since  reaching 
his   majority   has   given  his    support    to  the  Dem- 
ocratic part}'.     He  has,  however,  held  the  oflice  of 
School  Trustee    in    his    Township   and    is    always 
found  to  be  on  the  side  of  those  enterprises  calcu- 
lated for  the  moral  and  intellectual  growth  of  the 
people.      Religiousl}',    he   with  his   wife  belongs  to 
the  Presbyterian    Church,   in  which   he    holds   the 
office  of  Deacon.    He  began  life  on  a  capital  of  $100 
in  money,  besides  a  cow  and    pony,    and  has  ac- 
cumulated   his   property  solely  by  the  exercise  of 
persistent  industry  and    by  following  the  rule  that 
he    laid    down    early   in    life,    to    live   within   his 
income.     He  is  properly    classed    among  the  solid 
men  of  Edgar  Count}',  who  have  assisted  in  estab- 
lishing its  reputation  and  standing, and  have  given 
it  a  position  among  the    first-class  communities  of 


818 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Central  Illinois.  On  his  farm  he  has  erected  a 
pleasant  commodious  residence,  a  view  of  which 
appears  in  this  work,  and  here  friend  and  stranger 
receive  a  hospitable  welcome. 


**&mm&** 


SRAEL  1).  SCOTT.  In  the  mysterious  dis- 
pensation of  Providence,  to  a  small  portion  of 
\  mankind  are  given  the  talents,  property  and 
that  winning  personality  which  bring  about  them 
hosts  of  friends  and  all  the  good  things  of  life. 
Happy  is  he  who,  instead  of  wasting  the  talents  be- 
stowed upon  him,  improves  them  and  as  far  as  in 
him  lies  exercises  a  good  influence  upon  those  by 
whom  he  is  surrounded.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  man  much 
above  the  average  in  disposition,  training  and  in- 
tellectual capacities.  He  is  one  whom  it  is  exceed- 
ingly pleasant  to  meet,  being  well  informed  and 
standing  upon  a  broad  and  liberal  platform,  in 
keeping  with  the  progress  of  the  age. 

A  native  of  the  Prairie  State,  our  subject  was 
born  in  Prairie  Township,  Edgar  County,  May  30, 
1 844,  was  reared  at  the  farm  and  commenced  his 
education  in  a  log  school-house.  His  studies  were 
completed  at  an  early  age  and  then  he  assisted  his 
father  at  farm  work  until  twenty-three  years  old. 
He  evinced,  when  quite  young,  an  aptitude  for 
business  and  branched  out  early  into  the  stock 
business,  buying  and  shipping,  and  thus  acquired 
the  capital  with  which  at  twenty-three  years  of  age 
he  was  enabled  to  purchase  a  farm.  He  did  not 
abandon  his  live-stock  operations,  however,  and  re- 
sided on  his  farm  until  1874.  That  year  he  sold 
out  and  turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits 
in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Robert  L.,  under 
the  firm-name  of  Scott  Bros. 

This  young  and  enterprising  linn  soon  auncbed 
into  a  paying  business,  and  in  connection  with 
merchandising,  also  purchased  grain  extensively 
and  carried  on  farming.  They  continued  their 
store  until  the  10th  of  April,  1889,  then  traded  it 
forland,  adjoining  Mt.  Vernon,  in  Jefferson  County, 
this  State,  and  which  is  operated  by  a  renter.  In 
1888  Mr.  Scott  removed  to  his  present  place  of  107 
acres   on    section    21.     This    he   stocked  with   the 


cattle  which  he  already  owned  and  continued  buy- 
ing and  feeding,  shipping  about  three  car  loads 
annually. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  appears  a  view  of  the 
residence  of  our  subject  which  is  situated  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  Scottland,  where  he  also 
owns  a  residence  and  lot.  He  has  rendered  efficient 
assistance  in  building  up  the  place  and  in  the 
improvement  of  his  own  home  hauled  rock  from 
Wabash  and  put  up  the  largest  dwelling  in  the  town- 
ship. Besides  his  cattle  and  horses  he  deals  con- 
siderably in  swine  and  utilizes  five  teams  in  the 
operation  of  his  farm.  He  is  a  lover  of  fine  horses 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Scottland  Horse  Company. 

Mr.  Scott  was  first  married  in  Prairie  Township 
April  25,  1868,  to  Miss  Louisba  MeClure  who  was 
born  in  Vermilion  County,  this  State,  April  9, 
1850,  and  who  departed  this  life  at  her  home  in 
May.  1881.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  five 
children,  viz.:  William,  Albert,  Owen,  Irwin  and 
Samuel,  the  latter  deceased.  The  others  remain 
with  their  father  and  William  is  engaged  as  a 
teacher. 

Mi.  Scott  contracted  a  second  marriage  in  Edgar 
Township,  March  5,  1883,  with  Miss  Lucinda  P. 
MeClure,  daughter  of  Isaac  MeClure  and  who  was 
also  born  in  Vermilion  County,  near  Indianola,  in 
1853;  they  have  two  children — Ethel  and  Robert. 
Isaac  MeClure  the  father  of  Mrs.  Scott,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1820  and  when  a  young  man 
■tint  to  Ohio  whence  he  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated near  Indianola.  but  later  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  Bloomfield  in  Edgar  Township,  this 
county,  where  he  became  owner  of  300  acres  of 
land  and  was  prospered.  He  died  at  the  homestead 
which  he  had  built  up  in  1862.  Politically,  he  was 
a  Democrat  and  in  religious  matters,  a  Baptist. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Scott  was  in  her  girlhood 
Miss    Rebecca   Parker.     She    was    born    in  Brown 

C lty,  Ohio,  and  was  the  daughter  of  John  Parker 

who  finally  came  to  Illinois  and  died.  The  mother 
is  living  at  the  old  homestead  in  Edgar  Township, 
and  is  now  seventy-two  years  old.  Six  of  her  eleven 
children  grew  to  mature  years.  Amy  Iras  since 
died;  Stephen  is  a  resident  of  Kansas;  John  is  liv- 
ing in  Paris:  Louisba  is  deceased;  Lucinda  is  next 
to  the  youngest;  Frank  is  on  the  home  farm;  John 


PORTRAIT   AN'I)   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


S19 


and  Stephen  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
late  war  in  an  Illinois  regiment.  William  Scott, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  near  Martinsville, 
Morgan  Co.,  Ind.,  July  13,  1819.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  Samuel  Scott,  Sr.,  a  native  of 
Fleming  County,  Ky.,  and  of  English  descent.  He 
came  to  Indiana  when  a  young  man,  where  he  was 
married  and  purchasing  land  engaged  in  farming. 
The  town  of  Martinsville  occupies  a  portion  of 
that  land.  He  was  possessed  of  the  same  feeling  as 
Daniel  Boone,  and  when  the  country  began  settling 
up,  he  moved  further  West,  in  1829,  and  located 
in  this  county.  He  had  hut  limited  means,  but 
being  an  excellent  manager  became  wealthy  by  his 
operations  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  drove 
his  cattle  through  to  the  l'ttle  hamlet  of  Chicago, 
disposing  of  them  at  Fort  Dearborn.  "Uncle  Sum- 
mit," as  he  was  then  familiarly  called,  was  about 
the  only  capitalist  in  this  region  in  those  days 
and  loaned  money,  thus  assisting  many  to  get  a 
start  in  life.  He  occupied  the  local  offices  and 
lived  in  Prairie  Township  until  1859.  He  then 
removed  to  Ross  Township,  where  he  became  a  large 
land  owner  and  died  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son 
William  in  Prairie  Township,  in  December,  1869. 
William  Scott,  the  son  of  Samuel,  was  a  boy  often 
years  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  remained  with 
his  parents  until  reaching  his  majority.  Then,  by 
entering  and  buying  land  he  finally  became  owner 
of  1,000  acres  and  gave  the  railroad  company  the 
right  of  way  besides  half  of  the  town-site  of  Scott- 
land  which  was  named  after  him.  He  dealt  largely 
in  live-stock  and  led  a  busy  life  until  1881,  when 
he  retired  from  the  farm  and  removed  to  Paris 
where  he  still  resides.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  in  politics  a 
stanch  Democrat. 

William  Scott  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C. 
Legate,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  June  10,  1821,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Robert  Legate,  a  native  of 
Tennessee.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  Capt. 
John  Legate,  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland  who 
upon  coining  to  America  located  in  Tennessee  and 
later  removed  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  lie  had  served  as  a  captain 
in  the  Revolutionary  War  under  the  command  of 
Gen.   Marion.     Hobert  Legate  was  married  young 


and  died  in  Brown  County,  Ohio, -in  1822,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-three  years.  After  his  death 
his  wife  was  married  to  a  Mr.  Sayer  and  their 
daughter.  Elizabeth  came  to  Illinois  with  her  step- 
father at  the  age  of  ten  years.  She  died  Sept.  28. 
1869.  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

With  the  exception  of  two  years  Mr.  Scott  has 
served  as  a  School  Director  continuously  since 
reaching  his  majority.  He  officiated  as  Collector' 
one  year,  was  the  Postmaster  of  Scottland  four 
years  and  is  the  only  Democrat  ever  occupying 
this  office.  He  was  Township  Collector  one  year, 
and  m  the  various  enterprises  tending  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  people  he  has  been  a  leading 
spirit.  He  has  seen  considerable  of  pioneer  life 
and  remembers  the  time  when  wild  game  was  plen- 
tiful in  this  region  and  when  he  savv  as  many  as 
ten  head  of  deer  in  one  herd  during  his  boyhood 
days 


*#-# 


ENRY  ROSS.     This  gentleman  is  a  son  of 
jlj   Mr.  William   Ross,  a  sketch  of  whose  life 

will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.     Mr. 

Ross  was  born  January  20,  1846,  in  Clinton 
County.  Ind.  His  early  life  was  spent  upon  his 
father's  farm,  the  latter  moving  with  his  family  to 
Vermilion  County.  HI.,  when  our  subject  was  but 
six  years  old.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
common  schools  which  he  attended  during  the  win- 
ter months. 

On  May  29,  1870,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five, 
Henry  Ross  married  Martha  M.  Dains.  daughter  of 
Josiah  C.  and  Mary  J.  Dains,  who  are  still  living 
near  Hildreth  Station,  Young  America  Township, 
Edgar  County,  and  who  are  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Mary  Ann,  the 
eldest,  has  been  married  twice.  Her  first  husband 
was  Albeit  Green,  by  whom  she  had  two  children; 
her  second  husband,  W.  H.  Ross,  is  a  brother  of 
our  subject.  Sarah  J.  married  D.  H.  Mull;  she  is 
the  mother  of  three  children  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Missouri;  her  husband  is  a  fanner.  Eli  I.  lives 
in  Douglas  County.  111.;  his  occupation  is  farming 
and  his  family  consists  of  himself,  wife  and  one 
child.     William   II.  resides  in   Palermo,  where  he 


820 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


operates  his  own  farm;  he  has  a  wife  and  two  chil- 
flren.  James  G.  is  a  prosperous  farmer  residing 
near  Brocton,  this  county,  with  his  family  which 
includes  a  wife  and  five  children.  Prudence  L.  is 
the  wife  of  Abner  Heaton,  a  farmer  living  near 
Winterset,  Iowa;  they  have  five  children.  Levi  is 
a  merchant  at  Prairie  View,  Champaign  County, 
111.;  he  is  married  and  the  father  of  one  child. 
Pelina  is  the  wife  of  James  Shaw,  a  farmer  who 
lives  in  the  western  part  of  Young  America  Town- 
ship. They  have  one  child.  Franklin  is  single. 
He  is  a  telegraph  operator  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Company  at 
Villa  Grove,  111.  Lydia  T.  is  the  wife  of  Elmer 
Lavering.  She  and  her  husband  reside  at  Palermo; 
the}-  have  one  child. 

Mr  and  Mrs.  Ross  have  had  six  children  born 
unto  them:  Edgar  A.,  Frankalena.  Henrietta.  Ben- 
ton W.,  Franklin  E.  and  Henry  Elwood.  Franka- 
lena and  Henrietta  died  when  about  three  years  of 
age.     The  others  are  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Ross  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm,  engaging  in  all  the  usual  occupations  that 
such  a  life  requires  and  improving  all  the  opportu- 
nities of  obtaining  an  education  which  the  schools 
of  the  district  afforded.  In  1861)  he  took  a  trip  to 
California  for  his  health,  and  spent  the  greater  part 
of  that  year  beneath  its  sunny  skies.  He  is  now 
residing  with  his  family  on  a  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead, eighty  acres  of  which  he  operates.  A  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics  he  has  without  endeavor  on  his 
part,  been  made  the  recipient  of  several  offices  and 
positions  of  honor.  He  has  served  eleven  years  as 
School  Trustee  of  Young  America  Township,  and 
is  at  present  a  School  Director  of  his  district.  He 
has  also  served  his  party  in  the  capacity  of  dele- 
gate to  its  county  conventions.  His  wife  and  him- 
self are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Henry  Ross  may  well  be  described  as  a 
genial,  friendly  and  sociable  gentleman.  Educa- 
tion, travel  and  observation  have  stored  his  mind 
with  much  useful  and  valuable  knowledge.  He  is 
a  ready  and  entertaining  talker,  though  a  very 
modest  and  unobtrusive  one.  He  is  a  man  who 
has  a  deep  affection  for  his  home  and  for  the  loved 
ones  who  form  his  happy  and  contented  family. 
His  oldest  son,  helpful,  intelligent,  thoughtful  and 


industrious,  is  reaching  towards  man's  estate.  His 
only  daughter  gives  promise  of  becoming  a  lovely 
and  beautiful  woman.  The  other  children — two 
buys — are  bright  and  wide-awake  little  fellows,  for 
whom  the  future  is  full  of  hope  and  promise. 


E.  POWELL,  President  of  the  Paris  Gas- 
light and  Coke  Co.,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  M.. 
and  Lucretia  A.  (Dill)  Powell,  both  now 
deceased.  The  former  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
was  a  son  of  Jeremiah  Powell,  a  farmer,  who  emi- 
grated in  1834  to  this  county ,  settling  at  what  was 
then  known  as  Sugar  Creek  Point,  in  Paris  Town- 
ship, two  and  one  half  miles  northwest  of  the  city 
of  Paris.  Mr.  Powell  bought  400  acres  of  land,  and 
there  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life.  Chills  and  fev- 
er abounded  in  that  region  in  those  days  and  the 
Powell  family  suffered  from  its  insidious  attacks. 
The  pioneer  head  of  the  household  finally  died 
from  its  effects  in  1845.  He  was  a  farmer  in  this 
county,  as  well  as -in  Kentucky,  but  in  the  latter 
named  State,  had  carried  on  the  business  of  a  gun- 
smith, which  he  abandoned  on  coining  to  Illinois. 
He  and  his  wife  had  six  children,  all  of  whom  ac- 
companied the  parents  to  Edgar  County,  although 
but  one  is  now  living  there,  namely:  Mrs.  A.  A. 
Hannah,  of  Paris.  The  only  other  survivor  is 
Harvey,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army, 
and  there  contracted  a  disabling  disease.  After 
receiving  his  discharge  he  settled  in  Iowa,  where 
he  is  now  living. 

Thomas  M.  Powell,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  in  1814,  and  was 
therefore  twenty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
migration  of  the  family  to  this  county.  He  lived 
on  the  farm  until  the  death  of  his  father,  when  he 
sold  his  portion  of  the  estate,  and  removed  to  the 
embryo  city  of  Paris.  He  engaged  there  in  team- 
ing, and  any  other  work  which  came  to  hand,  part 
of  the  time  also  working  a  faun  owned  by  his  wife's 
father.Capt.  J.  Abner  Dill.  In  this  way  by  industry 
and  energy  he  acquired  a  moderate  compe- 
tence, and  was  always  in  comfortable  circumstan- 
ces,  although  never  what  might  be  called  wealthy. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


821 


lie  was  an  untiring  worker,  doing  thoroughly 
whatever  he  undertook.  When  the  public  square 
in  Talis  was  remodeled  he  removed  most  of  the 
houses,  and  by  that  venture  made  considerable 
money.  lie  continued  to  reside  in  Paris  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1874. 

Mr.  Powell  was  a  man  of  positive  character  and 
decided  in  his  opinions,  and  he  took  an  active  in- 
terest and  prominent  part  in  matters  pertaining  to 
the  welfare  of  the  city,  lie  served  for  several 
terms  as  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  city  of 
Paris,  lie  was  a  man  of  strong  religious  feelings 
and  impulses,  and  with  his  brother-in-law,  the  late 
Capt.  A.  A.  Hannah  and  six  others,  organized  the 
now  flourishing  Christian  Church  in  Paris,  of  which 
he  remained  a  member  until  his  death,  serving  for 
many  years  as  Deacon.  Conscientious  and  upright 
in  his  dealings  he  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
by  every  one  who  knew  him. 

Thomas  M.,  and  Lucretia  A.  Powell  were  the 
parents  of  three  children,  all  yet  living.  Resides 
our  subject  there  is  A  B.,  now  a  farmer  in  Coffee- 
ville,  Kan.,  who  while  yet  living  in  Edgar  County, 
was  twice  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  serv- 
ing two  terms  of  four  years  each.  He  served  in 
the  Union  army  all  through  the  war,  being  Quarter- 
Master-Sergeant  of  the  79th,  111.,  Infantry.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  agent  at  Paris,  for  the 
Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  under  Col.  II.  C. 
Moore,  and  while  in  the  service  was  elected  Clerk  of 
the  Court.  On  leaving  the  latter  position  he  again 
went  in  the  service  of  the  railroad  company,  resign- 
ing to  engage  with  his  brother-in-law,  C.  W.  Powell, 
who  was  a  distant  cousin  also,  in  the  business  of  fur- 
nishing railroad  ties  and  timber,  This  connection 
was  dissolved  at  the  end  of  a  year,  and  A.  I!.,  went 
to  Kansas,  there  embarking  in  the  cattle  business. 
The  principal  part  of  this  he  subsequently  sold, 
and  returned  to  Chicago,  where  the  former  busi- 
ness partnership  was  resumed.  Selling  out  his  busi- 
ness after  a  time  he  returned  to  Paris  and  took 
charge  of  the  business  of  the  Gaslight  Company,  of 
which  he  was  president  for  two  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  resigned  his  position,  and  removed 
to  Coffeeville,  Kan.,  where  he  built  a  number  of 
business  blocks,  which  he  yet  owns.  He  was  truly 
a  representative  man,  and  had  he  remained  in  Paris 


would  have  occupied  a  leading  position  in  its  busi- 
ness and  municipal  circles.  The  other  member  of 
the  family  is  Sue  M..  now  wife  of  the  C.  W. "Pow- 
ell already  mentioned,  of  the  firm  of  Powell  & 
Lord,  dealers  in  general  railroad  lumber  supplies 
of  all  kinds,  at  Chicago.  He  has  been  a  very  suc- 
cessful man,  and  by  energy  and  thorough  business 
abilities  has  accumulated  a  large  fortune. 

Z.  E.  Powell,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on 
the  farm  in  Paris  Township,  Nov.  6,  1844.     When 
seventeen    years    old    he  entered   the  office  of  the 
"Beacon"   at  Paris,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  printer. 
He    worked    at    this    occupation    more    or  less  for 
about  eight  years  in  all  but  not  consecutively,  be- 
ing   for  a  time  engaged   in  railroad  business  with 
his  brother.       On  the  election  of  the  latter  to  hold 
the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  he  was  ap- 
pointed agent  in  his  stead,  holding  the  position  for 
several   years,    when  he  resigned  to  engage  in  the 
business    of    furnishing    timber,    tics,    etc.,  to  the 
railroad.     At.  this  he  was  occupied  for  about  three 
years,  when    an    unfortunate    business  connection 
with  the  Midland  Railroad,  which  was  then  building 
between    Paris   and   Terre  Haute,  and  with  which 
he   became  heavily  involved,  tied  up  all  his  means 
for   a  time,  and    he   was  compelled  to  give  up  his 
business,   and  again   accept  the  position  of  agent 
for  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  at  Paris. 
With  this  corporation  he  staid  until  1  88 Land  during 
that  time  also  engaged  in  the  coal  business, which  had 
been  neglected  by  that  company.   In  this  he  worked 
up  quite  a  trade.    About  this  same  time  he  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  Paris  Gaslight  Co.,  and  thus 
had    his    hands   full  of  business.     He  was  likewise 
interested    in   coal  mining  enterprises,  and  in  1881 
he  resigned   his  position   as  agent  in  favor  of  Ed. 
Buckley,  and  became  actively  engaged  at  the  coal 
fields.     He   was  made  General  Manager  of  the  Ed- 
gar Coal  Company's  mines  in  Vigo  and  Clay  coun- 
ties,  Indiana.     He    was  in  charge    of  those  mines 
until    the    company   sold   out  in    December,  1K8U, 
when  he  came  back  to  Paris  and  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  President  of  the  Gaslight  and  Coke  Co.,  to 
which  he  had  been  called  in  September  preceding. 
This    he   has  occupied  up  to  the  present  time,  hav- 
ing  entire  charge   of  the  affairs  of  the  company, 
and    superintending    all   their    works,    which    have 


822 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


been   changed    to   what  is  now  known  as  the  Pratt 
and  Ryan  Water  Gas  System. 

The  8th  of  August,  1879  was  a  very  important 
date  in  the  life  history  of  Mr.  Powell,  as  he  was 
then  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  C.  Belle  Camp- 
bell, daughter  of  Col  A.  K.  Campbell,  who  was 
Commander  of  the  6<ith  Illinois  Infantry  during 
the  war.  This  was  the  celebrated  "Sharpshooter" 
Regiment.  He  died  from  the  effects  of  wounds 
received  in  service.  Mrs.  Powell's  mother,  Mrs. 
M.  J.  Campbell,  is  now  living  in  Newton,  Kan. 
Mrs.  Powell  was  born  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  in 
1847.  She  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  one  of 
whom,  Zara  Andrew,  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
Lou  M.,  and  Virginia  Belle,  remain  under  the  par- 
ental roof. 

•Mr.  Powell  has  been  connected  with  many  of 
the  secret  and  beneficial  societies,  but  has  with- 
drawn from  all  except  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Paris  Lodge,  No.  2G8,  A.  F.,  and 
A.  M.,  of  Edgar  Chapter.  No.  32,  R  A.  M.;  and 
of  Palestine  Commandery,  No.  27,  K.  T.  Since  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  He  has  never  held  any  public 
position,  but  is  well-known  in  the  community  as 
an  enterprising  man  of  business,  upright  and  con- 
scientious in  all  his  dealings  and  a  good  citizen  in 
every  respect. 


-vwv -*iii2i2,,©^-«-s 


^g$.S/OT7n~  vw 


AMES  BUSHU,  a  thrifty,  intelligent  farmer 
and  raiser  of  graded  stock,  who  owns  a  fine 
place  on  section  6,  township  13,  range  13  in 
Ml/  Buck  Township,  Edgar  County,  is  a  native  of 
Perry  County,  Ohio, where  he  was  born  Oct.  25, 1848 
to  Morand  Bushu  (deceased),  who  was  a  native  of 
Alsace,  France,  and  came  to  the  United  States  dur- 
ing the  time  Napoleon  Bonepart  was  revolutioniz- 
ing France  and  paving  his  wa}'  to  the  Empire. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Perry 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose 
her  parents  in  infancy.  Her  grandfather  was  Count 
Miller  of  Germany,  who  left  a  large  estate  to  his 
heirs    at   his  decease,  but  the  little    orphan,  Mary, 


was  swindled  out  of  nearly  all  her  portion.  The 
family  of  which  our  subject  was  a  member,  con- 
sisted of  the  following  children:  Henry,  Frank, 
Ellen,  now  Mrs.  Mattingly;  Angeline,  James,  our 
subject;  Martha,  Margaret,  Gertrude,  Cecilia  and 
Ethel. 

The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  1877  at  the 
home  of  his  son,  who  was  living  on  this  farm  at 
that  time.  Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  which 
was  within  four  miles  of  the  old  homestead  of  Gen. 
I'll  i I  Sheridan  and  he  was  personally  acquainted  with 
the  Sheridan  family.  His  education  was  received 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  district  and  was  pur- 
sued witli  as  much  regularity  and  earnestness  as 
the  conditions  admitted  of.  From  his  youth  he  has 
continually  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer, 
never  engaging  in  any  other  business  but  finding 
his  time  fully  emplo\ed  in  attending  to  the  affairs 
of  his  farm.  In  1874,  during  the  fall,  he  came  to 
this  county  and  established  himself  in  Buck  Town- 
ship, working  for  two  years  as  a  farm  hand,  after 
which  his  father  moved  here  and  located  on  the 
farm,  which  our  subject  now  owns.  Mr.  Bushu 
then  took  up  his  abode  in  his  father's  house,  assist- 
ing him  in  the  operation  of  the  farm  and  continued 
living  there  after  his  father's  decease. 

Miss  Celia  Musselman  and  James  Bushu  were 
married  January,  1878.  Mrs.  Bushu  was  a  native  of 
Somerset  Count}',  Ohio,  where  she  was  reared  and 
obtained  the  education  and  accomplishments  that 
make  her  the  charming  and  attractive  lady  that 
she  is  to-day.  Although  not  blessed  with  children 
of  their  own,  they  have  endeavored  to  take  the 
place  of  parents  to  three  children  who  might  other- 
wise have  missed  such  love  and  care.  Harrv 
Hooper  is  now  grown  to  manhood  and  fully  ap- 
preciates the  kindness  and  consideration  which  he 
always  received  from  his  foster  parents;  Frank 
Musselman  and  Ellen  Hooper,  a  sister  of  Harry, 
are  now  enjoying  the  blessings  of  a  good  home  and 
education,  through  the  kindness  and  liberality  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bushu. 

Mr.  Bushu  is  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
Henry  and  they  own  240  acres  of  land,  devoting 
their  attention  to  general  farming  and  raising  high- 
grade  stock.  They  have  a  large  number  of  Short- 
horns, many  of   them  being  full-blooded,  and  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


823 


rest    all     high    grade.    Poland-China     hogs    and 
graded  horses  make  up  the  principal  portion  of  the 

rest  of  their  .stock. 

Mr.  Bushu  was  elected  County  Supervisor  for 
this  township  in  1888  and  was  re-elected  in  1889. 
Shortly  after  making  his  h  ime  in  this  place,  our 
subject  was  elected  School  Director,  which  position 
he  has  held  ever  since,  giving  good  satisfaction  to 
the  neighborhood  and  taking  a  deep  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters.  He  and  his  wife  are  devoted  ad- 
herents of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  Politically 
he  is  an  ardent  Democrat. 


*5~*3b 


A.  G.  SHOAFF  &  BRO.,  are  the  editors 
and  publishers  of  the  Paris  Gazette — the 
only  Democratic  paper  in  the  county — 
which  was  first  issued  Feb.  23,  1873,  by  James 
Shoaff.  father  of  the  two  gentlemen  who  now  con- 
duct, that  paper.  At  the  time  of  its  first  publica- 
tion it  sailed  under  the  name  of  Shoaff's  Gazette. 
It  continued  by  that  name  until  April  12,  1874, 
when  it  was  changed  to  the  Paris  Weekly  Gazette, 
running  as  such  until  1880.  At  this  time  it  was 
owned  and  operated  by  T.  B.  Shoaff  &  Bro.  It 
then  changed  hands.  L.  A.  G.  Schoaff  *  Co.  assuming 
control  of  it,  calling  it  the  Paris  Gazette,  under 
which  it  has  run  since. 

L.  A.  G.  Shoaff  was  born  in  Decatur.  111.,  Dec. 
21.  1851,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  His 
father  at  that  time  was  engaged  in  newspaper  work, 
and  it  was  therefore  natural  for  the  son  to  learn 
the  art  of  printing,  which  he  did.  He  worked  in 
his  father's  otlice,  in  the  job  department,  in  which 
he  became  very  proficient.  He  removed  to  Paris, 
when  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age  and  engaged 
in  the  newspaper  business  as  before  mentioned,  lie 
married  Miss  Leona  Wiley,  June  29,  1875,  and  to 
this  union  was  born  two  children  of  whom  only 
one,  Stella,  is  now  living.  Mrs.  Shoaff  died  in 
March.  1872.  Mr.  Shoaff  took  for  his  second  wife 
Jessie  Payne,  the  marriage  occurring  June  7,  1882. 
Miss  Payne  was  born  near  Grand  View,  this  count)' 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Payne,  a  prominent 
merchant     one    time  of    that   township.     She   was 


reared  at  that  place,  where  she  spent  all  her  life 
until  her  marriage.  Mr.  Shoaff  is  not  a  political 
aspirant,  but  believes  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  the  paper  with  which  he  is  con- 
nected voices  his  views  clearly. 

James  I).  Shoaff,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
L.  A.  G.  Shoaff  &  Bro.,  was  born  in  Decatur.  111.. 
Aug.  31,  1861.  He  removed  to  Paris  at  the  same 
time  the  balance  of  the  family  did,  where  he  has 
spent  the  most  of  his  life.  He  received  a  good 
common  school  education,  when  he  later  entered 
his  father's  printing  office  and  there  learnt  the  "art 
preservative  of  all  arts." 

The  Shoaff  Bros,  are  conducting  a  square,  fear- 
less and  newsy  paper  and  they  believe  in  the  doct- 
rine of  "hewing  to  the  line,  let  the  chips  fall  where 
they  may."  The  newspaper  of  to-day  forms  public 
opinion  largely,  and  cannot  be  edited  too  carefully. 
The  editors  of  a  paper  have  a  greater  responsibility 
than  a  majority  of  the  people  of  this  country 
imagine,  and  recognizing  the  fact  that  nothing 
should  enter  the  columns  of  a  paper  that  will  not 
bear  the  scrutiny  of  a  critical  public,  the  Shoaff 
Bros,  print  nothing  sensational.  These  gentlemen 
are  prospering  as  their  subscription  list  will  testify. 


FXRY  WHITE.  It  is  said  of  this  worthy 
li  citizen  of  Embarras  Township  that  "he  has 
tv  always  been  a  hard-working,  industrious 
(i§))  man,  attending  to  his  own  business,  and 
never  involved  in  trouble  of  any  kind  with  his 
neighbors."  Perhaps  nothing  more  is  needed  to 
establish  his  true  character,  and  it  is  a  high  trib- 
ute to  his  real  worth.  During  his  younger  years 
he  worked  as  a  machinist,  and  attained  to  a  re- 
markable degree  of  skill  in  his  calling.  Later  he 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
may  now  be  found  comfortably  situated  on  a  well- 
regulated  farm,  occupying  a  portion  of  section  29 
in  Embarras  Township. 

Mr.  White  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Prussia. 
May  2,  1830,  and  is  descended  from  pure  German 
stock.  His  father,  John  White,  was  a  native  of 
the  same  Province  as  his   son,  and  emigrated   with 


824 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  family  to  the  United  States  in  1850,  when  our 
subject  was  a  young  man  of  twenty  years.  They 
sojourned  two  years  in  Patterson,  N.  J.,  and  then 
changed  their  residence  to  Susquehannah,  N.  Y.. 
where  our  subject  employed  himself  with  the  New 
York  &  Erie  Railroad  Company,  at  blacksmithing 
for  one  year,  he  having  served  an  apprenticeship 
at  this  trade  in  the  old  country.  In  October,  1853, 
leaving  the  Empire  State,  he  emigrated  to  Zanes- 
ville,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  a  pe- 
riod of  twenty  years,  being  employed  sixteen  years 
of  this  time  in  one  shop  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad. 

Mr.  White  now  decided  to  push  on  further 
Westward,  and  we  find  him  in  Edgar  County,  111., 
in  the  spring  of  1874.  About  this  time  also  he 
concluded  to  change  his  occupation,  and,  accord- 
ingly, secured  a  tract  of  land,  on  which  ho  settled, 
and  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  153  acres,  devoted  to  general  farming  nnd 
stock-raising.  In  the  latter  industry  he  has  been 
specially  successful,  keeping  the  fat  horses  and 
cattle  for  which  the  German  nationality  is  so 
justly  celebrated.  Prior  to  leaving  New  York 
State,  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage,  in  May, 
1853,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Jacob  Isleib. 
This  lady  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Saxony, 
Germany,  and  emigrated  to  America  with  her 
father  about  1850.  Of  her  union  with  our  sub- 
ject there  have  been  born  four  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living — Philip,  Charles  and  George  W. 
One  son,  Henry,  was  married  to  Miss  Belle  Ray, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years,  leaving 
three  children — Frank,  Bessie  and  Paul.  Philip 
married  Miss  Maggie  Smith,  and  they  live  in  Wells- 
ville,  Ohio;  they  have  two  children — George  and 
Mary.  Charles  married  Miss  Annie  Conley,  and 
they  live  with  our  subject  at  the  homestead;  they 
have  one  child,  a  son,  Walter.  George  White  is 
serving  an  apprenticeship  at  the  tin  and  copper- 
smith trade  with  his  brother  Philip,  in  AVellsville, 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Mary  White  departed  this  life  in  the 
fall  of  1883.  She  was  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  Mr.  White 
is  also  connected,  and  to  the  support  of  which  he 
is  a  cheerful  and  liberal  giver.  In  farming,  as  in 
business   matters,  he  is    thorough   and   systematic, 


and  forms  one  of  the  reliable  men  of  his  commu- 
nity, whose  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his 
bond. 


3*P£ 


I^>  * — ^*/V» 


\T,  OIIN  C.  HULL  was  born  Oct.  10,  1803,  to 
Thomas  and  Margaret  J.  Hull.  His  father 
is  a  native  of  New  York,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
!^^j/i  dent  in  Newman,  Douglas  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  owns  a  large  estate  and  is  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent citizens  in  the  county.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  was  a  daughter  of  J.  Campbell  and  died 
when  her  son  was  but  two  years  old.  Four  other 
children  were  in  the  parental  family,  but  he  alone 
survives.  His  father  again  stood  before  the  altar, 
with  the  lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Maria  B.  Robison. 
The  union  resulted  in  four  children — Margaret  H., 
Louisa,  Rosa  and  Emma.  His  second  wife  died 
about  eight  years  ago  and  he  entered  the  marriage 
relation  the  third  time,  taking  Miss  Ella  Cole  for 
his  partner.  One  child — Lewis  was  the  fruit  of 
this  union. 

Our  subject  and  Miss  Carrie  Cornwell,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  D.  and  Ellizabeth  S.  (Laird)  Corn- 
well,  were  united  in  marriage,  Sept  6,  1885.  Mrs. 
Hull  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children  and  was 
born  Oct.  20,  1869.  Her  brothers  and  sisters  are 
named,  respectively:  Lydia,  who  is  single,  and 
resides  in  St.  John,  Kan.;  John,  Stella,  Mabel,  Ger- 
trude, Ella  and  Jessie  live  at  home  near  Newman 
with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Hull,  our  subject,  owns  eighty  acres  of  fine 
land  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Young  America 
Township  on  the  Douglas  County  line.  It  was  a 
gift  to  him  by  his  father  and  he  has  carefully  and 
faithfully  improved  it,  and  by  his  industry  and 
strict  attention  to  business  bids  fair  to  become  as 
prosperous  a  man  as  his  father,  he  having  all  the 
elements  necessary  to  succeed,  in  his  make-up,  be- 
ing well  versed  in  the  art  of  agriculture  and  pos- 
sessing prudent  and  economical  habits  of  business, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  of  his  future  prosper^'. 

He  is  a  practical  man  and  has  very  little  time  to 
spend  on  questions  of  philosophy  or  other  abstruse 
problems,  but  he  keeps  well  posted  on  the  current 
topics  of  the    day   and    looks   forward  to  the  time 


BffV, 


Portrait  and  biocrapiiical  album. 


827 


when  the  cares  of  life  will  leave  him  more  leisure 
to  devote  to  the  so-called  refinements  of  life. 

Mrs.  Hull  is  a  practical,  domestic  housewife,  who 
looks  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household  and  mana- 
ges in  the  intervals  of  more  exclusively  practical 
work  to  keep  her  well  cultivated  mind  constantly 
stored  with  information  both  now  and  old.  They 
have  a  pleasant  cozy  home  in  Young  America 
Township,  Edgar  County. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hull  have  three  children — Alfred 
('.,   Ella  May  and  Thomas  William. 


.  R.  LEROY  O.JENKINS  is  a  conscientious 
physician  and  surgeon  who  takes  pride  in 
his  profession,  and  makes  it  his  aim  to  ex- 
cel. It  is  acknowledged  by  the  people  of 
this  region  that  he  is  one  of  the  leading  practition- 
ers in  the  northern  pari  of  this  county.  By  his 
proficiency  in  the  science  of  medicine,  as  well  as 
by  his  genial  and  courteous  manner,  he  has  built 
up  a  large  practice,  and  fully  established  himself 
in  the  confidence  of  his  patrons.  He  has  been  uni- 
formly successful,  as  much,  perhaps,  on  account  of 
his  agreeable  and  sympathetic  personality  as  the 
the  drugs  which  he  has  administered.  In  addition 
to  his  profession  he  is  considerably  interested  in  live 
stock,  having  a  well  regulated  farm  which  yields 
him  handsome  returns. 

The  first  year  of  the  life  of  our  subject  was  spent 
near  Sinking  .Springs,  i;i  Highland  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  born  June  4,  1851.  In  1852  his  parents 
came  toDe  Witt  County,  this  State,  but  in  1800 
the  family  gathered  together  their  possessions  and 
started  out  once  more  in  search  of  a  permanent 
home.  Proceeding  overland  with  teams,  they  made 
their  way  across  the  Mississippi  to  Chillicothe,  Mo. 
There  young  Jenkins  grew  up  in  town  and  attended 
school,  receiving  a  good  education.  After  being 
graduated  from  the  high  school  he,  1871,  entered  the 
State  University  of  Columbia,  where  he  attended 
two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  devoted  his  leisure  time  to  the  study 
of  medicine.  He  officiated  as  principal  of  a  school 
one  year,  and  later  read  medicine   with  Drs.  Bonis 


and  .1.  A.  Munk,  of  Chillicothe.  In  the  spring  of 
188  1  he  entered  the  American  Medical  College  at 
St.  Louis  where  he  took  a  year's  course,  and  in  the 
bill  of  1885,  came  to  this  county,  establishing  him- 
self in  Scottland.  where  he  practiced  one  year. 
Then  returning  to  St.  Louis,  he  took  his  last  course, 
and  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1888,  with 
honors,  being  the  valedictorian  of  his  class.  Then 
immediately  returning  to  Scottland  he  entered  upon 
the  career  which  has  been  phenomenally  success- 
ful, building  up  in  a  short  time  the  largest  practice 
of  any  physician  in  the  place,  and  visiting  patients 
both  in  this  and  Vermilion  counties,  both  of  Illi- 
nois and   Indiana. 

In  his  live  stock  operations  Dr.  Jenkins  at  one 
time  handled  a  considerable  number  of  fine  horses, 
mostly  imported  Clydesdales,  heavy  draft  horses; 
but  of  late  years  has  turned  his  attention  to  cattle. 
His  farm  of  120  acres  is  situated  in  Prairie  Town- 
ship, and  improved  with  good  buildings,  while  he 
also  rents  eighty  acres  in  Bruellet  Township,  and 
has  eighty  acres  in  pasture  near  Shiloh.  He  feeds 
about  twenty-five  head  of  cattle  annually.  One 
of  the  prominent  features  of  his  pleasant  home  in 
Scottland  is  a  fine  library  from  which  he  extracts 
much  satisfaction  and  a  great  deal  of  learning. 

Dr.  Jenkins  was  married  at  Paris.  Sept.  6,  1877, 
to  Miss  Ada  Clark,  who  was  born  there,  and  ob- 
taining a  thorough  education  in  Oxford,  Ohio,  fol- 
lowed the  profession  of  a  teacher  prior  to  her 
marriage.  The  Doctor  socially  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  in  Scottland,  is  a  member  of  the 
Chapter  and  a  Knight  Templar,  belonging  to  the 
Commandery  at  Paris.  In  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  he  has  been 
Class  Leader,  and  one  of  its  most  efficient  helpers, 
agisting  in  the  building  of  the  church  edifice,  and 
otherwise  acting  as  one  of  its  chief  pillars.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Eclectic  State  Medical  Associa- 
tion, and  in  politics  is  a  sound  Democrat,  being  a 
member  of  the  Central  Committee,  and  stumping 
the  county  in  the  fall  of  1888.  He  was  also  a 
delegate  to  the  State  conventon. 

William  Jenkins,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  the  son  of  Electious 
Jenkins,  a  native  of  England.  The  latter  emi- 
grated to  America  when  young,  served   in  the  War 


828 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  1812,  and  was  a  gunsmith  at  the  Harper's  Ferry 
arsenal.  Finally  he  removed  to  Tennessee,  and 
later  to  Highland  Count}'.  Ohio,  where  he  was  a 
pioneer,  and  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  Will- 
iam, his  son,  became  a  farmer  in  Ohio,  where  he 
ciwned  200  acres  of  land.  Later  he  removed  to 
l)u  Witt  County,  this  Stale,  and  in  1860  to  Liv- 
ingston Cpunty,  Mo.,  settling  near  Cliillicothe. 
There  also  he  purchased  land  and  engaged  in  fai  m- 
ing.  He  is  now  retired  from  active  labor,  having 
arrived  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  lie  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood, 
Miss  Mary  A.  Lowe,  and  a  native  of  Maryland. 
Grandfather  John  W.  Lowe  owned  a  large  planta- 
tion worked  by  slaves,  and  finally  sold  out  both 
land  and  slaves,  and  moved  to  Highland  County, 
Ohio.  He,  like  the  Jenkins  family,  moved  to  Mis- 
souri, where  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 
The  maternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Gen.  Lowe,  a  native  of  England  and  a  man  of  note. 
Upon  coining  to  America  he  located  in  Virginia 
and  engaged  in  the  Revolutionary  War  on  the  staff 
of  Gen.  Washington,  and  was  also  Quartermaster. 
He  spent  his  last  days  in  Washington,  D.  G,  dying 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

The  six  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  named  respectively,  Joseph,  Lewis,  Sam- 
uel, Henry  W..  Bell  and  Leroy  O.  Joseph  in  1862, 
enlisted  in  the  39th  Iowa  Infantry,  and  served 
until  he  was  disabled  by  a  fall,  when  he  received 
his  honorable  discharge.  Lewis  joined  Merrill's 
Missouri  Cavalry  in  1863,  with  which  he  remained 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

An  excellent  engraving  of  this  prominent  phys- 
ician and  honored  citizen  is  a  valuable  addition  to 
the  Album,  and  appears  on  another  page. 


JOSEPH  KETTERSON.  The  farming  com- 
munity of  Paris  Township  probably  presents 
no  finer  illustration  of  the  self-made  man 
than  Mr.  Ketterson.  He  was  bom  in 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  Sept.  6,  1831,  and  came 
to  America  when   twenty   years    of   age,   without 


means  and  nothing  to  depend  upon  but  his  own 
resources.  I>y  a  life  of  great  industry  and  frugal- 
ity he  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  competence 
and  is  now  numbered  among  the  leading  farmers 
of  his  township.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  stock- 
raising,  in  which  industry  he  has  been  remarkably 
successful  and  is  able  to  exhibit  some  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  Short-horn  cattle  to  be  found  in  Cen- 
tral Illinois.  Unlike  many  men.  prosperity  has 
neither  made  him  envious  or  penurious,  but  he 
bears  the  reputation  of  a  broad  and  liberal-minded 
citizen,  who  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket 
and  lias  always  taken  a  warm  interest  in  every 
measure  calculated  for  the  good  of  his  commu- 
nity. The  friend  of  education,  he  has  served  on 
the  School  Board  of  his  district;  and  in  religious 
matters,  is,  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  a  mem- 
ber in   good  standing  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Our  subject  upon  crossing  the  Atlantic  landed 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land.  Soon  afterward  he  made  his  way  to  Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm 
for  one  year,  then  went  to  Muskingum  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  October  1864. 
Then  deciding  to  seek  the  farther  West  he  made 
his  way  to  this  county  and  commenced  working 
in  a  sawmill  in  Palis.  He  was  thus  employed 
eighteen  months  and  at  the  expiration'  of  this  time 
leased  sixty  acres  of  land  just  south  of  Paris. 
Five  years  later  he  commenced  buying  land,  and 
is  now  the  owner  of  a  finely  improved  farm  of  167 
acres,  which  he  built  up  from  the  primitive  soil. 
His  first  dwelling  was  a  log  cabin,  but  he  now  has 
a  handsome  anil  substantial  frame  residence  with 
neat  and  convenient  outbuildings  and  the  various 
improvements  usually  suggested  to  the  mind  of 
the  intelligent  and  progressive  agriculturist.  lie 
avails  himself  of  modern  machinery  and  improved 
methods  of  farming,  and  has  thus  taken  advantage 
of  his  work  in  all  respects  —  a  work  which  at  the 
present  day  is  carried  on  in  a  very  different  man- 
ner from  that  of  thirty  years  ago. 

On  the  loth  of  August,  1860,  Mr.  Ketterson 
took  unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate.  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Rolston,  who  was  born  in  County  Donegal, 
Ireland,  March  3,  1830.  Mrs.  Ketterson  is  the 
daughter  of  Uavid  and  Elizabeth  Rolston,  and  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


829 


left  an  orphan  when  a  mere  child.  She  came  to 
America  with  an  aunt  in  1859  and  one  year  Later 
became  the  wife  <>f  our  subject  Tin's  union  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  two  children,  the  elder  of 
whom,  Joseph  ('..  married  Miss  Ida  May  Hamilton 
and  lives  on  a  farm  just  east  of  his  father:  they 
have  two  children.  Mary  E.  is  unmarried  and  re- 
mains at  home  with  her  parents.  Joseph  Ketter- 
son,  Sr..  the  father  of  our  subject,  married  a  lady 
whose  first  name  was  Elizabeth,  and  they  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  their  native  Ireland,  their 
remains  being  laid  to  rest  in  County  Tyrone. 


■*^VH^^ 


■\f  AMES  A.  CASSLE.  This  gentleman  de- 
serves special  mention  in  noting  the  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  this  county. 
His  homestead  is  situated  one  mile  east  of 
Vermillion  and  eight  miles  from  Paris,  and  com- 
prises 12(1  acres  of  thoroughly  cultivated  land  with 
good  buildings  erected  under  the  personal  supervi- 
sion of  the  present  proprietor. 

Mr.  Cassle  was  born  in  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  April 
7.  1836,  and  in  1837  came  to  this  county  with  his 
parents,  they  locating  in  El  bridge  Township.  His 
father.  Hiram  Cassle.  with  his  wife  Lode  ma  Cusick, 
was  likewise  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  the  paternal 
grandfather  was  horn  in  South  Carolina.  Loth 
were  engaged  in  farming  pursuits,  hut  the  father 
for  a  period  of  twelve  years  was  occupied  as  a  tan- 
ner in  his  native  State.  After  coming  to  this 
county,  he  in  1838  built  a  tannery,  which  is  still 
standing,  one  mile  due  east  of  Elbridge  Township, 
on  Sugar  Creek.  He  also  entered  a  tract  of  land 
from  the  Government,  which  he  cleared,  and  in  due 
time  became  the  owner  of  30(1  acres,  the  whole  of 
which  he  brought  to  a  productive  condition.  Po- 
litically Hiram  Cassle  was  a  Whig  until  1861,  anil 
then  he  identified  himself  with  the  Republican 
party  and  became  widely  and  prominently  known 
as  one  of  its  moving  spirits  in  this  section.  A 
Strict  Presbyterian  religiously,  he  was  an  Elder  in 
the  church,  and  after  making  a  good  record  as  a 
man  and  citizen,  passed  away  at  a  ripe  old  age  in 
187  1.      His  remains  and  those  of  his  excellent  wife 


were  buried  side  by  side  in  New  Providence  cem- 
etery. Right  of  the  nine  children  bom  to  them 
are  still  living. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  con- 
ducted in  a  log  School-house,  where  he  attended 
mostly  during  a  brief  term  in  the  winter.  The 
balance  of  the  year  he  occupied  his  time  round  the 
homestead  assisting  his  father  until  a  young  man 
of  twenty-two  years.  He  was  then  married  to  Miss 
Essemiah  W.  Revenaugh,  whose  parents,  William 
and  Margaret  Revenaugh,  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
whence  1  hey  removed  to  Fayette  Township.  Vigo 
Co..  Ind..  where  Mrs.  Cassle  was  born  June 
1,  1836.  She  received  a  very  good  education,  and 
by  her  union  with  our  subject  has  become  a 
mother  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living: 
Cynthia  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Edward  White,  a  resi- 
dent of  Stratton  Township;  George  W.;  Julia  A. 
Hall  married  and  lives  in  Elbridge  Township;  Icy 
Dora  is  the  wife  of  Willis  C.  Shaeffer  of  Elbridge 
Township;  Charles  B.  died  Sept.  15,  1870,  when 
about  six  years  old;  Laura  and  Henry  Horton  are 
at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Cassle  politi- 
cally is  a  sound  Republican  and  has  held  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace;  he  has  also  served  as  a 
School  Director  and  takes  a  warm  interest  in  edu- 
ca1  tonal  matters. 

Socially  Mr.  Cassle  belongs  to  Lodge  No. 
563  I.  O.  0.  l'\.  at,  Vermillion,  in  which  he  is  Past 
Grand  and  has  served  as  Secretary  and  in  other 
positions.  His  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  attending  services  at 
Vermillion.  They  have  a  pleasant  and  attractive 
home,  which  is  the  frequent  resort  of  the  many 
friends  whom  they  have  gathered  around  them  by 
the  exercise  of  that  kindly  spirit  of  hospitality  and 
generosity  which  invariably  brings  its  reward. 


WILLIAM  CRAIG.  This  quiet  and  unas- 
suming old  gentleman  bears  the  distinction 
of  being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Em- 
barras  Township.  He  came  to  this  region  soon 
after  the  Indians  had  left  the  country  and  when 
wild  animals   were    plentiful,    and   begun  the  battle 


830 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


with  frontier  life  which  resulted  in  the  acquisition 
of  a  comfortable  home,  lie  has  given  his  children 
a  good  start,  and  has  reserved  for  himself  a  farm 
comprising  140  acresof  highly  cultivated  land  with 
good  buildings.  lie  has  been  quite  an  extensive 
traveler,  and  by  keeping  his  eyes  open  to  what  was 
going  on  around  him  in  the  world,  lias  gathered 
here  and  there  a  useful  fund  of  information,  which 
makes  him  an  interesting  conversationalist,  and 
with  whom  an  hour  can  always  be  spent  pleasantly 
and  profitably.  He  began  life  for  himself  without 
means,  but  by  a  course  of  industry  and  prudence 
has  fortified  himself  against  want  in  his  old  age. 
His  property  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  22, 
where  his  well  cultivated  fields  yield  bounteously 
and  to  spare. 

The  first  eleven  years  of  the  life  of  our  subject 
were  spent  on  the  Delaware  River,  in  New  Jersey, 
about  forty-five  miles  above  Philadelphia,  where 
he  was  born  Sept.  16,  1824.  He  came  to  this 
county  with  his  father,  Thomas  Craig,  about  1K35. 
The  latter  entered  about  1,200  acres  of  land,  a  part 
of  which  is  still  occupied  by  his  son,  William, 
and  of  which  the  latter  has  still  in  his  possession  the 
patent  granted  at  that  time  for  180  acres.  The 
maiden  name  of  the  mother  was  Mary  Savior. 
She  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  of  German 
parentage.  The  household  circle  included  ten 
children,  only  four  of  whom  are  living.  Samuel 
of  Brownsville,  Neb.;  Daniel,  a  bachelor,  who  spends 
his  time  mostly  traveling  around  among  relatives: 
Thomas,  a  resident  of  Thomas  County,  Kan. ;  and 
William,  our  subject.  One  son.  Henry,  yielded  up 
his  life  in  the  service  of  his  country  during  the 
late  Civil  War. 

The  earl}'  education  of  our  subject  was  conducted 
in  a  log  school  house,  fashioned  after  the  primitive 
manner  of  those  times,  destitute  of  lath  and  plaster, 
the  floor  made  of  puncheon,  the  seats  and  desks  of 
slabs  and  the  window  panes  of  greased  paper,  lie 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  winter  season  and 
worked  on  the  farm  in  summer.  When  leaving 
home  he  emigrated,  in  1843,  to  Southwestern  Wis- 
consin, where  he  worked  in  the  lead  mines  in  the 
winter  season  for  about  five  years.  He  employed 
his  summers  in  breaking  prairie. 

Mr.    Craig,   in    1854,  was  married  to  Miss  Susan 


M..  daughter  of  Eurastus  E.  Hall.  She  became  the 
mother  of  one  child,  and  died  in  the  fall  of  1855. 
Subsequently  Mr.  Craig  returned  East  and  visited 
friends  in  Pennsylvania  a  short  time.  In  May, 
1K50,  he  resumed  operations  in  Wisconsin,  and  in 
June,  1857.  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  where 
he  has  since  lived. 

In  the  meantime  our  subject  contracted  a  second 
marriage,  April  15,  1858,  to  Miss  Jane  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  Evan  Scales.  To  them  there  were  born 
three  children.  The  eldest,  Susan  M.,  became  the 
wife  of  Morey  L.  Sherman,  now  of  Oklahoma,  and 
they  have  seven  children:  Amanda  D.,  William  L., 
Estella  A.,  Clara  B.,  Horace  C  Owen  and  Edgar; 
the  two  latter  are  twins.  William  Craig,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  J.  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  a 
family  well  known  in  this  county,  and  they  live  at 
the  homestead;  they  have  two  children,  Olethea  M. 
and  William  A. 

Henrj'  S.  Craig  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  his 
parents. 


.  BRAIIAM  SHANE.  The  Shane  family 
originated  in  Germany,  and  was  in  due 
time  represented  in  Ross  County,  Ohio, 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born, 
Jan.  1<>,  18111.  In  1835  his  parents  emigrated  to 
Indiana  and  lived  in  a  log  cabin  in  Vermillion 
County,  a  number  of  years.  Thence  they  came  to 
Douglas  County,  III.,  living  there  until  1 807. 
Their  next  removal  was  to  the  home  of  our  sub- 
ject, where  they  spent  their  last  da}'s,  the  mother 
dying  in  September,  1868.  Later  the  father  was 
married  to  Jane  Liniger  and  they  lived  in  the 
house  with  our  subject  until  the  death  of  the 
father,  which  took  (dace  in  March,  1882,  when  he 
was  eighty-eight  years  of  age. 

Daniel  Shane,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  first 
married  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Meanor,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Grand- 
father George  Shane  bad  emigrated  to  Ohio  from  the 
Keystone  State  during  the  period  of  its  earliest  set- 
tlement, and  there  spent  his  last  days.  Daniel  Shane 
when  removing  with  his  little  family  to  Indiana 
had    only    twenty-five    cents    in    money,    but   the 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


83 1 


mother  had  hidden  away  a  $10  gold  piece,  market 
savings,  which  her  husband  knew  nothing  of  until 
lie  was  worrying  over  the  fact  that  they  were  out 
of  money,  and  as  may  be  supposed  this  was  to  him 
a  most  agreeable  surprise.  Mr.  Shane,  however, 
had  a  wagon  and  four  horses  which  he  trailed  for 
forty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  they  took  up  their 
abode  and  lived  until  laying  aside  the  more  active 
duties  of  life.  In  the  meantime  the  father  had 
been  prosperous,  and  became  the  owner  of  a  good 
property  which  he  eventually  turned  over  to  his  son, 
our  subject,  who  was  to  take  care  of  his  parents  in 
their  old  ago.  The  father  ami  mother  lived  har- 
moniously together  for  the  long  period  of  fifty. six 
years.  Marly  in  life  they  had  embraced  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
faith  of  which  they  reared  their  children  and  in 
which  they  died  triumphantly.  Their  lives  were 
marked  by  that  consistent  Christian  walk  and  con- 
versation which  was  the  surest  proof  of  their 
belief  in  that  which  they  professed,  and  their 
names  are  hold  in  the  most  sacred  remembrance  by 
their  son,  while  those  who  knew  them  best  esteemed 
them  the  most  highly. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  married  in  Prairie 
Township,  this  county,  to  Miss  Delilah  Newcomb 
and  they  have  one  child,  Delilah,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Jennings,  of  Perry  Township. 
One  child,  Elizabeth,  died  when  twenty-one  years 
old  and  Ibhy  J.,  the  wife  of  Silas  Jones,  died  about 
1886,  leaving  a  family  of  eight  children.  Mrs. 
Delilah  (Newcomb)  Shane  departed  this  life  in 
June,  1888.  Our  subject  was  subsequently  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Darker,  a  native  of  Edgar 
County  and  bom  1851).  Both  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church  as  was  the  first  wife 
of  our  subject.  Daniel  Shane,  the  father,  about 
six  months  after  his  marriage,  enlisted  as  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812  in  which  he  served  about  one 
year.  He  was  a  pensioner  during  the  later  years 
of  his  life.  The  mother  of  our  subject  traced  her 
ancestry  to  Ireland,  the  first  representatives  of 
which  crossed  the  Atlantic  at  a  very  early  day 
and  became  thoroughly  Americanized  several 
generations  back.  Mr.  Shane,  politically,  is  a 
Republican  and  served  as  Constable  and  School 
Treasurer  for  fourteen  years.     He  has  been  a  Com- 


missioner several  years  and  still  holds  the  position. 
Socially  and  in  business  circles  he  is  one  of  those 
men  whose  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his  bond, 
and  one  who  takes  a  uniform  interest  in  all  the 
projects  tending  to  benefit  society  and  advance  the 
interests  of  the  people. 


\|JAMES  FORSTER.  There  are  few  men  in 
Elbridge  Township  more  widely  or  favor- 
ably known  than  Mr.  Forster.  lie  is  one  of 
its  leading  fanners  and  land  owners  and  is 
pleasantly  located  on  a  farm  of  500  acres,  while  he 
has  182  acres  east  of  his  homestead.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  stock-raising  and  has  probably  cleared 
a  greater  area  of  land  than  most  of  the  surviving 
pioneers  of  this  section. 

By  reverting  to  the  parental  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, we  find  he  is  the  son  of  Arthur  and  Nancy 
(Esry)  Forster,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky' 
and  both  of  Scotch  descent.  The  father  cut  the 
first  stick  of  timber  for  the  building  of  the  pioneer 
courthouse  at  Paris,  and  after  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  was  its  stanch  supporter.  He 
survived  his  wife  a  number  of  years  and  both  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  James,  our 
subject,  being  the  oldest.  He  was  born  April  15, 
1822,  at  the  old  homestead  in  Elbridge  Township 
and  has  been  a  life-long  resident  of  this  county. 
He  grew  with  its  growth  and  after  attaining  man- 
hood assisted  in  its  progress  and  development.  His 
early  studies  were  prosecuted  in  the  primitive  log 
school-house  and,  taking  kindly  to  his  books,  he 
grew  up  an  intelligent  and  well-informed  man. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  M.,  daughter 
of  Vance  Parish,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  Of  the 
five  children  born  to  this  union,  only  one  is  living, 
a  daughter,  Catherine,  who  is  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Roll  and  resides  near  Kevin's  Station.  Mrs.  Nancy 
M.  (Parish)  Forster  was  born  in  182:i  and  departed 
this  life  in  1856. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  with 
Miss    Nancy    H.,    daughter   of    Mathew    Stump,  a 


832 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


native  of  Kentucky.  There  were  eight  children 
horn  to  this  union,  six  of  whom  are  living,  namely  : 
Thomas,  Amanda,  Elsworth,  William,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  living  just  east  of  1 1  is  father;  James  and 
Elbert;  Helen  and  Ezra  died  when  quite  young. 
Mr.  Forster  politically,  like  his  honored  father,  is 
a  warm  advocate  of  Republican  principles  aud  has 
represented  his  township  three  terms  as  Supervisor. 
He  has  served  as  School  Trustee  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  has  been  connected  with  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church  since  about  1854.  He  lias  labored 
long  and  industriously  and  has  himself  brought 
about  all  the  improvements  upon  his  present  farm. 
His  dwelling  is  a  commodious  modern  structure 
and  a  fine  view  of  it  on  another  page  portrays  one 
of  the  beautiful  rural  homes  of  Edgar  County. 
The  barn  and  outbuildings  are  all  that  could  be 
reasonably  desired  b}r  the  nineteenth  century 
farmer.  Mr.  Forster  bears  the  reputation  of  an 
honest  and  upright  man  who  looks  with  contempt 
upon  a  mean  action  and  has  uniformly  exercised  a 
good  influence  wherever  he  is  known. 


WrlLLlAM  K.  HARRIS,  a  resident  of  Paris 
Township  and  pleasantly  located  on  sec- 
tion 1 1,  has  one  of  the  neatest  homesteads 
within  its  limits  and  there  has  a  beautiful  residence 
which  is  represented  on  another  page  by  a  litho- 
graphic engraving.  The  well-tilled  land  is  in  a 
high  stale  of  cultivation,  much  of  it  under-drained 
with  tile  and  very  productive.  It  is  devoted  to 
general  agriculture  and  contains  a  goodly  assort, 
ment  of  live  stock.  The  buildings  are  neat  and 
substantial  and  improved  modern  machinery  is 
used  in  developing  the  best  elements  of  the  soil. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Marshall 
County,  Ya.,  where  he  lived  until  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen years.  He  then  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Illinois  where  they  took  up  a  tract  of  land  in  sec- 
tion 1 1  and  12.  this  township,  a  part  of  which  is 
included  in  his  present  farm.  The  father  operated 
upon  this  and  dealt  in  .live-stock  until  1881;  then 
removing  to  Paris,  he  retired  from  active  business. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Sarah  Reiser. 
Both  are  still  living  anil  are  residents  of  Paris. 


In  18(il  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Naomi, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Mathews)  Clay- 
baugh  and  they  are  the  parents  of  six  children, 
the  two  eldest  of  whom — Mary,  Mrs.  Henry  Ogle, 
and  Lodema,  Mrs.  Richard  ( >gle,  are  residents  of 
Paris  Township.  James.  Eliza,  Sarah  and  Clifford 
remain  at  ho7ne  with  their  parents.  Three  children 
died  in  infancy.  The  farm  embraces  138  acres  of 
land  upon  which  Mr.  Harris  has  erected  a  good 
frame  house  with  a  substantial  barn  and  other 
structures  necessary  for  the  general  purpose  of  ag- 
riculture. The  life  of  Mr.  Harris  has  been  passed 
in  a  comparatively  uneventful  manner,  during 
which  he  has  acquitted  himself  as  an  honest  man 
and  a  good  citizen,  living  at  peace  with  his 
neighbors  and  enjoying  their  esteem  and  confidence 
in  a  marked  degree. 


-i-O-t- 


|)ENJAMIN  F.  WALDRUFF.  In  going 
around  among  the  business  men  of  Chris- 
man  and  vicinity,  the  attention  of  the  bio- 
grapher is  called  to  the  subject  of  this  notice 
as  one  who  is  taking  a  leading  part  in  the  financial 
affairs  of  Chrisman,  and  conducting  a  prosperous 
trade  in  grain  and  hay.  He  is  a  man  of  substan- 
tial worth,  possessing  those  sterling  qualities  of 
character  which  form  the  groundwork  of  all  good 
society,  and  whose  influence  is  exerted  in  behalf  of 
those  enterprises  calculated  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  people,  socially,  morally,  and  financially. 

Mr.  Waldruff  is  a  man  who  has  learned  much 
from  observation  and  contact  with  the  world,  and 
although  quiet  and  self-contained,  exerts  an  un- 
mistakable influence  upon  those  with  whom  ho  is 
associated,  and  whose  respect  he  commands  in  a 
marked  degree.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  comfortable 
property,  having  besides  the  business  already  men- 
tioned, 1-20  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  town  limits, 
and  eighty  acres  at  Tuscola. 

Stark  County.  Ohio,  was  the  early  tramping 
ground  of  our  subject,  and  he  was  born  near  Mt. 
Eaton,  Feb.  18.  1831.  His  father  dying  when  he 
was  a  mere  boy,  he  was  taken  into  the  home  of  his 
uncle  J.  Coins,  at  Millersburg.  the  latter  being  a 
blacksmith  by   trade,     lie    attended    the    common 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


833 


school,  and  assisted  in  the  blacksmith  shop  until 
twenty -one  years  of  age,  and  had  become  quite  ex- 
pert at  this  business.  At  this  time,  starting  out 
for  himself,  he  repaired  to  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio, 
where  lie  followed  blacksmithing  three  years,  then 
changed  his  residence  to  Hardin  County.  Later  he 
established  a  shop  of  his  own  at  Dunkirk,  and  there 
met  his  fate  in  the  person  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Brant, 
to  whom  he  was  married  in  1853.  He  conducted 
his  blacksmith  shop  there  four  years. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Waldruff  returned,  to  Waynesburg, 
Ohio,  where  he  established  another  shop,  and  where 
lie  remained  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War. 
Upon  the  second  eall  for  troops,  he  entered  the 
ranks  of  the  Union  Army  as  a  member  of  Company 
I!.  65th  Ohio  Infantry,  being  mustered  in  at  Mans- 
tield.  and  assigned  to  the  blacksmith  department. 
After  reaching  Louisville,  he  was  detailed  as  black- 
smith in  the  6th  Ohio  Independent  Battery,  and 
later  was  head  blacksmith  in  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland. He  met  the  enemy  with  his  comrades  at 
the  battle  of  Atlanta,  Chattanooga,  and  Nashville, 
and  at  Chiekainauga  was  called  upon  to  man  a  gun 
after  the  regular  gunner  had  been  shot.  lie  went 
with  Sherman  on  the  Georgia  campaign,  returning 
with  the  command  of  Gen.  Thomas,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Nashville  in  December,  1861,  after 
serving  three  years  and  four  months. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  army,  our  subject  re- 
turned to  Illinois,  and  established  a  blacksmith 
shop  at  Cherry  Point,  which  he  conducted  very  suc- 
cessfully. Here  he  met  his  first  great  affliction,  in 
the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred  October,  1  866. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Brant)  Waldruff,  was  born  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  acquired  a  good  educa- 
tion, following  the  profession  of  a  teacher  prior  to 
her  marriage.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  two 
sons:  Luther,  who  died  when  about  eighteen 
months  old,  and  Charles,  who  is  now  a  telegraph 
operator  in  Trinidad,  Colo.,  in  the  employ  of  the 
Texas  &  Bio  Grande  Railroad  Company. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  at 
Cherry  Point,  111.,  in  1869,  with  Miss  Emily  Hart- 
ley, who  was  born  in  Boss  Township,  this  county. 
Of  this  union  there  have  been  born  live  children — 
Carlotta,  Lulu.  Eva,  Harker  ().,  and  Lawrence. 
They  arc  all  at  home  with  their  parents,  and   have 


been  given  good  advantages,  Eva  being  graduated 
from  the  High  School.  Mr.  Waldruff  purchased 
Kin  acres  of  land  where  he  carried  on  agriculture  in 

connection  with  blacksmithing,  but  in  is?  I  sold 
out  ami  removing  to  Chrisman,  put  up  an  hotel, 
anil  operated  as  "mine  host"  two  years.  Later  he 
established  a  lumber-yard  and  was  interested  in  this 
until  the  fall  of  1888.  In  the  meantime  he  pur- 
chased the  elevator  which  he  still  runs,  and  puts  up 
large  quantities  of  hay  in  bales.  He  erected  a  neat 
residence  in  town,  where  he  has  a  very  pleasant 
and  comfortable  home. 

Politically,  Mr.  Waldruff  gives  his  undivided  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  and  in  religious  mat- 
ters is  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  serves  as  Steward  and  Trustee, 
lie  has  been  Commissioner  of  Highways  two  terms, 
and  socially  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  Chapter  at  Paris  and  Chris- 
man,  and  Treasurer  in  the  K,  of  P..  and  also  K.  of  H. 
He  and  Mr.  Allen  Sly  did  most  of  the  work  of 
building  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as  far 
as  pushing  the  enterprise  and  raising  the  money 
was  concerned. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Philip  Waldruff,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native  State.  The 
mother,  who  in  her  girlhood  was  Miss  Sidene  Has- 
kins,  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  that  State,  and  is 
still  living,  making  her  home  with  her  daughter. 
Elizabeth,  in  Taylor  County,  Iowa;  she  is  now 
eighty  years  old,  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  daughter  above  mentioned 
was  the  eldest  child  of  the  family.  The  next  one, 
Susanna,  died  when  about  ten  years  old;  George  W. 
lives  in  Taylor  County,  Iowa,  and  is  the  twin 
brother  of  our  subject.  lie  served  in  the  Union 
Army,  and  suffered  a  broken  arm  from  a  gun-shot. 


-•-<>*- 


ORVAL  II.  L1NNABABY,  senior  partner  of 
the  firm  of  Linnabary  it  Cooper,  is  conduct- 
ing a  thriving  business  as  a  general  merchant 
at  Hume,  and  is  numbered  among  its  leading  citi- 
zens. He  was  born  in  Harlem  Township,  Delaware 
Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.   27,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Anan 


8'J4 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


Linnabary,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
lived  in  Delaware  County  until  1882.  He  then 
removed  to  Paulding  Count}',  where  his  death 
took  place  Feb.  11,  1886,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years.  He  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  and 
spent  his  entire  life  in  the  Buckeye  State.  Grand- 
father Joseph  Linnabary  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  son  of  a  native-born  German,  who, 
upon  emigrating  from  the  Fatherland,  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  at  a  very  early  date. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Louisa  Jones.  She  like  her  husband  was  a  na- 
tive of  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  and  died  there  in 
1877,  when  fifty-six  years  old.  They  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  years,  viz. :  Joseph  J.,  George  M.,  Orval 
Howard  (our  subject),  Nancy,  Charlotte,  Rosetta, 
Hannah  and  Mattie.  The  deceased  in  early  life 
were  Mary  Ann,  John  Webster,  Charles  Welsey 
and  James  Buchanan.  Joseph  J.  carried  on  farm- 
ing in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  and  at  his  death 
left  four  children — Lyman,  Mary,  Edson  and  Onnie ; 
George  M.  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  Army 
during  the  late  Civil  War,  and  was  killed  in  a  skir- 
mish near  Mill  Springs,  Ky.,  June  9,  1863,  after 
the  battle  at  Capt.  West's  farm.  He  was  a  daring 
and  courageous  boy,  and  had  been  promoted  to 
Serpeant,  and  was  in  advance  of  his  company  about 
eight  feet  at  the  time  of  the  encounter,  when  the 
deadly  missile  pierced  him  to  the  heart.  Nancy  is 
the  wife  of  James  Rolo,  a  farmer  of  Hamilton 
County,  Neb. ;  Charlotte  is  the  wife  of  Orrin  Cha- 
pin,  a  farmer  of  Hamilton  County,  Neb.,  and  they 
have  five  children;  Rosetta,  Mrs.  Wesley  Hubbell. 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  mother  of  five  children ;  Hannah  is  a  resident 
of  Paulding  County,  Ohio,  and  the  wife  of  James 
Breese,  by  whom  she  has  one  child;  Mattie  is  the 
wife  of  Emery  Waldron,  of  Morrow  County,  Ohio, 
and  they  have  one  child. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Aug.  27, 
1843,  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  and  lived  there 
until  a  lad  of  eight  years,  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Paulding  County.  He  assisted  in  open- 
ing up  a  new  farm,  but  on  account  of  fever  and 
ague  the  family  subsequently  returned  to  Delaware 
County,  and   settling  in   the  woods,  put  up  a  log 


cabin  and  once  more  hewed  a  home  out  of  the 
wilderness.  The  educational  advantages  of  our 
subject  were  necessarily  limited,  but  he  was  natu- 
rall}-  bright  and  fond  of  his  books,  and  improved 
every  opportunity  for  obtaining  useful  information. 
He  remained  at  home  assisting  his  parents  until 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  and  then,  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years,  enlisted  in  the  Union 
ranks  under  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for 
3(10,000  three-years'  men,  at  Centreville  Aug.  4, 
1862.  He  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp 
Chase,  Columbus.  Ohio,  as  a  member  of  Company 
G,  45th  Ohio  Infantry,  which  was  subsequently 
mounted.  They  were  ordered  to  Lexington,  Ky., 
where  they  drilled  about  twro  months,  and  early  in 
1863  were  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
under  command  of  Gen.  Lew  Wallace.  They  were 
mounted  in  February,  1863,  at  Danville,  Ky., 
under  command  of  Gen.  Ilobson,  in  Wolford's 
brigade.  Not  long  afterward  they  encountered 
the  enemy  at  Dutton  Dill,  Ky.,  where  Lieut.  Jones 
and  our  subject  were  the  first  to  bounce  over  the 
fence  which  served  as  the  Rebel  breastworks.  From 
that  time  on  they  were  engaged  in  skirmishing.  At 
Paris,  Ky.,  young  Linnabary  captured  a  beautiful 
Kentucky  charger,  which  he  was  allowed  to  retain, 
and  to  which  he  became  greatly  attached  on  ac- 
count of  its  intelligence  and  the  great  service  which 
it  rendered  him.  It  was  in  color  a  shining  black, 
veiy  docile  and  tractable.  At  the  battle  of  Phila- 
delphia, Tenn.,  Mr.  Linnabary  with  the  balance  of 
his  company,  was  compelled  to  beat  a  hasty  re- 
treat under  the  incessant  fire  of  the 'pursuing  Con- 
federates. A  rail  fence  barred  their  way  to  a 
thicket  on  the  other  side.  This  fence  was  partially 
torn  down  in  three  different  places — the  Confed- 
erates directing  their  fire  to  these  points,  where 
horses  and  riders  both  fell  under  their  murderous 
aim.  Our  subject,  instead  of  seeking  one  of  these 
outlets  in  the  hope  of  escape,  determined  to  trust 
to  the  sagacit}'  and  strength  of  his  horse,  fearing, 
however,  for  the  result.  He  expected  that  the 
animal  would  be  unable  to  clear  the  fence,  but  that 
he,  himself,  in  the  encounter,  might  be  thrown  into 
the  thicket,  and  thus  sheltered  from  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  He  spurred  on  his  gallant  steed,  which, 
to  the  surprise  of  himself  and  everyone  else,  cleared 


'~^rre;r--'ggsg?^^s?;K=*y?^^!>%^.-gJ» 


Residence  of  John  R.  Honnold  Sec.1.   Kansas  Tp.  Edgar  Co 


Residence  or  T.  G.  Brown,  Sec.  14.  ElbridgeTp.  Edgar  Co 


«<&  «w  «^»  w  &*j& 


Residence  of  Thos.  Poulter.Sec.10.  KansasTp.  EdgarCo 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


837 


the  seven  rail  fence  and  gracefully  bore  his  rider 
to  a  place  of  safety. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Linnabary  was  detailed  with 
others  to  pursue  the  raider  Morgan,  and  was  thus 
occupied  for  twenty -two  days  and  nights.  lie  was 
one  of  the  advance  who  captured  Morgan's  men 
at  Blufliington's  Island,  and  assisted  in  conveying 
the  prisoners  on  a  boat  to  Cincinnati,  after  which 
they  were  transported  to  Camp  Nelson.  It  was  the 
intention  to  rest  there  for  a  period  of  two  or  three 
days,  but  finding  Col.  Pigram  raiding  the  country  in 
that  vicinity  and  near  Richmond,  active  operations 
were  begun  at  once.  They  drove  the  rebels  back 
into  Tennessee,  and  crossed  the  mountains  west  of 
Cumberland  Gap,  pulling  the  cannon  by  handsome 
of  the  time,  in  which  there  was  frequently  required 
the  aid  of  200  men  at  a  single  rope. 

The  troops  finally  crossed  into  Tennessee  and 
joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  under  Gen. 
Burnside.  skirmishing  continually,  for  the  rebels 
were  in  possession  of  the  country.  They  engaged 
then  at  Loudon,  and  crossed  the  Tennessee  River 
at  that  place  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  after  which  Col. 
Wolford's  brigade  was  sent  as  an  outpost  five  miles 
west  to  the  village  of  Philadelphia.  After  this 
they  went  into  camp  for  a  month  at  that  place. 
For  a  month  they  were  engaged  almost  continu- 
ously in  skirmishing  and  foraging.  Mr.  Linnabary 
kept  a  memoranda  of  daily  events  from  the  time  of 
his  enlistment  until  the  fight  at  Philadelphia.  There 
they  were  engaged  by  the  rebels  in  numbers  greatly 
in  excess  of  their  own,  sometimes  as  many  as  three 
to  one,  and  there  were  frequently  very  desperate 
charges.  The  Union  troops  broke  through  the 
Confederate  ranks,  pushing  their  way  through 
underbrush  of  burr  and  jack  oaks,  and  in  one  of 
these  encounters  Mr.  Linnabary,  having  hispaniers 
on  one  side  of  his  horse  and  his  haversack  on  the 
other,  was  obliged  to  cut  them  away  in  order  to 
made  his  escape,  and  thus  the)-  were  lost.  He  ex- 
perienced many  hairbreadth  escapes  prior  to  the 
time  when  he  was  wounded,  and  suffered  the  loss 
of  his  right  arm. 

The  troops  now  fell  back  to  Loudon,  Tenn., 
where  they  were  reinforced  and  drove  the  rebels 
thirty  miles  west  to  the  Iliawasse  River,  where  they 
met  the  rebel   General,  Longstreet,  and  acted  as 


a  rear  guard,  keeping  him  and  his  forces  in  check", 
and  fighting  continuously  for  about  fifteen  days. 
They  finally  fell  back  to  Knoxville,  and  crossed 
the  Holdston  River,  where  the)-  met  the  rebel  ad- 
vance and  dismounted  in  the  woods  to  act  as  rear 
guards  in  tailing  back.  The  Confederates  made  a 
combined  charge  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  but  the 
Union  troops,  seeing  the  defense  was  hopeless, 
were  ordered  by  the  commander  to  "take  care  of 
themselves  every  man."  A  sad  tumult  followed, 
in  which  every  man  lost  his  horse,  and  our  subject 
saw  no  more  of  the  beautiful  animal  to  which  he 
had  become  so  much  attached,  and  which  had  ren- 
dered him  such  faithful  service. 

Upon  the  night  following  this  eventful  day  Mr. 
Linnabary  was  the  only  private  to  report  at  roll- 
call.  A  few  hours  later,  however  ,jnany  others  came 
in,  while  others  were  captured;  some  were  wounded 
and  many  were  killed.  Upon  that  day  Mr.  Linna- 
bary did  some  of  the  fastest  running  he  ever  per- 
formed in  all  his  life,  flying  one  and  one-half  miles 
at  his  greatest  speed  back  to  the  fortifications. 
Upon  the  following  day  they  recrossed  the  river, 
and  going  west  to  Ft.  Sanders,  engaged  the  enemy 
on  the  17th  and  18th  of  November.  About  3 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  18th,  after  having 
been  with  the  troops  which  repulsed  the  enemy 
twice,  Mr.  Linnabary  was  struck  by  a  minie-ball 
in  his  right  wrist,  wheh  shattered  the  arm  and 
muscles  from  the  wrist  to  the  elbow  and  above. 
He  was  taken  to  Bellevue  Hospital  at  Knoxville, 
and  after  repeated  operations  finally  suffered  ampu- 
tation of  the  arm.  He  left  the  hospital  Feb.  1  7, 
18G4,  and  returned  home  on  a  furlough.  Subse- 
quently returning  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  he  was  given 
his  honorable  discharge  on  account  of  disability. 
Up  to  the  time  of  being  wounded  he  had  never 
missed  a  roll  call,  and  he  never  flinched  in  his  duty 
in  whatever  direction  it  lay,  whether  fighting  the 
foe  on  the  field  of  battle  or  performing  service  in 
the  camp  and  on  the  march.  His  army  record  is 
similar  to  that  of  thousands  whose  deeds  will  be 
held  in  remembrance  by  a  grateful  country,  and 
who  will  be  ever  recalled  to  mind  as  those  to  whom 
later  generations  are  indebted  for  their  freedom 
and  prosperity. 

Upon   returning  home   Mr.    Linnabary  attended 


838 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


school  for  a  time,  and  soon  engaged  as  a  teacher  in 
Delaware  County.  He  remained  there  until  after 
his  marriage  in  1867.  His  wife  was  formerly  Miss 
Flora  Cockrell,  who  was  a  native  of  that  county 
and  the  daughter  of  Monroe  and  Catherine  (Fritz) 
Cockrell,  who  emigrated  to  that  region  during  its 
pioneer  days.  He  remained  in  Ohio  until  1871, 
then  came  to  Illinois  and  rented  a  farm  in  Young 
America  Township  with  the  intention  of  following 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  and  his  brother-in  law 
put  in  110  acres  of  corn  that  first  year,  and  Mr. 
Linnahary  operated  with  fair  success  in  this  manner 
until  1876.  Then  deciding  upon  a  change,  he  left 
the  farm  and  established  himself  at  Hume,  where 
he  built  and  operated  the  first  hotel  in  the  place 
for  five  years  very  successfully.  Later  he  engaged 
in  general  merchandising  and  farming  in  partner- 
ship with  a  Mr.  Jones,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Linnabary  iV  .lones.  After  six  months  he  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  his  partner,  and  conducted 
the  store  alone  for  two  years.  Then,  in  August, 
1883,  he  sold  a  half-interest  to  Mr.  Cooper,  his 
present  partner.  These  gentlemen  have  together 
built  up  a  satisfactory  trade,  which  is  steadily  on 
the  increase.  They  carry  a  full  stock  of  dry-goods, 
hardware,  tinware,  stoves,  clothing,  hats  and  caps, 
boots  and  shoes,  trunks  and  valises,  watches,  clocks 
and  jewelry — in  fact  everything  called  for  in  a 
country  store. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linnabary  there  have  been  born 
four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter, 
Alma  I).,  died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of  three  and  one- 
half  years;  Rose  Belle  died  in  Edgar  County,  111., 
when  two  years  old.  The  survivors  are  Orville 
George  and  Louisa  C.  The  family  residence  is 
pleasantly  situated  in  the  central  part  of  the  village, 
and  without  any  pretensions  to  elegance  it  very 
nearly  approaches  the  ideal  home,  inasmuch  as  its 
its  inmates  are  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts  of 
life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linnabary  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  to  which  they  contribute  a  lib- 
eral support,  and  our  subject  was  largely  instru- 
tal  in  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice. 

In  politics  Mr.  Linnabary  is  an  uncompromising 
Democrat.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Hume 
under  the  administration  of  President  Cleveland, 
holding  the  position   three  years,  and  then  resign- 


ing, in  June,  1888,  on  account  of  ill-health.  Ik- 
has  served  as  Assessor  four  terms,  also  as  Collector, 
and  has  been  otherwise  prominently  identified  with 
local  affairs.  Socially,  he  is  is  a  charter  member  of 
Hume  Lodge  No.  725,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

There  is  probably  no  more  popular  man  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hume  than  Mr.  Linnabary.  Although 
of  slight  frame,  he  has  the  energy  and  will-power 
which  has  enabled  him  to  accomplish  more  than 
many  a  man  of  larger  stature  and  stouter  muscles. 
He  is  recognized  at  once  as  a  man  of  culture  and 
refined  tastes,  and  whether  in  business  or  social 
circles,  always  has  the  bearing  and  appearance  of  a 
gentleman. 


*»+ 


** 


]t-ENRY  M.  NOLAN.  The  subject  of  this 
'if  J'  sketch  was  born  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  Oct. 
'iW'  6,  1846.  His  father,  John  Nolan,  was  born 
((^)  July  26,  1820,  in  Augusta  County,  Va., 
and  when  only  three  months  old  came  with  his 
parents  to  Vermillion  County,  Ind.  They  crossed 
the  Wabash  River  at  what  is  now  the  site  of  the 
great  city  of  Terre  Haute,  then  only  a  corn-field, 
a  cabin  and  a  solitary  spring  bubbling  up  in  a 
barrel.  Samuel  Nolan,  the  grandfather,  entered 
nearly  three  sections  of  Government  land  in  what 
has  since  become  the  townships  of  Ilelt  and  Clin- 
ton, in  Vermillion  Count}-,  Ind,  and  Hunter,  in 
this  county.  At  that  time  the  Indians,  princi- 
pally of  the  Kickapoo  tribe,  were  numerous,  and 
at  times  troublesome.  The  dark  forests  were 
peopled  by  the  fiercest  and  wildest  wolves.  All 
honor  to  the  brave  pioneers  who  reared  homes  in 
this  wilderness  and  braved  the  dangers  of  a  fron- 
tier life  through  a  dark  and  gloomy  period,  when 
vigilance  was  the  price  of  life.  Amid  such  hard- 
ships and  privations,  the  father  grew  up  to  man- 
hood's estate,  and  in  1844  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  Foltz,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Virginia. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Folz)  Nolan  was  born  in  Rocking- 
ham County,  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Shen- 
andoah River,  Oct.  23,  1827.  When  twelve 
years  old  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Edgar 
County,    locating    first   on    the    north    arm,    then 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


839 


in  Wayne  Precinct,  afterward  Hunter  Township. 
Her  parents  after  a  few  years  purchased  a  large 
farm  near  the  Indiana  Furnace,  in  Vermillion 
County,  and  removed  thither. 

The  young  couple  built  for  themselves  a  home 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  Hunter  Township, 
where,  in,  1846,  Henry  M.,  the  subject  of  the  pres- 
ent biography,  was  born.  Two  sons — Fielden  ('. 
and  J.  Monroe,  and  two  daughters — Lizzie  and 
Lucitta,  were  afterward  added,  all  of  whom  are 
married,  except  the  latter,  who  lives  with  the  aged 
mother  on  the  old  homestead.  The  father  passed 
from  earth  in  1882. 

Henry  M.  Nolan  early  manifested  a  passionate 
fondness  for  books.  His  first  opportunites  for 
acquiring  knowledge  were  very  meagre.  Not  until 
1855  were  there  any  county  officers  appointed  or 
elected  to  examine  teachers  or  superintend  schools. 
The  earlier  generation  of  teachers  in  this  county 
were  in  the  main  not  school  teachers,  but  school 
keepers,  in  fact,  tbey  were  called  school  "masters," 
and  so  the}'  proved  to  be  in  the  use  of  the  rod. 
Tiny  believed  that  boys  could  not  be  taught  with- 
out whipping,  and  plenty  of  it.  The  old  school- 
house  in  which  lie  was  first  taught  the  "three  R's" 
stood  about  a  mile  northwest  of  Sugar  Grove 
Church,  in  Bruellett  Creek  Township.  It  might 
be  rightfully  called  a  log  pen,  chinked  and  daubed 
and  covered  with  clapboards.  The  benches  were 
puncheon  with  rough  legs,  bored  in  with  a  two- 
inch  auger.  The  fireplace  was  in  one  end,  and 
nearly  the  width  of  the  house. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  our  subject  entered  Edgar 
Academy,  at  Paris.  This  was  the  first  High  School 
in  the  Wabash  Valley.  It  was  presided  over  by 
Thomas  II.  Rogers,  A.  M„  a  graduate  of  the  Mi- 
ami University,  Oxford,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  taught  his  first  school  near  Clinton, 
Ind..  afterward  studying  in  the  office  of  the  Hon. 
1!.  N.  Bishop,  in  Paris.  On  the  17th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Gerrish, 
of  Vermillion  County,  Ind. 

.Mrs.  Nolan  was  born  in  Thetford,  Vt.,  July  21, 
1 849.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  child — Ivy  E., 
born  Jan.  10.  1872.  Mr.  Nolan  early  united  with 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  was  licensed 
to  preach   in  1876.     At  an  annual  conference  held 


in  Odin,  111.,  Oct.  6,  1877,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
regular  ministry.  Failing  health  from  excessive 
study  caused  him  to  abandon  continued  preaching, 
and  devote  himself  more  exclusively  to  Sabbath- 
school  work,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 
He  has  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Edgar  and 
Vermilion  counties  more  than  fifteen  years.  He 
has  a  nice  little  farm  and  a  pleasant  home  in 
Hunter  Township,  and  by  industry  and  careful 
management  has  some  money  invested  in  good  se- 
curities. His  love  of  books  has  led  him  to  collect 
probably  the  largest  and  best  library  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Nolan  stands  in  the  front  rank  as  a  public 
orator  in  this  section  of  the  country,  and  his  ser- 
vices are  always  in  demand  at  all  religious  and 
Sunday-school  celebrations  and  conventions;  es- 
pecially is  he  in  demand  as  an  open  air  and  plat- 
form speaker. 


Sll  ACOB  W.  ROBINSON,  who  was  born  Feb. 
21.  1813,  in  McMmn  County,  Tenn.,  is  the 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Warren)  Robin- 
son, who  were  both  natives  of  East  Tennes- 
see. Mr.  Robinson  is  of  Irish  descent  on  his  fath- 
er's side.  In  1859  Mr.  William  Robinson  removed 
with  his  family  to  Monroe  County,  Ky.,  where  he 
followed  the  dual  occupation  of  farming  and  black- 
smithing  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war. 
He  was  a  strong  Democrat,  but  on  the  general  dis- 
ruption of  parties  and  change  of  political  relations, 
which  that  event  occasioned,  he  became  affiliated 
with  the  newly  formed  Republican  party,  which  he 
continued  to  support  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  I860.  During  life  he  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  commun- 
ion his  wife  also  finds  her  religious  home.  Mrs. 
Robinson,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  is  still  living 
in  Monroe  County,  Ky.,  at  the  venerable  age  of 
seventy-eight  years. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  nine  children; 
Sarah  lives  in  Sumner  County.  Kan.,  and  is  married 
to  Crittendon  Chism;  Anna,  who  died  in  1865, 
aged  twenty-two  years;  Charles  lives  in  Monroe 
County,  Ky.,  and  is  married;  Samuel,  who  died   in 


840 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1882;  Mary,  who  also  died  iu  1882;  John  lives  in 
Southwestern  Kansas,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  is  married 
to  Armilda  Chism,  and  is  the  father  of  four  chil- 
dren; William  lives  in  Richardson  Comity,  Neb., 
with  his  family  on  a  farm. 

Our  subject  was  the  recipient  of  a  good  educa- 
tion, having  attended  both  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place,  and  also  was  sent  to  subscription 
schools  in  the  intervals  arising  by  reason  of  the 
short  terms  of  the  common  school.  On  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  9th  Kentucky 
Infantry,  serving  three  years,  and  was  discharged 
in  the  fall  of  1864.  He  participated  with  credit  to 
himself  and  honor  to  his  country  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  .Stone  River.  Chickamauga.  Mission  Ridge, 
and  Atlanta.  He  was  married  Sept.  11,  1870,  at 
Cherry  Point.,  Edgar  Co.,  to  Miss  Francis  A.  Rex- 
road,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Solomon  and  Mrs.  Ag- 
nes Rexroad,  both  natives  of  West  Virginia. 

Solomon  Rexroad  was  a  son  of  Henry  and  Cath- 
erine Rexroad.  Mrs.  Rexroad's  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Catherine  Drake,  daughter  of  George 
and  Elizabeth  Drake,  natives  of  Virginia,  and  who 
were  descendants  of  the  distinguished  Sir  Francis 
Drake.  The  Rev.  Solomon  Rexroad  was  for  thirty 
years  a  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Cherry  Point.  He  entered  the  Union 
army  in  1861,  serving  in  the  7th  Virginia  Infantry 
in  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  mustered  out 
and  honorably  discharged  in  1862.  He  resided  at 
Cherry  Point  until  his  demise,  which  occurred 
about  two  years  ago,  when  he  was  seventy -six  years 
of  age.  His  widow  now  makes  her  home  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Robinson. 

Four  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Robinson  pur- 
chased forty  acres,  which  he  has  since  increased  to 
1 20  acres,  this  forming  his  present  home  place  on  sec- 
tion 24,  Young  America  Township,  Edgar  County. 
A  part  of  his  land,  however,  lies  in  Ross  Township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson  have  become  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  namely:  William  S..  Mary  A  .  Anna 
L.,  Homer  W.,  Francis  II.,  Lucy  M.,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  Dan  Harrison.  Mr.  Robinson  lias 
been  Highway  Commissioner,  School  Director  and 
Township  Trustee.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A. 
R.  Post  at  Ridge  Farm.  He  and  his  wife  are  active 
and  efficient  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


Church.  Mr.  Robinson  votes  the  Republican 
ticket  and  assists  by  his  influence  and  his  means  to 
elect  the  candidates  honored  by  his  chosen  party. 
Mrs.  Robinson  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Wo- 
man's  Relief  Corps,  and  belongs  to  James  Adams 
Posl  No.  72  at  Cherry  Point.  She  represented  her 
corps  in  the  State  convention  held  at  Springfield  in 
1888. 

Mr.  Robinson's  home  is  on  the  line  between 
Young  America  and  Ross  townships,  part  of  his 
farm  being  in  the  latter  township.  Mrs.  Robinson 
is  a  beautiful  and  intelligent  woman,  with  a  fine, 
thoughtful,  kindly  face.  She  is  an  excellent  house- 
wile  and  a  conscientious,  Christian  woman.  Mr. 
Robinson  is  a  medium  sized  man,  of  wiry  rather 
than  muscular  build,  a  pleasant  talker,  and  of  gen- 
ial and  hospitable  disposition.  His  children  are 
being  carefully  trained,  and  his  domestic  circle  is 
is  a  happy  and  harmonious  one.  Books  anil  papers 
find  ready  reading  in  his  home. 


JTONATHAN  T.  HALL,  M.D..  has  been  a 
practicing  physician  in  Palermo,  Young 
America  Township,  since  1885.  He  is  a 
f)  young  man  who  has  risen  by  his  own  exer- 
tions, and  is  destined  to  occupy  a  prominent  place 
in  his  profession.  He  is  very  popular  and  very 
successful,  and  his  practice  is  growing  rapidly. 
He  is  energetic  and  determined  to  keep  himself 
well  posted  on  all  that  pertains  to  his  profession,  as 
well  as  in  general  matters  of  interest.  From  a  poor 
orphan  boy  he  has  worked  himself  upward  to  his 
present  position  in  the  professional  and  social  world. 
He  has  a  neat  and  attractive  home  in  Palermo  and 
nn  interesting  family  of  boys  and  girls,  to  whose 
training  and  education  he  and  his  excellent  wife 
are  devoting  themselves. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  Nov.  5, 
1851,  in  Boone  County.  Ind.,  to  John  A.  and  Sarah 
(Burns)  Hall,  who  were  natives  of  Indiana.  The 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  ami 
lived  near  Harpers  Ferry  and  was  of  Scotch- Welsh 
descent.  The  mother's  parents  were  natives  of 
<  >hio,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.     The  father  of  our 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


841 


subject  followed  the  triple  occupation  of  a  carpen- 
ter, machinist  and  millright.  and  built  the  first 
house  in  Zionsville,  His  death  occurred  in  1858. 
He  survived  his  wife  six  years,  she  having  died  in 
March,  1852,  when  our  subject  was  but  four  months 
old. 

The  father  and  mother  of  our  subject  were  both 
married  twice.  The  father's  first  wife  was  Sarah 
Burnes,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  The 
mother's  first  husband  was  Mr.  McManis.  by  whom 
she  had  three  children  :  Thomas  B.  McManis,  who 
died  in  1883,  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  leaving  his 
wife.  He  was  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  left  five  children  to  mourn  his 
loss.  Rachel  A.  is  single  and  resides  in  the  State  of 
California;  John  R.  resides  in  the  State  of  Califor- 
nia as  the  representative  of  the  Cincinnati  Buggy 
Company.  Our  subject's  own  brother.  William  N. 
Hall,  is  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  resides  with  his  wife.  Catherine  X. 
(Farrow),  and  two  children  in  Burlington,  Iowa. 
Our  subject  spent  his  childhood  and  youth  under 
the  roof  and  in  the  care  of  his  paternal  grand- 
mother, in  Boone  County,  Ind.  When  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  in  the  office  of  D.  N.  Walker,  M.D., 
in  Augustine.  Marion  Co.,  Ind.  After  pursu- 
ing the  study  of  medicine  in  this  office  for  some 
time,  and  feeling  the  need  of  a  better  general  edu- 
cation, he  entered  the  University  ab  Greencastlc, 
Ind.,  where  by  diligent  study  and  correct  deport- 
ment he  made  good  progress  in  securing  a  liberal 
education  and  won  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
his  teachers  and  fellow-students.  Subsequently  he 
matriculated  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  where,  after  pursuing 
the  full  course  of  studies,  he  graduated  with  honor. 

In  1876,  our  subject  and  Miss  Julia  Loftin  were 
united  in  marriage  at  the  home  of  the  bride's 
parents,  in  Indianapolis.  Ind.  Six  children  have 
entered  their  home,  named  respectively:  Ora  L., 
Pearl,  Roy,  Fayne,  Bessie  and  Harlan.  Our  sub- 
ject first  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Morton, 
Putnam  Co.,  Ind.,  and  continued  there  seven  years, 
building  up  a  good  practice  and  making  many 
friends.  He  then  removed  to  Lafayette,  Ind., 
where    he    resided    three    years.      While    there    he 


officiated  as  County  Health  Physician  for  one  year 
and  County. lail  Physician  one  year,  and  then  tilled 
the  position  of  Township  Physician  for  Wabash 
Township,  continuing  in  this  olfice  one  year.  In 
1885,  he  came  to  his  present  home  in  Palermo, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  making  many  friends 
and  building  up  an  extensive  and  remunerative 
practice.  He  and  his  amiable  and  cultivated  wife 
are  consistent  members  and  warm  supporters  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a 
good  Democrat,  although  not  taking  any  active 
part  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 


AMUEL  SCOTT  is  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Prairie  Township,  where  he 
owns  and  occupies  ICO  acres  of  land  on 
section  25.  He  is  a  native  of  the  township 
where  he  now  lives,  and  first  saw  the  light  of  day 
April  25,  1816.  Here  he  was  reared  and  received 
his  education. 

His  father,  William  Scott,  was  born  near  Mar- 
tinsville, Morgan  Co.,  Ind.,  .Inly  25,  1819.  The 
grandfather,  Samuel,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
of  English  descent.  When  a  young  man  he  emi- 
grated to  Indiana  and  located  in  Morgan  County, 
wnere  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  engaged  in 
agriculture.  His  original  farm  was  where  the 
town  of  Martinsville  is  now  situated.  About  the 
time  that  this  town  was  being  located  the  grand- 
father determined  to  leave  the  country,  saying  he 
would  not  live  so  near  a  village,  and  in  1829  he 
located  in  Edgar  County,  buying  the  most  of  his 
land  from  the  Government,  and  then  engaged  in 
stock  business.  He  early  conceived  the  idea  of 
engaging  extensively  in  buying  and  feeding  cat- 
tle, and  driving  them  through  to  Chicago,  dispos- 
ing of  them  at  the  fort  located  at  that  point.  This 
he  did,  and  prospered  thereby.  He  was  the  only 
man  in  this  portion  of  the  country  of  the  early  pio- 
neers who  had  money,  and  more  than  one  of  the 
earl}'  settlers  owe  their  start  in  life  to  him.  He 
was  held  in  high  esteem,  a  fact  that  will  be  illus- 
trated by  his  being  known  as  '-Uncle  Sammie." 
lie  was  Lin?  "guide,  philosopher  and    friend"  of  the 


842 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


early  settlers  of  Edgar  County.  He  resided  hi 
Prairie  Township  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to 
Ross  Township,  where  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  largest 
landowner  in  Edgar  County,  owning  about  3,500 
acres  in  this  county,  and  1 ,000  acres  in  Kansas.  He 
died  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son  William,  in  Prairie 
Township,  in  December,  1869. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a 
boy  of  ten  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Illinois. 
He  remained  at  home  working  for  his  father  until 
he  became  of  age,  when  he  turned  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  farming,  and  he  was  prospered.  He  entered 
and  bought  land  in  Prairie  Township,  and  owned 
about  1,000  acres  where  the  town  of  Scotland  is 
located.  He  donated  the  right  of  way  to  the  rail- 
road company,  and  one  half  of  the  town  site,  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  the  railroad  to  locate  the 
town  here.  In  an  early  day  he  was  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  buying  and  feeding  stock,  and  driving 
them  to  Chicago.  He  still  owns  a  large  block  of 
land  in  Prairie  Township,  and  in  1881  retired  from 
active  life  and  removed  to  Paris.  He  is  is  an  in- 
fluential member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  politically,  acts  with  the  Democratic 
party.  In  1812  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  C. 
Legate,  who  was  born  July  10,  1821,  in  Ohio. 
Her  father,  Robert,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and 
her  grandfather,  Capt.  John  Legate,  was  born  in 
the  North  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  while  a 
young  man  and  located  in  Tennessee,  later  remov- 
ing to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued 
farming.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  as 
a  captain  under  Gen.  Marion.  Samuel's  mother 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  stepfather,  when  she  was 
ten  years  of  age.  She  died  Sept.  28,  1869,  leaving 
ten  children:  Israel  I).,  Samuel,  John  M.,  Robert 
L.,  Albert,  Lemuel,  Rebecca,  William  M.,  Norval 
D.,  and  Franklin. 

Samuel  Scott  has  passed  through  all  the  trials  of 
life  incident  to  a  pioneer.  The  school-houses  in 
which  he  gathered  his  education  were  built  of  logs, 
the  benches  and  floors  of  which  were  made  of  rude 
puncheon,  and  the  windows  were  constructed  of 
oiled  paper.  The  teachers  of  those  days  were  not 
of  the  best,  but  were  employed  mainly  for  their 
ability  to   preserve  order.      When  he  was  twenty- 


three  years  of  age  Mr.  Scott  went  to  Terre  Haute, 
and  attended  a  commercial  school  at  that  place  for 
two  winters.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  stay  at  that 
place  he  rented  land  and  went  to  farming.  Later 
on  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  eighty  acres,  which 
is  a  part  of  his  present  farm.  He  improved  this 
land,  and  from  the  start  has  been  prosperous,  until 
he  now  owns  120  acres  of  the  best  kind  of  soil,  and 
fully  improved.  He  has  a  good  house,  21x30,  and 
a  splendid  barn,  which  is  42x60,  and  other  build- 
ings to  match.  His  farm  is  well  watered  by  a 
creek,  and  he  has  also  a  pond  in  which  he  is  raising 
fish.  His  farm  is  embellished  with  nice  yards, 
hedges  and  large  orchards,  and  everything  in  con- 
nection with  it  denotes  thrift.  He  is  engaged  in 
general  farming,  raising  cattle  and  hogs,  buying 
and  feeding  them,  and  ships  about  three  cars  a  year 
to  the  markets.  Draft  and  road  horses  occupy  his 
attention,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Scotland 
Horse  Company,  a  corporation  which  deals  in  im- 
ported English  shire  horses.  At  the  head  of  this 
stable  is  the  well-known  horse  Sampson,  whose 
weight  is  1,900  pounds,  and  is  said  to  be  one  of 
the  very  best  ever  brought  across  the  water.  He 
also  raises  mules. 

On  Aug.  14,  1870,  Mr.  Scott  married  Miss  Lu- 
cretia  A.,  daughter  of  Manoah  Jennings,  a  well-to- 
do  farmer  of  Prairie  Township,  and  one  of  the  old 
settlers.  Mrs.  Scott's  mother  was  Elizabeth  Honey, 
who  was  born  in  Brown  County.  Ohio.  Lucretia 
was  born  in  Prairie  Township,  and  she  is  the  mother 
of  three  children — Otto  Raymon,  Ora  Delle,  and 
01  ma  Noah.  Mr.  Scott  takes  great  interest  in 
educational  affairs,  and  has  been  a  School  Trustee 
for  three  years,  and  he  has  also  held  the  office  of 
Assessor.  He  votes  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  has  served  on  its  central  committee. 

ANNEAL  MORRIS.  It  is  acknowledged  by  all 
l(  r  w'10  'iave  any  acquaintance  with  the  history 
%Jf  of  Ohio  that  it  is  settled  up  by  the  most  in- 
telligent people  who  in  the  early  part  of  the  nine 
tcenth  century  ventured  on  the  frontier.  To  them 
is    due   the    high    position  which    it    holds    to  day 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


843 


among  the  Western  States — a  position  which  is  dis- 
tinguished by  wealth,  education  and  those  elements 
which  have  established  churches,  schools  and  col- 
leges and  sent  abroad,  mostly  to  the  westward,  a 
people  who  have  surely  left  their  footprints  on  the 
the  sands  of  time. 

Among  the  early  pioneers  of  the  Buckeye  State 
were  the  ancestors  of  our  subject,  Offshoots  of  the 
Morris  family  which  is  believed  to  have  originated 
in  Ireland.  A  portion  of  them  settled  in  Pickaway 
County  and  among  them  is  the  grand  father  of  our 
subject  who  reared  a  fine  family  of  children.  One 
of  the  sons,  Henry,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Pickaway  County,  where  he  grew  up  amid 
the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life  and  chose  for  his 
Wife  one  of  the  maidens  of  that  region.  Miss 
Charity  Shelby,  who  was  born  and  reared  not  far 
from  the  home  of  her  husband. 

Ezerial  Morris,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  whence  he 
emigrated  to  Ohio  while  it  was  still  a  territory, 
and  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War. 

True  to  the  instincts  of  patriotism  born  in  him, 
he  laid  aside  his  personal  interests,  and  shouldering 
his  musket,  marched  to  the  relief  of  the  colonists, 
beinc  under  the  immediate  command  of  Gen. 
Washington.  He  lived  to  see  the  triumph  of  free- 
dom and  independence,  and  it  is  supposed  followed 
agriculture  the  balance  of  his  days.  On  the 
mother's  side  grandfather  David  Shelby  was  also  a 
pioneer  of  Ohio,  settling  like  the  Morris  family,  in 
Pickaway  County,  where  he  lived  many  years  and 
there  passed  to  his   final  rest. 

The  father  of  our  subject  spent  his  entire  life  on 
the  farm  where  he  was  born,  with  the  exception  of 
the  time  in  which  he  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 
In  that  struggle  he  was  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Harrison  and  always  maintained  a  pardonable 
pride  in  the  fact  that  he  was  permitted  to  enjoy  the 
personal  acquaintance  of  the  hero  of  Tippecanoe. 
To  him  and  his  excellent  wife  there  were  born  nine 
children  who  were  carefully  trained  in  the  doc- 
trines of  the  United  Brethren  Church  to  which  the 
parents  religiously  adhered  until  departing  hence. 
Six  of  their  children  are  living  and  residents  of 
Illinois  and  Kansas. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Pickaway 


County,  Ohio,  Sept.  18.  1825,  and  passed  his  boy- 
hood uneventfully  upon  a  farm.  He  attended  the 
district  school  mostly  in  the  winter  season  and  in 
the  seasons  of  sowing  and  reaping,  made  himself 
useful  with  the  other  children  of  the  parental 
family.  Upon  reaching  manhood  his  chief  ambi- 
tion was  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own  and  he  was 
married  May  20,  1830  to  one  of  the  most  attractive 
maidens  of  his  neighborhood,  Miss  Susannah  Rudy. 
This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
Rudy,  who  were  natives,  likewise,  of  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio.  The  young  people,  in  the  fall  of 
1855  concluded  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  what  was 
then  the  far  West,  and  coming  to  Edgar  County, 
III.,  located  in  Paris  Township  where  Mr.  Morris 
purchased  320  acres  of  wild  prairie  land. 

The  task  of  bringing  the  new  farm  to  a  state  of 
cultivation,  making  fences,  erecting  buildings, 
planting,  sowing  and  gathering  in  the  harvests 
each  season,  was  by  no  means  a  light  one,  but  it 
was  undertaken  by  a  man  possessed  of  more  than 
ordinary  courage  and  persistence.  These  carefully 
exercised,  together  with  great  economy  and  o-ood 
management,  in  due  time  brought  their  legitimate 
results  and  in  time  Mr.  Morris  was  in  possession  of 
one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  of  the  township, 
the  land  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
the  building  and  other  appurtenances  all  that  could 
reasonably  be  required  by  the  progressive  and  en- 
terprising agriculturist.  This  farm,  however,  was 
abondoned  by  our  subject  about  twelve  years  ago, 
when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  that  which  he  now 
occupies.  Here  he  has  440  acres,  with  a  fine,  large, 
elegantly  furnished  house,  two  large  barns  and 
other  outbuildings,  the  most  approved  modern 
machinery  and  a   goodly  assortment  of    livestock. 

When  Mr.  Morris  came  to  this  latter  farm  there 
was  much  to  be  accomplished  in  order  to  carrv  out 
his  ideas  and  make  a  home  in  accordance  with  his 
desires.  It  has  taken  no  small  outlay  of  time  and 
money,  and  he  now  has  a  homestead  which  invari- 
bly  attracts  the  attention  of  the  passerby  anil  forms 
one  of  the  most  pleasing  pictures  in  the  landscape 
of  that  region. 

Six  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  estimable  wife,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a 
daughter,  Eveline,  is    the  wife    of    Hiram    Perisho 


844 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  they  live  on  the  home  farm.  Henry  R.  lives 
in  Kansas;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  John  Henry,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Paris  Township:  Martin  L.,  in  Paris  Town- 
ship; John  W.,  in  Paris  Township,  and  Anna  B.,  at 
home.  Mrs.  Morris,  a  lady  held  in  high  esteem  in 
her  own  community,  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Our  subject,  politically,  is  a 
staunch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  his 
private  interests  are  too  weighty  to  allow  him  time 
to  run  after  office.  For  more  than  thirty  years  he 
has  made  a  specialty  of  stock-raising,  which  in- 
dustry has  been  largely  the  secret  of  his  wealth 
and  success.  He  buys  and  feeds  usually  about  150 
cattle  per  year  and  large  numbers  of  swine.  The 
farm  is  chiefly  devoted  to  grazing,  and  the  green 
fields  with  their  broad  pastures  and  fat  herds  present 
a  most  delightful  picture  to  contemplate. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Morris  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years. 
Four  are  now  living  and  residents  mostly  of  Ten- 
nessee and  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rudy  spent  their 
last  years  in  Ohio. 


ACOB  ZIMMERLY.  The  Zimmerly  home- 
stead, finely  located  on  section  33,  Sims 
Township,  forms  one  of  its  most  prominent 
features  of  interest,  and  is  readily  recog- 
nized as  the  home  of  an  enterprising  and  progress- 
ive citizen.  It  is  embellished  with  a  tasteful  and 
commodious  brick  residence,  a  substantial  barn 
and  the  various  other  outbuildings  essential  in  the 
operations  of  the  farm,  while  there  are  forest  and 
fruit  trees,  a  goodly  assortment  of  live-stock,  and 
the  machinery  necessary  for  successful  agriculture. 
The  proprietor  of  this  charming  retreat  is  one  of 
the  most  prominent  men  of  his  township,  a  man 
who  has  occupied  many  positions  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility, and  who  rightly  esteems  it  no  small 
honor  that  he  has  been  elected  and  re-elected  to  the 
various  offices  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
Honest  and  upright,  capable,  intelligent,  and  pro- 
gressive in  his  ideas,  he  has  borne  no  unimportant 
part  in  bringing  his  com m unit}-  to  its  present  con- 


dition in  point  of  morality,  education,  and  those 
elements  which  form  the  basis  of  good  society. 

A  native  of  Edgar  County,  111.,  Mr.  Zimmerly 
was  born  in  this  township,  July  10,  1834,  received 
his  early  education  in  the  district  school,  and  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  parents  until  reaching 
manhood.  His  father,  Isaac  Zimmerly,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1  829,  locating 
at  once.  In  this  township  he  was  married  later  to 
Miss  Susan  Zink,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
came  with  her  father,  Daniel  Zink,  to  this  county 
during  its  earliest  settlement.  Later  they  were 
joined  by  her  paternal  grandparents,  the  latter 
spending  their  last  days  here. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  reared  their  family  of 
six  children  in  Sims  Township,  of  whom  Jaeob 
was  the  second  born.  Both  were  members  of  the 
|  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  father  entered 
his  first  farm  in  the  timber,  where  he  put  up  a  log 
cabin  and  cleared  the  land,  being  very  successful 
and  accumulating  a  good  property.  He  gave  to 
each  of  his  children  a  farm,  and  reserved  for  him- 
self 240  acres  of  land.  This  was  divided  after  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1682.  The  mother  died 
in  1874. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  chose  farming  for  his 
life  occupation,  and  was  married  in  June.  1855,  to 
Miss  Eveline,  daughter  of  Harmon  and  Delilah 
(Easton)  (Iregg.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  ten  children,  two  of  whom,  John  William,  and 
Thomas  B..  died  in  infancy.  The  survivors  are 
Dora,  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Frazier-;  Isaac  H..  Mary  S., 
Mrs.  John  W.  Laughlin,  George  E.,  Jacob  (i., 
Lilly  Eveline,  Charles  F.,  and  Daniel  A.  Mr.  Zim- 
iiii'ilv  in  the  fall  of  1886  was  appointed  to  till  the 
unexpired  term  of  K.  Laufmann,  as  Supervisor, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  office  in  the  spring  of 
1887-88-89.  These  successive  re-elections  are  am- 
ple illustrations  of  his  standing  in  this  community. 

The  farm  of  our  subject  embraces  390  acres  of 
choice  land  which  has  been  brought  to  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  He  also  has  a  fine  timber  tract. 
Formerly  for  a  number  of  years  he  engaged  quite 
extensively  as  a  stock  dealer,  but  has  practically 
abandoned  this  business  as  it  became  unprofitable. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zimmerly  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  our  subject,  politically,  votes 


/^e^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND   l'.lOC  UAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


SIT 


the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  He  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Masonic  fraternity  many  years,  and 
at  the  present  time  is  a  member  of  Prairie  Lodge 
at  Paris. 

~V  EN  JAM  IN  ALLEN,  Jr.  The  large  farm 
*v  of  307  acres  belonging  to  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  is  one  which  reflects  great  credit 
upon  his  industry  and  good  judgment, 
comprising  as  it  does  one  of  the  best  regulated 
homesteads  in  Slratton  Township.  It  came  into 
his  possession  when  a  wild  and  uncultivated  tract, 
and  has  been  transformed  by  him  into  a  marvel  of 
beauty  and  fertility.  In  connection  with  its  cul- 
tivation he  raises  live  stock  in  large  numbers  each 
year,  besides  grain  and  other  produce,  and  also 
operates  a  steam  sawmill  which  stands  convenient 
to  the  residence. 

Mr.  Allen  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  township,  holding  the  offices  of 
. Justice  of  the  Peace,  School  Treasurer  and  Super- 
visor, aud  has  always  maintained  a  warm  interest, 
in  educational  matters,  serving  as  School  Director 
in  addition  to  his  other  duties.  In  politics,  lie  is 
a  pronounced  Republican,  as  likewise  are  his  boys, 
and  socially,  he  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the 
Gooil  Templars,  being  in  the  latter  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  562  at  Vermillion.  In  religion  he  is  a 
I'niversalist,  and  one  of  the  Trusteesof  that  church 
in  Vermillion. 

In  reverting  to  the  ancestry  of  our  subject  we 
find  that  his  father.  Benjamin  Allen,  Sr.,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  but  when  quite  young  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Kentucky,  they  settling  in 
Meade  County.  He  attended  school  there  until 
tin'  War  of  1812,  then  enlisted  in  the  army,  but 
owing  to  pressing  business  matters  sent  a  substitute 
instead  of  serving.  Meanwhile  he  occupied  himself 
as  a  farmer  and  trader  and  owned  a  number  'if 
slaves.  He  transacted  a  large  amount  of  business 
in  New  Orleans,  traveling  on  foot  to  and  from  there. 
and  finally  became  the  principal  stockholder  in  the 
fust  steamer  that  was  put  on  the  river  between  Lou- 
isville and  the  Crescent  City,     lie  managed  success- 


fully for  many  years,  aud  it.  in  connection  with 
the  operation  of  his  plantation  of  640  acres,  con- 
spired to  make  him  a  very  wealthy  man  for  those 
days,  being  worth  $30,000. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Ross)  Allen,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, gave  birth  to  the  first  white  child  born  in 
.Meade  County,  Ky..  and  in  all  was  the  mother  of 
Seven  children.  The  eldest  boy,  Marshall,  after 
reaching  years  of  maturity,  disappeared  from  the 
sight  of  his  family,  who  never  learned  his  fate; 
James  died  when  about  sixty  years  old;  Hardin  C. 
died  in  Kansas  some  years  ago;  Benjamin,  Jr.,  our 
subject,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Delilah  H. 
lives  in  Kentucky;  Sarah  is  dead;  Mary  died  in 
childhood.  The  family  came  to  this  county  in 
1825,  and  here  the  parents  spent  their  last  days. 
Their  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  Blackburn  Ceme- 
tery in  Stratton  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Meade 
County,  Ky.,  June  13,  1814,  and  lived  there  until 
a  youth  of  eleven  years,  at  which  time  his  parents 
came  to  this  county.  He  assisted  his  father  in  de- 
veloping the  new  farm,  breaking  the  sod  around 
the  stumps  of  the  newly  cut  trees,  and  performing 
the  various  other  labors  incident  to  life  on  the 
frontier.  He  was  one  of  the  early  wolf  scalpers  of 
this  county.  He  was  occupied  in  different  ways 
until  nineteen  years  old,  then  began  flat-boating, 
running  South  more  or  less  until  1 850.  In  that 
year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  II.  Hudson,  a 
native  of  Tennessee  and  who  died  in  1865.  Of 
this  union  there  were  born  eight  children:  Charles 
A.  is  married  and  living  in  Galion,  Ohio,  where  he 
is  superintendent  of  railway  construction;  Alonso 
S.  was  killed  by  an  explosion  on  the  railroad; 
Luella  is  the  wife  of  William  Lee,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  near  PugetSound,  in  Wash- 
ington; Delia  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  J.  Crawford, 
and  they  live  in  Vermillion  Village,  this  State; 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Morton,  of  El- 
bridge  Township;  Benjamin  W.  is  engaged  in 
business  connected  with  the  river  and  harbor,  and 
lives  in  Tennessee;  Sarah  died  in  infancy;  Jennie 
H.  is  a  resident  of  Chicago. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he 
was  married  in  18(j(>,  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  Ap- 
pleby, a  native  of  Indiana.      This  union  resulted  in 


848 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  birth  of  six  children,  namely:  Edward  G., 
Artie,  Jesse  B.,  Essie  M..  Frerldic  and  Allen  A., 
who  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  A  tine  por- 
trait of  Mr.  Allen  will  he  found  on  another  page  of 
this  volume. 

— -*sii?* — 


Alexander  Baldwin.    The  splendid 

farm  of  (i(l()  acres  which  for  many  years  has 


been  familiarly  known  as  the" Baldwin  home- 
stead," was  during  the  early  settlement  of 
this  county  an  open,  bleak  prairie,  and  the  father  of 
our  subject  was  the  first  to  take  possession  of  a 
portion  of  the  land  and  begin  the  opening  up  of  a 
farm.  Alanson  Baldwin  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinarily  excellent  qualities  of  character  and  pos- 
sessed the  sturdy  perseverance  which  was  necessary 
at  that  day  for  those  who  would  win  in  their  bat- 
tle with  the  elements  of  a  new  country.  He  labored 
long  and  to  excellent  purpose,  and  was  not  only 
successful  financially,  but  was  a  man  beloved  by  the 
entire  community.  Although  not  a  member  of 
any  religions  organization,  he  was  liberal  to  the 
church,  kind  to  the  poor,  and  at  his  decease,  in 
1874,  scores  of  people  in  this  county  felt  that  they 
had  lost  their  best  friend. 

Alanson  Baldwin  was  born  in  Green  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  there  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion and  developed  into  manhood.  He  then  came 
West  with  his  parents.  Joseph  and  Sarah  Baldwin, 
Stopping  at  Evansville.  Ind..  where  the  father  died 
about  eighteen  months  later.  The  widow  sojourned 
there  with  her  children  until  they  had  arrived  at 
mature  years  and  were  married.  Shespent  her  last 
days  at  Newburg,  Ind.  In  1830  the  father  of  our 
subject  emigrated  to  this  county  and  entered  a  tract 
of  land,  beginning  at  once  its  improvement  and 
cultivation.  In  due  time  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Miss  L.  Sophia,  daughter  of  Alexander 
and  Lucy  (MeColloch)  Conkey,  and  the  mutual 
attachment  which  followed  resulted  in  their  mar- 
riage in  1832. 

The  young  people  began  the  journey  of  life 
together  at  the  village  of  Baldwinsville  where  the 
father  of  our  subject  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  company  with  Gov.  Whitcome  of  Indi- 


ana, their  store  being  the  first  establishment  of  the 
kind  in  this  part  of  the  county.  They  carried  on 
business  successfully  until  1861,  in  the  meantime 
obtaining  their  supplies  in  the  grocery  line  from 
New  Orleans  and  their  dry  goods  and  hardware 
from  Pittsburg  and  New  York  City.  Some  times 
they  would  be  obliged  to  have  their  goods  unloaded 
from  the  boat  at  Evansville  and  hauled  thence 
overland  by  team.  Some  years  prior  to  1861  Mr. 
Whitcome  retired  from  the  firm  and  the  business 
was  conducted  by  Mr.  Baldwin  alone  until  1  861, 
when  he  decided  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  im- 
provement of  his  land  and  took  possession  of  it. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  man  of  un- 
bounded energy  and  his  labors  in  due  time  met 
with  their  legitimate  reward.  He  gradually  added 
to  his  real  estate  until,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he 
owned  nearly  1.000  acres  of  land.  Liberal  and  pub- 
lic spirited,  he  was  ever  willing  to  give  of  his  time 
and  means  in  the  furtherance  of  those  enterprises 
calculated  for  the  general  good.  The  village  of 
Baldwinsville  was  named  in  his  honor  and  he  was 
the  first  Postmaster,  holding  the  office  for  the  long 
period  of  nearly  thirty  years.  He  had  come  to 
this  county  poor  in  purse  and  his  career  illustrates 
in  a  marvelous  manner  the  results  of  industry  and 
perseverance.  Not  only  was  he  successful  finan- 
cially, hut  he  made  for  himself  a  record  which  may 
ever  be  looked  upon  with  pride  by  his  descendants. 

To  Alanson  Baldwin  and  his  estimable  wife 
there  were  born  four  children:  Kmeline,  now  the 
widow  of  William  It.  Nofsinger  and  a  resident  of 
Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Alexander,  our  subject;  Julia, 
Mrs  F.  D.  Nofsinger,  of  Kansas  City,  and  Charles 
J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  The 
kind  and  indulgent  husband,  the  revered  father 
and  the  good  citizen,  Alanson  Baldwin,  departed 
this  life  ( let.  14,  1874,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years.  Ilis  widow  is  still  living  at  the  old  home- 
stead where  she  hopes  to  spend  the  remainder  of 
her  days.  She  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Mass..  December,  1815.  of  which  State  her  parents 
were  also  natives  and  where  they  were  reared  and 
married.  They  had  a  family  of  four  children  of 
whom  Mrs.  Baldwin  was  next  to  the  youngest. 
Their  journey  from  the  Bay  State  to  the  Far  West 
was  made  after  the  primitive  fashion  of  those  days 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


849 


they  going  to  Buffalo,  N.  V..  by  canal,  thence  by* 
lake  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  from  there  down  the 
Wabash  River  on  a  keel  boat  landing  at  Durgey's 
Ferry,  [nd.  Thence  they  came  by  team  overland 
t<>  Hunter  Township,  this  county,  where  the  par- 
cuts  of  Mrs.  Baldwin  spent  their  last  days. 

Alexander  Baldwin  was  reared  after  Hie  manner 
of  the  sons  of  pioneer  farmers,  acquiring  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  school  and  the  schools  of 
Paris.  He  was  with  his  father  in  the  store  a  large 
part  of  the  time  until  it  was  disposed  of,  then 
going  to  Indianapolis,  was  engaged  as  head  book- 
keeper and  later  as  teller  in  a  bank.  From  that 
place  he  emigrated  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  he 
spent  live  years  engaged  in  pork  and  beef  packing. 
After  his  father's  death  he  was  called  home  to  as- 
sist in  the  settlement  of  the  estate,  and  has  since 
continued  here,  managing  the  farm  and  property 
and  attending  to  the  comforts  of  his  aged  mother. 
The  residence  is  a  large,  commodious  brick  struc- 
ture, surrounded  by  fruit  and  shade  trees,  and  con- 
spicuous by  the  air  of  plenty  and  comfort  which  is 
the  usual  accompaniment  of  the  well  regulated 
country  homestead.  In  the  rear  are  the  barns  and 
other  outbuildings,  amply  adapted  to  the  shelter 
of  stock  and  the  storage  of  grain.  The  home- 
stead stands  as  a  monument  to  the  industry  and 
perseverance  of  him  who  established  it,  and.  it  is 
to  be  hoped,  will  remain  in  the  family  for  genera- 
tions  to  conic. 


yfelLLIAM  M.  VAN  HOUTIN.  The  gen- 
ial disposition  and  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence  of  this  gentleman  have  con- 
spired to  make  him  one  of  the  most  popular  men 
in  Edgar  Township.  He  pursues  his  way  quietly 
ami  unostentatiously,  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, on  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres  occupying  a 
portion  of  .section  33.  Without  making  any  pre- 
tentions to  elegance  he  and  his  family  live  com- 
fortably, give  a  portion  Of  their  time  to  the  culti- 
vation of  their  minds  and  manage  to  extract  a 
large  portion  of  good  from  life. 

The   subject  of   this  sketch  is  a  lifelong    resident 


of  Edgar  County  and  has  spent  the  most  of  his 
days  near  the  place  of  his  birth  which  occurred 
in  Stratton  Township.  Sept.  29,  L831.  His  boy- 
hood and  youth  were  spent  in  a  comparatively  une- 
ventful manner,  amid  the  quiet  scenes  of  rural 
life,  while  he  acquired  a  practical  education  in  the 
common  schools.  His  first  lessons  were  pursued  in 
a  log  house  with  greased  paper  for  window  panes. 
a  floor  of  puncheon,  the  scats  and  desks  of  slabs 
and  the  chimney  built  outside  of  earth  and  slicks. 
His  recreations  consisted  of  fox.  coon,  wolf 
and  deer  hunts,  and  of  the  latter  he  has  seen  as 
many  as  twenty-five  in  one  drove.  He  grew  up 
like  his  companions  healthy  in  mind  and  body  and 
chose  farming  for  his  future  calling.  He  distinctly 
remembers  the  advent  of  matches  and  stoves  in 
this  county. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  years  young  Van  Houtin, 
in  L851,  entered  from  the  Government  eighty  acres 
of  land  which  constitutes  his  present  homestead. 
He  spent  his  time  upon  this  thereafter  during  the 
summer  seasons  until  his  marriage,  and  in  the  winter 
developed  his  talent  for  vocal  music  and  engaged 
successfully  as  a  teacher  for  fourteen  seasons  in 
succession,  adopting  the  Harrison  system  at  first 
and  then  the  Hay  don.  He  was  thus  occupied  in 
Vermillion,  Vigo  and  Parke  counties,  [nd.,  and  in 
Edgar,  Coles,  Jasper.  Douglas,  Moultrie,  Macon, 
Christian  and  Clark  counties.  111. 

Our  subject  finally  determined  to  establish  a 
fireside  of  his  own  and  on  the  8th  of  November, 
I860,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah, 
daughter  of  William  T.  Sims,  a  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Sims  Township  and  the  owner  of  the  old  home- 
stead comprising  300  acres  of  land.  The  young 
people  commenced  their  wedded  life  together  at 
their  own  home  and  our  subject-  proceeded  with 
the  improvements,  breaking  the  soil  with  oxen, 
setting  out  forest,  fruit  trees  and  hedges,  and  at 
first  devoting  the  land  mostly  to  the  raising  of 
grain.  He  also  raises  live  stock  on  a  small  scale, 
cattle,  horses  and  swine.  He  uses  two  teams  in 
the  operation  of  his  farm.  He  takes  time  to  keep 
himself  posted  upon  the  leading  events  of  the  day 
and  gives  his  unqualified  support  to  the  Republican 
party. 

The  father  of  our  subject   was  (apt.  Benjamin 


850 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Van  Iloutin  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1801. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  William  Van  Iloutin, 
was  a  new  Jersey  fanner  in  moderate  circumstances, 
but  left  that  State  in  1818  and  settled  at  Merrim, 
Ind.  The  year  following,  however,  he  pushed  on 
further  westward  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  locating  in 
Stratton  Township,  his  being  the  ninth  family  to 
settle  there.  He  entered  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment, 160  acres,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days  occupied  in  farming.  He  traced  his  an- 
cestry to  Holland  and  possessed  the  substantial 
traits  belonging  to  that  nationality.  Two  of  his 
sons  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen years  when  he  left  New  Jersey  with  the  family. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  a  tan- 
ner. The  journey  westward  was  full  of  interest 
to  him,  a  part  of  it  being  performed  by  boat  on 
the  Ohio  River  and  after  coming  to  Illinois  he  en- 
tered "2()o  acres  of  land  in  Stratton  Township.  He 
was  successful  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  and  made  a 
specialty  of  stock-raising.  He  also  added  to  his 
income  by  teaming  to  Chicago.  He  erected  a  tan- 
nery on  a  small  scale  on  his  place  which  he  oper- 
ated for  several  years  and  at  one  time  was  the 
owner  of  :5G0  acres  of  land.  He  sold  ICO  of  this 
and  has  now  the  farm  of  200  acres  where  lie  re- 
sides. In  1886  -Mr.  Van  Iloutin  received  a  paral- 
ytic stroke  and  is  in  consequence  much  of  the  time 
confined  to  the  house,  lie  has  arrived  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-eight  years.  When  reaching 
his  majority  he  identified  himself  with  the  oil 
Whig  party  and  is  now  an  ardent  Republican, 
thoroughly  believing  in  its  principles.  He  united 
with  the  Christian  Church  in  Little  Grove  many 
years  age.  In  1850  he  joined  a  company  of  pros- 
pectors bound  for  California  with  cattle,  and  of 
which  company  he  was  made  the  Captain.  They 
were  six  months  reaching  their  destination  and 
Mr.  Van  Iloutin  remained  there  until  the  spring  of 
1851  engaged  in  mining.  He  returned  by  way  of 
the  Isthmus.  At  one  time  lie  was  Captain  of  a 
company  of   Illinois  State  Militia. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Hannah  Morrison.  She  was  born  in  1807  in 
Kentucky  where  Grandfather  Morrison  carried  on 
farming  and  spent  his  last  days.      After  his  decease 


his  wife  Mary  (Williams)  Morrison  came  in  1821 
with  her  family  to  Illinois  and  entered  land  in 
Stratton  Township.  She  superintended  her  farming 
operations  successfully  until  her  death.  The  nine 
children  of  the  parental  family  were  named  respect- 
ively, David  E.,  now  a  resident  of  Goshen,  ind.; 
William  M.,  our  subject;  Mary  and  Benjamin,  de- 
ceased: James  and  John  who  arc  residing  in  Strat- 
ton Township;  Catherine,  of  Kirksville,  Mo.; 
Euphemis,  of  Stratton  Township;  and  Sarepta, 
of  Clark  Count}',  this  State.  James  during  the 
late  war  enlisted,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  in  the  7th 
Illinois  Cavalry  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war  receiving  a  gunshot  wound  through  his  linger, 
but  otherwise  escaped  unharmed.  John  enlisted 
that  .same  year  in  the  First  Missouri  Engineer 
Corps  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Hall  Sims,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Van 
Iloutin  was  a  pioneer  of  1820  after  whom  Sims 
Township  was  named.  He  served  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War  and  made  for  himself  a  good  record 
both  as  a  soldier  and  a  citizen.  His  son's  wife, 
formerly  Margaret  Zimmerly,  was  born  in  Ken- 
lucky.  Our  subject  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  ten 
children.  The  eldest  daughter,  Agnes,  is  the  wife 
of  Walter  Van  Sickle  and  resides  on  a  farm  near 
Horace.  William  is  farming  in  Stratton  Township 
and  Benjamin  carries  on  agriculture  in  the  vicinity 
of  Shiloli.  Margaret.  A.  ])..  Addie,  Jennie.  Mary 
and  Laura  are  at  home  with  their  parents;  they  are 
all  remarkably  intelligent  and  improved  their 
school  days  to  such  good  advantage  that  they  are 
well  educated.  Miss  Jennie  is  especially  bright 
and  always  maintained  her  place  at  the  head  of  her 
class.  The  wife  and  mother  departed  this  life 
Feb.  18,  1882  and  the  household  is  presided  over 
by  the  daughter,  Margaret. 

Mr.  Van  Iloutin.  politically,  is  a  sound  Republi- 
can and  takes  a  warm  interest  in  the  success  of  the 
principles  of  his  party.  He  has  been  quite  active 
in  politics  and  is  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to 
the  county  conventions.  He  serves  occasionally 
on  the  grand  and  petit  juries  and  has  been  a  School 
Director  in  his  district  for  sixteen  years.  He  at- 
tends religious  services  at  the  Christian  Church  at 
Maple  Grove,  with  which  he  is  identified  in  member- 
ship,assislcd  liberally  in  the  erection  of  a  Church  edi- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


85  I 


fice  and  has  been  Superintendent  of  Sunday-schools. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  thai  he  is  a  most  useful  man  in 
his  community  and  only  seeks  for  his  reward  in  the 
approval  of  his  own  conscience  and  the  friendship 
of   his  fellow  men. 

\1,()11N  W.  MAJORS  was  horn  Dec..",.  1861, 
in  Morgan  County,  [nd.,  to  Caldwell  and 
Mary    Majors,    natives   of    Kentucky;    the 

mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Miller,  a 
daughter  of  John  Miller.  The  father  of  our  Subjecl 
was  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  following  that  occupation 
in  Kentucky  for  several  years.  When  a  youug 
child  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  both  of  his 
parents.  lie  was  then  taken  charge  of  by  an  uncle 
living  in  Kentucky. where  he  was  kindly  and  tenderly 
reared,  obtaining  a  liberal  and  practical  education. 
His  marriage  occurred  in  Brown  County.  Ky..  and 
the  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children — 
Mary  Ellen,  Martha.  John  W".,  our  subject;  Will- 
iam, Oliver.  Eva  and  Cora.  Mary  Ellen  died  in 
1884;  she  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Downey,  whose 
home  was  in  Terre  Haute.  Mr.  Downey  was  a 
farmer  and  commercial  traveler.  Martha  is  mar- 
ried to  Milhvard  Sanders,  a  farmer  who  lives  in 
Young  America  Township;  William  died  in  boy- 
hood at  the  age  of  six  years;  Oliver  married  Miss 
Ruth  Brown.  He  is  a  farmer  and  resides  with  his 
family  in  Clark  County,  III.;  Eva  is  single  and 
makes  her  home  with  Mrs.  Sanders;  Cora  died 
twelve  years  ago  at  the  tender  age  of  five  years. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  removed  from  their 
home  in  Kentucky  to  Indiana  where  they  remained 
until  he  was  ten  years  of  age.  They  then  changed 
their  abode  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  settled  in 
Nhiloh  Township  on  a  farm  which  they  rented  from 
one  of  the  large  proprietors  in  the  vicinity.  After 
two  years  they  again  removed,  locating  this  time 
in  Young  America  Township,  where  after  one  short 
year's  residence  they  went  back  to  Indiana,  locat- 
ing six  miles  south  of  Terre  Haute.  After  travel- 
ing along  life's  pathway  until  middle  age  was 
leached,  the  mother  of  our  subject  quietly  fell 
asleep  to  take  up  the  tangled  thread  of  existence  in 


another  and  better  world.  Subsequently  the  father 
Of  our  subject  took  to  himself  another  helpmate 
who  bore  the  biblical  name  of  Leah. 

When  our  subjecl  had  arrived  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  started  out  in  the  world  to  do 
for  himself,  and  located  on  Gossett's  place  in 
Young  America  Township,  where  he  worked  twelve 
months.  He  then  rented  160  acres  of  land  in 
Shiloh  Township,  living  on  it  one  year.  His  next 
move  was  to  secure  200  acres  from  his  brother-in- 
law.  Martin  Mann,  winch  he  rented  anil  made  it 
his  home  for  one  season.  He  is  now  and  had  been 
for  two  years  previous  in  charge  of  2.1(10  acres 
of  land  owned  by  James  Gaines.  It  is  a  stock 
farm.  160  acres  being  under  cultivation  in  the 
products  of  which  he  has  a  share.  Besides  having 
a  comfortable  and  pleasant  home  he  receives  $365 
per  year  for  superintending  the  management  of 
this  extensive  place.  His  intelligence,  discretion 
and  nerve  are  frequently  taxed  to  the  utmost  in 
conducting  the  operations  required  to  successfully 
handle  the  large  number  of  cattle  under  his  con- 
trol. The  stock  on  the  place  numbers  from  50(1  to 
700  head  all  of  which  he  has  constantly  under  his 
charge. 

Our  subject  and  Miss  Lucinda  Gosset,  a  daughter 
of  J.  B.  and  A.  M.  Gossett,  were  married  at  the 
elegant  residence  of  Mr.  Gossett,  Sept.  8,  1885. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Majors  are  natives  of  Ohio. 
Four  children  have  come  to  brighten  the  cozy 
home  of  our  subject  and  his  amiable  wife.  The 
eldest,  Owen  and  Ethel  were  twins,  but  to  the  great 
grief  of  their  parents  little  Ethel  was  claimed  by 
the  pale  messenger  from  the  other  world,  and. 
grieving  sorely,  the  parents  laid  her  little  body  to 
rest  under  the  sod.  The  flowers  also  bloom  above 
another  erase,  of  a  little  one  who  died  in  early  in- 
fancy. The  third  child.  ( >rian.  remains  to  fill  their 
home  with  its  childish  prattle  and  innocent  joys. 

Mr.  Majors  is  a  member  of  Palermo  Lodge,  No. 
646,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
and  devoted,  active  workers  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Politically  Mr.  Majors  is 
allied  with  the  Democratic  party,  hut  has  never 
sought  or  accepted  an  office,  believing  his  talents 
and  influence  can  be  more  usefully  employed  in  the 
walks  of   private  life.      Mr.  Majors   is  a  tall,  rather 


852 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


slenderly  built  man,  giving  the  impression  of 
strength  and  endurance.  His  blue  eyes  are  calm 
or  sparkle  as  necessity  or  occasion  requires.  In 
social  life  he  is  genial  and  companionable,  making 
many  friends;  in  business  is  energetic,  industrious 
and  intelligent  and  is  destined  to  become  a  solid. 
prosperous  fanner  and  an  influential  citizen.  Our 
subject's  father's  name  was  Caldwell  Majors,  and 
his  grandfather's  name  Isaiah  Majors;  his  grand- 
mother's name  was  Elizabeth  Majors. 

R.  CHRISTOPHER  C.  HATES.  This  gen- 
tleman is  a  successful,  practicing  physi- 
cian, and  a  popular  and  respected  citizen 
of  the  village  of  Metcalf.  Tall  in  stature, 
of  spare  build  and  feature,  he  carries  about  him 
the  air  of  culture  and  education.  1 1  is  face  has  a 
thoughtful,  sincere  and  sympathetic  expression,  and 
one  can  easily  see  that  behind  the  physician  there 
is  a  man  keenly  sensitive  to  human  suffering  and 
animated  by  the  most  kindly  ami  humane  impulses. 
He  is  not  an  aggressive  man,  but  rather  one  who 
entrenches  himself  slowly  but  surely  in  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow-men;  in  other  words,  he  wears 
well  and  wins  lasting  friends.  He  is  quiet,  studi- 
ous, unostentatious  and  attentive  to  the  duties  of 
his  calling.  A  Kentuckian  born,  he  carries  himself 
with  ease  and  grace  in  the  presence  of  friends  or 
strangers,  and  the  latter  never  fail  to  be  favorably 
impressed  with  him. 

Dr.  Bates  was  born  near  Louisville,  Ky.,  June  7, 
1848,  and  is  consequently  but  a  little  more  than 
forty-one  years  of  age.  He  is  the  son  of  William 
C.  and  Eliza  Jane  Bates,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  His  parental 
grandfather.  John  Bates,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  of  German  ancestry.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  the  daughter  of  Hugh  Hall,  of 
English  descent.  His  father  was  one  of  eleven  chil- 
dren— Joseph,  George.  David,  James,  John,  Heiry, 
Washington,  Levi,  William,  Matilda,  and  Rose 
Ann.  With  the  exception  of  Washington  and  Will- 
iam C,  the  father  of  our  subject,  all  are  deceased. 
These  two  brothers  are  farmers,  and  reside  in  Jeffer- 


son County,  Ky.  William  C.  and  his  wife  belong 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics.  The  mother  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten 
children,  viz:  Jacob.  Clayborn,  John,  Hugh.  An- 
drew, (lark,  Westley,  Elizabeth  X..  Eliza  Jane,  and 
Anna  E.  The  two  last  mentioned  are  the  only  sur- 
vivors. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest  of  nine 
children  comprising  the  family  of  his  parents. 
Cassner,  the  second  born,  remains  a  resident  of  his 
native  State  of  Kentucky,  where  he  was  married, 
and  has  become  the  father  of  two  children;  Fran- 
cis, unmarried,  is  living  with  his  brother,  Joseph, 
who  is  a  druggist  at  Lawrence.  Kan.;  he  has  a  wife 
and  two  children;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Clifton 
Beach,  a  druggist  of  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  four  children;  Mary  A.  is  unmarried  and 
lives  with  her  parents  in  Jefferson  County,  Ky. 

As  a  3'outh.  Dr.  Bates  received  a  common-school 
education.  After  a  preliminary  course  of  reading, 
he  entered  the  Kentucky  school  of  medicine  at 
Louisville,  from  which  he  was  graduated  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one.  Immediately  afterward  he  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Hartford,  Ind.,  but 
a  year  later  returned  to  his  native  county  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  practiced  one  year  near  his  old  home. 
In  1872,  seeking  the  West  again,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  Clarksville,  Clark  County.  Here 
he  practiced  until  1886,  then  removed  to  Terre 
Haute.  After  a  residence  there  of  nine  months,  he 
established  himself  at  Dudley,  Edgar  County.  Two 
years  later  he  made  another  removal,  and  settled 
this  time  in  Metcalf,  where  he  is  now  enjoyino-  a 
growing  and  lucrative  practice. 

Dr.  Bates  was  married  at  Paris,  III.,  Oct.  12, 
187C,  to  Miss  Luella,  daughter  of  Madison  and 
Maria  Gordon.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Bates  were 
natives  of  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  of  English  an- 
cestry, as  was  also  his  excellent  wife.  Mr.  Gordon 
for  a  number  of  years  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  in  Paris,  and  is  now  running  a  chair  fac- 
tory. The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of 
four  children — Charles,  William  M.,  Harry  (L,  and 
Edgar,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

During  the  period  of  his  residence  in  Clark 
County,  Dr.  Bates  held  the  office  of  Township 
Trustee  nine  years,  and   was   Township  Supervisor 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


653 


one  year.  He  still  retains  his  membership  in  Clarks- 
\  illc  Lodge  No.  713,  1.  0.  »>.  P.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rates  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  Mini  active  participants  in  church  work. 
Though  nol  a  demonstrative  man.  Dr.  Bates  firmly 
ami  unflinchingly  adheres  to  his  political  principles, 
and  like  his  honored  father,  is  a  supporter  of  the 
I  democratic  party. 

Like  most  country  practitioners,  Dr.  Bates  is  his 
own  pharmacist.  He  carries  a  stock  of  drugs  and 
medicines  needed  in  his  practice,  ami  compounds 
all  of  his  own  prescriptions.  The  requirements  of 
his  profession  make  it  necessary  for  him  to  be  a 
constant  student,  and  to  spend  not  a  little  of  his 
time  pouring  over  medical  works,  periodicals  and 
reviews  in  order  that  he  may  keep  abreast  of  the 
most  important  discoveries  in  therapeutics.  lie 
also  keeps  himself  informed  concerning  the  best 
current  thoughts  in  literature,  and  the  everyday 
events  of  the  world.  In  years  Dr.  l'.ates  may  be 
said  to  lie  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  bears  the  repu- 
tation of  being  a  careful,  conscientious  and  skillful 
practitioner.  Though  faithfully  attentive  to  the 
duties  of  his  profession,  he  is  quiet  and  unobtrusive 
in  his  calling,  and  content  to  let  his  practice  de- 
pend upon  his  merits  as  a  physician,  and  his  con- 
duct as  a  courteous  anil  kindly  gentleman. 


«£•*$* 


tlLLIAM   B.  GALWAY,  whose  splendidly 

equipped  estate  of  630  acres  of  rich,  fertile 
ty^S  fl"d  productive  land  is  the  outcome  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century  of  intelligent,  painstaking,  and 
persevering  industry.  He  began  life  with  nothing 
but  a  rugged  frame,  strong  hands,  hopeful  courage, 
and  a  determined  will,  ready  to  meet  and  overcome 
all  obstacles  that  man's  mind  and  strength  might  be 
expected  to  contend  against.  His  present  well- 
deserved  prosperity  may  well  serve  to  inspire 
struggling  young  men  everywhere  to  heed  Long- 
fellow's apt  advice,  "learn  to  labor  and  to  wait."  for 
full  fruition  is  sure  to  follow  well  directed  and  in- 
telligent effort,  just  as  harvest  follows  seed-time. 
A  reference  having  already  been  made  to  Mr.  (ial- 
way's  parents  in  the  sketch  of  John  1>.  Galway,  to 


which  attention  is  directed,  we  will  now  confine 
ourselves  to  his  personal  history,  which  is  both  in- 
teresting and  instructive.  lie  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  Nov.  2s.  1828,  and  is"  now 
nearly  sixty-one  years  of  age.  lie  received  in  his 
youth  a  good  common-school  education,  followed 
by  a  course  of  general  reading.  He  taught  school 
in  his  native  Slate  before  moving  to  Illinois,  and 
has  the  honor  of  being  among  the  earliest  public 
school  teachers  of  Young  America  Township,  hav- 
ing taught  near  the  present  village  of  Hume  in  the 
winter  of  1860-61. 

In  the  year  1854,  when  mil'  subject  was  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  he  came  to  this  county  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  at  which  he  continued  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war.  when  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K.  125th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mustered 
in  as  Second  Sergeant,  and  afterward  promoted  to 
Second  Lieutenant.  lie  served  under  Gens.  Buell 
and  Daniel  in  Hooks  brigade  of  the  14th  Corps, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky. 
He  was  with  Rosecrans  when  that,  ill-fated  but 
brave  commander  fought  the  bloody  and  disastrous 
battle  of  Chickainauga.  and  with  Sherman  under 
Grant,  when  the  Union  forces  won  the  splendid 
victory  of  Mission  Ridge.  Mr.  Galwaj  continued 
with  his  regiment,  enduring  the  privations  of 
camp  and  march,  and  the  dangers  of  bivouac  and 
battlefield  until  October,  1864,  when,  being  broken 
in  health,  he  received  an  honorable  discharge  and 
returned  to  this  county. 

Mr.  Galway  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Howden  March  2,  1865.  The  bride's 
parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  Howden,  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  whose  grandparents,  Andrew 
and  Margaret  Howden,  were  natives  of  Ireland. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children.  The 
mother  of  our  subject.  Elizabeth  West,  was  the 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Frances  West,  who  emi- 
grated  from  England  to  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Galway  were  the  parents  of  one 
child,  which  died  in  infancy.  They  arc  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church,  in  which  the  husband 
is  a  Deacon.  Besides  being  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous and  successful  fanners  in  Eastern  Illinois. 
Mr.  Galway  has  been  a  prominent,  public-spir- 
ited   and   useful   citizen.     In    1856,   upon    the  or- 


851 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBFM. 


ganization  of  Young  America  Township,  lie  was 
chosen  the  first  Township  Clerk;  in  1K58  he  became 
the  first  School  Treasurer  of  the  Township,  a  posi- 
tion he  held  until  lie  entered  the  army.  He  served 
several  years  as  a  Township  Assessor  and  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways,  and  has  repeatedly  served 
upon  the  grand  ami  petit  juries. 

Socially,  the  subject  of  this  notice  belongs  to  the 
Charles  Clark  Post  G.  A.  R.  No.  184  at  Ridge 
Farm,  and  also  Vermilion  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
No.  265,  at  Indianola.  Politically,  Mr.  Galway  is 
a  Republican.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  State 
Republican  Convention  in  1808,  and  has  several 
times  been  a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions  of 
1 1  is  party. 

The  present  farm  of  630  acres  belonging  to  Mr. 
Galway  consisted  of  eighty  acres  at,  the  outset  of 
his  career  for  himself.  He  made  purchases  from 
time  to  time  as  his  means  increased/until  he  stands 
to-day  among  the  most  successful  farmers  of  this 
State.  Impaired  health,  the  result  of  his  army 
service,  has  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  use  his 
head  rather  than  his  hands,  and  his  success  is  due 
to  the  careful  and  business-like  supervision  of  his 
own  affairs.  He  is  of  tall,  square  build,  has  a  quiet, 
kind  and  pleasant  face;  Ill's  full  beard  is  streaked 
with  gray,  but  his  clear  face  shows  but  slight  evi- 
dence of  advancing  years.  A  well-filled  and  well- 
selected  library  shows  him  to  be  a  student  and  a 
lover  of  the  best  literature,  while  his  papers  and 
magazines  serve  to  keep  him  posted  upon  the  cur- 
rent views  and  thought  of  the  day. 

Mrs.  Galway  is  one  of  seven  children.  The  eld- 
est. Frances  M.,  resides  at  Saltsburg,  Indiana  Co., 
Pa.  She  is  the  widow  of  Milton  McJunkiu,  and 
the  mother  of  two  children;  Andrew,  a  merchant 
of  Lawrence,  Kan.,  married  Louisa  Newkirk;  they 
have  a  family  of  four  boys;  Margaret  (Mrs.  David 
Myers)  resides  in  Washington  County,  Pa.;  Lu- 
cinda,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Kam merer,  also  resides  in 
Washington  County,  Pa.;  Maria  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Prof,  Joseph  Jennings,  who  since  1876  has  been 
Principal  of  the  High  School  at  Monongahela  City, 
Pa.;  John  Alexander  married  Miss  Ella  Riddle; 
the)'  reside  in  Washington,  Washington  Co.,  Pa., 
and  he  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business. 
Mrs.  Galway  is    a    lady    of    fine    presence,  and   is 


friendly  in  her  greetings  of  acquaintances  and  of 
strangers  who  cross  her  threshold.  Her  beautiful 
home  testifies  that  she  is  a  woman  of  refined  tastes, 
as  well  as  a  skillful  and  painstaking  housewife. 
Her  husband  and  herself  are  living  out  the  golden 
hours  of  their  ripening  years,  without  show  or  os- 
tentation, becoming  contented  in  the  affection  they 
bear  for  each  other,  to  pass  their  remaining  days 
in  the  peace  and  retirement  of  well-earned  rest  and 
repose,  after  a  life  of  love,  labor  and  helpfulness 
to  each  other. 


>jp5»HOMAS  SCOTT,  a  veteran  of  seventy-three 
years  and  a  resident  of  Bruellet  Township, 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  county  as 
early  as  1825.  and  remembers  the  time  when  In- 
dians were  numerous  and  the  cabins  of  the  white 
setttlers  few  and  far  between.  He  was  born  in 
Adams  County,  Ohio,  in  1816,  and  may  be 
properly  termed  a  self- made  man,  one  who  has 
been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  who  by 
his  industry  and  perseverance  has  accumulated  a 
snug  property.  We  find  him  pleasantly  located 
on  a  farm  of  160  acres,  occupying  a  part  of  sec- 
tion 15.  including  twenty  acres  of  timber.  The 
residence  is  a  neat  and  modern  frame  structure, 
while  the  land,  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
is  the  source  of  a  comfortable  income. 

For  some  time  after  the  Scott  family  came  to 
this  county  the  nearest  markets  were  at  Clinton 
and  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  to  which  the  pioneer 
fanners  transported  their  dressed  pork  overland, 
receiving  from  $1.50  to  $3.00  per  hundred. 
Thomas  worked  with  his  father  on  the  new  farm 
until  reaching  manhood,  then  entered  120  acres  in 
forty-acre  lots,  one  by  one,  as  he  could  pay  for 
them.  His  present  residence  stands  upon  the  first 
land  of  which  he  thus  became  possessor,  and  in 
order  to  establish  his  claim  to  this  he  was  obliged 
to  borrow  money.  His  early  education  was  ex- 
tremely limited,  he  never  attending  school  until 
nearly  a  man  grown.  This  school  was  conducted 
in  a  log  cabin  upon  the  subscription  plan.  In 
those  days  turkeys  and  wolves  were  numerous,  and 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  WESTBROOK,SEC.7,  HUNTER  TR.  EDGAR   CO. 


RESIDENCE  OF   JAMES  L.  HONNOLD,  SECT.,  KANSAS  T'R,  ED6AR   CO. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


857 


the  latter  frequently  howled  around  the  cabin  door 
of  the  pioneer.  The  Scott  family  first  settled  on 
"Congress  land."  upon  which  they  lived  about 
six  years  before  the  father  could  secure  enough 
money  to  enter  it  from  the  Government.  In  the 
meantime  the  family  suffered  greatly  from  illness. 
and  met  with  many  hisses  in  various  ways. 

The  father  of  our  subject  persevered,  however. 
amid  many  difficulties,  and  eventually  became  the 
owner  of  1 00  acre.-  of  land,  which,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  seventy  acres,  he  divided  up  among  his 
children.  This  seventy  acres  comprised  his  own 
comfortable  homestead,  where  he  spent  his  last 
days.  His  death  took  place  Jan.  22,  1886,  and  that 
of  the  mother  in  the  fall  of  1870.  Thomas,  our 
subject,  was  first  married  April  22,  1842,  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Reid.  Of  this  union  there  were  born 
three  children.  One  son,  Thomas  M..  after  the 
outbreak  of  the  war,  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson, 
Fort  Henry,  and  other  important  engagements.  He 
was  captured  by  the  rebels,  but  released  in  Yicks- 
burg,  where  he  was  taken  ill  and  died.  The  second 
child,  Alexander,  is  in  Montana.  The  first  child 
died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Mary  M.  (Reid)  Scott  de- 
parted this  life  in  Feb.   1  1,  1846. 

In  due  time  our  subject  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage, with  Miss  Melvina  Cowan.  This  union 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children:  Frank.  Win- 
lield.  Belle  and  Florence  A.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  .Inly  29,  1881.  Their  daughter, 
Florence,  became  the  wife  of  William  Clowser,  and 
is  now  deceased.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject, 
to  whom  he  was  married  Nov.  30,  1888,  was 
formerly  Miss  Ethalinda  Edgington,  a  native  of 
Edgar  County.  Mr.  Scott  uniformly  votes  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Road 
Commissioner,  besides  the  various  school  offices  in 
his  district. 


S3  AMES  L.  HONNOLD.  This  well-known 
resident  of  Kansas  Township  is  numbered 
among  its  wealthiest  and  most  prominent 
citizens,  and  probably  has  done  what  no 
other  man  has — not  only  in  Edgar  County,  but 
possibly    in  the    State  of    Illinois — having   kept  a 


strict  account  of    all    the  money    he    has    received 

and  expended  since  he  began  life  for  himself  Over 
thirty-seven  years  ago.  The  figures  at  least  are  of 
much  value  to  himself,  and,  no  doubt,  would  inter- 
est others,  were  he  disposed  to  give  them  publicity. 
He  is  acknowledged  as  a  successful  financier,  and, 
as  a  farmer,  occupies  no  secondary  position  in  this 
portion  of  the  State.  He  has  done  much  to  im- 
prove the  grade  of  livestock  in  Kansas  Township 
— his  specialty  being  horses.  His  homestead  is 
embellished  by  an  elegant  brick  residence,  with  a 
fine  lawn  and  choice  shrubbery,  and  is  represented 
h\  a  lithographic  view  on  another  page.  His  farm 
is  accounted  as  among  the  very  best  in  Edgar 
County. 

The  Honnold  family  during  the  early  part  of 
this  century  was  prominent  in  old  Virginia,  having 
located  in  Loudoun  County  upon  first  crossing  the 
Atlantic  from  Germany.  Richard,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  there,  and  when  three  years 
of  age  emigrated  to  Muskingum  County,  Ohio, 
with  his  parents.  In  that  county  James  L.  was 
born,  Oct.  28,  1832.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  James  Honnold.  a  blacksmith,  who  spent  a 
portion  of  his  life  in  Loudoun  County,  afterward 
removing  to  Ohio,  where  he  died.  Grandfather 
James  Honnold  served  an  apprenticeship  at  black- 
smithing,  and  transmitted  the  art  to  his  son  Rich- 
ard, who  was  a  carpenter  likewise,  and  in  after 
years  did  all  of  his  work  in  this  line.  The  paternal 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  the  only 
representative  of  the  family  in  America.  He  mar- 
ried a  lady  of  German  parentage,  whose  early  edu- 
cation was  conducted  exclusively  in  the  German 
tongue. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  began  his  education 
in  a  log  cabin  schoolhouse  amid  the  Ohio  wilds, 
and  still  recollects  the  split  log  seats  upheld  by 
rude  wooden  legs,  anil  the  writing  desks  reposing 
on  pins  driven  into  the  wall.  It  is  often  the  case 
that  the  memory  retains  facts  of  the  most  trifling 
moment,  and  loses  those  of  greater  importance. 
One  of  the  earliest  recollections  of  our  subject  was 
a  crooked  seat  in  the  log  cabin  spoken  of,  which 
the  boys  used  at  noon  for  coasting  purposes.  The 
luxury  of  window  glass  was  then  beyond  tin- 
means  of    that,  pioneer   region,  and    greased   paper 


858 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  substituted  until  they  could  afford  the  genuine 
article.  The  methods  of  instruction  were  quite 
dissimilar  to  those  of  the  present  day,  and  if  the 
teacher  knew  enough  to  write  and  "cipher,"  he  was 
considered  fully  equipped  for  the  profession. 

Young  Honnold  being  fond  of  his  books  out- 
stripped many  of  his  comrades,  and  developed 
into  a  pedagogue  of  no  mean  talents  for  that  time. 
He  was  occupied  in  teaching  three  terms  in  Ohio, 
receiving  $13,  $15  and  $20  per  month.  In  April, 
1855,  he  set  out  for  Illinois,  and  taught  school  the 
following  summer.  For  five  consecutive  winters 
he  followed  teaching  in  Edgar  County,  receiving 
$20  per  month,  while  he  worked  on  a  farm  in 
summer.  Subsequently,  he  devoted  his  entire 
attention  to  agriculture,  and  has  been  almost  con- 
tinuously a  resident  of  Kansas  Township. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1X59,  Mr.  Honnold  took  a 
most  important  step  toward  the  establishment  of 
a  home  of  his  own,  being  married  at  that  date  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Mock,  daughter  of  John  I). 
Mock,  who  came  to  Coles  Country,  111.,  in  1854, 
and  to  Edgar  County  two  years  later.  Mrs.  Hon- 
nold was  born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  Jan. 
19,  1837,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  this  county 
in  1856,  the  same  year  that  witnessed  the  arrival  of 
the  Honnolds.  Her  father,  John  D.  Mock,  was  a 
native  of  Loudoun  County,  Va.,  but  in  early  life 
emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  about  1836  was  married  to 
the  mother  of  Mrs.  Honnold,  who  was  born  in 
Muskingum  County  in  1812.  Further  reference  to 
the  family  will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  J.  R. 
Honnold  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

Of  the  five  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife  the  record  is  as  follows:  Richard 
married  Miss  Mollie  Payne,  and  is  farming  in 
Shiloh  Township;  they  have  one  child,  an  infant 
daughter.  Cynthia  B.  became  the  wife  of  Harvey 
De  Lapp,  of  Indiana;  they  reside  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship, and  have  a  baby  girl.  Elsie  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Collier,  of  Embarras  Township;  their  only 
child  is  deceased.  Ira  N.  and  John  O.  remain  with 
their  parents. 

Mr.  Honnold  votes  the  straight  Republican 
ticket,  and,  like  his  brother,  has  been  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  serving  as  I  Huh  way  Commissioner 
and    School    Director  each  nine  years,  and   filling 


other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  He 
and  his  wife,  and  all  of  their  children — with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  youngest  son — are  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
Honnold  began  operations  in  this  county  with  a 
capital  of  £70.  and  has  lost  $3,000  by  undersign- 
ing notes  for  others,  meeting  with  the  usual  results 
of  such  transactions,  lie  has  accumulated  his  prop- 
erty by  hard  work  and  good  managemement,  and 
has  no  use  for  the  idler,  wherever  he  may  be  found. 


\|"  OHN    WESTBROOK.     The  story  of  a  man 
i 

beginning  life  with  modest  means  and  aris- 
ing to  a  good  position,  socially  and  finan- 
cially is  again  reproduced  in  the  life  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  came  to  this  county 
with  a  capital  of  $42  in  money,  two  horses  and  a 
cow  and  calf.  His  father-in-law  gave  him  $5(10, 
and  thus  equipped  he  started  out.  and  with  hard 
work  and  good  management  upon  the  part  of  him- 
self and  his  excellent  wife,  has  accumulated  a  line 
property  a  part  of  which  comprises  185  acres  of 
well  improved  land.  Besides  this  he  has  160  acres 
a  half  mile  west,  the  whole  of  which  is  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation.  The  home  farm  lies  on  sec- 
tion 7.  in  Hunter  Township  and  with  its  substan- 
tial buildings,  its  goodly  assortment  of  live  stock 
and  an  ample  supply  of  farm  machinery,  presents 
the  picture  of  the  well  regulated  modern  estate, 
built  up  by  the  hand  of  industry  and  under  the 
supervision  of  a  mind  more  than  ordinarily 
intelligent. 

A  native  of  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  our  subject 
was  born  July  3,  1830  and  when  a  boy  of  eleven 
years,  accompanied  his  parents,  Martin  anil  Joanna 
(Charlott)  Westbrook,  to  Putnam  County,  Ind., 
where  the  maternal  grandparents  had  previously 
emigrated  and  where  they  spent  their  last  days. 
The  Westbrook  family  sojourned  there  until  1860, 
then  came  to  this  county,  where  the  decease  of  the 
father  and  mother  took  place.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  father  was  born 
in  1'ennsylvania  and  the  mother  in  New  Jersey. 
The   latter    went    with    her  parents,    Stephen    and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


.S.V.I 


Rachael  (Peck)  Charlott  to  Guernsey  County,  Ohio, 
where  she  was  reared  to  womanhood  and  married. 

Soon  afterward  the  newly  wedded  pair  went  over 
into  Pennsylvania  on  pack  horses,  the  wife  riding 
on  a  feather  bed  on  (lie  horses,  the  bed  being  care- 
fully tied  up  with  a  clothesline.  The  husband 
walked  all  the  way.  After  a  sojourn  of  several 
years  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  birth  of  three  or 
four  of  their  children,  they  traveled  back  to 
Guernsey  County,  Ohio  and  located  in  the  woods, 
where  the  father  cleared  a  farm  and  where  the  rest 
of  his  children  were  born  and  reared.  Thence  they 
migrated  to  Indiana  as  already  noted.  They  were 
foremost  in  the  organization  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  was  then  frequently  called  the 
Ohio  Church. 

John  Westbrook  came  to  this  county  in  the  fall 
of  l.s 111,  locating  on  the  land  comprising  his  pres- 
ent farm,  and  upon  which  there  had  been  built  a 
log  cabin.  Later  he  put  up  another  log  dwelling 
on  the  site  of  his  present  residence.  They  could 
stand  in  the  doorway  of  the  first  humble  abode 
and  pick  hazelnuts  off  the  bushes.  Upon  removing 
into  it  they  spent  the  first  night  without  any  door. 
The  country  was  infested  with  wild  animals,  tur- 
keys and  deer  being  plentiful.  Our  subject,  as 
soon  as  possible,  set  about  the  cultivation  of  his 
land  and  his  industry  in  due  time  met  with  its 
legitimate  reward.  His  three  eldest  children  were 
born  in  the  first  log  cabin.  In  1855  he  put  up  a 
frame  house,  which  in  1809  was  abandoned  by  the 
family  for  the  present  modern  and  commodious 
dwelling,  which  is  presented  on  another  page  by  a 
fine  lithographic  engraving. 

Our  subject  was  first  married  in  1849  to  Miss 
Celia,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Jane  (Bell)  Mann. 
Mrs.  Westbrook  was  a  native  of  Putnam  County, 
Ind.,  and  died  in  Hunter  Township,  this  count}',  in 
March,  18C5,  leaving  five  children,  namely:  Will- 
iam H.,  Levi  M.,  Rachael  B.  (Mrs.  Webster  Collins), 
a  resident  of  Paris,  Charles  L.  and  Edward  R., 
(twins)  aiu>  Howard  A. 

Mr.  Westbrook  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
186(1  with  Miss  Susan  C,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Margaret  (Mayo)  Crumm.  Of  this  union  there 
were  born  five  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a 
daughter.  Minnie,  died  on  the  fifth  anniversary  and 


at  the  very  same  hour  of  her  birth.  Scott  M.,  died 
at  the  age  of  ten  months;  Joanna  E.  died  when  about 
five  years  old;  Walter  B.,  and  Mary  F.,  are  at 
home.  The  first  wife  of  our  subject  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  The  present  Mi's.  West- 
brook belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Our  subject  politically,  like  the  male  members  of 
his  family  since  1856,  is  a  warm  supporter  of  Re- 
publican principles.  He  has  held  the  school  offices 
of  his  district  for  the  long  period  of  thirty  years 
and  has  always  maintained  a  warm  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters.  He  has  taken  especial  pains  with 
the  training  and  education  of  his  children  and  has 
given  to  each  of  them  $2,000  as  a  start  in  life. 
They  are  doing  well  and  are  highly  respected  in 
their  community.  Socially  Mr.  Westbrook  belongs  to 
Prairie  Lodge,  No.  77,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  at  Paris,  and 
his  sons  who  are  old  enough,  also  belong  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity  in  which  Howard  A.  is  S.  W. 
of  the  Lodge.  Miss  Margaret  E.  Crumm,  a  sister  of 
the  present  wife  of  our  subject  has  been  a  helpful 
and  cherished  member  of  the  family  for  the  past 
twenty-two  years;  she  is  alse  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  a  great  worker  in 
the  Master's  cause. 

VtpS^ELSON  McCOLLUM.  In  the  career  of  the 
JJJ  subject  of  this  notice  we  have  that  of  a 
IH.-i^i  gentleman  who  in  his  younger  years  dev<  >ted 
himself  to  arduous  labor,  and  who  has  realized  in  a 
goodly  measure  the  results  of  industry  and  per- 
severance. He  began  life  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources  without  financial  aid,  ai.d  by  his 
courage  and  resolution  has  established  himself  in  a 
good  position  among  his  fellowmcn.  He  is  propri- 
etor of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Embarrass  Town- 
ship, besides  owning  other  property,  having  his 
homestead  on  section  29.  He  has  given  to  his  chil: 
dren  several  hundred  acres  of  land  and  otherwise 
provided  for  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  his  fam- 
ily. His  possessions  all  told  include  720  acres  of 
land  besides  town  property  in  Hume. 

A   native  of  Washington   Count}',  Pa.,  our  sub- 
ject was   born    Dec.   18,  1821,  and    is   the   son    of 


sco 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Daniel  and  Malissa  (Harris)  McCollum,  who  were 
likewise  born  in  that  county,  and  who  became  the 
parents  of  sixteen  children.  Nine  of  these  lived  to 
mature  years  and  live  are  still  living-,  namely: 
John,  of  Jefferson.  Greene  Co.,  Pa. ;  Nelson,  our 
subject,  Caleb,  of  Amity,  Washington  Co..  Pa.; 
Daniel,  also  within  that  county,  and  Demas,  of 
Waynesburg,  Pa.,  where  he  has  been  agent  for  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  a  few  years. 

Our  subject  received  a  limited  education  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  at 
an  early  age  was  required  to  make  himself  useful 
about  the  homestead.  He  assisted  his  father  in 
clearing  the  land  in  good  weather  and  studied  his 
books  when  it  was  raining.  He  remained  a  resi- 
dent of  his  native  county  until  a  man  of  nearly 
forty-three  years,  then  in  April,  1864,  set  his  face 
toward  the  Prairie  State  and  secured  a  portion  of 
the  land  which  constitutes  his  present  farm.  Hedid 
a  large  amount  of  pioneer  labor,  enclosing  his  fields 
witli  fences,  breaking  the  ground,  erecting  buildings, 
setting  out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  providing  for  the 
needs  of  his  family  and  caring  for  his  live-stock. 
A  few  years  of  arduous  labor  placed  him  upon  a 
solid  footing  financially,  and  he  began  investing 
his  surplus  capital  in  land,  which  has  proved  for  it 
a  safe  deposit,  impossible  of  transportation  by  the 
defaulting  bank  cashier. 

Iu  coining  to  Illinois  our  subject  was  accompanied 
by  his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Jane  Hathaway,  to  whom 
he  had  been  married  in  Pennsylvania,  March  2!), 
1848.  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Simeon 
Hathaway,  who  is  long  since  deceased.  She  like- 
wise was  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and 
was  born  Dec.  18,  1827.  This  union  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are 
now  living:  Florinda  became  the  wife  of  George 
Baber,  of  Indianapolis,  and  they  have  one  child. 
Nelson:  Salina  married  George  Boatman,  of  Paris, 
HI.;  they  have  no  children.  Simeon  married  Miss 
Lena  Cash,  and  they  are  living  on  a  farm  in  Young 
America  Township;  they  have  two  children — 
Walter  and  Nettie.  Nelson  married  Miss  Hattie 
(iossett.  of  Shiloh  Township;  they  have  no  chil- 
dren. Deborah  was  married  to  Albert  Stephen  and 
died  leaving  two  children,  Walter  and  Flora;  Emma 
is  the  wife  of  John  Will,  of  Bridgeport,   Fla..  and 


they  have  two  children — Olive  and  Archie;  Rob- 
ert. Hiram,  Jennie  and  Belle  are  at  home.  Mr.  Mc- 
Collum, politically,  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  no  ambition  for  office,  and  conse- 
quently mixes  very  little  in  public  affairs.  He  and 
his  wife  with  four  of  their  daughters  are  members 
in  good  standing  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  On 
account  of  his  wife's  health  Mr.  McCollum  intends 
going  lo  Florida  in  the  near  future. 


#•4* 


epfNDREW  KEYSER  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
'fiJIl  of  Edgar  County,  and  is  now  living  in 
Paris,  lie  was  born  June  13,  180l»,  in 
Belmont  County,  Ohio,  opposite  Wheeling, 
W.  Ya..  where  he  remained  until  1851.  Then  he 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  lie  married 
.Miss  Ann  Harris  in  March.  1831;  she  was  born  in 
Wheeling  March  21,  1808.  The  young  couple  op- 
erated a  farm  in  West  Virginia  for  five  years, 
when  they  came  to  Illinois,  having  become  tired  of 
the  hills  on  the  Ohio  River.  When  Mr.  Keyser 
removed  to  this  State  in  1857  Edgar  County  was 
comparatively  new,  and  there  was  but  a  small  por- 
tion of  the  tillable  land  improved.  Mr.  Keyser 
purchased  120  acres  of  land,  partially  improved, 
on  which  he  lived  until  188:5.  He  was  a  School 
Director  for  the  Sugar  Creek  District  and  promi- 
nent in  the  affairs  of  the  township.  His  wife  died 
Feb.  11.  1883,  at  their  home  in  Paris.  He  sold  his 
farm  in  1882,  and  removed  to  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Keyser  worshiped  at  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
many  years.  At  present  Mr.  Keyser  is  not  engaged 
in  any  business. 

Mr.  Keyser  is  the  father  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
but  four  are  living.  He  gave  three  sons  to  his 
country,  two  being  killed  in  the  battle  of  Chica- 
mauga  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  one 
died  at  Louisville  while  at  the  hospital.  Sarah 
married  Frank  Steward,  of  Bellefontaine,  Ohio; 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Richard  Davis,  they  are 
residing  at  Elmwood,  Peoria  Co.,  111.;  Eliza  mar- 
ried John  M.  Davis,  of  Paris;  Samuel  resides  in 
Paris  Township;  Oliver,  the  eldest  son,  enlisted  at 
the  beginning  of  the  war  in  Gen.  Grant's  old  retri- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


.sci 


merit,  the  2tst  Illinois,  lie  was  one  of  the  brave 
soldiers  of  that  gallant  organization,  and  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  Reuben  also  enlisted 
and  while  in  the  service  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.  The 
battle  of  Chickamauga  carried  away  another  son, 
William. 

William  Keyser,  father  of  Andrew,  was  a  native 
of  Belmont  County.  Ohio,  where  he  wasengaged  in 
farming  all  his  life.  He  married  Miss  Margarel 
Workman  and  they  reared  a  family  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  only  one  is  dead.  But  two  of  these  chil- 
dren are  in  Illinois.  Andrew  and  another  brother 
in  Peoria.  The  subject  of  this  notice  is  proud  of 
the  fact  that  he  was  able  to  furnish  three  soldiers 
from  his  family  to  fight  the  battles  of  his  country. 
This  country  will  always  honor  its  brave  defenders. 
and  the  men  who  survived  that  terrible  ordeal 
have  as  true  sentiments  of  patriotism  to-day  as 
when  they  left  the  old  home  for  the  front.  Wher- 
ever they  are  found,  in  all  questions  of  National  or 
State,  import  it  springs  forth.  It  is  not  spasmodic 
in  its  action  but  constant,  incorruptible  and  endur- 
ing. Wealth  cannot  bribe  it,  neither  ambition 
blind  it,  fear  cannot  intimidate,  nor  injustice 
change  it.  Mr.  Keyser  is  a  stanch  and  true  Repub- 
lican, and  in  1840  voted  for  Gen.  W.  II.  Harrison. 
and  forty-four  years  later  cast  his  vote  for  Benja 
min  Harrison.  Mr.  Keyser  now  draws  a  pension 
from  the  ( iovernment. 


iENJAMIN  I).  KELSHEIMER.  The  sub 
jeet  of  this  sketch  occupies  a  leading  posi- 
f/©))!/1  tion  among  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  Edgar 
^S^  Township,  and  has  a  homestead  chiefly 
built  up  by  himself,  consisting  of  166  acres  of 
well  tilled  land,  the  residence  being  on  section  8. 
lie  is  prominent  both  in  religious  and  political  cir- 
cles, being  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  is  District  and  Cir- 
cuit Steward,  also  Class-leader  and  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school.  He  identified  himself  with 
this  church  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  and  has 
since  been  active  in  religious  work.  Politically 
his  sympathies  are  decidedly  with  the  Republican 


party.  He  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways three  years  and  as  a  Director  in  his  school 
district  for  fourteen  years.  Possessed  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence,  he  is  thoroughly  well-in- 
formed, and  in  this  is  wonderfully  aided  by  a  most 
remarkable  memory,  especially  of  dates,  ill  which 
he  is  excelled  by  few.  Personally  he  is  a  "gentle- 
man to  the  manner  born."  courteous  to  all  nrouud 
him  and  of  that  genial  disposition  which  is  inclined 
to  look  on  the  bright  side  of  life. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Rockville,  Parke  County.  Ind.,  and  the  date 
of  his  birth  Oct.  15,  1833.  His  father,  .John  Kel- 
sheimer,  was  born  in  17S-J  in  the  State  of  Delaware. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Begandus  Kelsheimer, 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  arrived  in  America 
in  tune  to  take  a  hand  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
His  son,  John,  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker 
early  in  life  and  emigrated  to  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  of 
which  he  was  an  early  settler.  He  sojourned  here 
but,  a  brief  time  then  pushed  on  to  Sullivan 
County,  Ind..  whence  later  he  removed  to  Parke 
County  and  engaged  in  the  war  of  1812.  After- 
ward lii'  worked  at  his  trade,  and  also  entered 
eighty-five  acres  of  land  which  he  improved  and 
lived  upon  until  1845.  Then  selling  out  he  oper- 
ated again  on  rented  land.  He  did  not  live  to  be 
a  very  aged  man,  his  death  taking  place  in  1851, 
when  sixty -eight  years  of  age.  Politically  he  was 
a  sound  Democrat  and  in  religious  matters  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood 
Miss  Harriet,  Edwards.  She  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Columbus.  Ohio,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  Edwards,  who  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
and  after  his  marriage  settled  in  Sullivan  County. 
Ind.  He  met  his  death  accidentally,  being 
crushed  by  a  falling  building.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Sullivan  County,  and  during  the 
early  days  engaged  in  numerous  skirmishes  with 
the  Indians.  They  finally  kidnapped  Winston,  his 
son,  who  was  never  afterward  heard  of  by  the  fam- 
ily. The  mother  died  in  1846  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
four  years.  Both  were  prominent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  parental  famih 
included  eight  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son, 
John,   died    in    1887.      Two  of   his  sons    served    in 


862 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  army  during' the  late  Civil  War,  one  of  whom 
died  in  the  service,  and  the  latter  died  soon  after 
returning  home;  Thomas  died  early  in  life,  in 
1857;  Edward  is  living  in  Edgar  Township;  Will- 
iam died  in  1875,  and  Garrett  in  1851;  Benjamin 
D.,  our  subject,  was  the  eighth  child;  Margaret  A. 
died  in  1863,  and  Harriet  E.  in  1852. 

Until  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  Mr.  Kelsheimer  at- 
tended school  mostly  during  the  winter  season, 
his  text-books  being  a  speller  and  a  Testament. 
After  this  he  worked  for  his  brother,  William, 
until  reaching  his  majority.  He  then  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  on  rented  land  along  Otter  Creek, 
in  Vigo  Count}-,  Ind.,  and  was  quite  successful. 
He  lived  in  Indiana  until  1857,  then  came  to 
Edgar  County,  111.,  locating  in  Edgar  Township 
and  being  possessor  of  a  team  of  horses  and  $805 
in  money.  He  purchased  sixty-two  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  and  operated  upon  it  for  a  period  of 
seven  years.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  live- 
stock, and  rented  the  Houston  farm  of  160  acres, 
which  he  operated  for  two  years. 

In  1868  our  subject  returned  to  the  old  place, 
which  he  rented  until  1872.  He  then  purchased 
126  acres  of  it.  where  he  began  the  construction  of 
a  separate  homestead,  and  later  added  forty  acres, 
comprising  a  part  of  sections  11  and  14.  He 
planted  hedge  and  forest  and  fruit  trees,  set  out  a 
fine  orchard,  and  repaired  house  and  barn,  to- 
gether with  the  other  structures  necessary.  The 
land  is  plentifully  watered  by  a  living  spring,  and 
in  addition  to  that  which  is  under  cultivation  there 
are  seven  and  one-half  acres  of  native  timber. 
Mr.  Kelsheimer  pfakes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising, 
having  good  cattle  and  swine,  and  keeps  about 
seven  head  of  excellent  draft  horses,  utilizing  two 
teams  in  the  operation  of  the  farm. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Parke  County,  Ind.. 
•Ian.  7,  1866.  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Lewis,  who  was  burn 
in  Chicago,  111.,  Nov.  16,  1836.  Her  parents  were 
Reed  en  and  Rebecca  Lewis,  the  father  a  native  of 
Canada  and  the  mother  of  Ohio.  Upon  emigrating 
to  Chicago  Mr.  Lewis  engaged  in  teaming  until  his 
removal  to  Rockville,  Ind.  Mrs.  Kelsheimer  was 
brought  by  her  parents  to  Parke  Count)',  Ind., 
when  a  child  of  six  years  and  there  grew  to  wom- 
anhood.    Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  were 


born  three  children:  Edward,  Frank  and  Ivan. 
Mrs.  Kelsheimer  departed  this  life  at  the  homestead 
Dec.  2,  1888.  She  attached  herself  to  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  in  1868,  and  lived  a  consistent  member 
until  death. 


#~# 


-*— 


^  AMES  E.  VALE,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  J.  E.  &  C.  E.  Vale,  proprietors  of  the 
Kansas  Herald,  Kansas,  Edgar  County,  was 
born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  March 
31,  1833,  to  Eli  Vale,  (deceased),  who  was  a  native 
of  York  County,  Pa.,  and  came  to  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  in  pioneer  days,  being  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  Middleton  Township,  where  he  en- 
tered land  for  himself  and  his  father,  John  Vale, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  York  County,  Pa. 

Eli  Vale,  the  father  of  our  subject,  enlisted  in 
the  war  against  the  British  in  1812,  and  was  as- 
signed to  duty  in  the  division  of  the  army  engaged 
in  the  Coast  Defense  Service.  Like  a  true  patriot 
he  was  faithful  to  his  trust,  and  when  peace  was  de- 
clared had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  had 
done  his  duty  and  could  transmit  to  his  posterity, 
a  fitting  example  for  them  to  follow.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Annie  P.  Underwood,  a  native 
of  York  County,  Pa.  The  parental  family  consisted 
of  ten  children,  of  which  our  subject  was  the 
youngest.  The  names  of  the  others  are:  John  T., 
now  residing  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ohio;  Beulah 
(Conkle),  now  of  Fremont  County,  Iowa;  Susan- 
nah (Mrs.  Booth),  residing  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio;  Louisa,  now  Mrs.  Pyle,  of  Oskaloosa,  Iowa; 
Lewis  W.,  at  present  a  resident  of  Washington,  I). 
('. ;  I' rank  T.  B.,  of  Saline,  Kan.;  and  James  E.,  of 
whom  we  write. 

The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  Ohio  a  few 
years  ago,  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-live  years. 
His  mother  breathed  her  last  in  the  same  place  on 
April  26,  1833,  when  her  son,  our  subject,  was  an 
infant,  but  I  lie  Power  that  marks  even  the  sparrows 
fall,  gave  wisdom  and  strength  to  the  bereaved 
father  to  rear  the  child  to  a  noble  manhood. 

Mr.  Vale's  early  years  were  spent  on  his  father's 
farm,  attending  the  common  schools  in  the  winter, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


8*13 


and  learning  what  nature  could  teacb  him  in  the 
woods,  and  employing  himself  usefully  in  assisting 
the  other  members  of  the  family  in  their  work  on 
the  farm.  When  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  carriage-maker  in  Salem,  Ohio,  to 
learn  the  trade  and  served  him  four  years.  He  was 
married  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  Jan.  5,  185,r>.  to 
Miss  Angeline  Mel/.,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Metz.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vale  made  themselves  a 
cozy  borne,  and  as  the  years  rolled  by,  their  worldly 
circumstances  were  improved,  and  they  were  en- 
abled to  provide  the  comforts  of  life  for  the  ten 
children  which  came  to  their  home.  The  names  of 
the  nine  children  that  arc  now  living,  are  as  fol- 
lows: Laura,  Nettie.  Edmond  L.,  Llewella,  Lizzie, 
Charles  1'..  May,  Howard,  and  Rate.  Laura  mar- 
ried William  11.  Geisenhof,  and  resides  in  Sioux 
City,  Iowa;  she  is  the  mother  of  three  children — 
Ernest,  Vera,  and  an  infant  girl.  Nettie  wedded 
Dr.  David  T.  Stewart,  of  Hartley,  Iowa,  and  has 
one  child,  an  infant  girl;  Kdmond  married  Miss 
Jennie  Pugh,  and  lives  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  they 
have  one  child,  a  little  girl,  Nellie.  Llewella  and 
licit  Holland,  of  this  township,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, and  have  one  child,  Lctha;  Lizzie  married 
Frank  11.  Anthony,  who  is  at  present  working  on 
the  Kansas  Herald;  they  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Vale,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  came  to  this 
county  in  the  fall  of  18G5,  and  located  at  Vermill- 
ion Station,  where  he  followed  his  occupation  of  a 
wagon  and  carriage-maker.  He  also  worked  some- 
what at  the  trade  of  carpentering,  and  did  a  gen- 
eral wood  working  business,  uniting  with  his  other 
occupations  the  duties  of  undertaker.  Leaving  this 
place  in  1M72,  he  came  to  Kansas  and  purchased  a 
home,  and  has  made  this  place  his  home  ever  since. 
In  connection  with  his  son,  Charles  F.,  he  estab- 
lished the  Kansas  Herald  in  April,  1888.  Mr.  Vale 
is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  a  keen 
Observer,  and  a  good  business  manager,  and  with 
the  able  assistance  of  his  son.  who  manages  lliecdi 
torial  department,  is  carrying  on  a  prosperous  anil 
lucrative  publishing   business. 

Mr.  Vale  is  a  Mason,  and  has  been  Secretary  of 
the  Masonic  Lodge  for  eight  years.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  encampment,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  men.      lb;  is  ill 


addition  to  his  excellent  business  qualifications,  a 
fine  Christian  gentleman,  being  a  worthy  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  although  his 
early  training  was  according  to  the  belief  of  the 
Quakers.  Politically,  our  subject  exercises  his 
right  of  suffrage  in  favor  of  the  Republican  party. 

^-— sg^Jjj^c      :    ■ 

fF^OBERI'  T.  BERKSHIRE  is  a  son  of  Robert 
v4fi  and  Mary  Berkshire,  and  a  native  of 
Illinois,  in  which  State  he  was  born  July 
28,  1854,  in  Peoria.  His  grandfather  was 
Anthony  Berkshire,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
which  state  the  father  of  our  subject  was  also  born. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Ohio.  Her 
maiden  name  was  .Miss  Mary  VanFossin,  and  her 
ancestors  came  from  Germany  in  the  early  history 
of  our  country.  Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family 
of  seven  children,  who  were  named  respectively, 
Joseph,  Rebecca  A.,  Shedrick,  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Robert,  George  and  Eliza.  Joseph  is  a 
farmer  residing  with  his  wife  and  child  in  Edgar 
County;  Rebecca  A.,  died  ten  years  ago  in  Paris. 
She  was  the  wife  of  Zachariah  Jewell;  Shedrick  lives 
in  Licking  County,  in  Newark,  Ohio,  with  his  wife 
and  three  children;  George  is  unmarried  and  lives 
in  Edgar  County;  Eliza  is  Mrs.  Luther  Rhine- 
smith.  They  live  on  her  husband's  farm,  which  is 
southwest  of  Paris,  and  have  a  family  of  four 
children. 

When  our  subject  was  one  year  old  his  father 
moved  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Muskingum  County. 
They  resided  thereabout  twenty  years,  when  here- 
turned  to  Illinois  and  located  near  Metcalf,  where 
he  rented  a  place  and  occupied  it  until  his  demise, 
about  lifteen  years  ago.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject preceded  her  husband  to  the  better  land.  pa><- 
ing  from  the  loving  care  of  her  children  about 
sixteen  years  ago.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
always  an  ardent  Republican  and  dedicated  his 
ability  to  the  service  of  his  county.  For  several 
years  during  his  life  he  held  a  position  in  the 
County  Committee.  He  also  represented  the  voters 
of  his  district  at  several  important  conventions 
held  by  his  party  in  the  county. 


.sr,  4 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


December  18,  1884,  Mr.  Berkshire  and  Miss 
Emma  Bussart,  a  daughter  of  Otis  and  Ann  A. 
Bussart,  were  united  in  marriage  at  the  residence 
of  the  bride's  parents.  After  marriage  the  young 
couple  took  up  their  home  on  eighty  acres  of  land, 
which  they  leased  from  a  gentleman  in  the  vicinity. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berkshire  have  three  children,  who  are 
the  pride  of  their  hearts  and  the  delight  of  their 
home.  Mrs.  Berkshire  is  a  kind,  affectionate  wife  and 
mother,  a  good  neighbor  and  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Berkshire  is 
a  stalwart  Republican,  but  takes  very  little  active 
part  in  the  counsels'of  his  party,  and  has  so  far  suc- 
ceeded in  evading  the  responsibilities  of  office.  Al- 
though his  educational  advantages  were  limited  in 
his  youth,  he  has  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  fair  share 
of  knowledge,  principally  of  a  practical  kind. and  is  a 
pleasant,  intelligent  gentleman.  His  farm  is  located 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  northwest  of  Metcalf,  in 
section  24,  Young  America  Township,  Edgar 
County.  Their  children  are  named  Arthur  YV., 
born  Aug.  C,  18KG;  Anna  M.,  Aug.  19,  1887;  Will- 
iam H.,  March  10,  1889. 


•~v-v,-\*aj2i2"©3g<»' ! 


>>»S&a/z>OT*./>  -v/v»- 


ENRY  HARRISON   HURST.     This  gentle- 

k'  man  who  was  born  Jan.  10,  1813,  in  Harri- 
son County,  Ind.,  was  named  after  the  hero 
of  Tippecanoe,  for  whom  he  voted  at  the 
Presidential  election  of  1830-40;  with  no  less  en- 
thusiasm lie  voted  for  the  grandson  in  the  election 
of  1888.  He  was  first  identified  with  the  old  Whig 
party,  and  upon  its  abandonment  in  18f>G  allied  him- 
self with  the  Republicans,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  this 
party  has  not  a  more  ardent  or  conscientious  fol- 
lower in  its  ranks  than  he.  He  owns  a  snug  farm 
of  eighty  acres  on  section  30,  Embarras  Township, 
where  he  has  been  content  to  put  forth  his  best 
efforts  without  ambition  for  office,  and  has  conse- 
quently excelled  as  a  farmer.  In  1887  he  wisely 
retired  from  active  labor,  and  placed  his  son  Frank, 
in  charge  of  the  farm,  by  whom  it  is  now  operated. 
Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Elijah  and  Mary  (Lind- 
say) Hurst,  who  were  natives  of  Virginia,  but  who, 
leaving  the  Old  Dominion  at  an  early  date,  emigra- 


ted to  the  wilderness  of  Harrison  County,  Ind., 
and  settled  among  wild  animals  and  Indians  at  a 
time  when  salt  had  to  be  transported  from  beyond 
the  Alleghany  Mountains.  Elijah  Hurst  during 
his  early  manhood  fought  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
was  at  Tippecanoe  under  the  direct  command  of 
Gen.  Harrison.  To  him  and  his  excellent  wife 
there  was  born  a  family  of  twelve  children,  only 
three  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  William,  a  resident 
of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  aged  ninety-one  years; 
Henry  II.,  our  subject;  and  Lydia  (Mrs.  Boyer), 
of  (lark  County,  III.,  who  is  now  seventy-two 
years  old. 

Our  subject  studied  his  first  lessons  in  a  log  cabin 
in  his  native  county,  the  floor  of  which  was  pun- 
cheon, the  window-panes  of  greased  paper,  the  seats 
and  desks  of  slabs,  and  the  chimney  built  outside 
of  clay  and  sticks.  The  school  master  was  only 
required  to  be  able  to  write  and  cipher,  and  "taught 
the  young  idea  how  to  shoot"  largely  by  physical 
suasion.  Young  Hurst  grew  up  on  the  frontier 
with  well-developed  muscles,  and  the  habits  of  in- 
dustry which  have  served  him  so  well  in  later  years. 
He  lived  in  Indiana  until  1852,  and  then  at  theage 
of  forty  years,  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  es- 
tablished himself  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship, where  he  sojourned  until  March.  1858.  That 
year  he  entered  160  acres  of  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment in  Embarras  Township,  where  he  built  up 
the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  One 
roof  sheltered  him  until  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he 
put  up  a  neat  new  residence. 

Soon  after  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Hurst  was 
married  April  10,  1831,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Boyer, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
John  Boyer,  long  since  deceased.  The  Boyer  fam- 
ily emigrated  to  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  when  Miss 
Elizabeth  was  one  year  old,  and  there  the  parents 
spent  their  last  days.  Our  subject  and  bis  young 
wife  commenced  the  journey  of  life  together  in  a 
manner  corresponding  to  their  means  and  surround- 
ings, and  in  due  time  the  household  circle  embraced 
thirteen  children.  Eight  of  these  ore  living:  Mary 
M.,  became  the  wife  of  David  Hamilton,  lives  in 
Hume,  anil  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Sanford  and  Orris  (twins);  Joseph  T.  married  Miss 
Clarissa    Duley.    and    they    live     in    Montgomery 


l^?o? 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL   A  I. HTM. 


86  'i 


County.  Kan.;  they  have  eight  children — William 

L.,  Ulysses  S..  lira  D.,  Herbert  A..  Carrie  A.,  Jo- 
seph T.,  Elzie,  and  Rosa.  Elijah  E.  married  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Famiha;  they  live  in  Kansas.  Edgar  County, 
this  State,  and  have  four  children — Dora  A..  George 
M.,  .lames  1*\,  and  Maggie.  Anthony  W.  married 
Miss  Fanny  Elliott:  they  live  in  Wright  County, 
Mo.,  and  have  five  children — Fluta  I..  Ira  A..  Eva 
E..  Harry,  ami  Carrie  (twins).  William  M.  married 
Miss  Mary  F.  Burtner,  and  they  live  in  Champaign 
County.  111.;  they  have  five  children — Charles  II., 
Helle,  Myrtie  I.,  Ross,  and  Frank.  Lydia  A., 
Francis  H.,  and  R.  P.,  are  living;  Jane  mar- 
ried Isaac  Swanson.  of  Morris  County.  Kan.,  and 
they  have  two  children,  James  F..  and  Harry.  Mr. 
Hurst  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Meth- 
odist .Episcopal  Church  at  Brocton. 


:HOMAS  II.  CHAPMAN".  The  Chapman 
family  has  a  numerous  representation  in 
Illinois  and  the  branch  to  which  the  subject 
of  this  notice  belongs  has  long  been  recognized  as 
one  of  its  most  ci  editable  offshoots.  His  father, 
Samuel  Chapman,  was  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
I  Kirn  not  far  from  the  metropolis,  reared  in  this 
county,  and  it  is  believed  received  his  education  in 
the  city  school.  When  reaching  man's  estate  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Dawson,  a  native  of 
Virginia. 

In  1837  the  father  of  our  subject,  accompanied 
by  his  brothers.  Daniel  and  Wesley,  his  mother  and 
sister  Mary,  struck  this  county  on  their  way  to 
Texas,  stopping  for  the  winter  on  Clay  Prairie  in 
Hunter  Township.  The}-  were  so  pleased  with  the 
appearance  of  Illinois  and  so  hopeful  of  its  future. 
that  the  trip  to  Texas  was  abandoned  and  the  fam- 
ily located  in  Jasper  County.  III.,  about  I  .vis. 
They  settled  on  Crooked  Creek  in  what  is  now 
Granville  Township.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the 
Mexican  War  Samuel  Chapman  raised  a  company 
of  which  he  was  elected  Captain  and  made  prep- 
erations  to  go  to  the  scene  of  conflict.  Owing  to 
the  surrender  of  Gen.  Santa  Anna,  their  services 
were   not   required  and   they   disbanded,  returning 


home.  Samuel  Chapman  only  lived  a  few  months 
afterward,  his  death  taking  place  in  18  is.  five  days 
after  the  decease  of  his  wife,  and  their  remains 
were  laid  side  by  side  in  a  quiet  spot  on  the  old 
homestead.  They  were  the  parents  of  live  chil- 
dren. One  son,  William,  died  when  about  twenty- 
live  years  old;  Mary  is  the.  wife  of  Joseph  Cum- 
mins and  lives  in  Jasper  County,  this  Slate;  Louisa 
and  Emily  were  quite  small  when  taken  to  Texas 
where  they  remained  and  nothing  is  known  of 
them;  Thomas  II..  our  subject,  the  eldest  of  the 
family,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  Aug.  15,  1832, 
and  was  a  little  lad  of  five  years  when  he  came  to 
Edgar  County,  111.  lie  commenced  his  education 
in  the  common  school  and  finished  at  Hartsville 
College,  Ind.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  our  sub- 
ject, desirous  of  assisting  in  the  preservation  of  the 
Union  enlisted  in  1862,  in  Company  E..  123d  Illinois 
Infantry,  under  command  of  Col.  .1.  Monroe,  with 
the  three  years'  men.  Shortly  afterward  he  was 
taken  ill.  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  from  there  was 
discharged  in  November.  1862.  He  then  resumed 
the  study  of  medicine  to  which  he  had  given  some 
attention  prior  to  entering  the  army,  and  became 
especially  interested  in  diseases  of  the  eye.  Soon 
afterward  he  began  traveling  through  eastern  Illi- 
nois and  other  places  as  an  oculist  and  was  thus 
successfully  employed  for  five  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  time  he  concluded  to  set- 
tle down  upon  a  farm  and  in  due  time  became 
owner  of  282  acres,,  where  he  now  resides,  and 
from  which  he  has  constructed  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

In  1857  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarilda,  daughter  of  Jubal  and  Nancy  (Macy  ) 
Meadows,  natives  of  Virginia,  and  at  this  time 
residents  of  Edgar  County.  III.  Only  three  of  th? 
six  children  born  of  this  union  are  living,  a  daugh- 
ter and  two  sons.  Mary  Louise  is  at  home  with 
her  parents;  Thomas  II.  Jr.  married  Miss  Cora 
Martin  ami  they  live  at  tiie  homestead;  Charles  C. 
is  unmarried  and  a  resident  of  Arkansas;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Chapman  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  he  is  a  Royal 
Arch  Mason,  also  a  Sir  Knight  belonging  to  Strat- 
ton  Lodge,  No.  108.  lie  is  also  identified  with  tire 
<;.  A.  1\.  and  is  a  member  of   the   Protective  and 


868 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Detective  Association.  He  votes  the  straight  Re- 
publican ticket  and  is  frequently  sent  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  various  conventions,  attending  in  that 
capacity  the  Waterway  Convention  held  at  Peoria, 
111.,  in  1887.  He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
a  period  of  eight  years,  and  has  in  all  respects 
signalized  himself  as  a  wide-awake  and  useful  citi- 
zen, standing  second  to  no  man  in  this  community. 
A  fine  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Chapman  is 
shown  elsewhere  in  this  work. 


#HN* 


ANIEL  A.  COFFMAN.  Seldom  does  the 
J]  labor  of  man  persistently  followed  with 
one  aim  ami  object  in  view,  fail  of  suc- 
cess. He  who  begins  life  without  other 
resources  than  his  own  indomitable  will  and  perse- 
vering energy,  learning  to  overcome  discourage- 
ments and  finally  arriving  at  a  point  approaching 
the  top  of  the  ladder,  deserves  more  than  a  passing 
mention.  The  subject  of  this  notice,  the  Super- 
visor of  Grand  View  Township,  is  a  forcible  illustra- 
tion of  what  may  be  accomplished  by  a  man 
beginning  poor  but  honest,  with  little  education  or 
experience,  but  with  the  ambition  to  become  a  man 
among  men.  We  find  him  prominent  in  his  com- 
munity, the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
Grand  View  Township,  a  liberal  supporter  of  edu- 
cational and  religious  institutions  anil  in  all  respects 
a  useful  and  praiseworthy  citizen.  The  fact  that 
he  is  highly  spoken  of  by  those  who  have  known 
him  best  for  long  years,  is  sufficient  indication  of 
his  tine  character. 

Within  the  limits  of  Edgar  County  Mr.  Coffman 
has  spent  his  entire  life.  He  was  born  at  his  father's 
old  homestead  in  this  township,  March  21,  1844, 
and  is  the  son  of  William  Coffman.  a  native  of  Au- 
gusta County,  Ya..  a  brick  mason  by  trade  as  well  as 
a  contractors  n  d  builder.  The  great-grand- 
parents on  both  sides  of  the  house  emigrated  from 
Germany  during  the  colonial  days  and  settled  in 
the  Old  Dominion,  where  it  is  believed  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  great-grand 
father  Coffman  brought  with  him  his  seven  sons, 
admirable  specimens  of  pure   German   stock,  who 


transmitted  to  their  descendants  their  own  high 
qualities  of  honesty,  industry  and  love  of  truth. 
One  of  these,  Jacob  by  name,  was  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject  and  did  good  service  as  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  War. 

Mrs.  Lydia  (Acord)  Coffman,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  likewise  the  daughter  of  a  Revolu- 
tionary hero,  who  while  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  was  shot  through  the  body  just  above  the 
hip.  The  wound  was  probed  by  having  a  silk 
handkerchief  run  through  it,  and  the  victim  re- 
covered and  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.  William  Coff- 
man and  his  future  bride  grew  to  mature  years  in 
their  native  State  where  they  were  married  and 
lived  until  183G.  That  year,  emigrating  to  Illi- 
nois, they  came  to  this  county  and  settled  near 
Grand  View,  where  they  lived  a  couple  of  years, 
then  changed  their  residence  to  the  western  portion 
of  this  township,  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  days.  They  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
this  region,  doing  much  labor  and  enduring  in  com- 
mon with  the  people  about  them,  the  hardships  of 
life  on  the  frontier.  The  father  became  the  owner 
of  a  piece  of  land  and  died  April  30,  188;").  The 
mother  departed  this  life  Nov.  4,  1871,  fourteen 
years  prior  to  the  decease  of  her  husband. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living — a  most  remark- 
able circumstance,  perhaps  not  equaled  in  the 
county.  They  were  all  given  practical  educations 
in  the  common  schools.  Among  them  Daniel  was 
the  seventh  in  order  of  birth;  he  remained  with  his 
parents  contributing  his  earnings  to  the  family 
treasury  until  he  was  a  man  of  twenty-five  years. 
In  the  meantime  near  the  close  of  the  Civil  War, 
which  had  begun  when  he  was  a  mere  youth,  he 
enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier.  Feb.  15,  ]  8G/>,  in  Com- 
pany B,  154th  Illinois  Infantry.  This  regiment 
was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  near  Springfield,  and 
soon  afterwards  was  ordered  to  Louisville,  Ivy.; 
thence  they  were  sent  to  Nashville,  Tenn..  later  to 
Murfeesboroand  Tullahoma,  returning  to  Nashville 
without  being  required  in  any  active  engagement, 
and  soon  afterward,  the  war  being  at  an  end,  they 
were  sent  home,  mustered  out  and  discharged  Sep- 
tember 29,  of  that  same  year.  Four  brothers  of 
Mr.  Coffman  were  also  in    the  service.      Daniel  A. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHIC  AT.  ALBUM. 


SG9 


experienced  many  of  the  hardships  incident  lo  life 
in  the  army,  and  contracted  a  lung  trouble  from 
which  lie  still  suffers  considerably. 

For  some  years  after  returning  from  the  army 
Mr.  Coffman  was  in  very  pour  health,  hut  lie  la- 
bored  as  much  as  possible  on  the  farm  and  in  due 
time  prepared  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own.  He 
was  married  Xuv.  12,  1872.  to  Miss  Arabell,  a 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Eliza  (Willie)  Perry,  origi- 
nally from  Indiana,  but  at,  that  time  residents  of 
Douglas  County,  this  'State.  The  family  on  both 
sides  of  the  house  was  of  English  descent.  Mr. 
Perry  was  a  prominent  man  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Douglas]  County,  a  successful  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer,  and  possessed  an  unblemished  character. 
He  died  in  1884.  The  mother  is  still  living,  and  a 
resident  of  Douglas  County.  They  were  parents 
of  eight  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son,  Jef- 
ferson, entered  the  Union  army  during  the  Rebel- 
lion, was  Captain  of  Company  E,  79th  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Franklin. 
Tenn.  Another  son,  John,  was  alsoa  soldier  in  the 
Union  army,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Kansas. 

Mrs.  Coffman  was  the  seventh  child  of  her  par- 
ent- and  was  born  in  Clark  County.  Ind.,  July  31, 
1852.  She  received  a  good  education  and  success- 
fully passed  a  teacher's  examination,  receiving  a 
certificate  but.  never  using  it.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coffman  settled  upon  the  farm  which 
they  now  occupy,  and  which  our  subject  had  pur- 
chased a  short  time  previously,  and  had  already 
made  good  headway  towards  its  improvements. 
The  young  people  had  very  little  money  at  the 
outset,  but  by  living  economically  in  due  time 
found  themselves  financially  on  solid  ground. 

To  our  subject  anil  his  estimable  wife  there  were 
born  four  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  living 
— Vashie  E.,  now  (1889)  twelve  years  of  age;  Cora 
A.,  six  years  old.  and  Alon/.o  ().,  aged  two  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coffman  are  both  members  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
which  Mr.  Coffman  has  been  Steward  and  Trustee 
for  many  years,  anil  to  which  he  has  been  a  liberal 
contributor,  giving  $400  toward  the  erection  of  a 
church  edifice,  which  is  a  fine  structure,  and  an  or- 
nament to  the  town  of  Grand  View.  Mr.  Coffman 
politically    has.  since    becoming  a   voter,   been    an 


active  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has 
been  sent  as  a  delegate  to  many  of  the  county  con- 
ventions. He  attended  in  this  capacity  the  Senato- 
rial Convention  of  1888  at  Paris.  Socially  lie 
belongs  to  Grand  View  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  and 
to  Kansas  Post  G.  A,  R.  In  1870  he  was  Town- 
ship Assessor;  he  has  otlieiated  as  School  Director 
and  Road  Supervisor  and  is  serving  his  second  term 
as  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors. 
The  Coffman  homestead  comprises  240  acres  of 
finely  cultivated  land,  situated  on  the  main  road 
leading  from  Grand  Viewto  Martinsville.  With  its 
buildings  and  appliances  it  constitutes  one  of  the 
most  attractive  features  of  the  landscape  in  this 
region,  and  those  of  our  readers  who  have  never 
been  so  fortunate  as  to  see  it,  will  enjoy  the  fine  view 
of  the  house  presented  in  this  volume.  It  is  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  stock-raising,  of  which  the 
proprietor  makes  a  specialty,  having  at  the  present 
time  sixty  head  of  cattle,  200  head  of  fine  sheep, 
thirteen  head  of  horses,  including  some  very  fine 
animals,  and  about  100  head  of  hogs.  From  these 
various  sources  Mr.  Coffman  realizes  a  handsome 
income,  and  the  family  are  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Coffman  was  a  Tin- 
ted States  Surveyor  connected  with  the  Corps  of 
Surveyors  in  Tennessee. 


jjp^a  EAT(  )N  S.  RICE,  operates  620  acres  of  land 
^%^    situated    just     west   of  Hildreth    Station, 
VM)J)   which  he  rents  from  the  owners,  Loften  & 
Patterson.     He  was  born   Nov.  22.  1H34,  in 
Shelby   County,  Ky..  to   Strother  G.  and    Hannah 
(Underwood)  Rice,  both  natives  of  Shelby  County. 
Ky.    Grandfather  Rice  was  a  Virginian,  but  crossed 
the  mountains  to  Kentucky  for  a  bride.      She  was  a 
line  lady  of  the  old  school,  domestic   in   her  tastes 
and  motherly  in  her  nature.      She  raised  three  fam- 
ilies of  children.     The  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
cultivator  of  the  soil  by  means  of  which  he  gained 
a  livelihood    for  his   family,  but    devoted  his  Sun- 
days   and    other   spare    time  to  the  edification   of 
neighbors  and  friends,  ministering  to  their  religious 


870 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


needs  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Baptist  Church  until  lie 
laid  down  the  burden  of  life  when  about  forty-live 
years  of  age.  The  mother  of  our  subject  con- 
tinued in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health  until  the 
year  1881,  when  she  too  was  stricken  and  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  This  couple  had 
eighl  children — Lucy  Ann,  the  second  child,  died 
in  infancy;  S.  S.,  our  subject,  Elizabeth  F.,  James 
A.,  William  T.,  Charles  N..  and  John  II.  Lucy 
Ann  married  Jesse  Kennedy,  a  fanner.  She  died 
in  Putnam  County.  Ind.,  at  the  age  of  forty  years, 
leaving  five  children.  Elizabeth  F.  is  now  Mrs. 
John  W.  McKee  and  lives  in  Putnam  County,  Ind. 
She  has  three  children  living.  James  A.  lives  in 
Rochedale,  Putnam  County, Ind.,  where  he  follows 
the  occupation  of  a  brick  mason.  He  is  married 
and  has  seven  children.  During  our  late  war  he 
served  his  country  in  the  Union  army,  gallantly 
battling  a!ong  with  his  comrades  in  an  Indiana  rc_i- 
iment.  William  T.  died  about  nine  years  ago, 
leaving  a  widow  and  one  child.  Charles  N.  de- 
parted this  life  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age. 
John  II.  is  single,  and  resides  in  Edgar  Township, 
where  he  follows  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 

When  Mr.  Rice  was  two  years  old  his  parents 
removed  to  Putnam  County.  Ind..  where  they  pur- 
chased land  and  farmed  it  with  wisdom  and  energy. 
The  father  also  preached  there,  and  they  continued 

to  make  that  their  1 le  during    life.      In  August, 

1856,  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J. 

Catherwood,  at  the  bride's  1 ie  in  Putnam  County, 

Ind.  Putnam  County  was  also  the  birthplace  of 
Mrs.  Rice  and  her  home  until  marriage.  After 
marriage  the  young  couple  rented  a  farm  and  op- 
erated until  August,  1874,  when  they  removed  to 
Edgar  County,  this  State,  when  they  again  rented 
land  and  followed  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice 
have  had  but  one  child  of  their  own.  They  have, 
however,  'cared  as  their  own,  Charles  William 
AloilZO,  a  son  of  William  T.  Rice.  He  is  now 
about  eighteen  years  of  age  and  gives  promise  of 
well  repaying  the  love  and  care  bestowed  upon  him 
by  his  uncle  and  aunt.  They  have  also  an  adopted 
child.  Ora  E.  King,  who  is  brighl  and  intelligent, 
and  no  doubt  will  he  the  means  of  demonstrating 
the  words  of  the  Holy  Writ  that  "  bread  cast  upon 
the  waters  will  return  after  ninny  days." 


Politically  Mr.  Rice  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
served  his  district  as  School  Director  and  Road 
Supervisor.  In  religious  life  he  assists  in  support- 
ing the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  communion 
his  wile  finds  a  congenial  home.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  tall, 
well  built  man.  with  a  pleasant,  genial  expression 
of  countenance.  His  nature  is  simple-hearted, 
honest  anil  sincere,  and  he  is  good,  honest,  up- 
right citizen. 

—><?<-•■ — 

/^Sy  IIARLES  P.  HITCH.  It  is  an  interesting 
(l(  ^-,  part  of  the  history  of  any  city  or  county  to 
^i^7  observe  the  different  characteristics  of  the 
men  and  women  whose  life  records  are  therein  por- 
trayed, and  notice  the  varying  ways  by  which  they 
have  mounted  the  ladder  of  success.  Some  seem 
to  have  fortune  thrust  on  them  unawares,  while 
others  after  years  of  exertion  seem  to  have  reached 
only  the  lower  rounds  of  that  ladder,  by  which  we 
would  climb  from  the  "lowly  earth  to  the  vaulted 
skies."  We  often  in  a  philosophic  mood,  inquire, 
whence  this  difference?  Usually  it  is  the  result  of 
the  individual  traits,  which  vary  among  us  all. 
Those  who  possess  the  greatest  endurance,  the 
most  patience,  the  highest  ambitions,  and  the  lof- 
tiest aims,  are  those  who  are  successful  in  life, 
lint  combined  with  this  there  must  be  excellent 
business  qualifications  for  a  commercial  success,  or 
winning  qualities  of  a  high  order  for  a  political 
success.  These  combined  will  make  a  man  popu- 
lar both  with  the  people  and  the  government. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  of  a  noble  old  En- 
glish family,  and  inherited  perhaps,  some  of  his  ex- 
cellent qualities.  Others  are  the  result  of  years  of 
study  and  observation.  In  theory  the  life  of  a 
man  of  this  character  is  of  great  interest,  but  in 
practical  life  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance. 

Charles  P.  Hitch.  U.  S.  Marshal  for  the  South- 
ern District  of  Illinois,  and  Grand  Recorder  of  the 
A.  ().  P.  W..  for  the  jurisdiction  of  Illinois,  is 
one  of  the  hest  known  residents  of  Edgar  County, 
where  he  lived  for  more  than  twenty  years.  He 
was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  Jan.  III.  I860. 
his  parents  being  Benjamin  F.,  and  Laura  A. 
(White)  Hitch.  The  family  originally  came  from 
England,  and  settled  in  this  country.  Three  broth- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


871 


ers,  .lolm.  Benjamin,  and  Hardy  Hitch  came  from 
England  sonic  time  after  Lord  Baltimore  founded 
liis  colony  in  Maryland.  John  and  Benjamin 
made  their  homes  on  the  eastern  coasl  of  that 
State;  Hardy,  who  was  a  sea-faring  man,  settled  in 
New  Bedford,  Mass.;  Benjamin,  who  was  great- 
crreat  grandfather  of  Charles  P.  Hitch,  married 
Mary  Pitt,  a  member  of  the  distinguished  English 
family  of  thai  name.  Four  children  were  born  to 
them,  the  youngest,  Thomas,  being  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject.  He  was  born  Aug.  7.  177.">, 
and  clieil  Feb.  22,  1862,  when  he  was  in  his  nine- 
tieth year.  He  had  eight  children,  of  whom  six 
lived  to  be  more  than  sevent3'  years  of  age.  His 
eldest  son.  John,  was  grandfather  of  him  of  whom 
we  write,  lie  was  born  in  Maryland,  June  24, 
1794,  and  in  17:>7  was  broughl  by  his  parents  to 
Kentucky,  they  settling  near  Augusta  in  Bracken 
County.  In  the  spring  of  L813,  John  Hitch  made 
a  journey  on  a  keel-boat  down  the  Licking,  up  the 
Ohio  t<>  the  Kanawha,  then  up  the  latter  river  to 
the  salt  works,  a  venturesome  trip  for  a  youth  of 
less  then  nineteen  years.  Procuring  six  barrels 
iif  that  precious  article  he  made  tln>  return  in  safe- 
ty, and  then  sold  the  salt  to  his  neighbors  for 
twenty  five  cents  a  peek,  it  having  before  that  sold 
for  lifty  cents. 

About  this  time  Gov.  Shelby  issued  his  call  for 
volunteers  to  fight  the  British  and  Indians,  and 
John  Hitch  was  one  of  the  first  to  offer  his  servi- 
ces. He  fought  under  Gen.  Harrison  at  the  battle 
Of  the  Thames,  where  the  Indian  chief.  Tecnmseh, 
was  finally  overpowered  and  killed.  John  Hitch 
was  a  brave  and  daring  soldier,  and  was  one  of  ten 
intrusted  with  the  carrying  of  important  dis- 
patches, a  duty  which  he  invariably  performed  to 

the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  commander.  After 
the  war  he  returned  to  the  quiet  of  his  home,  hut 
sunn  emigrated  to  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  arrived  April  12,  181  I.  In  January  of  the  year 
following  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nancy  Simmons.  In  this  county  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  at  Bantam,  Ohio,  Jan. 
23.  1876. 

Benjamin  F.  Hitch,  father  of  Charles  1'..  was 
the  eldest  son  of  John.  He  was  born  at  Laurel, 
Clermont    Co.,  Ohio,    April    18,    1818,   and    thus 


is  now  in  his  seventy-second  year  (1889).  He 
was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  ami  one  of  the 
earliest  lessons  he  conned  in  the  book  of  experi- 
ence was  the  meaning  of  the  term,  hard  work.  He 
assisted  his  parents  in  building  up  a  home  in  the 
wilderness,  and  in  clearing  away  tin-  primeval  for- 
ests. He  remained  with  his  parents  until  hi-  mar- 
riage, which  took  place  Dec.  is.  [838,  his  bride 
being  Miss  Laura  A.  White,daughter  of  Firman  and 
Polly  White.  Sonu  after  his  marriage  he  began 
the  business  of  wagon-making,  which  he  left  fin-  a 
time  to  embark  in  milling,  at  Elk  Lick  Hills,  on 
the  Last  Fork  Cr.ck.  He  continued  in  the  latter 
business  until  about  the  year  1853,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Bantam  and  again  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  wagons,  carriages,  etc.  on 
quite  an  extensive  scale  from  that  time  and  place. 
Attracted,  however,  by  the  greater  possibilities  of 
the  new  West  he  sold  his  business,  reserving  his  real 
estate  and  removed  to  Mount  Pleasant, Iowa,  where 
for  a  time  he  engaged  in  farming.      Not  liking  that 

country  as  well  a-  he  hail  expected  to  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  and  repurchased  his  former  business, 
which  he  carried  on  until  1st;.")  on  a  large  and  in- 
creasing scale.  During  the  war  he  took  the  con- 
tract for  making  hames  and  harness  for  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  in  that  business  accumulated  a  con- 
siderable fortune.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
changed  his  place  ot  residence  to  New  Richmond, 
Ohio,  twenty  miles  from  Cincinnati,  and  there 
erected  a  large  manufactory  for  the  making  of 
carriages  of  all  kinds.  He  conducted  that  business 
for  live  years,  then  gave  it  up  to  his  elder  sons 
and  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Bantam.  But  he 
was  not  content  to  retire  from  active  life,  and  so 
established  a  general  merchandise  store,  dealing  in 
all  sorts  of  articles,  trading  for  stock,  tobacco,  etc. 
In  1S.S7  he  made  a  speculation  in  tobacco  from 
which  he  cleared  over  $15,000.  About  this  time 
his  sons  sold  the  carriage  business  to  an  uncle,  and 
they  too  returned  to  Bantam.  Again  the  father 
turned  the  business  over  to  them  and  this  time  he 
retired  from  active  life,  and  is  now  devoting  his 
attention  to  the  oversight  of  his  line  large  farm 
near  Bantam.  He  is  now  seventy-one  \  ear- i  if  age, 
his  wife  being  sixty-nine,  and  on  the  18th  of 
December,  1888,  they  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 


872 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


ding  anniversary,  on  which  occasion  a  large  num- 
ber of  their  descendants  and  friends  were  present. 
He  has  always  been  an  active  man,  but  cared 
more  for  his  business  than  for  public  office.  He. 
however,  believes  in  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can  party  and  uniformly  votes  that  ticket. 

Benjamin  F.,  and  Laura  A.  Hitch  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  namely:  Mary  Elizabeth, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Albert  G.  Justice,  died  at 
Bantam;  Frank  A.,  is  a  merchant  of  Amelia,  Ohio; 
Levi  W.,  is  a  merchant  in  Bantam,  of  which  town 
he  is  Postmaster  under  the  Harrison  administra- 
tion. He  carries  on  the  store  formerly  conducted 
by  his  father,  and  is  also  interested  in  farming: 
John  W..  is  in  the  stock  business  at  Walnut  Hills. 
Cincinnati;  our  subject  was  next  in  order  of  birth; 
the  youngest  is  Anna  Belle,  wife  of  Prof.  W.  S. 
Plynn,  Principal  of  the  North  District  at  Cincin- 
nati. 

Charles  1'.  Hitch  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
when  he  commenced  the  course  at  Parker's  Acade- 
near  New  Richmond,  where  he  finished  his  educa- 
tion. From  that  institution  he  went  to  New  Rich- 
mond, and  entered  his  uncle's  dry-goods  store  as  a 
clerk.  lie  remained  with  him  until  18G9,then  came 
to  Edgar  County.  His  first  occupation  here  was  as 
clerk  in  the  dry-goods  of  A.  C.  Connely  in  Paris, 
with  whom  he  staid  for  years.  In  1873  he  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  County  Clerk,  which  position  he 
held  for  eight  years.  In  1881  he  was  elected 
Grand  Recorder  of  the  A.  O.  V.  W„  holding  that 
position  up  to  the  present  time.  In  1872-73  he 
served  a  term  as  City  Clerk  of  Paris,  and  in  1884 
was  elected  Alternate  Delegate  to  the  Republican 
National  Convention  in  Chicago,  which  nominated 
James  G.  Blaine  for  President;  and  in  1888  was  a 
regular  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  ami 
voted  for  Gen.  Harrison  for  President,  on  the 
fourth  ballot  with  two  other  delegates  from  Illi- 
nois. He  was  one  of  the  State  delegates  who  voted 
continuously  for  Harrison  until  he  was  nominated. 
On  May  24,  188(J.  Mr.  Hitch  was  appointed  to  the 
responsible  position  of  United  States  Marshal  for 
the  Southern  District  of  Illinois,  taking  possession 
of  his  office.  July  1,  1889. 

For  fifteen    years  Mr.   Hitch  has  had  a  faithful 


helpmate  and  companion  in  the  person  of  his  wife, 
who  has  been  a  sharer  of  his  joys,  and  a  comforter 
in  time  of  trouble.  With  her  Mr.  Hitch  was  united 
in  marriage  Dec.  25,  1874.  She  was  in  her  youth 
.Miss  Mary  I.  Huston,  daughter  of  Dr.  Raul  Hus- 
ton, a  physician  ami  surgeon  of  Paris.  She  was 
born  in  that  city  Dec.  17,  184'.).  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  one  child, 
Lucy  W. 

Mi'.  Hitch  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  is 
a  member  of  the  Paris  Lodge.  No.  2(58,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.;  of  Edgar  Chapter,  No.  32.  R.  A.  M„  and 
is  likewise  a  member  of  Apollo  Lodge,  No.  58.  K. 
of  P.  and  of  Austin  Lodge  No.  664,  I.  ( ).  O.  F.  A 
gentleman  of  unblemished  character  and  of  decided 
ability,  with  which  he  combinesa  genial  and  courte- 
ous mannerjie  has  hosts  of  friends,  and  wields  a  con- 
siderable interest  in  social  and  political  circles.  He 
faithfully  discharged  the  many  responsible  duties 
entrusted  to  him,  and  everyone  who  knows  him 
is  pleased  with  his  well  deserved  success  and  ad- 
vancement. 


-«-N3*£H-i~^ 


1TIRAIM  TOWNSON.     In  Young  America 
on     section    12,    is    located     the 


|(ri        Township 

dL^  homestead  of  Mr.  Townson  who  was  born 
in  Winchester  County,  Md.,  Feb.  28,  1829.  His 
parents  were  likewise  natives  of  that  State  and  of 
English  ancestry.  His  father,  Ephraim  Townson. 
died  a  month  prior  to  the  birth  of  his  son.  When 
Ephraim  was  eight  or  nine  years  of  age  his  mother 
emigrated  to  Marion  County,  Ind.,  where  she 
married  a  farmer  by  the  name  of  Charles  Britten- 
ham. 

Mr.  Brittenham  came  to  Edgar  County  about 
forty  years  ago  and  settled  probably  seven  miles 
west  of  Paris,  where  he  rented  a  farm.  Subse- 
quently he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Cherry 
Point  in  Ross  Township,  where  his  death  took  place 
prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  late  Civil  War.  His 
widow,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  survived  until  the 
spring  of  1805.  Of  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Townson 
there  were  born  two  children  only,  our  subject 
and  his   sister,    Eliza.     The    latter  married  a  Mr. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


87:i 


Reed  and  died  in  Indiana  several  years  ago,  leav- 
ing a  family.  By  her  second  marriage  the  mother 
of  our  subject  had  two  more  children — Samuel  and 
Nancy — who  arc  both  deceased.  The  former 
served   in  the   Union  Army  and  died  about  seven 

years   ago. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  upon  the  outbreak  of 
the  Rebellion,  enlisted  in  an  Illinois  Regiment,  but 

before  he  could  be  mustered  into  service  he  was 
taken  ill  with  typhoid  fever  and  obliged  to  accept 
his  discharge.  Upon  his  recovery,  however,  here- 
enlisted  in  Company  K.,  59th  Illinois  Infantry  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nash- 
ville. He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
received  his  final  discharge,  June  Hi.  1865.  He 
had  been  married  in  October,  1853,  to  Miss  Martha 
A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Charlotte  Hawkins. 
Mrs.  Townson  was  born  in  Edgar  County.  Her 
mother  died  in  1857.  Her  father  is  still  living 
near  old  Bloomfield  and  is  now  about  seventy-five 
years  of  age. 

Since  his  return  from  the  army  Mr.  Townson 
has  followed  farming  and  is  now  operating  on  200 
acres  of  rented  land.  Ten  children  have  been 
born  to  him  and  his  estimable  partner,  namely: 
America,  Sarah  A.,  Charlotte,  Kanada,  Mary,  Ida 
A.,  Ilattie,  Nancy,  William  and  Ellen.  America 
became  the  wife  of  Morgan  Wasson  by  whom  she 
had  two  children  ;  Mr.  Wasson  died  about  nine  years 
ago;  Mrs.  Wasson  is  living  near  Camargo,  Douglas 
County,  this  State,  with  her  second  husband.  James 
Heck,  by  whom  she  is  the  mother  of  one  child. 
Sarab  is  the  wife  of  John  Smith,  a  farmer  living 
near  Cisco,  in  I'iatt  County;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren; Charlotte  died  when  twenty-three  years  old; 
Kanada  is  the  wife  of  Elsie  Roberts,  a  farmer  and 
has  one  child:  Mary  married  Kellcy  McKec.a  pros- 
perous farmer  living  next  to  his  father-in-law,  Mr. 
Townson,  and  they  have  four  children;  Ida  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Mclvee,  a  brother  of  Kelley ;  they 
have  one  child  and  live  in  Ross  Township;  Ilattie 
is  the  wife  of  Alfred  Walls,  a  school  teacher,  resid- 
ing in  Indianola.  and  they  have  one  child ;  Nancy 
is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Smith  and  lives  on  a 
farm  south  of  Metcalf;  William  and  Ella  remain 
at  Ik  line  with  their  parents. 

Mr.   Townson    has   been  a  hard-working  man  all 


his  life.  Since  his  return  from  the  army  his  health 
has  been  delicate,  but  he  has  nevertheless  been  a 
persistently  industrious  man.  Theii  married  chil- 
dren   have  done   well  and  are  comfortably  situated 

in  good  I les.      Although  receiving  but  a  limited 

education,  on  account  of  his  father'.-,  early  death, 
Mr.  Townson  is  nevertheless,  a  man  of  good  general 
knowledge,  lie  is  honorable  and  fair  in  his  deal- 
ings with  his  fellow  men  and  of  very  correct  and 
frugal  habits.  He  gave  to  his  children  a  practi- 
cal education  and  taught  them  haliits  of  industry, 
together  with  those  high  moral  sentiments  which 
have  made  of  them  upright  and  praiseworthy  citi- 
zens. In  politics,  he  is  a  sound  Republican.  He 
has  held  no  public  office,  being  content  to  quietly 
meet  and  discharge  the  duties  of  a  private  citizen 
and  give  such  attention  to  his  home  and  his  family 
as  will  secure  the  most  comfort  and  happiness 
there. 


M~ON.     WASHINGTON    ALEXANDER     is 

01)  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Edgar  County, 
and  has  played  well  his  part  in  shaping  its 
'>(£©/  history.  He  came  here  at  the  age  of 
twelve,  in  1820.  His  father,  John  B.  Alexander, 
was  a  native  of  Meeklenberg  County,  N.  C,  where 
he  was  born  in  1765  and  where  he  lived  until  a  short 
time  before  his  marriage  to  Miss  Barbara  Kinir, 
who  was  a  native  of  Scotland.  He  then  moved  to 
Elbert  County,  Ga.  In  his  youth  he  learned  the 
fulling  business  but  after  attaining  his  majority  he 
followed  farming.  In  1*04  he  removed  from 
Georgia  to  Williamson  County.  Tenn,  where  he 
was  one  of  the  early  pioneers. 

Washington  Alexander  was  born  June  3,  1808 
anil  was  the  eleventh  of  a  family  of  twelve  children. 
In  1811  his  father  removed  to  Lincoln  County, 
Tennessee,  where  he  continued  farming,  and  there 
Washington  commenced  attendinga  private  school. 
In  1818  his  father  again  changed  his  location  to 
Lawrence  County,  Ala.,  that  being  the  second  year 
that  laud  was  placed  on  the  market  there.  The 
family  only  remained  in  Alabama  two  years,  when 
they  embarked  in  a  "prairie  schooner"  Or  covered 
!    wagon  and  started  for  Illinois.    When  they  arrived 


874 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Edgar  County,  the  hind  had  not  been  surveyed 
by  the  Government.  They  finally  located  on  the 
Little  Vermilion  River,  four  miles  west  of  George- 
town, there  being  but  one  family  in  that  locality 
at  the  time.  Henry  Johnson  had  been  there  two 
months.  There  the  Alexanders  constructed  a  cabin 
and  lived  the  first  winter.  The  country  at  that 
time  was  overrun  with  wild  game.  In  the  spring  of 
1821  they  removed  to  near  where  Baldwinsville now 
stands.  Here  the  elder  Alexander  purchased  a 
quarter  section  of  land,  on  which  he  remained  until 
1825,  making  the  usual  improvements.  He  then 
went  four  miles  west  of  whore  Georgetown  now  is, 
and  there  entered  a  farm,  remaining  on  this  place 
until  the  children  were  grown.  He  then  went  to 
Danville  and  spent  his  last  years,  dying  there  in 
1850.  He  was  a  prominent  factor  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  country,  and  in  the 
early  days  held  many  responsible  positions.  He 
was  at  one  time  Commissioner  of  Clark  County, 
and  in  182:!,  he  was  commissioned  as  the  first  Post- 
master at  Paris.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature 
in  1826  as  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  parly. 
Mr.  Alexander  was  eighty-five  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  while  his  wife  was  eighty-one 
years  of  age  when  she  was  called  away. 

Washington  Alexander  lived  with  his  father  at 
the  various  places  mentioned  above,  until  he  was 
twenty-six  years  of  age.  when  he  began  selling 
goods  at  Georgetown.  lie  afterward  removed  to 
Paris,  then  a  town  struggling  for  existence,  and 
containing  but  a  few  families,  and  on  his  removal 
carried  with  him  a  stock  of  general  merchandise, 
latterly  building  up  a  good  trade.  He  was  in 
partnership  with  his  brother,  (Jen.  Alexander. 
The  postofflce  was  connected  with  the  store,  but 
the  mails  in  those  days  were  not  overloaded.  The 
postage  ranged  from  six  and  a  quarter  cents  to 
twenty-five  cents  and  the  mail  arrived  at  Paris 
every  two  weeks,  not  over  a  dozen  letters  being  in 
each  mail.  In  1832  Mr.  Alexander  enlisted  in  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  His  first  enlistment  occured  in 
Vermilion  County,  111.  He  then  went  to  Joliet 
and  joined  the  command  there,  but  for  some  rea- 
son was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  He  subse- 
quently enlisted  in  the  regiment  that  was  formed 
in  this  county,  which  was  stationed  at  that  time  at 


the  mouth  of  the  Little  Vermilion  River,  where  it 
empties  into  the  Illinois  River,  then  known  as  Ft. 
Wilburn.  The  command  was  then  ordered  to  Dixon, 
from  there  it  marched  to  Ft.  Hamilton  up  the  Peca- 
tonica  River  in  the  Galena  lead  mine  district,  from 
Ft.  Hamilton  went  up  Rock  River  and  on  this 
march  they  got  short  of  provisions.  They  finally 
marched  over  to  the  Portage  between  Fox  and  Wis- 
consin livers,  thence  returned  to  Gen.  Atkinson's 
headquarters  on  Rock  River,  then  pursued  the  In- 
dians and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe,  from 
there  returned  home.  All  of  this  occurred  from 
May  to  August.  After  being -mustered  out,  Mr. 
Alexander  the  next  year  began  merchandising 
in  Georgetown  and  the  following  year  came  to 
Paris  and  remained  until  1845.  He  was  elected  to 
the  Legislature  on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  1844, 
and  served  one  term. 

In  1833  Mr.  Alexander  in  company  with  his 
brother-in  law.  Col.  I.  R.  Moores,  made  a  journey 
to  Philadelphia  on  horseback.  They  also  went  to 
New  York,  the  object  of  the  trip  being  to  buy 
goods,  and  at  this  time  they  took  their  first  ride  on 
a  railroad.  The  goods  were  shipped  to  Chicago  by 
canal  and  lake  and  then  transported  to  Georgetown 
by  team.  In  1850  Mr.  Alexander  crossed  the  plains 
with  ox-teams,  starting  in  the  middle  of  March 
and  arriving  at  Placerville,  Cal.,  August  28.  He 
stopped  in  the  mines  and  engaged  in  digging  for 
gold  until  1854,  when  he  came  home  by  the  way  of 
the  Isthmus  and  New  York.  After  his  return  he 
engaged  in  farming  quite  successfully.  He  origi- 
nally owned  ten  acres  of  ground,  where  the  second 
ward  of  Paris  is  now  located,  which  is  known  as 
"Alexander's  Addition"  and  on  this  land  Lincoln, 
Douglas,  Cassius  M.  Clay,  Owen  Lovejoy  and 
Voorhes  spoke  at  different  times.  Mr.  Alexander 
was  well  acquainted  with  these  distinguished  gen- 
tlemen and  knew  Lincoln  when  he  was  practicing 
in  the  courts  here. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Alexander  has  not  been 
actively  engaged  in  business  except  in  the  sale  of 
real  estate.  He  never  has  sought  office,  being  of 
a  retiring  nature,  and  very  modest.  He  held  the 
office  of  Deputy  Internal  Revenue  Collector  dur- 
ing the  war.  this  appointment  being  tendered  him 
by  reason  of  his  special  fitness  for  the  position.    He 


1 


Residence  of  W.  D.  Marley,5ec.3.  Elbridge  Tr,  Eusar  Co. 


Old    house  at  Baldwinville. 


■.a*feSfec^'-y .  U;;;  ,:-g;^w 


■     ■■■■■  a->-  "•■''  - 


■■-.n^V/"  r  ,■,;,•:■■■:',.■,•■,  ,V  ,..;-r-r- y-->-- -.    ,,..   ,■..,,  ...■.^....■.■i -.,....■..... ,-,-,.J,-.^...- T1Wy».-.-.^g 


Residence  or  J.  Y.  M-.Culloch  ,Sec.9.  Hunter  Township,  Edgar  Co. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BI<  ><  I  KA  1'IIICAL  ALBUM. 


877 


has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
years,  and    is    ever  found    ready  to  do  his  share  in 

alleviating  the  sorrows  of  this  world.  lie  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Young,  of  Paris,  March  2.">, 
1841.  By  this  marriage  five  children  have  been 
born,  of  whom  two  are  living — Ravilla  C.  and 
Frank  R.  They  are  at  home  with  their  father. 
Mis.  Alexander  w:is  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Sept, 
29,  1821.  where  she  received  her  education.  Her 
father.  Jonathan  Young,  was  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, where  be  married  Miss  Sarah  McFarren  and 
removed  to  Cincinnati,  and  from  there  to  Edgar 
Count}-,  where  he  entered  a  section  of  land  just 
west  of  Paris.  He  lived  in  town  until  his  death 
which  occured  in  August,  18G8.  His  wife  died  in 
December,   1880. 

*  WILLIAM  D.  MARLEY.  For  more  than 
\/\//i  ^ly  years  Mr,  Marley  has  been  a  resident 
Ww  of  this  county,  and  is  now  numbered  among 
its  wealthiest  and  most  prominent  citizens.  Like 
many  of  his  compeers,  he  has  arisen  from  a  modest 
position  in  life,  and  practically  without  means  com- 
menced the  struggle  in  the  pioneer  days,  which  has 
resulted  in  his  becoming  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners in  this  count}',  and  closely  identified  with 
its  growth  and  development.  His  homestead  is 
finely  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Marley's  Station, 
where  he  first  settled  in  183G,  on  eighty  acres  of 
land  lying  on  section  3.  Elbridge  Township.  Later 
he  traded  it  for  a  160-acre  farm  in  Jasper  County, 
this  State,  where  be  resided  two  years,  but  not  I  ic- 
ing satisfied  with  the  country  in  that  section,  re- 
turned to  this  county,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a 
resident.  He  first  farmed  on  rented  land  two  sea- 
sons, then  purchased  eighty  acres  east  of  where  his 
residence  now  stands,  and  to  it  he  has  added  until 
he  holds  the  warranty  deeds  to  1,500  acres,  all  in 
Elbridge  Township. 

Mr.  Marley  has  been  uniformly  successful  in  his 
[abors  as  an  agriculturist,  and  of  late  years  has  made 
a  specialty  of  cattle-raising,  shipping  mostly  to 
Indianapolis.  For  the  proper  carrying  on  of  this  in- 
dustry  bis  farm  is  equipped  with  all  modern  con- 


veniences, while  he  avails  himself  of  modern 
machinery  and  the  appliances  requisite  for  farming 
anil  stock-raising  in  the  most  economical  and  profit- 
able manner.  He  is  a  stock-holder  in  the  First  Na- 
tional  Hank  at  Paris,  and  has  given  his  uniform 
encouragement  to  those  measures  adopted  for  the 
moral  and  financial  growth  of  the  people  among 
whom  he  has  attained  prosperity,  and  with  whose 
interests  he  has  been  closely  allied  during  the  period 
of  his  long  residence  in  the  county. 

Randolph  County.  X.  C.  is  the  native  place  of 
our  subject,  bis  birth  occurring  .Inly  31,  1818.  He 
attended  the  common  schools,  acquiring  a  limited 
education  therein,  but  what  he  lacked  in  advantages 
was  supplied  by  his  habit  of  observation  and  the 
faculty  of  keeping  himself  well-informed  upon 
what  was  going  on  around  him  in  the  world.  His 
parents,  John  and  Lillie  (Fields)  Marley,  were  like- 
wise born  and  reared  in  Randolph  County,  N.  C, 
and  were  of  Irish  descent.  John  Marley  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  and  two  or  three  of  his  broth- 
ers served  as  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
William  learned  shoemaking  of  bis  father,  and 
worked  with  him  until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years, 
manufacturing  foot  gear  for  the  slaves  of  one  man, 
for  which  he  was  paid  forty  to  fifty  cents  per  day. 

Finally  becoming  dissatisfied  with  bis  condition, 
and  his  prospects,  young  Marley  struck  out  for  the 
North,  reaching  this  county  Nov.  27,  1836.  Not 
long  afterward  he  abandoned  shoemaking  altogether 
and  turned  bis  attention  to  farming  pursuits. 
When  ready  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  he  was 
married,  in  1838,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Yeargin,  a  na- 
tive of  his  own  county,  and  who  came  to  Illinois 
with  her  parents  when  quite  small.  The  family  of 
the  latter  comprised  nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Marley  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth,  and  of  whom 
live  are  now  living. 

Twelve  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Marley,  only  four  of  whom  survive. 
George  is  operating  a  mill  in  Paris;  Henry  is  a 
resident  of  Vermilion;  Firman  is  farming  in  El- 
bridge Township;  James  also  operated  a  farm  there 
and  officiates  as  Township  Supervisor.  Politically, 
Mr.  Marley  supports  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can parly,  but  has  had  very  little  to  do  with  public 
affairs,  simply  holding  the  office  of  Supervisor  one 


878 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


year.     The  standard  of   agriculture  and  stock-rais- 
ing lias  undoubtedly  been  greatly  elevated  through 

the  efforts  of  Mr.  Marley,  who  entertains  a  justifi- 
able pride  in  his  achievements  in  this  line. 

In  his  pleasant  home,  a  view  of  which  appears  in 
this  volume,  Mr.  Marley  lives  quietly  and  happily 
in  the  society  of  a  devoted  wife,  and  surrounded 
by  all  the  comforts  of  a  rural  home. 


•*$** 


l@ 


|OHN  Y.  McCULLOCH,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  and  successful  farmers  of 
Hunter  Township,  occupies  a  homestead  of 
400  acres  which  possesses  for  him  a  far  more 
than  moneyed  value,  as  it  was  here  he  was  born  Jan. 
12,  I  820.  Besides  this  he  is  the  owner  of  100  acres 
near,  all  of  which  is  in  productive  condition  and  is 
the  source  of  a  handsome  income.  The  McC'ulloch 
family  came  to  this  county  at  an  early  day  and  are 
numbered  among  its  most  prominent  and  influential 
citizens.  They  are  people  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence  and  have  exerted  no  small  influence 
in  elevating  the  moral  and  social  standard  of  so- 
ciety. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Otis  and  Ann 
(McCulloch)  McCulloch  who  emigrated  from  Mas- 
sachusetts to  Illinois  about  1820,  making  the  jour- 
ney by  canal  and  lake  to  Ft.  Wayne  and  thence 
down  the  Wabash  to  Dukes  Ferry,  End.,  and  from 
that  point  to  Hunter  Township,  this  county,  where 
the  father  entered  a  part  of  land  comprising  the 
present  homestead.  The  mother  lived  only  a  few 
years  thereafter,  passing  away  in  1828  when  nel- 
son, our  subject,  was  a  little  over  two  years  old. 
Later  the  father  returned  East  and  was  married  to 
Miss  Zeruah  Crocker,  a  native  of  New  York  State. 
who  only  lived  four  years  after  her  marriage,  dying 
also  at  the  home  farm.  Of  the  first  marriage  there, 
had  been  born  four  children,  of  whom  John  Y.  was 
the  only  one  who  lived  to  mature  years. 

The  third  wife  of  Otis  McCulloch  was  Mrs.  I.  B. 
Keys  and  they  became  the  parents  of  one  daughter, 
Ann,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  II.  Lamb,  of  Tus- 
cola. The  father  died  in  1860  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years  and  his  last  wife  died  in  1875.     Mr.  McCul- 


loch was  the  first  to  come  di recti}'  from  New  Eng- 
land to  Illinois  without  stopping  on  the  way.  The 
land  in  this  region  was  then  chiefly  owned  by  the 
Government  and  the  present  farm  of  our  subject 
included  the  original  town  site  of  Cambridge  which 
town  long  since  became  a  thing  of  the  past.  Our 
subject  remembers  when  the  Indians  often  passed 
through  the  country  and  wild  animals  of  all  kinds 
were  abundant.  The  nearest  market  during  the 
earlier  days  was  at  Terre  Haute,  Lid.,  where  they 
purchased  whatever  they  needed  for  the  farm  and 
family,  including  salt  and  nails. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
James  McCulloch,  who  enjoyed  the  personal 
acquaintance  of  Gen.  Washingtonand  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  married  Miss  Sarah 
Otis,  the  daughter  of  a  prominent  family  and  while 
serving  in  the  Continental  Army  was  at  the  sur- 
render of  Burgoyne's  army  at  Yorktown.  There 
he  got  possession  of  a  young  horse  which  he  kept 
until  it  was  thirty-six  years  old,  and  our  subject  now 
has  a  pair  of  saddlebags  made  from  the  hide  of  the 
animal.  Prof.  Ilurty  of  Paris  took  these  saddlebags 
to  New  Orleans  during  the  late  exposition,  where 
they  were  gazed  upon  by  thousands  as  a  valuable 
relic  of  the  past. 

On  the  mother's  side,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  John  Otis  of  Scotch  ancestry  in 
which  country  also  originated  the  McCuIlochs. 
John  Y.,  our  subject,  was  married  in  Cook  County, 
111.,  to  Miss  Olive  II.  Plumb,  daughter  of  Saxlon 
and  Harriet  (Roberts)  Plumb.  Mr.  Plumb  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut  and  when  a  child  of  tvvo  years 
was  taken  by  his  parents,  James  and  Eunice 
(Minor)  Plumb  to  Vermont  where  he  was  reared 
and  where  the  grandparents  died.  After  the  death 
of  the  mother  in  Vermont  the  father  of  Mrs. 
McCulloch  came  to  this  county  and  died  here. 
Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  J.  T.  Butler  of  Dakota.  Otis 
and  Hattie  died  at  the  ages  of  eighteen  months  and 
twenty-six  years  respectively.  The  survivors  are 
James,  George,  Esther,  John  and  Julia. 

The  old  barn  which  the  father  of  our  subject 
built  six  months  before  the  birth  of  the  latter  and 
in  which   were   held  religious  services  many  years 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBFM. 


879 


ago,  stood  until  1867  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
At  the  time  of  its  raising  men  came  from  thirty 
miles  away  to  assist.  The  country  was  thinly  set- 
tled and  few  people  had  neighbors  nearer  than 
several  miles.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  which  the 
father  was  an  active  and  zealous  worker. 

On  another  page  of  the  Ai.ium  will  lie  found  a 
lithographic  view  of  the  residence  of  Air.  and  Mrs. 
McCulloch  with  its  beautiful  and  homelike  sur- 
roundings. 

..NDREW  JACKSON  BAR  Til.  hi  noting 
■WiL]  the  career  of  the  leading  men  of  Young 
America  Township,  that  of  the^subject  of 
this  notice  cannot  with  propriety  be  omit- 
ted. He  bears  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  its 
most  energetic  and  industrious  citizens,  intelligent. 
a  first-class  business  man.  prudent,  frugal  and 
careful  in  his  expenditures,  by  which  means  he  has 
built  up  one  of  the  neatest  homesteads  in  his 
township,  the  land  thoroughly  tilled  and  well  im- 
proved, yielding  to  the  proprietor  not  only  a 
comfortable  income  for  the  present,  but  some- 
thing to  lay  up  for  a  rainy  day.  It  is  finely 
located  on  section  21.  and  is  the  object  of  admira- 
tion by  all  who  pass  by  it  as  denoting  more  than 
ordinary  thrift,  good  management  and  cultivated 
taste.  It  stands  prominently  among  the  substan- 
tial landmarks  which  the  old  and  respected  resi- 
dents of  Edgar  County  will  leave,  together  with 
their  honorable  names,  as  a  rich  legacy  to  their 
children. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  in  Rick- 
away  County.  <  >hio,  on  the  1 8th  of  September,  1818, 
and  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Catherine  (Barth) 
Barth.the  families  bearing  no  relation  to  each  other. 
Both  were  of  German  descent  and  natives  of  Ger- 
many. They  were  married  in  Columbus.  Ohio, 
and  afterward  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  where 
the  father  was  first  employed  as  a  weaver,  but  sub- 
sequently occupied  himself  in  farming.  The  pa- 
rental household  included  twelve  children,  of 
whom   there  are  living:    Henry,  Andrew  Jackson 


(our  subject),  Jacob,  Henrietta.    Francis   A.,  Mary 

Ann.  Nellie  and  Carolina  (deceased).  The- others 
died  in  infancy  and  youth.  Henry  is  a  stonemason 
by  trade,  and  is  married;  he  resides  at  Chrisman, 
and  is  the  father  of  three  children.  During  the 
late  Civil  War  he  was  a  member  of  Company  A. 
25th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  fought  in  the  battles  of 
l'ea  Ridge,  Murfreesboro  and  Mission  Ridge,  being 
wounded  at  the  former  place.  Jacob,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  the  father  of  four  children,  is  farming 
near  Cherry  Point;  Henrietta  is  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Williams,  a  farmer  of  Brooks  County.  Kan.,  and 
they  have  one  child;  Francis  A.  is  married,  and 
farming  near  Chrisman.  Mary  Ann  and  Nellie 
are  unmarried,  and  reside  with  their  father  north 
of  Chrisinan.  Carolina,  became  the  wife  of  Mark 
Tucker,  a  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Cherry  Point, 
and  died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-eight  years, 
leaving  four  children. 

Mr.  Barth.  like  his  brothers  and  sisters,  received 
a  common-school  education,  and  when  reaching 
man's  estate,  chose  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  for 
his  vocation.  When  ready  to  establish  a  home  of 
his  own.  he  was  married,  March  1  J,  187-1,  to  Miss 
Cynthia  Ellen,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Henrey)  Tucker,  who  were  natives  of  Kentucky. 
The  young  people  after  their  marriage  settled  on 
farm  near  Cherry  Point,  where  they  lived  until 
1882.  That  year  our  subject  purchased  111  acres 
on  section  2  1.  in  Young  America  Township,  ami 
besides  this  he  leases  forty  acres.  Five  children 
have  been  born  to  him  and  his  excellent  wife,  viz: 
Cora  Ann,  Clara  Belle,  Walter  F.,  Lottie  Ellen  and 
William  A. 

A  Demociat  in  politics  and  a  man  of  decided  views 
and  opinions,  Mr.  Barth  has  been  prominent  in  local 
affairs,  and  represented  his  township  in  the  County 
Convention  of  1888.  He  is  at  present  a  member 
of  the  Township  Committee,  and  is  likewise  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  and  Drainage,  and  very 
efficient  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  He  is 
highly  in  favor  of  thorough  drainage,  and  is  active 
in  the  encouragement  of  the  enterprise  involving 
the  letting  of  contracts  for  over  fifteen  miles,  in 
which  it  is  proposed  to  construct  a  canal  fifteen 
miles  long,  twenty  to  thirty  feet  wide  and  eight  to 
nine  feet  deep.     It    is   estimated    that    the  cost  of 


880 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


this  will  aggregate  probably  over  825.000,  but  the 
results  to  be  obtained,  it  is  believed,  will  amply 
justify  the  outlay.  Mr.  Barth  has  been  Township 
Collector  of  Young  America,  and  for  many  years 
has  served  as  School  Director  in  his  district.  Both 
he  and  his  excellent  wife  are  prominently  connected 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Barth 
keeps  himself  thoroughly  posted  upon  current 
events,  and  is  a  gentleman  with  whom  it  is  both 
pleasant  and  profitable  to  converse. 


"*OHN  RHOADS,  Esq.,  Justice  of  the  Peace 
of  Embarras  Township,  is  worthy  of  more 
than  a  passing  notice.  A  sun  of  one  of 
its  earliest  settlers,  he  was  born  in  Sims 
Township,  Edgar  County,  on  the  13th  of  March. 
1 828,  and  practically  grew  up  with  the  country. 
While  he  was  securing  a  limited  education  in  the 
pioneer  log  school-house  the  immigrants  were 
slowly  settling  up  this  section  of  Illinois,  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  be  of  service  he 
joined  them  in  their  labors  of  reducing  a  portion 
the  wilderness  to  the  abode  of  a  civilized  and  en- 
lightened people.  He  is  pardonably  proud  of  the 
fact  that  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  fur 
the  long  period  of  sixty-one  years,  having  sojourned 
here  almost  uninterruptedy  during  his  entire  life. 
Mr.  Rhodes  has  made  for  himself  an  admirable 
record  as  an  honest  man  and  a  good  citizen,  and 
one  who  has  been  closel}'  identified  with  the  best 
interests  of  his  county.  He  has  discharged  with 
fidelity  the  duties  of  the  various  local  offices,  has 
accumulated  a  comfortable  property  and  reared  a 
very  intelligent  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  lie 
comes  of  excellent  Kentucky  stock,  being  the  son 
of  Jacob  Rhoads,  who  was  born  in  Mublenburg 
County,  where  he  lived  until  1822.  Then,  when  a 
young  man  grown,  he  emigrated  to  the  West  and 
settled  live  miles  south  of  Paris,  in  what  is  now 
Sims  Township,  Edgar  County,  taking  up  his  abode 
among  the  Indians  and  wild  animals.  The  red  men, 
however,  were  peaceable  and  he  experienced  no 
molestation  from   them.      He  battled  with  the  ele- 


ments of  life  on  the  frontier,  being  obliged  to  get 
his  mail  and  do  his  trading  at  Terre  Haute,  hid., 
fifteen  miles  distant.  Besides  deer,  turkeys  and 
other  game,  there  were  wolves,  bears  and  panthers 
roaming  amid  the  heavy  timber  where  lie  estab- 
lished his  cabin  home,  but  he  escaped  all  dangers 
from  these,  felled  the  trees,  prepared  the  soil  for 
cultivation  and  opened  up  a  good  farm,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  departed  this 
life  May  2,  1857. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Elizabeth  Ripple;  she  was  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  Ripple,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Edgar 
County.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were 
born  nine  children,  three  only  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.:  Letitia,  Mrs.  Mapes;  Alney  M..and  John. our 
subject.  The  eldest  child.  Eve.  married  a  Mr.  Fos- 
ter, and  went  to  Iowa  forty  years  ago  and  has  not 
been  heard  from  since  during  the  war.  The  mother 
was  bom  in  1788  and  died  in  October,  1859;  she 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  probably  of 
German  ancestry,  as  she  fluently  spoke  this  lan- 
guage  with  a  mixture  of  the  Penns3'lvania  Dutch. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  at  the  old 
homestead,  pursuing  his  early  studies  in  the  winter 
season,  mostly  in  a  log  cabin  school-house,  with 
puncheon  floor  and  scats  and  desks  made  of  the 
same,  these  upheld  by  wooden  pins  driven  into  the 
wall;  greased  paper  for  window  panes,  clapboards 
for  the  roof,  a  huge  fireplace  occupying  nearly  one 
end  of  the  building,  anil  the  chimney  outside  built 
of  earth  and  sticks.  The  plan  of  instruction  was 
in  keeping  with  the  surroundings,  the  teacher  not 
being  expected  to  possess  a  classical  education. 
Young  Rhoads  lived  contentedly  on  the  farm  with 
his  parents,  seldom  going  outside  the  limits  of  his 
own  township,  and  never  living  outside  of  the 
county. 

Remaining  under  the  home  roof  until  a  man  of 
twenty-three  years  our  .subject  was  then  married, 
April  13.  1851.  to  Miss  Sydney,  daughter  of  Leven 
Walls,  who  is  long  since  deceased.  The  young 
couple  spent  the  first  few  years  of  their  wedded  life 
in  Sims,  then  in  18(13  established  themselves  on  a 
farm  in  Luck  Township.  Later,  in  the  spring  of 
1880,  they  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Hume,  where 
they    sojourned    two  years,  and   from  there  move.) 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


881 


in  the  present  homestead .  This  comprises  sixty 
acres  "f  well-tilled  land  which  is  highly  productive, 
supplied  with  good  buildings  and  is  in  all  respects 
a  neat  and  comfortable  home. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rhoads  then/  have  been  born 
eight  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter, 
Itosella,  became  the  wife  of  Bruce  Nays,  of  this 
county,  and  they  have  four  children — Arthur  C, 
Blanche,  Fred  and  Claude  S.;  I. aura  is  the  wife  of 
Ira  N.  Lilley,  of  Muck  Township;  their  one  child  is 
deceased.  Clara  E.  is  the  wife  of  Stephen  Lamb- 
din  of  Marshall,  Clark  Co..  III., and  they  have  three 
children — Edna  Y..  Tessie  C.  and  Mabel  V.  Isa- 
belle  F.  married  Willis  O.  Miller,  of  Shiloh  Town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children — Omar  L.  and 
Ethel.  Emily  C.  is  the  wife  of  Gilead  Honeywell. 
of  Bucks  Township,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Ivan  II.  and  Ben  lab  F. ;  John  R.  and  Henry  II.  are 
with  their  father.  IN  I  is.  Sydney  Rhoads  departed 
this  life  March  2(1.  1889.  She  was  a  very  estimable 
lady  and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  for  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years.  Our 
subject  is  also  connected  with  this  church,  and  is 
numbered  among  its  chief  pillars.  Politically,  he 
votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  Township  Collector,  Supervisor  and 
Highway  Commissioner,  lie  was  elected  -Justice 
of  the  Peace  in  the  spring  of  1889, and  is  evidently 
well  qualified  for  the  office. 


r=5>LI.lAll  W.ANDREWS.  The  popular  idea 
■■Sj  that  anybody  can  carry  on  farming  success- 
,  ! — ^  fully,  has  long  been  exploded,  and  we  find 
that,  as  in  other  channels  of  industry,  farming  has 
become  an  art  and  a  science,  and  is  being  carried 
on  by  the  most  intelligent  portion  of  mankind. 
Those  who  are  blessed  with  intellectual  gifts  find 
here  full  scope  for  their  imagination,  ami  amid 
the  peaceful  shades  of  rural  life  have  been  penned 
some  of  the  finest  thoughts  ever  given  to  the  world. 
Mr.  Andrews  has  long  been  known  as  a  writer  of 
prose  and  poetry  of  more  than  ordinary  talent,  and 
through  the  columns  of  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer, 
under  th<'  nam  de  plume  of  ••  Poliuta,"  has  obtained 


a  national  reputation,  and  the  most  complimentary 
notices  probably  ever  given  to  any  man  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  Prairie  State.  lie  loves  the  country, 
and  has  established  one  of  the  pleasan  test  and  most 
attractive  homes  in  the  rural  regions,  occupying  a 
portion  of  section  'J.  Embarras  Township.  This 
comprises  200  acres  of  choice  land  on  section  'J. 
the  greater  part  of  which  is  operated  by  his  sons. 
His  residence  is  specially  an  object  of  attention, 
standing  as  it  does,  on  a  fine  elevation,  command- 
ing a  broad  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  and 
being  in  the  midst  of  those  pure  airs  so  beneficial 
to  the  health  and  spirits. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  in  Warren 
County.  N.  . I.,  and  the  date  of  his  birth  Sept.  7, 
1819.  His  father,  Jacob  Andrews,  was  a  native  of 
the  same  State,  and  of  German  parentage.  He  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  at  which  he  worked  in  New 
Jersey,  and  where  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Twav. 
who  was  born  in  that  State.  They  became  the  pa- 
rents of  eight  children,  only  three  of  whom  are 
living,  viz.:  Ann,  Mrs.  Wurman ;  Catherine.  Mrs. 
I  lendrickson,  and  Elijah  W.,  our  subject.  The  pa- 
rents spent  their  last  years  in  New  Jersey. 

Our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  carriage  and 
wagon  maker  from  his  father,  serving  his  appren- 
ticeship early  in  life  and  working  at  it  for  several 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  became  a  skilled  work- 
man, and  once  made  a  wagon  in  Paris  which  sold 
in  St.  Louis  for  *17o.  He  had  been  reared  to 
man's  estate  on  the  farm,  receiving  an  ordinary  ed- 
ucation but  having  the  habit  of  observing  what  was 
going  on  around  him  in  the  world,  and  a  taste  for 
reading  and  study  by  which  he  became  well  in- 
formed, and  carefully  cultivated  his  literary  tastes. 

In  1845  our  subject,  leaving  his  native  State,  mi- 
grated to  Dayton.  Ohio,  where  he  sojourned  nine 
years,  then,  in  1854,  changed  his  residence  to  Ed- 
gar County.  HI.,  settling  in  Paris  when  it  was  only 
a  small  village.  Afterward,  during  the  Civil  War, 
he  entered  the  Union  service  as  one  of  the  sappers' 
and  miners'  regiment,  with  which  he  remained  some 
months,  operating  mostly  around  Cape  Girardeau, 
Mo.  In  1865  he  became  a  resident  of  his  present 
place  in  Embarras  Township. 

The  Kith  of  June,  1849,  witnessed  the  marriage 
of  our  subject    with  Miss    Elizabeth,  daughter  of 


882 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Abel  Johnson,  who  is  long  since  deceased.  This 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  a  son,  Francis  M..  married  Miss 
Lucy  Crawford,  and  lives  in  Buck  Township. 
They  have  six  children:  Lizzie  B.,  Trevor  C, 
Edna.  Clara  M.,  Clarence  E.,  and  Howard  M.  Clara 
is  the  wife  of  Douglas  Ilybarger,  of  Buck  Town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children:  Floyd  and  Flos- 
sie E.  Ella  is  the  wife  of  Halleck  McCulley.  of 
Buck  Township,  and  they  have  one  child,  Arthur. 
Mis.  Elizabeth  (Johnson)  Andrews  departed  this 
life  July  HI.  1881.  Mr.  Andrews  lives  easily  and 
sensibly,  giving  largely  of  his  time  to  literal}'  pur- 
suits, and  carefully  avoiding  the  responsibilities  of 
office.  Politically  he  advocates  the  principles  of 
the  Prohibition  party  at  the  present  time. 


\f  OllN  R.  HONNOLD.  Kansas  Township 
contains  many  wealthy  and  enterprising 
men  who  have  proved  their  industry  and 
progress  by  their  surroundings,  and  who 
have  given  to  the  world  a  fine  illustration  of  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  steady  perseverance  amid 
difficulties  and  drawbacks.  Few  travelers  passing 
through  this  portion  of  Edgar  County  fail  to  ob- 
serve the  llonnold  farm,  which  occupies  320  acres 
on  section  1,  and  forms  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
homesteads  of  that  region.  The  dwelling  is  a  neat 
and  substantial  modern  structure  and  is  represented 
in  this  volume  by  a  lithographic  engraving.  The 
barn  adjacent  fulfills  the  modern  idea  of  what  such 
a  building  should  be  in  all  its  appointments,  and 
is  a  marvel  of  the  builder's  art  especially  in  point 
of  the  interior,  being  complete  in  its  arrangements 
for  the  storage  of  grain  and  hay  and  the  shelter  of 
stock.  Of  the  latter  Mr.  Honnold  keeps  none  but 
high-grade  animals:  and  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil  he  employs  the  most  improved  modern  ma- 
chinery and  in  consequence  realizes  handsome 
returns.  As  a  man  and  a  citizen  he  has  led  an  irre- 
proachable life,  is  progressive,  liberal  minded  and 
the  uniform  eneourager  of  those  measures  set  on 
foot  for  the  general  good  of  the  people. 

The   native  place  of   our  subject  was  near   the 


town  of  Otsego  in  Muskingum  County.  Ohio, 
where  his  birth  occurred  Aug.  17,  1834.  His 
father,  Richard  Honnold.  was  a  native  of  Loudoun 
County,  A'a..  and  was  born  May  17,  1812.  1 1  is 
paternal  grandfather  was  James  Honnold,  also  a 
native  of  Loudoun  County  and  of  German  parent- 
age. The  family  consisted  of  seven  brothers,  one 
of  whom  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  settled  in  the  Old 
Dominion.  It  is  believed  that  they  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  the  character  of  their  de- 
scendants is  sufficient  evidence  that  they  were 
honest,  substantial  people  who  paid  their  just  debts 
and  made  a  comfortable  living  for  their  families. 

The  father  of  our  subject  learned  blaeksmithing 
in  his  early  manhood  and,  being  skillful  with  edged 
tools,  also  followed  carpentering  considerably, 
doing  all  his  own  work  in  these  lines.  When  es- 
tablishing a  home  of  his  own  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Hannah  Bradford,  the  daughter  of  John  Brad- 
ford, direct  descendant  of  Gov.  Bradford  of  Vir- 
ginia. Mr.  John  Bradford  settled  in  Loudon 
Count}',  that  State,  where  his  daughter,  Hannah, 
was  born  Jan.  25,  1812.  Of  her  marriage  with 
Richard  Honnold  there  were  born  twelve  children, 
nine  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years  and  eight  yet 
survive,  namely:  James  L.,  John  R.,  our  subject; 
Hannah  J.,  Mrs.  Sutton;  Benjamin  W.  of  Winfield, 
Kan;  Sarah  E.,  Mrs.  Stradley  of  Hume,  111.;  Samuel 
F.,  Elizabeth  M.,  Mrs.  Yenawine;  and  Mary  [■'.. 
Mrs.  Fell.  With  the  exception  of  Benjamin  and 
Mrs.  Stradley  they  are  all  residents  of  Kansas 
Township.  One  son,  Jefferson,  during  the  Civil 
Wor,  enlisted  in  Company  H,  59th  Illinois  Infantry 
and  met  death  on  the  battle  field  at  Iluntsville, 
Ala.  The  deceased  children  died  in  infancy.  Ben- 
jamin also  served  in  the  late  war  and  receives  a 
pension  from  the  government  as  a  partial  compen- 
sation for  services  rendered  and  injuries  sustained. 

Mr.  Honnold  took  up  his  residence  in  this 
county  in  September,  1  855,  settling  first  with  his 
parents  on  section  3  in  Kansas  Township.  At  the 
homestead  which  they  then  built  up,  the  father 
died  in  1.S77.  The  mother  is  still  living  there,  hav- 
ing now  attained  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 
John  R.,  like  his  brothers  and  sisters,  acquired  his 
early  education  mostly  in  the  chimney  corner  by 
the  light  of  the  evening  fire,  attending  school  only 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


883 


about  two  months  each  for  a  few  winters.  The 
school  house  was  a  log  cabin  built  in  the  most 
primitive  style,  with  split  log  seats  and  floor. 
greased   paper  for  window   panes  and   the  writing 

desks  held  to  the  wall  by  rude  wooden  pins.  The 
teacher  was  usually  in  keeping  with  Ins  surround- 
ings and  generally  enforced  his  precepts  by  the  free 
use  of  the  rod. 

Being  fond  of  his  books  young  llonnold  managed 
to  secure  a  fair  amount  of  practical  knoweldge 
and  finally  developed  into  a  teacher,  which  profes- 
sion he  followed  for  seven  winters,  five  terms  of 
which  were  in  tic  building  now  used  by  Mr.  John 
McAdams  for  a  cow  stable.  During  the  summer 
season  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  /arm.  He  has 
always  been  fond  of  agriculture  and  chose  this  for 
his  vocation.  Shortly  after  his  twenty-fourth  birth- 
day he  took  unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate, 
being  married  Sept.  2:5,  1858,  to  Miss  Frances  1!  . 
daughter  of  John  D.  Mock,  and  a  native  of  Nor- 
wich, Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born 
Oct.  7.  1838.  Mr.  Mock  came  to  Edgar  County  in 
1854  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Kansas  Township. 
Of  this  union  there  were  born  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living:  Susan  is  the  wife  of  Millard  L. 
Rhodes,  a  farmer  of  Kansas  Township,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Jesse  B.  Ezra  was  first  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Kilgore,  who  died  leaving  one  child  — 
J.  Harlan.  Ilis  second  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Ella 
Meadows  and  they  reside  in  Kansas  Township. 
Anna  L.  is  the  wife  of  Mansfield  Rhodes  of  this 
township.  Carrie  V.  and  Ora  E.  are  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

The  property  of  Mr.  Honnold  includes  320  acres 
of  choice  farming  land  which  is  largely  devoted  to 
live-stock.  In  cattle  his  preference  is  for  high- 
grade  Short-horns,  while  he  makes  a  specialty  of 
English  and  Norman  draft  horses  and  Poland-China 
swine,  lie  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  John 
C.  Fremont,  the  first  Republican  candidate  for 
President,  in  the  fall  of  1K5G,  and  lias  since  sup- 
ported the  principles  of  that  party.  lie  has  held 
most  of    the  local  offices,  being  Township  Assessor 

for    two  years,  Sel 1   Trustee    nine  years,  School 

Director  twelve  years;  is  serving  his  second  term  as 
Commissioner  of  Highways  and  is  Treasurer  of  the 
Board.       His     religious    views    coincide    with     the 


doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  with 
which  he  is  identified  as  is  also  his  estimable  wife 
and  children.  In  this  church  .Mr.  llonnold  is  :i 
lending  member,  officiating  as  Steward,  Class 
Leader  and  trustee,  is  an  exhorter  of  no  mean 
talent  and  for  a  Dumber  of  years  was  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday -school.  Socially,  he  belongs  to 
Kansas  Lodge.  No.  280,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

John  I).  Mock,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Honnold,  was 
bornin  Loudoun  County,  Va„  May  17,  1812,  and 
lived  there  until  reaching  his  majority.  When 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he  migrated  to 
Muskingum  County.  Ohio,  in  1833  and  thence  came 
to  Coles  County,  III.  From  there  in  1856  he  came 
to  Edgar  County.  He  was  a  life-long  farmer  anil 
a  man  greatly  respected  in  bis  community.  The 
mother.  Mrs.  Hannah  (Fell)  Mock,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  daughter  of  Amos  Fell.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mock  became  the 'parents  of  quite  a  large 
family  of  children,  of  whom  only  three  lived  to 
mature  years.  Elizabeth  C.  married  James  L  llon- 
nold. the  eldest  brother  of  our  subject  and  Susan- 
nah \V.,  married  a  Mr.  James  H.  Shiveley.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mock  are  still  living,  occupying  the  old  home- 
stead, and  are  numbered  among  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Edgar  County. 


IBILLIAM  M<  CORD.  There  is  an  excellent 
rjjj  representation  of  Southern  people  in  Ed- 
W^l  gar  County,  among  whom  is  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  who  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Tenn., 
May  2G.  1819,  and  is  now  one  of  the  well-to-do 
farmers  of  Paris  Township,  occupying  I  1  7  aires 
of  land  on  section  2. 

David  McCord,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died 
in  Tennessee  when  the  latter  was  a  child  of  seven 
years.  The  mother,  Esther  (Perry)  McCord,  emi- 
grated in  the  fall  of  1833  to  Johnson  County,  hid.. 
and  there  spent  the  winter  with  her  little  family. 
In  the  spring  of  lis.)  I  they  moved  to  Coles  County, 
III.,  where  one  of  the  sons,  David,  Jr.,  entered  a 
tract  of  land  including  the  present  site  of  Oakland. 
He  put  up  a  log  house  which  the  family  occupied 
until  in  February.  ]*.">;>.  The  same  year  he  removed 


884 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  Macon  County,  111.,  returning  in  the  fall  to 
Edgar  County.  Then  the  mother  and  children  com- 
ing to  Edgar  County,  February,  1836,  located  south- 
east of  Paris,  and  the  mother  died  there  in  1842, 
leaving  seven  children.  Two  other  children  had 
died  prior  to  the  decease  of  the  mother. 

William  McCord  was  the  youngest  child  of  his 
parents.  In  August,  1845,  he  purchased  from  John 
S.  MoConky  the  land  which  comprises  his  present 
farm,  and  upon  which  the  only  improvement  was 
a  rail  fence.  The  task  of  bringing  the  land  to  a 
state  of  cultivation,  dividing  the  fields,  planting 
forest  and  fruit  trees,  erecting  buildings,  and  gath- 
ering about  himself  and  his  family  the  appliances 
of  modern  life,  has  been  no  light  task,  and  has 
absorbed  the  time  and  labor  of  years.  It  now  pre- 
sents the  spectacle  of  a  well  regulated  farm,  em- 
bellished with  a  commodious  brick  residence,  a  good 
barn  and  all  the  other  outbuildings  required  for 
the  shelter  of  the  stock  and  the  storage  of  grain. 
The  soil  is  tilled  with  the  aid  of  modern  machin- 
ery, and  a  goodly  assortment  of  live  stock  adds  at- 
tractiveness to  the  scene. 

The  year  after  our  subject  had  taken  upon  him- 
self the  dignity  of  a  land  owner,  he  was  married 
in  October  1*47,  to  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of 
Adriel  ana  Eliza  (Means)  Stout.  Mrs.  McCord 
was  born  in  Manchester,  Ohio.  June  13,  1822,  and 
in  the  same  year,  was  brought  by  her  pa- 
rents to  Edgar  County,  111.  Here  she  was  reared 
to  womanhood  and  married.  Her  father  and 
grandfather.  William  Means,  located  in  Paris  Town- 
ship among  the  Indians,  and  to  which  place  they 
had  been  preceded  by  only  one  family.  The  town 
of  Paris  was  not  then  in  existence,  nor  had  it  even 
been  laid  out.  All  the  country  west  of  this  was  an 
open  prairie,  abounding  with  wild  animals — deer, 
turkeys,  wolves  and  Indians.  Father  and  son  im- 
proved each  a  farm  and  here  spent  their  last  days 
together  with  the  mother  of  Mrs.  McCord.  Adriel 
Stout  departed  this  life  in  1858.  His  wife  Eliza 
had  preceded  him  to  the  silent  land,  her  death 
taking  place  in   1855. 

John  N.  Stout,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
McCord,  was  probably  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
he  reared  his  family  in  the  Blue  Grass  State. 
Grandfather  William  Means  was  a  resident  of  Ohio 


many  years,  and  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  in 
1822,  within  whose  limits  he  resided  until  depart- 
ing hence.  To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife 
there  were  born  four  children,  viz.:  Josephine, 
Eliza,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Z.  T.  Baum,  who  is  repre- 
sented elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Adriel  S..  and 
Shelby  H.  N.  The  latter,  a  bright,  promising  and 
worthy  young  man,  and  a  true  Christian,  died  on 
the  5th  of  October,  1887.  He  was  a  member  of 
and  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  his  death  was  deeply  mourned  not  only  by  his 
immediate  family,  but  by  a  large  number  of  asso- 
ciates and  friends. 

David  McCord,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  and  reared  in  North  Carolina.  His  wife, 
Esther,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  she  was 
reared  to  womanhood,  and  where,  it  is  supposed, 
she  was  married.  John  McCord,  the  paternal  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  when  a  young 
man  migrated  to  North  Carolina.  The  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  was  David  McCord,  a 
native  of  the  north  of  Ireland.  There  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  weaver,  and  in  company  with  a  bro- 
ther emigrated  to  the  United  States  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  War.  lie  occupied  himself  at  his 
trade  and  met  his  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

On  the  mother's  side  of  the  house  the  great- 
grandfather. Thomas  Berry,  was  likewise  a  native 
of  Ireland,  born  in  1718.  He  also  crossed  the  At- 
lantic in  the  colonial  times,  and  was  twice  married, 
first  to  a  Miss  Buchanan,  by  whom  he  became  the 
father  of  five  children.  His  youngest  son,  Will- 
iam, was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Guilford  in  1778. 
His  second  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1795. 
was  Esther  Ward,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  To 
them  there  were  born  seven  children,  and  Esther. 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  next  to  the  young- 
est. The  family  of  Grandfather  Berry  was  reared 
in  Augusta  County.  Va.  One  daughter,  Barbara, 
by  his  first  marriage,  became  the  wife  of  Jonathan 
Dryden,  and  they  settled  in  Middle  Tennessee, 
where  their  son  David  was  born.  The  latter  came 
to  Coles  County,  111.,  about  1832,  where  he  reared 
his  family  and  died.  The  anniversary  of  his  birth 
is  still  celebrated  each  year,  at  which  time  a  collec- 
tion is  taken  up  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  the 
education  of  some  member  of  the  family  for  the  min- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ss; 


istry  of  the   Presbyterian  Church,  with   which   the 

family  lias  lieen  connected  as  far  back  as  known. 
Mrs.  MeCord  departed  this  life  at  her  home  in  Paris 
Township  Aug.  8,  I889i 

JOHN  McKEE.  The  McKee  homestead  of 
300  acres  in  Edgar  Township  is  a  remark- 
ably fine  piece  of  properly,  the  land  being 
thoroughly  cultivated  and  embellished  with 

all  the  modern  improvements.  It  was  purchased  in 
1864  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch  who  labored  suc- 
cessfully in  transforming  it  from  its  almost  primi- 
tive condition  to  its  present  state.  He  put  up  a 
house  in  1874.  the  present  large  and  commodious 
structure  which  is  illustrated  on  another  page  by 
a  lithographic  engraving,  planted  forest  and  fruit 
trees,  evergreens  and  shrubbery,  and  added  by 
degrees  the  other  embellishments  which  make  it 
one  of  the  most  delightful  homes  in  the  township. 
The  master  hand  ceased  its  labors  after  a  long 
career  of  usefulness,  Mr.  McKee  departing  hence 
on   the  24th  of  April,  1888. 

John  McKee  was  born  in  Edgar  Township  this 
county.  March  28.  1836  and  was  the  son  of  John 
and  Rachel  (Ellsberry)  McKee,  the  former  a  native 
(if  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  .John  Sr,. 
left  the  Old  Dominion  at  an  early  date  and  lived  in 
Kentucky  until  coming  to  this  county  and  settling 
in  Edgar  Township.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  ear- 
liest pioneers  and  entered  a  tract  of  Government 
land,  upon  which  he  labored  to  such  excellent  pur- 
pose that  indue  time  he  became  the  owner  of  1,200 
acres;  all  of  this  he  brought  to  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  improved  with  substantial  buildings. 
In  the  meantime,  during  the  earlier  years  of  his 
residence  here,  he  occupied  himself  as  a  teacher  and 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  community.  His 
death  took  place  at  the  old  homestead  in  1879, 
where  also  his  estimable  wife  spent  her  last  days. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children  of  whom 
John    was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 

John  McKee  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits  and 
on  the  20th  of  August,  1857,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Amanda.!.  Osbom.     This  lady  was 


born  in  Urbana,  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was 
the  eldest  child  of  Levi  and  Frances  (Williams)  Os- 
born,  the  father  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  mother 
born  in  Fleming  County.  Ky.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Joseph  Osbom,  was  also  a  native  of  the  <  )bl 
Dominion,  where  he  farmed  during  his  younger 
years,  then  moved  to  Fleming  County,  Ky.,  of 
which  he  was  an  early  pioneer.  Finally,  however, 
he  sought  the  Western  country  settling  in  Cham- 
paign. III.,  where  he  still  prosecuted  agriculture. 
then  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Rochester,  in  Ful- 
ton County,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  He  was 
of  Irish  descent,  a  man  of  much  force  of  character 
and  prominent  wherever  he  resided. 

Levi  Osbom  was  reared  to  man's  estate  in  Ken- 
tucky and  upon  coming  to  Illinois  engaged  in 
farming  on  rented  land  in  Champaign  County. 
Later  he  branched  out  as  a  dealer  in  live  stock, 
mostly  horses  and  mules,  large  numbers  of  which 
he  purchased  and  drove  south  into  Mississippi. 
Louisiana,  Georgia  and  Florida.  He  was  thus  oc- 
cupied until  1851,  when  he  changed  his  residence 
to  Ross  Township  and  purchased  100  acres  of  land 
on  the  State  Road  north  of  Chrisman.  He  im- 
proved a  good  farm  and  made  it  his  home  until 
his  death  which  occurred  in  March.  1858,  when  he 
was  fifty-two  years  old.  He  was  a  conscientious 
and  high-minded  man,  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  a  strong  adherent  of  the 
Republican  party. 

On  the  maternal  side  of  the  house  grandfather 
Mordaca  Williams  owned  a  plantation  ami  slaves 
in  Kentucky  where  his  death  took  place.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Mc- 
Kee made  her  home  with  the  latter  and  died  in 
1881  at  the  age  of  seventy -six  years.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church.  The 
parental  family  included  six  children,  viz:  Amanda 
J.,  William  and  Francis  M.,  deceased,  America 
A.,  a  resident  of  Kansas  City  Mo.,  Levi  II.,  a  mer- 
chant in  Garneft  Kan.,  and  Henry  C,  a  fanner  of 
Anderson  County,  that  State.  Dining  the  late 
war  William  ei, listed,  in  1861,  in  the  42nd  Illinois 
Infantry  of  which  he  became  Captain  anil  after 
serving  his  first  term  entered  the  ranks  a  second 
time.  He  finally  resigned  his  commission  on  ac- 
count   of    ill    health.      After    the  war  he  moved   to 


888 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Murfreesboro,  Tenn..  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  law;  lie  was  considered  a  very  alile  and  ac- 
complished lawyer.  Francis  was  graduated  from 
Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  and  subsequently 
enlisted  in  the  same  regiment  with  his  brother,  be- 
ing appointed  surgeon.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  Major  General  and  was  killed  by  guerrillas  at 
Memphis  Tenn. 

Mrs.  McKee  received  the  advantages  of  a  common 
school  education  and  was  a  maiden  of  sixteen  years 
when  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  Illinois. 
They  made  the  journey  overland  with  teams,  cross- 
ing the  Wabash  at  Terrc  Haute  and  coming  thence 
directly  to  Edgar  County.  Amanda  .1.,  made  her 
home  with  her  parents  until  her  marriage  which 
occurred  under  her  father's  roof,  Aug.  20,  1857. 
After  marriage  they  remained  upon  the  paternal 
homestead  until  18(11.  then  removed  to  the  farm 
which  Mrs.  McKee  now  occupies.  This  is  largely 
devoted  to  stock-raising. 

Mr.  McKee  invested  a  goodly  portion  of  his  cap- 
ital in  land  and  accumulated  650  acres.  lie  was 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  public-spirited 
men  of  his  community,  officiating  as  School-Direc- 
tor, Commissioner  of  Highways  and  serving  on  the 
grand  and  petit  juries.  The  doctrines  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church  coincided  with  his  religious  views  and 
in  this  he  was  a  chief  pillar,  serving  as  Deacon  for 
many  years,  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  and  contributing  liberally  to  its  support. 
Politically,  he  supported  the  Republican  party,  be- 
lieved in  woman  suffrage  and  was  an  ardent  advo- 
cate of  temperance. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  McKee  has 
superintended  the  operations  of  the  farm,  which  is 
largely  devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain  and  stock, 
the  latter  including  cattle,  swine  and  first-class 
draft  horses.  Three  teams  are  utilized  in  the  farm 
operations.  The  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McKee  are  recorded  as  follows:  Emma  died 
when  twenty-one  years  old;  Flora  is  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Wyaff,  a  farmer  of  Ross  Township;  Eflie 
A.,  married  Milton  Blackburn  and  lives  in  Edgar 
Township;  Robert  married  Miss  Lottie  Hollings- 
worth  and  remains  at  the  home  farm;  Marion  died 
in  January,  1888;  L.  Orion  and  Fred  are  at  home 
with  their  mother;  Emma  was  the  wife  of  A.  Boomer 


of  Prairie  Township  and  died  in  March,  1889. 
As  an  appropriate  addition  to  the  Album  of  Edgar 
County,  we  present  elsewhere  a  fine  portrait  of  Mr. 
McKee,  and  thus  perpetuate  the  features  as  well  as 
the  history  of  him  whose  life  is  so  intimately  asso- 
ciated  with  the  growth  of  his  native  county. 


#~# 


-»*- 


tf_  EROD  N.  CRAWFORD.  As  an  illustration 
jj  of  the  results  of  steady  perseverance,  eco- 
nomical living  and  wise  management,  the 
career  of  Mr.  Crawford  is  amply  worthy  of 
mention.  He  came  to  this  county  about  1855  and 
purchased  350  acres  of  partially  improved  land 
upon  which  there  was  a  little  old  frame  house  but 
nothing  else  to  mark  it  as  a  spot  which  had  ever  been 
the  habitation  of  man.  There  was  no  fencing  and 
not  a  fruit  or  forest  tree  upon  the  place,  in  fact 
simply  nothing  but  the  little  structure  referred  to. 
The  passing  traveler  now  looks  upon  a  well-regulated 
farm  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  embellished 
with  groves,  orchards,  and  substantial  buildings, 
including  a  commodious  frame  residence  and  a  good 
barn  and  the  other  appurtenances  usually  belonging 
to  the  well-to-do  agriculturist. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Clark 
County,  Ohio,  Feb.  27,  181  I,  and  is  the  son  of 
Abel  Crawford,  whose  birthplace  was  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Brownsville,  Pa.,  where  he  was  reared  and 
for  some  years  was  engaged  in  flat-boating,  con- 
veying produce  to  New  Orleans  where  he  would 
likewise  dispose  of  his  craft  and  return  to  Pennsyl- 
vania on  horseback  or  on  foot.  He  was  married  in 
his  native  State,  but  shortly  afterward  removed  to 
Kentucky  and  later  to  Clark  County,  Ohio,  settling 
in  the  latter  State  among  the  Indians  and  upon  a 
tract  of  heavily  timbered  land.  He  hewed  a  farm 
out  of  thi'  wilderness  and  became  the  father  of  four 
sons,  of  whom  Herod  N.,  our  subject,  was  the 
youngest  born.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Mary  Newland,  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  she  with  her  husband  spent  her 
last  days  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ohio. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  a  young 
woman  and  when  Herod  N.  was  a  lad  of  eight  years. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BI( )( !  I;  \  IMIICAL   ALBI'M. 


889 


The  father  was  subsequently  married  to  Mrs.  Mary 
Pierce,  but  of  this  union  no  children  were  born. 
The  father  and  both  his  wives  were  members  of 
the  Method isl  Episcopal  Chun-h,  in  the  faith  of 
which  tlu-y  passed  away.  Young  Crawford  was 
reared  to  man's  estate  in  his  native  county,  and 
there  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Arthur,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  They  became  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Mary,  Airs.  Samuel  Sidenbender, 
and  Caroline,  Mrs.  .lames  Oliver  of  Paris  Town- 
ship; Joseph,  of  Paris  Township,  and  Abel  who 
died  when  forty-eight  years  old.  The  mother  of 
these  children  departed  this  life  at  their  home  in 
Clark  County,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Crawford  subse- 
quently married  her  sister.  Miss  Mary  Arthur. 
»She  died  without  children  in  1886. 
Mr.  Crawford  has  virtually  divided  his  land 
among  his  children,  retaining  ownership  of  it,  dur- 
ing his  lifetime.  Although  not  a  member  of  any 
religious  organization  he  endeavors  to  follow  the 
Christian  precepts  of  the  Golden  Rule,  and  if  the 
reports  of  his  neighbors  be  true,  he  has  succeeded 
in  an  admirable  manner.  lie  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  Jackson,  and  continues  an 
unvarying  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


5$  FORCE  W".  FAIR.  There  is  prohabu  no 
,— ,  more  popular  man  in  Ross  Township  than 
^^Jl  Mr.  Fair,  who  owns  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
seel  ion  22,  and  operates  eighty  acres  elsewhere. 
He  possesses  the  proper  spirit  of  enterprise  to 
achieve  success,  and  there  is  every  prospect  that  he 
will  continue  to  advance  both  as  an  agriculturist 
and  a  citizen.  He  has  already  built  up  a  very  nice 
home  from  the  prairie,  which  speaks  well  for  his 
industry  and  patience,  and  to  the  beauty  and  value 
of  which  he  is  adding  each  year.  He  keeps  himself 
well  posted  in  regard  to  current  events,  votes  the 
Straight  Republican  ticket  and  is  frequently  sent 
as  a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  At  pres- 
ent he  is  a  Director  in  his  School  District,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  at  Chrisuian.  He 
is  one  of  the  men  usually    consulted    in     regard   to 


the  various  matters  which  naturally  arise  in  a  com- 
munity, and  in  which  each  intelligent  citizen  is  in- 
terested. 

Out  subject  is  a  native  of  this  county,  having 
been  born  at  Steam  Point  Feb.  25,  1853.  He  was 
bul  a  boy  when  his  father  died,  and  later  removed 
to  Bloom  field  with  his  mother,  where  he  attended 
the  common  school.  In  the  meantime  his  mother 
was  married  a  second  time,  and  be  removed  with 
the  family  to  a  point  near  Horace,  this  county,  and 
remained  a  member  of  the  household  until  reach- 
ing his  majority. 

Young  Fair,  now  starling  out  for  himself,  es- 
tablished the  first  store  at,  Horace,  which  was  con 
ducted  under  the  firm  name  of  G.  W.  Fair  A-  Co. 
About  that  time  he  was  made  Deputy  Postmaster 
and  Railroad  Agent,  and  operated  there  success- 
fully  two  years.  In  187(5  he  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest in  his  store  to  his  partner,  and  for  a  year 
thereafter  engaged  in  farming.  Next  he  took  up 
his  resilience  at  Cherry  Point,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  for  Tucker  &  Jenness,  and  with 
whom  he  remained  two  years.  On  the  18th  of 
April,  1878,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Dorotha  L. 
lloult,  who  was  born  near  Chrisman,  and  who  only 
survived  her  marriage  six  years,  (lying  in  1881. 

In  1879  Mr.  Fair  moved  on  to  his  present  farm 
of  eighty  acres,  which,  with  the  exception  of  fenc- 
ing, was  unimproved.  He  has  now  brought  the 
whole  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  put  up  a 
house,  a  barn  and  the  other  buildings  necessary, 
planted  an  orchard  of  two  acres,  together  with 
forest,  fruit  trees  and  hedge,  and  is  now  consider- 
ably interested  in  livestock,  keeping  about  300 
sheep  and  a  goodly  herd  of  Poland-China  swine, 
lie  has  seven  head  of  horses,  graded  Normans  and 
Clydesdales,  and  utilizes  two  teams  in  the  farm 
work. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Fair  took  place 
March  18,  1886,  in  Edgar  Township,  with  Miss 
Emily,  daughter  of  William  Hoult,  who  was  born 
in  this  township,  where  her  father  carries  on  farm- 
ing. They  have  one  child,  Susie,  born  Feb.  18, 
1887.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  Richard  Fair, 
who  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Ky.,  in  October, 
1816,  and  remained  there  on  a  farm  until  after  his 
father's  death.    He  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  bring- 


800 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ing  with  him  his  brother  and  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  located  in  Carroll  Township.  Vermilion 
County.  In  18  17  lie  removed  to  a  point,  near 
Bloonilield.  and  engaged  in  buying  cattle  and 
horses  for  a  number  of  years.  He  then  purchased 
a  farm  near  Steam  Point,  but  only  lived  a  short 
time  thereafter;  he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptisl 
Church. 

Grandfather  James  Fair  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  a  soldier  in  the  ^Yrar  of  1812.  During 
the  early  settlement  of  the  State  of  Kentucky  lie  re- 
moved there  and  located  in  Fayette  County,  where 
he  engaged  in  teaming  for  a  short  time,  then  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  trade,  but  soon  went  on  to 
a  farm,  which  he  operated  very  successfully,  accu- 
mulating a  good  property,  and  there  spent  his  last 
davs.  He  was  the  son  of  Kdward  Fair,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  who  spent  his  last  days  in  Kentucky, 
where  he  was  one  of  its  earliest  pioneers. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Susan  Baird,  who  was  born  near  Paris,  this 
county)  where  her  father  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Fair  she  was 
married  to  ((shorn  Tucker,  and  died  at  Horace 
about  1x71.  Mr.  Tucker  is  still  living,  residing  in 
Paris.  She  became  the  mother  of  three  children 
by  her  two  marriages,  those  of  Mr.  Fair  being 
Charles  E.  and  George  W.,  our  subject.  The 
other  was  Lucy  I.  Tucker,  who  is  now  a  teacher 
in  Paris. 

•SSfes* 


,OBERTG.  McCUBBlNS.  The  pioneers  of 
Edgar  County  are  slowly  but  surely  passing 
*^\  ing  away,  but  they  should  comfort  them- 
^|jj)  selves  with  the  reflection  that  they  will  by 
no  means  be  forgotten,  and  their  names  will  be 
held  in  kindly  remembrance  as  an  illustration  to 
future  generations  of  what  may  be  accomplished 
through  great  difficulties  by  a  courageous  and  pa- 
tient perseverance.  Mr.  McCubbins  is  one  of  those 
who  located  here  as  early  as  is  10.  and  while  watch- 
big  with  warm  interest  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  great  State  of  Illinois,  may  comfort 
himself  with  the  thought  that  he  has  contributed  as 
far  as  in  him  lay  towards   bringing  it   to    its  pres- 


ent position,  inasmuch  as  the  faithful  labors  of  one 
man  contribute  essentially  to  the  great  whole. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Athens,  McMinn  Co.. 
Tenn.,  Sept.  15,  1823.  and  lived  a  part  of  the  time 
in  Claibourn  ami  Granger  counties.  Tenn.,  until  a 
youth  of  seventeen  years,  attending  the  common 
school  and  occupied  in  farm  pursuits.  He  came 
with  his  mother  and  a  younger  brother  to  Illinois, 
making  the  journey  overland  with  a  team,  and  being 
on  the  road  two  weeks.  It  was  the  fall  of  the  year, 
and  they  sojourned  at  Col.  Mayo's  that  winter. 
The  following  summer  our  subject  purchased  a 
partially  improved  farm,  one  and  one-half  miles 
south  of  Paris,  upon  which  he  labored  ten  years. 
During  the  California  gold  excitement  he  crossed 
the  plains  in  1350,  driving  his  own  team  and  taking 
with  him  several  others.  He  sojourned  in  Sacra- 
mento until  the  spring  following,  then  went  up  the 
mouth  of  Babbit  Creek  on  the  Feather  River,  where 
he  staid  one  and  one  half  years.  Later  we  find  him 
in  Virginia  City,  where  he  worked  in  the  mines 
with  very  good  results.  He  was  on  the  Pacific 
Slope  about  ten  years,  and  then  settled  in  Virginia 
City,  Nev.,  where  he  staid  five  years,  engaged  in 
mining  and  carpentering,  and  was  very  prosperous 
most  of  the  time.  In  March.  1865,  he  returned  to 
Tennessee,  and  on  the  4th  of  July  following  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  Huddleston.  Then  return- 
ing to  this  county,  he  settled  on  the  old  farm  here- 
tofore spoken  of,  where  he  lived  until  1882,  then 
retired  from  active  labor  and  took  up  his  abode  in 
Paris,  where  he  now  lives.  He  retains  ownership 
of  the  farm,  where  he  has  effected  good  improve- 
ments, and  which  comprises  270  acres  of  land.  He 
has  land  elsewhere,  and  in  all  is  the  owner  of  -loo 
acres.  His  property  was  accumulated  solely  by  his 
own  energy  and  industry,  and  he  had  the  good 
judgment  to  invest  his  capital  in  paying  enter- 
prises. 

Mr.  McCubbins  votes  the  straight  Republican 
ticket,  and  the  fact  that  he  is  well  spoken  of  by 
his  neighbors  is  sufficient  indication  of  his  true 
character.  In  the  early  days  he  marketed  his  pro- 
duce in  Chicago,  which  was  then  an  unimportant 
town,  giving  no  indication  of  its  future  greatness. 
To  him  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were  born  four 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:     Lulu  Belie, 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


891 


John,  Robert  and  Mary,  who  forma  bright  and  in- 
teresting  group,  enjoying  all  the  advantages  which 

ample  means  can  afford. 

Mrs.  McCubbins  was  born  in  Union  County, 
Tenn.,  May'27,  1838,andis  the  daughter  of  John 
F.  and  Mary  (Smith)  Huddleston,  with  whom  she 
lived  in  her  native  State  until  her  marriage.  Her 
father  was  a  fanner  by  occupation  and  died  in  Ten- 
nessee. The  mother  is  still  living  there.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  William  MoCubbins,  a 
native  of  Central  Tennessee,  and  the  mother  in 
her  girlhood  was  Miss  Phebe  Duncan.  They  had 
a  family  of  four  children,  only  two  of  whom  lived 
to  mature  years,  our  subject  and  his  brother  Zack 
II.  The  latter  was  for  some  years  a  resident  of 
Jasper  County.  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  business, 
but  for  the  last  eight  years  has  lived  in  Rogers, 
Ark.  He  served  three  years  in  the  Union  army. 
William  McCubbins  died  when  his  son  Robert  G. 
was  a  small  boy  in  Tennessee.  The  mother  died 
at  the  old  homestead  in  this  county  in  December, 
L875. 

THOMAS  C.  BROWN1.  The  subject  of  this 
notice  may  be  properly  mentioned  among 
l'  the  leading  farmers  of  Elbridge  Township. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising,  and  has  all 
the  facilities  for  carrying  on  agriculture  after  the 
most  approved  methods  of  the  present  day.  His 
homestead  is  finely  located  on  section  11,  and  com- 
prises 175  acres  of  thoroughly  cultivated  land, 
situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  township.  It 
possesses  a  far  more  than  moneyed  value  to  the  pres- 
ent proprietor,  as  upon  this  land  he  was  born,  in  a 
log  house.  March  17,  1.S36. 

Joseph  Brown,  the  father  of  our  subject,  came 
to  this  county  during  the  pioneer  (lays,  and  contrib- 
uted his  full  share  to  its  growth  and  development. 
He  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  whence  he 
emigrated  to  Illinois  as  early  as  1826,  ami  settled 
first  in  Sangamon  County.  Four  years  later  he 
changed  his  residence  to  this  county,  where  he  and 
his  good  wife.  Nancy, spent  the  remainder  of  their 
days,  the  father  dying  in  1840  and  the  mother  in 
1811.     Mr.    Brown,  politically,  affiliated  with  the 


Democratic  party,  and  in  religious  matters  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Our  subject,  left  an  orphan  at  the  tender  age  of 
eight  years,  was  bound  out  to  Samuel  Vance  of 
Paris  Township,  for  whom  he  did  farm  work  and 
all  other  kinds  of  labor  until  a  youth  of  fourteen 
years.  He  then  commenced  learning  the  black- 
smith trade  of  his  brother,  ami  followed  this  until 
I860.  In  1854  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy 
Veargin.  who  was  also  born  in  this  county, and  was 
the  daughter  of  Peterson  and  Patience  Yeargin, 
natives  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  The  pa- 
rents of  Mrs.  Brown  came  to  this  county  in  1836, 
and  settled  iii  Elbridge  Township,  where  their 
daughter.  Lucy,  was  born  in  1837. 

The  young  people  began  their  wedded  life  on  a 
farm  in  Elbridge  Township,  and  in  1  85  I  took  posses- 
sion of  a  part  of  that  which  they  now  own  and 
occupy.  The  household  circle  was  gradually  en- 
larged by  the  birth  of  twelve  children,  eleven  of 
whom  are  living.  The  two  eldest,  Violet  A.  and 
Joseph  P.,  still  remain  under  the  home  roof. 
Charles  married  Miss  Rhoila,  daughter  of  John 
Mason,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  and  they  are  residing  in  Redmon, 
where  he  follows  the  profession  of  a  teacher. 
Six  of  the  children  hold  certificates  for  teach- 
ing. Cynthia  I.  died  when  about  six  months 
old;  William  R.  remains  at  home  with  his 
parents;  Thomas  J.  is  in  Colorado;  Nancy*)., 
Lucy  J..  Robert  E.,  Bernice,  Susan,  and  Augusta 
continue  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Brown,  politically,  like  his  honored  father, 
adheres  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  finds  his  religious  home  in  the  Baptist  Church. 
He  has  always  taken  a  warm  interest  in  educational 
matters,  and  has  given  his  children  the  best  ad- 
vantages to  be  obtained  in  the  township.  lie  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  many 
years  ago,  and  is  Nice  Dictator  of  Burnes  Lodge. 
No.  292,  K.  of  II.  in  Paris.  He  is  a  reader  and  a 
thinker,  anil  keeps  himself  thoroughly  posted  upon 
leading  events  the  world  over.  As  a  conversation- 
alist hi'  is  fluent  and  interesting — one  with  whom 
an  hour  may  always  be  spent  with  profit  ami  pleas- 
ure. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  attended  to  all  the  wants 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yeargin  during   the  latter  part  of 


»:)■. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


their  lives,  .and  made  their  last  days  pleasant  and 
agreeable.  On  another  page  is  presented  a  fine 
view  of  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown,  and 
under  its  hospitable  roof  they  welcome  their  many 
friends,  and  pleasantly  entertain  the  associates  of 
their  children. 


ICHARD  D.  HONNOLD.  If  a  man's  sur- 
roundings are  indicative  of  his  true  charac- 
ter that  of  Mr.  Honnold  is  of  the  best 
quality.  He  has  one  of  the  most  finely 
cultivated  farms  in  Shiloh  Township,  a  body  of  land 
160  acres  in  extent,  enclosed  with  neatly  trimmed 
hedge  and  embellished  with  good  buildings.  The 
residence  occupies  an  elevated  position,  one  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  from  the  common  highway  and  is 
picturesquely  located,  commanding  a  fine  view  of 
the  surrounding  country.  It  is  flanked  by  a  good 
barn  and  other  neatly  constructed  outbuildings,  and 
in  all  its  surroundings  indicates  cultivated  tastes 
and  ample  means.  The  proprietor,  personally,  is  a 
very  pleasant  gentleman,  courteous  alike  to  friends 
and  strangers,  easy  in  his  manners,  industrious  and 
energetic,  working  with  both  brain  and  hands,  and 
is  popular  both  in  the  social  and  business  circles  of 
his  community. 

A  native  of  Edgar  Count}',  our  subject  was  born 
Dec.  15,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of  .lames  L.  and 
Elizabeth  ('.  (.Mock)  Honnold,  who  were  both  born 
in  Ohio.  The  maternal  grandparents,  .John  and 
Hannah  Mock, are  still  living  and  residents  of  Edgar 
County,  having  attained  to  their  fourscore  years. 
Grandfather  Honnold  died  in  Edgar  County,  Oct. 
"28,  1877.  His  wife  is  still  living  near  Kansas,  111. 
To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born  five 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and  of  whom 
Richard  U.  is  the  eldest.  Cynthia  became  the  wife 
of  Harvey  Delapp,  a  farmer  living  near  Kansas, 
.•mil  the}'  have  one  child;  Elsie  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
Collier,  and  resides  near  Redmon;  Ira  and  John  are 
unmarried  and  reside  at  home. 

Richard  D.,  our  subject,  was  wedded  to  Miss 
Mary  Payne,  Oct.  2.  1884.  This  lady  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  II.  and  Ilanna  (Dickson)  Payne,  who 


live  on  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  our  subject. 
They  are  natives  of  Ohio,  and  the  parents  of  six 
children.  Their  eldest  daughter,  Delia,  is  the  wife 
Marion  F.  Winn,  and  the  mother  of  three  children; 
they  live  in  Edgar  County.  The  others,  with  the 
exception  of  Mrs.  Honnold,  are  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Payne  live  on  a  farm  near 
Brocton.  Our  subject  has  been  Highway  Commis- 
sioner and  School  Director,  and  as  a  working 
Republican  has  been  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate 
to  the  County  Conventions.  He  and  his  good  wife 
are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Honnold  was  born  and  reared  a  Republican, 
and  clings  to  the  faith  in  which  he  has  been 
grounded  from  boyhood.  In  connection'wlth  mixed 
farming  he  makes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising.  All 
his  operations  are  carried  on  in  the  most  syste- 
matic and  thorough  manner,  aided  by  improved 
machinery  and  the  appliances  required  by  the 
progressive  agriculturist.  He  frequently  serves  as 
a  delegate  to  the  Republican  Conventions  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Township  Central  Committee.  He 
serves  as  a  School  Director  in  his  district,  and  with 
his  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist,  Episcopa  inch 
attending  services  at  Brocton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Honnold  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  a  daughter,  Edith  M.,  born  July  27,  1888. 
They  also  have  adopted  a  child,  named  William 
E.,  born  Sept.  5,  1882. 


-o*o-£Sy^^"0*o.. 


^■«HOMAS  ELLIOTT.     Of   sturdy  Scotch  an- 
'    cestry,   Mr.   Thomas   Elliot    has,  during    a 


long  life  of  honorable  toil,  established  for 
Himself  a  reputation  for  geniality  and  gentlemanli- 
ness,  unblemished  moral  conduct  and  unswerving 
integrity  such  as  will  long  endure  after  "his  pale 
form  is  laid  to  rest  within  any  tears."  The  memory 
of  such  a  man  is  certain  to  be  cherished  and  the 
example  of  his  life  to  be  emulated  by  all  who  de- 
sire to  leave  behind  them  a  record  of  well-doing 
and  correct  living. 

Mr.    Elliot's    life  has   been   marked    by  earnest, 
honest  and  continuous  toil.     He  was  born  in  Aher- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


893 


dcen,  Scotland,  Aug.  12,  L822.  His  father,  Percival 
Elliott,  was  the  son  of  Rowland  Elliott  who  lived 
to  the  remarkable,  do!  to  say  phenomenal  age,  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years.  When  one 
hundred  and  twenty  years  of  age  he  went  into 
the  harvest  field  and  built  a  stack  of  oats,  and  lie 
was  in  the  habit  of  walking  to  and  from  church,  a 
distance  of  one  and  one-half  miles,  every  Sunday. 
He  was  mentally  and  physically  active  up  to  the 
time  of  Ids  death,  about  1820,  and  was  ill  only 
about  a  week  before  the  occurrence  of  that  event, 
lie  was  a  native  of  France,  to  which  country, 
doubtless  his  ancestors  lied  dining  the  troublous 
times  in  England  and  Scotland.  He  removed  from 
France  to  Aberdeen.  Scotland,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife.  Mary  CCassidy) 
Elliott,  was  horn  in  the  North  of  Ireland.  She 
lived  tn  he  nearly  one  hundred  years  old  and  died 
after  a  very  brief  illness.  Grandfather  Elliott  was 
a  large  stout,  man  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming. 

Percival  Elliott  was  likewise  born  in  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
lie  married  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  anil 
Margaret  Parker,  who  were  of  English  parentage 
and  ancestry.  He  combined  farming  with  preaching, 
officiating  as  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  Some  time  after  his  marriage  his  wife 
inherited  property  in  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland, 
whither  he  moved  with  his  family  and  there  spent 
his  last  days.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  children, 
viz:  Margaret,  Thomas.  John,  Caroline,  Mary  Ann, 
Lena,  William  and  Robert.  .Margaret  became  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Haslit,  and  died  in  187G  in  Clark 
County,  UI-,  leaving  seven  children;  John  is  mar- 
ried, has  a  family  and  is  farming  in  Clark  County; 
Caroline,  Mrs.  Medley,  is  a  widow  and  resides  in 
Kansas;  Mary  Ann  died  in  infancy;  Lena  was  mar 
ried  to  Uev.  William  Granville  Schurk,  a  minister 
of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Barring-ton,  III.,  and  died 
about  1881;  William  is  chief  of  the  detective  force 
of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  where  he  makes  his  home; 
Robert  was  in  the  employ  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment, having  charge  of  government  bridge  work  in 
Scotland,  ami  died  about  1863. 

The  early  education  of   our  subject  was  limited 
to  such  lime  spent  in  the  common  schools  as  could 


be  spared  from  work  at  home.  He  remained  a 
dent  of  his  native*place  until  a  man  of  thirty-two 
years,  then  resolved  to  quit  the  land  of  his  an- 
cestors and  seek  his  fortune  in  the  United  States. 
Making  the  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  in  safety  he 
landed  in  New  York  City  with  no  capital  save  a 
healthful,  rugged  frame,  strong  hands  and  a  will- 
ingness  to  work  at  any  honorable  employment. 
This  he  first  found  in.  a  stone  quarry  near  Newark, 
N.  .1.  In  due  time  lie  turned  his  face  toward  the 
new  and  growing  West,  halting  first  at  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  where  he  took  charge  of  a  livery 
stable.  He  remained  there  several  months,  proving 
himself  very  capable  and  efficient,  and  was  finally 
encouraged  logo  to  Chicago  and  enter  upon  the 
training  of  horses  for  the  race  course.  Finally  he 
emigrated  to. Evanston,  a  northern  suburb  of  the 
city,  and  here  met  his  tale  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Annie  Cook,  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Nancj 
Cook  of  Bradford.  England.  The  mutual  affection 
which  succeeded,  culminated  in  the  marriage  of  the 
young  people,  Aug.  21,  1858. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  .Mr.  Elliott  came  with  his 
young  wife  to  Edgar  County,  III.,  and  rented  a 
farm  in  Kansas  Township.  Upon  this  he  remained 
live  years,  then  transferred  his  operations  to  a 
rented  farm  in  Douglas  County.  Having  now  ac- 
cumulated some  means  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Piatt 
County  to  which  he  removed,  but  here  his  fortune 
was  changed,  sickness  visited  him  and  being  unable 
to  complete  the  payment  for  his  purchase,  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  it  and  become  a  renter  again. 
Then,  about  four  years  ago,  he  moved  upon  his 
present  place  which  occupies  a  portion  of  section 
■>  in  Young  America   Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  are  the  parents  of  three 
children.  Their  eldest,  a  daughter,  Mary  Ann,  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Freesch.  a  farmer  living  near 
Metcalf  in  Edgar  County;  they  likewise  have  three 
children.  Parker,  a  young  man  grown,  lives  at 
home  and  assists  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
land;  Nellie,  a  young  lady  of  education  and  refine- 
ment, occupies  herself  as  a  teacher  and  is  very  suc- 
cessful. In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Elliott  is  tall 
in  stature,  rather  sparely  yet  strongly  built,  with 
dark  hair  and  full  beard  streaked  with  gray.  His 
eye  retains  much  of  its  youthful  fire,  while  his  firm 


.v.l  I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


step  and  hardened  muscles  indicate  that  his  capacity 
for  working  is  not  yet  departed.  His  manner  is 
frank,  open,  and  unostentatious  and  he  bears  an 
excellent  reputation  among  1 1 is  neighbors,  who  en- 
tertain for  him  a  high  respect  on  account  of  his 
blameless  life  and  his  firm  adherence  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  honesty  and  honor. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  is  a  quiet,  modest, 
motherly-looking  lady  whose  kindly  eye  betokens  a 
gentle,  generous  and  loving  nature.  Mr.  Elliott 
has  never  sought  nor  held  office.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  (daces  a  high  value  upon 
the  advantages  of  education.  He  lias  given  to  his 
children  such  schooling  as  he  was  able  and  has  been 
a  liberal  buyer  of  good  books,  a  generous  number 
of  which  may  be  found  in  his  modest  but  carefully- 
selected  library.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  active  participants  in  its  work. 


M* 


"jy/AMKS  WATSON.  This  gentleman,  now  the 
owner  of  nearly  (500  acres  of  land  in  Hunter 
Township,  all  of  which  is  well  improved 
i(^/,  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  began 
life  in  this  county  on  forty  acres  of  rented  land  in 
the  woods  upon  which  was  a  little  log  cabin  minus 
a  roof  and  destitute  of  any  other  furnishings.  He 
put  a  roof  on  the  structure  and  built  a  chimne}', 
then  turned  his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil.  In  the  course  of  over  two  years  he  had  pur- 
chased the  land  and  a  span  of  horses,  one  cow  and 
sixteen  small  shoats. 

It  is  proper  to  say  here  that  Mr.  Watson  prior 
to  tiiis  time  had  accumulated  *800  which  he  lost.  He 
then  borrowed  money  to  obtain  seed  wheat  for  sow- 
ing his  first  crop.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  stale  that 
the  years  which  followed  were  distinguished  by  the 
most  arduous  industry  and  the  best  management, 
and  in  due  time  he  found  himself  on  solid  ground 
and  with  the  prospect  of  a  competence  for  the 
future.  Self-made  in  the  broadest  sense  of  the 
term,  he  from  the  first  was  compelled  to  rely  upon 
his  own  resources  and  although  the  way  seemed 
rough  at  the   outset,  tie  experience  of  those  years 


developed  in  him  those  traits  of  character  which 
have  made  him  a  man  among  men  and  practically 
independent,  financially.  His  land  is  more  than 
ordinarily  productive,  he  having,  in  188ii,  realized 
from  it  3, GOO  bushels  of  wheat  besides  other  produce. 
From  the  first  he  made  it  the  rule  of  his  life  to  be 
honest  with  all  men  and  this  course  steadily  pursued 
gained  him  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens  so  that  he  could  always  obtain  security  on 
his  paper  without  even  asking  for  it.  if  his  friends 
suspected  that  he  needed  it. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Bullitt  County,  Ky., 
May  2,  1835,  and  there  was  reared  to  man's  estate. 
His  father.  .lames  Watson,  St.,  was  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster County.  Pa.,  whence  he  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky when  a  young  man  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Rachel  Younger,  a  native  of  that  State.  Thev 
became  the  parents  of  nine  children  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  The 
parents  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  the 
Blue  Grass  State.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  born  and  reared  in  the  city  of  London 
and  trained  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. He  emigrated  to  America  when  a  young 
man  and  located  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was 
married,  reared  a  family  and  spent  his  last  days. 

On  the  mother's  side,  Grandfather  Henry 
Younger  was  a  native  of  France  and,  upon  coming 
to  America,  located  in  Kentucky  and  died  there. 
He  married  a  lady  of  German  birth  andparentagc 
whose  first  name  was  Rachel.  He  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War  under  the  command  of 
Major  Oldham,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Horse 
Shoe  Bend  in  November,  1701. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad  of  eight 
ye?.rs  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  which 
took  place  in  January,  1S43  and  the  mother  died 
one  year  later.  James,  Jr.,  thereafter  made  his 
home  with  a  neighbor  until  he  was  nineteen  years 
old.  He  then  began  working  by  the  month  and  a 
year  later,  leaving  Kentucky,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  operated  as  a  farm  laborer  for  about 
two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  rented 
a  tract  of  land  which  he  cultivated  until  1860,  and 
was  then  married  to  Miss  Nancy  J.  Dean.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  and  like 
her    husband,    is   a  believer   in    the   Bible    and    a 


8fiM»&8i«^sSisaii^^  ,^-^vi^^.-^^  ^■^■^.^ra-.^fc-nt^^ ■•^■■^s-,..,-,m  .  -^usas&ri^&ssgs^^ 


Residence  or  John  B.  Kxr  rick,  Sec.  11.  Elbridge  Towns  hip,  Edgar  Co. 


Residence  of  Miles  Rogers,  Sec.  3.  Ed  gar  Township,  Edgar  Co. 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIiUM. 


s'.iT 


member  of  the  Christian  Church,  in  the  faith  of 
which  the   parents  of  our  subject  died.     Mr.  and 

Mrs  Watson  have  eight  children,  six  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Mary  Belle,  William  .1..  Charles  B.  Y.. 
John  A..  Gracy  and  .lames  L. 

The  Watson  homestead  is  embellished  with  a  com- 
modious frame  residence  which  with  its  outbuild- 
ings,forest  and  fruit  trees  and  the  other  appointments 
of  the  modern  rural  estate,  bears  fair  comparison 
with  anything  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  This  place 
was  formerly  known  as  the  .lames  Bruce  farm  ami 
lies  cm  the  Mate  line.  It  is  well  watered  and  finely 
adapted  to  agriculture  and  stock  raising.  Nothing, 
however,  less  than  the  excellent  management  to 
which  it  has  been  subjected  by  Mr.  Watson  could 
have  brought  it  to  its  present  condition.  It  is  very 
valuable  and  yields  to  the  proprietor  a  generous 
income. 


•yOlIN  B.  KERRICK.  The  traveler  passing 
the  Kerrick  homestead,  on  section  1 1  in  El- 
bridge  Township,  has  his  attention  invaria- 
(BjgJ  )  bly  attracted  to  the  elegant  residence  and  the 
surroundings,  which  betoken  the  existence  of  cul- 
tivated tastes  ami  ample  means.  A  lithographic 
engraving  of  this  residence  is  presented  elsewhere 
in  this  volume,  and  represents  one  of  the  many 
happy  homes  of  Edgar  County,  the  abode  of  peace 
and  plenty.  The  farm  comprises  300  acres  of 
thoroughly-cultivated  land,  adorned  with  fruit, 
forest  and  shade  trees,  improved  with  first-class 
buildings,  well  stocked  with  a  choice  assortment  of 
domestic  animals,  ami  supplied  with  modern  ma- 
chinery, which  produces  the  best  results  from  a 
naturally  fertile  soil. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  was  born  at  his  father's  homestead  in 
Elbridge  Township,  Oct.  28,  1834.  lie  attended 
the  primitive  schools  until  a  youth  of  nineteen 
years,  and  then  took  a  three  months'  course  at 
Marshall.  He  remained  a  member  of  the  parental 
household  until  twenty-two  years  old,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  October,  1850,  to  Miss  Margaret,  daughter 
of  Martin  Ray.  a  native  of  Tennessee.  The  young 
bride  survived   her    marriage  only  eleven  months, 


and  her  remains  were  laid  to  rest,  in  Providence 
Cemetery. 

Mr.  Kerrick  contracted  a  second  marriage  with 
Miss-Eli/.abeth  A.,  daughter  of  .lames  W.  and  Mary 
(Hicklin)  Parish,  natives  of  Tennessee,  and  among 
the  earliest  scalers  of  this  county.  They  are  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Kerrick  was  born  Die.  13.  1831,  in 
Sims  Township.  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and  received  a 
common  school  education.  The  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kerrick  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children, 
one  of  whom,  Jacob,  died  when  twenty-six  months 
old.  Mary.  Frank,  and  Gusta  are  at  home  with 
their  parents.  The  present  residence  was  put  up 
in  1871),  and  the  brick  of  which  it  is  built  was  man- 
ufactured by  our  subject.  Mr.  Kerrick  is  a  Demo- 
crat politically,  lie  has  represented  his  township 
in  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  and  has  held 
theolliccsof  Assessor,  and  Collector.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Stephen  and  Maria  ( Iladden)  Kerrick.  the  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  natives,  respectively,  of  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina.  They  were  married  in 
Tennessee  in  1830,  and  two  years  later  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Elbridge  Township,  this 
county,  where  the  father  farmed  one  year,  then 
entered  forty  acres,  which  comprises  a  part  of  the 
present  homestead.  The  parental  household  was 
completed  by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living,  making  their  homes  mostly  in  Illi- 
nois and  Indiana.  The  father  in  early  manhood 
identified  himself  with  the  old  Whig  party,  and 
later  became  a  Republican,  He  passed  to  his  rest 
in  1863.  The  mother  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-five  years,  and  makes  her  home  in 
Elbridge  Township.  She  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


f    II. ES    ROGERS,  who   is   the    owner  of  (140 
acres    of    land,    in    Edgar    Township    and 


"200  acres  in  Ross  Township,  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  farmers  of  this  region  as  well 
as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  popular  citizens 
of  the  county.     He  came  to  Central  Illinois  during 


898 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


its  pioneer  days,  as  early  as  1826,  settling  at  once 
in  Edgar  Township,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a 
resident.  Not  only  has  he  been  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortune  but  has  been  the  uniform  encour- 
ager  of  all  the  enterprises  calculated  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  county. 

A  native  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  our  subject  was 
born  July  23,  1824,  and  is  the  son  of  Elias  Rogers, 
a  native  of  Vermont.  The  paternal  grandfather 
was  Elias  Rogers,  Sr.,  who  was  likewise  born  in  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  and  was  of  English  descent. 
He  carried  on  farming  during  his  early  manhood 
in  ln's  native  state,  then  emigrated  to  New  York 
Slate,  settling  near  Iloneoye  Lake.  Later  he  re- 
moved to  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  where  he  became 
owner  of  1.000  acres  of  land  and  a  number  of 
slaves  and  where  he  lived  until  1836.  That  year 
lie  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  entered  a  tract 
of  eighty  acres  from  the  Government,  opening  up 
a  farm  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  young  man 
when  he  went  to  Kentucky  and  thence  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1*25.  He  made  the  journey  overland  by 
ox  team  and  located  in  Edgar  County.  While 
the  family  were  residents  of  New  York  State 
he  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  being  stationed  at 
Niagara  Falls  after  Hull's  surrender  had  turned 
the  arms  and  men  over  to  the  English.  Mr.  Rog- 
ers with  his  comrades  recaptured  the  arms  in  the 
dark,  but  their  boat  was  stranded  on  a  sandbar  and 
pickets  were  left  in  charge.  While  defending  the 
island  from  the  British  Mr.  Rogers  received  a  flesh 
wound  in  the  hip  and  carried  the  scar  to  his  dying 
day.  He  had  many  a  fight  with  the  Indians  after 
coming  to  this  State.  He  first  operated  a  distillery 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  then  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  became 
owner  of  800  acres  of  land  in  Edgar  Township,  a 
part  of  which  he  improved.  Upon  first  becoming 
a  voting  citizen  he  identified  himself  with  the  old 
Whig  party,  but  upon  its  abandonment  joined  the 
Republicans  and  died  firm  in  the  faith  in  1868. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  1'ermelia  Holden;  she  was  born  in  New  York 
State  and  was  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Holden, 
a  native  of  the  same  State  and  a  minister  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.     When  approaching  old 


age  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  was  a 
man  of  commanding  stature.  In  middle  life  he  re- 
moved to  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  where  he  labored 
in  his  Master's  vineyard  until  1825.  That  year  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  purchased  120  acres  of  land  in 
Ross  Township.  He  organized  a  congregation 
and  was  instrumental  in  bringing  a  large  number 
of  persons  into  the  fold.  He  built  a  log  house'  on 
his  farm  and  there  spent  his  last  days.  Mrs.  Per- 
melia  Rogers  survived  her  husband  a  number  of 
years  and  died  in  Edgar  Township  in  1878  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years. 

The  eleven  children  of  the  parental  family  were 
named  respectively  Lavina  and  Almira,  deceased ; 
Miles  oursubject;  Silas,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years;  Emily  and  Newell,  also  deceased; 
Asaph,  a  resident  of  Nebraska;  Louisa,  deceased; 
Asel,  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Daniel  is  in  Colorado, 
and  Harvey  is  a  resident  of  Edgar  County.  Asel 
during  the  Civil  War  enlisted  in  1861  in  the  25th 
Illinois  Infantry  and  served  three  years  and  six 
months;  Daniel  enlisted  in  1864  in  the  64th  Infan- 
try and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

'1  he  subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  l>y  his 
parents  to  Illinois  when  an  infant,  they  making  the 
journey  overland  from  Kentucky  with  an  ox  team. 
He  was  reared  on  the  frontier  and  can  remember 
the  time  when  Indians  roamed  over  the  country 
and  wild  game  abounded.  He  has  seen  as  many  as 
fifty  deer  in  one  herd  and  fifteen  wolves  at  a  time. 
The  settlers  frequently  banded  together  to  hunt 
the  latter,  which  made  themselves  obnoxious  by 
howling  at  night  and  were  particularly  fond  of 
young  pigs.  The  education  of  young  Rogers  was 
conducted  during  the  winter  season  in  the  log 
school-house  with  its  puncheon  floor,  the  seats  and 
desks  made  of  slabs,  a  huge  fire-pleee  across  one 
end,  and  the  chimney  built  outside,  of  earth  and 
sticks;  light  was  admitted  through  the  doorway 
and  from  window  panes  of  greased  paper.  Young 
Rogers  attended  school  only  one  winter,  the  bal- 
ance of  his  education  being  acquired  through  his 
habits  of  observation  and  reading.  He  assisted  his 
father  in  the  development  of  the  farm,  joined  in  the 
wolf  hunts  on  the  prairie  (the  settlers  chasing  the 
animals  on  horseback  through  the  woods  and 
underbrush).      He  became  an   expert    hunter   and 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


899 


frequently  went  out  and  killed  a  buck  before 
breakfast. 

Remaining  at  the  Lome  farm  until  reaching  bis 
majority  young  Rogers  then  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  wild  land,  the  nucleus  of  his  present  farm.  He 
pul  up  a  log  house  on  the  banks  of  the  Bruellet 
and  was  prospered  in  his  labors  as  a  tiller  of  the 
soil,  lie  soon  had  a  little  spare  money  which  he 
wisely  invested  in  additional  land  adjoining  his 
first  purchase,  which  he  secured  for  $1  per  acre  on 
:i  Mexican  land  grant.  He  purchased  direct  1  10 
acres  from  the  Government  and  the  remaining  200 
from  other  parties.  For  sonic  he  paid  as  high  as 
*.">o  prr  acre.  He  has  effected  all  the  improvements 
upon  his  farm,  planting  with  his  own  hands  a  large 
proportion  of  the  hedge  with  which  the  fields  are 
fenced  and  cross-fenced,  setting  out  forest  and 
fruit  trees,  and  has  always  assisted  more  or  less  in 
the  erection  of  his  buildings.  He  made  a  specialty 
of  raising  swine,  which  yielded  him  handsome  re- 
turns and  which  he  drove  to  Clinton  to  market. 
He  is  now  interested  in  stock-raising,  an  industry 
which  has  been  very  effective  in  improving  his 
financial  condition.  Hehas  a  large  area  of  pasture 
land  and  raises  and  feeds  large  numbers  of  cattle 
each  year.  He  has  eighteen  head  of  horses.  Of 
late  years  he  has  rented  a  large  proportion  of  his 
land  and  is  gradually  retiring  from  the  active  la- 
bors which  characterized  his  younger  years. 

The  marriage  of  Miles  Rogers  and  Miss  Mary 
Brittenham  was  celebrated  in  Edgar  Township. 
111.,  in  1851.  Mrs.  Mary  Rogers  was  born  in  In- 
diana, and  by  her  union  with  our  subject  became 
the  mother  of  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased, viz.,  Eliza,  Julia,  Susie  and  Janie.  Eliza 
was  married  to  Mr.  M.  Henderson,  and  Susie  was 
the  wife  of  J.  Click;  .lanie  married  .John  Watson 
and  became  the  mother  of  two  children;  Albert  is 
farming  in  Edgar  Township.  The  mothor  of  these 
children  died  in  1878. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
1879.  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Clouse,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. They  have  two  children,  Russell  and  Ilense. 
Mr.  Rogers  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket 
and  Mrs.  Rogers  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Our  subject  has  served  several 
years  as   a    School    Director  and    has  been    Road 


Supervisor.  In  l.s.s.s  he  set  out  tor  tin-  farther 
West,  and  traveled  through  Nebraska,  Colorado, 
Utah,  Kansas  and  Dakota,  but,  searched  vainly  for 
a  second  Illinois.  He  is  convinced  that.  Mi. 
no  better  country  Id  live  in  than  the  Prairie  State 
and   its  environments. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  we  present  a  tine  litho- 
graphic engraving  of  the  pleasant  home  of  Mr. 
Rogers  and  its  beautiful  surroundings. 


*  felLEY  THOMPSON.  Next  to  the  honor 
\wi  ('f  keino  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  (he 
Ww  county,  is  that  of  being  the  son  of  one,  as 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  whojjperates  127  acres 
of  fertile  land  on  section  1  in  Prairie  Township. 
He  was  bcrn  in  what  was  then  the  hamlet  of  Scott- 
laud,  in  Prairie  Township,  Aug.  29,  1845,  to 
George  and  Lena  (Asher)  Thompson,  both  natives 
of  Indiana,  the  father  born  in  1804  and  the  mother 
in  1807.  They  were  reared  and  married  in  their 
native  State  and  came  to  Illinois  early  in  the  '20'-. 
overland  by  team,  bringing  with  them  their 
worldly  possessions  and  settling  on  section  I'll,  on 
Salt  fork,  where  the  father  entered  land  and  occu- 
pied himself  in  fanning  and  stock-raising. 

By  a  course  of  persevering  industry  George 
Thompson  became  well-to-do,  and  indue  time  wis 
the  owner  of  1,000  acres  of  land.  He  was  promi- 
nent in  local  affairs,  holding  many  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  and  spent  the  last  years  of 
his  life  at  the  homestead  which  he  had  built  up 
from  the  wilderness,  passing  away  in  1868.  The 
mother  survived  her  husband  until  1S72,  anil  like- 
wise died  at  the  homestead.  She  was  a  lady  pos- 
sessing many  estimable  qualities,  and  belonged  to 
the  United  Brethren  Church. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
James  Thompson,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Owen  County,  Ind.  He 
entered  a  tract  of  land  from  the  government  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  death.  He  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  possessed  all  the  hardy 
elements  of  his  race.  To  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject there  were  born    three    children.    Wiley  being 


ihiii 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  youngest  of  the  family.  The  others.  Simpson 
and  Julia  are  deceased.  The  boyhood  and  youth 
of  our  subject  were  spent  in  a  manner  similar  to 
that  of  the  sons  of  pioneer  farmers,  during  which 
he  was  trained  to  habits  of  industry,  and  acquired 
a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship. During  his  younger  years  wild  game  was 
plentiful  in  Prairie  Township,  and  Mr.  Thompson 
slates  that  he  has  seen  as  many  as  fifteen  to  twenty 
deer  in  one  herd.  When  not  employed  at  his 
studies  he  made  himself  useful  around  the  home- 
stead, and  completed  his  education  in  the  high 
school  at  Paris.  He  worked  with  his  father  until 
twenty  years  old;  then  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-buying  on  his  own  account.  He  shipped 
numbers  of  cattle  to  this  county  to  feed,  and  also 
raised  full-blooded  Durhams. 

In  18G8  Mr.  Thompson  became  the  possessor  of 
;!.'!()  acres  of  land  adjoining  Scottland.  which  he 
operated  until  1879.  In  March  of  that  year  he 
sold  out  and  removed  to  the  farm  which  he  now 
occupies.  In  the  meantime  he  has  traveled  ex- 
tensively  in  the  Territories.  He  has  been  quite 
successful  with  sheep,  having  about  400  head, 
including  some  thoroughbred  Shropshire's.  He  is 
also  interested  in  horses,  being  a  member  of  the 
Scottland  Horse  Association. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  in  Prairie  Township, 
Dei.  10.  l.sij.j,  to  Miss  R.  Jennie  Riley,  who  was 
born  in  Ross  Township,  ami  is  the  daughter  of 
Rev.  Zaeh  Riley,  of  Ohio,  and  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  union  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
a  daughter,  Louie,  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Wallace,  a 
farmer  of  Prairie  Township;  Alice  I).,  Pearl,  and 
Clarence  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson  are  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
attending  services  at  Wesley  Chapel,  and  our  sub- 
ject is  Secretary  of  the  Sunday-school  Union.  He 
has  decided  views  upon  the  political  issues  of  the 
day  and  uniformly  gives  his  support  to  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  has  been  quite  prominent  in  local 
politics,  and  is  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
various  conventions.  He  has  several  times  offi- 
ciated as  a  juror,  and  was  on  the  first  jury  bring- 
ing in  a  verdict  of  guilty  in  the  case  of  one  J.  M. 
Casey,  who  hail  murdered  his  wife  in   this  county. 


Mr.  Thompson  has  for  a  number  of  years  been 
Highway  Commissioner  in  his  township,  and  has 
always  maintained  a  warm  interest  in  its  general 
welfare  and  prosperity,  encouraging  the  enterprises 
set  on  foot  for  the  general  good  of  the  people. 

W  ARKIN  D.  NEWLON.  a  well  known  resi- 
I  (jp  dent  of  Stratum  Township,  is  a  son  of  one 
/!=&)  of  its  earliest  pioneers,  and  was  born  here 
Oct.  19,  1834.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  attended 
the  common  schools  ami  worked  with  his  father  at 
the  homestead  until  a  man  of  twenty-seven  years 
and  now  resides  within  two  miles  of  the  place  of 
his  birth.  In  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kate 
Ashley,  daughter  of  Noah  Ashley,  a  native  of  Mas. 
sachusetts.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  two 
children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living,  a  son,  Hiram, 
who  remains  with  his  parents;  the  daughter,  Mary 
died  when  twenty-one  months  old. 

Mrs.  Kate  (Ashley)  Newlon  was  born  in  Knox 
County,  Ind..  and  died  in  Emporia,  Kan.,  in  IMG. 
Mr.  Newlon  was  then  married  to  Mrs.  Dorinda 
Purdon,  widow  of  Luke  Purdon,  a  native  of  this 
State.  Three  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
only  one  of  whom  is  living.  Dora,  who  is  at  home. 
The  homestead  comprises  105  acres  of  good  land, 
well  improved,  with  substantial  buildings  and  all 
the  other  appliances  for  prosecuting  agriculture  suc- 
cessfully. Mr.  Newlon  is  a  peaceful  and  law-abid- 
ing citizen,  pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  his  way. 
absorbed  with  his  farm  and  his  family,  and  has 
never  been  prevailed  upon  to  accept  the  respon- 
sibilities of  office.  Politically  he  is  Republican; 
socially  a  Mason. 

Hiram  Newlon,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  April  13,  1794,  at  a  noted  place  in  Virginia 
called  (loose  Creek  Meadows,  in  Bedford  County, 
lie  lived  there  until  about  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  when  his  father  sold  his  property  there  and 
Hiram,  in  company  with  his  parents,  removed  to 
Washington  County,  Ind.,  settling  on  a  farm  in  the 
vicinity  of  Salem.  There  was  much  to  do  in  brinij- 
ing  the  soil  to  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  Hiram 
assisted  his  father  at  this  one  rear.     Then  startino 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


901 


out  to  seek  his  fortune,  he  lirst  went  to  Louisville, 
Kv..  where  he  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  and  later 
entered  into  a  contract  for  the  building  of  pike 
roads.  In  that  locality  he  met  Miss  Margaret 
Fields,  the  result  of  winch  was  a  mutual  attach- 
ment, and  they  were  married   Dec.  9,  1819. 

Mrs.  Margaret  (Fields)  Newlon  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Lavina  (Short ridge)  Fields,  who 
were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  spent  their  last 
rears,  the  father  in  Kentucky,  the  mother  in  Illinois. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  are  deceased.  John  I-'.,  died  and  was 
buried  in  Oswego,  Kan.;  Benjamin  F.,died  ami  was 
buried  in  Hancock  County.  111.;  Cyrus  S..  married 
Janet  Middleton,  and  is  connected  with  an  agricul- 
tural implement  warehouse  at  Atlantic,  Iowa;  Will- 
iam S.,  is  a  practicing  physician  of  Oswego.  Kan.: 
Hiram  1'.,  also  a  member  of  the  medical  profession, 
resides  in  Tulsa,  End.  Ty.;  Larkin  1).,  was  the  next 
in  order  of  birth;  Malissa  M.,  who  married  J.  X 
Sochenour,  died  and  was  buried  at  Oak  Grove, 
this  township;  Dorinda  L.,  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Newcomb,  and  lives  in  Vermillion,  this  county. 
The  wife  and  mother  departed  this  life  Aug  21, 
1884,  and  the  father  Jan.  18,  1887.  Their  remains 
lie  side    by  side  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Hiram  Newlon  came  to  this  county  in  1823, land. 
ing  with  a  capital  of  $1.50  in  money  and  a  cow  and 
calf.  He  settled  on  section  26,  but  a  year  later  was 
appointed  by  Gov.  Edward  Coles  the  first  Gover- 
nor of  the  State,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was 
required  to  take  an  oath  that  he  would  suppress 
duelling.  He  was  re-appointed  to  the  office  by  ( io\  . 
Ninian  Edwards,  and  later  was  elected  to  County 
Commissioner  for  two  terms.  About  the  close  of 
the  second  term  occurred  the  mobbing  of  Elijah 
Lovejoy  at  Alton,  when  his  printing  press  was 
thrown  into  the  river,  and  after  this  occurrence  Mr. 
Newlon  would  never  become  a  candidate  for  office. 
He  was  a  strong  Anti-slavery  man, and  one  of  a  few 
men  in  the  place  who  entertained  these  sentiments. 
or  who  at  least  dared  to  express  them,  prior  to  the 
breaking  up  of  the  Whig  party. 

The  first  man  to  call  a  meeting  designed  lostreng- 
then  the  Anti-slavery  cause  in  this  section  was  1  lira m 
Newlon.  and  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Republican    party    in    Edgar   County,     lie    never 


failed  upon  any  occasion  to  speak  for  the  "down- 
trodden, and  he  uniformly  extended  substantial  aid 

to  I  lie  needy  and  the  Oppressed.  He  lived  to  see  the 
extinction  of  the  peculiar  institution,  and  no  man 
living  experienced  a  deeper  joy  on  account  of  this, 
:uid  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  Larkin  D.,  our 
subject,  has  preserved  the  old  land  patents  obtained 
by  his  father  and  signed  by  Presidents  Monroe,  Van 
Buren,  Jackson  and  1'ieree.  They  are  carefully 
preserved  as  valuable  relics  of  a  time  long  past,  and 
will  increase  in  value  as  time  goes  on.  The  name 
of  Hiram  Newlon  is  held  in  kindly  remembrance 
by  the  friends  who  have  survived  him.  as  a  man 
wielding  a  most  important  influence  in  his  com- 
munity and  an  influence  which  was  always  on  the 
side  of  right   and  justice. 


^EOEGE  WASHINGTON    TRIPPLETT. 

(If  ^— ,  In  the  person  of  this  gentleman  we  have 
'*ss«l  that  of  an  active  and  enterprising  man  in 
the  prime  of  life  prominent  among  the  prosper- 
ous agriculturalists  of  Ross  Township,  and  the 
owner  of  319  acres  of  choice  land  on  sections  :!l' 
and  33.  lie  has  a  line  family,  consisting  of  an 
intelligent  and  capable  wife  and  three  interesting 
children.  Their  home  is  without  question  the 
abode  of  plenty  and  comfort,  and  they  arc  blest 
with  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  a  host  of  friends. 
The  career  of  an  upright  man  and  a  good  citizen 
is  amply  illustrated  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Tripplett, 
who  is  esteemed  as  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
reliable  men  of  the  community. 

Our  subject,  the  only  child  of  Daniel  M.  and 
Emcline  (Rogers)  Tripplett,  was  born  at  the  home- 
stead which  he  now  occupies  Oct.  25,  1847.  He 
was  deprived  by  death  of  the  affectionate  care  of 
his  mother  when  a  child  of  two  years,  and  was  taken 
into  the  home  of  his  aunt,  Elizabeth  Jennings,  in 
Centreville,  Ind.,  where  he  lived  until  a  boy  of 
seven  years.  Afterward  Ik;  became  an  inmate  of 
the  home  of  Christopher  Iliddle  of  Vermillion 
County,  Ind..  where  he  remained  and  attended  the 
common  school  until  a  youth  of  sixteen  years. 

In   the  spring  of    1864,  the  Civil  War  being   in 


902 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


progress,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Company  K,  129th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service 
at  Indianapolis.  The  company  drilled  there  one 
month  and  were  then  ordered  .South  to  Chattan- 
ooga, where  they  joined  Sherman's  command.  Mr. 
Tripplett  was  taken  ill  at  Chattanooga  and  confined 
in  the  hospital  for  a  time,  but  on  his  recovery 
rejoined  his  regiment,  and  among  other  engage- 
ments participated  in  the  battle  of  Marietta,  Ga.. 
and  was  at  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  after  which  he  was 
sent  back  with  Gen.  Thomas  to  Nashville.  Later 
followed  the  battles  of  Columbia,  Franklin  and 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  after  which  they  were  sent  to 
North  Carolina  by  boat  and  later  participated  in 
t lie  battle  of  Kingston,  soon  after  which  the  war 
was  ended  by  Lee's  surrender.  At  Rolla  our  sub- 
ject was  seized  with  pneumonia,  from  which  lie 
suffered  a  short  time,  and  was  then  sent  to  David's 
Isle.  New  York  Harbor,  where  he  remained  until 
receiving  his  honorable  discharge,  in  June,  18C5. 

Soon  after  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Tripplett  made 
his  way  back  to  Indiana,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  assisted  his  father  in  operating  the  home  farm 
until  the  fall  of  that  year.  Then,  desirous  of  ad- 
vancing his  education,  he  attended  the  Paris  High 
School,  and  after  leaving  it  worked  for  his  uncle 
four  years  on  a  farm.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  he  began  operating  on  rented  land  in  Ross 
Township,  and  later  settled  in  Young  America 
Township,  where  he  farmed  four  years.  In  1878, 
he  returned  to  the  homestead  and  remained  there 
until  the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  in 
1886. 

In  188G,  Mr.  Tripplett  received  his  share  of  his 
father's  estate,  123  acres,  which  he  improved  and  to 
which  he  has  added  until  he  has  a  tine,  large  tract  of 
hind,  all  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  It  is  sup- 
plied with  good  buildings  and  running  water  and 
admirably  adapted  to  stock  raising,  to  which  it  is 
largely  devoted.  Mr.  Tripplett  keeps  about  seventy 
head  of  cattle,  twelve  head  of  horses  and  a  goodly 
number  of  swine,  shipping  of  the  latter  a  car  load 
annually. 

Our  subject  was  married  on  April  25,  18G8,  in 
Ross  Township,  to  Miss  Nancy  B.,  daughter  of 
John  Klsbcrry,  the  latter  a  native  of  Clark  County, 
Ky.     Grandfather    Elsberry  owned  a  large  planta- 


tion and  kept  slaves  and  died  in  the  Blue  Grass 
State.  His  son,  John,  left  there  in  1856,  coming 
to  this  county  and  locating  in  Edgar  Township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  His  wife  in  her  girl- 
hood was  Miss  Elizabeth  Ilulett,  also  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Ilulett.  a 
farmer  of  that  State,  who  came  to  Morgan  County, 
111.,  where  he  died  some  months  later.  The  mother 
made  her  home  with  our  subject  thereafter  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  She  was  a  lady  pos- 
sessing many  estimable  qualities  and  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  seven  children  of  the  parental  family  were 
named  respectively  Benjamin,  Ellen  (deceased), 
Jane,  Joseph,  Nancy,  John,  Rachel  and  James 
(deceased).  Benjamin  and  Joseph  served  in  the 
64th  Illinois  Infanty,  and  the  latter  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Mrs.  Trip- 
plett was  born  near  Winchester,  Ky.,  Jul}7  7.  1849, 
and  was  a  child  of  seven  \rears  when  her  parents 
came  to  this  State.  She  remained  under  the  home 
roof  until  her  marriage,  and  by  her  union  with  our 
subject  has  become  the  mother  of  three  child,  en: 
Daniel  W.,  Norah  F.  and  Julia  G. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Daniel  M.  Trip- 
plett, a  native  of  Virginia  and  born  in  1800.  His 
paternal  grandfather  carried  a  musket  in  the  War  of 
1812.  Daniel  M.  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits, 
which  he  followed  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  later, 
during  the  above  mentioned  war,  served  as  a  team- 
ster. Upon  leaving  his  native  State  he  settled  near 
Cireleville,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  1832,  then  came  to  this  county.  Locating 
near  Paris  he  became  overseer  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Neff  of  Chrismau,  and  a  few  years  later 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Ross  Township,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  He  im- 
proved a  good  farm  and  remained  upon  it  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  April  11,  1886.  He  was 
a  stanch  Democrat  politically,  and  served  as  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  a  number  of  years. 

Mrs.  Emeline  (Rogers)  Tripplett,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  New  York  State,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Elias  Rogers,  a  native  of  the  same 
State,  and  who  participated  in  the  War  of  181  2. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  1829  and  entering  land  in 
Edgar  Township  prosecuted  farming  and  stock  rais- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


903 


ing  very  successfully,  and  invested  his  capital  in 
land  until  lie  became  the  owner  of  700  acres.  He 
died  in  1869,  surviving  his  daughter  twenty  years, 
The   mother  of  our  subject  ha\  ing  passed   away  in 

I  HI!). 

Mr.  Tripplett  east  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
1  .  s.  Grant,  and  is  one  of  the  most  ardent  adher- 
ents lit'  the  Republican  party.  Socially, he  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  member  of  chap- 
ter No.  32,  at  Paris,  ami  Treasurer  of  the  lodge  at 
Chrisman.  He  has  served  on  the  petit  jury,  but 
has  never  sought  office,  having  all  lie  could  pro- 
perly attend  to  in  the  management  of  his  large 
farm  and  its  various  interests. 

?fflSHER  O.  ('OLSON  is  one  of  the  popular 
young  business  men  of  Paris,  and  a  man 
who  is  very  popular  among  his  fellows.  He 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  confectionery,  restaurant  and 
bakery  business  on  the  south  side  of  the  square, 
where  he  has  carried  on  a  successful  trade  for  the 
last  nine  years.  He  is  obliging,  and  always  atten- 
tive to  his  business. 

Mr.  Colson  was  born  in  Charleston,  Coles 
('<>..  111.,  Aug.  25,  1856,  and  when  lint  a  boy 
he  removed  to  Mattoon,  III.,  there  receiving  his 
education  at  the  common  schools.  After  leaving 
school  he  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  the  Mattoon 
Journal  office,  working  there  for  nine  years  faith- 
fully, and  was  considered  an  expert  in  the  art  of 
printing.  After  quitting  the  printing  business  lie 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  candy,  having  be- 
come proficient  in  the  business  in  1870.  He  located 
at  Paris  in  1880,  where  he  has  "been  in  the  business 
indicated  since.  He  commenced  with  a  small  stock 
of  goods,  but  has  enlarged  his  establishment, 
until  now  he  has  a  very  complete  stock  of  confec- 
tionery, and  is  prosecuting  an  exceedingly  prosper- 
ous business.  Politically,  he  belongs  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  but  official  honors  have  never  had  any 
charms  for  him. 

Mr.  Colson  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  belongs 
to  the  K.  of  P.,  and  1.  <).  <  >.  K.,  and  worships  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.     His  honest,  deal- 


ings and  strict  integrity  has  made  for  him  a  name 
that  is  better  than  gold.  He  has  been  the  architect 
of  his  own  business  since  nine  years  of  age  and  has 
made  his  way  unassisted  in  the  world. 

.Mi-.  Colson  married  Ada  Cordon,  of  Vincennes, 
Ind.,  Nov.  19, 1879.  Mrs.  Colson*  is  a  native  of 
Indiana,  where  she  was  born  in  1861. 


-«-<>-»- 


y>ILLIAM  ROSS.  A  sharer  in  the  ph. r 
life  of  three  States,  this  sturdy  veteran  is, 
Wyi  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  :i  splendid 
specimen  of  the  robust  and  rugged  manhood  to 
which  Illinois  stands  indebted  for  her  rapid  de- 
velopment from  a  savage-peopled  wilderness,  to 
the  first  among  the  commonwealths  of  the  Middle 
Union.  Born  in  Ohio,  Jan.  8,  1818,  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Indiana  in  1828,  where  his  boyhood  was 
spent  with  Indian  children  for  playmates,  he  early 
became  inured  to  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
incident  upon  pioneer  life.  During  that  period  was 
laid  the  foundation  of  his  future  success  in  hab- 
its of  industry  and  toil,  such  as  the  environment  of 
frontier  life  made  necessary  in  order  that  existence 
itself  might  be  maintained. 

Nature  gave  to  William  Ross  a  frame  which  de- 
veloped into  almost  gigantic  size  and  strength. 
To-day  he  stands  over  six  feet  in  height  and  weighs 
210  pounds.  His  rugged  features  are  stamped  with 
the  strong  individuality  of  his  character,  and  one 
reads  in  the  firm,  massive  jaws,  the  overhanging 
eyebrows,  and  the  keen,  flashing  eyes,  the  evidences 
of  a  strongly  energetic  nature,  and  a  self-reliant 
and  firm  will.  Such  men  were  the  lit  forerunners 
of  civilization  in  the  West,  and  their  names  and 
memories  are  deserving  of  reverence  and  perpetua- 
tion. 

As  already  intimated,  Mr.  Ross  is  a  native!  of 
Ohio.  lie  was  born  near  Jacksonburg,  Butler 
County,  in  that  State,  Jan.  8.  1818,  his  birthday 
being  the  third  anniversary  of  Gen.  Jackson's  vic- 
tory over  the  British  at  New  Orleans.  1 1  Is  father, 
John  Ross,  was  a  native  of  <  i-recne  County.  Pa.,  and 
married  Christina  Conrad,  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton County,  that  State.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  from  which  he  emi- 
grated to  Pennsylvania  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 


004 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


War.  He  married  after  coming  to  America,  and 
employed  himself  asa  farmer  and  miller,  owning  and 
operating  a  mill  near  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  His  children  v/erc  bred  to  farm  work 
and  had  lint  limited  opportunities  for  an  education. 
a  few  months  now  and  then  at  the  subscription 
schools  being  all  that  could  be  given  them. 

John  Ross,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer 
and  drover  combined.  Shortly  after  the  Territory 
of  Ohio  was  opened  up.  he  went  to  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  after  his  marriage  in  Pennsylvania.  They 
became  the  parents  of  nine  children — Abraham, 
Catherine,  Mary,  Henry,  John,  Jacob,  Johnston, 
.William,  and  Elizabeth.  Abraham  died  in  Edgar 
County.  111.,  in  1877,  leaving  a  widow  and  grown 
up  children;  Catherine  was  the  wife  of  John  Jack- 
son, a  farmer,  and  died  in  Clinton  County,  Ind.. 
when  about  forty  years  of  age,  leaving  ten  chil- 
dren; Mary  was  married  to  Stephen  Allen,  and  died 
about  1878,  leaving  seven  children;  Henry  died 
about  1869  in  Champaign  County,  111.,  where  he 
was  a  farmer;  he  left  a  wife  and  eight  children. 
John  died  in  1879.  in  Vermilion  County,  III.,  leav- 
ing a  wife  and  five  children;  Jacob  moved  to  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.,  where  he  died  probably  in  1879, 
leaving  a  wife  and  five  children ;  Johnston  is  the 
owner  of  a  large  stock  ranch  in  Bee  County,  Tex. ; 
he  is  married,  and  the  father  of  eleven  children, 
only  four  of  whom  are  living.  Elizabeth  is  the 
wife  of  Francis  (ireen,  of  Chrisman;  out  of  nine 
children  born  to  herself  and  her  husband,  only  three 
are  living.  The  father  of  our  subject  died  Sept.  2, 
18111,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  five  months,  and  two 
days.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  Jan.  7,  1869, 
aged  sixty-nine  years,  seven  months,  and  two  days. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in  the  sub- 
scription school.  When  he  was  ten  years  old,  his 
father  removed  to  Clinton  County,  Ind.,  and  set- 
tled among  the  Indians,  there  being  at  that  time 
only  seven  white  families  in  the  county.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years,  Mr.  Ross  was  married  to 
Miss  Aseuath  Crull,  daughter  of  William  Crull  who 
was  of  English  ancestry;  ten  children  resulted  from 
this  union — Rebecca.  Henry,  Rhoda,  Lewis  C,  El- 
mira,  Philetta,  William.  Elizabeth.  Asenath,  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Rebecca,  the  eldest  child  of  our  subject,  was  first 


married  to  Jacob  Brinkerhoff,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children.  Her  second  husband,  Ralph  Smith, 
is  a  grain  buyer  in  Metcalf,  and  by  him  she  had  one 
child.  Henry,  whose  biography  appears  on  another 
page,  resides  on  the  home  farm;  Rhoda  married 
John  Smith,  and  died  in  Kansas  in  1888,  leaving 
five  children;  Lewis  C.  married  Miss  Alice  Pound, 
and  lives  in  Beeville,  Bee  Co.,  Tex.,  being  a  wealthy 
ranchman,  and  the  father  of  four  children;  Elmira. 
Mrs.  Milton  Julian,  is  living  in  Danville,  111.;  she 
has  two  children;  her  husband  is  a  farmer.  Phil- 
etta married  John  B.  Hildreth,  of  Carroll  Town- 
ship, Vermilion  County,  and  died  about  fourteen 
years  since,  leaving  four  children;  William  married 
Miss  Susan  Reese,  lives  on  the  home  place,  and  has 
two  children;  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  II.  Law- 
rence Reed,  and  died  in  Vermilion  County,  Aug.  1, 
1  888,  leaving  four  children  ;  Asenath  married  Wash- 
ington Reed,  a  brother  of  II.  Lawrence  Heed,  and 
they  are  living  in  Kansas;  they  have  four  children. 

Our  subject  remained  in  Clinton  County,  Ind.. 
until  1852,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Carroll  Township,  Vermilion  County,  where  he 
purchased  280  acres  of  land.  That  same  year  lie 
also  entered  800  acres  in  Young  America  Town- 
ship, Edgar  County,  a  part  of  which  constitutes 
his  present  homestead,  and  to  which  he  removed 
in  1856.  His  first  wife  died  ten  years  later,  and  in 
1870  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  (  Hitter)  Reed. 
This  lady  at  the  timeof  her  marriage  with  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  widow  of  George  Reed,  by  whom  she  had 
three  children.  Two  of  her  sons,  Lawrence  and 
George  Washington,  married  Elizabeth  and  Asen- 
ath, daughters  of  William  Ross.  Her  other  son, 
Martin,  is  unmarried,  and  living  in  Bee'  County, 
Tex.  Mrs.  Ross  has  had  no  children  by  her  second 
marriage. 

Since  coming  to  Illinois.  Mr.  Ross  has  ranked  as 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  prosperous  farmers 
of  Edgar  County.  At  one  time  his  landed  poses- 
sions  amounted  to  over  1, COO  acres.  He  has  di- 
vided land  among  his  children,  until  he  has  but,  .'520 
acres  left.  This  in  itself  is  a  large  farm, and  under 
the  careful  cultivation  to  which  it  is  subjected,  it 
yields  a  revenue  adequate  for  itsownerand  his  two 
married  sons  who  reside  on  it,  and  assist  in  its  till- 
age. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


90; 


Caring  nothing  for  office,  except  wherein  he  can 
serve  his  township,  Mr.  Ross  has  not  withstanding 
filled  all  i if  the  local  offices  one  or  more  terms,  as 
Township  Supervisor,  Assessor,  School  Treasurer, 
and  Commissioner  of  Highways.  He  and  his  ex- 
cellent wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  Mr.  Ross  is  a  Mason  in  good  standing, 
and  in  politics  a  sound  Democrat,  who  has  fre- 
quently served  as  a  delegate  to  the  various  conven- 
tions. 

The  residence  of  William  Ross  is  pleasantly  situ- 
ated in  about  the  center  of  section  9.  Though  of  plain 
exterior  it  is  tastefully  and  comfortably  furnished, 
contains  a  well -selected  library,  and  a  generous  list 
of  papers  and  periodicals  which  furnish  recreation 
to  the  mind  after  the  toils  of  the  day  and  the  week 
are  over.  The  four  children  of  his  deceased  daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth,  brighten  his  home  by  their  childish 
mirth  and  happy  faces,  and  are  the  objects  of  his 
warm  affection  and  protecting  care.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ross  pass  their  lives  quietly  and  pleasantly,  evi- 
dently being  conscious  of  having  lived  to  leave  the 
world  better  for  their  sojourn  in  it.  They  have 
been  privileged  to  see  their  children  grow  to  man- 
hood and  womanhood,  and  some  of  them  to  win 
for  themselves  honorable  places.  Others  laid  down 
the  burden  of  life  in  the  vigor  of  their  years,  with 
the  bright  promise  of  their  youth  scarcely  realized. 
The  sorrows  of  bereavement  have  only  served  to 
make  the  hearts  which  have  suffered  more  gentle, 
and  the  mind  more  charitable,  while  their  joys  have 
not  been  unappreciated  as  the  gift  of  One  who  in 
wisdom,  love  and  mercy  has  chastened  them,  and 
in  whom  they  have  an  enduring  and  confiding 
trust. 


-'•'W- vt££i£>t!5~S@  • 


@^2H7Zra»'.-'\/v->'- 


OBERT  R.  BENNEFIEL.  late  of  Shiloh 
Township  and  now  deceased,  was  numbered 
ii  vl,  among  its  early  pioneers,  having  settled  here 
^H'about  184ii.  He  made  the  journey  with  his 
little  family  from  the  vicinity  of  Carlisle,  Sullivan 
Co.,  Ind.,  journeying  overland  by  team  and  set- 
tling on  a  rented  farm  of  12(1  acres  which  he  occu- 
pied three  years.  He  then  removed  to  a  tract  of 
wild  land  in  Buck  Township,    from    which  he  con- 


structed a  good  farm,  his  home  until  1870.  That 
year  he  sold  out  purchasing  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  his  widow.  Mrs.  Mary  .1.  Bennefiel,  and  children 
and  which  comprises  :i  1  1  acres  on  section  19.  Here 
he  engaged  successfully  in  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing and  instituted  many  improvements,  putting  up 
a  house  and  barn  and  planting  fruit  and  forest 
trees.  His  death,  which  occurred  March  2.'!,  1882, 
was  caused  by  the  kick  of  a  horse.  He  was  then 
sixty-five  years  old.  having  been  born  in  1817,  in 
Carlisle.  Ind. 

Mr.  Bennefiel  was  numbered  among  the  liberal 
and  public-spirited  men  of  his  county  and  was  fore- 
most in  all  good  works.  He  officiated  as  a  Steward 
and  Tfustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
in  politics  was  an  ardent  Republican.  He  served 
as  a  School  Director  in  his  district  and  occupied 
many  other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility. 
After  his  death,  his  widow  operated  the  farm  until 
188C,  then  rented  it  to  her  sons  and  moved  to 
Paris.  In  1888  she  returned  to  the  old  homestead 
of  which  she  owns  seventy  acres  and  which  she 
carries  on  in  company  with  her  sons.  The  land  is 
fertile  and  well  watered  by  Bruellet  Creek.  The 
farm  lies  four  miles  from  Metcalf  and  with  its  im- 
provements, forms  a  very  attractive  rural  home. 
It  is  largely  devoted  to  grain  and  stock-raising  and 
three  teams  are  used  in  its  operation.  Mrs.  Benne- 
fiel was  born  in  Carlisle,  Ind.,  June  1G,  1819,  and 
received  a  good  education  in  her  native  town. 
Her  father,  Chester  Ingram,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  after  emigrating  to  Sullivan  County, 
Ind.,  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  hisdeath. 
The  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Diana  Hall, 
was  born  in  New  York  State  and  also  died  in  Car- 
lisle, Ind. 

John  Hall,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Bennefiel,  was  a  native  of  England.  Emigrating  to 
America,  he  located  first  in  New  York  State,  then 
removed  to  Carlisle.  Ind..  where  he  engaged  as  an 
hotclkeeper  and  operated  a  stage  line.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Sullivan  County.  He  served 
in  the  war  of  1812  ami  died  in  Carlisle  many  years 
ago. 

After  their  marriage  which  occurred  Feb.  13, 
1842,  Mr.  and  Mrs. Bennefiel  lived  in  Indiana  until 
1846,  then  came  to  Edgar  Count  v.  III.    There  were 


908 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


born  to  them  eight  children,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
Francis  M..  died  when  nearly  twenty  years  old  ;  Belle 
is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lewis  Reed,  a  druggist  of  Cen- 
tralia,  111.;  Addison  L.  is  at  home  with  his  mother; 
Laura  is  the  wife  of  A.  F.  Long,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Edgar  Township;  William  and  Clar- 
ence are  at  home;  Edward  D.  and  Sarah  died  at  the 
ages  of  fourteen  months  and  four  weeks.  Mrs. 
Benneflel  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Paris  and  her  sons, 
like  their  father,  vote  the  straight  Republican 
ticket. 

Although  forever  passed  from  the  midst  of  his 
friends,  Mr.  Bennefiel  lives  in  their  loving  memo- 
ries, and  thus  they  will  welcome  with  pleasure  the 
addition  to  this  volume  in  a  fine  portrait  of  him. 
whose  life  was  devoted  to  the  upbuilding  of  his 
county  and  the  development  of  its  resources. 

¥  ESSE  MOORE.  Edgar  County  has  been 
largely  settled  up  by  natives  of  the  Blue 
(irass  State.  They  have  been  a  hardy  race 
of  men,  possessing  the  elements  most  needed 
in  order  t<>  battle  successfully  with  the  toils  and 
hardships  of  frontier  life.  The  subject  of  this  no- 
tice, a  veteran  of  seventy-seven  years,  was  burn 
near  Dry  Ridge,  Scott  Co.,  Ky.,  May  30,  1812,  and 
came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  during  the  period  of 
its  early  settlement.  He  has  seen  many  years  of 
arduous  labor,  but  battled  successfully  with  the 
new  soil  and  the  other  disadvantages  attendant 
upon  pioneer  life,  and  is  now  comfortably  situated 
at  a  good  homestead  on  section  17.  Edgar  Town- 
ship. This  property  lias  been  accumulated  by  his 
own  industry,  and  forms  a  very  attractive  home, 
one  of  its  distinctive  features  being  a  beautiful 
large  walnut  grove,  a  part  of  which  was  planted  l>v 
his  own  hand  over  forty  years  ago. 

Our  subject  is  the  offshoot  of  a  substantial  South- 
ern family,  being  the  son  of  .lesse  Moore.  Sr.,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  anil  the  grandson  of  an  old 
Revolutionary  soldier,  likewise  born  in  the  ( > I « 1 
Dominion.  The  latter  subsequently  removed  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  labored  successfully  as  an  agri- 


culturist, and  died  in  good  circumstances.  The 
records  indicate  that  he  came  of  a  hardy  race, 
which  originated  in  Ireland.  Jesse  Moore  was  a 
young  man  when  he  accompanied  his  father's  fam- 
ily to  Scott  County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  possessed 
in  a  marked  degree  some  of  the  substantial  traits 
of  his  progenitors,  was  very  fearless  and  outspoken 
in  his  opinions,  and  a  Jackson  Democrat  of  the 
deepest  dye.  He  stood  up  and  voted  for  William 
II.  Harrison  in  1  <S3(>  and  in  1840,  and  upon  several 
occasions  felled  a  man  to  the  earth  for  speaking 
disparagingly  of  the  hero  of  -'Tippecanoe." 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood 
Miss  Margaret  Hedger,  and  the  daughter  of  Reu- 
ben Hedger,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  at  an 
early  day  removed  to  Scott  County.  Ky..  which 
was  the  birthplace  of  his  daughter,  Margaret.  He 
farmed  extensively  in  Scott  County,  but  later  re- 
moved to  Harrison  County,  where  he  spent  his  last 
days.  This  family  was  likewise  of  Irish  descent. 
The  mother  spent  her  entire  life  in  her  native 
county,  and  died  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Of  her  marriage  with  Jesse  Moore,  there  were  born 
eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  are  deceased,  viz: 
Jefferson,  the  eldest;  Lucinda,  the  third  child; 
Sally,  Polly.  Catherine,  Mary,  Eliza,  Annie.  Phebe, 
and  Sanford.  who  were  born  in  the  order  named. 
Jesse,  oiu' subject,  was  next  to  the  eldest.  The  only 
two  living  besides  himself,  is  Thirza,  and  Amanda 
a  resident  of  Edgar  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  assisted  his  father  on 
the  farm  during  Ins  boyhood,  and  until  a  youth  of 
eighteen  years.  Then  starting  out  for  himself,  he 
made  his  way  to  Clermont  County.  Ohio,  where  he 
worked  on  a  farm  two  years,  then  returned  to  the 
old  Kentucky  home.  After  a  few  week's  sojourn, 
however,  he  set  out  again,  in  the  fall  of  1831,  and 
traversing  the  States  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  came  to 
Edgar  County,  this  State,  making  the  journey  over- 
land, accompanied  by  his  uncle.  The}'  crossed  the 
Ohio  River  at  Cincinnati,  and  the  Wabash  at  Terre 
Haute,  and  locating  at  Steam  Point,  our  subject 
worked  one  year  for  $5  per  month.  He  continued 
the  employe  of  others  until  1837,  then  commenced 
making  rails  at  twenty  cents  per  100,  and  chopped 
wood  at  twenty-five  cents  a  cord.    He  was  an  expert 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


909 


in  this  line. sometimes  getting  out  500  rails  a  day  ami 
live  cords  Of  wood  in  Hie  same  time.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say  that  he  was  excelled  by  few  in  this 
line.  In  1837  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land — 
forty  acres — without  any  improvements.  The  re- 
creation of  the  settlers  in  those  days  included  the 
wolf  hunts,  in  which  they  engaged al  stated  periods 
and  Mr.  Moore  has  himself  killed  as  many  as  five 
in  a  day. 

Upon  taking  possession  of  his  land.  Mr.  Moore 
first  put  up  a  log  cabin,  got  in  his  first  season's 
Crops,  ami  then  began  making  improvements.  He 
sel  out  fruit  and  forest  trees,  including  the  walnut 
grove  spoken  of.  which  is  acknowledged  to  he  the 
finest  in  the  county,  and  in  due  time  the  log  cabin 
was  abandoned  for  a  commodious  modern  residence. 
The  land  is  watered  by  a  living  spring,  and  when 
his  means  permitted,  .Mr.  Moore  added  to  his  real  es- 
tate so  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of  1  15  acres,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  under  the  plow.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  horses,  and  from  this  source  alone. 
realizes  a  good  income. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Hannali 
Morgan  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in  New- 
port. Ind.,  in  183.°).  Mrs.  Moore  is  the  daughter  of 
Wells  Morgan,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Edgar 
County,  she  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ky..  in 
1815,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Illinois  when  a 
child  of  seven  years.  She  became  the  mother  of 
ten  children,  and  departed  this  life  June  1.3,  1889. 
Their  eldest  daughter,  Margaret,  Mrs.  Conover, 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Edgar  Township;  Samuel,  a 
horseman  and  farmer  combined,  resides  in  Chris- 
man;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Lemuel  Sayre,  lives  in  Tus 
cola;  Jefferson  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  makes 
his  headquarters  at  Terre  Haute,  lud.;  Therein  is 
the  wife  of  Benjamin  McKee,  a  fanner  of  Edgar 
Township;  .lohn  and  Scott  are  twins,  the  former 
is  at  home,  and  Scott  operates  a  feed  stable  in 
Montgomery  County.  Kan.;  Mary  died  at  the  aye 
of  about  twenty-five  years;  Taylor  is  at  home  with 
his  parents;  his  twin  brother.  Marion,  died  wlien 
three  years  old. 

Mr.  Moore  finds  his  religion-,  home  in  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Bloomfield.  lie  voted  for  Gen.  William 
II.  Harrison  in  1840,  and  in  1856  he  identified  him- 
self with    the    Republican    party,   of    which    he    has 


been  a  strong  supporter.  The  grandson  of  old 
Tippecanoe,  received  his  enthusiastic  support  in  the 
election  of  188s.  Aside  from  serving  on  the  jury, 
he  has  had  very  little  to  do  with  public  affairs, giv- 
ing his  principal  attention  to  his  farming  interests. 

Besides  their  own  child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M -e  reared 

a  grand-daughter,  Annie  Heinman,  who  is  still  in 
the  family,  and  another  child,  Elmyra  Wallace,  who 
is  now  deceased. 


R.  JOHN  MILLS  bears  the  distinction  of 
being  the  pioneer  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Kansas,  having  located  within  the  town- 
ship at  a  time  prior  to  the  regular  estab- 
lishment of  roads,  when  he  traveled  over  the 
country  on  horseback  and  ministered  to  the  people 
from  the  contents  of  his  saddle  bags.  He  rode 
through  the  woods  fin  dark  nights,  through  rain 
and  snow  and  cold  and  heal,  enduring  frequently 
hunger  and  thirst  and  weariness,  but  his  sympathy 
and  fidelity  in  time  were  rewarded  by  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  entire  community.  We  now 
find  him  established  at  a  comfortable  and  pleasant 
home  in  the  town  of  Kansas  where  lie  is  numbered 
among  her  first  citizens. 

A  native  of  the  Old  Granite  State,  our  subject 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Concord,  May  10.  1819. 
His  father,  lion.  John  Mills  was  a  native  of  the 
same  place  and  lived  at  a  time  when  there  were 
seven  John  Mills  in  the  township  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  a  man  of  fine  abilities  and  prom- 
inent in  New  Hampshire,  serving  for  six  years  as 
a  member  of  the  Legislature.  He  was.  however, 
fond  of  agricultural  pursuits  and  carried  cm  farm- 
ing in  connection  with  his  other  interests.  Finally, 
in  [838,  leaving  his  native  hills  he  emigrated  with 
his  family  to  Kalamazoo  County.  Mich.,  where  the 
early  education  of  our  subject,  was  begun.  The 
mother.  Mrs.  Susannah  (Church )  Mills,  was  born 
not  far  from  the  early  home  of  her  husband  and 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Church  who  died  in 
New  Hampshire  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and 
three  years.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there 
were   born    ten    children,   only  three    of    whom   are 


910 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


living,  viz.:  John,  our  subject.  Dr.  Charles  H..  a 
resident  of  Champaign,  III.,  and  David  M.,  who  at 
one  time  was  a  resident,  of  Dakota  but  is  now  farm- 
ing twelve  miles  north  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Assembly  for 
several  terms.  Two  sons,  Ambrose  and  William, 
adopted  the  medical  profession.  The  former  died 
in  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  when  thirty-two  years  old; 
William  died  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight;  one  daughter,  Margaret,  died  when 
an  interesting  young  lady  of  twenty  years;  Susan- 
nah died  when  a  child  of  eight  years;  another  son, 
Frederick,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  at  one 
time  a  practicing  attorney  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia. Pa.,  but  not  having  been  heard  from  for  years, 
it  is  supposed  that  he  is  dead. 

Dr.  Mills  attended  school  quite  regularly  during 
his  boyhood  and  after  leaving  the  High  School 
went,  in  1841,  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  commenced 
the  reading  of  medicine  under  the  instruction  first 
of  Dr.  Workman,  and  later  of  Dr.  Holston,  who 
subsequently  became  Gen.  Grant's  family  physi- 
cian. While  in  Zanesville  he  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  .lames  K.  Polk.  He  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  November,  1843,  at 
Adamsville,  Muskingum  County,  and  remained 
there  ten  years.  In  December,  1853,  deciding  to 
seek  the  farther  West,  he  came  to  Edgar  County. 
111.  and  settled  in  what  was  then  Warrenton,  now 
a  defunct  town  of  Kansas  Township.  In  the  fall 
of  1855  he  changed  his  residence  to  Kansas,  III., 
which  was  just  then  struggling  into  existence  and 
which  was  known  as  Midway  Station,  being  located 
halfway  between  Paris  and  Charleston.  With  the 
exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Paxton,  Ford 
County,  he  has  since  continuously  followed  his 
practice  in  Kansas  and  vicinity.  During  those 
years  he  rode  all  over  the  western  part  of  Edgar 
and  the  eastern  part  of  Coles  County,  and  for  a 
long  period  was  associated  in  partnership  with 
Dr.  O.  Q.  Derrick,  who  was  a  surgeon  during  the 
late  war  and  who  died  in  Kansas,  111.,  in  August, 
1873.  Dr.  Mills  has  been  particularly  successful 
in  the  department  of  surgery  and  has  performed 
some  very  difficult  operations,  especially  in  cases 
of  skull  fracture,  in  which  he  never  lost  a  patient. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  John  INI  ills  and  Miss  Rebecca 


Wheeler  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in  Mus- 
kingum County,  ()hio,Oct.  3,  1843.  Mrs.  Mills  was 
born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  April  22,  1821, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  Wheeler,  who  spent 
his  last  years  in  Ohio  and  is  now  deceased.  Of  this 
union  there  have  been  born  four  children,  only  two 
of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Franklin  W.,  a  tele- 
graph operator  of  Paris  and  Ellen  A.,  who  married 
Rev.  William  Downs,  and  she  has  three  children. 
Franklin  married  Miss  Mell  Jones  and  is  the  father 
of  one  child,  a  son,  Herbert.  The  Doctor  also  had 
a  daughter,  Mary  Frances  Barry,  deceased,  who  left 
two  children,  Tessie  and  Ellen. 

The  Doctor,  while  a  resident  of  Ohio  officiated 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  six  years,  but  since 
coming  to  the  West  has  preferred  to  give  his  whole 
attention  to  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He  is  an 
Elder  in  the  Christian  Church.  Mrs.  Mills  died 
Aug.  2G,  1880,  and  is  buried  at  Harmony  Church, 
four  miles  north  of  Kansas. 


^JjOSIAII  D.  SAYRE  owns  and  operates  250 
acres  of  land  on  section  30  in  Prairie 
Township.  He  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  men  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, and  is  ever  found  taking  an  active  part  in 
public  enterprises  for  which  his  good  education  and 
fine  judgment  eminently  fits  him.  He  is  familiars- 
known  to  his  acquaintances  as  "Dick  Sayre,"  which 
exhibits  the  respect  in  which  he  is  held. 

His  father,  Israel  D.  Sayre,  was  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade.  When  a  young 
man  he  concluded  to  abandon  his  chosen  vocation 
and  engage  in  farming.  So,  in  January,  1829,  he 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Edgar  Countv, 
where  he  bought  land  of  the  Government,  im- 
proved his  opportunities  and  did  well.  He  was  noted 
for  his  strict  temperance  views  and  was  held  in  high 
respect  by  his  entire  circle  of  acquaintances.  He  at 
one  time  owned  1,800  acres  of  land,  ami  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  in  the 
county.  He  died  in  the  prime  of  life  in  1849,  at 
the  age  of  forty-two  years.  Politically,  he  was  a 
prominent  Whig,  and    belonged  to  the    Methodist 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


91] 


Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  Class-Leader. 

His  wife  was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio  in  1799 
and  died  on  the  homestead,  .Inly  19,  1888.  Her 
first  husband  was  named  Legate,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children,  John  M.,  and  Elizabeth  C.  She  and 
Mr.  Sayre  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five  of 
whom  grew  to  manhood:  Robert  L.,  Lemuel  I!., 
David  C,  Israel  B.  and  Josiah  !>.,  of  whom  this 
sketch  is  written.  The  latter  was  born  in  Edgar 
County,  Jan.  28,  1831.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  attended  subscription  schools.  He  remembers 
well  when  wild  game  was  plentiful  in  this  section 
of  the  country,  and  especially  that  noblest  of  Amer- 
ean  game  birds,  wild  turkey.  Deer  and  bear  were 
also  plentiful.  When  he  was  ten  years  old,  in 
1840,  ami  in  company  with  his  father,  he  returned 
to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  in  a  wagon,  a  journey  he 
remembers  very  well.  That  was  in  the  fall  of 
the  Harrison  campaign  and  he  distinctly  recalls  the 
excitement  of  that  period.  They  remained  there 
but  a  little  while  and  after  their  visit  was  ended, 
returned  home.  When  he  was  twenty-two  years 
of  age  he  took  charge  of  his  present  place,  upon 
which  there  were  no  improvements.  He  went  to 
work  with  five  yoke  of  cattle  and  a  twenty-two 
inch  plow  and  broke  his  land.  He  has  now  a 
splendid  place  with  orchards,  hedges  and  all  the 
appurtenances  that  are  connected  with  a  well  regu- 
lated farm.  In  1885  he  erected  a  line  house, 
28x32,  and  two  stories  in  height,  which  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  lovely  yard.  In  connection  with 
raising  grain  he  operates  extensively  in  feeding 
stock.  He  has  a  fine  lot  of  graded  Clydesdale 
horses,  in  which  he  takes  a  great  deal  of  pride. 

On  June  30,  1853,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ruth 
A.  McFerren,  who  was  born  in  Adams  County, 
Ohio.  She  died  Jan.  27,  1855,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren— Altamira  ami  Abbie.  The  latter  married 
Daniel  Fulton,  a  farmer  of  Prairie  Township.  Mr. 
Sayre  took  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Eliza  McFer- 
ren, being  married  on  Dec.  26,  185G.  They  are 
the  parents  of  eight  children:  Luella,  Ruth  A., 
Matilda,  Estella  G..  William  S.,  Ocalla.  Mary  !•'., 
and  Alforetta.  Ruth  A.,  married  Robert  Yelton. 
a  fanner  of  Prairie  Township;  Matilda  is  the  wife 
of  .lames  Welman,  who  is  a  farmer;  Estella  is 
married    to  Charles  Lee,   a   carpenter,    of  Prairie 


Township;  William  S..  married  Maggie  E.  Carson, 
they  are  on  the  old  homestead;  Ocalla,  now  Mrs. 
Smith,  is  at  home,  her  husband  is  deceased.  The 
balance  are  residing  at  home. 

Mr.  Sayre  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  its  conven- 
tions. He  has  held  the  office  of  School  Director 
and  has  been  Collector  for  si\  years  and  Constable 
for  four  years.  He  belongs  to  the  Masons  and  is 
recognized  by  those  who  know  him  bestasamanof 
charitable  inclinations. 


m  AMES  HANKS.  The  business  interests  of 
1  Kansas  and  vicinity  find  a  wide-awake  repre- 
I  I  sentative  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Hanks,  who 
«|k»  is  conducting  a  thriving  grocery  and  drug 
trade  at  its  center,  and  whose  popularity  in  social 
and  business  circles  is  only  equal  to  his  deserts.  A 
Kentuckian  by  birth,  his  native  place  was  in  Mor- 
gan County,  that  State,  and  the  date  of  his  birth 
Sept.  7,  1827.  His  father,  William  Hanks,  left  the 
Blue  Grass  country  in  1828,  and  coming  to  Edgar 
County,  111.,  settled  in  the  wilderness  of  Sims  Town- 
ship, where  he  built  up  a  good  home,  and  was  recog- 
nized as  one  of  its  best  citizens. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  only  child  of 
his  parents  at  the  time  of  their  coining  to  Illinois. 
The  father  came  to  this  section  without  means,  hav- 
ing no  money  and  little  personal  property  with  the 
exception  of  an  old  gray  mare,  lie  began  as  the 
employe  of  others,  labored  early  and  late,  finally 
secured  a  tract  of  land,  and  was  prospered  as  a  tiller 
of  the  soil.  In  due  time  he  turned  his  attention  to 
stock-raising,  also  feeding  and  shipping,  and  in- 
vested his  surplus  capital  in  real  estate,  so  that  at- 
one time  he  was  the  owner  of  over  1,0(10  acres  of 
land.  In  addition  to  this  he  provided  for  a  family 
of  thirteen  children  out  of  fourteen  who  were  born 
to  him,  and  of  whom  ten  arc  still  living — these  lat- 
ter being  James,  our  subject.  Berry,  Nancy  J..  Mrs. 
SwangO ;  Sibby,  Mrs.  Wells;  Caroline,  Mrs.  Sizc- 
more;  Mary  E.,  Mrs.  Baber;  Michael,  Nelson,  Eva- 
line,  Mrs.  McAlister,  and  Sarah,  Mrs.  Quinu.  The 
mother,  Mrs.  Mary  (O'Hair)  Hanks,  wasanative  of 


91: 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Kentucky,  and  a  sister  of  John,  Michael,  -lames. 
William,  and  Washington  O'llair.  She  still  lives 
near  Pan's. 

The  deceased  of  the  parental  family  were  Will- 
iam, Jackson,  and  Green,  besides  a  (laughter  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  survivors  are  residents  prin- 
cipally of  Edgar  County.  James,  like  his  brothers, 
obtained  a  limited  education  in  the  log  cabin  school- 
house  which  he  attended  mostly  during  the  winter 
season.  For  a  number  of  years  the  people  in  that 
region  had  their  corn  and  Hour  ground  at  a  mill 
belonging  to  Mike  O'llair.  which  was  operated  by 
horse-power,  and  located  at  Elbridge.  In  thelabor 
of  opening  up  a  (arm,  all  hands  were  made  useful, 
the  children  being  required  todo  their  part  as  they 
were  able.  Mr.  Hanks  lived  with  his  parents  until 
his  marriage,  and  then  took  possession  of  a  1"^ 
cabin  of  his  own.  This  structure  contained  one 
room,  and  was  finished  off  with  a  puncheon  floor,  a 
clapboard  roof  and  door,  the  former  held  in  its 
place  by  knees  and  weight  poles,  and  the  latter  by 
wooden  hinges.  A  huge  fire-place  extended  across 
one  end  of  the  building,  before  which  the  bride 
performed  her  cooking  operations. 

Our  subject  followed  farming  until  1855,  then 
established  himself  at  Grand  View  as  a  general  mer- 
chant, where  he  remained  one  year.  Thence  he 
removed  to  Kansas,  III.,  and  in  company  with  two 
partners  prosecuted  merchandising  under  the  firm 
name  of  Hanks,  Zink  &  O'llair.  Since  that  time 
he  has  never  left  the  channels  of  trade,  this  business 
proving  more  congenial  to  him  than  anything  else 
which  he  has  followed.  He  in  due  time  purchased 
the  interest  of  his  partners,  and  has  since  conducted 
the  business  alone,  carrying  a  full  line  of  groceries, 
flour,  drugs  and  medicines,  making  a  specialty  of  [ 
flour,  of  which  he  sells  more  than  any  other  house 
in  the  town.  This  being  the  New  Douglas  Extra 
Fancy,  outsells  all  others  on  account  of  its  superior 
quality.  Mr.  Hanks  has  a  bakery  in  connection 
with  his  other  interests,  which,  however,  he  ope- 
rates only  a  portion  of  the  time. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1847,  our  subject  was   j 
united  in  marriage  with    Miss    Mary    Zink,   at    the 
home  of  the  bride  in  Grand  View  Township.    This 
lady  is  the  daughter  of  Emanuel   Zink,  who  is  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Edgar  County,  and  is  now 


deceased.  Seven  children  were  bora  of  this  union, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Delilah.  Lindes, 
Emanuel,  Emily,  and  Angie.  Delilah  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Smith,  of  Kansas,  111.;  the  one  child 
bora  lo  them  is  deceased;  Lindes  married  Miss 
Caroline  Brown;  they  live  on  a  farm  in  Kansas 
Township,  and  have  four  children.  Emanuel  mar- 
ried Miss  Mamie  Redmond;  they  live  in  Kansas 
Township,  and  have  one  child.  Emily  married 
Charles  Owens,  of  Kansas.  111.,  and  they  have  three 
children;  Angie  is  the  wife  of  Vance  Arterburn.  of 
Kansas,  and  they  have  one  child. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Hanks  is  still  living,  making 
her  home  on  the  old  farm  five  miles  south  of  Paris, 
and  is  now  in  her  eighty-first  year.  The  father 
died  several  years  ago,  an  honored  and  wealthy 
citizen.  He  gave  atone  time  §:j00  lo  the  building 
of  a  church,  and  was  always  a  libera]  and  philan- 
thropic man.  Mrs.  Hanks,  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
belongs  to  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Hanks,  al- 
though not  a  professor  of  religion,  believes  in  its 
efficacy,  and  donates  liberally  to  the  support  of  the 
<  rospel. 


ARION  STEWART,  of  Shiloh  Township, 
occupies  a  good  position  socially  and  finan- 
cially, being  numbered  among  its  most 
worthy  and  respected  citizens.  A  native 
of  Fayette  County,  Ind.,  he  was  born  Feb.  II. 
bsi.i.  and  is  the  sou  of  David  and  Martha  (Wiles) 
Stewart,  who  were  born  in  Indiana.  The  paternal 
grandparents  were  from  Pennsylvania.  The  father 
of  our  subject  received  but  an  ordinary  education 
in  his  youth,  and  followed  farming  the  remainder 
ef  his  life.  The  parental  household  included  live 
children,  our  subject  being  the  eldest.  Perry  is 
farming  in  Blue  Mound  Township,  near  Paris.  He 
married  .Miss  Etta  Guthrie,  and  has  six  children.'' 
Keziah  became  the  wife  of  William  Hanks,  and  died 
at  Walnut  (.4 rove  in  1872,  leaving  four  children; 
Peter  was  married,  and  his  wife  died  leaving  four/ 
children,  and  he  lives  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.  The 
father  politically  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a 
Republican;  he  died  in  1876. 

The   subject    of  this  sketch  was  reared  in  Sims 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


913 


Township  on  :i  farm,  and  educated  in  llic  district 
school.  After  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he. 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  enlisted  in  Companj 
15.  "Engineers  Regiment,"  which  went  from  Illin- 
ois, bui  was  credited  to  Missouri,  aud  was  engaged 
in  engineering  and  building  bridges  trestles  along 
the  railroads  and  over  rivers.  The  regiment  was 
familiarly  known  as  Bissell's  Engineers,  and  with  it 
young  Stewart  remained  until  receiving  his  hon- 
ourable discharge  at  Nashville,  in  Oct.  31,  1864. 

Upon  his  return  home,  oursubject  began  to  take 
up  the  more  serious  business  of  life  and  was  mar- 
ried Aug.  31.  1865,  to  Miss  [sabelle  Rotroff,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Elizabeth  Rotroff.  who  were 
natives  of  Ohio.  Mrs.  Stewart-  was  born  Feb.  15, 
1844,  in  Ohio.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stewart  lived  for  two  years  on  the  old  homestead) 
five  miles  south  of  Paris,  and  afterward  lived  one 
year  north  of  Metcalf,  in  Young  America  Town- 
ship. They  removed  to  their  present  farm  on  sec- 
tion  14,  in  Shiloh  Township  in  1869,  which  our 
subject  purchased  that  year  and  which  comprises 
,°) -_'ii  acres,  he  having  doubled  the  original  purchase. 
Of  this  union  there  were  born  ten  children,  viz. : 
David.  Grant,  Minnie.  Keziah,  Alice,  Marion  C, 
Olive,  who  are  now  living;  and  Arthur,  Grace  and 
.lames  1>.,  deceased.  Mrs.  Isabel  Stewart  departed 
this  life  at  the  homestead  Nov.  I,  1876.  Our 
subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Miss 
1  sabelle  Moore,  Oct,  27,  1877. 

I  The  father  of  our  subject  upon  leaving  Indiana, 

about  1854,  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  settled 
near  Paris,  where  he  lived  until  1865.  Thence  be 
removed  to  Young  America  Township,  north  of 
Metcalf,  where  his  death  took  place  Sept..  is,  L876. 
The  mother  had  passed  away  twenty-four  years  prior 
to  the  decease  of  her  husband,  her  death  taking 
place  Nov.  8,  I852,in  Indiana.  Mr.  Stewart,  after 
living  alone  twenty  years,  was  dually  married  a 
second  time,  in  October,  L872,  to  .Miss  Nancy 
McNees,  and  to  them  there  were  born  three  chil- 
dren. Elva.  Etlie  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
David  Stewart  married  Miss  Lolly  Julian,  and  is 
farming  in  Young  America  Township:  Minnie  is 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Braiding  of  Shiloh  Township. 
Our  subject  politically  is  a  sound  Republican, 
and  is  a  man  useful  to  his  party,  being  a   member 


oi  the  Central  Committee,  and  is  frequently  sent 
as  a  delegate  to  the  County  Conventions.  He  has 
officiated  as  Highway  Commissioner  and  as  School 
Director  in  his  district.  Socially  he  belongs  to 
o/.ark  Lodge,  Xo.  280,  [.O.O.F.,  at  Brockton,  and 
Kansas  Post,   No.  105,  <  r.A.R. 

&m  NDREW  -I.  SCOTT.  It  is  maintained  that 
*'4!I]  every  man  has  his  hobby  and  that  of  Mr. 
14  Scott  is  live-stock,  especially  horses.  There 
are  few  better  judges  of  equines  than  Mr. 
Scott.  He  takes  pride  iii  his  profession  in  this 
line  and  has  met  with  unqualified  success.  lie  is 
one  of  the  extensive  land-owners  of  the  county 
his  possessions  aggregating  fully  7<i(i  acres,  lying 
in  three  townships.  His  accumulations  have 
been  acquired  through  downright  hard  work,  to- 
gether with  good  management,  and  he  is  in  posses- 
sion of  the  secret  of  knowing  how  to  take  care  of 
what   he  has. 

In  noting  the  antecedents  of  Mr.  Seott  wc  find 
that  he  is  of  English  ancestry  and  the  son  of  Samuel 
Scott,  a  native  of  Fleming  County,  Ky.  The  latter 
emigrated  to  Indiana  when  a  young  man,  locating 
in  Morgan  County,  where  he  was  married  and 
became  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  land,  embracing 
the  present  site  of  Martinsville.  In  1829  soon 
after  the  town  was  established  be  sold  out  and 
pushed  on  further  Westward  with  a  team,  overland 
to  this  county,  settling  among  the  earliest  pioneers 
of  Prairie  Township.  He  entered  the  most  of  his 
land  from  the  Government  and  engaged  extensively 
in  live-stock  business.  He  came  to  Illinois  without 
means,  but  being  an  excellent  manager,  made 
good  headway.  He  purchased  his  cattle  in  the 
South  and  put  them  to  grazing  on  the  rich  grass  of 
Prairie  Township  before  the  land  had  been  all 
taken  up.  When  in  the  desired  condition  he  drove 
both  cattle  and  horses  through  to  Chicago,  where 
he  disposed  of  them  at  a  good  round  sum. 

"  Uncle  Sammie  Scott"  became  widely  and  favor- 
ably known,  was  every  body's  friend  and  the  only 
man  in  the  county  at  that  day  who  had  money  to 
loan.     Many  another  man  owes  his  start  in  life  to 


Ill  I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


his  generosity  and  forbearance,  as  he  never  pushed 
anyone  in  money  matters  and  was  always  anxious 
to  assist  those  who  would  try  to  help  themselves. 
He  was  a  man  of  almost  unerring  judgment  and 
was  at  an  early  date  called  to  the  local  offices,  the 
duties  of  which  lie  discharged  with  great  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  people.  They  came 
to  him  for  advice  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 
He  resided  in  Prairie  Township  until  1851),  then 
removed  to  Ross  Township  where  he  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land.  He  was  in  fact  the  largest  land- 
owner in  the  county,  having  at  the  time  of  his 
death  3,500  acres  in  this  county  and  1,000  acres  in 
Kansas.  While  on  a  visit  to  his  son  William  in 
Prairie  Township  he  was  taken  ill  and  died  in 
December,  1869. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  (Tabor)  Scott,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  born  on  the  White  River  in  Brown 
Co.,  Ind.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Robert  Tabor, 
also  a  native  of  Indiana  and  who  served  in  the 
War  of  1812.  He  cleared  a  farm  from  the  wilderness 
and  put  up  a  log  house.  When  the  Indians  became 
troublesome  he  removed  his  family  to  the  fort 
where  they  staid  until  the  outbreak  of  fever  com- 
pelled them  to  return  to  their  cabin  home,  where 
the  father  protected  those  dependent  upon  him 
from  the  Indians  by  four  fierce  dogs  and  an  old 
rifle.  He  died  in  Brown  County,  Ind.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  a  lady  of  large  stature, 
in  fact  was  considered  the  stoutest  woman  in  the 
county.  She  was  very  active  and  industrious  and 
did  all  her  own  house  work,  having  frequently 
cooked  for  from  twelve  to  fifteen  extra  men.  After 
the  death  of  Mr.  Scott  she  was  married  to  David 
Light,  an  old  settler,  and  died  in  Bruellet  Township 
in  1885.  She  was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

The  twelve  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our 
subject  are  recorded  as  follows:  William  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Paris;  John  lives  in  Prairie  Township; 
LaFayette  and  Sarena  are  deceased;  Calvin  is  a 
resident  of  Jackson  County,  Iowa;  David  lives  in 
Ross  Township;  Josephine  lives  at  Clirisman; 
Franklin  is  deceased;  Andrew  J.,  our  subject,  was 
the  ninth  child;  LaFayette,  second,  is  deceased; 
Sarena  lives  in  Ross  Township  and  Isaac  in  Chris- 
man.     Franklin   served   through  the  late  war  as  a 


member  of  the  25th  Illinois  Infantry  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Van  Sellars. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Prairie 
Township.  June  1,  1833  and  is  one  of  its  oldest 
residents.  He  received  limited  school  advantages 
in  the  log  school  house  conducted  on  the  subscrip- 
tion plan  and  at  an  early  age  was  required  to  make 
himself  useful  about  the  homestead.  Before  attend- 
ing school  he  and  his  brother  for  some  time  fed 
150  cattle  daily.  At  the  age  of  six  or  seven  he 
was  put  to  herding  cattle  and  his  first  "  horse  back 
ride"  was  on  a  steer's  back.  He  broke  prairie 
with  five  yoke  of  cattle  and  plowed  with  one  yoke 
with  a  wooden  mold-board  plow  and  harrowed 
with  a  wooden  harrow.  In  those  days  wild  game 
was  plentiful  and  our  subject  has  seen  as  many  as 
twenty  head  of  deer  in  one  herd.  Wolves  also 
frequently  made  their  appearance. 

Young  Scott  herded  cattle  for  years  on  the 
prairies  and  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  then  received  the 
deed  for  200  acres  of  his  present  farm  upon  which 
stood  a  small  frame  house.  He  first  began  as  a 
general  farmer,  then  branched  out  into  stock-raising 
which  netted  him  handsome  returns.  He  purchased 
additional  land  from  time  to  time  upon  which  he 
made  most  of  the  improvements  himself.  He  at 
one  time  was  the  owner  of  1,000  acres,  but  in  1883 
sold  all  but  760,  which  is  now  ail  fenced  and  under 
good  cultivation.  On  one  part  of  his  land  is  a  well 
150  feet  deep  and  the  water  within  three  feet  of 
the  surface  of  the  ground.  Mr.  Scott  has  erected 
commodious  and  convenient  buildings  and  has  all 
the  machinery  necessary  for  prosecuting  agricul- 
ture on  a  large  scale.  His  main  barn  covers  an 
area  of  56  x  60  feet  and  is  divided  off  into  stables 
and  ginneries  after  the  most  approved  system. 
Some  years  he  has  fed  as  high  as  500  cattle,  feeding 
the  produce  of  500  acres  of  land.  At  a  horse  sale 
in  the  fall  of  1873  lie  realized  about  $13,000,  this 
being  the  largest  sale  of  the  kind  in  the  count}-. 
He  has  been  the  owner  of  a  large  number  of  valua- 
ble horses,  including  Ontario  Chief,  the  best  Clydes- 
dale ever  brought  into  the  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Scottland  Horse  Company  which  was 
organized  by  his  son,  Victor,  and  which  brought 
the  above-mentioned  horse  to  this  county.     He  has 


^3r-53 


Residence  of  Mrs. Amanda  J.  Mr  Kee,5ec.4.  EdgarTownshir,  Edgar  Co 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


917 


in  till  about  sixty-live  head  of  horses  and  thirty 
brood  mares.  At  present  he  rents  the  most  of  his 
land,      lie  likewise  keeps  a  large  Dumber  of  swine. 

Mr.  Scott  was  married  in  Edgar  Township  in 
1857  to  Miss  Amy  MeClure.  notice  of  whose  family 
will  he  found  in  the  sketch  of  I.  D.  Scott  on  an- 
other page  in  this  work.  She  was  born  in  Vermil- 
ion County  and  died  in  February,  1870.  Of  this 
union  there  are  five  children,  all  living.  Flora 
Belle  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  L.  Bnrson,  a  physician 
of  Garnett,  Kan.;  Victor  M.,  Samuel  A.  and  Lnelhi 
are  at  home  with  their  parents.  William  O.,  who 
is  next  to  the  youngest,  is  in  Kansas. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  matrimonial 
alliance,  Oct.  2,  1872,  in  Danville  with  Miss  Nancy 
O'Neal.  She  was  born  in  Vermilion  County  and  is 
the  daughter  of  James  O'Neal,  one  of  its  earliest 
pioneers.  She  became  the  mother  of  two  children, 
Ada  C.  and  Russell  F.  and  died  in  1880.  Mr. 
Scott  represented  his  township  in  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors  two  terms  and  is  President  of  the 
School  Board  of  his  district  in  which  he  has  been  a 
Director  for  many  years,  lie  has  also  served  on 
the  Grand  and  Petit  juries.  Politically,  he  votes 
the  straight  Democratic  ticket. 

JACOB  McVAY.  Upon  coming  to  Edgar 
County,  III.,  in  1854,  Mr.  McVay  settled 
upon  a  tract  of  wild  land,  which  he  trans- 
formed into  his  present  comfortable  home- 
stead. It  embraces  100  acres  on  section  12.  in 
Embarras  Township,  and  he  paid  for  it  $8  per 
acre.  Besides  this  he  has  other  large  landed  in- 
terests, being  in  all  the  owner  of  '.100  acres,  which 
is  largely  devoted  to  stock-raising — graded  Here- 
ford cattle,  Poland  China  swine,  and  Shropshire 
and  Southdown  sheep.  Mr.  McVay  has  ample 
reason  to  be  proud  of  his  success  as  an  agricult- 
urist, and  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  wealthy 
men  of  his  township;  he  is  likwise  one  of  the  most 
active  Republicans  in  the  county.  His  politics  are 
closely  allied  to  his  conscience,  and  although  he 
has  been  an  earnest  worker  for  the  success  of  the 
principles  of  his  party,  he  has  held  aloof  from  office, 


preferring  to  work  quietly  in  his  own  way,  confi- 
dent that  results  fully  as  important  may  be  ob- 
tained. His  popularity  may  be  guessed  at  from 
the  fact  that  when  a  candidate  for  the  position  of 
Highway  Commissioner  he  ran  150  votes  ahead  of 
his  ticket,  and  w.is  elected  bj  .i  majority  of  seventy 
over  his  opponent,  who  had  the  greater  numerical 
strength  to  begin  with. 

A  Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  our  subject  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  Washington  Count  v. 
that  State,  July  28,  1823.  Ili>  father,  Reason  Mc- 
Vay, long  since  deceased,  was  likewise  a  native  of 
Washington  County,  where  he  carried  mi  farming 
during  his  younger  years,  then,  in  1826,  emigrated 
to  Guernsey  County,  Ohio.  There  he  settled  among 
the  Indians  and  wild  animals,  put  up  a  log  cabin  in 
the  midst  of  the  forest,  and  literally  hewed  out  a 
farm  from  the  wilderness.  Amid  the  wild  scenes 
of  that  region  our  subject  attained  to  a  lusty  man- 
hood, with  limited  education  it  is  true,  but  forti- 
fied with  those  habits  of  industry  and  sentiments 
of  honor  which  resulted  in  his  success  later  in  life. 

While  a  resident  of  Ohio  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried, Nov.  24,  1847,  to  Miss  Phebe  Williams. 
This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Nimrod  Williams. 
who  spent  his  last  years  in  Ohio.  She  became  the 
mother  of  three  children,  all  of  whom  died  young, 
and  she  passed  from  earth  Oct.  3,  1853.  Mr. 
McVay  was  married  the  second  time  Nov.  24, 
1854,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Zadoc  Ilollis. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  six  children,  viz  : 
Jerome,  Lincoln,  Wiley,  Reason  0.,  Jennie  and 
Herman.  Lincoln  married  Miss  Lilly  Ross,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Ross,  of  Brocton;  they  live  at  that 
place  and  have  one  child,  Jacob  C.  R.  The  other 
children  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  McVay  held  the  office  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner three  years.  His  estimable  wife  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  He  has  been  a  continuous  resident 
of  Edgar  County  since  first  coming  here,  in 
1854.  His  present  residence  is  a  fine  two-story 
frame  structure,  conveniently  arranged  and  neatly 
furnished,  while  he  has  large  barns  ami  ample 
facilities  for  the  shelter  of  stock  and  the  storage  of 
grain.  He  takes  advantage  of  the  most  modern 
machinery  and  the  most  approved  methods  of  eul- 


918 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tivatingthe  soil,  and  both  as  an  agriculturist  and  a 
member  of  the  community,  stands  second  to  none 
in  his  township.  llis  paternal  grandfather  was  a 
native  of  Scotland.  His  mother,  Rachel,  was  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  House,  who  was  born  in  Hol- 
land, and  upon  emigrating  to  America  located  on 
Ruff's  Creek,  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  where  his 
daughter  Rachel  and  several  other  children  were 
born.  To  Reason  and  Rachel  McVay  there  were 
born  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.:  Cassander,  Mrs.  Sinclair;  Samuel,  Jacob; 
Leah,  Mrs.  Shamhart;  Hannah,  Mrs.  Stewart;  Ra- 
chel, Mrs.  Denus;  and  Cynthia,  Mrs.  Jarvis. 
Father  MoVay  died  July  1(5,  1867.  The  mother 
survived  her  husband  until  May,  1873.  A  litho- 
graphic view  of  Mr.  McVay's  residence  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


H3- 


~^J3'^- 


"/B"s~ 


fl  IfclLLIAM  A.  WOZENCRAFT  located  in 
\/\lr  l':ll'is  '"  •Illlle-  1855.  when  it  contained 
Wy  very  few  houses.  He  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  dealing  in  stove  and  tinware,  continuing  in 
this  successfully  until  1887,  when  he  retired  from 
active  pursuits.  He  had  built  up  an  exceedingly 
large  trade,  and  one  that  was  lucrative,  tie  was  a 
man  of  strict  business  principles,  and  made  friends 
of  everybody. 

Mr.  Wozencraft  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
July  4,  1832,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  twenty 
years  old,  finishing  his  education  in  that  city. 
After  he  learned  his  trade  he  went  into  business 
for  himself  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  for  a  short  time  when 
he  associated  himself  witli  a  partner.  The  part- 
nership continued  for  about  two  years,  and  was 
then  dissolved.  Mr.  Wozencraft  then  removed 
from  Dayton  to  Paris.  He  was  for  a  number  of 
years  Alderman  of  his  ward,  and  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Paris  for  several  terms,  and  he  took  great 
interest  in  the  lire  department,  being  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  first  fire  company  in  the  city. 
One  hose  company  is  now  perpetuating  his  name, 
the  organization  being  named  for  him.  He  was 
Chief  of  the  fire  department  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  an  active  and    honored  member  of   the  volun- 


teer force,  lie  usually  voted  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

Mr.  Wozencraft  married  Miss  Amanda  A.  Rick- 
ford  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  Dec.  11,  1854.  To  this 
union  came  three  children,  of  whom  one  son  and 
one  daughter  are  living:  Oliva,  now  Mrs.  F.  1'. 
Vergin,  of  Paris,  where  John  Alexander,  the  son, 
also  resides.  Mrs.  Wozencraft  was  born  Dec.  24, 
1832,  at  Exeter,  N.  II.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Hannah  Bickford,  who  came  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  when  Amanda  was  live  years  of  age. 
She  remained  at  Dayton  until  her  marriage.  Her 
lather  was  in  the  mercantile  business  in  that  city 
until  a  few  years  before  he  died.  He  removed  to 
Troy,  Ohio,  and  in  18G2  his  death  occurred.  His 
wife  passed  away  some  years  previously.  Mr. 
Bickford  was  born  in  Exeter,  N.  II.,  Dec.  24, 
1805.  He  was  married  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  the 
birthplace  of  his  wife.  They  reared  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bick- 
ford worshiped  with  the  Universalist  Church. 

John  J.  Wozencraft,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Milford,  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He 
has  always  remained  there,  engaged  in  dealing  in 
stoves  and  tinware.  Mr.  Wozencraft  was  born  in 
August,  1807.  and  is  still  living.  He  married  Miss 
Olivia  King,  who  bore  him  seven  children,  of 
whom  three  are  still  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  A.  Wozencraft  for  many 
years  have  been  among  the  representative  families 
of  the  city  of  Paris,  and  respected  by  all  who  had 
had  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance.  Mr.  Wozen- 
craft died  Aug.  6,  1888,  sincerely  mourned  by  his 
multitude  of  friends,  and  when  he  passed  away  a 
good  citizen  went  to  his  reward. 


^v  II I  LI  I'  JONES.  Seldom  does  the  biog- 
JJj  rapher  encounter  a  more  pleasant  or  genial 
'i  <^  gentleman  than  Mr.  Jones.  He  is  firmly 
I  \  established  in  Bruellet  Township  as  one  of 
its  representative  citizens  and  the  son  of  one  of  its 
pioneer  families.  He  was  early  taught  to  make 
himself  useful  around  the  homestead,  and  care- 
full}'    trained    in    those  sentiments  of   honor   and 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


91!) 


principles  of  truth  which  have  developed  a  char- 
acter of  more  than  ordinary  excellence.  lie  is  the 
owner  of  a  moderately-improved  farm  of  100  acres 
on  section  30,  and  which  comprises  a  part  of  the 
old  William  Allen  estate,  which  was  among  the 
Brsl  tracts  of  land  improved  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Matthew  Junes,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  about  1818,  and  was  the 
s f  Philip  and  Sarah  (  Boswell)  Jones,  who  emi- 
grated from  North  Carolina  to  Vermillion  County, 
Ind.  They  settled  upon  a  tract  of  wild  land,  and 
Matthew,  when  reaching-  man's  estate,  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Harmon  and  Mary 
(Drennen)  Hutson.  She  was  horn  in  Virginia, 
and  removed  with  her  parents  in  1818  to  Vermil- 
lion County,  Ind..  when  a  child  of  two  years.  The 
young  couple  soon  after  their  marriage  moved 
across  the  line  into  this  county,  where  the  father 
died  iii  March,  1889.     The  mother   is   still   living. 

Grandfather  Jones  was  a  great  hunter,  and  our 
subject  has  often  seen  the  gun  which  he  used  upon 
first  coining  to  this  country.  It  was  then  an  old 
Hint-lock  rille.  but  is  now  changed  to  a  shot  gun. 
and  is  in  the  possession  of  our  subject.  The  old 
gentleman  wore  his  buckskin  pants,  and  took  de- 
light in  roaming  the  woods  and  fields  for  game. 
especially  deer.  Both  the  parents  of  our  subject 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  for 
many  years,  and  died  engrafted  in  the  faith. 

Our  subject  remained  on  the  old  home  farm 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  and  enlisted 
in  Company  A.  149th  Indiana  Infantry,  with 
which  he  did  garrison  duty  simply,  and  after  nine 
months'  service  was  discharged,  in  September, 
1865.  The  most  of  his  lime  he  was  in  Decatur, 
Ala.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and.  as  an  ex- 
soldier  belongs  to  Harrison  Bates  Post  No.  341. 
He  1ms  served  as  Township  Assessor  two  terms. 
and  Commissioner  one  term,  and  is  a  man  gener- 
ally respected  wherever  known. 

Philip  Jones  was  married  in  this  county.  1867, 
to  Miss  Martha  Henry,  and  there  were  born  four 
children,  namely:  William  and  .John,  deceased; 
Bert  and  Mollie  are  at  home  with  their  father. 
The  mother  died  in  February,  1873.  Mr. 
Jones  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Miss 
Emma   Foncannon,   who  was   born    in  Vermillion 


County,  Ind..  and  is  the  daughter  of  Til  man  and 
Sallie  Foncan i,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  of  German  descent.  They  emigrated  to 
Indiana  at  a  very  early  day.  and  are  residents  of 
Vermillion  County,  that  Slate.     To  our  Subject  and 

his  present  wife  there  have  been  bom  three  chil- 
dren, all  sons— Daniel.  Moses  and  Karl,  who  re- 
main with  their  parents. 


^-+§N3*£?4-M- 


NDREW  M1LL1KIN,  Steward  of  Edgar 
County  Infirmary,  assumed  the  duties  of 
1  his  present  office  in  18S9  and  by  his  excel- 
lent management  has  effected  many  im- 
provements in  this  institution.  He  has  been  a 
citizen  of  Edgar  County  since  1851  to  which  he 
came  from  Preble  County.  Ohio,  where  his  parents 
settled  when  he  was  a  lad  eight  years  of  age.  He 
was  born,  however,  in  Butler  County,  that  State. 
March  !).  1837,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  B.  and 
Caroline  P.  (Tapscott)  Millikin,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  Butler  County  when  our  subject  was  seven 
years  old. 

Thomas  Millikin  married  for  his  third  wite  Mrs. 
Fidelia  (Cruikshank)  Danton,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Cruikshank,  a  physician  of  good  repute  who  spent 
his  last  years  in  the  city  of  Harrison  on  the  line  of 
Indiana  and  Ohio.  This  lady  came  to  this  county 
with  her  second  husband  and  died  here  (  >ct.  1  (i.l  859. 
Later  the  elder  Millikin  was  married  to  Mrs.  Eliza 
(Hodge)  Patton,  who  still  lives  in  Paris.  .Mr.  Mil- 
likin died  in  Edgar  County  when  sixty-five  years 
old.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Dr.  Daniel  Millikin  who  served  in  the  War  of  L812 
under  the  direct  command  of  Gen.  Harrison.  After- 
ward he  practiced  his  profession  many  years  very 
successfully  in  Butler,  Ohio,  and  obtained  an  envi- 
able reputation  throughout  that  portion  of  the 
Buckeye  State.  He  hail  four  brothers,  also  resi- 
dents of  Butler  and  vicinity,  who  were  men  of  note 
in  their  community  and  whose  descendants  are  vet 
living  and  are  numbered  among  the  prominent 
people  there. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Millikin 
was  ■■<  native  of  Ireland  and  emigrated  to  America 


920 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  time  to  distinguish  himself  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  His  descendants  were  prom- 
inent in  the  councils  of  the  old  Whig  party,  and 
ui)on  its  abandonment  those  since  living  arc  fully 
as  ardent  Republicans  as  were  their  forefathers, 
lovers  of  liberty  and  equality. 

To  Mrs.  Fidelia  Millikin,  the  third  wife  of  the 
father  of  our  subject,  the  latter  yields  a  most  grate- 
ful and  affectionate  tribute  of  remembrance.  She 
reared  him  from  a  child  of  eight  years  and  had  he 
been  her  own  she  could  not  have  extended  to  him 
more  loving  or  watchful  care  than  that  which  fol- 
lowed his  youthful  steps  until  her  mission  on  earth 
was  ended.  She  was  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence  and  great  kindness  of  heart — one  who 
was  ever  ready  to  assist  those  in  affliction  and  es- 
pecially the  sick,  to  whose  bedside  she  was  often 
called  and  to  whom  she  ministered  with  that  deli- 
cacy and  attention  which  in  most  all  cases  is  more 
efficient  than  medicine.  In  her  )'ounger  years  she 
had  taught  school  in  Kentucky  and  there  observad 
the  workings  of  that  peculiar  institution — slavery, 
which  she  learned  to  view  with  a  noble  hatred  as 
the  source  of  great  cruelty  and  wrong. 

Under  the  careful  training  of  his  step-mother  our 
subject  approached  an  honorable  manhood  fullv  in 
sympathy  with  her  views  in  regard  to  slavery,  and 
during  the  agitation  of  this  question  in  later  years, 
became  a  strong  Abolionist  and  one  of  the  warmest 
advocates  of  Republican  principles.  This  excellent 
woman  died  of  cancer,  the  result  of  virus  received 
into  her  system  while  ministering  to  others.  Her 
last  days  were  spent  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in 
Prairie  Township  and  she  passed  away  Oct.  16,  1859. 

Mr.  Millikin  chose  farming  for  his  occupation 
early  in  life  and  was  married  in  Edgar  County, 
•Ian.  1,  18G0,  to  Miss  Harriet  A., daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Nancy  (Pritchard)  Rush.  Mrs.  Millikin 
was  left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  botli  parents 
when  about  three  years  old,  and  was  reared  by  her 
uncle,  Allen  Rush,  mostly  in  this  county  to  which 
she  had  come  with  her  uncle  when  quite  young 
from  Indiana,  where  she  was  born  Sept.  26,  1841. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
whence  they  removed  to  Vermillion  County,  Ind., 
where  they  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millikin  are  the 
parents  of   two   children — a  son  and   daughter — 


Thomas  A.  and  Caroline,  the  latter  of  whom  married 
Alonzo  Francis  and  is  living  in  Dudley,  Edgar 
County. 

In  addition  to  general  farming  Mr.  Millikin 
makes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising  which  has  proven 
a  profitable  industry.  lie  was  appointed  to  his 
present  position  as  Superintendent  of  the  County 
Infirmary  in  1889.  He  is  one  of  those  men  who  take 
pride  in  preserving  their  family  history  and  keeps  in 
mind  the  fact  that  he  also  will  have  a  record  to 
leave  to  his  posterity,  while  he  is  determined  that 
it  shall  be  one  which  they  can  look  upon  with  pride. 
While  perhaps  he  has  not  been  the  hero  of  any  very 
thrilling  event,  he  has  acquitted  himself  as  an  hon- 
est man  and  a  good  citizen,  and  this  in  itself  is 
worth}-  of  record.  His  brother,  Henry,  during  the 
late  Civil  War,  was  a  member  of  the  71st  Indiana 
Infantry  and  met  death  on  the  battle-field  at  Rich- 
mond, Ky.,  in  1862.  Mrs.  Millikin  and  her  daugh- 
ter are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Dudley. 

fl  IMLLIAM  T.  WILKIN,  one  of  the  best 
^joj/l  known  residents  of  Bruellet  Township  wns 
Ww  born  within  one  mile  of  where  he  now 
lives,  Feb.  28,  1842  and  reared  upon  the  same 
farm.  His  life  has  been  spent  in  a  comparatively 
uneventful  manner,  during  which  he  has  been  con- 
tinuously engaged  in  farming  pursuits  with  the 
exception  of  the  time  which  he  spent  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Union  Army.  During  that  period  he  made 
for  himself  the  record  of  a  brave  and  faithful 
patriot  and  has  the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  he 
contributed  in  effecting  the  peace  and  freedom 
which  the  nation  enjoys  to-day.  The  name  of 
no  soldier,  however  humble,  should  be  omitted 
from  the  list  of  those  who  cheerfully  volunteered 
to  risk  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country. 
Our  subject  is  the  offspring  of  a  good  family, 
being  the  son  of  Abraham  Wilkin,  who  was  born 
in  Highland  County,  Ohio.  1 1  is  paternal  grand- 
father first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  Ya.,  whence  he  emigrated  with 
his  parents  when  but  a  boy  to  Ohio,  settling 
among  the  earliest   pioneers  of  Highland  County, 


PORTRAIT  AND  UK  M  IRA  PIIICAL  ALBUM. 


921 


where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  was  married  ami 
became  the  father  of  a  family.  He  lived  there 
until  1837,  then  coming  to  this  county,  purchased 

a  farm  after  which  lie  returned  home  and  sold 
his  Ohio  farm  to  a  Kentuckian"  lie  sent  his  son, 
Abraham,  to  Kentucky  to  get  the  money  with 
which  to  pay  for  a  farm  in  this  county,  to  which 
the  family  emigrated  overland  in  wagons.  They 
were  soon  joined  by  Abraham  with  the  money,  he 
having  come  on  horseback  from  Kentucky.  This 
moiie\  was  invested  in  a  tract  of  wild  land,  the 
only  improvement  upon  which  was  a  log  cabin 
which  for  some  years  afterward  remained  the  abode 
of  the  family  and  until  they  could  put  up  a  frame 
house. 

Upon  reaching  man's  estate  Abraham  Wilkin 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Littlelield,  also  a  pioneer  of  this 
county.  William  T.,  our  subject,  was  their  first- 
born and  three  other  children  completed  the  house- 
hold circle.  He  and  his  sister,  Mary  E.,  are  the 
only  survivors.  The  mother  died  at  the  home- 
stead about  1847.  Mr.  Wilkin  later  was  married 
to  .Miss  .1  nlia  Stanfield  and  to  them  there  were  horn 
two  children,  both  now  living.  The  second  wife 
died  at  the  home  farm. 

The  father  of  our  subject  married  for  his  third 
wife  Miss  Elizabeth  Morgan  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 
The  father  died  Dec.  10,  188u  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years.  Our  subject  remembers  hearing  his 
grandfather  Littlefield  tell  of  the  time  when  In- 
dians weie  numerous  in  this  region  and  the  white 
settlers  few  and  far  between.  He  worked  on  the 
farm  with  bis  father  until  of  marriageable  age  and 
then  took  to  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate,  Miss 
Catherine  A.,  daughter  of  Levi  Houston.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  then  and  named  respectively, 
Oliver  M.,  Mary,  Albert,  Levi  A.,  Genevera,  Gray 
P...  and  Coral  E. 

Mr.  Wilkin  is  the  administrator  of  his  father's 
estate  comprising  a  farm  of  1  70  acres  which  is  not 
yet  divided.  Besides  his  interest  in  this,  his  farm 
embraces  247  acres  of  well-improved  land  which 
he  has  transformed  from  a  wilderness  to  a  high 
State  of  cultivation  and  embellished  it,  with  mod- 
ern buildings  and  all  the  conveniences  required   by 


a  progressive  agriculturist.  He  cast  his  first  Pres- 
idential vote  for  Gen.  Grant  and  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  Republican  principles.  As  an  ex- soldier 
he  belongs  to  Driskcll  Post,    No.  209  of  Paris. 

The  army  experience  of  our  subject  commenced 
on  the  24th  of  August,  18(11.  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  II.,  29th  Illinois  [nfantry  as  a  Corporal 
and  served  four  years  and  three  months.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
and  participated  in  many  of  the  important  battles 
of  the  war.  He  witnessed  the  attack  upon  Fort 
Donelson,  although  ill  at  the  time  and  not  being 
permitted  to  enter  the  ranks.  Later  he  was  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh  and  received  a  flesh  wound  in  the 
neck.  He  went  through  the  siege  of  Corinth  and 
the  second  battle  there,  and  was  in  many  skirmishes 
in  Tennessee.  At  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  he  was 
captured  by  the  Rebels,  but  the  latter  were  so 
closely  pursued  by  the  Union  Cavalry  that  the 
prisoners  were  paroled  and  our  subject  among 
others  was  sent  to  St,  Louis.     After  the  surrender 

to  Grant  at  Vicksburg,  he  joined  his  regi ni  and 

was  on  guard  duty  along  the  Mississippi  thereafter 
for  about  one  year.  Subsequently  he  joined  in 
the  Mobile  campaign  and  was  present  at  the  capt- 
ure of  Fort  Blakely  and  Spanish  Fort  and  the  sur- 
render of  Mobile.  Next  his  regiment  was  ordered 
to  Texas,  remaining  in  that  region  until  their 
final  discharge  and  participating  in  various  skirm- 
ishes. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Wilkin  were 
Joseph  and  Delilah  Houston,  pioneers  of  this 
county,  where  they  spent  their  last  days. 


-—■ -V- 


^# 


-v- 


ARCELLUS  KEYS.  The  time-worn  maxim 
HI  \\\  that  "  honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  is  as 
truthful  and  forcible  to  day  as  when  if  was 
first  uttered.  It  was  taught  Mr.  Keys  at 
his  mother's  knee,  and  it  has  been  his  watchword 
through  life.  While  lie  is  the  possessor  of  a  good 
property,  and  is  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of 
life,  be  finds  his  chief  satisfaction  in  the  reflection 
that  he  has  never  defrauded  any  man,  and  through- 
out his  whole  career   has  sought    to  do   unto  others 


922 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


as  he  would  be  done  by.  He  is  in  the  prime  of  life 
and  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  having  been 
born  Nov.  22,  1828,  and  is  a  native  of  Vermillion 
County,  Ind. 

When  our  subject  was  but  an  infant,  death  called 
away  his  father,  Isaac  Keys,  who  had  come  with 
his  newly  married  wife  to  Western  Indiana  dur- 
ing the  period  of  its  earliest  settlement,  from  his  na- 
tive Stale  of  Virginia.  In  the  Old  Dominion  he  had 
been  married  to  Miss  lngabou  B.  Spangler.  Mrs. 
Keys,  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  was  mar- 
ried to  Otis  M.  McCulloch,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears in  the  biography  of  John  Y.  McCulloch. 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Isaac  Keys  had  been  a 
recruiting  officer  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and 
served  from  the  beginning  until  the  end  of  the 
struggle.  He  was  the  father  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  Marcellus  was  the  fifth 
in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Keys  lived  with  his  mother  and  step-father 
until  a  lad  of  ten  years,  then  went  to  the  home  of 
his  uncle,  Thomas  Keys,  in  Bond  County,  111.,  with 
whom  he  sojourned  about  five  years.  Next  he  en- 
tered the  store  of  Col.  Baldwin,  of  Baldwinsville, 
as  a  clerk,  and  remained  with  him  the  long  period 
of  fourteen  years.  During  this  time  he  saved  what 
he  could  of  his  earnings,  and  filially  purchased  his 
present  homestead  of  his  employer.  With  the 
latter  he  had  engaged  for  the  salary  of  $60  per 
year,  but  at  the  close,  such  hail  been  his  faithful- 
ness and  efficiency,  that  Col.  Baldwin  gave  him 
$100. 

The  year  following  young  Keys  contracted  with 
his  employer  to  receive  #125  for  his  year's  labor, 
and  the  Colonel  paid  him  $175.  This  circumstance 
is  a  forcible  illustration  of  the  distinguishing  traits 
of  his  character.  In  1851,  desirous  of  establishing 
a  home  of  his  own,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  Harrison  Moss,  who  came 
to  this  county  from  Kentucky.  The  young  couple 
started  in  life  without  any  money,  but  by  industry 
good  management  and  close  economy,  our  subject 
soon  found  himself  on  the  high  road  to  prosperity. 
He  has  now  a  fine  farm  of  2  10  acres,  well  improved, 
besides  110  acres  in  the  same  locality,  and  a  farm 
of  200  acres  elsewhere  in  the  township.  On  the 
home    farm    is  a   tile  factory,  which    Mr.    Keys  has 


conducted  six  years  very  successfully,  and  which 
is  patronized  largely  by  the  farmers  around.  His 
land  is  largely  devoted  to  stock-raising,  Mr.  Keys 
feeding  his  grain  mostly  to  his  cattle  and  swine. 
To  this  estimable  couple  there  were  born  six 
children,  viz.:  Henry  A.,  Erasmus  S..  Abraham  L., 
Thomas  J.;  Lucy,  Mrs.  John  Arthur,  a  resident  of 
Paris  Township,  and  Mary  E.  His  married  children 
are  located  near  the  old  homestead,  and  the  fam- 
ily is  recognized  as  amongthe  best  element  of  this 
community. 

*   <xio  - — 

EVI  R.  POWERS  was  born  Sept.  IS,  1850. 
to  Daniel  B.  and  Maria  (Reynolds)  Powers; 
the  father  was  a  native  of  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  and  the  grandfather  of  Irish  and  German 
parentage,  but  a  native  of  the  United  States.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  the  numerous 
class  who  tilled  the  soil  for  a  livelihood.  While 
not  entirely  abandoning  his  farm,  he  yet  engaged 
in  the  business  of  general  merchandise  in  the  town 
of  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  commencing  this  venture 
in  1826  and  pursuing  it  for  about  a  year  and  a  half. 
He  sold  out  and  traded  his  house  and  lot  for  100 
acres  of  land  adjoining  Oakland.  Coles  Co.,  II'., 
in  1828,  where  he  has  made  his  home  ever  since. 
living  there  in  peace  and  contentment  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  years. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  married  at  her 
home  in  Butler  County.  Ohio,  and  filled  all  the 
duties  of  a  wife  and  mother  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  April  17,  1861,  at  Oakland,  whither  she 
had  come  with  her  family.  Some  time  .after  her 
death  the  father  of  our  subject  was  again  united  in 
marriage  to  Mrs.  Phoebe  Lumbreck.  This  lady 
still  survives,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  to 
cheer  and  comfort  her  husband's  declining  years. 
The  family  of  which  our  subject  was  a  member 
consisted  of  eleven  children:  Jonathan,  Nanev. 
Ellen,  George,  Ira,  David,  William,  Sarah,  Anna, 
John,  and  Levi.  Jonathan  lives  near  Hinesborough, 
III.,  with  his  wife  and  three  children;  Nancy  died 
five  years  ago,  leaving  her  husband,  Gideon  Minor, 
and  one  child  to  mourn  her  loss;  Ellen  married 
Jonathan  Newman  in    1855,  but  to   the  great  rrief 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGR A1MI ICAL  ALBUM. 


923 


lit'  her  friends  breathed  her  last  only  three  months 
after  marriage.     John  lives  one  and   three-fourths 

mill's  t-ast  of  Oakland,  following  the  occupation  of 
a  farmer.  Believing  it  was  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone  he  took  to  himself  a  wife.  .Miss  Eliza  Han- 
nah, a  lady  "ho  is  fully  capable  of  fulfilling  the 
arduous  duties  of  a  farmer's  wife.  All  the  rest  of 
their  children,  except  our  subject,  died  in  early  in- 
fancy. At  one  period  the  grim  monster,  death, 
entered  their  home  three  times  within  the  short 
space  of  one  week  and  carried  out  a  lamb  of  the 
dock  at  each  visit.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powers  are 
living  happily  and  contentedly  together,  spending 
their  old  age  in  the  calm  contemplation  of  nature 
and  quietly  awaiting  the  signal  that  shall  bid  them 
cross  the  dark  river  to  the  better  land  on  the  other 
side.  Mr.  Powers  has  had  no  children  by  his 
second  wife. 

Levi  R.  Powers,  the  one  of  whom  we  write,  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  attending 
the  common  schools  at  Oakland,  where  he  dilli- 
gently  applied  himself  to  secure  the  rudiments  of  a 
sound  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty -one  lie 
started  out  in  life  to  make  a  career  for  himself.  He 
secured  160  acres  of  land  two  miles  east  of  his  pres- 
ent place,  which  he  operated  with  unflagging  in- 
dustry and  prudent  economy. 

Our  subject  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Clapp  were  united 
in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  on  the  19th  day  of 
March.  1874.  Mrs.  Powers  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Jane  (Neal)  Clapp.  Her  father  is  a  south- 
erner by  birth,  being  a  native  of  North  Carolina. 
Her  mother  is  a  native  of  the  lloosier  Stale,  claim 
ing  Sullivan  County  as  the   place  of   her   nativity. 

Mr.  and  Mis.  Powers  have  had  six  children,  of 
whom  four  survive  and  are  still  under  the  parental 
roof:  John  I).;  Charles  W.  died  in  infancy:  Maria 
J.;  James  R.  also  died  in  infancy:  Thomas  G.,  and 
Nancy  E.  Politically  Mr.  Powers  and  his  father 
are  both  stanch  Democrats,  the  father  taking  quite 
an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  party,  and  has 
been  honored  by  his  fellow-citi/.ens  of  Oakland 
with  the  important  position  of  Township  Super- 
visor, lie  has  also  served  as  Township  Clerk,  Tax 
Collector,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Daniel  Pow- 
ers is  the  owner  of  a  large  estate,  comprising  some 
.",110  acres  of   well-cultivated    land    near    Isabel    and 


Oakland.  This  place  has  been  improved  with  line 
buildings,  good  fences,  and  a  large  variety  of  fruit 
trees:  and   beautified,  especially  in   the   vicinity  of 

his  fine  residence,  by  smoothly  kept  lawns,  orna- 
mental shrubbery,  and  a  profusion  of  various 
colored  flowers. 

Mrs. Powers,  who  presides  over  the  happy  and 
contented  home  of  our  subject,  is  a  lady  in  the 
prime  of  life,  possessing  a  cheerful  disposition, 
attractive  manners,  and  a  cultivated  intellect,  which 
well  lit  her  to  be  a  Mentor  to  her  band  of  grown, 
wide-awake  children.  In  religious  matters  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Powers  throw  the  weight,  of  their  influence 
and  support  into  upholding  the  Baptist  Church,  of 
which  Mrs.  powers  is  a  consistent  member. 

The  farm  and  resilience  of  Mr.  Powers  is  located 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  Shiloh  Township, 
Edgar  County,  on  section  22.  The  farm  embraces 
1  ('id  acres  of  lain  1,  and  he  declares  it  is  all  he  wants; 
that  to  cultivate  it  well  keeps  him  busy.  That  it 
is  well  cultivated  is  evident  to  all  beholders,  for 
the  land  seems  to  fairly  smile  with  plenty.  Every- 
thing about  the  place  is  kept  trim  and  neat. 
Grains,  fences,  buildings,  trees,  and  crops  are  well 
looked  after  and  abundantly  repay  their  owner's 
care  by  the  line  appearance  which  everything 
wears.  Mr.  Powers  keeps  a  full  supply  Of  fine 
stuck  on  his  farm,  both  to  assist  in  the  operation  of 
his  own  place  and  to  dispose  of  in  the  market.  In 
addition  to  thfi  usual  productions  of  a  farm  of  this 
extent  he  also  pays  considerable  attention  to  the 
subject  of  horticulture,  raising  large  quantities  of 
line  fruit  for  sale,  and  supply  ing  his  own  table  with 
the  choicest  productions  that  his  trees  and  vines 
yield.  Mr.  Powers  is  sociable  and  kind-hearted, 
and  has  many  warm  and  devoted  friends. 


■JAMES  K.  MASON  is  a  native  of  Greene 
County.  Pa.,  where  be  was  born  on  the. 
23d   of    January.    1848.       lie    is    the    son    of 

John  and  Kachael  (Ross)  Mason.  His  boy- 
hood was  passed  on  a  farm,  but.  he  managed  lo 
acquire  sufficient  education  to  become  a  school- 
teacher   in    his    early  manhood    and    also   to  follow 


924 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


surveying.  His  life-work,  however,  was  tilling 
the  soil.  In  1853  he  moved  to  Harrison  County, 
Ya.,  where  he  farmed  two  years,  and  in  1S55  re- 
moved to  Coles  County,  111.,  ten  miles  east  of 
Areola.  Here  he  bought  320  acres  of  land.  Two 
years  later  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Hocking 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  140 
acres  near  Nelsonville,  to  which  he  has  since  added 
fifteen  acres.  John  Mason  is  a  man  who  has  al- 
ways  been  fond  of  reading  and  consequently  is 
well  informed.  He  has  served  six  years  as  County 
Commissioner  of  Hocking  County,  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  has  been  Sunday-school 
Superintendent  for  a  number  of  years.  He  has 
also  been  a  Mason  and  an  Odd-fellow  for  several 
years.  In  politics  the  father  of  our  subject  has 
always  been  a  Democrat;  lie  is  still  livingin  Hock- 
ing<  i  in nty.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject.  .James 
Mason,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  on  first  coining  to 
America  settled  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  on  a  farm, 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  father 
were  burn.  He  was  a  man  of  good  education,  a 
great  reader,  and  had  (what  was  looked  upon  in 
those  days)  a  large  library.  He  was  a  Democrat 
and  did  not  belong  to  any  church.  He  died  in 
1869  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 
His  widow.  Grandma  Mason,  survived  him  several 
years,  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety -seven  in  Greene 
County,  Pa. 

.John  Mason,  of  whom  we  have  heretofore 
spoken,  was  one  of  six  children.  The  oldest, 
William,  died  about  twelve  years  ago  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, leaving  a  family;  he  was  a  farmer.  George, 
also  a  farmer,  is  married  and  lives  in  Virginia; 
Charlotte,  now  Mrs.  John  Scott,  resides  in  Greene 
County.  Pa.;  May  married  William  Sears,  and 
resides  on  a  farm  in  Greene  County;  Raehael,  wife 
of  John  Mason,  was  the  daughter  of  Timothy  and 
Raehael  Ross  and  one  of  eight  children.  She  had 
five  brothers  and  two  sisters,  viz.,  John  L.,  Hiram, 
I  imothy,  Benjamin,  Thomas,  Mary  and  Phoebe. 
John  L.  married  Catherine  Ross,  and  resides  in 
this  State  and  is  a  farmer;  Hiram  lives  in  Coles 
County,  III.,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Din- 
moore;  they  have  two  children.  Timothy,  who 
was  a  physician  and  surgeon,  died  about  ten  years 
ago;    Benjamin    was   killed    in  a  sawmill;    Thomas 


lives  near  Waynesburg,  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  on  a 
farm  and  has  a  family;  Mary  married  James  Orr, 
a  farmer,  who  resides  at  Sidell,  Vermilion  Co., 
111.,  and  they  have  a  family  of  four  grown  chil- 
dren; Phrebe  died  about  twenty-five  years  ago. 
The  mother  of  these  children  lived  to  be  forty -seven 
years  of  age,  and  died  in  1864,  in  Hocking  County, 
Ohio.  She  was  an  earnest  and  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  came  of 
German  descent  and  belonged  to  one  of  the  old 
pioneer  families. 

Our  subject,  James  K.  Mason,  was  one  of  nine 
children,  seven  boys  and  three  girls:  Mary,  Abi- 
gail, William,  Phoebe  J.,  Hiram,  James  K.,  Jacob 
R.,  George  Thomas  and  Timothy.  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Lennox  Fisher  and  resides  on  a  farm 
near  Zanesville,  Ohio;  they  have  no  children. 
Abigail  married  James  Austin,  and  they  have  two 
children;  she  lives  in  Hocking  County,  Ohio; 
Phoebe  is  the  wife  of  James  Conway,  and  she  also 
has  two  children;  Hiram  is  a  blacksmith,  lives 
in  Nelsonville,  Ohio,  is  married  and  has  a  family 
of  five  children;  Jacob  R.  died  in  1883  near  Des 
Moines.  Iowa,  leaving  a  wife  and  one  child; 
George  T.,  now  in  the  employ  of  Chapman  Bros., 
Chicago,  lives  in  Areola,  III.,  is  married  and  has  a 
family  of  four  children.  Timothy  resides  at  Sugar 
Grove,  Ohio;  he  is  a  practicing  physician  and  sur- 
geon and  has  a  wife  and  three  children. 

The  one  of  whom  we  write  passed  his  boyhood 
on  a  farm.  He  attended  the  public  schools.  When 
about  seventeen  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn 
blacksmithing  near  Waynesburg.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  until  he  was 
twenty  years  old.  Mr.  Mason  was  married  in  Nel- 
sonville, Ohio,  July  2,  1868,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Snyder,  daughter  of  J.  D.  and  Mary  Ann  Snyder. 
Mrs.  Mason  was  born  Feb.  10.  1852,  and  was  one 
of  eleven  children.  Lutie,  the  youngest  girl,  now 
Mrs.  Ed  Coole.y,  is  the  wife  of  a  farmer,  and  lives 
near  Palermo,  this  county,  and  is  a  fine  musician; 
she  has  one  child.  Jennie  (Mrs.  Samuel  Dress- 
back)  is  the  wife  of  a  merchant  and  the  mother  of 
one  child;  they  reside  in  Nelsonville,  Ohio.  Ho- 
mer is  a  confectioner  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  and  is 
unmarried;  Mac  is  a  clerk  in  Mr.  Tilton's  store  at 
Palermo;    Earl    resides    in    Nelsonville  and    is  at- 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


927 


tending  school;  Dora  married  C.  K.  Sands,  and 
(lied  in  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  in  July,  1881,  leaving  a 
husband,  who  1ms  since  died;  he  was  a  telegraph 
operator;  two  children  survive  them.  Mertie  died 
when  fifteen  years  of  age;  one  sisier  and  one 
brother  died  in  infancy.  Mi'.  Snyder  was  a  mer- 
chant and  a  foremost  citizen  of  Nelsonville,  Ohio; 
he  was  also  a  large  property  holder  and  a  man  of 
public  spirit  and  enterprise.  Mr.  Snyder  was  born 
in  New  Jersey  in  1824  and  came  with  his  parents 
to  Nelsonville;  he  died  in  1875.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber and  Class-leader  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  many  years.  All  his  daughters  re- 
ceived a  good  education. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  have  seven  children:  Min- 
nie M..  Ross  M..  Gertrude  D.,  Frederick  s..  Charles 
K.,  Jennie  L.  and  Lula  M.  Minnie,  the  eldest 
daughter,  has  been  carefully  educated  and  is  a 
line  musician.  Mr.  Mason  is  the  blacksmith  at 
Hildreth.  He  votes  the  Democratic  ticket  but 
is  too  busy  to  devote  much  time  to  politics. 
lie  is  a  member  of  Palermo  Lodge  No.  64t>  and 
has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  has  been  a  representa- 
tive of  the  Grand  Lodge  four  different  times.  lie 
and  Mrs.  Mason  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  Ross,  the  eldest  son.  is  a 
clerk. 


^IfMOS  G.  CooK.     Farming,  which  has  be- 

@/-l  come  an  art  and  a  science,  has  been  adopted 
///  IS  by  some  of  the  most  able  and  intelligent 
f  men    to   be    found    anywhere.      Especially 

is  this  noticeable  in  Central  Illinois,  a  section 
of  country  possessing  rich  resources  which  could 
have  been  properly  developed  only  by  this  class  of 
men.  Among  them  the  subject  of  this  notice 
stands  in  the  front  ranks,  being  possessed  of  more 
than  ordinary  capabilities,  a  thorough  business 
man,  a  skillful  farmer  and  usually  successful  in 
whatever  he  undertakes.  We  find  him  located  on 
a  well-tilled  farm  of  240  acres,  occupying  a  portion 
Of    Sections     11      ami     12,    the     residence    being     on 

tin-  southwest  quarter.     Under  the   careful   super 
vision   of  the  proprietoi    the  land  has  become  ex- 


ceedingly   fertile,    a    mine    from     which     may    be 
gathered  almost  inexhauslable  stoics. 

Mr.  Cook  has  spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in  this 
county,  having  been  born  in  Slratton  Township, 
Aug.  6,  1859,  and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the 
farm  until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years.  In  the  mean- 
time he  had  pursued  his  studio  in  the  common 
schools,  but  at  that  time  entered  Karlhain  College 
at  Richmond.  Ind..  and  after  completing  his  stud- 
ies remained  at  home  until  reaching  his  majority. 
He  then  started  out  for  himself  and  began  farming 
on  rented  land  until  purchasing,  in  18JSS,  that 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  In  the  meantime 
he  tailored  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  and 
the  two  together  operated  a  larger  extent  of  land 
than  any  one  man  in  this  part  of  the  county.  For 
this  purpose  they  supplied  themselves  with  the  best 
modern  machinery,  and  Mr.  Cook  then,  as  now, 
kept  himself  thoroughly  posted  in  regard  to  the 
devices  which  are  constantly  appearing  in  connec- 
tion with  agriculture,  and  which  makes  farming 
to-day  pleasurable  as  well  as  profitable. 

In  addition  to  general  agriculture  Mr.  Cook  has 
given  much  attention  to  stock-raising,  and  has  been 
considerably  engaged  in  threshing,  being  owner  of 
a  •!.  I.  Case  separator  machine.  In  the  interval  he 
has  effected  many  improvements  upon  his  farm. 
repairing  the  buildings,  making  fences  and  laying 
a  goodly  amount  of  tiling.  He  has  the  whole  un- 
der a  good  state  of  cultivation,  with  forest  and 
fruit  trees,  and  around  the  residence  are  the  vari- 
ous little  comforts  and  conveniences,  which  have 
so  much  influence  in  the  happiness  of  a  home,  lie 
raises  large  quantities  of  grain  and  stock,  also  buys 
and  feeds  cattle,  making  a  specialty  of  Clydesdale 
horses. 

In  addition  to  the  home  farm  Mr.  Cook  also 
operates,  in  company  with  his  brother,  a  farm  of 
300  acres  elsewhere,  and  employs  sixteen  horses 
and  mules  to  operate  the  same.  Considering  the 
fact  that  he  began  life  dependent  upon  his  own 
resources  and  has  received  no  financial  assistance, 
il  must  be  acknowledged  that  he  has  made  excel- 
lent headway.  He  has  never  aspired  to  official 
preferment,  but  keeps  himself  posted  upon  National 
affairs  and  votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  A 
man  of  decided  views  and  opinions  he  is  not  easily 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


turned  when  once  his  mind  is  made  up.  and  in  social 
and  business  life  exhibits  that  firmness  and  self- 
reliance  of  character  which  invariably  commands 
respect  and  admiration. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Eli 
Cook,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  owner 
of  slaves  and  a  large  plantation.  Isaac  Cook,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Butler  County. 
Ohio,  and  the  son  of  James  Cook,  a  Ninth  Caro- 
lina planter,  who  emigrated  to  the  Buckeye  State 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  locating  in  Butler 
County,  where  lie  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers. 
He  was  successful  in  his  labors  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil, 
and  became  owner  of  a  large  farm,  near  which 
grew  up  the  prosperous  town  of  Hamilton.  He  had 
been  reared  iu  the  doctrines  of  the  Quaker  faith, 
to  which  he  clung  tenaciously  his  entire  life.  Tlie 
father  of  our  subject  came  to  this  county  in  1859, 
and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
The  family  is  of  English  descent.  The  journey 
from  Ohio  to  Illinois  was  made  overland  by  team, 
the  father  of  our  subject  bringing  quite  a  quantity 
of  live-stock  with  him.  He  first  purchased  land  in 
Clark  County,  near  the  present  site  of  Marshall, 
but  lived  there  only  about  two  years,  selling  out 
then  and  coming  to  this  count}'.  Here  he  located 
in  Stratton  Township,  where  he  purchased  11)0 
acres  of  land  and  lived  141011  it  until  1861.  Then 
selling  out  once  mure  he  changed  his  residence  to 
Prairie  Township,  where  he  carried  on  farming  un- 
til near  the  time  of  his  death,  Sept.  9,  1887,  at  the 
age  of  sevent3'-two  years.  He  was  reared  a  (Qua- 
ker, and  in  politics  was  a  strong  Democrat.  He 
had  been  prominent  in  his  community,  officiating 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  holding  other  positions 
of  trust  and  responsibility. 

Mrs.  Susannah  (Shannon)  Cook,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Preble  County.  Ohio,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1824,  and  is  the  daughter  of  .lames  Shannon, 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  where  he  owned  a  large 
plantation.  I'pou  leaving  the  Smith  he  settled  in 
Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  later  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812,  receiving  an  honorable  wound 
in  the  side.  Prior  to  this  he  had  fought  on  the 
side  of  the  colonists  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  Shannons  were  of  English  descent.  In  1859 
the   father  of    Mrs.  Cook  left  Ohio,  and  comin<>  to 


this  county  located  in  Elbridge  Township,  where 
he  accumulated  some  property  r.nd  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-five  years.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  an  honest  man  and 
a  good  citizen.  Mrs.  Cook  is  still  living,  making  her 
horn  •  with  her  son,  our  subject,  and  is  now  sixty-five 
years  old.  The  parental  family  included  eight 
children:  A.  Jackson,  a  resident  of  Bruellet  Town- 
ship; Ellen  (Mrs.  Wright ),  and  Elizabeth,  residents 
of  Prairie  Township;  Eli  and  Catherine,  living  in 
lb  -delict  Township;William  F.  of  Prairie  Township; 
Amos  G.  and  John  E..  of  the  same.  The  many 
readers  of  this  Alijum  will  be  pleased  to  find  else- 
where a  valuable  portrait  of  Mr.  Cook. 

tl/ACOB  SUNKEL.  The  substantial  German 
pioneer  made  his  appearance  in  Central  Illi- 
nois very  soon  after  its  first  settlement  began 
and  he  has  borne  no  unimportant  part  in 
developing  its  best  resources.  He  brought  with 
him  those  sturdy  qualities  which  were  most  needed 
on  the  frontier  and  has  steadfastly  maintained  his 
position  among  the  best  elements  of  its  population. 
The  subject  of  this  notice  is  one  of  the  most  worthy 
representatives  of  his  nationality,  a  man  who  has 
achieved  success  financially,  through  his  persever- 
ing industry,  and  has  in  no  less  degree  established 
himself  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 

A  native  of  the  kingdom  of  Bavaria,  our  subject 
was  born  Aug.  19.  1845,  and  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Margaret  (Heinz)  Sunkle  who  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1847  when  their  son  Jacob  was 
little  more  than  an  infant.  They  had  united  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Fatherland,  in  which 
they  had  been  carefully  trained  and  the  doctrines 
of  which  had  been  faithfully  followed  by  their  an- 
cestors for  generations.  They  became  the  parents 
of  live  children,  four  of  whom  are  living  and  of 
whom  Jacob,  our  subject,  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth. 

William  Sunkle  in  his  native  country  followed 
farming  pursuits,  but  after  coming  to  America 
lived  in  the  city  of  Zanesville.  Ohio,  a  number  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


929 


years.  Later  he  removed  to  a  farm,  then  returned 
to  town  whore  lie  still  sojourns.  Jacob  acquired 
his  education  at  the  primitive  schools  of  the  Buck- 
eye State  and  upon  reaching  manhood  began  laying 
his  plans  for  the  establishment  of  a  home  of  his 
own,  In  1869  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margarel 
Burkey,  a  native  of  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  and 
whose  parents  were  natives  of  Germany  and  Swit- 
zerland. In  thespringof  1869  Mr.  Sunkle  made  his 
way  to  [llinois  and  located  on  a  rented  farm  in  Buck 
Township,  this  county,  where  he  operated  several 
years.  He  commenced  with  a  capital  of  $500  and 
is  now  the  owner  of  280  acres  of  valuable  land  upon 
which  he  has  made  excellent  improvements. 

Our  subject.  like  his  forefathers,  was  reared  in 
the  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which 
he  faithfully  adheres.  Mrs.  Sunkle  was  reared  a 
Catholic  which  remains  the  church  of  her  choice. 
Of  this  her  parents  wete  members  in  Germany. 
Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are  the  parents 
Of  eight  children,  one  of  whom,  Frederick  A.,  died 
at  the  age  of  four  years.  The  survivors  are  John 
\Y.,  Rosa,  Frank.  Alonzo,  .Margaret,  Josephine  and 
Jacob.  Mr.  Sunkle  votes  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket  and  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Supervisor 
since  the  spring  of  1887. 


,z=^  FORGE  F.  HOWARD,  editor  and  proprie- 
(||  tor  of  the  Paris  Daily   and  Weekly  Beacon, 

^J|(  is  a  native  of  Camberwell,  Surrey  Co..  Eng- 
land, and  was  horn  April  24.  1851.  His  education 
was  commenced  al  the  EInathan  Academy,  Brixton, 
in  his  native  county,  and  finished  at  Rev.  C.  II. 
Spurgeon's  Metropolitan  College  in  London.'  Holli 
his  parents  were  of  English  birth,  anil  were  named 
respectively  Thomas  Cumpton  and  Emma  (Parker) 
Howard.  The  former,  who  was  a  solicitor  attorney  - 
at-law  by  profession,  died  when  his  son,  George  l'\, 
was  bul  four  year-  of  age.  The  mother  is  yet  liv- 
ing in  England.  After  leaving  college  George 
secured  employment  in  a  wholesale  paper  ware- 
house, but  at  the  age  of  seventeen  determined  to 
try  his  fortune  in  America,    and    accordingly  came 


to  New  York.      There  he  engaged  in  various  kinds 

of  work,  trying  his  band,  a ng  other  occupations 

al  newspaper  work  and  farming.  He  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  1871,  and  locating  in  Paris,  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Paris  &  Decatur  Railway,  which  had 
then  just  commenced  operations.  With  this  corpo- 
ration he  remained,  occupying  different  position:. 
until  1880,  being  promoted  through  the  various 
grades  from  timekeeper  to  storekeeper,  and  finally 
filling  the  responsible  position  of  purchasing  agent. 
In  the  year  mentioned  he  resigned  to  accept  the 
position  of  special  railroad  and  traveling  agent  for 
the  Travelers'  Insurance  Company,  of  Hartford. 
Conn.,  afterward  giving  that  up  and  purchasing  an 
insurance  agency  business  in  Paris,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  188.'S. 

Mr.  Howard  in  1878  became  interested  in  the  A. 
O.  U.  W.,  and  succeeded  in  working  up  Charity 
Lodge  No.  100,  of  which  he  was  the  first  P.  M.  W. 
He  attended  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois  in  1881, 
when  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Grand  Recorder, 
and  has  filled  said  position  ever  since.  At  the  sol- 
icitation of  friends  in  the  order  he  bought,  in  1883, 
their  official  organ,  the  Illinois  Foreman,  then  pub- 
lished at  Roodhouse,  111.  He  removed  the  office 
and  business  to  Paris,  changing  the  name  to  the 
Anchor  and  Shield,  but  in  consequence  of  the  pres- 
sure of  business  he  gave  the  paper  up  in  1888.  In 
January,  1886,  Mr.  Howard  had  bought  the  Pans 
Beacon,  which  journal  was  established  in  1848, and 
is  the  oldest  paper  published  in  Paris,  rts  original 
title  was  the  Volley  lilaele.  On  the  12th  of  March. 
1888,  Mr.  Howard  issued  the  first  number  of  his 
daily  edition,  named  the  Daily  Beacon,  whii  h 
he  has  made  a  successful  and  influential  journal. 
It  is  edited  by  himself  with  the  assistance  of  a 
bright  young  newspaper  man.  Mr.  William  II. 
MacBcth,  as  local  editor. 

The  bachelor  life  of  Mr.  Howard  came  to  an  end 
September  14.  1877,  when  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sophia  A.  Smith,  daughter  of  Rev. 
George  J.  Smith.  Both  of  the  parents  were  of 
English  birth,  and  had  emigrated  to  Canada,  where 
the  mother  died..  The  rest  of  the  family  came  to 
Paris  some  time  after  that  event,  in  1872.  The 
father  subsequently  emigrated  to  Moorhead,  Minn., 
where    he  yet    lives.     Airs.   Howard    was   born   al 


930 


PORTRAIT  AND  UK  (GRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


White-parish,  Wiltshire  Co.,  England,  Jan.  2,  1851. 
She  is  the  mother  of  two  children:  Kniina  Ada  and 
Edgar  George. 

Our  subject  has  taken  great  interest  in  secret  and 
beneficial  societies,  and  is  a  member  of  several,  as 
the  K.  of  P.,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  I.  O.  ().  F.  In  the 
latter  body  he  has  been  Grand  Master  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  holding  that  rank  in  1887-1888,  after 
passing  through  other  responsible  otliccs  in  the 
same  body.  He  is  now  Junior  Warden  of  Paris 
Lodge,  No.  26$.  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  Senior  War- 
den of  Palestine  Commandery.  No.  27.  K.  T.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Chinch  of 
Paris,  of  which  he  is  a  Deacon,  and  has  been  Super- 
intendent of  its  Sunday-school  for  the  past  ten 
years. 

A  gentleman  of  unblemished  character  and  up- 
right life,  Mr.  Howard  is  highly  respected  in  the 
community,  in  which  personally  and  through  his 
newspaper  he  wields  an  influence  for  good. 


\I7  EVI  HOUSTON,  a  pioneer  of  1  835,  and  who 
I  ((d)  became  one  of  the  best-known  citizens  of 
It— *Vi  Bruellet  Township,  was  bora  in  Bracken 
County,  Kv.,  and  emigrated  to  Illinois  with  his 
parents,  Joseph  and  Delilah  (Weldon)  Houston, 
who  were  natives  of  Maryland.  The  latter  accom- 
panied their  parents  to  the  Blue  Grass  State  earl}' 
in  life.  Grandfather  Levi  Houston  was  a  native 
of  Maryland  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Kentucky. 
Levi  Houston.  Jr..  was  reared  to  manhood  in  this 
county  and  married  Miss  Lovina,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Catherine  (Kline)  Camerer.  Mr.  Cam- 
erer  was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  His  wife's 
parents  were  natives  of  Westmoreland  County,  Pa., 
whence  they  emigrated  to  Ohio  about  1807,  five 
years  after  it  had  been  admitted  into  the  Union  as 
a  State.  The  father  cleared  a  farm  from  the  heayj 
timber,  in  the  meantime  occupying  a  log  cabin  for 
many  years. 

The  Camerer  family  left  the  Buckeye  State  in 
the  fall  of  1829,  and  once  more  took  uptheirabode 
on  the  frontier,  building  up  another  farm  from  the 
wilderness.     For  some  years  thereafter  this  region 


was  infested  by  Indians,  especially  in  the  fall  when 
they  were  o>it  on  their  hunting  expeditions,  camp- 
ing along  the  creeks.  Chicago  was  at  that  time 
the  nearest  market  and  their  milling  was  done  on 
the  Wabash  River  in  Indiana.  Our  subject  after 
his  marriage  located  upon  a  tract  of  wild  land  from 
which  he  constructed  a  good  farm,  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  passing  away  in  Febru- 
ary. 2887,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He 
had  been  greatly  prospered,  and  at  his  death  left  a 
large  farm  of  800  acres,  well  improved,  and  upon 
which  the  widow  and  her  son  Daniel  are  still  liv- 
ing. 

To  Levi  Houston  and  his  estimable  wife  there 
were  born  six  children,  viz.:  Vachel  F.;  Catherine, 
now  Mrs.  Wilkin,  a  sketch  of  whose  husband  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Daniel  J,  Delilah;  Frances 
Mrs.  Martin  Stratton,  and  Charles.  The  father  was 
a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
while  the  mother  inclined  to  the  doctrines  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  she  has 
been  identified  for  many  3'ears.  In  LS50  Mr. 
Houston  crossed  the  plains  to  California  and  was 
absent  two  years.  He  was  a  quiet,  peaceable, order- 
loving  citizen,  respected  by  his  neighbors,  voting 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  unambitious  of  office, 
although  he  represented  Bruellet  Township  in  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  ami  also  served  as 
Commissioner. 

Daniel  Houston  is  numbered  among  the  substan- 
tial farmers  of  Bruellet  Township  and  owns  about 
400  acres  of  the  old  home  farm.  He  is  largely  en- 
gaged in  breeding  cattle  and  swine,  and  his  land  is 
improved  with  very  good  buildings,  the  residence 
being  especially  comfortable  and  substantial,  with 
plenty  of  room.  There  is  a  good  barn,  and  the  other 
outbuildings  are  amply  adapted  for  genera]  farm 
purposes.  Mr.  Houston  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  school  and  was  trained  to  habits  of  industry 
and  econom}'.  He  was  married,  in  Bruellet  Town 
ship,  to  .Miss  Ida  Kipps. whose  parents.  John  and  Mar- 
tha Kipps  were  natives  of  Ross  County.  Ohio,  where 
they  were  reared  and  married.  They  came  to  Illi- 
nois at  quite  an  early  day,  where  their  family  was 
reared  and  of  which  Mrs.  Houston  was  among 
the  younger  members.  She  was  born  in  1868  in 
Edgar    County,  and   of   her  union  with  our  subject 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


:i.",  I 


there  are  two  interesting  children — Edith  and  lithe] . 

Mr.  Houston  is  a  Republican,  politically,  and  is 
serving  his  second  term  as  Road  Commissioner. 
His  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 


-===c£*J!lfL*|,e 


IftS^R.  SAMUEL  11.  BRADLEY,  physician 
and  surgeon,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Hume,  III.,  having  been  identified  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  village 
since  its  inception.  His  father.  Dr.  John  Bradley, 
was  a  native  of  Sohan,  England,  and  his  genealogj 
can  lie  traced  back  to  the  twelfth  century,  to  the  per- 
son Of  Sir  Walter  Temple.  The  vast  estate  left 
by  Sir  Walter,  which  for  some  reason  has  not  yet 
been  claimed  by  his  heirs,  amounted  to  more  than 
70,000,000  pounds  sterling  in  1872,  and  is  await- 
ing distribution  pending  the  proper  legal  steps  ne- 
cessary to  be  taken.  The  mother  of  our  subject, 
Ruth  M.  Patrick,  was  a  native  of  Iiardstown,  Nel- 
son Co.,  Ky.,  her  parents  having  come  from  Cork, 
Ireland,  and  settling  in  America  in  the  early  days 
of  our  history.  In  1830,  when  a  young  woman, 
she  came  with  her  parents  to  Edgar  County,  set- 
tling on  Clay's  Prairie,  where  she  remained  until 
her  marriage  to  Dr.  John  Bradley,  then  a  rising 
young  physician  giving  good  promise  of  future 
usefulness. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  to  Edgar  County 
when  a  young  man  and  engaged  in  the  business  of 
cabinet  making  at  Paris.  After  following  this  oc- 
cupation for  some  time  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr. 
Hopkins,  one  of  the  earliest  physicians  in  the  com- 
munity, and  studied  medicine.  On  the  conclusion 
of  his  studies  he  located  at  Clay's  Prairie,  engaging 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  built  up  a 
good  practice  at  this  place,  but  family  troubles  in- 
tervening caused  a  separation  of  himself  and  wife, 
she  continuing',  to  reside  on  Clay's  Prairie  while 
he  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  built  up  an 
extensive  practice  and  continued  in  his  profession 
until  his  death.  This  union  resulted  in  three  chil- 
dren :  William  Thomas,  Samuel  II.  and  Stephen  11* 
William  T.    is   a    farmer    residing    near  Marysville, 


Iowa;  Stephen  B.  enlisted  in  the  army  and  died  in 
the  -ervicc.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  again 
united  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Keynes,  the  union  result- 
ing in  the  birth  of  four  children:  Augustine, 
Henry.  Ellen  and  Emma.  Although  about  seventy 
years  of  age  she  still  survives  residing  near  Mo- 
nience,  III. 

Samuel  II.  Bradley,  the  one  of  whom  we  write,  is 
a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  Oct.  2.").  1839,  at 
(lay's  Prairie,  this  count}'.  His  early  years  were 
spent  on  a  faun  under  the  i  rotcction  of  his  mater- 
nal grandparents,  to  whoso  care  he  was  committed 
at  the  time  of  his  mother's  second  marriage.  His 
recollection  of  his  father  is  confined  to  a  single  in- 
stance. Through  the  general  lack  of  the  apprecia- 
tion of  the  value  of  an  education  on  the  part  of  his 
grandparents,  his  schooling  was  limited  to  less  than 
one  year  in  the  common  schools.  He  studied  well 
at  home,  however,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years 
began  to  Study  medicine  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Young  of  Highland.  Ind.,  continuing  under  him 
two  years.  About  this  time  the  war  broke  out 
and  in  response  to  Lincoln's  call  for  75,000  three 
months'  men  he  enlisted  in  the  18th  Indiana  Regi- 
ment, Infantry.  The  quota  being  filled  before  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  was  completed,  it  was 
not  accepted  under  the  first  call,  but  by  consent  of 
its  members  was  among  the  first  of  t lie  Indiana 
regiments  to  enlist  for  three  years.  They  were 
mustered  in  at  Indianapolis  Aug.  10,  1861,  remain- 
ing in  that  city  thirty  days  to  drill,  before  being 
ordered  to  St.  Louis  Mo.,  where  they  were  drilled 
thirty  days  more  in  Lafayette  Park.  They  were 
then  ordered  to  Jefferson  City,  where  the  regiment 
did  guard  and  scouting  duty.  From  Jefferson  City 
the  Regiment  went  to  Southwest  Missouri.  It  first 
engaged  the  Confederate  forces  at  Pea  Ridge,  Ark., 
in  which  battle  Dr.  Bradley  was  struck  by  a  minie- 
ball  where  his  shoulder  strap  and  licit  crossed. 
After  penetrating  these  two  thicknesses  of  leather 
belts,  it  lost  a  large  portion  of  its  force  and  buried 
itself  just  beneath  the  skin  at  his  back,  after  having 
splintered  the  right  lumbar  vertebra.  He  was  ren- 
dered insensible,  and  left  on  the  Held  for  dead,  hut 
soon  afterwards  recovering  consciousness,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  follow  up  his  command.  His  comrades 
were  not  a  little  surprised  :it  his  appearance  in  their 


932 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


midst,  and  he  won  their  admiration  for  his  courage 
by  continuing  to  fight  with  them  during  the  three 
days  the  engagement  lasted,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  he  still  carried  the  bullet  in  his  body.  In 
the  absence  of  a  surgeon  his  captain  attempted  to 
remove  the  ball,  but  failing,  it  was  not  until  sev- 
eral days  after  the  battle  that  it  was  taken  out  by 
the  regimental  surgeon.  Dr.  Bradley  continued  in 
Southwest  Missouri  and  Southwest  Arkansas,  par- 
ticipating in  all  the  skirmishes  and  lights  of  that 
campaign,  coming  in  frequent  contact  with  the 
forces  of  Gens.  Sterling  Price,  Mcintosh,  Van 
Dorn  and  Gen.  Ben  McColloch.  This  regiment 
was  then  ordered  to  Helena,  Ark.,  where  it  arrived 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign. 
It  was  actively  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Magnolia 
Hill,  Jackson,  Champion  Hills.  Edward  Station  and 
Black  River  Bridge,  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
At  Champion  Hills  a  minie-ball  struck  him  in  the 
region  of  the  breast.  Being  a  smoker  he  carried  a 
tobacco  pouch  in  his  inside  blouse  pocket.  The 
passage  of  the  ball  through  this  tobacco  so  impeded 
its  progress  that  although  passing  through  his  ap- 
parel it  did  not  pierce  the  flesh.  Its  force,  however, 
felled  him  to  the  earth,  where  he  remained  uncon- 
scious for  several  hours.  For  many  months  after- 
ward he  carried  a  reminder  of  it  with  him  in  the 
shape  of  a  black  and  blue  spot  the  size  of  a  teacup. 
At  Edwards  Station  the  impetuous  and  fiery  Gen. 
John  A.  Logan,  in  his  desire  to  be  in  the  front  of 
the  line  of  battle,  rode  his  horse  through  the  ranks 
knocking  down  and  severely  injuring  one  of  Dr. 
Bradley's  comrades.  This  aioused  his  indignation, 
»nd,  Logan  attempting  another  similar  act,  Dr. 
Bradley  leveled  his  gun  and  threatened  to  shoot 
him  off  his  horse  unless  he  remained  in  the  rear  of 
the  rank,  where  he  belonged.  A  few  years  ago  at 
a  re-union  at  Tuscola,  the  Doctor  met  and  shook 
hands  with  Gen.  Logan.  During  the  conversation 
that  ensued  he  reminded  him  of  the  above  incident. 
Gen.  Logan  replied:  "  I  have  good  reason  to  re- 
member you,  my  boy."  During  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg Dr.  Bradley  formed  a  part  of  the  detail  which 
did  the  tunneling  under  the  Confederate  works, 
called  by  the  soldiers  " ground  hogging."  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  bloody  engagement  which  followed 
the  explosion  of    these  underground  mines  on  the 


22d  day  of  May,  1863.  His  command  remained 
with  the  beseigers  until  the  surrender  of  Pember- 
ton  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  which  day  was  cele- 
brated by  the  victorious  Union  troops  under  theii 
unfaltering  leader,  whose  motto  was  "unconditional 
surrender"  by  their  triumphal  entry  into  that  ill- 
fated  Confederate  stronghold.  The  next  service 
seen  by  him  and  his  regiment  was  at  Port  Hudson, 
after  the  fall  of  which  they  were  ordered  to  New 
Orleans.  Then  they  wereordered  to  Berwick  Bay, 
La.  On  reaching  this  place  they  embarked  for  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Shortly  after  their  ar- 
rival they  engaged  the  Confederates  at  Mustang 
Island.  They  were  next  ordered  to  Indianola, 
Tex.,  where  they  went  into  camp  for  the  winter- 
While  there  the  regiment,  including  our  subject,  re- 
enlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  After 
their  re-enlistment  they  returned  to  New  Orleans. 
Here  they  were  given  the  choice  of  going  with 
Banks  up  the  lied  River  and  on  their  return 
taking  a  ninety  days'  furlough,  or  relieving  the 
detachment  at  Baton  Rogue  and  taking  a  thirty 
days'   furlough.     They  chose  the  latter. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  Dr.  Bradley  came  home 
on  the  long  sought  furlough  with  the  rest  of  his 
regiment,  Coming  up  the  Mississippi  on  a  boat 
he  was  stricken  with  pneumonia,  which  assumed  an 
alarming  type,  and  upon  arriving  at  Indianapolis 
he  was  in  a  delirious  condition  in  which  state  he 
remained  for  twenty -five  days.  His  recovery  was  of 
necessity  slow,  and  it  was  not  until  January,  1865, 
that  he  was  able  to  rejoin  his  regiment,  which  was 
then  at  Savannah,  (ia.  During  the  time  of  his  ill- 
ness his  regiment  had  been  re-organized  and  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  Phil.  Sheridan  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  Va.:  after  which  it  was  ordered 
to  Savannah.  Ga.,  to  relieve  Sherman's  men.  Dr. 
Bradley  b^ing  still  in  delicate  health  and  unfit  for 
active  service,  was  detailed  as  Hospital  Steward 
and  placed  upon  detached  duty.  In  this  capacity 
he  had  opportunities  to  render  favors  and  gain 
friends.  An  incident  of  more  than  ordinary  im- 
portance happened  to  him  at  this  time.  Dr.  C.  II. 
Todd,  a  Confederate  surgeon  and  brother  of  Mrs. 
Abraham  Lincoln,  wife  of  the  martyred  president, 
being  a  prisoner  in  Savannah  and  desirous  of  ob- 
taining a  speedy  parole,  was  assisted    in    doing  so 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


933 


by  Dr.  Bradley.  As  n  mark  of  appreciation  of 
this  kind  act  ho  gave  Dr.  Bradley  an  order  upon  a 
friend  for  a  pannier  containing  sundrj  surgical  in- 
struments and  medical  works.  The  officer  in  com- 
mand, a  Frenchman,  Dr.  Boschie,  learning  that  our 

Subject   hail  these  things  in    his     possession,  ordered 

them  sent  to  headquarters.  The  doctor,  however. 
retained  three  of  the  medical  works,  which  are 
now  very  highly  prized  by  him  as  relies  of  the  late 
war.  A  fly  leaf  in  one  of  the  volumes  contains 
the  following  inscription  in  autograph:  "  C.  II. 
Todd,  C.  s.  A.,  6th  Louisiana  Regiment,  Hays' 
Brigade,  Camp  Raccoon  Ford,  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia." 

The  war  closing,  Dr.  Bradley  was  mustered  out 
at  Darien.  Ga.,  and  received  his  final  pay  and  hon- 
orable discharge  at  Indianapolis.  After  more  Mian 
four  years  of  service  Dr.  Bradley  returned  to  the 
pursuits  of  peace,  broken  down  in  health.  Until 
within  a  year  he  has  been  a  sufferer  from  frequent 
hemorrhages  of  the  lungs,  the  right  one  of  which 
is  nearly  gone  and  partially  useless.  Being,  how- 
ever, of  a  clear  ami  energetic  nature,  Dr.  Bradley, 
notwithstanding  his  delicate  health,  resumed  the 
study  and  practice  of  his  chosen  profession, study- 
ing under  Dr.  Davis  of  Palis  for  eighteen  months. 
lie  received  his  first  license  as  practicing  physician 
in  the  winter  of  1867.  He  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  Dr,  Grimes,  of  Jones,  Ind.,  practicing 
with  him  for  three  years,  exhibiting  great  aptitude 
and  proficiency.  His  next  step  was  to  go  back  to 
Clay  Prairie,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  began 
practicing  for  himself. 

Dr.  Bradley  was  married  April  I  I.  1869,  to  .Miss 
Sarah  Grimes,  daughter  of  Dr.  Grimes.  .Mrs 
Bradley  was  born  in  Sarahsville,  Noble  Co..  Ohio. 
The  family  removed  to  Missouri  before  the  war, 
on  the  breaking  out  of  which  they  were  compelled 
to  llee  for  safety,  and  took  refuge  at  Jones.  Ind. 
During  the  war  Mrs.  Bradley  taught  school  before 
leaving  Missouri.  When  she  was  but  fifteen  years 
old  she  became  a.  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
that  State,  but  left  it  with  her  father  in  1861. 
After  her  marriage  she  continued  teaching  more 
or  less  for  some  years,  liefore  the  depot  was 
located  at  Hume  Dr.  Bradley  was  induced  to  come 
and  locate,  which   he  did.   and    is   thus   the  pioneer 


physician  of  Hume.  The  Doctor  lias  ever  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  the'  development  of  the  village. 
He  has  buill  his  office,  and  filestore  immediately 
north  of  it  which  i-  occupied  by  the  milliner.  He 
has  also  built  a  nice  plain  residence  which  i-  lo- 
cated near  the  central  part  of  the  town. 

Dr.  ami  Mrs.  Bradley  are  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  are  Using — Daniel  Yor- 
hees,  Rosebud  Anna  and  Ruth.  In  [lis  medical 
practice  the  Dr.  has  been  very  successful,  and  he  is 

now      at     the    head    of     a     large     ami      satisfactory 

practice.  The  Doctor  expends  every  year  a  great 
deal  of  his  earnings  in  increasing  his  large  and 
valuable  library,  containing  many  standard  and 
medical  works,  and  also  in  furthering  medical  and 
surgical  science.  He  is  well  supplied  with  surgical 
apparatus,  and  has  had  marvelous  success  in  the 
treatment  of  cases  arising  in  an  extensive  general 
practice.  The  Doctor  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Alexander  G.  A.  R.  Post.  No.  413.  He  has 
held  the  position  of  surgeon  in  it  ever  since  its 
being  chartered.  In  matters  pertaining  to  local 
politics  the  doctor  aims  to  vote  for  men  and  meas- 
ures. In  national  issues  he  casts  his  ballot  with 
the  Democratic  party,  lie  has  many  and  warm 
friends. 

\l ON.    GEORGE    E.   BACON,    Attorney-at- 

Law  and  Senator  from  the  Thirty-first  Dis- 
trict, has  been  a  resident  of  Edgar  County 
<0;  since  ls.'iT.  He  was  born  in  Madison,  Ind., 
Feb.  4,  1851,  and  is  the  sou  of  Alfred  and  Emma 
(Salmon)  Bacon,  both  descendants  of  excellent 
families.  The  I'.aeou  family  was  represented  in  an 
early  day  in  New  Jersey,  where  .lame-  Bacon,  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  horn,  .•md 
whence  he  removed  to  Madison.  Ind.,  where  he 
engaged  as  a  butcher  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  passing  away  in   1858. 

Grandmother  Eliza  Brown)  Bacon,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  the  Blue  Grass  State,  and  is  still  living, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  in  Madison,  Jef- 
ferson Co..  Ind.  Her  three  children  living  are: 
Nathan  and  .lames,  who  are  farming  in  the  vicinity 

of  Madison,  and  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Wade  Melton, 


93  i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOC.RAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


who  sre  residents  of  that  city.  Alfred  Bacon,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  a  place  called 
Ryker's  Ridge,  near  Madison,  Ind..  June  27,  1824. 
lie  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  learned  the  trade 
of  butchering  from  his  father.  lie  lived  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage,  and  for  a  short  time 
before  removing  in  the  spring  of  1855,  to  Coles 
County.  111.,  was  in  business  in  Madison.  Finally 
he  purchased  a  farm,  which  he  occupied  two  years, 
then  removed  to  Kansas,  Edgar  County,  where  he 
resumed  butchering,  in  which  he  was  engaged  until 
his  death,  which  occured  on  July  2G,  1889. 

In  Madison,  Jefferson  Co.  Ind..  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Alfred  Bacon,  in  1849.  with  Miss 
Emma  Salmon.  Mrs.  Bacon  was  born,  in  1834,  in 
Covington.  Kv..  where  her  father,  Jacob  Salmon, 
operated  as  a  rea'-estate  dealer.  She  died  in  Kan- 
sas, this  county,  .June  11.  1882.  Alfred  Bacon  was 
a  plain  everyday  man.  an  excellent  representative 
citizen,  thoroughly  honest,  upright  and  straight- 
forward in  all  his  dealings.  lie  has  never  taken  a 
leading  part  in  public  affairs  and  has  never  held,  or 
wished  to  hold,  political  office,  although  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  which  he  joined 
at  its  formation.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  with  which  he  united  under  the  adminis 
trations  of  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Black. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bacon  there  was  born  a  family 
of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  deceased:  Olive, 
became  the  wife  of  Sylvester  Oar.  a  blacksmith  of 
Kansas,  where  she  died  Nov.  14,  187G.  and  where 
Mr.  Oar  is  yet  living;  Alfred  J.,  died  in  Coles 
County,  in  childhood;  Eliza,  Charles,  Laura, 
Orson  0-  and  Lillie  May  all  died  young.  The  sur- 
vivors are  our  subject;  Clarence  Logan,  who  is  a 
horse  buyer  and  living  in  Kansas,  this  county, 
where  he  has  a  large  establishment,  also  in  Newark, 
N.  J  .  supplying  horses  for  the  New  York  market; 
James  Edgar,  a  resident  of  Newark,  in  his  brother's 
employ  as  manager  of  his  barns. 

Oeorge  E.  Bacon  was  a  lad  of  but  four  years 
when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois,  and  spent  his 
youth  in  Kansas,  attending  school  there,  after 
which  he  became  a  pupil  of  the  Northwestern 
Christian  University  at  Indianapolis  and  Eureka 
College  in  Woodford  County.  In  1877,  he  was 
Assessor  of  Kansas  Township  and  afterward  studied 


law  in  the  office  of  Col.  II.  Van  Sellar,  in  Paris,  in 
1878.  Next  he  attended  the  Union  College  of 
Law  at  Chi -ago,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Ottawa.  June  19,  L879.  Re- 
turning to  Paris,  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
1880,  and  on  June  14  that  same  year  was  nominated 
by  acclamation  by  the  Republican  County  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  State's  Attorney,  without  his 
solicitation,  he  not  being  a  candidate.  The  county 
has  about  300  Democratic  majority,  but  Mr.  Bacon 
came  within  160  votes  of  election.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Paris 
since  his  admission  to  the  bar. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Bacon  was  elected  Police  Magistrate 
of  Paris  for  a  term  of  four  years,  but  at  the  expir- 
ation of  three  years  resigned  the  office  in  order  to 
give  his  entire  attention  to  his  Increasing  practice 
In  the  fall  of  1886  he  was  nominated  by  the  Repub- 
licans of  the  thirty-first  Senatorial  district,  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Edgar  and  Vermilion  for 
the  honorable  position  of  State  Senator,  and  has 
just  completed  his  term,  serving  in  the  sessions  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  1887  and  1889.  He  was 
on  a  large  number  of  committees,  serving  upon 
nine  of  these  during  the  first  session.  He  acted  as 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  State  Library  and  of 
the  Committee  to  visit  State  Charitable  Institutions. 
The  other  committees  upon  which  |,e  served  were 
the  Judiciary  and  Judicial  Departments,  Appro- 
priations, State  Charitable  Institutions.  Penal  and 
Reformatory,  Railroads,  and  Mines  and  Mining. 

In  the  session  of  1889,  Mr.  Bacon  was  Chair- 
man of  the  Senatorial  Caucus,  and  was.  therefore, 
also  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Republican  Caucus 
which  re-nominated  United  States  Senator  Cullom. 
He  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Printing; 
was  on  the  Judiciary  Committee,  the  Committee  on 
Judicial  Departments,  Penal  and  Reformatory, 
Mines  and  Mining.  Federal  Relations,  Agriculture 
and  Drainage.  Mr.  Bacon  bore  during  his  legis- 
lative career  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  careful, 
painstaking  and  hard  working  senator,  jealous  of 
the  rights  of  his  constituents,  whom  he  served  ably 
and  faithfully  with  credit  to  himself  and  very 
satisfactorily  to  the  people  he  represented. 

Our  subject  was  married  Nov.  30,  1880,  to  Miss 
Ida  May,   daughter  of  O.  O.  and    Mollie  M.  (Mil- 


1    * 


- 
■ 


Residence  of  W.F.Banta,    S  ec.  32..,  Prairie  Town  shir 


1 


Residence  of  A.W.Mark,    Sec.  (5..  Edcer  Townshir 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


937 


cli  el  I)  Reed,  of  Paris,  111.,  but  who  arc  now  living 
in  Kansas,  this  county,  where  Mr.  Reed  is  engaged 
in  business  as  a  photographer.  .Mr.-.  Bacon  was 
horn  iii  Grand  View,  Ind.,  May  1.  1860.  They  have 
two  children,  Paul  Breese  and  Ruth. 

Mr.  Bacon  is  a  member  of  Austin  Lodge,  No. 
664,  LO.O. F.-,  of  I'aris.  and  was  representative  of 
his  lodge  to  the  Grand  Lodge  two  terms;  he  also 
belongs  to  Charity  Lodge,  No.  100.  A.O.U.W.,  and 
is  its  present  representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge, 
lie  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Paris,  and  he  hears  among  his  fellow 
citizens  the  reputation  of  an  honorable,  upright 
and  straightforward  man.  Vet  a  young  man.  Mr. 
Bacon  has  a  future  before  him,  which  his  many 
friends  hope  may  lie  tilled  with  honors  and  g(K>d 
npute.  As  a  political  speaker  Mr.  Bacon  stands 
in  the  front  rank  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  is  also 
a  favorite  speaker  at  soldier's  re-unions  throughout 
the  State. 


—  >■* .o*o..g5JA><\^v3..<*»o.. <■ — 

«^J  NTHONY  \V.  MARK.  The  early  sur- 
roundings of  an  individual  are  most  likely 
to  determine  his  character  for  the  future. 
The  youth  who  is  compelled  by  circum- 
stances to  work  hi-  own  way  up  in  the  world,  is 
the  one  who  usually  develops  into  the  most  worthy 
and  honorable  manhood.  The  experience  at  the 
time  may  have  seemed  somewhat  hard,  but  it 
usually  brings  to  the  surface  those  qualities  which 
make  a  man  strong  anil  self-reliant,  enabling  him 
to  breast  the  storms  of  life  with  courage  and  en- 
durance. These  are  the  men  wdio  form  the  bone 
ami  sinew  of  a  community,  and  from  which  spring 
its  best  elements. 

We  find  Mr.  Mark  a  selfmade  man,  and  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Edgar  Township,  the  owner 
a  line  property  comprising  200  acres  of  land  on 
section  15,  eight  acres  on  section  17,  131  j  acres  in 
Shiloh  and  160  acres  in  Osborn  County,  Kan. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  this  property  is  the 
accumulation  of  his  own  industry,  and  that  he  re- 
ceived no  financial  assistance  from  any  source,  it 
must  be   admitted    that    he   has    made   good  use  of 


his  time  and  opportunities.  lie  was  born  near 
Washington,  Fayette  Co.,  Ohio.,  Feb.  6,  1826,  and 
here  spent  his  early  life,  being  put  to  work  on  a 
farm  as  soon  as  he  was  able  t<>  carry  a  bundle  of 
brush.  Ilis  education  was  obtained  during  the 
winter  season  in  a  log  cabin,  built  in  the  most 
primitive  style,  and  under  a  system  of  instruction 
far  inferior  to  that  of  the  present  day,  ami  con- 
ducted on  the  subscription  plan.  lie  grew  up 
familiar  with  all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pio- 
neer life,  and  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
a  young  man  of  twenty-four  years. 

Young  Mark  began  business  for  himself  on  a 
tract  of  rented  land  in  his  native  township,  where 
he  operated  two  years.  By  arduous  industry  and 
the  most  economical  manner  of  living  he  in  due 
time  found  himself. on  the  road  to  prosperity.  In 
the  meantime  he  was  married.  June  <i,  1850,  in 
Fayette  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Hoppes, 
who  like  himself  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  where  her 
lather,  Jacob  Hoppes.  was  occupied  as  a  farmer. 
The  mother,  Mrs.  Nancy  (Wilkinson)  Hoppes.  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  daughter  of  William 
Wilkinson,  who  was  also  born  in  the  Old  Domin- 
ion, whence  he  removed  to  Layette  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
Served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  afterward  removed 
to  the  vicinity  of  Benton,  Ind.,  where  he  spent  his 
last  days.  Grandfather  John  Iloopes  removed 
from  Virginia  to  Fayette  County.  Ohio,  where  he 
died  at  a  very  old  age.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Mark 
died  when  a  young  man.  and  the  mother  died  near 
Homer,  111.,  where  sin-  had  resided  for  year-,  in 
1ST."),  at  the  age  of  sixty.  Airs.  .Mark,  their  only 
child,  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  Nov.  15, 
1831,  received  a  common-school  education,  and 
remained  with  her  parents  until  her  marriage. 

Two  year-  after  that,  event  Air.  and  Airs.  Alark 
set  out  for  Illinois  with  a  team,  bringing  with 
them  their  household  effects,  and  located  in  Edgar 
Township.  In  the  spring  of  1853  OUl'  subject  pur- 
chased his  present  place,  paying  $8.50  for  1211 
acre-,  and  ■■<:'.. 7."i  lor  eighty  acres,  aud  buying  the 
whole  on  time.  It  was  a  great  undertaking,  and  in 
addition  to  making  a  living  for  his  family  and  en- 
deavoring to  pay  for  his  land,  it  was  necessary  in 
the  meantime  to  proceed  with    improvements  us 


038 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


rapidly  a?  possible.  Wild  animals  then  abounded 
in  tliis  region,  and  the  wolves  frequently  came  up 
to  their  cabin  door.  Deer  furnished  a  frequent 
target  for  the  huntsman's  rifle,  and  although  the 
family  larder  often  lacked  in  other  provisions,  they 
could  at  all  times  obtain  wild  meat. 

Mr.  Mark  proceeded  with  the  cultivation  of  his 
land  and  effected  improvements  upon  it  until  after 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  very  desirous 
of  entering  the  ranks  at  the  beginning  of  the  con- 
flict, but  restrained  his  patriotic  impulses-on account 
of  his  family.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  drafted 
into  Company  D.    12th  Illinois   Infantry,  mustered 

i the  service  at   Danville,  and  sent  south  with 

his  comrades  to  Chattanooga  on  tlat  cars.  They 
were  assigned  to  guard  duty  until  the  following 
spring,  when  they  were  sent  to  Baltimore,  and  sub- 
sequently joined  the  army  of  Gen.  Sherman  at 
Goldsboro  near  Raleigh,  and  soon  afterward  were 
oreeted  with  the  news  of  Johnston's  surrender.  A 
week  later  they  were  in  Washington.  D.  C,  at  the 
grand  review,  which  Mr.  Mark  states  was  tthe 
hardesl  day's  work  of  his  life.  Thence  repairing 
to  Louisville,  he  was  mustered  out,  and  in  July, 
1865,  received  his  discharge  at  Springfield,  111. 

Our  subject  now  returned  to  his  farm,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  uniformly  prosperous.  A 
lithographic  view  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume 
of  his  convenient  and  substantial  residence,  which 
is  : '•  ■_' x :i  1  feet  in  dimensions,  and  he  has  a  good 
barn  40x08  feet.  A  stream  of  running  water  assists 
in  the  fertility  of  the  land,  which  was  of  excellent 
qualiU  originally,  and  its  cultivation  is  carried  on 
by  the  latest  improved  machinery.  The  fields  are 
enclosed  and  cross-fenced  to  a  large  extent  with 
hedge,  which  presents  a  beautiful  appearance,  es- 
pecially in  the  summer  season.  The  Kansas  farm 
is  a  fine  body  of  land,  well  improved  and  lying 
near  the  city  of  Osborn.  The  Edgar  County  farm 
is  largely  devoted  to  stock-raising,  Mr.  Mark 
having  excellent  grades  of  cattle,  sheep  and  swine. 
He  also  buys,  feeds  and  ships  to  a  large  extent, 
which  industry  has  proved  very  profitable.  lie 
has  ten  head  of  splendid,  well-kept  horses,  and  em- 
ploys three  learns  in  operating  the  farm. 

To  our  subject  and  his  excellent  wife  there  have 
been    born    eight  children,  the  eldest  of   whom,  a 


daughter.  Jane,  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Van  Dine, 
a  stockman,  and  they  reside  near  Newman,  111.; 
Josie  is  the  wife  of  Mitchell  Gossett.  a  farmer  of 
Vermilion  County;  Mary  married  Morris  Little, 
a  farmer  of  Edgar  Township;  Lewis  is  a  conductor 
of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  makes  his 
headquarters  in  Arizona;  Margery  E.  is  the  wife 
of  William  (ilass  and  lives  in  Edgar  Township. 
The  next  three  children — William  S..  Joseph  II., 
and  Cary  11. — are  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Lewis  in  the  pursuit  of  his  duties  has  traveled  all 
over  the  Western  country,  and  at  one  time  was 
seriously  injured  in  a  railroad  disaster,  having 
several  ribs  broken,  and  suffering  in  other  ways. 

Mr.  Mark  cast  his  first  vote  for  Zachary  Taylor, 
and  later  identified  himself  with  the  Republican 
party,  of  which  he  is  a  very  strong  adherent.  He 
has  served  as  School  Director  for  many  years,  and 
socially,  belongs  to  the  I.  ().  O.  F.  at  Chrisman.  in 
which  he  is  Last  Grand,  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
at  Chrisman,  and  is  identified  with  the  Blue  Lodge. 
A.  F.  it  A.  M.  He  assisted  in  the  building  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  edifice  at  Edgar,  and 
is  at  present  one.  of  the  Trustees. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Peter 
Mark,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Subsequently  he  pushed  on 
into  Ohio,  locating  in  Ross  County  as  early  as 
1812.  He  farmed  there  for  a  time,  then  changed 
his  residence  to  Fayette  County,  where  he  died 
leaving  a  good  property.  He  was  a  man  of  com- 
manding appearance,  being  of  large  stature  and 
great  muscular  strength.  The  great-grandfather, 
Joseph  Mark,  was  likewise  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  of  German  descent.  He  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  and  spent  his  last  days  with  his  son  in 
Fayette  County,  Ohio,  where  he  died  at  a  ripe  old 
age. 

Joseph  Mark,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1800,  and  during  his  younger 
years  cleared  a  farm  of  175  acres  in  Fayette  County, 
Ohio,  and  besides  this  was  the  owner  of  other  land 
in  that  county.  He  deeded  the  greater  portion  of  • 
this  to  his  children,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
had  a  farm  of  1  75  acres.  He  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  community,  serving  as  Township  Treas- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


989 


11  if  r  .'ind  County  Commissioner,  and  belonged  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  lie  offl 
ciated  as  Class-Leader  and  gave  to  it  n  liberal  sup- 
port. He  departed  this  life  June  13,1886.  His 
wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  in  her  girl- 
hood Miss  Naomi  Hush,  and  was  born  in  Virginia 
about  1800.  and  died  in  1880.  Her  father,  Leo- 
nard Bush,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  upon 
emigrating  to  America  settled  on  a  farm  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  bu1  later  removed  to  Fayette 
County.  Ohio.  He  labored  in  true  pioneer  style  in 
the  opening  up  of  a  farm  on  the  frontier,  and  after 
a  long  and  industrious  life  passed  away  at  the  aye 
of  eighty-five  years.  He  was  the  father  of  fourteen 
children,  who  presented  the  remarkable  spectacle 
of  all  living  to  be  about  eighty  years  of  aye,  and 
some  of  them  over.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
had  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist, Episcopal  Church. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  bom 
eight  children,  viz.:  Cynthia  A.,  a  resident  of 
Highland  Count).  Ohio;  Anthony  W.,  our  subject; 
Mary,  a  resident  of  Fayette  County,  Ohio;  Har- 
riet, deceased;  Henry,  Huldah  .).,  Louis  and  Rachel. 
these  four  all  residents  of  Fayette  County.  Henry 
and  Louis  served  as  members  of  the  militia  during 
Morgan's  raid  in  Ohio.  Louis  was  a  Lieutenant  in 
the  three-month's  service  operating  mostly  around 
Cynthiana,  Kv. 


~e5"*?=H 


-Ef-.-.S'- 


«  IklLLIAM  F.  BANTA.  At  intervals  the 
\/\l/l  biographer  comes  in  contact  with  an  indiv- 
^Tsp  idual  who  has  wisely  preserved  the  record 
of  his  ancestry  and  takes  satisfaction  in  the  perpet- 
uation of  the  family  name,  which  in  a  large  major- 
ity of  cases  has  obtained  prominence  and  has  ac- 
complished that  of  which  the  descendants  may 
reasonably  feel  proud.  With  most  men  next  to 
the  thought  of  going  hence,  is  the  dread  of  being 
forgotten;  but  the  individual  of  to-day  stands  in 
far  less  danger  of  this  than  lie  of  a  century  ago,  as 
the  importance  Of  biography  is  rapidly  becoming 
recognised  among  the  more  intelligent  portion  of 
mankind.     These  thoughts  have  been  involuntarily 


engendered  in  a  friendly  conference  with  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice,  whose  brother,  .lames  ll.  Banta, 
is  represented  on  another  page. 

We  find  Mr.  Banta  pleasantly  located  on  a  snug 
farm  of  eighty-live  acres,  on  section  82,  in  Prairie 
Township,  lie  is  a  gentleman  in  the  prime  of  life. 
having  been  born  May  28,  1841,  and  his  boyhood 
home  was  on  a  farm  near  Carlisle,  in  Nicholas 
County,  Ky.  ilis  father,  Abraham  Banta,  was  a 
native  of  l.ourbon  County,  this  State,  anil  the  son 
of  Henry  Banta  also  a  native  of  that  county.  The 
latter  was  reared  on  the  frontier,  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  while  clearing  the  timber  was 
shot  through  the  shoulder  by  Indians  and  badly 
wounded.  Knowing  that  his  only  hope  was  in  the 
celerity  of  his  movements. he  fought,  off  his  suffering 
bravely  anil  Struggled  to  his  cabin  door,  where  he 
fell  exhausted,  just  as  the  savages  rushed  up.  utter- 
ing shrieks  of  disappointed  rage.  He  was  drawn 
in  by  his  wife,  who  barred  the  door  and  kept,  out 
the  treacherous  foe.  Grandfather  Banta  in  due 
time  partially  recovered,  and  as  soon  as  able  to 
use  one  hand  resumed  his  clearing  operations, 
Opened  up  a  large  farm  and  became  well-to-do. 
He  was  a  stanch  Democrat  politically,  and  died  at, 
an  honorable  old  age  at  the  homestead  which  he 
had  established. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Hendrick  Banta,  a  native  of  Hackensack,  N.  J., 
and  born  July  27,  1710.  He  married  Maria  Stry- 
ker,  in  his  native  place,  and  afterwards  removed 
to  Somerset  County,  N.  .1.,  where  he  sojourned 
until  1769.  Ilis  next  removal  was  to  the  newly 
opened  territory  of  Ohio,  and  he  settled  in  Adams 
County  near  Gettysburg,  ami  carried  on  agricul- 
ture ten  years.  Next  he  removed  to  Kentucky, 
locating  on  a  farm  in  Madison  County;  from  tin  re 
he  removed  to  Mercer  County,  but  eventually  took 
up  his  abode  on  Dutch  Tract,  near  1'leasureville. 
in  Shelby  County,  where  he  died  in  1805.  lie  was 
a  man  of  great  force  of  character,  ami  was  a  prom- 
inent, citizen  wherever  he  made  his  home. 

The  father  of  our  subject  took  up  his  abode  in 
Nicholas  County.  Ky.,  in  1840,  where  he  acquired 
:;<;n  acres  of  land  and  a  number  of  slaves.  He  was 
very  prosperous  and  died  wealthy  in  February, 
1#£3,    at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.      He  had 


940 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOORAP1IICAL  ALBUM. 


for  a  long  period  been  a  member  of  the  Christian 

Church.     He  traced  his  ancestry  to  Holland,  from 
which    country    the    first     representative    of     the 
family,   Epke  .Jacob  Banta,  emigrated   to   America 
soon    after    the    landing   of    the    Pilgrim    Fathers. 
The   subject   of    this  sketch   is  a  descendant  in  the 
ninth    generation    from    his  above  mentioned  pro- 
genitor.     Epke  Jacob  Banta  was  born  in  East  Fries- 
land.  Holland,  where  he  was  a  farmer,  and  was  mar- 
lied.      After  the  birth  of  five  sons,  he  set  out  from 
Amsterdam.    Feb.    13,    1659,    on     the    ship    "  De 
Trow."    and    upon    reaching    America    located    at 
Bergen,    N.  J.      He    became    the    owner    of    land 
near    Hackensaek,   where    he    was   prominent  and 
well-to-do.     He    was  a   leader    in    the   Dutch    Re- 
fonned  Church,  and  died  full  of  years  and    honor. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of   our  subject 
was  Dorcas  Hedges.     She  was  a  native  of  Bourbon 
County,  Ky..    and   died  Feb.  6,    18*7.     Her  father 
was  James  Hedges,  a  native  of  England;  who  upon 
emigrating  to  America,  located  in  Bourbon  County, 
whence    he   removed   later  to  the  vicinity  of  Bath, 
and    engaged    in    farming  until  his  death.      To  the 
parents   of   our   subject  there  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren: Cynthia  A.  and  .lames  II.,  residents  of  Ridge 
Farm,    Vermilion  County;   Margaret  L.,   who  lives 
in  Nicholas  County,  Ky. ;  Andrew   J.,    who   was   a 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  Army,  and  died  a  Union 
prisoner   at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  the  was  under  Mor- 
gan and   was  captured   at  Cynthiana,    Ky.);  Sarah 
F.   Mrs.  Collins,  is  deceased;   William  F.,  our  sub- 
ject,   and    Elizabeth    J..   Mrs.    Campbell,   his  twin 
sister,    the    latter    a    resident   of   Nicholas  County, 
Ky. ;  Amy   M.,  Mrs.   Bogart,    who  died   at   Beebe, 
Ark. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
twenty  years  of  age.  becoming  familiar  with  farm 
pursuits  and  acquiring  a  limited  education  in  a  log 
school  house,  under  the  primitive  methods  of  in- 
struction of  that  day.  After  the  outbreak  of  the 
Rebellion  he  enlisted,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  in  the  1st 
Kentucky  Mounted  Riflemen  in  the  Confederate 
Army,  and  was  mustered  into  service  at  Presten- 
burg.  His  first  engagement  was  at  Pikeville.  Ky., 
and  the  next  at  Princeton,  Va.  Later  he  engaged 
in  several  skirmishes,  after  which  followed  th< 
battle  of   Perrvville  and  others  of   minor  impor- 


tance. One  day  while  out  of  camp  his  regiment 
received  orders,  and  he  with  ten  of  his  comrades 
being  left  behind,  went  into  Kentucky  on  a  raid, 
and  all  except  himself  and  one  William  Boaz, 
now  of  Pidge  Farm,  were  captured.  These  two 
dodged  around  from  one  place  to  another  in  mak- 
ing their  escape,  and  finally  landed  at  Ridge  Farm, 
III.,  nil  Oct.  3,  1863. 

In  the  meantime  a  brother  of  our  subject  had 
settled  in  the  vicinity  of  the  above  mentioned 
place,  and  William  F.  worked  for  him  the  follow- 
ing year.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  became 
into  possession  of  the  eighty-five  acres  comprising 
his  present  homestead,  and  located  upon  it  in 
1865,  commencing  immediately  to  make  improve- 
ments. Besides  building  fences,  putting  up  a 
house  and  barn  and  other  needed  structures  he 
ditched  and  laid  tiling,  set  out  fruit  and  forest 
trees,  and  effected  the  other  improvements  naturally 
suggested  to  the  wide-awake  and  progressive  agri- 
culturalist. His  land  is  made  productive  by  run- 
ning water,  and  is  in  all  respects  a  most  desirable 
piece  of  property,  lying  two  miles  from  the  town  of 
Humrick  and  five  miles  from  Pidge  Farm. 

On  May  7,  186"),  our  subject  was  married  at 
Bethel,  111.,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Long.  This  lady 
was  a  native  of  that  place  and  the  daughter  of 
James  B.  Long,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Vermilion  County, 
where  he  cleared  a  farm  and  accumulated  a  good 
property.  Of  this  union  there  are  nine  interesting 
children,  all  living  and  at  home  with  their  parents: 
Andrew  J.,  James  A.,  Vinie,  Betty,  Annie,  Amy, 
William  II..  Grace  and  Nettie.  Mr.  Banta  belongs 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Bethel,  in  which  he 
was  an  Elder  for  several  years  and  is  still  a  trustee. 
Politically  he  votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket. 
lie  has  officiated  as  School  Director  two  terms  and 
socially  is  identified  with  Lodge  No.  632,  A.  F. 
ifc  A.  M.,  at  Ridge  Farm. 

Mr.  Banta  is  fond  of  field  sports,  delights  in 
hunting,  and  for  this  purpose  keeps  horses  and 
hounds,  lie  has  a  bullet  pouch  made  in  New  Jer- 
sey in  1701  from  a  leopard  skin,  a  relic  handed 
down  to  him  through  three  generations.  lie  also 
has  a  silver  ladle  which  his  grandfather  made  from 
sixteen  and  a  half  silver  dollars.      These  heirlooms, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


:n  l 


it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say.  are  highly  valued  by 
the  family  and  are  frequently  the  objects  of  great 
interest  t<>  both  friends  and  strangers  possessing  a 
love  for  antiquities.  A  line  view  of  Lhe  cozy  home 
d!'  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Banta  is  presented  elsewhere  in 
t lie  Album,  and  in  it  they  welcome  and  hospitably 
entertain  tluir  many  friends,  including  both  old 
and  young,  for  miles  around. 


«  SALTER  G.  BE  ALL,  r|'liis  y 
\/~\I/>  Uprising  farmer  althougl 
Vx?      of     Ross    Township     but    i 


ALTER  G.  BEALL,     r,'liis  young  and  en- 

1  a  resident 
one  year,  is 
recognized  as  one  of  its  most  useful  and  enterpris- 
ing citizens  and  it  is  evident  that  lie  will  con- 
tribute his  full  quota  toward  its  general  prosperity 
and  advancement.  Nature  lias  endowed  him  with 
more  than  ordinary  capacities."  it  h  an  excellent  judg- 
and  sound  common  sense,  and  the  perseverance 
which  almost  invariably  leads  to  success  in  what- 
ever his  judgment  justifies  him  in  undertaking.  lie 
has  a  fine  farm  of  2  Hi  acres  lying  on  sections  1  1  and 
12  with  his  home  on  the  latter,  and  seems  to  have  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  best  manner  in  which 
to  ci induct  his  farming  operations. 

Mr.  Beall  was  born  near  El  rod,  Ripley  Co., 
Ind.,  Feb.  23,  1858,  and  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  amid  the  quiet  scenes  of  farm  life,  attending 
the  common  school  and  remaining  under  the  home 
roof  until  a  youth  of  sixteen  years.  In  1874,  de- 
termined to  see  something  of  the  world,  he  set  out 
and  crossing  the  Mississippi  into  Clark  County. 
Mo.,  engaged  to  work  on  a  farm  but  only  staid 
there  one  month.     We  next   find    him   in  Hancock 

County,  III.,  near  Nauv engaged  as  before  until 

the  fall  of  1874.  From  there  he  emigrated  to  Jasper 
County,  Iowa,  where  he  sojourned  until  January, 
1K7!).  still  following  agricultural  pursuits.  He  now 
returned  to  his  home  in  Indiana,  but  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  repaired  to  the  vicinity  of  Philo,  Cham- 
paign Co.,  III.,  where  he  engaged  on  a  farm  until 
the  spring  following. 

At  this  time,  changing  his  occupation  somewhat, 
our  subject  became  a  contractor  on  the  Indianapo- 
lis,  Cincinnati    &    St.    I is    Railroad,    a     narrow 


guage,  putting  up  bridges  from  Vetersburg,  Ind.. 
to    Oakland.      In    1881    he    engaged    in     farming 

near  Mctcalf  for  two  years,  Spending  his  winters 
in  Danville  as  elerk  in  a  hotel.  In  the  fall  of  1886 
he  established  himself  in  a  restaurant  at  Ridge 
Farm,  operating  with  a  partner  under  the  linn  name 
of  Gault  &  Beall  about  one  year.  He  next  went  to 
Dunning,  as  clerk  in  a  hotel.  In  the  spring  of  L888 
he    located    on  his    present    place,  which  was   given 

to  his  wife  by  her  father ntaining    190  acres  and 

later  securing  fifty  acres  adjoining.  His  land  is  all 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation  and  watered  by 
the  north  fork  of  the  Iiruellct's  Creek.  He  has  a 
fine  residence  and  all  his  other  buildings  are  sub- 
stantial and  in  good  repair.  He  operates  throe 
teams  in  his  farm  work,  raising  large  quantities  of 
grain  which  he  feeds  mostly  to  his  stock,  including 
graded  cattle  and  swine. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Covington,  Ind.. 
June  6,  1887  to  Miss  Luella  Clark.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Ross  Township  and  acquired  a  good  edu- 
cation, being  graduated  from  St.  Mary's  at  Terre 
Haute.  Ind.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Elsie.  Mr.  Beall.  politically,  is  a  straight 
Democrat  and.  socially,  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity  at  Ridge  Farm  in  which  he  is  a  Master 
Mason,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
in  the  same  place. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  William  Beall, 
a  substantial  farmer  of  Ripley  County,  Ind.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  of  Scotch  ancestry  and 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ripley  County,  where  he 
labored  successfully  as  a  fanner  and  accumulated  a 
good  properly.  In  the  spring  of  1  863  William 
Beall  was  drafted  into  the  army  and  served  in  an 
Indiana  regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
contracted  an  incurable  disease  and  died  in  1865. 
He  was  also  a  stanch  Democrat  and  an  active 
member  or  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was,  in  her  girlhood. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Whitcomb  and  was  born  in  Ripley, 
Ohio.  She  came  to  Indiana,  with  her  step-father 
and  is  still  living  in  Ripley  County,  that  State 
being  now  sixty-live  years  old.  The  nine  children 
bom  to  the  parents  arc  named  respectively.  James, 
Eliza,  I  leorge,  I  lain  ill  on,  (deceased  ).  Mow  K..  .Me- 
lissa.  Waller  C  ..  our  subject ;  John,  (deceased  |,  and 


942 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Lewis.  James  served  in  an  Indiana  regiment  dur- 
ing the  late  war  from  1861  until  its  close.  All  the 
children  living  with  the  exception  of  our  subject 
and  Lewis,  are  residents  of  Ripley  County,  hid. 
The  latter  lives  in  Edgar  County.  111. 

-5 ^-^'     -       ~*~ 


<£p;  YRUS  LEWIS.     Many  admirable  characters 

(Ir^v,  are  developed  amid  the  peaceful  surround- 
^^J'  ings  ol  rural  life,  who  sometimes  are  un- 
recoverable until  some  great  emergency  calls 
them  forth  from  their  retreat.  Their  leading 
qualities,  however,  may  be  guessed  at  by  their  sur- 
roundings, and  to  a  great  extent,  the  amount  of 
their  possessions.  Mr.  Lewis  owns  and  operates 
320  acres  of  land,  finely  located  on  sections  19  and 
29,  and  which  under  his  careful  management  as- 
sume the  proportions  of  one  of  the  best  regulated 
farms  in  Ross  Township. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  near  Te ire  Haute,  Ind.,  .Ian. 
1,  1834,  at  the  modest  homestead  of  his  parents, 
where  he  became  familiar  with  farm  pursuits  and  at- 
tended district  school  two  months  in  the  year.  His 
first  studies  were  conducted  in  a  log  house  with  slab 
benches  and  puncheon  floor  and  the  system  of  in- 
struction was  largely  in  keeping  with  the  temple  of 
learning  and  its  surroundings.  There  was  little  of 
elegance  or  style  in  those  days,  and  the  sons  of  the 
pioneer  farmers  were  at  an  early  age  introduced  to 
hard  work,  but  they  grew  up  strong  and  self-reliant 
and  well  fitted  for  the  battle  of  life. 

Young  Lewis  remained  a  member  of  his  father's 
household  until  twenty-two  years  old.  then  com- 
menced farming  for  himself  on  rented  land.  In 
18G1  he  determined  upon  a  change  of  location  and 
started  out  overland  with  a  team  for  this  county 
with  a  capital  of  $700.  He  purchased  2  III  acres  of 
hind  on  section  27.  in  Ross  Township,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  two  years,  then  sold  out  and 
bought  eighty  acres  of  his  present  homestead.  He 
was  prospered  and  gradually  added  to  his  real  estate 
until  it  assumed  its  present  proportions.  His  land 
is  finely  watered  by  Bruellet's  Creek,  and  is  fenced 
and  cross-fenced  with  hedge  which  presents  a  most 
beautiful  appearance,  especially  during  the  summer 


season,  lie  has  underlaid  a  goodly  portion  of  his 
land  with  tile  and  the  whole  produces  in  abund- 
ance the  rich  crops  of  this  region.  He  has  a  neat 
and  comfortable  residence,  the  main  part  occupy- 
ing an  area  of  22x32  feet  with  a  wing  16x21  feet. 
The  barn  is  40x48  feet.  There  is  a  corn  crib  of 
goodly  dimensions  and  all  other  appliances  for  the 
shelter  of  stock  and  the  storage  of  grain.  Mr. 
Lewis  makes  a  speciality  of  graded  Short-horn  cat- 
tle and  Norman  draft  horses,  of  which  he  keeps  about 
twenty-four  head,  utilizing  three  teams  on  the  farm, 
ami  also  raises  a  goodly  number  of  swine  each  year. 
He  is  as  thorough  and  skillful  in  his  operations  as  a 
farmer,  as  he  is  upright  and  prompt  in  his  business 
transactions. 

In  Parke  County.  Ind.,  Mr.  Lewis  was  married 
.March  1.  1860  to  Miss  Margaret  Overpeck.  This 
lady  was  born  there  and  died  at  her  home  in  this 
county  in  1874.  Of  the  three  children  born  of 
this  union,  the  eldest,  Laura  J.,  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  lloiilt  of  Ross  Township;  Ella  M.  and 
Sadie  A.  are  at  home  with  their  father.  Mr.  Lewis 
contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance.  July  29, 
1875  with  Miss  Margery  M.  Law.  who  was  burn  in 
Shelby  County,  Ind,  acquired  an  excellent  educa- 
tion and  thereafter  followed  the  profession  of  a 
teacher.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  also  born 
three  children — George  C,  John  A.  and  Maggie  L. 

The  warm  interest  which  Mr.  Lewis  has  always 
taken  in  the  temperance  movement  finally  resulted 
in  his  identifying  himself  with  the  Prohibition 
party.  He  has  served  as  Assessor  and  Collector 
one  year  each,  and  been  a  Director  in  his  School 
District  for  several  years.  In  religious  matters  lie 
inclines  tu  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  in  which  he  officiates  as  Class-Leader 
at  Cherry  Point,  and  Assistant-Superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school.  He  has  also  been  Steward  and 
Trustee  and  contributed  liberally  to  the  support  of 
the  church.  He  keeps  himself  well  posted  in  re- 
gard to  matters  generally  of  interest  to  the  intelli- 
gent citizen  and  is  of  that  genial  and  compan- 
ionable disposition  which  naturally  attracts  to  him 
a  great  many  friends. 

Isaac  Lewis,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  the  son  of  Jonathan  Lewis. 
who  was  a  Virginia  farmer,   and    who  emigrated  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


943 


Highland  County,  Ohio,  during  the  early  settle- 
ment of  that  State,  lie  took  up  a  tract  of  Gov- 
ernment land,  where  he  farmed  for  a  few  years 
then  pushed  on  further  west  to  VigoCounty,  Lnd., 
where  he  settled  in  1829  on  rented  land.  Thence 
he  removed  to  Parke  Comity,  in  the  same  State, 
where  he  secured  L60  acres  of  land  ami  spent  his 
last  (lavs,  living  to  attain  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years.     He  was  of  Welsh  descent. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  when  a  young  man 
settled  first  in  Vigo  County,  lnd.,  but  later  entered 
land  in  Parke  County,  where  he  carried  on  farming 
and  stock  raising,  driving  his  stock  to  Chicago  be- 
fore the  days  of  railroads,  lie  became  the  owner 
of  360  acres  of  improved  land,  ami  died  in  1867  al 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  a  sound 
Republican,  politically,  and  a  prominent  member 
of  the  .Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he 
served  as  Class-Leader  and  which  he  gave  a  cheer- 
liberal  support.  The  mother,  Mrs.  Margaret 
(Shoumaker)  Lewis,  was  of  German  descent  and  a 
native  of  Virginia.  She  died  al  the  homestead  the 
same  year  as  her  husband,  and  like  him  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom 
lived  to  mature  years.  Mary  A.  is  deceased;  San- 
ford  and  Melincla  are  residents  of  Parke  County, 
lnd;  (  yrus.  our  subject,  was  the  sixth  child;  Emily 
resides  in  Wilson  County,  Kan.;  John  is  deceased; 
Margarel  and  Phebe  are  residents  of  Parke  County, 
lnd.;  David,  who  was  next  to  the  youngest,  lives 
in  Moultrie  County,  this  State;  he  served  in  an 
Indiana  Uegiinciit  three  years  during  the  late  ('nil 
War. 


AMES  D.  BARR,  Deputy  County  Treasurer 
of  Edgar  County,  is  a  son  of  one  of  its  old 
native  residents  and  the  grandson  of  Michael 
'I  I  I'.arr.  an  early  settler,  who  came  here  in 
1829.  He  and  his  wife  were  born  in  Bourbon 
County,  Ky..  where  they  lived  until  1812.  That 
year  thev  emigrated  to  Davis  County.  lnd..  and 
thence  came  to  this  county,  settling  upon  a  tract 
of  wild  land  in  what  is  now  (!  rand  View  Township, 
where   they  improved   a  farm.      Mr.  I'.arr  departed 


this  life  March  17.  I*?:'.,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years,  having  been  bom  in  the  opening  year 
of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Grandfather  Barr  was  the  firsl  Supervisor  of 
(Jrand  View  Township,  and  was  an  active  man  in 
everything  tending  to  the    public  good.     Like  his 

brother    pioneers    he  endured    many  hardships  1 

trials,  the  relation  of  which  to  his  descendants  in 
later  years,  proved  not  only  of  interest  to  them  but 
a  source  of  satisfaction  to  himself.  In  the  early 
days  he  frequently  drove  through  to  Chicago  with 
produce  when  that  now  great  city  was  an  unim- 
portant village,  giving  no  indication  of  its  future. 
Grandmother  I'.arr  died  many  years  before  her 
husband.  The  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  five  are  living.  James  oc- 
cupies the  old  farm  in  GrandView  Township; 
Michael  V.  is  a  grain-buyer  living  in  Muck  Town- 
ship; Hugh  is  farming  near  the  old  homestead, 
where  he  was  born;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Silas 
Moffatt,  of  Kansas;  Susanna  married  Thomas 
Mays,  in  honor  of  whom  was  named  the  station  on 
Terre  Haute  ife  Peoria  Railroad. 

Andrew  J.  Barr,  the  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  at  the  old  homestead  in  Grand  View  Township. 
March  25,  1839J  andjwas  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  day  and  in  his  earlier  years  occu- 
pied himself  as  a  teacher.  lie  also  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  and  lived  with  his  parents  until 
his  marriage  at.  the  early  age  of  twenty  years. 
Soon  afterward  young  Barr  began  fanning  on  forty 
acres  of  land  given  him  by  his  father,  and  which 
the  latter  had  entered  for  him  in  Embarras  Town- 
ship, as  the  boy,  not  being  of  age,  could  not  enter 
it  himself.  There  he  erected  a  house  containing 
one  room  sixteen  feel  square,  and  entered  upon  the 
career  which  placed  him  among  the  leading  men 
of  his  neighborhood,  lie  possessed  a  large  frame 
ot  greal  strength  and  was  familiarly  known  by  tie1 
name  of  ••Hickory."  lie  worked  hard,  lived  with- 
in   his    means   and  added  to  his   real  estate  until   he 

owned  a  handsome  and  well  improve  I  farm  of  100 
acres,  which  is  still  in  possession  of  his  heirs, 
There  he  spent  his  years  until  his  election  to  the 
Office  of  County  Treasurer,  when  he  removed  to 
Paris,  where  his  death  took  place  Dec.  l'."..  1885. 
For  some  years    prior  to    his  death  the  father   of 


914 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


our  subject  had  been  engaged  as  a  grain-buyer  ;it 
Red  mon,  where  he  became  prominent  in  the  com- 
munity and  assisted  largely  in  building  up  the 
town.  He  held  many  of  the  township  offices,  the 
first  being  that  of  Collector,  in  which  he  officiated 
several  terms.  Later  he  represented  the  county  a 
number  of  terms  in  the  County  Board  of  Supervis- 
ors. He  was  popular  among  all  classes  and  an  ar- 
dent adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  by  which 
he  was  nominated  in  1887  for  the  position  of 
County  Treasurer.  He  filled  this  acceptably,  and 
two  years  later  was  re-elected.  Under  a  change  in 
I  he  law  be  held  over  a  year,  thus  serving  as  Treas- 
urer five  years,  with  great  credit  to  himself  and 
satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  He  was  successful 
in  all  bis  business  adventures,  honest,  upright  and 
conscientious,  and  accumulated  a  competence.  Al- 
though not  a  church  member  he  was  a  supporter 
of  all  moral  and  religious  movements,  and  was 
especially  a  friend  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  to  which  he  contributed  regularly  and 
liberally.  Socially  he  belonged  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity. 

Andrew  .1.  Barr  was  married  Oct.  2,  1859,  to 
Miss  Maria  R.,  daughter  of  Barnett  and  Ann  M. 
(Morrow)  Thomas,  the  former  born  in  Hamilton 
Count}',  Ohio,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
The  Thomas  family  were  early  settlers  of  Clark 
County,  this  State,  whence  the}'  removed  to  Edgar 
Count}'.  Mrs.  Barr  was  born  in  that  county  in 
1842.  She  is  making  her  home  in  Paris,  her  un- 
married children  living  with  her.  To  her  and 
her  husband  there  were  born  five  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  Charles  Edgar  died 
at  the  age  of  eleven  years.  The  survivors  are: 
James  D.,  our  subject,  Lillie  M.  and  Harry  I.,  the 
two  latter  living  with  their  mother. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  home 
farm  in  Kiiibarras  Township,  Sept.  8,  1801,  and 
lived  there  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  attending 
school  in  the  neighborhood.  Upon  the  removal 
of  his  parents  to  Paris  he  began  attending  the  High 
School,  which  he  afterward  left  to  assist  his  father 
in  the  Treasurer's  office,  being  employed  there  by 
the  latter  during  the  last  three  years  of  his  term, 
which  ended  in  1882.  In  this  place  he  acquired  a 
good  business  education.      After  leaving  it  he  took 


charge  of  the  farm  lor  bis  father  until  the  latter's 
death  and  then  administered  upon  the  estate.  In 
December,  188G,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  County 
Treasurer  by  J.  B.  Wood,  a  position  for  which  his 
previous  experience  had  peculiarly  fitted  him  and 
which  he  still  holds. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Haltie 
Wilson  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in  Paris 
March  15,  1883.  Mrs.  Barr  was  born  April  25, 
1864,  in  Edgar  Township,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  anil  Elizabeth  Wilson.  The  two  children 
born  of  this  union  are  a  son  and  daughter.  Karl 
and  Edna.  The  family  occupies  a  neat  home  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  city  and  enjoys  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  its  best  people. 


f,  OHN  STAFFORD.  The  name  of  this  gen- 
cannot  be  properly  omitted  from  a  work  de- 
signed to  represent  the  solid  and  represen- 
tative citizens  of  Edgar  County.  He  has 
been  a  lifelong  agriculturist,  gleaning  his  first 
experience  in  the  Blue  Crass  State  where  he  was 
born,  in  Johnston  County,  Feb.  17,  1821.  There 
likewise  he  received  his  early  education  and  was 
married.  His  parents.  John  and  Polly  (Davis) 
Stafford,  were  natives  of  Giles  County,  Va.,  whence 
they  removed  to  Kentucky  at  an  early  day  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They 
were  devoted  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  most  worthy  and  excellent  people  who 
trained  their  children  carefully  and  exercised  a 
good  influence  in  their  community. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Ralph 
Stafford,  it  is  believed,  was  of  Irish  ancestry  and 
he  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
He  was  wounded  in  a  cavalry  charge  from  the  ef- 
fects of  which  be  died  a  few  years  later.  John 
Stafford,  of  this  sketch,  was  married  in  his  native 
county  to  Miss  Mary  Caviet  whose  father,  Ezekiel 
Gaviet,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  changed  his 
residence  to  Kentucky  when  a  young  man.  Later 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Chapman  and  they  spent 
their  last  years  in  Kentucky.  They  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church.     To  our  subject,  and  his  es- 


/y^^^<^O^yCA^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ill  7 


tiraable  wife  there  were  born  seven  children,  all 
natives  of  Kentucky,  namely:  Sarah,  (Mrs.  Jacob 
Dawson), Ezekiel, Mary  J.  and  Lydia  D., deceased; 
John,  Julia  II.,  now  Mrs.  Henry  David,  of  Bruel- 
Ict  Township  and  William  D. 

In  ls7.">  our  subject  with  his  family  came  to  this 
county  and  located  on  the  farm  which  has  since 
been  the  homestead.  It  is  1G0  acres  in  extent  and 
under  the  wise  management  of  the  proprietor 
yields  in  abundance  the  richest  crops  of  Central 
Illinois.  Mr.  Stafford  is  assisted  in  its  operation 
and  management  by  Ins  son  William,  who  has  forty 
acres  adjoining.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Stafford  are  mem- 
bers in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  forty-five  years  and  originally  be- 
longed to  the  old  Whig  party. 


OllN  V.  SUDDUTH.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  his  way 
at  a  comfortable  homestead  on  section  3, 
Hunter  Township,  where  he  is  recognized 
as  a  peaceful  and  law-abiding  citizen,  content  to 
perform  the  ditties  of  every-day  life,  making  little 
stir  in  the  world  and  striving  to  exert  a  good  inllu- 
ence  over  those  by  whom  he  is  surrounded.  A 
native  of  old  Virginia,  be  was  born  May  14,  180:5, 
and  when  a  mere  child  was  taken  by  his  mother, 
Leanna  (Young)  Sudduth,  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  reared  to  manhood,  and  where  the  mother 
spent  her  last  days.  His  father,  George  Sudduth. 
had  died  in  Virginia. 

After  her  removal  to  Kentucky  the  mother  of 
our  subject  was  married  a  second  time,  to  a  Mr. 
Crigler,  who  died  a  few  years  later,  leaving  bis 
widow  with  a  family  of  five  children,  all  by  the 
first  marriage.  These  she  kept  together  until  they 
were  able  to  do  for  themselves.  John  V..  our  sub- 
ject, was  mostly  employed  in  farming  pursuits,  and 
when  reaching  man's  estate  was  married,  in  Ken- 
tucky, to  Miss  Sarah  Crow,  a  native  of  that  State, 
and  bis  mother  thereafter  made  her  borne  with 
them  until  her  decease.  The  paternal  grandfather 
Of   our    subject    was    George   Sudduth.   Si\.   also   a 


native  of  Virginia,  and  who  spenl  his  last  days  in 
that  State. 

In  Kentucky  there  was  born  to  our   subjed    and 
his  wile  one  child,  a  son.  Walter.      They  continued 

residents  of  the  Blue  Grass  State  until  1831,  then 
emigrated  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Danville,  where 
Mr.  Sudduth  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
and  carriages  about  four  years.  lie  then  changed 
the  field  of  bis  operations  to  ( ireencastle.  Ind.,  fol- 
lowing the  same  business,  but  in  18  H)  came  to  this 
county  and  located  on  a  rented  farm.  Indue  time 
he  entered  from  the  government  apart  of  the  land 
which  be  now  owns  and  occupies.  He  has  now  200 
acres,  which  he  has  brought  to  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  upon  which  he  has  made  all  the  im- 
provements which  now  embellish  it.  H  was  mostly 
a  timber  tract  with  large  quantities  of  undergrowth 
when  he  took  possession,  and  it  has  required  no 
small  amount  of  time  and  labor  to  bring  it  to  its 
present  condition. 

After  the  removal  of  our  subject  and  bis  wife  to 
this  county  the  household  circle  was  enlarged  by 
the  birth  of  eleven  more  children.  Besides  Walter, 
alieady  spoken  of,  and  now  a  resident  of  this  town- 
ship. Benjamin  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  is  now  in 
Edgar  County;  Matilda  is  the  widow  of  Bartholo- 
mew Whalen,  and  since  the  death  of  her  husband 
has  lived  with  her  father;  Letitia  and  Garrett  arc 
deceased;  William  lives  in  Kdgar  County,  and 
Alonzo  in  Hume.  III.;  Sarah  A.  became  the  wife 
of  John  T.  Craig,  and  is  now  deceased;  Margaret 
married  Dr.  Darby,  and  is  a  resident  of  Hunter 
Township;  John  is  deceased;  Otis  lives  in  this 
township;  Emma  is  deceased.  John,  Garrett,  and 
Walter  served  as  Union  soldiers  during  the  late 
Civil  War,  and  the  first  mentioned  met  his  death 
ou  the  battlefield  at  Franklin,  Tenn.  Waller  was 
in  the  army  over  three  years,  and  his  health  was 
undermined  by  hardship  and  privation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sudduth  have  traveled  the  journey 
of  life  togetJier  for  the  long  period  of  fifty-nine 
years,  and  labored  with  one  mutual  purpose  in 
building  up  their  home,  ever  keeping  in  view  the 
best  interests  of  their  children.  Without  display 
or  ostentation,  they  live  peaceably  and  comfortably, 
and  have  sufficient  to  maintain  them  in  their  old 
age.      Politically  Mr.  Sudduth  is   a   Democrat,  and 


948 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


east  bis  first  Presidential  vote  for  Jackson,  having 
steadily  maintained  his  first  principles  since  that 
time.  He  identified  himself  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity more  than  twenty  years  ago,  and  is  an 
ardent  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  brother- 
hood. 

A  fine  portrait  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work  of 
the  aged  man,  the  honored  pioneer,  the  venerated 
citizen,  whose  life  record  has  been  ihus  briefly  out- 
lined. 


\ippIRST    NATIONAL 

■   The  organization    of  a 


BANK  of  Paris,  111. 
Linking  institution 
in  any  community,  is  usually  indicative  of 
its  growing  prosperity  and  importance;  and  it  is 
usually  effected  by  its  most  enterprising  and  ener- 
getic men — men,  who  possessed  of  forethought 
and  an  abundance  of  mental  resource,  are  willing  to 
risk  their  capital  and  give  their  time  to  that  which 
does  not  benefit  themselves  only,  as  many  suppose, 
bui  which  is  of  equal  benefit  to  their  community. 
No  town  or  city  of  any  importance  can  transact 
any  degree  of  business  without  the  aid  of  a  bank 
of  deposit  and  exchange,  and  to  those  men  who 
have  been  foremost  in  establishing  such  an  enter- 
prise, there  is  due  much  credit  as  being  public  bene- 
factors. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Paris  was  organized 
for  business  Any;.  12.  1865,  with  a  capital  of 
180,000,  having  for  its  first  President,  Hon.  Rich- 
ard B.  Sutherland,  and  for  its  cashier  Asa  J.  Baber. 
It  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  people  from  the 
start.  Business  accumulated  so  rapidly,  that  in 
1870  it  was  thought  advisable  to  increase  the  capi- 
tal to  §125,000.  which  was  done.  In  January  of 
that  year,  however,  Mr.  Sutherland  had  resigned 
his  position  as  President,  and  Mr.  Baber  was  pro- 
moted to  the  place  vacated  by  him.  .Mr.  William 
Siebert  was  then  elected  cashier,  being  promoted 
from  the  position  of  book-keeper,  which  he  had 
held  since  the  organization  of  the  bank. 

Among  the  successful  business  men  of  Paris  and 
vicinity  who  have  served  as  directors  of  this  bank 
from  time  to  time,  are  the  names  of  James  A.  Eads, 
Alexander    Mann.    Hon.    Richard    B.    Sutherland, 


Judge  James  Steele,  Lewis  Shrader,  John K.  Boyer, 

Elvis  P.  Shaw,  A.  J.  Baber,  Adin  Baber,  William 
Siebert.  and  Hon.  William  P.  Hole.  Asa  J.  Baber 
being  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  bank,  was 
made  cashier  at  that  time,  and  served  in  that  capa- 
city until  KS70.  and  as  President  until  August, 
1885.  A  new  organization  was  then  effected  with 
the  same  amount  of  capital,  when  Mr.  Baber  was 
again  elected  President,  and  Mr.  William  Siebert, 
cashier,  which  positions  they  still  hold.  James  A. 
Kads  was  made  Vice-President  of  the  bank  in  1870, 
ami  still  retains  that  position. 

In  August,  1885,  when  the  charter  of  the  old 
bank  had  expired,  quite  a  number  of  the  original 
stockholders  had  died,  and  some  had  sold  out,  thus 
leaving  very  few  of  the  charter  members  of  the  old 
bank  to  take  stock  in  the  new.  Although  the  former 
had  operated  with  marked  success,  it  is  excelled 
by  the  new,  which  is  now  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  solid  institutions  of  its  kind  in  Eastern 
Illinois.  At  the  time  of  its  re-organization,  stock 
was  secured  by  about  thirty  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  and  farmers  of  Paris  and  vicinity.  Among 
them  are  Asa  J.  Baber,  James  A.  Lads,  E.  P.  Shaw. 
George  Dole,  Jacob  Sholem,  William  Siebert.  I).  S. 
Selienek,  Simon  Hamburger,  James  Stewart,  Adin 
Baber.  William  D.  Marley,  A.  J.  Barr,  George  W. 
Hughes,  Charles  W.  Lowell.  L.  A.  Augustus,  Will- 
iam 11.  Moss,  Harrison  Moss,  Newton  Stewart,  Will- 
iam J.  Hunter,  Philip  Bibo,  R.  G.  Sutherland,  Jesse 
Swango,  D.  1).  Huston,  I.  Q.  Huston,  Eunice  C. 
Steele,  A.  B.  Huston,  Joshua  Davis,  and  Edward 
Perkins. 

The   following  is  a  list  of  the  directors  of  the 
new  bank  elected  Aug.    13,  1885,  and  still   holding 
their  offices :  A.  J.  Baber.  James  A.  Eads,  E.    P. 
Shaw,  Adin  Baber,  William  D.  Marley.  Charles  W. 
Powell,  and  William  II.  Moss.     The  new  bank  has 
continued   to  grow  in  popularity,  and  with   the  in- 
crease of   business    has   been   able  to  add  quae 
respectable  amount  to  its  surplus  fund,  and   its  di 
posits    have  gradually    increased    until    they    nov 
amount   to  over  §5011,000.      Its    present  employ) 
are    Walter   S.  Burt,  assistant  teller   and    general 
book-keeper;  and  the  individual  book-keepers  are 
Albert  Geohegan  and  Abraham  Risser.     Amos  Ba 
ber  attends  to  the  collection   department,   and    olli- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


:i  i  :i 


oiates  as  general  clerk,  assisted  by  Master  Fred,  son 
of  A.  .1.  Baber.  The  bank  owns  the  large  brick 
building  on  the  easl  side  of  the  public  square,  where 
it  docs  business,  and  in  which  it  has  one  of  the 
Largest  and  most  solidly  constructed  vaults  in  the 
Wabash  Valley. 

EiUGENE  B.  CRANDALL.  This  gentleman 
deserves  honorable  mention  .-11110112:  the 
ij  promising  young  farmers  of  Shiloh  Town- 
ship as  one  who,  by  1 1 is  integrity  and  correct  hab- 
its, has  secured  the  respect  of  his  neighbors,  and 
by  his  industry  and  skill  as  a  farmer,  bids  fair  to 
accumulate  a  good  share  of  this  world's  belongings. 
He  is  successfully  operating  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
section  6,  Shiloh  Township,  where  he  has  made 
good  improvements,  having  a    very  neat  residence, 

and  a  g 1  barn  with    neat  and  substantial   fences, 

and  tin-  other  appliances  of  the  well-regulated  mod- 
ern estate.  Being  in  the  drainage  district,  it  is 
well  tiled,  and  the  land  exceedingly  fertile.  With 
its  improvements  his  land  has  cost  him  over  $70 
per  acre.  It  is  all  under  the  plow  and  very  fertile. 
Stock-raising  comprises  his  chief  employment,  ami 
the  grain  which  he  raises  is  mostly  used  for  feed. 
The  homestead  is  located  nine  and  one-half  miles 
from  Paris.  Mr.  Crandall  rents  other  land,  and  in 
all  operates  1  10  aires,  using  three  teams.  In  the 
fall  he  adds  to  his  cash  account  by  operating  a 
steam  thresher. 

Our  subject  has  been  quite  prominent  in  local 
affairs,  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways.  He  has  been  Constable  one 
year,  is  serving  as  School  Director,  and  in  politics 
votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  Socially,  lie 
belongs  to  the  A.  O.  V,  W.,  and  attends  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  of  which  bis  estimable  wife 
is  a  member. 

Mr.  Crandall  was  born  in  Sims  Township,  Edgar 
County.  Aug.  29,  181!),  where  he  lived  until  twelve 
years  old.  His  father  then  removed  to  Grand 
View  Township,  where  the  boy  had  ample  oppor- 
tunity to  develop  his  muscles  on  the  farm,  while 
his  education    was  conducted    in  the  winter  school. 


He  assisted  in  grubbing  stumps  and  rolling    logs, 

ami  in  tin'  other  labors  incident  to  opening  up  a 
new  farm.  When  sufficiently  advanced  in  his 
studies,  he  entered  the  academy  at  Paris,  and  there 
completed  his  education.  He  remained  at  home 
until  twenty-one  years  old,  and  thru  started  out  in 
life  on  his  own  account,  fanning  on  rented  land. 

The  life  of  our  subject  thus  passed  in  a  compara- 
tively uneventful  manner  until  his  marriage,  which 
occurred  Aug.  20,  1871.  The  maiden  of  his  choice 
was  Miss  Lydia  Becker,  daughter  of  Varney  Becker, 
a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  a  shoemaker  by 
trade.  Mr.  Becker  was  an  early  settler  of  Paris 
when  its  present  site  was  occupied  by  a  very  few 
house..  He  opened  up  a  shop,  and  followed  his 
trade  for  a  number  of  years,  then  invested  a  por- 
tion of  his  capital  in  a  stock  of  groceries.  He  finally 
branched  out  as  a  merchant,  and  became  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  the  city,  lie  accumulated 
a  good  property,  and  retired  from  active  business 
about  four  years  prior  to  his  death.  He  was  a 
sound  Democrat,  politically,  and  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mrs.  Catherine  (Hurst)  Becker,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Hurst,  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  came  to 
Illinois  at  an  early  period  in  its  history,  and  lo- 
cated in  Grand  View.  Edgar  County,  where  lie  fol- 
lowed his  trade  until  his  decease.  The  mother  is 
still  living,  and  makes  her  home  in  Paris.  The  pa- 
rental family  consisted  of  three  children — Robert, 
John,  and  Lydia.  Robert  died  when  about  nine 
days  old,  and  John  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
years.  Lydia,  Mrs.  Crandall.  was  born  in  Paris, 
and  there  reared  to  womanhood,  remaining  with 
tier  mother  until  her  marriage. 

John  Crandall.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State,  where  he  was  reared  to 
manhood,  and  thence  emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating 
first  in  Whiteside  County.  He  lived  there  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  was  engaged  in  selling  clocks. 
Later  he  became  interested  in  the  patent  right  busi- 
ness, and  began  traveling  quite  extensively.  He 
finally  concluded  that  Edgar  County  was  the 
garden  spot  of  Illinois,  and  accordingly  established 
himself  in  Sims  Township,  where  lie  was  one  of  the 


950 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


early  settlers.  Not  long  afterward  lie  located  on  a 
farm,  operating  as  a  renter  until  18G1.  Thence  he 
removed  to  Grand  View  Township,  and  purchased 
forty  acres  of  forest  which  lie  cleared  and  improved 
and  whereon  he  established  a  home  which  he  occu- 
pied until  his  death,  in  February,  1882.  His  genial 
and  obliging  disposition  always  made  friends  for 
him  wherever  he  went.  lie  had  been  reared  a 
Quaker,  and  steadfastly  adhered  to  the  principles 
of  his  early  training  as  long  as  he  lived. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood 
Louisa  Cassaday.  She  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Cassaday,  a  native  of 
Virginia.  Mr.  Cassaday,  upon  leaving  his  native 
State,  removed  into  Kentucky,  where  he  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers,  and  engaged  in  farming.  Later 
he  pushed  on  westward,  and  coming  to  Edgar 
County,  111.,  secured  land  in  Sims  Township,  and 
in  a  few  years,  by  adding  to  his  real  estate,  became 
one  of  the  most  extensive  land  owners  in  this  re- 
gion. He  was  likewise  successful  as  a  farmer,  and 
as  a  business  man,  possessed  more  than  ordinary 
ability.  He  departed  this  life  in  Sims  Township, 
about  1859.  The  mother  is  still  living  upon  the 
old  homestead,  and  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  parental 
family  included  three  children  only — Eugene  B  , 
our  subject;  Frank,  a  resident  of  Grand  View  Town- 
ship; and  DeWitt,  who  died  when  about  eight  years 

old. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  have 
been  born  six  children,  viz:  Fred,  Bessie,  Gertrude, 
Ethel,  Clara  L.,  and  Nellie 


jp5}I)WAUl)   P.   KNIGHT.     A  well-tilled  farm 
of    fifty-eight    acres   on    section   24,  Shiloh 
■Sj  Township,  comprises   the  homestead  of  this 


gentleman,  who  is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  his 
childhood  home  being  in  the  vicinity  of  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light 
Dee.  25,  1835.  He  was  given  very  good  school 
advantages,  and  when  a  youth  of  sixteen  years 
commenced  an  apprenticeship  at.  the  miller's  trade, 


which  he  followed  almost  continuously  until  1865, 
having  during  the  last  few  years  a  mill  of  his  Dwn.  ] 

Finally,  leaving  his  native  State,  our  subject 
removed  to  Parkersburg,  Va..  where  he  prosecuted 
milling  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time, 
he  turned  his  steps  toward  the  Farther  West,  and,] 
crossing  the  Mississippi  with  his  family  and  his 
household  effects,  established  himself  on  a  farm  in 
Crawford  County,  Mo.  Not  being  quite  satisfied; 
however,  with  that  enterprise,  he,  in  1872,  made 
his  way  to  Edgar  County.  III.,  and  located  on  the' 
partially  improved  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
Without  making  any  pretentions  to  elegance  or 
display,  he  lives  comfortably  and  at  peace  with  his 
neighbors,  and  manages  to  extract  considerable 
pleasure  therefrom. 

.Mi'.  Knight,  while  a  resident  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion, was  married.  Aug.  I.  1869,  to  Miss  Eliza, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Wilkinson,  who  was  a  native 
of  Annapolis,  Md.  Mr.  Wilkinson  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  his  native  place,  and  contracted  a  taste 
for  mercantile  pursuits,  which  he  followed  in 
Wheelingand  Parkersburg.  Va.,a  number  of  years. 
Finally-,  however,  desirous  of  a  change,  he  aban- 
doned merchandising  and  invested  his  capital  in 
land,  which  he  leased  lo  other  parties  for  cultiva- 
tion. In  the  meantime  he  officiated  as  County 
Clerk  of  Wirt  County,  W.  Va.,  for  a  period  of 
seventeen  years.  He  had  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  bis  native  city,  and  was  thus  well  qualified 
for  the  duties  to  which  he  was  afterward  called. 

Mr.  Wilkinson,  however,  in  1865  resigned  his. 
clerkship,  sold  his  land  during  the  oil  excitement 
and,  coming  to  Illinois,  purchased  (180  acres  of  land 
in  Edgar  County.  After  farming  one  year  in  the 
Prairie  State,  he  rented  his  land  and  went  over  into 
Crawford  County,  Mo.,  where  he  purchased  land, 
and,  with  that  which  he  operated, control  led  300  acres 
until  1871.  Then,  disposing  of  his  possessions  in 
that  State,  he  returned  to  Illinois,  located  on  his 
farm  in  Edgar  County,  effected  considerable  im- 
provement, and  here  spent  his  last  days,  dying 
May  1,  1874.  lie  was  a  man  of  decided  views  and 
great  force  of  character,  and  a  stanch  adherent  of 
the  Democratic  party. 

Mrs.    Eliza    (Wilkinson)     Knight    was    born     in 
Parkersburg.  W 1    Co..  W.  Va..  March    18.  1811. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALlil'M. 


95  I 


Her  mother  c I i e <  1  when  she  wms  not  qjiite  two  weeks 
old,  and  she  was  adopted  by  a  cousin,  with  whom 
she  lived  until  her  marriage.  Her  union  with  our 
subject  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children, 
viz:  Bernard  and  Daniel  ^twins),  Elizabeth,  Julian, 
Carolina,  James  and  Edward.  Mr.  Knight,  politi- 
cally, is  a   sound    Democrat,  but    has    never  had  a 

desire  for  the   spoils  of    olliee.      lie    was    upon    one 

occasion  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  hut  declined 
to  serve. 

Paul  Knight,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  son  of  Daniel 
Knight,  likewise  a  native  of  the  Keystone  Stale. 
The  latter  followed  farming  and  died  there.  The 
family  is  of  English  descent,  and  Quakers  in  re- 
ligious belief.  Paul  Knight,  after  reaching  man's 
estate,  became  the  owner  of  a  farm,  together  with 
a  saw  and  gristmill,  and,  in  connection  with  his 
lumber  business,  was  occupied  with  these  his  entire 
life.  He  owns  Considerable  real  estate,  having 
hind  on  the  Black  River,  in  .Michigan,  ami  else- 
where.  Politically,  he  affiliated  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  in  religion,  like  his  forefathers, 
was  a  i  Quaker. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Elizabeth  Perry.  She  was  horn  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  the  daughter  of  Edward  Perry,  a 
Pennsylvania  Quaker  of  English  descent  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Knight  came  West, 
and  died  in  Young  America  Township,  Edgar  Co., 
111.,  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years;  she 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
There  were  horn  to  herself  and  husband  two  chil- 
dr<  n,  of  whom  our  subject  was  bhe  younger.  The 
elder  son,  Allen,  died  when  five  years  old. 


»^ 


eHARLES  L.  HOI. LEV,  ex-Sheriff  of  Edgar 
County,  and  of  the  most  prominent  men 
within  its  precincts,  is  the  owner  of  a  good 
property,  and  has  a  pleasant  home  in  the  vicinity 
of  Ferrell  Station.  Elbridge  Township,  lie  was 
born  in  Vigo  County,  Ind.,  .Inly  2(1,  1840,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Kirby)  Holley,  the 
former  a  native  of   Ohio,   and    the    latter   of   Ken- 


tucky. They  were  married  in  Vigo  County,  hid., 
and  settled  in  that  State  in  183G.  They  became 
the  parents  of  three  children,  of  whom  Charles  L., 
was  the  second   horn.      The  other  two  are  deceased. 

John  Holley  wms  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  was 
foully  murdered  while  in  his  >h'>p  at  night,  h\  a 
man  named  Eli  Sparks,  in  1842,  near  Swango  Sta- 
tion, in  Edgar  County.  The  assassin  was  afterward 
senl  to  tin'  penitentiary.  The  mother  did  not  long 
survive  her  husband,  dying  in  Elbridge  Township, 
this  county.       Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist 

Episcopal  Church.     Our  subject    was  thus  left   an 

orphan  at  a  Very  early  age.  hut   he  possessed    great 

energj  of  character,  and  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  In  1865 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Emily,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Elledge,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Sims  Township,  this 
county,  anil  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mrs.  Holley  was  born  in  Sims  Township  in  1846, 
and  lit  her  union  with  our  subject,  there  were  born 
four  children  of  whom  only  one  is  Living,  a  son, 
William  V..  who  i~  book-keeper  for  a  wholesale 
linn  in  Austin.  Tex.  The  deceased  children  are; 
Frank.  Martha,  and  Isaac.  The  mother  of  these 
died  in  1873,  and  their  remains  arc  peacefully  re- 
posing in  Elledge  cemetery.  Mrs.  Holley  was  a 
devout  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Our  sub- 
ject in  1874  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Miss 
Cornelia,  daughter  of  Hailey  Shirar,  of  Ohio,  and 
continued blacksmi thing  until  1876.  That  year  he 
was  elected  Sheriff  of  Edgar  County,  ami  re-elected 
at  the  expiration  of  his  first  term.  When  with- 
drawing from  the  olliee,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
agriculture,  ami  purchased  his  present  farm  of  300 
acres,  which  he  has  improved  with  good  buildings 
and  fences,  ami  brought  to  a  line  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr.  Holley  politically,  uniformly  votes  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket,  and  has  held  the  various  township 
offices  including  that  of  Supervisor  and  Collector 
for  two  terms  each.  To  whatever  position  lie  has 
been  called,  lie  has  given  it  his  conscientious  atten- 
tion, and  proven  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer. 
There  are  few  enterprises  in  his  township  tending 
to  hetter  the  condition  of  the  people,  to  which  he 
has  not  given  a  cheerful  and  cordial  assent  and 
assistance,     Socially,  he  is  identified  with  the  Ma- 


952 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  Edgar  Lodge  No.  91, 
at  Paris,  and  has  been  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
State  Conventions.  His  religious  views  coincide 
with  those  of  the  Baptist  Chinch. 


fflAMES  SHANE,  a  brother  of  Abraham 
Shane,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Bruellet  Township,  and  is  the 
the  owner  of  a  well-developed  farm  on  section  19, 
where  he  has  labored  to  excellent  advantage  since 
1849.  His  mind,  like  that  of  his  father  and  brother 
has  been  piously  inclined  from  his  boyhood  and  he 
takes  more  satisfaction,  perhaps,  in  his  religious 
record  than  in  that  of  any  other  achievement  in 
life.  He  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  six  and 
one-half  miles  southeast  of  Chillicothe,  April  28, 
1817,  and  lived  there  until  a  youth  of  seventeen 
years  of  age.  Then  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Vermillion  County,  End.,  living  there  with  them 
until  1819,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  Edgar 
County,  this  State.  The  parents  established  a  good 
home  there  where  they  sojourned  a  few  years,  then 
took  up  their  abode  with  their  son  Abraham,  where 
the  father  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years 
the  mother  having  died  in  this  county  Sept.  1  1. 
1868,  aged  eighty-one  years. 

Upon  coining  West  the  parents  of  our  subject 
were  poorly  equipped  as  to  this  world's  goods,  hav- 
ing only  a  few  household  articles,  four  horses  and 
a  wagon.  The  father  in  due  lime  secured  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Indiana  upon  which  was  a  log 
cabin  into  which  they  removed.  Later  they  built 
a  larger  dwelling  of  the  same  description  and  added 
to  their  landed  estate.  The  father  became  owner  of 
a  large  amount  of  land  and  finally  turned  over  his 
property  into  the  hands  of  his  son  Abraham,  who 
was  to  take  care  of  his  parents  until  their  decease. 
The  household  circle  originally  included  nine  child 
ren  of  whom  but  four  are  living.  Susan  became 
the  wife  of  Ephraim  Dressback  and  is  a  resident  of 
Douglas  County;  Mary  is  the  widow  of  Andrew 
Conner;  Abraham  has  been  already  mentioned. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married   in  Ver- 


million County,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Rachel  Clearwater 
and  they  have  one  son  Jacob,  who  lives  near  Coon 
Rapids,  Iowa,  and  has  become  quite  wealthy.  Mrs. 
Rachel  Shane  departed  this  life  many  years  ago  ami 
our  subject  later  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  .lack- 
son,  a  native  of  Kentucky  with  whom  he  has  lived 
for  more  than  forty  years.  His  snug  little  farm  of 
sixty-six  acres  is  well  improved  and  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  For  many  years  Mr.  Shane 
speculated  in  real  estate  and  was  quite  successful. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  in  good  standing 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  in  which  Mr. 
Shane  has  served  as  Class-Leader  and  Steward  and 
aided  as  he  has  been  able  to  put  up  not  only  this 
but  other  church  edifices.  His  house  has  always 
been  a  home  for  the  preachers. 

Mrs.  Shane  has  been  for  some  time  in  delicate 
health  and  with  her  husband  is  at  presenl 
boarding  with  a  family  occupying  their  house. 
Our  subject  keeps  no  stock  except  one  driving 
horse  and  is  taking  life  quite  easily,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  earlier  labors.  Daniel  Shane,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  leaving  his  wife  six  months  after  their  wed- 
ding to  join  the  army  and  drive  the  British  once 
more  from  American  soil.  Later  he  drew  a  pen- 
sion from  the  government  many  years.  Loth  he 
and  his  wife  were  almost  life-long  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  living  and  working 
together  in  the  same  Christian  faith  for  more  than 
half  a  century.  In  that  faith  their  children 
were  reared  and  with  the  parents  became  members 
also  of  that  church.  This  united  family  exercised  a 
wide  influence  for  good  in  their  community  and 
aided  largely  in  building  up  the  chinch  in  this  re- 
gion. 

-    °rx>    ■ 


®        WILLIAM  I.  S. 
\J/I    veteran,  a   pk 
WW      County    with 


cCo 


II, MAM  LS.PINNELL.  This  sturdy  old 
pioneer  of  1830,  came  to  Edgar 
h  his  parents,  Abraham  and 
Prances  M.  (Estes)  Pinnell  locating  in  Kansas 
Township,  while  Indians  still  roamed  over  the  coun- 
try, and  desperadoes  sought  protection  in  this  re- 
gion from  the  consequences  of  the  misdemeanors 
which  they    had   committed   elsewhere.     The  only 


PORTRAIT  AND   15IO< :  R  A  I'll  ICA  I,   ALBUM. 


953 


public  road  in  this  part  of  the  county  ran  through 
the  fiiriii  upon  which  Mi-.  Pinnell  now  lives,  anil 
which  In-  built  up  from  the  wilderness.  A  stage- 
line  ran  to  st.  Louis,  which  formed  one  of  the  near- 
est  markets,  the  others  being  Chicago,  Terre  Haute, 
and  Louisville,  Ky.  The  settlers  had  their  milling 
done  at  Terre  Haute,  ami  there  transported  mosl  of 
their  pork.  Corn  in  those  days  sold  at  six  and  one- 
fonrth  cents  per  bushel,  and  that  which  was  re- 
quired for  seed  by  the  settlers.  COSt  them  *  I  per 
bushel. 

The  subjecl  of  this  sketch  was  born  Nov.  II. 
L828,  in  Olden  County,  Ky..  and  acquired  his  early 
education  in  a  log  cabin  with  puncheon  seat  and 
tloor.  and  a  slab  laid  across  on  pins  driven  in  the 
wall  under  a  window  for  a  desk.  An  aperture  was 
sawed  out  of  the  logs,  and  over  it  greased  paper 
was  pasted  in  lieu  of  window-panes.  The  teacher 
was  only  expected  to  lie  able  to  read,  write  and 
••cipher,"  and  the  school  was  Conducted  in  the  win- 
ter season,  mostly  on  the  subscription  plan.  Young 
Pinnell  was  at  an  early  age  required  to  make  him- 
self useful  around  the  homestead,  and  was  taught 
those  habits  of  industry  and  frugality  to  which  he 
owed  largely  his  Success  later  in  life.  Upon  reach- 
ing man's  estate,  he  took  unto  himself  a  wife  and 
helpmate,  Miss  .Martha  .1..  sister  of  Harrison  Poul- 
ter,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  The  three  sons  living  of  this  union,  are 
Jacob  E.,  Willis  ()..  and  Harrison  P.,  all  residents 
of  Kansas  Township. 

John  II.,  when  a  little  lad  of  three  years,  fell  into 
an  open  stock  well,  and  was  drowned.  A  daughter. 
Brao,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Leroy  was 
taken  from  the  household  circle  when  an  interest- 
ing youth  aged  fourteen  years,  one  month  and  one 
day.  Mrs.  Pinnell  ami  her  sons.  Willis  ami  Harri- 
son, are  member  of   the   Christian  Church.     <>nr 

subject,  politically,  VOteS  the  straight  Republican 
ticket,  but  has  never  sought  office,  preferring  to 
give  his  attention  to  his  farming  interests. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, whence  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Ken- 
tucky when  a  lad  of  ten  years,  lie  was  the  son  of 
William  and  Anna  (Murphy)  Pinnell,  who  came  to 
Edgar  County.  III.,  in  1830,  and  spent  their  last 
days  in  (irand  ViewTownship,     Grandfather  Pin- 


nell .lied  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years,  and  six 
mouths,  lie  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War.  . -uid  was  also  in  Hie  War  of  1812.  lie 
was  fond  of  music,  and  when  quite  aged,  whistled 
the  tunes  played  by  the  regimental  band  in  the 
army.  Abraham  and  Prances  Pinnell  were  mem- 
bers in  g 1  standing  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Our  subjecl  performed  a  large  amount   of  labor 
in  the  cultivation  and   improvement   of   his   farm, 

210  acres  in  extent,  and  where  he  creeled  a  sub- 
stantial and  commodious  dwelling,  with  a  good 
barn,  ami  the  other  buildings  necessary  for  the 
shelter  of  slock,  and  the  storage  of  grain.  lie 
sometime  since  retired  from  the  active  labors  of 
life,  dividing  up  his  land  among  his  children,  giv- 
ing the  home  farm  loan  unmarried  son.  with  whom 
he  lives.  Surrounded  by  all  needful  comforts.  His 
son.  Harrison  P.,  owns  forty  acresQof  the  farm 
opened  up  by  the  father  of  our  subject,  and  210 
acres  besides.  During  the  early  days  wild  animals 
were  plentiful  in  this  region,  and  among  the  recrea- 
tions of  the  young  men  were  the  wolf  hunts  which 
wcii>  joined  in  by  individuals  for  miles  around,  and 
at  which  great  hilarity  frequently  prevailed,  as  they 
rushed  over  the  ground  and  through  the  brush  af- 
ter the  troublesome  and  mischievous  animals,  who 
carried  off  their  small  stock,  and  made  night  hide- 
ous wit  h  their  howling. 


^p^i  AUL   BUTTS,  the   efficient    Postmaster  of 

^^^2       Dudley,  where    he    is   also  engaged   in  uicr- 

Tj\/^uj  chandising,  is  one  of   the  most  energetic 
and  wide-awake  citizens  of  the  place,  who 

began  life  without  other  resources  than  his  own 
industry  and  perseverance,  and  who  has  now  be- 
come prominent,  especially  in  church  ami  Sunday- 
school  work.  He  votes  the  straight  Republican 
ticket  and  is  an  uncompromising  advocate  of  tem- 
perance. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Benjamin  D.  Hulls. 
a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  who  married  Miss 
Mary  IS.  Schultz,  who  was  born  iii  West  Virginia. 
Both  the  grandfather,  John  Schultz,  and  his  wife  are 
Still  living  in   Dudley,  aged  eighty-four  and  eighty- 


95  1 


1'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


one  years,  respectively.  They  are  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  good  health  for  persons  so  aged.  The  grand- 
parents on  the  father's  side  are  also  living,  having 
their  home  in  Lake  County,  Ind. Grandfather  Albert 
G.Butts,  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1810  and 
his  wife,  Elmira,  a  native  of  Vermont,  was  born  in 
1807.  The}'  were  the  parents  of  one  ehild  only — 
Benjamin  I). 

Benjamin  I).  Butts  was  the  second  husband  of 
our  subject's  mother,  and  their  union  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
and  of  whom  Saul,  the  third  of  the  family,  was 
born  .Tan.  14,  1801,  in  Lake  County,  Ind.  When 
a  boy  of  twelve  he,  in  company  with  his  brother 
Alphonzo,  started  out  on  foot  to  seek  their  fort- 
unes and  walked  most  of  the  way  to  this  county. 
They  were  bright  boys,  ambitious  to  advance  their 
education  and  attended  school  the  first  winter,  pay- 
ing their  way  by  doing  janitor  work  in  the  school- 
house  and  church,  and  sawing  wood.  This  admirable 
move  on  their  part  naturally  made  for  them  many 
friends.  In  the  spring  Saul  went  to  work  on  a 
farm,  and  for  five  summers  thereafter  was  in  the 
employ  of  Horace  B.  Griswold,  a  fact  which  speaks 
well  both  for  master  and  man. 

In  December,  1878,  our  subject  repaired  to  his 
native  county  on  a  visit,  and  later  at  Grant  Park, 
III.,  the  two  boys  went  to  work  in  a  gristmill 
owned  by  their  father.  Saul  subsequently  spent 
about  a  year  in  Kankakee  County,  as  the  employe 
of  Mr.  Sol  Kendriek.  Aftenvard,  when  approach- 
ing manhood  he  operated  a  rented  farm  fine  sum- 
mer in  Lake  County,  Ind.,  but  finally  returned  to 
Dudley  and  worked  another  year  for  his  old  friend, 
Mr.  Griswold.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he 
and  his  brother  opened  a  general  store  at  Warren- 
ton,  which  they  conducted  for  eighteen  months, 
then  Saul  purchased  his  brother's  interest  and  car- 
ried on  the  business  ten  months  longer.  Later, 
selling  out,  he  visited  one  summer  in  Newton 
County,  Ind.,  and  in  December,  1885,  opened  a 
store  in  Dudley,  where  he  has  resided  since  that 
time. 

Mr.  Butts  identified  himself  with  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church  in  1874,  and  in  1889  was  chosen  Dea- 
con. He  is  assistant  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school,  he  likewise  holds  the  position  of  Treasurer 


and  is  especially  active  in  the  religious  instruction 
of  the  young.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men  at  Kansas,  and  has  held  some  of 
the  offices  in  the  lodge.  He  received  his  appoint- 
ment as  Postmaster  in  April.  1889.  and  is  awarded 
much  credit  for  the  manner  in  which  he  is  discharg- 
ing his  duties. 


6 


^EORGK  B.  TUCKER.  It  is  gratifying  to 
note  a  young  man  starting  out  in  life  equip- 
"V^ijl  ped  with  energy,  enterprise  ami  the  other 
qualities  which  go  to  make  up  a  worthy  citizen. 
In  connection  with  this  Mr.  Tucker  deserves  special 
mention.  He  is  comfortably  located  on  section  33, 
Edgar  Township,  where  he  operates  forty  acres  of 
land,  and  is  considerably  engaged  in  stock  lmying. 
He  has  very  good  improvements  on  his  place,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  community  isageneral  favorite. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Carlisle,  in  Nicholas 
County,  Ky.,  Oct.  1,  1850,  and  grew  up  deprived 
of  many  of  the  advantages  extended  the  youth  of 
to-day.  He  met  with  a  great  misfortune  in  the 
loss  of  his  mother  when  a  child  of  two  years,  and 
was  then  taken  into  the  home  of  a  paternal  uncle, 
James  C.  Tucker,  a  farmer,  with  whom  he  remained 
four  years.  He  then  returned  to  his  father  and 
remained  with  him  until  a  youth  of  sixteen.  In 
the  meantime,  in  1871.  they  emigrated  overland  to 
Illinois,  being  on  the  journey  about  eighteen  days. 
George  B.  engaged  in  farming  in  Edgar  County, 
and    acquired  a  little  more  learning    in  the  district 

scl 1,   which    he  attended  winters   until   reaching 

his  majority.  After  that  he  was  employed  as  a 
farm  laborer  by  the  month  until  1889,  when  he 
purchased  his  present  place.  This  was  partially 
improved,  and  he  has  since  added  much  to  its 
value  by  repairing  the  old  buildings  and  erecting 
new  ones.  The  land  is  watered  by  a  never-failing 
spring,  and  the  whole  is  under  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation. It  is  located  nine  miles  from  Paris,  and 
well  adapted  to  stock-raising.  Mr.  Tucker  has  a 
taste  for  fine  horses,  and  his  stables  contain,  among 
other  fine  animals,  "Billy  Wilson,"  a  Hambletonian 
of   1,300  pounds,  and  eligible  for  registry.     In  all 


1 
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PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


957 


he  has  eleven  head,  and   engages  largely  in  buying 

and  selling,  lie  ships  a  goodly  number  of  swine 
each  year,  and  from  bis  stock  operations  realizes  a 
snug  income. 

The  marriage  <>f  our  subject  with  Miss  Emma  J. 
Collins  look  place  at  the  bride's  home  in  Edgar 
Township  March  29,  187!).  They  are  now  the 
parents  of  two  children — Ethel  Zoe  and  Freddie 
Clarence.  Mr.  Tucker  has  served  as  School  l)i- 
reetor  and  Constable,  occupying  the  last  mentioned 
Office  for  the  past  four  years.  llis  choice,  relig- 
iously, is  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which 
his  estimable  wife  is  also  a  member,  attending  ser- 
vices at  Prairie  Chapel.  Mr.  Tucker  has  officiated 
as  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  and  gives 
as  he  is  able  to  the  prosperity  of  the  church;  Po- 
litically, he  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  is  frequently 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions. 

The  mother  of  our  suhjeet  died  in  Kentucky  in 
1858.  She  was  a  woman  of  many  excellent  quali- 
ties  d  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist 

Church.  The  parental  household  comprised  the 
following  children,  viz.:  John,  a  resident  of  "Mis- 
souri; Ellen,  Mrs.  Barth,  of  Edgar  County;  Nancy, 
Mrs.  Ellis,  of  Danville;  George,  our  subject  and 
Henry,  of  Shelby  County.  Ind. 


ljT/       ANGE  BROS.    The  farming  and  stock  rais* 

I  ((?><  i"u  interests  of  Shiloh  Township  are  adinir- 
[IL-^S  ably  represented  by  this  enterprising  linn, 
who  own  and  operate  together  SOU  acres  of  land 
all  adjoining  on  sections  21,  22  and  15.  In  point 
of  reputation  and  business  integrity  they  are  un- 
excelled by  any  men  in  Central  Illinois.  Of  Ger- 
man ancestry  they  possess  in  a  marked  degree  the 
.substantial  and  reliable  trails  peculiar  to  the  sons 
of  the  Fatherland  and  are  distinguished  by  great 
industry  and  perseverance,  which  have  assisted  them 
in  overcoming  many  obstacles,  so  they  arc  now  on 
the  high  road  to  prosperity,  and  are  classed  among 
the  wealthiest  farmers  of  this  part  of  the  county. 
The  brothers,  Frederick  W.  and  Charles  G.,  are  the 
only  children  of  their  parents,  and  were  born  in 
Graefenhaynichen,    Prussia,    the  former  April  20, 


1834,  ami  the  latter  Aug.  26,  1836.  They  had 
vers  good  school  advantages,  living  in  a  land 
practicing  compulsprj  education.  They  were 
placed  in  school  at  the  age  of  live  years  and  con- 
tinuing  their   studies   until    fourteen.     Frederick 

W.  then  learned  the  trade  of   a    butcher,    which   he 

followed  until  a  young  man  of  twenty  years.  He 
then  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  On  the  Other 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  of  which  he  had  heard  great 
things.  Accordingly  bidding  adieu  to  his  parents 
and  friends  he  set  out  alone,  Feb.  12.  1854,  and 
boarded  the]  sailing  vessel  -'.loan"  at  Bremen, 
which  after  a  voyage  6f  forty-two  days  landed  him 
safely  in  New  York  City.  He  was  thus  a  stranger  in 
a  strange  laud,  without  friends,  and  with  two  cents 
in  his  pocket  representing  his  cash  capital.  It.  is 
hardly  necessary  to  say  he  made  it  his  first  business 
to  seek  employment.  His  honest  face  soon  gained 
for  him  what  he  wished  and  he  engaged  with  a 
farmer  in  New  Jersey  at  the  munificent  salary  of 
*7  per  month. 

Remaining  East  until  the  following  September, 
our  subject  set  out  by  rail  for  Terre  Haute.  Ind., 
and  thence  walked  to  Paris,  Edgar  County,  a  feat 
with  which  he  was  greatly  delighted.  lie  began 
working  on  the  railroad  and  was  thus  employed 
six  months;  afterward  he  secured  a  job  with  a 
butcher  in  Paris,  remaining  thereuntil  1856.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  been  joined  by  his  father, 
mother  and  only  brother,  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  comprising  a  part  of  his  present 
homestead.  It  was  then  an  open  prairie  abound- 
ing in  wild  animals.  They  put  up  a  frame  cabin 
and  the  father  and  son  operated  together  until  the 
death  of  the  former.  Our  subject  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  brother.  Charles  G.,  which 
has  existed  to  the  present  time. 

The  Lange  homestead  was  first  operated  upon 
with  oxen  and  by  the  aid  of  the  most  primitive 
implements.  By  degrees  the  fields  were  enclosed 
with  substantial  fences  while  the  first  humble 
dwelling  gave  way  to  a  line  brick  residence  of 
modern  architecture.  The  brothers  planted  forest 
and  fruit  trees  and  carried  on  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil  profitably  and  sucessfully.  There  are  now 
lovely  groves  on  the  place,  principally  walnut,  also 
fruit  of    all  kinds.      They  have  added  to  their  pos 


958 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sessions  by  degrees  and  now  have  800  acres,  and 
are  numbered  among  the  leading  land  owner*  of 
the  county.  The  large  brick  residence  with  it 
suroundings  lias  about  it  the  air  of  comfort  and 
plenty  only  obtained  by  the  hand  of  thrift  and 
industry.  Seven  acres  are  devoted  to  apple  trees 
and  live  acres  to  walnut  trees.  The  most  of  these 
were  set  out  by  the  Lange  Bros.  The  homestead 
lies  four  and  one-half  miles  from  Hume  and 
800  acres  are  in  one  body.  Stock-raising  com- 
prises an  important  part  of  their  operations.  They 
usually  feed  about  1  To  head  of  full-blooded  Short- 
horn cattle  annually  and  keep  twelve  head  of  draft 
horses,  using  three  teams  in  the  operation  of  the 
farm. 

Frederick  Lange  votes  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket  and  for  the  past  six  years  has  been  one  of 
the  Trustees  of  his  School  District.  He  was  the 
first  Road  Commissioner  of  the  township  and  as- 
sisted in  its  organization.  As  one  of  its  earliest 
settlers  he  lias  been  a  witness  of  the  remarkable 
changes  occurring  in  Central  Illinois,  and  may 
justly  feel  that  he  has  done  his  part  toward  bring- 
ing it  to  its  present  proud   position. 

Charles  (J.  Lange  had  the  same  school  privileges 
in  the  Fatherland  as  his  brother,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1855  accompanied  his  parents  to  America;  coin- 
inn  toSliiloh  Township  the  year  following  he  asso- 
ciated himself  in  partnership  with  his  brother  and 
began  the  farming  operations  which  have  made 
them  practically  independent.  Unlike  his  brother 
who  remains  a  bachelor,  he  was  married  in  Shiloh 
Township,  Dec.  25,  l!S7b\  to  Miss  Mary  Miller,  a 
native  of  his  own  country  and  born  in  the  city 
Luckenwahle.  Province  of  Brandenburg.  They  are 
the  parents  of  four  interesting  children — Daniel, 
Franz,  Carl  and  Albert.  Charles  G.  is  also  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  political  views. 

The  father  of  the  Lange  Bros,  was  Frederick  W. 
Lange,  Sr.  likewise  a  native  of  Prussia  and  born  in 
1805.  He  owned  a  small  farm  in  the  old  country, 
and  lived  there  until  L855.  Then  having  received 
favorable  accounts  of  life  in  America  from  his  sou, 
Frederick  W..  he  was  persuaded  to  dispose  of  his 
possessions  and  seek  that  promised  land.  lie  made 
his  way  directly  to  Edgar  County,  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  in  Shiloh  Township,  which  he  operated 


with  the  assistance  of  his  sods  until  his  death,  in 
1858.  A  man  simple  in  his  habits,  industrious  and 
honest,  he  made  very  little  stir  in  the  world  but 
was  respected  by  those  who  knew  him.  lie  was  a 
Lutheran  in  religion.  The  mother,  Mrs.  Rosina 
(.Miller)  Lange  was  a  native  of  the  same  province 
as  her  husband  and  sons  and  accompanied  them  to 
America.  She  survived  her  husband  until  1H73, 
and  died  at  the  homestead  in  Shiloh  Township. 

We  invite  the  attention  of  our  numerous  readers 
to  a  tine  lithographic  view  of  the  handsome  resi- 
dence and  farm  of  the  Lange  Bros,  on  another 
page. 

—*&m- — - 


SHOMAS  POULTER,  a  life-long  resident  of 
1/jjss.v  Kansas  Township,  was  born  on  the  farm 
*  where  he  now  lives,  March  1.  1841.  His 
father,  William  R.  Poulter,  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  came  to  Illinois  at  a  very  early  day, 
locating  on  a  tract  of  land  in  the  wilderness. 
Upon  this  he  built  a  log  cabin  and  constructed  a 
comfortable  home,  but  which,  however,  he  was 
destined  not  long  to  occupy.  His  hopes  and  plans 
were  broken  in  upon  by  the  death  of  his  wife. 
Eliza  A.  (Doing)  Poulter,  which  occurred  March 
HI,  1847,  when  aged  only  twenty-seven  years,  two 
months,  and  twenty-eight  days. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  compelled  to  sell  his  little  farm  of 
forty  acres  in  order  to  pay  the  doctor's  bill  con- 
tracted during  her  long  illness,  and  he  was  thus  left 
without  resources.  He  then  removed  southeast 
about  six  miles  and  rented  land,  upon  which  he 
operated  until  enabled  to  save  some  money.  Then 
returning  to  the  old  neighborhood  he  purchased 
twenty  acres,  to  which  he  later  added  until  he 
became  the  owner  of  195  acres,  lie  rested  from 
his  earthly  labors  Aug.  30,  1877,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-eight  years,  six  months,  and  twelve  days. 
His  remains  were  laid  by  the  side  of  those  of  his 
wife,  in  a  quiet  spot  on  the  old  farm,  where  also 
repose  the  remains  of  John  Poulter,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  married    to   Mrs.  Rachel  II.  (Gibbons) 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


959 


Musgi'ave,  who  is  still    living  at  the  old   farm  in 

Kansas  Township,  and  a   sketch    of    whom    appears 

elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Thomas,  our  subject, 
has  spent  bis  entire  life  in  this  township,  and  here, 
upon  reaching  manhood,  was  married,  March  6, 
1867,  to  Miss  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  Abraham  Pin- 
nell.  a  well-known  pioneer,  and  of  whom  further 
mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  W.  1.  S.  Pinnell, 
on  another  page  in  this  volume.  Of  this  union 
there  were  horn  eight  children,  viz.:  Henry  G., 
deceased;  AlviuT..  Myrtle  L.,  Forest  R.,  Marshall 
A.,  Ada  1'.,  Amelia  A.,  and  Mary  A. 

After  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Poulter, 
in  August,  1861,  entered  the  tanks  of  the  Union 
army  as  a  member  of  Company  11,  59th  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  served  as  a  private  until  September, 
1864.  He  participated  in  some  of  the  principal 
battles  of  the  war.  including  Pea  Ridge,  Corinth, 
l'crrvvillc.  Stone  River,  Lookout  Mountain.  Buz- 
zard's Roost.  Rock  Face,  Murfreesboro,  the  siege 
of  Atlanta, and  other  battles.  Our  subject,  although 
experiencing  many  hairbreadth  escapes,  came  out 
of  the  army  without  a  wound.  Upon  one  occasion 
'his  knapsack  was  shot  from  his  back,  and  completely 
destroyed,  by  a  cannon  hull.  Upon  another  occasion 
a  hole  was  shot  through  his  hat.  and  several  hul  let- 
holes  were  made  in  his  overcoat.  He  saved  most 
of  the  money  which  he  received  in  the  employ  of 
Uncle  Sam,  sending  home  $216  to  his  father,  as 
the  difference  between  a  forty-acre  tract  of  land 
which  his  father  had  given  him,  and  a  more  desira- 
ble tract  of  the  same  extent  upon  which  his  house 
now  stands.  Later  he  purchased  another  forty 
acres  of  his  father,  paying  therefor  $1,200.  lie  is 
now  the  owner  of  250  acres,  the  greater  part,  of 
which  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Poulter  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Lincoln,  and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  belongs  to  Kansas  Post,  .Nil  405, 
C.  A.  R.,  and  has  served  as  Road  Commissioner  of 
the  township  six  terms.  He  and  his  estimable  wife 
find  their  religious  home  in  the  Christian  Church 
at.  Hitesville.  A  man  unobtrusive  m  his  life,  he 
has  been  content  to  make  very  little  stir  in  the 
world,  while  at  the  same  time  he  has  by  his  exam- 
ple encouraged  the  maintenance  of  law  and  order 
and  given  his  support  to    those   enterprises  calcu- 


lated to  elevate  society  and  benefit  the  county. 
Mr.  Poulter  has  a  bright  and  intelligent  family, 
who  arc  much  attached  to  their    pleasant  home  ami 

commodious  residence.  :t  lithographic  engraving  of 
which  appeals  elsewhere  in    this  volume. 


TpXjKV.   JOSEPH     SKEETERS,    a    minister    of 
L^i       the  Baptist  Church,  is  a  resident  of   Edgar 

\  Township,  where  he  owns  a  snug  home 
^p)!  with  live  acres  of  laud  and  is  numbered 
among  the  most  prominent  citizens.  He  is  the 
offspring  of  a  good  family,  being  the  son  of  .lames 
Skeeters,  a  native  of  Hamilton  County,  Ohfo,  to 
which  the  paternal  grandfather  removed  from 
North  Carolina,  his  native  State,  at  a  very  early 
day  and  when  Hamilton  County  was  a  wilderness. 
lie  assisted  in  its  survey  ami  purchased  120  acres 
of  land  upon  which  was  built  up  the  city  of  Cin- 
cinnati, lie  there  followed  his  trade  of  a  shoemaker 
putting  up  the  lirst  shop  in  that  vicinity  and  re- 
ceiving a  generous  patronage  from  the  boatmen. 
In  the  meantime  the  Pottawatomie  Indians  came 
ami  captured  his  wife  and  child  carrying  them 
northwest  to  Rock  River  where  they  remained  in 
captivity  four  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  the  mother  made  her  escape,  while  in  camp 
near  Kankakee,  111.,  from  which  she  found  her 
way  to  Cincinnati.  The  mother  and  son  had  been 
separated  and  did  not  see  each  other  until  the  latter 
was  a  youth  of  fifteen  years  when  his  exchange 
was  effected  through  the  agency  of  the  French 
traders.  The  grandparents  thereafter  lived  together 
in  Cincinnati  until  the  death  of  the  grandmother, 
and  then  Grandfather  Skeeters  removed  to  Lexinsr. 

o 
ton,    Ky..    where    he    followed     his    trade    until    his 

death.     He   was  a  Frenchman    by  birth   and    upon 
emigrating  to  America  located  Mist  in  Virginia. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  Kentucky 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  lie  fought  in  the 
War  of  1812  under  Gen.  Gaines,  and  afterward 
settled  in  Lexington  where  he  lived  until  his  mar- 
riage. He  then  removed  to  a  farm  in  Boone 
County  and  from  there  in  December.  1823,  emi- 
grated to   Parke  County.  Ind..  settling    within  one 


'.160 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  one-half  miles  of  the  Chief  of  the  Cherokee 
Nation  and  opening  up  from  the  wilderness  a  farm 
of  eighty  acres.  In  1834  he  sold  out  and  coming 
to  Coles  County,  111.,  prosecuted  farming  a  few 
years,  then  becoming  discouraged  returned  to  In- 
diana and  purchased  the  old  home  in  Parke  County. 
Retaining  this  until  1861  lie  sold  out  once  more 
and  purchased  a  farm  near  Middleport,  in  Iroquois 
County,  where  he  sojourned  until  his  death.  He 
had  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  the 
long  period  of  fifty  years,  much  of  the  time  offi- 
ciating as  clerk. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Lucy  Aldridge.  She  was  born  in  Crab  <  >rchard, 
K\  ..  to  which  her  father  had  removed  at  an  early 
day  from  his  native  State  of  Maryland.  He  pur- 
chased Government  land  and  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death.  The  Aldridge  family  is  of  English 
descent.  The  twelve  children  of  the  parental  fam- 
ily were  named  respectively,  William,  a  resident  of 
Neosha  Falls,  Kan.;  .lames  II.  and  Mary,  deceased; 
.Joseph,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Lucy,  a  resident 
of  Iroquois  County.  III.;  Elizabeth  and  Martha, 
residents  of  Wood  County,  Kan.;  Daniel  P..  de- 
ceased; Louisa  of  Iroquois  County;  Willis  R., 
deceased;  Greenbury  W.  in  Iroquois  County  and 
Nancy,  deceased. 

Daniel  I*.  Skeeters  served  in  an  Indiana  regiment 
during  the  Civil  War  and  was  captured  at  two 
different  times.  His  exchange  was  effected  and  he 
died  soon  after  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  Joseph, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  near  Big  Bone 
Lake.  Ohio,  Feb.  1  1,  1822  and  lived  there  with  his 
parents  until  their  removal  to  Indiana,  which  was 
made  overland  with  an  ox  team.  He  still  remem- 
bers that  pioneer  home  in  Parke  County,  when  the 
cabins  of  the  settlers  were  few  and  far  between,  and 
Indians  were  plentiful,  mostly  Cherokees.  He  at- 
tended school  with  the  sons  of  the  chief  and  with 
Dagnet,  now  the  present  chief.  His  boyhood  and 
youth  were  spent  in  the  occupations  common  to 
frontier  life,  during  which  time  he  received  a  very 
limited  education  in  the  log  school  house  and  re- 
mained a  member  of  the  father's  household  until 
nineteen  years  old. 

The  life  of  our  subject  passed  in  a  comparatively 
uneventful   manner    until  his    marriage    which  oc- 


curred Dec.  .'!,  184U,  in  Parke  County,  Ind.,  the 
maiden  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Sarah  McFerrin. 
This  lady  was  born  in  Shelby  County,  Ky.,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Jonathan  McFerrin  who  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  an  early  settler  of  In- 
diana. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Skeeters  engaged 
in  farming  on  rented  land  until  1861,  when  he  pur- 
chased land  in  Posey  County,  Ind.,  where  he  lived 
three  years,  then  selling  out,  purchased  the  home- 
stead which  he  operated  for  a  period  of  seventeen 
years. 

Our  subject,  in  1849,  began  preaching  in  the 
Baptist,  Church  and  since  then  has  devoted  about 
half  his  time  to  the  ministry  in  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Kentucky.  Ohio  and  Missouri.  In  1853  he  was 
ordained  near  Montezuma,  and  took  charge  of  the 
home  congregation  besides  three  other  charges. 
Thereafter  for  a  period  of  forty  years  he  devoted 
the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  the  Master's  work, 
frequently  walking  ten  miles  or  more  to  meet  his 
congregation.  At  the  same  time  he  cultivated  his 
farm  receiving  no  assistance  from  the  people  whom 
he  served.  He  lived  on  his  farm  m  Indiana  until 
1X7S.  then  moved  to  Montezuma,  where  he  lived 
until  September,  1882.  Then  selling  his  farm  ami 
renting  his  home  in  the  town,  he  purchased  his 
present  place  in  Edgar  Township,  where  he  has  put 
up  good  buildings  and  made  all  the  improvements 
upon  it.  In  the  meantime  he  has  had  charge  of 
the  Bloomlield  Church  and  preaches  regularly  to 
his  old  congregation. 

Mr.  Skeeters  suffered  a  stroke  of  paralysis  and  in 
two  hours  lost  the  use  of  his  eyes,  so  that  he  has 
not  been  able  to  read  since  that  time.  Notwith- 
standing this  he  prosecutes  his  pious  duties  and  is 
greatly  aided  by  his  remarkable  memory.  He 
contracted  a  second  marriage  at  Paris,  April  3, 
1876,  with  Mrs.  Mary  McConkey,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Wildman,  who  with  his  father,  John  Wild- 
man,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  The  great-grand- 
father, Jacob  Wildman,  was  born  in  England, 
reared  a  Quaker  and  upon  crossing  the  Atlantic 
settled  in  the  Old  Dominion.  He  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  and  later  became  the  owner  of 
a  plantation  of  70(1  acres  and  twenty  slaves  on  the 
Potomac  River.      In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist. 

The  father  of  our  subject  carried  on  farming  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


or,  i 


Virginia  until  emigrating  to  Illinois  whan  he  lo- 
cated near  the  present  site  of  Paris  in  Edgar 
County.  Like  liis  father  before  him,  he  was  suc- 
cessful in  the  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods 
and  was  an  active  member  of  Hie  Baptist  Church. 
lie  was  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  a  Justice  Of 
the  Peace  for  many  years.  The  mother,  Mrs. 
Mary  (LaFaber)  Skeeters,  was  horn  in  Virginia 
and  was  the  granddaughter  of  Henry  LaFaber,  a 
native  of  France.  The  latter  was  a  stone  mason 
by  trade  which  he  followed  in  Virginia  after  emi- 
grating to  America  and  died  the  possessor  of  1.000 
acres  of  land.  He  also  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church.  His  daughter,  Mary,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
died  in  the  ( >ld  Dominion. 

The  nine  children  of  the  parental  family  were 
named  respectively,  John,  Joseph,  Jacob,  Lewis, 
Ellen,  Elizabeth,  Frances,  all  of  whom  are  deceased; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Skeeters,  and  Anna,  who  lives  in  Paris 
Township.  The  wife  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Loudon  County.  Va.,  in  I  822  and  came  West,  with 
her  parents  when  a  young  lady,  remaining  with 
them  until  her  first  marriage  to  Mr.  George  Lang- 
ley.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  died 
at  his  farm  in  Klhridgc  Township  in  1849.  Mrs. 
Langley  was  subsequently  married  to  Capt.  John 
McConkey,  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Edgar  County.  He  served  as  a 
Captain  in  the  Mexican  War  and  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  but  recovered  and  car- 
ried the  bullet  until  his  death.  After  leaving  the 
army  he  engaged  in  fanning  a  number  of  years. 
Then  hi'  removed  to  Paris  and  purchased  property, 
residing  there  until  his  death  in  1874.  He  belonged 
to  the  Christian  Church  and  was  a  prominent  man 
in  his  community.  His  widow  lived  there  until 
her  marriage  with  our  subject  and  still  owns  11)0 
acres  of  land  adjoining  the  town,  besides  two  resi- 
dences in  Paris  and  property  in  Montezuma. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skeeters  are  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter,  .Mary  .1., 
is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Heath,  and  Rebecca  married 
William  White,  both  are  farming  in  Edgar  Town- 
ship. William  .1.  is  conducting  a  meat  market  .-it 
Marshal,  1ml.;  Nancy,  (Mrs.  McLean.)  is  a  resident 
of    Parke   County.  Ind.;  .Inmes  M.  is  manager   and 


Steward  of  l'arkc  Count y,  (  Ind. )  Hospital;  Tilman 
A.  11.  operates  as  clerk  in  a  store  in  Edgar  County; 
Jonathan  V.  is  farming  in  the  vicinity  of  LeRoy, 
III.:  Samuel  B.  remains  at  home  with  Ins  parents; 
Ellen  S.,  (Mis.  Paine)  lives  on  a  farm  in  Edgar 
Township;    Lucy  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Skeeters,    politically,  is    a    sound    Democrat, 
He   has  served  as  a  School  Director  for  years,  and 

for  two  years  was  Assessor  in  Putnam  C ity,  Ind. 

He  was  at  one  time  solicited  to  become  the  candi- 
date for  Representative  for  the  State  Legislature, 
hut  felt  that  he  was  called  to  higher  duties.  In 
the  pursuance  of  these  Mr.  Skeeters  traveled  from 
10,000  to  20,000  miles  per  year. 


y-x  OAII  W.  I'd.  A  LCHAMP,  editor  and  proprie- 

JlJ  tor  of  the  Kansas  Journal.  Edgar  County, 
i^SM^)  was  '""'"  *n  North  Manchester.  Wabash 
Co..  Ind..  on  May  4,  1846,  being  a  son  of  Asa 
Beauchamp  (deceased,)  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
hut  a  pioneer  of  North  Manchester,  End.  Mr.  Asa 
Beauchamp  was  an  educated  and  intelligent  man, 
well  read  in  law  and  a  good  business  manager. 
For  many  years  he  performed  the  duties  of  an  at- 
torney at  law.  to  the  complete  satisfaction  of  his 
clients,  and  also  carried  on  a  brisk  trade  as  a  mer- 
chant. The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Martha  Williams,  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  She 
now  resides  in  Rawlins  County.  Kan.,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-five  years.     The  parents  of 

our  subject  had  a  family  of   ten  childre f  whom 

three  are  living — our  .subject  and  two  sisters — 
Sarah  A.  (Long)  and  Mary  A.  (Brown),  he  be- 
ing the  only  survivor  of  the  seven  brothers.  One, 
Clark  W.  lost  his  life  while  gallantly  fighting  in  the 
support,  of  the  ••starry  Hag''  during  the  late  war. 
One  sister.  Ellen,  died  when  twenty-seven  years  old, 
being  at  the  time  of  her  death  the  wife  of  William 
II.  Warn  pier,  who  died  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  a  few  months  later. 

Mr.  Beauchamp  was  reared  to  manhood  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  place.  When  he  was  sixteen 
years  old  he  entered  a  print  inu  office  ill  Wabash 
and     learned    the    trade,  and    has    continued    in    the 


962 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


printing  business  ever  since,  covering  a  period  of 
twenty-seven  years.  His  first  venture  was  pub- 
lishing the  Wabash  Tribune,  from  18GG  to  18G7, 
when  he  removed  to  North  Manchester  and  resided 
on  a  farm  nearly  two  years,  hoping  to  regain  his  lost 
health.  Finding  his  strength  still  abated  he  went 
to  Ottawa,  Kan.,  in  the  autumn  of  1868  and  se- 
cured employment  on  the  Ottawa  Journal.  He 
stayed  there  until  1871,  and  returned  to  North 
Manchester  and  bought  the  Journal,  which  he  car- 
ried on  until  1882.  then  sold  out  and  bought  the 
Kansas.  III.  Ac"1*.  Changing  the  name  and  in- 
creasing the  facilities  of  the  office  he  established 
the  Journal  in  its  place  and  has  conducted  it  suc- 
cessfully ever  since.  It  is  a  spicy  and  well  edited 
paper,  is  an  eight  column  folio,  and  is  published  on 
strictly  business  principles.  He  occupies  his  own 
two  story  brick. 

Our  subject  was  married  Dec.  12.  1866  to  Cynthia 
.1.  Spradling,  a  native  of  Wabash  County.  Ind.  and 
daughter  of  William  J.  Spradling  (deceased  ).  This 
couple  have  had  an  interesting  family  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  five  arc  living  and  are  receiving 
the  best  education  and  advantages  of  culture  that 
the  place  affords.  They  are  named  respectively, 
Lorena,  Charles  A.,Maudie,  Jessie,  and  Oron  Milo. 

During  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Beauchamp  offered 
his  services  to  the  defense  of  his  country  and  en- 
listed in  the  14th  Indiana  Battery.  During  all  the 
engagements  in  which  he  participated  he  exhibited 
intrepid  courage,  great  coolness  in  time  of  danger 
and  unswerving  attention  to  duty.  His  battery 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Spanish  Fort,  Gun 
Town,  Miss.,  where  our  subject  was  wounded,  the 
three  days  before  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  various 
other  engagements  of  that  long  and  hotly  contested 
campaign.  After  doing  his  duty  as  a  soldier  until 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  he  was 
mustered  out  and  honorably  discharged  and  re- 
turned once  more  to  the  walks  of  private  life. 
Although  a  brave  soldier,  he  in  common  with 
thousands  of  his  comrades,  has  no  desire  to  see 
another  war  in  this  country,  believing  that  "Peace 
hath  her  victories  as  well  as  war."  Our  subject  is 
a  Past  Post  Commander  in  the  G.  A.  R.  and  is  an 
honorable  Christian  gentleman,  being  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this 


place.  His  Christianity  is  of  a  kind  that  does  not 
permit  him  to  hide  his  light  under  a  bushel,  but 
prompts  him  to  [dace  it  where  it  can  enlighten 
Others  and  assist  them  on  their  heavenly  way. 
Holding  such  views  he  has  accepted  the  position 
of  Class-Leader  and  exhorter  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  has  for  many  years  given 
public  testimony  to  the  faith  that  is  in  him.  Mr. 
Beauchamp  belongs  to  the  ranks  of  enterprising 
Americans,  who  have  begun  life  poor,  but  have 
succeeded  in  securing  a  competence.  He  and  his 
family  are  now  in  good  circumstances  and  are  able 
to  enjoy  the  pleasures  and  secure  the  comforts  of 
life. 


"nll.N  W.  TATE.  The  Tale  family  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  throughout  Grand 
View  Township  and  vicinity  and  amply  wor- 
i^)'  thy  of  record  in  a  work  designed  to  be  han- 
ded down  to  future  generations.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  one  of  its  most  worthy  representatives 
and  occupies  a  finely  cultivated  farm  on  section 
22.  He  was  horn  in  this  county  Dec.  1,  1846,  and 
has  since  remained  a  resident  of  Grand  View 
Township,  growing  with  its  growth  and  being 
closely  identified  with  its  most  important  interests. 
Here  he  received  his  education  and  here  have  cen- 
tered his  best  thoughts  and  labors. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Robert  M  Tate,  a 
native  of  Rockbridge  County,  Va.,  and  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  The  family  is  of  Scotch — Irish  de- 
scent and  was  represented  in  the  old  Dominion  at 
a  very  early  day.  Grandfather  John  Tate  was 
born  there  and  had  several  male  relatives  -dio 
served  as  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In 
September  1837.  leaving  the  place  of  his  birth,  he 
made  his  way  to  Illinois  with  a  colony  and  set- 
tled on  a  tract  of  wild  land,  one-half  mile  west  of  the 
present  site  of  Grand  View,  where  he  constructed  a 
comfortable  homestead  and  sojourned  until  his 
death  which  took  place  in  1851.  He  left  a  family 
of  five  children,  one  of  whom  was  Robert  M..  the 
father  of  our  subject. 

Robert  M.  Tate  was  but  twenty-two  years  of  a<*e 
at    the    time    of    his    mother's  death    and    hail    hut 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


963 


a  short  time  previously  been  married  to  Miss  Susan 
Gold,  who  like  himself,  was  horn  in  Virginia, 
where  her  people  were  prominent,  both  in  social. 
business  and  political  circles,  and  where  her  father 
lived  to  celebrate  his  ninetieth  birthday.  In  due 
time,  Robert  M.  Tate  put  up  a  substantial  residence 
which  is  still  Standing,  one  of  the  central  features 
of  the  old  homestead  comprising  nearly  400  acres 
of  land,  which  under  the  careful  management  and 
thorough  cultivation  given  it,  became  exceedingly 
valuable.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject,  there 
were  born  live  children  all  of  whom  are  living. 
The  father  departed  this  life  .Ian.  21,  188C.  The 
mother  is  still  living,  being  seventy-one  years  old, 
is  in  fair  health  and  making  her  home  in  Grand 
View. 

The  subject  of  tin's  sketch  is  the  second  child  of 
his  parents  and  was  given  a  good  education,  be- 
ginning in  the  schools  of  his  native  township  and 
ending  at  Edgar  Academy  at  Paris,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  two  years,  taking  the  scientific 
course.  Upon  leaving  school  he  returned  to  the 
farm  and  worked  with  his  father  until  his  marriage. 
This  important  and  interesting  event  was  celebra- 
ted Feb.  20,  1883,  the  bride  being  Miss  Julia, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Utter,  who  entered  land  near 
the  present  site  of  Paris  as  early  as  about  1825. 
The  maternal  grandfather  by  law  of  Airs.  Tate  was 
Samuel  Vance,  who  emigrated  to  Illinois  from 
Tennessee,  entering  land  including  the  present  site 
of  Paris,  and  later  laid  out  the  town.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Tate  was  twice  married  and  she  was  the 
eldest  of  four  children  born  of  the  second  mar- 
riage. Her  father  died  in  1803  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two years.  lie  became  very  wealthy  and  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Paris  Town- 
ship. 

John  W.  Tate,  our  subject,  began  in  the  world 
practically  without  means  but  by  a  course  of 
industry  and  sobriety  has  attained  to  a  good  posi- 
tion socially  and  financially.  He  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  1885  and  is  steadily  effecting  improve- 
ments which  tend  to  increase  its  value.  In  politics 
he  is  a  sound  Republican,  and  with  his  estimable 
wife  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  which  was  founded  by  Grandfather 
Tate    in  1837  and  in  which   our   subject    is    one    of 


the  Klders.     He  is  also  \cr\   active  in  the  Sunday  - 

Superintendent  and 
a- 
•c 

.  )•  pos>i- 
y  in  discountenancing  both  the  manufacture 
and  sale  of  ardent  spirits.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  bright  children,  both  daughters — Susan 
born  May  20.   1884,  and  Eliza  Aug.  3,   1886. 


school    in    which    lie    has    been    - 

teacher  for  many  years.     Both  he  and  his  estima- 
ble wife  are  warmly  interested  in  the   temperance 

question    and    lend  their    influence  whenever  possi- 
i.l..      :..      .1 : i    ■ t      , ,       .i 


-H-H-i^^^i-i-H — 


IhM  ARI()N    u-   HALE.     The  younger  farmers 
of   Edgar    County    are  generally    making 

a     g 1      record      for      industry,    energy 

and  enterprise,  and  among  them  may  be 
properly  mentioned  Mr.  Hale,  who  is  pleasantly 
located  on  section  is  in  Hunter  Township.  A  na- 
tive of  Hendricks  County,  Ind.,  he  was  born  Dec. 
I,  1852,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county 
when  about  four  years  old.  They  took  up  their 
abode  in  a  log  cabin  in  Hunter  Township,  where 
they  sojourned  about  four  years,  then  .removed  to 
Vermillion,  living  there  about  the  same  length  of 
time.  Their  next  removal  was  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  homestead  of  our  subject,  where  thei 
lived  until  1885.  and  then  removed  to  Ashland, 
Boyd  Co..  Ky..  where  they  now  reside. 

Vincent  and  Eliza  J.  (Miller-)  Hale,  the  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Virginia,  where 
they  were  reared  and  married  and  where  they 
lived  a  few  years  afterward.  The  journey  from 
Virginia  to  Kentucky  was  made  in  a  wagon  drawn 
by  oxen,  .and  upon  arriving  at  their  destination 
the  father  traded  the  oxen  for  a  piece  of  land,  lie 
only  staid  a  short  time,  however,  then  started  for 
Indiana  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  From  there  to  this 
county  he  rode  on  horseback,  and  drove  his  cow 
all  the  way,  and  upon  his  arrival  here  he  worked 
by  the  day  a  number  of  years,  then  bought,  forty 
acres  of  land,  and  in  due  time  sold  the  forty  acres 
lo  liis  sou,  our  subject,  for  the  sum  of  $2,000. 

Marion  W.  Hale,  on  the  7th  of  October.  187:>, 
was  married  to  Miss  Lora  1).,  daughter  of  isaa-- 
Hurst,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of   Grand  View    Township.      The  mother  of  Mrs. 


964 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Hale  was  in  her  girlhood  Eliza  Hunter,  daughter 
of  John  Hunter  of  Paris.  She  died  when  Mrs. 
Hale  was  a  young  girl  of  twelve  years.  Upon  his 
marriage  Mr.  Hale  was  the  possessor  of  two  horses 
and  a  buggy,  and  the  young  people  began  their 
wedded  life  on  a  farm  in  this  township.  By  in- 
dustry and  the  closest  management  he  has  thor- 
oughly improved  his  land,  erected  a  good  house, 
and  has  an  orchard,  and  the  outbuildings  required 
for  his  farming  operations,  which,  although  not  ex- 
tensive are  carried  on  in  that  methodical  manner 
which  inevitably  yields  good  returns.  Mr.  Ila'c 
makes  a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle.  Poland- 
China  swine  and  good  grades  of  horses.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  sound  Republican.  He  is  the  father 
of  three  bright  children — Arthur.  Clyde  and  Cecil 
— in  whose  education  and  training  the  parents 
maintain  the  liveliest  interest. 


/Z^EORGE  H.  SHANK.  The  city  of  Paris 
||  (=7  contains  no  individual  of  more  gentlemanly 
^s^il  instincts  or  higher  moral  principles  than  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  in  good  circumstances, 
retired  from  active  labor,  and  occupies  a  very 
pleasant  home  at  the  intersection  of  Central  avenue 
and  Edgar  street,  where  have  been  gathered  many 
of  the  evidences  of  refined  tastes  and  ample  means. 
The  dwelling  is  well  shaded  by  handsome  and  well- 
kept  forest  trees,  with  a  smooth  lawn  in  front,  and 
in  the  rear  the  smaller  fruits  with  grapes,  in  abun- 
dance. Half  city  and  half  country,  the  home  is 
replete  with  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  mod- 
ern life  and  is  the  frequent  resort  of  the  many 
friends  which  Mr.  Shank  and  his  estimable  family 
have  gathered  about  them.  They  occupy  a  high 
social  position  and  are  numbered  among  the  lead- 
ing residents  of  the   town. 

A  native  of  Greene  County,  Ohio,  our  subject 
was  born  June  2,  1821,  and  there  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  receiving  careful  home  training  and  a 
practical  education.  His  father,  Henry  Shank,  was 
a  native  of  Maryland  and  married  Miss  Barbara  A. 
Crumbaugh  whose  birthplace  was  not  far  from 
that  of  her  husband.  As  early  as  1812  they  re- 
moved to  Greene  County.  Ohio,  where  the}'  opened 


up  a  farm  from  the  wilderness  and  spent  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  They  reared  a  family  of  seven 
children  who  became  good  and  worthy  members  of 
the  community.  The  Shank  family  is  of  German 
ancestry  and  the  Crumbaughs  flourished  in  Mary- 
land for  many  years.  Some  of  them  emigrated  to 
Kentucky  and  later  the  family  was  represented  in 
McLean  County,  this  State,  during  its  pioneer  days 
and  where  the  remains  of  many  of  them  have  been 
laid  amid  the  quiet  dead. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  married  in  his  na- 
tive county  10  Miss  Rebecca  Hawkins,  who  was  also 
born  there  and  they  began  housekeeping  on  the  old 
Shank  homestead  in  Ohio,  which  the  father  of  our 
subject  had  assisted  in  clearing  from  the  heavy 
timber.  There  also  their  two  children  were  born 
— Oavis  H.  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  and  .Mary  K.,  now  Mrs.  A.  J.  Crumbaugh, 
a  resident  of  McLean  County,  111.  Mr.  Crumbaugh 
is  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  the  father  of  two 
children — Eddie  and  Clara. 

The  parents  of  Mis.  Shank  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  removed  to  Ohio  about  IS  12.  Our  sub- 
ject came  with  his  famil}-  to  Edgar  County.  III., 
about  18G6  and  purchased  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  his  son,  Davis.  He  lived  thereuntil  1873,  then 
took  up  his  residence  in  Paris.  After  coming  to 
Edgar  County  he  purchased  100  acres  of  land  but, 
has  now  only  200  acres,  having  divided  up  the  bal- 
ance among  his  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shank  were 
reared  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  Church  bul 
there  being  no  society  of  that  denomination  in 
Paris,  they  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  to 
which  they  contribute  a  liberal  support. 

In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat. 


-f-O-!- 


^  AMl'EL  W.  IGO,  of    Bruellet  Township, 

may  usually  lie  found  pursuing  the  even 
tenor  of  his  way  at  his  farm  on  section  20, 
where  he  has  a  comfortable  home  which  he 
built  up  from  a  tract  of  .partially  improved  land. 
He  was  born  in  Highland  County,  Ohio,  Aug.  14. 
1851,  and  was  there  reared,  acquiring  his  educa- 
tion   in   the  district  school.      He  chose  farming  for 


4®H  ■■&8fc^i. 


'  *^"*' 


I 


^K)fa  ^l^v<_ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


9(m 


his    vocation,  and   to   this   has  given  Lis  principal 
attention  through  life. 

Lewis  Igo,  the  father  of  on r  subject,  was  likewise 
a  native  of  Highland  County.  Ohio,  anil  the  son  of 
William  Igo,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  that, 
region.  The  Igo  family  tniees  its  ancestry  to  Scot- 
land, while  the  paternal  grandmother  of  our  subject 
was  <>f  German  descent.  The  old  home  farm  in 
the  Buckeye  State  is  now  occupied  by  two  of  his 
brothers  and  mother.  The  maiden  name  of  the 
mother  ofoursubjeel  was  Loace  McCoy.  The  par- 
ents were  married  in  Ohio,  wheie  were  born  to 
them  nine  children,  of  whom  Samuel  was  the  sixth. 
Lewis  Igo  died  in  Ohio  in  1885,  and  the  mother  is 
still  living  there.  Her  father,  Daniel  McCoy, 
served  all  through   the  War  of  1812. 

Our  subject  came  to  Vermillion  County.  Ind., 
about  1872,  sojourning  there  three  years,  and  in 
the  meantime  was  married,  Oct.  12,  1873,  to  Miss 
Nancy  .1..  daughter  of  Alexander  Skidinore,  a  na- 
tive of  Indiana.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  laud,  which  is  now  included 
in  his  present  farm  and  which  was  then  covered 
with  brush  and  timber.  He  put  up  a  log  hous,. 
ICxl8  feet  square,  and  as  he  was  able,  added  to  it 
until  lie  had  constructed  a  very  comfortable  dwell- 
ing. He  cleared  his  land  by  degrees  and  added 
to  his  real  estate  until  he  was  the  owner  of  101) 
acres,  tin-  most  of  which  he  has  brought  to  a  good 
slate  of  cultivation.  His  first  forty  acres  cost  him 
$12.85  per  acre,  and  it,  is  now  considered  at  least 
worth  $35  per  acre.  Mrs.  Igo  has  twenty  acres  of 
her  father's  old  farm.  Both  our  subject  and  his 
excellent  wife  arc  members  in  good  standing  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  namely :  Blanch,  Ward,  Ida. 
Grace.  Sadie.  Orin  and  Veranda.  They  live  quietly 
and  comfortably,  at  peace  with  all  the  world  and 
enjoying  the  respect  of  their  neighbors. 


-  ^  •:•  c  - 


\       / 


ILI.IAM   II.  LAMB.      In  noting  the  prom 

M  incut  men  and  pioneers  of  Edgar  County, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  can  scarcely  with 
propriety  be  omitted  from  the  category.  The 
reader  will  find  elsewhere  in  this  Aim  \i  a  tine  por- 


trait of  Mr.  Lamb,  a  valuable  anil  essential  feature 
in  the  history  of  a  county,  with  whose  upbuilding 
he  has  been  so   prominently  associated.      By    great 

diligence    and    perseverance    he   has   ( structed    a 

well-regulated  farm  from  the  primitive  soil,  and  is 
now  pleasantly  located  on  section  8, Stratton  Town- 
ship. His  property  embraces  160  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  which,  with  its  building  and  other 
appurtenances,  presents  the  picture  of  an  attractive 
country  home  where  peace  and  plenty  abound. 
Mr.  Lamb's  entire  career  is  that  of  a  quiet  and 
unostentatious  citizen,  retiring  in  his  habits,  but  at 
the  same  time  he  has  signalized  himself  as  an  intel- 
ligent and  useful  member  of  his  community.  He 
is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
is  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  con- 
ventions. Usually  he  has  declined  the  responsi- 
bilities of  office,  but  has  served  as  Road  Commis- 
sioner and  in  other  positions  of  usefulness.  In 
religious  matters  he  is  liberal,  while  his  good  wife 
is  :i  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  town  of  West  Union,  Clark  County,  this  State, 
was  near  the  early  tramping  ground  of  oursubject, 
and  here  his  birth  took  place  May  5,  1820.  The 
school  privileges  of  that  time  and  place  were  very 
Limited  and  principally  carried  on  during  the  win- 
ter season.  The  temple  of  learning  was  a  rude  log 
cabin,  where  our  subject,  sat  astride  a  bench  made 
of  a  slab,  and  studied  his  books  with  the  aid  of 
the  light  struggling  through  window  panes  of 
greased  paper.  When  at  home  he  assisted  his 
father  in  opening  up  the  new  farm,  and  became 
familiar  with  all  the  other  employments  of  pioneer 
life. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-One  years  our  subject 
was  married,  April  -1,  1811,  to  Miss  Maliala  A., 
daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  Vansickle.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Lamb  were  natives  of  Indiana, 
whence  they  emigrated  to  Illinois  at  a  very  early 
day.  settling  upon  the  land  which  constitutes  the 
present  farm  of  our  subject.  The  young  people 
commenced  their  wedded  life  in  this  county,  and  as 
years  passed  by  a  family  of  nine  children  gathered 
around  the  hearthstone.  Two  of  these  are  now 
deceased.  Herman,  the  eldest  living,  is  :i  resident 
of    Olpe.    Kan.;    Isaac    .1.     is    farming   in    Stratton 


;>(',« 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Township,  this  county;  Jasper  N.  is  a  resident  of 
Vermilion;  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  William  Sovern 
of  Hunter  Township;  William  II.  anil  Samuel  are 
at  home  with  their  parent;  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
William  Volkers  of  this  Township. 

Aimer  ami  Abigail  (Trogdon)  Lamb,  the  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  born,  reared  and  married  in 
North  Carolina,  and  came  West  in  1814,  locating 
in  Orange  County.  Ind..  where  they  resided  four 
years.  Aimer  Lamb  was  born  in  171)  I.  and  his 
wife,  Abigail,  in  171K5.  They  resided  in  Indiana 
four  years,  as  above  stated,  then  came  to  Clark 
County,  111.  Later,  in  1827,  they  came  to  this 
county,  and  located  in  Elbridge  Township,  where 
the  father  carried  on  farming  and  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  days,  dying  Aug.  18.  18(17.  The  mother 
survived  her  husband  nearly  fourteen  years,  her 
death  taking  place  in  January,  1881.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  to  them  only  two  are  living:  William, 
our  subject,  and  Mahala,  the  wife  of  William  Davis 
of  Nebraska. 


k~^w^- 


^fOIIN  C.  EPPERSON,  M.  D.,  a  young  and 
energetic  physician  and  surgeon  of  Kansas, 
Edgar  County,  was  born  in  Coles  County, 
/  IM.,  adjoining  the  Edgar  County  line,  on 
the  2nd  day  of  January,  1841)  to  Oreen  Epperson 
(deceased,)  a.  native  of  Grayson  County,  Ky.,  who 
emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1  8:i:S  and  established  him- 
self in  Coles  County.  The  house  he  erected  to 
shelter  his  family,  was  the  same  one  which  our  sub- 
ject first  saw  the  light  and  where  Green  Epperson 
laid  aside  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  this 
life  in  I8.r>0,  and  entered  into  the  enjoyment  of  his 
reward  in  the  regions  beyond.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject,,  was  a  Virginian  of  Scotch  extraction 
ami  no  doubt  much  of  the  success  of  Dr.  Epperson 
is  ilue  to  qualities  inherited  from  thatsturdy  race, 
whose  love  of  country  and  freedom  is  prover- 
bial. The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Thirza 
Wood,  whose  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812  and  was  wounded  in  battle.  The  parents  of 
our  subject  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  eight  are  living — Brutus  C,  Cassius  C,  Sid- 


ney, Green,  Joseph,  Martha  (Mrs.  Lawson)  of  Terre 
Haute;  Kate,  (Mrs.  Arturburn)  resides  in  Coles 
County,  and  John  C,  the  subject  of  this  biography. 
Brutus,  Cassius  and  Green  are  in  California;  Sidney 
is  in  Omaha.  Neb.;  Joseph  is  on  the  old  homestead. 
Another  son  of  this  family,  named  Rhodes,  was  in 
the  late  war  and  was  wounded  while  gallantly 
charging  the  enemy  in  battle.  He  is  now  deceased. 
Dr.  Epperson  was  reared  upon  a  farm  until  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  when  he  was 
placed  in  the  Westfield  school  to  be  educated  and 
remained  there  two  years,  applying  himself  dilli- 
gently  to  his  studies  and  making  many  friends 
amongst  both  teachers  and  scholars.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  in  Westfield  he  entered 
the  Mattoon  School,  where  he  pursued  his  edu- 
cation two  years  longer.  He  then  obtained 
employment  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store  in 
Mattoon,  remaining  there  three  years,  when,  his 
health  being  poor  he  went  to  California,  hoping  to 
be  benefited  by  the  change  of  air  and  scenery.  He 
remained  there  nine  months  and  then  returned  to 
Mattoon,  very  much  improved  in  health,  and  en- 
tered the  office  of  J.  M.  Ilinkle,  M.  D.,and  studied 
medicine  one  and  one-half  years  under  his  direc- 
tion. In  1871  Drs.  Ilinkle  and  Allen  opened  a 
branch  surgical  institute  in  San  Francisco,  Cal., 
and  our  subject  accompanied  them  and  was  placed 
in  charge  of  one  department,  receiving  a  suitable 
salary.  He  pursued  his  studies  while  there  and  in 
1878  graduated  from  the  Pacific  Medical  College 
of  San  Francisco.  Not  being  entirely  contented 
with  the  progress  which  he  had  made  and  desiring 
to  further  increase  his  usefullness  as  a  physician, 
he  took  a  course  of  study  in  the  Cooper  Medical 
College  of  San  Francisco,  graduating  from  it  with 
high  honor  in  1882.  He  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
class  and  got  the  first  diploma  ever  issued  from  the 
new  College.  The  expenses  attending  his  courses 
of  study  at  these  two  colleges,  were  provided  for 
by  the  salary  he  received  as  a  practitioner  in  the 
Surgical  Institute,  which  has  been  mentioned  above, 
with  which  he  remained  connected  until  Decem- 
ber 1882,  when  he  severed  relation  with  them  and 
went  to  Weston,  Ore.,  where  he  opened  an  office 
ami  followed  the  practice  of  medicine  five  years. 
His  aged  mother  being  in  frail   health   and  wishing 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


969 


to  see  him,  before  departing  this  life,  induced  him 
to  return  to  his  native  State.  Shortly  after  his  ar- 
rival in  Illinois  in  1887,  he  located  in  Kansas;, 
where  his  eminent  "abilities  have  been  recognized 
and  rewarded  with  a  large  and  increasing  and  re- 
munerative practice. 

The  aged  mother  of  our  subject  gently  rolled  off 
the  burden  of  life  Oct.  7,  1888.  She  was  a  native 
ofBcurbon  County,  Kv..  where  she  was  born  Dec. 
f>,  1807.  Although  her  departure  was  a  great  grief 
to  her  family,  yet  they  were  resigned,  feeling  that 
their  hiss  was  her  gain.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
was  married  Dee.  is,  187s  to  Miss  Helen  Griffin, 
a  daughter  of  Hiram  B.  Griffin,  of  Pendleton,  Ore., 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three 
children — Thir/.a,  John  and  Hiram.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  ().  O.  F.  and  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men. 

Dr.  Epperson  is  nut  only  a  young  and  successful 
pratictioner,  a  graduate  of  two  medical  colleges, 
but  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence 
and  culture.  In  his  method  of  treatment  in  chronic 
cases  and  in  surgical  practice,  especially  in  those 
ca^cs  requiring  delicate  manipulation,  he  has  been 
eminently  successful. 

jjp^AAMMKL   1!.   KILLGORE.     A  goodly  pro- 

^^#  portion  of  the  younger  men  of  Edgar 
^\\J_jf)  County  are  its  native-born  citizens,  suns 
of  its  earliest  pioneers.  Among  them  is 
the  subject  of  this  notice  who  is  living  retired  from 
active  labor  in  Vermillion  and  owns  a  good  farm  of 
seventy-six  and  one-half  acres  in  Stratton  Town- 
ship, lie  was  born  in  this  township  .July  It.  1845, 
and  after  leaving  the  district  school  entered  VVcst- 
field  College  of  which  he  was  a  student  one  year. 
Afterward  he  embarked  in  farming,  being  al  dial 
time  owner  of  his  present  property  which  he  has 
brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  This  he  now 
rents  to  other  parties  and  realizes  from  il  a  hand- 
some income. 

Mr.  Killgore  is  a  bachelor,  and  spends  some  of 
his  time  traveling.  He  identified  himself  with  the 
United  Brethren  Church  this  year  but  was  formerly 


a  Methodist.  Politically  he  is  a  pronounced  Prohi- 
bitionist. He  has  from  boyhood  been  familiar  with 
agricultural  pursuits,  spending  the  early  part  of  his 
life  on  the  farm  with  his  father  in  Stratton  Town- 
ship, where  he  was  reared  to  habits  of  industry  ami 
admirably  lilted  for  the  later  duties  of  life.  IK' 
has  practically  grown  up  with  the  country  which 
during  his  childhood  was  in  its  infancy  and  has 
been  the  privileged  witness  of  the  extraordinary 
changes  occurring,  not  only  throughout  Central 
Illinois,  but  the  entire  West. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Meadows)  Killgore,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  Nov.  3,  1817.  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1832, 
settling  in  Stratton  Township,  this  county,  with  his 
parents,  lie  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  live 
children  and  the  son  of  Anthony  Killgore.  who  was 
a  soldier  in  his  (lav,  serving  with  old  Tippecanoe 
and  was  on  the  battlefield  where  Tecumseh  was 
slain.  He  was  born  near  (Jermantown,  in  Mason 
County,  K}'.,  and  after  coining  to  this  county,  be- 
came prominent  and  popular,  being  possessed  of 
fine  business  abilities  and  the  integrity  of  character 
which  drew  around  him  many  warm  friends.  He 
became  identified  with  the  Republican  party  at  its- 
organization  and  occupied  many  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility,  serving  as  Township  Supervisor 
and  otherwise  making  himself  useful  in  local  affairs. 
He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  closed  his  eyes  upon  the  scenes  of 
earth   May   1.   1888. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Meadows )  Killgore.  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  this  county,  in  1831,  they  settling  in 
Stratton  Township.  The  family  consisted  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  Mary  was  the  eldest  born.  She 
firs!  opened  her  eyes  to  the  light  in  Breckenridge 
County,  Ky.,  in  Dec.  8,  1818.  Of  her  union  with 
Mr.  Killgore  there  were  born  seven  children,  one 
of  whom  is  deceased.  Samuel  I!.,  our  subject,  was 
the  eldest  of  the  family.  William  A.  is  a  resident 
of  Stratton  Township;  Elizabeth  A.  remains  at 
home  with  her  mother;  Talitha;  Carrie  is  the  wife 
of  Rev.  C.  Galeener,  of  Springfield,  111.,  where  Mr. 
Galeener  has  charge  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church;  Mary  A.  died  when  twenty-seven  years  old; 
Joseph  G.,  M.  D..  is  a   resident    of   Huffmansville, 


!»70 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


this  county.  Mrs.  Killgoreis  now  in  tlie  seventieth 
year  of  her  age  her,  home  is  in  Vermillion,  this 
county.  She  is  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  old 
lad}',  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  her  and 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
family  is  widely  and  favorably  known  throughout 
the  county  and  have  contributed  in  no  small  degree 
to  its  growth  and  prosperity. 


^r 


->^^^r^^—~- 


GlEORGE  RINGLAND,  M.  I).,  physician  and 
,  surgeon.  Kansas,  Edgar  County,  was  burn 
_j  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  Sept.  5,  1823. 
Ills  father  was  the  Hon.  Thomas  Ringland  (de- 
ceased), a  native  of  County  Down.  Ireland,  where 
he  was  born  in  August  178.'i.  Braving  the  dangers 
of  an  ocean  voyage  in  1  795,  William  Ringland,  ac- 
companied by  his  son  Thomas,  then  a  lad  of  twelve 
years,  turned  his  back  on  the  Emerald  Isle  and 
crossed  the  stoimy  Atlantic  to  the  hospitable  shore 
of  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Washington 
County,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  his  favorite  occu- 
pation of  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  His  son.  Thomas,  as- 
sisted him  during  youth  and  in  mature  years 
followed  his  father's  footsteps  in  the  same  occupa- 
tion. The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Anna  McCol- 
lum,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  McCollum,  (deceased). 
She  was  bom  in  New  Jersey,  which  also  was  the 
native  place  of  her  father. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  major  of  a  Penn- 
sylvania regiment  during  the  war  of  1812.  His 
regiment  was  under  the  command  of  Gen.  William 
Henry  Harrison  and  assisted  to  build  Ft.  Me:'gs  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Mauinec  River.  He  commanded 
a  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  militia  for  some  time 
after  the  war  and  became  its  colonel.  Being  an  in- 
telligent and  enterprising  man  and  popular  in  his 
political  district  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature 
and  served  nine  years,  four  of  which  were  in  tin 
upper  house;  the  last  two  years  of  his  membership 
in  the  Senate  were  spent  in  the  president's  chair. 
During  the  time  he  was  president-  of  the  Senate  his 
decisions  were  able  and  gave  satisfaction  to  the 
members.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter  and  one  of 
the  originators  of  the   law   establishing    the    public 


school  system  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1858  he  left 
the  Keystone  State  and  came  to  this  county,  lo- 
cating in  Grand  View  Township,  where  he  resided 
until  called  hence,  .Ian.  18C9,  his  wife  following 
him  into  the  shadowy  land  one  year  later.  This 
couple  had  both  reached  a  good  old  age,  the  father 
being  in  the  eighty-sixth  and  the  mother  in  her 
eighty-third  year.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  three  are  living — George.  Ben- 
jamin A.,  of  Oakland,  and  Alec  II..  of  Dudley,  III. 
The  names  of  the  deceased  children  are:  William, 
John  N.,  father  of  the  noted  Dr.  Ringland  of  Riv- 
erside Health  Institute  of  Hamilton,  III. ;  Mary,  who 
married  Jacob  Braden  of  Dudley;  Samuel,  Nancy 
and  Anna.  All  were  married  except  Samuel  and 
Nancy. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  during  the  early  years  of  his  life  attended 
the  common  school  of  the'district.  When  reaching  a 
suitable  age  lie  was  placed  in  Carmichaels  Academy 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Greene  County,  Pa.,  where 
by  diligent  application  he  made  good  progress  in 
his  studies,  and.  on  completion  of  the  course,  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  He  followed  the  profession  two 
years,  teaching  in  Greene.  Washington  and  Fayette 
counties.  Pa.,  then  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Strouse 
of  Amity  and  began  the  study  of  medicine.  Aftei 
a  few  months  spent  in  this  office  he  left  it  and  en- 
tered the  office  of  Dr.  Culver  of  Jefferson,  Greene 
Co.,  I'a..  where  he  remained  one  year.  Afterwards 
he  studied  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Neff  of  Mason  town, 
Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  remaining  there  nearly  a 
year,  when  he  left  to  attend  a  course  of  lectures  at 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  following 
which  he,  in  the  same  year,  1810,  opened  an  office 
in  West  Liberty,  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  pract- 
ice!' there  a  few  months,  then  removed  to  McClel- 
lan  in  the  same  county  and  practiced  four  years. 
In  1850  he  removed  to  Greene  County,  Pa.. 
where  he  practiced  until  1857,  when  he  left  the 
State  and.  in  company  with  his  brother.  Alee 
H.,  removed  to  this  State,  locating  where  Newman 
is  at  present  situated.  In  order  to  secure  a  place 
to  reside  the}'  were  obliged  to  rent  a  farm,  which 
was  managed  by  his  brother  Alec.  Temporary 
buildings  were  put  up  for  their  use  and  conven 
ience  and  he  practiced  there   some    two    years.      In 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


!)71 


the  meantime  the  town  of  Newman  was  laid  out 
mid  in  1859  be  built  n  bouse  there,  it  being  one  of 
the  first  dwellings  to  be  erected  in  the  town.  He 
built  up  a  large  practice  in  that  place  and  was  pros- 
pering finely,  but  in  1'S<'>1  lie  once  more  removed, 
coming  to  Kansas,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Since  locating  here  he  has  built  up  :i  large 
and  lucrative  practice. 

Dr.  Bingland's  success  has  been  owing  to  the 
fad  that  he  attends  strictly  to  business,  and  never 
wastes  time  meddling  in  politics  or  seeking  official 
honors,  believing  that  those  who  give  such  subjects 
their  exclusive  attention  are  the  ones  best  fitted  to 
manage  its  affairs. 

( )n  Feb.  7.  1843,  our  subject  and  .Miss  Martha 
Rea  were  united  in  marriage  at  the  home  of  the 
bride's  father,  John  Rea.  Mrs.  Ringland  is  a  native 
of  Greene  County.  Pa.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ringland 
have  had  their  home  blessed  by  the  appearance  of 
six  bright  intelligent  children,  of  whom  four  sur- 
vive to  cheer  and  comfort  their  parents,  and  are 
named  respectively:  William  P..  Kay  C.  Mary  and 
Margaret.  The  deceased  are  Hannah,  who  died  in 
her  seventeenth  year  and  John  T.,who  died  when 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 

William  and  Miss  Caroline  McCorkle  "ere  mar- 
ried and  reside  in  Hastings.  Neb.,  with  their  two 
children — Raul  F.  and  George  L..  where  he  is  Pres- 
ident of  Hastings  College;  Ray  married  Josephine 
Phillips  and  lives  in  Decatur,  111.,  and  is  the  father 
of  two  children — George  L.  and  an  infant  hoy. 

Dr.  Ringland  is  a  member  of  the  Esculapian  So- 
ciety Of  the  Wabash  Valley  and  was  its  president 
during  the  year  1888.  He  is  a  R.  A.  M.  and  was 
Master  here  one  year.  Dr.  Ringland  and  his  entire 
family  are  devoted  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  Doctor  having  been  connected  with 
the  church  since  1842  and  now  serves  the  congre- 
gation in  the  capacity  of  Elder,  an  office  which  im- 
plies a  high  degree  of  christian  activity  and  moral 
rectitude. 

William  Ringland.  the  oldest  son  of  Dr.  Ring- 
land,  reflects  threat  credit  upon  his  parental  care 
and  training.  He  early  manifested  an  ardent  de- 
sire for  knowledge  and  showed  great  aptitude  in 
acquiring  it.  His  parents  determined  to  permit  him 
lo  follow  the  natural   bent  of    his    mind    so    after 


completing  the  curriculum  of  his  native  town  he 
was  placed  in  Wabash  College  at  Crawfordsville, 
I  ml.,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  with 
high  honors  in  1.S77  and  afterward  entered  the 
McCormick  Theologies  I  Seminary  of  Chicago,  grad- 
uating from  it  in  1880.  Alter  being  ordained  In 
the  ministry  he  returned  to  his  native  town  and 
preached  fur  the  home  congregation  fur  some  time, 
but  was  afterwards  sent  to  Hastings,  Neb.,  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  that  church.  His  pastorate  there 
was  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  congregation, 
but  the  authorities  in  charge  of  the  college  pre- 
vailed upon  him  to  relinquish   his  charge  and  take 

the  presidency  of  that  instituti which    position 

he  now  holds,  although  not  entirely  retiring  from 
the  ministry. 

During  the  course  of  his  honorable  and  success- 
ful career,  Dr.  Ringland  has  been  a  sorrowing  wit- 
ness of  the  evil  effects  of  alcohol  in  its  multitudi- 
nous forms  and  has  dedicated  the  powers  of  his 
splendid  understanding  to  the  suppression  of  the 
traffic,  ami  in  order  to  secure  the  consummation  of 
this  desirable  result  has  thrown  himself  heart  and 
soul  into  the  arms  of  the  third  or  Prohibition  party, 
believing  that  they  alone  are  sincere  in  endeavor- 
ing to  overthrow  the  rum  power. 


...  RNOLD  P.  ADAMS.  Among  the  neat 
.@Y/j[i  homesteads  of  Bruellet  Township,  that  be- 
lli longing  to  this  gentleman  is  worthy  of 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  It  is  pleas- 
antly situated  on  section  7,  and  with  its  neat  build- 
ings and  other  improvements,  reflects  great  credit 
upon  the  taste,  industry  and  good  judgment  of  the 
proprietor.  Mr.  Adams  is  accounted  one  of  the 
most  worthy  men  of  his  community,  and  is  of  that 
gentlemanly  and  courteous  bearing  which  at  once 
impresses  itself  upon  the  strangei  as  that  of  a  man 
possessing  those  traits  of  character  which  form  the 
basis  of  all  good  society. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Venango  County.  Pa., 
April  8,  1837, and  when  fifteen  years  old,  removed 
with  his  parents,  .lames  and  Lelitia  (Cannon) 
Adams,  to  Perry  County.  Ohio.      They  lived  there 


9  72 


PORTRAIT  AND  BUM  1RAPJ  I1CA  I.  ALBUM. 


about  two  and  one-half  years,  then  in  the  fall  of 
1854,  came  to  this  county,  and  located  in  Edgar 
Township.  The  mother,  however,  had  died  in  her 
native  State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  June,  1851.  There 
was  :i  family  of  thirteen  children,  twelve  of  whom 
lived  to  mature  years,  one  having  died  in  infancy. 
The  father  only  lived  about  four  years  after  com- 
ing to  this  county,  dying  in  Ross  Township,  in 
June.  1858. 

Our  subject  was  the  sixth  child  of  his  parents, 
and  eight  of  the  children  are  still  living,  lie  re- 
members many  of  the  incidents  of  the  journey  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  and  from  that  State  to  Illi- 
nois, both  of  which  were  made  overland  by  teams. 
In  this  county  the  boys  fanned  on  rented  land  dur- 
ing the  father's  lifetime,  after  which  Arnold  P. 
worked  out  try  the  month  until  after  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  War.  That  same  year,  1801,  he  en- 
listed as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company  1),  25th  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  entering  the  ranks  as  a  private,  and 
being  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant.  He  served 
three  years,  and  participated  in  many  of  the  im- 
portant battles  of  the  war.  At  Stone  River  he  re- 
ceived a  tlesh  wound  in  the  right  side,  and  at 
Chickamauga  was  shot  in  the  right  arm.  He  did 
not  suffer  these  wounds  to  disable  him,  however, 
but  entered  upon  the  Georgia  campaign  with  his 
regiment,  and  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  was  wounded 
in  the  left  hand.  This  was  more  serious  than  the 
other  two,  and  he  was  off  duty  until  his  final  dis- 
charge. He  experienced  all  the  hardships  and  pri- 
vations of  a  soldier's  life,  but  never  regretted  that 
he  had  thus  given  his  assistance  in  the  preservation 
of  the  Union. 

After  leaving  the  army,  our  subject  returned  to 
this  county,  and  in  November,  18G5,  was  married 
to  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  John  Legg,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  Of  this  union  there  was  born  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Letitia,  now  Mrs.  Michael  Sowers,  who 
is  living  in  Bruellet  Township.  Mrs.  Eliza  Adams 
departed  this  life  in  June,  1868.  Our  subject,  in 
1871,  was  a  second  time  married  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Nice,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, viz:  Anna,  deceased ;  Vara;  George  T..  and 
his  twin  brother,  who  died  in  infancy;  America, 
Horace  II.,  Estella,  and  Caroline. 

The  snug  little   farm    of    our  subject  embraces 


sixty-six  acres  of  well-tilled  land,  which  he  pur- 
chased with  his  own  earnings,  and  which  now 
affords  him  a  comfortable  living.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church.  The  first  Mrs.  Adams  belonged 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Adams, 
politically,  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  the  offices 
of  Township  Supervisor  and  Collector,  four  and 
three  years  respectively.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  VVeldon  Adams,  who  was  born 
and  married  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  who  re- 
moved to  Venango  County  during  its  early  settle- 
ment. On  the  mother's  side  Grandfather  James 
Cannon,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  crossed  the 
Atlantic  with  his  little  family  when  a  young  man. 
( >ne  of  his  children  died  at  sea.  and  was  committed 
to  an  ocean  grave.  That  branch  of  the  family  were 
also  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal   Church. 


( )X.  SILAS  II.  ELLK  III',  is  one  of  the  piom- 
|j   inent  men  of  Edgar  County,  who  has  aided 


largely  in  its  development.  He  is  now  re- 
tired from  active  pursuits,  on  Prairie  street. 
Paris,  where  he  has  a  line  home.  The  farm  on 
which  he  lived  for  many  years  and  where  he  made 
his  record  as  a  pains-taking  and  successful  farmer, 
is  located  two  miles  north  of  town  and  contains 
800  acres  of  fertile   land. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  born  in  Butler  County.  Ohio, 
Dec.  19,  1812,  and  resided  in  different  parts  of 
his  native  county,  until  he  removed  to  Illinois. 
After  becoming  of  age  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself,  and  so  continued  until  1853  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm  north  of  Paris.  That  place  he 
improved  or  caused  to  be  improved,  entirely  him- 
self, erecting  a  good  house  and  all  the  necessary 
outbuildings  for  carrying  on  an  extensive  farming 
business.  In  1858  he  won  a  gold  medal  which 
was  given  for  the  best  improved  and  most  highly 
cultivated  farm  in  the  State.  He  continued  to  live 
on  that  farm  until  1872,  when  he  removed  to  town, 
and  there  built  a  home  on  Central  avenue,  in  the 
meantime  supervising   the   work  on  the  farm  until 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


973 


1876.  He  resided  on  Central  avenue  until  1880 
when  he  purchased  his  present  beautiful  home. 

In  1859  Mr.  Elliott  was  honored  by  an  election 
to  the  Legislature  <>n  the  Republican  ticket,  which 
he  always  votes.  lie  served  on  the  committees  on 
railroads,  swamp  lands,  etc.  lie  was  the  author  of 
the  Paris  School  Bill*  which  by  his  efforts  became 
:i  law,  anil  he  was  largely  interested  in  amendments 
to  railroad  charters,  ami  in  securing  tin-  incorpo- 
ration of  the  Paris  Coke  ami  Gas-light  Company. 
Mr.  Elliott  was  conspicuous  in  forwarding  the  san- 
itary work  during  the  late  war,  healing  all  his  own 
expenses  and  spending  four  years  of  time.  lie  was 
with  the  army  a  great  deal  of  this  period  engaged 
in  the  work  of  caring  for  the  wounded,  bringing 
home  the  dead,  and  conveying  provisions  and  cloth- 
ing to  the  front.  His  operations  were  mainly  in 
Tennessee,  where  he  went  through  acres  of  hos- 
pitals and  miles  of  battlefields  searching  and  hunt- 
ing for  those  who  were  in  need  of  help.  He  had 
three  sons  in  the  service,  two  of  whom  were  badly 
wounded,  and  one  of  them  gave  up  his  life  for  his 
country.  There  were  only  three  sons  in  this  fam- 
ily. This  record  of  Mr.  Klliott  is  one  deserving  of 
special  mention,  and  one  which  his  countrymen 
will  never  forget. 

Mr.  Elliott  has  always  been  an  active  and  influ- 
ential Republican  worker  and  high  in  the  councils 
of  his  party.  In  all  of  his  political  work  he  has 
been  conscientious,  doing  everything  for  the  sake 
of  principle.  In  1887  he  wa.s  stricken  with  mus- 
cular paralysis  and  for  a  time  it  was  feared  by  his 
multitude  of  friends  that  the  results  would  lie  ser- 
ious, but  he  has  gradually  regained  his  health  until 
he  is,  at  this  writing,  able  to  be  about  with  his 
mental  vigor  unimpaired,  lie  has  led  an  exemplary 
life,  and  is  a  total  abstainer  from  tobacco  and  in- 
toxicating liquors.  In  1851  Mr.  Klliott  was  instru- 
mental in  organizing  the  Edgar  County  Agricul- 
tural Society,  was  elected  its  first  President  and  in 
the  following  year,  was  chosen  secretary  of  the 
society.  Since  that  time  he  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  sustaining  it,  giving  largely  of  his  means 
to  that  purpose,  until  now  Edgar  County  can  boast 
of  one  of  the  healthiest  agricultural  societies  in  the 
Slate.  The  Edgar  cemetery  which  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  in  this  section  of  the  State,  was  ori- 


ginated by  Mr.  Elliott,  who  ploughed  the  grounds 
and  planted  the  first  shrubbery  and  hedges  that 
now  adorn  thai  lovely  city  of  the  dead.  The  cem- 
etery was  incorporated  thirty  years  ago,  and  hut 
one  man  is  now  living  who  was  then  associated 
with  Mr.  Elliott  in  its  incorporation — Dr.  Euston. 
All  projects  that  have  tended  to  beautify  Paris  and 
its  surroundings,  have  been  guided  on  to  success 
by  the  master  hand  of  Silas  II.  Elliotl  and  the 
p.opie  are  indebted    to  him  more  than  they  realize. 

Mr.  Elliott  has  been  an  active  officer  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  fifty -eight  years, 
and  now  holds  the  positions  of  Steward  and  Trus- 
tee. On  every  hand  praise  of  the  warmest  kind  is 
heard  of  him  as  a  charitable,  public-spirited  and 
model  christian  citizen. and  in  commemoration  of  the 
virtues  and  christian  character  of  his  father  who 
was  an  old  pioneer  preacher,  the  large  Methodist 
church  is  called  Elliott  Chapel.  It  was  constructed 
in  1856,  and  cost  $15,000.  In  the  erection  of  this 
splendid  house  of  worship  Mr.  Elliott  spent  a  large 
amount  of  money  and  nearly  two  years  of  time. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  for 
half  a  century,  and  that  ancient  institution  honors 
itself  by  counting  as  one  of  its  members  such  men 
as  Mr.  Elliott. 

On  February  18,  1835,  Mr.  Elliott  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Rhoda  M.  Magic,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  of  this  union  there  were  born  live  children,  of 
whom  all. but  Theodore,  the  youngest  son,  are  liv- 
ing. Theodore  died  from  wounds  received  in  bat- 
tle during  the  late  Rebellion.  David  B.  is  now  in 
the  grain  and  elevator  business  in  Paris.  He  mar- 
ried Emma  Murphy,  and  they  have  three  children. 
George  W.  married  Miss  Rachael  Kyle  and  they 
are  residing  in  Paris.  Mary  married  Theodore  T. 
Van  Horn.  They  have  two  children,  and  are  also 
living  in  Paris.  Sarah  Elizabeth  is  an  invalid.  On 
May  1,  1885,  Mrs.  Klliott  passed  to  her  reward. 
She  was  an  active  christian  lady,  a  devoted  wife 
and  loving  mother.  Six  weeks  before  her  death, 
she  celebrated  her  golden  wedding,  which  com- 
memorated fifty  3'ears  of  happy  and  useful  wedded 
life.  She  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio.  Aug. 
28,1813,  and  removed  with  her  parents,  when 
young,  to  Butler  County,  that  State,  where  she 
lived   until  her  marriage.     Her  father,  Benjamin 


974 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Magie,  was  born  and  reared  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 
He  there  married  Miss  Sarah  Brown,  and  afterward 
removed  to  Lebanon,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
stock-raising.  He  later  removed  to  Butler  County, 
the  same  State,  when'  he  spent  li is  last  years.  He 
was  born  March  '.».  177'.),  and  died  Jan.  10,  1842. 
His  wife  died  A ng,  15,  1855.  They  were  most 
estimable  people  and  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Arthur  W.  Elliott,  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Baltimore 
County,  Md.,  Feb.  22,  1784,  and  died  Jan.  28, 
1858,  in  Edgar  County.  Illinois.  His  wife,  Mary 
(Pierce)  Elliott  was  born  June  1  I.  1782,  and  died 
in  August  1857,  in  Hamilton,  Ohio. 


/p^EORG 


!$EORGE  W.  CHAMBERS.  The  career  of 
■.  Chambers,  who  is  a  well-known  resi- 
of  Stratton  Township,  has  been  one 
marked  by  many  vicissitudes  during  which  he  has 
sometimes  felt  that  he  has  had  more  than  his  share 
of  difficulties  to  contend  with  along  life's  journey. 
However  this  may  be,  there  has  been  developed 
within  him  those  best  qualities  of  manhood  'which 
have  made  him  a  highly  respected  citizen  and  a 
useful  member  of  the  community,  one  who  has  been 
the  uniform  encourager  of  those  measures  which 
must  form  the  basis  of  all  good  society.  Without 
making  any  great  stir  in  the  world,  he  has  pursued 
the  even  tenor  of  his  way  in  a  praisworthy  and 
conscientious  manner,  fighting  against  odds  some- 
times but  in  the  main  coming  off  a  victor  in  point  of 
moral  strength  and  with  the  fixed  determination  to 
make  the  best  of  life  under  all  circumstances.  We 
find  him  occupying  a  snug  homestead  of  sixty-five 
acres  on  section  7,  Stratton  Township,  where  he 
has  a  neat  and  substantial  residence,  with  well  ap- 
pointed outbuildings  and  all  the  other  appliances 
conducive  to  the  comfort  of  himself  add  family. 
He  has  never  had  any  assistance  financially  since 
starting  out  for  himself  early  in  life,  save  that  of 
his  estimable  partner  who  still  remains  his  faithful 
and  devoted  companion  and  who  has  aided  him  in 
all  his  worthy  endeavors.  Both  are  consistent 
members  of  the  United  Brethren   Church,   and   po- 


litically, Mr.  Chambers  is  a  stanch    adherent  of  the 
Republican  party. 

In  reverting  to  the  parental  history  of  our  sub- 
ject we  find  that  he  is  the  son  of  David  and 
Phebe  (Cruze)  Chambers,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Lancaster  County.  Pa.,  where  he  lived 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  1812.  Then  en- 
listing he  served  in  the  army  until  the  British  were 
a  second  time  driven  from  American  soil,  and  later 
was  married.  The  mother  was  born  in  Lancashire, 
England  and  came  with  her  parents  to  America  when 
but  a  child.  They  settled  near  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
where  she  was  reared  to  womanhood.  Of  her  mar- 
riage with  David  Chambers  there  were  born  eight 
children — George  W.,  being  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth. 

Our  subject  was  left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of 
both  parents  when  about  eight  years  old,  and  being 
bound  out  to  a  severe  task-maker  he  experienced 
ten  years  of  very  hard  usage  with  scarcely 
any  education.  His  guardian  was  brutal  in  the 
extreme,  frequently  beating  him  and  requiring  him 
to  perform  all  the  drudgery  about  his  place.  Fi- 
nally he  was  released  by  the  death  of  his  tyrant 
and  hoped  for  better  times.  The  mistress  after 
the  death  of  her  husband  proved  equally  severe 
but  he  managed  to  stay  with  her  two  years  longer. 
One  day  he  made  up  his  mind  that  he  had  borne 
enough  of  abuse  and  tying  his  clothes  in  a  bundle, 
started  out  in  the  world  of  which  he  had  little 
knowledge  and  less  experience.  He  obtained  a 
situation  as  an  apprentice  in  a  cooper  shop  and 
learned  the  trade  in  a  short  time,  acquiring  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  and  being 
able  to  command  a  fair  salary. 

Our  subject  now  feeling  justified  in  establishing 
a  home  of  his  own.  was  married  in  1848  to  Miss 
Martha  Brubaker.  This  lady  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth Brubaker,  who  were  also  born  and  reared  in 
that  State.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
fourteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  are  living. 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Lambert,  a  minister  of 
the  Mormon  Church,  and  they  reside  in  Iowa; 
Abram  is  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Mary  A.,  Mrs. 
Kirkendal,  is  a  resident  of  Iowa;  Margaret  is  the 
wife  of    E.    Baden,  and    they    live    in    Paris,  this 


Residence  of    Firman  James  ,  Sec. 15.  ElbridgeTownship, Edgar  Co. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


'.'7  7 


county;  Elias  is  ;i  resident  of  Vermillion,  this 
county;  Joseph  lives  in  Mattoon,  111.;  George  is 
Farming  in  si  ration  Township;  Eleanor  is  the  wife 
of  John  Unsung  and  they  arc  living  in  Indiana; 
John  is  also  a  resident  of  that  stale;  Hattie  is  the 
wife  of  John  Day,  of  Denver.  C'<>1.;  Alice  is  un- 
married and  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Chambers  followed  the  cooper's  trade  for 
ten  years  after  his  marriage,  then  removing  to  In- 
diana, purchased  a  farm  in  Clay  County  where  lie 
sojourned  ten  years.  Then  selling  out  at  a  good 
figure  he  came  to  Illinois  and  invested  pari  of  his 
capital  in  a  farm  of  1'H)  acres,  where  he  soon  had  a 
comfortable  home.  Finally  through  an  unwise 
business  transaction  he  lost  a  large  amount  of 
property,  then  sold  out  once  more  and  purchased 
the  farm  which  he  now  occupies.  This  is  devoted 
to  general  agriculture  and  a  goodly  amount  of  live- 
stock, and  forms  one  of  the  pleasantest  homes  in 
this  part  of  the  country.  The  Chambers  family 
occupies  a  good  position  in  the  community  ami  an 
amply  worthy  of  representation  in  a  work  designed 
to  perpetuate  the  lives  of  the  older  settlers  of  Ed- 
gar County. 

■  ..a     ■  i S  m  ?t  iTf  t  i  m   J  \*i    I    ■ 


P'IRMAN  JAMES.  The  career  of  many  of 
the  leading  men  of  Edgar  County  should 
prove  a  source  of  encouragement  to  the 
young  man  starting  out  in  life  without  other  re- 
sources than  his  good  health  and  strong  hands. 
Among  its  self-made  men  none  have  presented  a 
more  creditable  record  than  he  whose  name  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  He  begau  in  life  a  poor 
boy  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  but  was  endowed  by 
nature  with  those  qualities  which  enabled  him  to 
persevere  amid  many  discouragements  until  he  at- 
tained ultimate  success. 

Mr.  .lames  is  now  in  possession  of  a  line  prop- 
erty and  as  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Elbridge 
Township  makes  a  specialty  of  live-stock — sheep, 
cattle  and  swine — large  numbers  of  which  he  ships 
annually  to  Indianapolis  although  selling  princi- 
pally to  the  home  market.  He  has  handled  a  large 
amount  of  money  in  his  day  and  has  dealt  consid- 


erably in    real   estate,  investing  a  large   i unt  of 

capita]  as  a  money-lender  and  taking  real  estate  se- 
curity.    We  find  him  occupying  a  beautiful  In •. 

and  having  an  elegant  residence,  which  with  its 
surroundings  is  represented  by  a  lithographic  en- 
graving elsewhere  in  this  volume  anil  compares  fa- 
vorably with  anything  of  the  kind  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  Time  and  money  have  evidently  been 
employed  liberally  in  bringing  the  farm  to  its 
present  high  state  of  cultivation,  in  erecting  the 
various  buildings  and  gathering  together  the  ma- 
chinery necessary  to  successful  agriculture. 

A  native  of  Allegany  County,  Md.,  our  subject 
was  born  Dec.  27.  1813,  and  is  the  son  of  Esau 
and  Lydia  (Wolf)  James,  who  were  natives  respect- 
ively of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  the  father  of  Ger- 
man descent  and  the  mother  of  Welsh  and  English 
ancestry.  In  1815  the  parents,  leaving  Maryland, 
emigrated  to  .Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  where 
they  sojourned  for  a  period  of  twenty-live  years. 
There  our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  school  and  worked  with  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years.  In 
the  meantime  the  father  operating  as  a  saw-log 
contractor,  Firman  occupied  much  of  his  time  in 
hauling  logs  from  one  place  to  another,  and  re- 
mained a  member  of  the  parental  household  until 
his  marriage. 

The  above-mentioned  interesting  and  important 
event  in  the  life  of  our  subject  took  place  in  1839, 
the  bride  being  Miss  Mary  A.  Hanks.  Mrs.  James 
was  born  in  Virginia,  Oct.  18,  1817,  and  was  taken 
by  her  parents  to  Ohio  when  less  than  a  year  old. 
Her  early  education  was  acquired  in  the  Iiuckeye 
State  where  she  lived  with  her  parents  whose  fam- 
ily consisted  of  thirteen  children,  she  being  the 
third  in  order  of  birth.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  James  settled  on  a  farm  in  Muskingum 
County,  where  they  lived  one  and  one-half  years 
then  turned  their  faces  to  the  farther  West.  They 
arrived  in  this  county  on  the  18th  of  October. 
1HI2  and  settled  on  a  very  new  farm  just  opposite 
where  they  now  live  and  which  comprised  240 
acres  of   land. 

Mr.  James  and  his  estimable  wife  lived  in  true 
pioneer  style  and  labored  industriously  for  many- 
years  until  they  had  obtained  a  firm,  foothold  finan- 


978 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cially,  and  could  partially  lay  aside  life's  sterner 
duties.  Mr.  James  wisely  invested  his  surplus 
capital  in  additional  land  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
1800  acres,  lying  in  Clark  and  Edgar  counties,  this 
State,  and  in  Muscatine  County,  Iowa.  The  whole 
is  fairly  improved  and  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  ■lames  have  no  children. 

Until  the  troubles  incident  upon  the  effort  of 
the  Southerners  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  Slate,  Mr. 
.lames  had  voted  the  Democratic  ticket.  The  scenes 
enacted  upon  the  soil  of  bleeding  Kansas  led  him 
to  change  his  views,  and  he  identified  himself  with 
the  Republican  party  of  which  he  has  since  been  a 
stanch  supporter.  He  has  never  sought  office  but 
at  the  solicitation  of  his  party  in  Elbridge  Town- 
ship, consented  at  one  time  to  represent  the  town- 
ship in  the  County  Hoard  of  Supervisors  and 
acquitted  himself  in  a  most  creditable  manner.  He 
is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  attending  services  at  Asbery. 
Tiny  number  their  friends  by  the  score  in  this  part 
of  the  county  with  whose  most  important  interests 
they  have  been  closely  identified  for  so  many 
years  and  in  whose  material  growth  and  develop- 
ment they  have  borne  a  conspicuous  part. 


-3">.       _  —®\ 


AMES  M.  STEELE,  Jr.,  son  of  (he  well- 
|  known  Dr.  James  M.  Steele,  an  old  resident 
of  this  county,  is  one  of  the  few  inheriting 
a  fine  property  at  life's  outset.  He  has  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  homes  within  the  limits  of 
Grand  View  Township,  and  a  fine  engraving  of  his 
residence  is  presented  elsewhere  is  this  Album.  He 
is  in  fact  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  his  county, 
is  well  educated  and  very  popular;  a  member  of 
the  Kansas  base  ball  nine,  the  heaviest  batter  in  it, 
fond  of  athletic  sports  and  the  life  of  the  social 
circles  of  his  community. 

Dr.  James  M.  Steele,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Ya.,  May  6,  1806, and 
lived  there  until  1835,  whence  he  removed  to  War- 
ren County.  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of  1836  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Edgar  County, 


of  which  be  afterward  remained  a  resident  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  May  23,  1887,  after  he 
had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
He  began  the  study  of  medicine  when  a  young  man 
of  twenty-six,  completed  a  course  in  Pennsylvania 
University,  and  practiced  in  this  county  for  the 
long  period  of  forty-two  years.  He  did  much  work 
among  the  poorer  classes,  responding  to  every  call 
even  when  he  knew  he  would  never  receive  any 
pay.  Especially  was  he  the  friend  of  young  and 
worthy  physicians  striving  to  gain  a  foothold  in 
their  profession.  He  was  a  close  leader  and  when- 
ever it  was  possible  attended  the  local  and  State 
medical  conventions. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  James  M.  Steele  and  Miss 
Margaret  I.  Tate,  of  Augusta  County,  Va.,  occurred 
at  the  bride's  home  in  this  county.  Sept.  12,  1838. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children, 
threeof  whom  are  living:  Nancy  T.,Mrs.  H.  Baker  of 
Salina.  Kan.;  Anna  E.,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Lord, of  Chicago; 
and  James  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  John  M. 
died  Jan.  12,  1864.  The  mother  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  with  her  son,  our  subject,  and  is 
in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years.  Dr.  Steele  was  very  liberal  and  public 
spirited,  and  could  always  be  depended  upon  in 
assisting  in  any  new  and  worthy  enterprise.  He 
gave  to  his  children  a  thorough  education,  his 
daughters  being  college  graduates.  As  a  physician 
he  was  remarkably  successful  and  accumulated  a 
large  property. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  child 
of  his  parents  anil  was  born  Feb.  12,  1862,  in  this 
township,  this  county.  After  leaving  the  primary 
schools  he  entered  Wabash  College  in  Indiana, 
where  he  took  a  scientific  course  and  studied  four 
years,  withdrawing  in  1882.  Upon  returning  home 
he  turned  his  attention  to  fanning  and  assumed  sole 
charge  of  the  homestead.  On  the  4th  of  October 
of  that  year  lie  was  married  to  Eda,  daughter  of 
William  and  Louise  Juntgen,  of  Kansas,  111.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  Steele  is  a  prominent  stock  dealer 
and  extensive  land  owner  in  this  county.  Mrs. 
Steele,  like  her  husband,  is  well  educated  and  musi- 
cally inclined,  being  graduated  in  music  from  the 
school  at  Warren,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steele  are 
the  parents  of  three  children:  Louise,  born  Oct.  16, 


PORTRAIT  AND   Blot ;  KAPHICAI.   ALBUM. 


979 


1883;  Anna  T..  Feb.  II.  1885,  and   Karl    Ledger- 
wood,  Dec.  6,  1887. 

The  Steele  estate  comprises  •")  17,1  acres  of  land, 
thoroughly  cultivated  and  improved,  and  is  largely 
devoted  to  stock-raising.  Mr.  Steele  is  a  lover  <>f 
line  horses  and  is  one  of  the  owners  of  "Union  .lack 
2,"  said  tn  be  the  finest  draft  animal  in  the  county. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  sound  Republican,  with 
which  party  he  has  voted  and  worked  since  assum- 
ing the  right  of  suffrage,  lie  has  been  a  School 
Trustee  for  a  period  of  seven  years,  and  with  his 
estimable  wife  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Kansas.  Both  are  active 
in  Sunday-school,  and  Mrs.  Steele  is  organist  at  the 
regular  services  in  church  and  Sunday-school. 
Their  beautiful  and  hospitable  home  is  the  frequent 
resort  of  the  scores  of  friends  whom  they  number 
in  this  county.  There  is  probably  no  more  attract- 
ive home  within  its  limits,  or  more  indicative  of 
intelligence,  culture,  and  the  finer  elements  of  life. 

-■fr »!<■$■-  - 

ffiOHN  MOSS.  Ex-County  Treasurer  and 
Mayor  of  Chrisman,  is  recognized  as  one  of 
|  its  leading  citizens  and  one  who  has  entered 
'  largely  into  the  building  up  of  the  town. 
He  is  a  man  of  property  and  influence  and  carries 
on  agriculture  and  the  live-stock  business  at  a  tine 
farm  of  200  acres  adjoining  the  city  limits,  lie  also 
has  a  goodly  amount  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
Olney.  He  is  well  educated  and  possessed  of  more 
than  ordinary  business  abilities,  while  bis  value  as 
a  citizen  is  acknowledged  generally  by  the  people 
of  this  section.  His  native  place  was  near  Sber- 
bourne,  Fleming  Co..  Ky.,and  the  date  of  his  birth 
Sept.  7,  1840. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Moss  was  conducted 
in  the  common  school  and,  in  1853,  when  a  youth 
of  thirteen,  he  came  to  Illinois,  driving  overland 
with  a  team.  Krom  that  time  he  occupied  himself 
at  farming  in  this  county  during  the  summer  and 
attending  school  during  the  winter.  Perhaps  the 
most  interesting  and  important  event  which  fol- 
lowed was  his  marriage  on  the  nth  of  January,  1868, 
to    Miss  Nancy   Sousley,  which   was  celebrated  at 


the  home  of  the  bride  near  Klizaville.  Ky.  This 
lady  was  the  daughter  of  Harrison  Sousley.  a 
planter  and  slave  owner,  but  a  strong  Union  man 
and  a  native  of  Fleming  County,  Ky.,  where  he 
spent  his  last,  years. 

In  the  spring  of  L 8.69,  our  subject,  in  partner- 
ship with  his    brother  became    owner  of    200    acres 

of  land  in  Edgar  Township,  where  he  operated  two 
years,  then  purchased  the  old  farm  of  his  father  in 
Hunter  Township,  and  which  embraced  100  acres. 
He  operated  this  one  year  and  was  then  elected 
County  Treasurer,  when  he  moved  into  Paris  and 
resided  there  two  years.  Then  returning  to  the 
farm  he  continued  upon  it  until  1X73,  when  he 
traded  it  for  200  acres  adjoining  Chrisman  and  lost 
about  $10,000  in  the  trade.  He  now  commenced 
farming  and  stock- raising,  also  bought  and  shipped 
largely  until  1884,  when  he  sold  out  once  nunc 
and  purchased  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and 
which  is  situated  on  sections  31  and  35.  Besides 
this  property  he  has  a  modern  residence  and  lots  in 
the  city.  His  live-stock  includes  a  (lock  of  200 
sheep  and,  from  these  various  resources  he  realizes 
a  handsome  income. 

Politically.  Mr.  Moss  is  an  uncompromising 
Democrat  and  is  prominent  in  the  councils  of  his 
party,  frequently  being  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
various  conventions.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Hist 
Town  Council,  with  which  body  be  continued  for 
six  years  and  has  been  a  Trustee  nine  years,  lie 
was  one  of  the  committee  during  the  erection  of 
the  school  building  and  is  an  Elder  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  to  whose  support  he  has  always 
contributed  liberally.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  the 
I.  0.  O.  F.,  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  has  ever  been 
foremost  in  encouraging  the  enterprises  calculated 
to  Imild  up  bis  town. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moss  there  have  been  born  five 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter,  Grace,  is 
the  wife  of  William  Holt,  a  resident  of  Prairie 
Township.  Rosa,  Edward  and  Mamie  are  at  home 
with  their  parents.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
William  II.  H.  Moss,  likewise  a  native  of  Fleming 
County,  Ky.,  and  the  paternal  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Moss,  was  born  in  Scotland.  He  emigrated  to 
America  in  early  life  and  located  in  Fleming 
County,  Ky.,  before  the  Indians  had  left  thatreeion 


980 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  when  they  committed  many  depredations  upon 
the  white  settlers.  The  whites  hnd  many  conflicts 
with  them  and,  during  one  of  these,  Grandfather 
Moss  was  captured  and  held  a  prisoner  two  years,  lie 
linally  made  his  eseape  and  returning  to  Kentucky 
engaged  in  farming  and  there  spent  his  last  days. 

The  father  of  our  subject  received  only  three 
month's  schooling  in  his  youth,  but  by  his  own 
efforts  afterward  developed  into  a  very  good 
scholar,  lie  was  an  excellent  business  man,  skilled 
as  a  farmer  and  successful  as  a  stock  raiser,  and  be- 
came owner  of  .'i20  acres  of  land  in  Fleming 
County,  lie  left  the  Blue  Grass  Stale  in  1851 
and,  coming  to  this  countyr,  purchased  640  acres 
of  laud  near  Baldwinsville.  Later  he  returned  to 
Kentucky  to  make  some  collections,  and  died  there 
in  1853,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-seven  years. 

.Mrs.  Mary  (Chrisman)  Moss,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  likewise,  a  native  of  Fleming  County, 
Ky.,and  the  daughter  of  John  Chrisman,  who  was 
born  in  Germany.  He  emigrated  to  America,  set- 
tling in  Kentucky,  and  acquired  a  good  property. 
In  I  852  he  came  to  the  present  site  of  Chrisman  and 
secured  Too  acres  of  land.  His  wife  was  Jane 
Somerville,  a  native  of  Ireland  and  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mis.  Belle 
<  Iray,  at  Chrisman,  and  is  now  seventy-seven  years 
old;  she  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
eight  children:  Eliza,  Mrs.  Keyes,  is  a  resident  of 
Baldwinsville;  Margaret  is  deceased;  William  lives 
in  Edgar  Township;  John,  our  subject,  was  the 
fourth  child;  Mathias  was  accidentally  killed  by  a 
runaway  team;  II.  Clay  is  a  resident  of  Chrisman; 
Harrison  is  deceased;  Belle,  Mrs.  Gray,  also  lives 
Chrisman. 


(g^  QUIRE  JOHN    W.  McGEE,   is  one  of  the 

^£     extensive    and   popular  farmers  of  Prairie 

Township    and    one    of   its    Largest     land 

holders.     His  father,  William  McGee,  was 

a  native  of  Berkley  County,  Ya.,  and  came  to  Ohio 

in  an  early  day.  locating  on  the  Muskingum  River, 

afterward  removing  to  Logan  County,  where  he  en- 


gaged in  farming.  At  a  later  day  he  removed  to 
Fulton  County,  Ind.,  '-here  he  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  His  wife,  Su- 
sannah Dawson,  was  also  born  in  Virginia  and  is 
now  residing  with  her  son,  John  W.,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one.  She  is  the  mother  of  six  children: 
John  W.;  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Briggs,  of  Logan 
County,  Ohio;  Mary  Owens,  who  is  living  in  Ful- 
ton County.  Ind.;  Elijah,  who  was  a  soldier  during 
the  Civil  War,  and  is  now  a  farmer  of  Hie  last 
mentioned  place;  Samuel  and  Moses  also  of  the 
same  place. 

John  \V.  McGee  was  born  near  Bath,  Berkley- 
Co. ,  Va.,  on  Oct.  lib  1827,  and  while  very  young, 
came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  grew  up 
on  a  farm  and  attended  school  in  log  school-houses. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty  years  of 
age  when  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account 
by  renting  land.  In  connection  with  his  farming- 
he  also  operated  a  saw  and  gristmill  at  Quincy, Ohio. 
In  1852  he  came  to  Illinois  and  entered  land  in 
Edgar  County,  a  part  of  which  comprises  his  pres- 
ent farm.  After  doing  this  he  returned  to  Ohio, 
ami  continued  his  milling  business  until  1855, 
when  he  returned  and  immediately  set  to  work 
in  making  improvements  on  his  Edgar  County 
land,  which  he  had  increased  then  to  200  acres.  He 
since  purchased  120  acres  adjoining  his  original 
farm.  Here  he  is  engaged  in  raising  cattle  and 
horses  and  in  general  farming.  His  farm  is  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  well  fenced  and  well 
drained.  On  his  place  is  situated  the  school-house 
for  his  district,  and  also  two  residences  and  the 
necessary  buildings  for  a  farm  of  such  extensive 
proportions.  He  raises  a  great  many  Poland  hogs, 
lie  is  engaged  in  breeding  a  superior  kind  of  draft 
horses  and  in  fact  he  raises  none  but  the  best  stock, 
and  he  finds  that  it  pays. 

In  1817  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Arnold,  a 
native  of  Ohio.  They  have  seven  children  :  Felix, 
William,  Matilda.  Martha,  John  A.,  Arthur  and 
Otis.  Felix  married  Miss  Canady  and  is  at  home 
following  farming;  William  is  a  telegraph  operator 
at  New  Lenox,  111.;  Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Amos 
McCourtney;  Martha  married  Mr.  Southard.  They 
are  farming    on   the   homestead.     The  rest   of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


'.is  | 


children  are  at  home.  Mr.  McGee  lias  been  fulled 
to  several  local  offices  and  has  filled  them  with  abil- 
ity, lie  has  held  the  olliee  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  nine  years.  School  Director  over  thirty  years 
and  has  been  Supervisor  of  Roads,  lie  is  Chaplain 
of  the  .Masonic  Lodge  at  Ridge  Farm  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  (  llass- 
Lcader  and  Steward.  lie  has  also  served  as  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  a  great  many 
years. 

The  Republican  party  has  a  no  more  faithful 
adherent  than  Mr.  McCee.  and  he  generally  at- 
tends its  conventions  and  gatherings  lie  is  a  man 
of  greaf  influence,  and  during  tin1  War  of  the  Re- 
hellion,  though  physically  incapacitated  for  the 
duties  of  the  soldier,  he  did  all  in  his  power  to 
prosecute  the  war.  raising  money  to  lill  the  quota 
of  his  township. 


WJAMES  A.  KERRICK.  The  unsurpassed 
school  system  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  the 
pleasant,  and  in  many  instances,  grand  and 
'(fc^/  magnificent  school  buildings  which  are 
thickly  scattered  throughout,  its  borders,  stand  as 
enduring  monuments  to  the  ennobling  character 
and  benificient  labors  of  ^he  element  of  society  to 
which   the  subject  of  this  sketch  belongs. 

Mr.  Kerrick  is  Superintendent  of  Schools  for 
Edgar  County,  which  office  he  has  held  since  188G. 
lie  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Tenn..  Aug. 
21,  1862,  but  when  he  was  eight  months  old  his 
parents  removed  to  the  southeast  part  of  this 
county,  locating  in  Elbridge Township,  where  they 
lived  two  or  three  years.  James  \.  acquired  his  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools,  supplementing  it  at 
the  Teachers'  Institutes  and  at  the  Training 
School,  which  is  located  at  Oregon.  Ogle  Co.,  111. 
lie  has  been  for  eight  years  continuously  in  school 
work,  having  taught  six  years. 

Mr.  Kerrick  married  Miss  Lizzie  Asher,  of 
Hume,  September,  1884,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  one  boy — Irvin.  Mr.  Kerrick  has  always 
been  associated  with  the  Democratic  party,  be- 
ing  enthusiastic   in    upholding   il-    principles.      Me 


is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  ().  F.  and  belongs  to 
Austin  Lodge  No.  91.  The  successful  life  of  Mr. 
Kerrick.  although  a  young  man.  can  la;  traced  to 
his  habits  of  industry  and  his  strict  probity.  He  is 
painstaking  in  all  his  work,  and  in  educational 
affairs  he  is  well  informed.  His  ability  is  sure  t" 
lead  a  successful  career. 

John  W.  Kerrick,  father  of  James  A.,  was  born 
in  Fauquier  County.  Va.,  in  March.  1832,  and 
when  he  was  a  boy.  his  parents  removed  to  Cum- 
berland County.  Tenn..  where  they  were  engaged 
in  farming.  His  father,  Edwin,  the  grandfather 
of  James  A.,  was  an  officer  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  was  a  Baptist  minister  and  teacher.  John  W. 
married  Miss  Sarah  L.  Deatherage,  and  the  former 
is  now  living  in  this  county,  owning  and  operating 
a  farm.  Nine  children  were  born  to  them,  of 
whom  seven  are  living,  and  five  of  them  have  been 
teachers.  Catherine  married  .1.  I).  Waters,  and 
they  are  living  at  Lincoln,  Neb.;  Henry  C.  is  a 
physician  in  this  county;  .lames  A.,  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Lizzie  and  Charles  L.  are  teachers;  William, 
and  Sally  E.  -reside  in  this  county;  Mary  E.  and 
Bushrod  T.  are  deceased.  Bushrod  was  twenty- 
seven  years  old  when  he  died  and  was  a  success- 
ful teacher.  The  mother  has  been  dead  for  about 
ten  years. 

Mrs.  James  A.  Kerrick  was  born  in  Indiana  in 
1 863  and  when  a  young  girl  came  to  I  (ouglas  County 
where  her  father  was  a  farmer.  She  received  a 
good  education  ami  became  a  very  popular  teacher, 
following  that  profession  for  three  years  in  the 
Hume  School,  in  Edgar  County."  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Newton  and  J uretta  (Dodds)  Asher.  The 
former  was  a  native  of  Indiana  but  spent  the  last 
twelve  years  Of  his  life  in  Illinois.  Hi-  wife  is 
stil!  living. 


j  A  SON  W.  HOWELL,  City  Attorney  and  Jus- 
I  he  i  if  I  he  Peace  in  Paris,  was  born  in  Henry 
County.  Ind..  Aug.  '_".t.  1849.  His  parents 
were   Hillcry  and   Fanny  (Bedwell)  Howell, 

and  his  paternal  grandfather  was  Jason  Howell, 
who  was  born  in  one  of  the  Carolinas.  The  latin 
emigrated  to  Wayne  (dimly.  Ind.,  at  an  early  da\  : 


982 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  a  Dunkard  in  religion  and  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. He  was  married  in  Indiana  to  Miss  Mary 
Small  and  lived  to  be  eighty-eight  years  old  pass- 
ing away  about  18(10,  many  years  after  the  death 
of  his  wife. 

Hillery  Howell,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  in  1814,  and  like  the 
sons  of  farmers  of  that  day  was  early  inured  to  hard 
work.  That  part  of  the  country  was  heavily  tim- 
bered, and  the  early  settlers  literally  hewed  their 
homes  out  of  the  wilderness.  Young  Hillery  How- 
ell lived  with  his  parents  until  reaching  his  majority, 
and  for  a  few  years  afterward  carried  on  farming 
with  his  uncle  near  La  Porte.  Finally  he  took  up 
140  acres  of  Government  land  lying  on  Stony 
Creek  near  Blountsville,  and  here  constructed  a 
homestead,  where  he  settled  after  his  marriage  and 
where  his  ten  children  were  born.  About  twenty 
years  before  his  death  he  sold  his  property  and 
purchased  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  adjoining 
Blountsville  on  the  north.  He  lived  there  for  some 
years,  and  until  advancing  age  disqualified  him  for 
labor,  when  he  sold  out  again  and  purchased  a 
home  in  Blountsville,  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  He  died  suddenly  March  6,  1888, 
from  heart  disease.  A  son  living  with  him,  upon 
returning  home  the  evening  of  that  day,  found 
him  lying  dead  upon  the  Boor,  death  having  been 
apparently  painless  and  instantaneons.  He  had 
that  evening  been  out  to  visit  another  son  and  had 
evidently  just  returned  home,  his  cane  being  hung 
up  on  the  wall  but  his  hat  was  still  on  his  head. 
His  life  had  passed  in  a  comparatively  uneventful 
manner.  He  united  with  the  Christian  Church  in 
middle  life  and  remained  connected  with  it  until  his 
death.  In  his  habits  he  was  industrious,  temperate, 
strictly  honest  and  upright  in  all  his  dealings  and 
was  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  entire  community. 
A  man  of  genial  temperament  lie  made  many 
friends.  He  was  a  kind  and  indulgent  father  and 
gave  his  children  all  the  advantages  of  education 
within  his  power.  His  wife,  Fanny,  preceded  him 
to  the  tomb  but  a  few  weeks,  dying  Feb.  IS),  1888. 

Of  the  family  born  to  Hillery  and  Fanny  Howell 
nine  are  yet  living.  The  deceased  daughter,  Sarah 
Jane,  was  the  wife  of  Silas  llaynes.  a  farmer  living 
near  Blountsville,  Ind.,  and  she  died  in    1868;   Ke- 


turah  is  the  wife  of  George  Russum,  a  farmer  of 
Linn  County.  Kan.;  Osborn  G.  lives  near  Arba,  Ind., 
and  is  connected  with  the  postal  service;  Jonathan 
B.  is  a  merchant  of  Montpelier,  Blackford  Co.. 
Ind.;  Jason  W..  our  subject,  was  the  next  in  order 
of  birth;  Caldwell  R.  is  farming  near  Blountsville, 
Ind.;  Serena  A.  is  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Jordon,  living 
near  Blountsville;  Leroy  T.  is  employed  as  a  clerk 
at  Burney,  Ind.;  Alonzo  G.  is  also  a  clerk;  and 
Orange  L.  W.  is  a  stone-mason  by  trade;  both  are 
residents  of  Blountsville. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  acquir- 
ing his  education  in  the  district  school  and  becom- 
ing familiar  with  the  various  employments  of  rural 
life.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  left  home,  and 
coining  to  Coles  County,  this  State,  engaged  in 
teaching  school  for  a  time  at  Ilitesville.  Later  he 
returned  to  Blountsville,  where  he  taught  school 
one  year,  then  came  to  this  county  and  taught 
school  in  the  western  part  of  it.  Finally  crossing 
the  Mississippi  he  visited  Iowa,  Nebraska  and  Mis- 
souri, teaching  a  term  in  the  Hawkeye  State  in  the 
summer  of  1871,  and  the  following  winter  taught 
in  Missouri.  In  the  spring  of  1872  Mr.  Howell 
came  back  to  Edgar  County,  and  was  engaged  as  a 
pedagogue  three  years.  Then  with  his  wife  ■ind 
a  child  he  removed  to  Blountsville,  Ind..  where  he 
conducted  a  school  two  .years  in  the  same  build i no- 
where he  had  attended  when  a  boy.  In  May,  1  *77. 
he  came  to  Paris,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  improved  his  leisure  hours 
in  reading  law,  and  now  entered  the  office  of  Jo- 
seph K.  Dyas,  Esq.,  where  he  commenced  the  regu- 
lar study  and  applied  himself  to  such  good  purpose 
that  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  July  :5,  187!),  before 
the  Supreme  Court  in  session  at  Mt.  Vernon.  He 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Paris, 
and  has  met  with  uniform  success.  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1881.  re-elected  in  1885  and 
entered  upon  his  third  term  in  1889.  In  1887  he 
was  elected  City  Attorney  of  Paris  and  re-elected 
in  18.89.  None  other  than  a  conscientious  atten- 
tion to  duty  could  have  retained  him  in  the  posi- 
tion which  he  now  occupies. 

Jason  Howell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ida  Patton  Feb.  8.  1871.     This  lady  is  the  daugh- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


983 


ter  of  Robeson  M.  and  Nancy  (Hamilton)  Patton, 

the  father  a  mason  by  trade  and  living  near  Kan- 
sas, this  county,  although  he  owns  a  farm  near  what 
is  called  Donica  Point.  Mr.  Patton  came  to  tin's 
county  from  Hamilton,  Ohio,  about  1857.  Both 
he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  now  deceased,  he  dy- 
ing in  1884  anil  the  mother  about  1887.  Mrs. 
Howell  was  born  in  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  Nov. 
29,  1850.  and  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living  except  one. 
Of  her  union  with  our  subject  then'  have  been 
born  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  still  living — 
Fannie  F.  and  Herbert  II.  Mr.  Howell,  politically, 
is  a  Republican,  and  socially  belongs  to  Austin 
Lodge,  No.  001.  1.  t ).  ().  I'".  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


P">RANCIS  .1.  MADDOCK.  The  subject  of 
j  this  notice  is  one  of  the  most  solid  citizens 
of  Pirnellet  Township,  and  operates  a  farm 
of  780  acres  in  extent  on  section  35.  He  was  born 
Nov.  15.  1846  in  West  Elkton,  Preble  Co.,  Ohio  and 
in  1858  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county, 
where  his  father,  Joseph  Maddock,  died  in  I860. 
The  mother  died  in  July  17,   1889. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood 
Miss  Irene  Macey  and  of  her  union  with  Joseph 
Maddock  there  were  born  eight  children,  viz: 
Phebe  C,  Stephen,  Isaac,  who  is  deceased,  Mary, 
Francis  J.,  our  subject;  Lorenzo,  Ely  C.  and  Yer- 
linda,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, was  also  named  Francis,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  and  early  in  life  moved  to  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  during  the  fust  settlements  of  that  State,  lie 
opened  up  a  farm  upon  which  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  becoming  a  substantial  and 
well-to-do  citizen.  He  was  married  in  North  Car- 
olina to  Miss-  Phebe  Cook,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  a  fine  family  of  sons  and  daughters 
among  whom  Joseph,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  one  of  the  older  children. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  married  in  Prairie 
Township.  Dec.  I.  1870  to  Miss  Serena  Scott,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  and  of  this  union  there  have  been 


born  two  children — Terrence  and  Nettie,  aged 
seventeen  and  nine,  respectively.  Mr.  Maddock 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Grant  and 
uniformly  supports  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can party. 


-~-»/\.  ■^tuaatS-iS^ 


*§!^KTO>»  -va/>«. 


LI  CIIARLLEEN  TURNER.  There  are 
few  men  younger  than  Mr.  Turner  repre- 
sented in  this  work,  as  it  requires  years  of 
experience  for  a  man  to  establish  himself  in  any 
business  ami  to  build  up  a  reputation  among  his 
fellow-citizens.  The  subject  of  flu's  notice  is  a 
gentleman  of  more  than  ordinary  capacities,  who 
improved  his  early  years  in  the  acquirement  of  an 
education,  and  now  in  addition  to  farm  pursuits 
occupies  himself  as  a  teacher.  He  makes  his  home 
with  his  father.  Isaac  Turner,  at  a  well  regulated 
homestead  on  section  1  in  Shiloh  Township. 

Mr.  Turner  was  born  near  Dudley, Grand  View 
Township,  Aug.  I,  i  858,  and  thereafter  during  his 
boyhood  and  youth  divided  his  time  in  attendance 
at  the  district  and  graded  schools  and  working  on 
the  farm  during  vacations.  He  made  such  good 
use  of  his  time  at,  school  that  at  the  early  aye  of 
seventeen  years  he  began  teaching,  which  profes- 
sion he  has  since  followed  continuously  during  the 
winter  season.  "When  twenty  one  years  old  he  ;,| 
tended  Hurley's  Academy  in   Paris. 

Our  subject  removed  with  the  family  to  Shiloh 
Township  in  1875.  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  As  an  instructor  he  bears  the  reputation 
of  being  a  decided  success,  and  his  whole  heart  is 
in  the  work,  lie  attends  all  the  institutes  of  the 
county  and  has  taught  in  nearly  every  township 
along  its  northern  line.  This  is  sufficient  indica- 
tion of  his  success  and  popularity.  Durin<»  the 
summer  season  he  assists  his  father  in  operating 
the  farm.  He  is  a  strong  Republican  politically, 
and  at     various  times     has     been   made    a    candidate 

for  the  various  local  offices,  and  although  receiv- 
ing a  hearty  support,  his  party  being  in  the  minor- 
ity, failed  of  election  as  he  expected.  lie  i-  ver\ 
popular  iii  social  circles  and  a  great  favorite  anion" 
the   young    people  of    his   neighborhood.     Eli    ('. 


984 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Turner  married  Lydia  Ellen  Boulger,  Aug.  11. 
1889;  she  is  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Martha 
Boulger. 

Isaac  Turner,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  bom 
in  Manchester,  England,  Aug.  6,  1825.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  William  Turner,  was  likewise  a 
native  of  England,  and  during  his  younger  years 
employed  himself  as  a  silk  manufacturer  near  the 
city  of  Manchester.  In  1829,  however,  he  de 
cided  to  seek  his  fortunes  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  and  locating  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  fol- 
lowed his  old-time  occupation  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  from  cholera  in  1832.  Grand- 
mother Mary  (Kay)  Turner,  a  native  of  the  same 
county  as  her  tfusband,  came  with  him  to  America 
and  passed  away  in  1831;  she  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  the  youngest  of 
fourteen  children  born  to  his  parents,  and  is  the 
only  survivor  of  the  whole  family.  He  was  a  Utile 
lad  of  four  years  when  he  was  brought  to  America 
by  his  parents  and  at  the  age  of  seven  years  was 
left  an  orphan  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  For 
ten  years  thereafter  he  made  his  home  with  one  of 
his  sisters,  and  then  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
began  his  apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmith  trade. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  commenced  working  as  a 
journeyman  and  was  thus  employed  twelvemonths 
in  New  York  City.  Later  he  worked  for  a  time 
in  Newcastle,  Del.  From  there  he  returned  to 
Philadelphia  where  he  sojourned  until  the  spring 
of    1849. 

The  father  of  our  subject  now  having  an  oppor- 
tunity to  see  something  more  of  the  world,  em- 
harked  on  a  sailing  vessel  and  subsequently  went 
as  second  engineer  on  a  steamer  bound  for  Central 
America.  It  was  a  small  steamer  used  to  run  up 
the  .lagers  River.  The  vessel  not  being  ready  he 
employed  himself  at  blacksmithing  in  the  vessel 
until  the  fall  of  the  year,  when  he  set  out  for  Cali- 
fornia from  Panama  on  a'.-teamer  and  locating  on 
the  Uba  River  began  prospecting  for  gold.  He 
remained  there  two  years,  meeting  with  success. 
In  the  spring  of  L852  he  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
and  shortly  afterward  was  married  to  Miss  Re- 
becca Charlleen.  She  was  born  in  Delaware 
County.  Pa.,  July    18.  1822.  and    is  the  daughter 


of  Kb  Charlleen,  also  a  native  of  Penns3'lvania. 
and  by  trade  a  carpenter  and  joiner.  He  came  to 
the  West  in  1854  and  made  his  home  with  his 
daughter  until  his  decease. 

In  the  fall  of  1852  Mr.  Turner  came  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  looking  for  a  location,  but  not  finding 
anything  desirable  pushed  on  into  Illinois  and  se- 
cured a  tract  of  land  in  Grand  View  Township.  In 
the  course  of  time  he  had  improved  two  farms. 
In  the  spring  of  1869  he  went  to  California  in- 
tending to  locate,  making  the  journey  via  the  Isth- 
mus of  Panama,  and  preempted  160  acres  of  land 
in  Fresno  County,  Cal.  He  had  gone  there  with 
his  money  in  greenbacks,  but  was  not  able  to  stand 
the  discount  of  thirty  per  cent  in  exchange  for 
gold,  so  returned  that  same  fall,  leaving  his  claim, 
lie  then  located  in  Dudley,  111.,  where  he  engaged 
in  buying  and  shipping  grain.  He  was  successful 
in  his  enterprise  and  in  due  time  purchased  a  tract 
of  raw  land  in  Shiloh  Township,  upon  which  he 
built  up  a  good  farm  and  where  he  instituted  mod- 
ern improvements.  It  is  now  largely  devoted  to 
grain-raising  and  high-bred  horses.  Mr.  Turner 
votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket  and  is  a  mem- 
ber in  good  standing  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
The  mother  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Their  family  consists  of  two  children. 
Eli  Charlleen.  and  Jennie,  the  wife  of  ('.(>.  Rogers, 
of  Hume. 

^%&* 

fir  OHX  II.  HARRIS  of  Paris  Township,  enjoys 
the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most 
prominent  stock  dealers  of  Edgar  County. 
/  He  owns  and  occupies  a  beautiful  home- 
stead upon  which  has  been  effected  all  the  modern 
improvements.  The  residence  is  a  commodious 
and  tasteful  frame  structure  in  front  of  which  ex- 
tends a  well-kept  lawn  and  around  which  are 
planted  shade  and  ornamental  trees.  The  barn 
adjacent  is  of  ample  dimensions,  while  the  other 
outbuildings,  the  live-stock  and  the  farm  machinery 
give  to  the  premises  that  air  of  plenty  and  solidity 
which  is  delightful  to  contemplate. 

Mr.  Harris  was  born  in  Wheeling,  now  West 
Virginia,  and  when  a  boy  of  ten  years,  came,  in 
1857.  with  his  parents  to   this  county.      The  latter, 


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PORTRAIT  AND   BIOOItAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


987 


Joseph  and  Sarah  (Keyser)  Harris,  were  both 
natives  of  Bellaire,  Ohio.  The  father  secured  a 
trad  of  land  from  which  he  opened  up  a  farm  and 
there  with  his  family  spent  many  years.  Finally 
retiring  from  active  Labor  he  removed  to  Paris. 
of  which  he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  still  resi- 
dents. The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
w:is  Reuben  Han-is,  who  took  up  his  abode  in  Bel- 
laire, Ohio,  when  there  was  nothing  to  indicate  a 
future  town.  The  house  which  he  Imilt  and  lived 
in  for  many  years,  is  still  standing  and  for  some 
time  it  was  the  only  dwelling  in  the  place. 

Grandfather  Harris  became  owner  of  a  Large 
tract  of  land  now  covered  by  the  city  of  Bellaire. 
and  where  he  built  up  a  good  farm  from  the  wilder- 
ness. At  that  homestead  the  father  of  our  subject 
was  born  and  reared,  and  ran  the  ferry  across  the 
Ohio  River  for  several  years.  He  was  married 
near  the  place  of  his  birth,  but  scum  afterward  re- 
moved across  the  river  into  Virginia  with  his 
young  wife,  where  they  sojourned  until  their  family 
Of  nine  children  were  born.  Of  these  John  II.  was 
was  the  fifth.  Two  more  children  were  added  to 
the  household  circle  after  their  removal  to  this 
State,  one  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  native  township  and  early  in 
life,  became  familiar  with  farming  pursuits.  When 
reaching  man's  estate  he  was  married  Oct.  31,  1872, 
tn  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza 
(Moss)  Arthur.  The  young  people  began  their 
wedded  life  in  a  manner  corresponding  to  their 
means  and  surroundings,  making  it  a  rule  to  live 
within  their  income,  and  employing  their  time  in- 
dustriously in  obtaining  a  competence.  This  course 
pursued  a  series  of  years  could  scarcely  fail  of  good 
results.  Mr.  Harris  is  now  the  owner  of  I  in  acres 
of  land.  Upon  the  home  farm  of  200  acres  he  has 
effected  the  improvements  which  invariably  attract 
the  eye  of  the  passing  traveler.  Besides  this  he  has 
two  other  improved  farms  in  Paris  Township.  lie 
has  for  years  been  engaged  in  buying,  feeding  and 
shipping  stuck,  principally  cattle  of  which  he 
usually  feeds  about  100  head  per  year.  This  in- 
dustry alone  has  been  the  source  of  a  handsome 
income. 

Mr.   and   Mrs.    Harris  are    the    parents    of    eighl 


children,  seven  <>f  whom  are  living,  viz:  Leonard, 
Charles,  John,  Myrtle,  Irma,  Hazel  and  Amelia. 
One  child  dieil  unnamed  in  infancy.  Noah  Harris, 
a  brother  of  our  subject,  during  the  late  Civil  War 
served  in  the  Union  army  a  member  of  the  7th 
Illinois  Cavalry.  Reuben,  another  brother,  en- 
listed in  thi'  three-month's  service,  in  the  12th 
Illinois  Infantry  and  died  of  starvation  at  Paducah, 
Kv.  Albert  Harris  served  six  months  in  an  Illinois 
regiment  and  is  now  :i  resident  of  this  township. 


& * 


ILLIAM  M.  SMITH.  For  a  man  compar- 
atively young  in  years,  this  gentleman  has 
made  a  line  record  both  as  an  agriculturist 
and  a  business  man,  and  is  already  in  independent 
circumstances.  Personally  he  is  a  "gentleman  to 
the  manor  born,"  a  fact  which  must  be  at  once 
recognized  by  both  friend  and  stranger.  In  all  he 
is  Hie  owner  of  303  acres  of  land,  217.1  lying  on 
section  13,' where  he  resides,  fifty  and  two-thirds 
acres  in  Bruellet  Township,  and  five  acres  in  Ver- 
million County,  hid.  The  farm  is  embellished  by 
a  commodious  residence,  a  lithographic  engraving 
of  which  is  presented  on  another  page,  while  ample 
und  convenient,  outbuildings  add  to  the  conven- 
ience of  the  farmer.  The  land  has  been  thoroughly 
drained  with  tile  and  brought  to  an  exceedingly 
productive  condition.  The  fields  are  largely  en- 
closed with  hedge,  which  adds  greatly  to  the  beauty 
of  the  landscape.  There  is  an  abundance  of  im- 
proved farm  machinery  and  a  windmill  with  tanks 
for  supplying  water  wherever  needed.  Mr.  Smith 
makes  a  specialty  of  stock  raising — cattle,  horses 
and  swine — ships  about  two  cars  annually,  and  has 
some  of  the  linest  roadsters  and  draft  horses  to  be 
found  in  this  part  of  the  county,  mostly  Normans, 
IWO  teams  of  which  are  utilized  in  the  farm  opera- 
tions. 

Our  Subject,   like  his   honored    father.  i>  a  native 

of   this    county,    and    was    born    at  the   I estead 

which  he  now  owns  and  occupies,  Dec.  2."i,  1858. 
Ili<  father.  Shcphard  Smith,  was  the  son  of  Dr. 
Abraham  Smith,  a  native  of  Washington  County. 
I'ciin.,  and    born    May   17.  I  T'.MI.      In     1821    he    I, •II 


988 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  native  .State  and  established  himself  on  a  tract 
of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Plainville,  Hendricks  (  D.. 
Ind.  While  a  youth  in  Tennessee  he  had  studied 
medicine  under  the  instruction  of  his  maternal 
grandmother,  Mrs.  Paine,  who  was  a  physician  and 
surgeon  in  the  hospital  during  the  Revolutionary 
War.  In  Indiana  Grandfather  Smith  commenced 
the  practice  of  medicine,  and  living  among  the  In- 
dians and  associating  with  them,  he  gained  much 
valuable  information  in  connection  with  the  use  of 
roots  and  herbs,  mainly  from  a  Pottawatomie 
Chief. 

In  1823  Grandfather  Smith  crossed  over  into 
Illinois,  and  located  near  Georgetown  in  Vermilion 
County,  where  he  resided  until  1832.  That  year 
he  made  another  removal  to  this  county,  locating 
in  what  is  now  Ross  Township,  and  entering  land 
including  the  presentsite  of  Chrisman.  He  became 
the  owner  of  769  acres  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  trotting 
horses,  and  was  thus  occupied  until  1852.  Then 
selling  out  his  interests  in  Illinois  he  crossed  the 
plains  to  Oregon,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  1859.  That  year  he  returned  to  the  'l  East- 
ern  country,"  as  he  called  it,  and  located  in  Bloom- 
ington,  Ind.'  where  he  followed  his  profession, 
established  a  large  practice,  and  engaged  in  distill- 
ing nil.  In  1881  he  retired  from  active  labor  with 
limited  means,  having  deeded  his  property  away. 
He  now  makes  his  home  with  his  grandson,  our 
subject.  He  is  a  man  of  commanding  stature,  over 
six  feet  inheightand  remarkably  intelligent,  keep- 
ing himself  well  posted  upon  current  events.  Po- 
litically he  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and  in 
religions  matters  belongs   to  the  Christian  Church. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Absa- 
lom Smith. a  native  of  Frederick  County,  W.  \'a., 
and  an  own  cousin  of  John  C.  Calhoun.  He  was  a 
man  of  line  abilities,  and  ranked  among  the  largest 
farmers  in  the  Old  Dominion.  In  179  1  he  removed 
to  Tennessee,  where  he  spent  his  last  days,  lie 
traced  his  ancestry  back  to  the  English  John  Smith 
whose  life  was  saved  by  the  Indian  maiden.  Poca- 
hontas. 

The  father  of  our  subject  remained  with  his  pa- 
rents until  a  youth  of  nineteen  years,  then  leaving 
the  farm  engaged   in  opcralinga  ditching  machine. 


which  occupied  his  attention  until  1849.  That 
year  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  Prairie 
Township,  from  which  was  constructed  the  present 
admirable  homestead  of  William  M.  Smith,  lie 
became  an  extensive  stock  dealer;  and  invested  his 
capital  largely  in  additional  land,  the  most  of  which 
was  brought  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  In 
1  860  he  crossedthe  Mississippi  into  Nodaway  Coun- 
ty, Mo.,  where  he  invested  in  land  to  the  extent  of 
400  acres,  operating  it  two  years  and  then  return- 
ing to  this  county.  In  1868  he  disposed  of  his  Mis- 
souri property,  and  two  years  after,  Nov.  19,  1870, 
departed  this  life,  when  but  forty  years  of  age. 
He  had  been  a  prominent  man  in  his  community, 
voting  the  straight  Republican  ticket  and  holding 
some  of  the  local  offices. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  was,  in  her  girlhood 
Miss  Matilda  A.  Wood,  and  was  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  near  Logan.  Her  father.  David 
Wood,  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  county, 
entering  land  near  Logan,  where  he  carried  on 
fanning  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Matilda  (Wood) 
Smith  became  the  mother  of  eight  children  and 
departed  this  life  at  the  homestead  in  Prairie  Town- 
ship, Aug.  17.  1868,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four 
years.  She  was  a  lady  possessing  many  excellent 
qualities,  and  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Luna,  the  eldest  son  of  the  fam- 
ily, is  now  a  resident  of  Prairie  Township;  Marion 
is  deceased;  William  M.,  our  subject,  was  the  third 
child;  the  next  infant  died  unnamed;  Viola  .1. 
(  Mis.  Roberts)  lives  in  Bruellet;  .John  G.  is  farm- 
ing in  Prairie  Township;  Millignn  and  Matilda  A. 
(Mrs.  Ross)  are  residents,  respectively,  of  Ross 
Township  and  Bruellet  Township. 

William  M.  Smith  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years  only 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  soon  after- 
ward commenced  the  battle  of  life  working  out  on 
a  farm.  His  education  was  mostly  acquired  dur- 
ing the  winter  season,  he  attending,  the  com- 
mon school  until  he  reached  his  majority.  In 
1879  he  rented  forty-seven  acres  of  land,  but 
continued  as  a  farm  laborer  for  two  years  before 
locating  on  his  property.  In  1881  he  purchased 
land  adjoining,  which  made  him  the  owner  of  200 
acres,  upon  which  he  operated  until  the  fall  of  1  ,s,s-_>. 
when  he  changed  the  scene  of  his  labers  to   Lean. 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


989 


and  commenced  to  buy  and  ship  stock.  This  proved 
a  very  Fortunate  venture,  but  in  the  fall  of  1883 
lie  repaired  to  Chrisman  and  embarked  in  general 
merchandising,  in  company  with   a  partner,  under 

the  firm  name  of  Roberts  &  Smith.  They  contin- 
ued together  until  the  fall  of  1888,  when  the  part- 
nership was  dissolved  on  account  of  the  ill  health 
of  both,  and  in  the  spring  of  1880  our  subject  re- 
turned to  his  farm.  In  the  meantime  he  had  pur- 
chased additional  land,  and  is  now  in  the  midst  of 
a  successful  farming  business  which  yields  him  a 
handsome  income. 

The  18th  of  October,  1881 .  witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  with  Miss  Katie  X.  Roberts,  a 
native  of  Bruellet  Township,  well  educated  and 
employed  as  a  teacher.  She  only  remained  the 
companion  of  her  husband  a  little  over  a  year,  her 
death  taking  place  Nov.  7,  1882.  Mr.  Smith  con- 
tracted a  second  marriage,  Feb.  2,  1887,  at  Chris- 
man  with  Miss  Minnie  Gray,  a  native  of  Paris 
Township,  and  the  daughter  of  1)?.  S.  R.  Gray,  of 
Chrisman.  Mrs.  Smith  attended  school  at  Jack- 
sonville one  year  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Chrisman  high  school.  She  is  a  lady  greatly  re- 
spected in  her  community,  and  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
Smith,  politically  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  has 
been  Township  Clerk  one  year.  He  is  a  man  looked 
up  to  in  his  community,  and  one  whose  opinions 
are  generally  respected.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the 
1.  O.  O.  F,  at  Chrisman,  and  religiously  attends 
services  at  Wesley  Chapel. 


~>^£M&& 


*-r-V- 


/p^EOROK  W.   KIMBLE.     In  mentioning  the 

ill  c— ,  leading  citizens  of  Paris  Township,  the 
^^||y  name  of  Ml'.  Kimble  can  by  no  means  be 
omitted.  He  has  from  the  start  been  prominent 
in  his  community,  and  for  the  las!  nine  years  has 
held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  by  successive 
re-election.  l»y  occupation  he  isa  life-longagricnl- 
turalist.  His  home  farm  embraces  230  acres  of 
land  originally  belonging  to  his  father,  while  he 
also  has  150  acres  in  young  America  Township. 
A  course  of  industry  and    prudence  has  resulted  in 


the  accumulation  of  a  competence,  while  his  liber- 
ality as  a  citizen  and  his  progressive  ideas  as  a 
man  have  raised  him  to  a  good  position  in  his  com- 
munity. 

A  native  of  Paris  Township,  this  county,  our 
subject  was  born  .Ian.  If),  18:!].  and  thus  fur  has 
spent  his  life  in  the  place  of  his  birth.  His  par- 
ents. Lawson  and  Elizabeth  (Chaplin)  Kimble,  were 
natives  of  Washington  County.  Ohio,  and  Esses 
County.  .Mass.,  respectively.  They  were  married 
in  Lawrence  County,  Ohio,  wdience  they  came  to 
Illinois,  in  1830,  and  located  upon  the  land  now 
occupied  by  their  son,  our  subject,  and  in  this 
home  the  latter  was  born.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, a  native  of  New  Jersey,  emigrated  to  the 
Territory  of  Ohio  about  1800,  as  did  also  the  ma- 
ternal grandfather:  The  latter  was  obliged  to 
keep  his  cows  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  in 
Virginia,  as  on  the  Ohio  side  there  was  nothing  but 
heavy  forest,  and  the  girls  crossed  the  river  in 
a  skiff  to  milk.  Amid  these  primeval  solitudes 
Grandfather  Kimble  settled  in  a  little  log  cabin, 
began  felling  the  trees  around  him,  and  finally  suc- 
ceeeded  in  clearing  a  farm.  He  there  spent  his  hist 
days. 

On  the  mother's  side  of  the  house.  Grandfather 
Moses  Chaplin  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
the  house  on  the  old  farm  where  he  was  born  was 
still  standing  a  few  years  ago.  He  and  his  family 
of  seven  emigrated  to  Ohio  with  the  New  England 
colony  at  a  very  early  date,  settling  at  Marietta, 
and  from  there  moved  to  Lawrence  County.  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
father,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

Lawson  Kimble  upon  coming  to  this  county 
located  on  the  edge  of  the  prairie,  in  Paris  Town- 
ship, where  he  opened  up  a  fine  farm  at  a  time  when 
Indians  were  numerous,  and  were  often  seen  stray- 
ing over  the  country,  and  sometimes  camping  on 
the  creek  near  by.  The  nearest  market  for  fruit 
and  other  produce  ill  those  days  was  Chicago,  where 
our  subject  hauled  several  loads  of  apples  prior  to 
the  lime  of  railroads.  These  sold  from  WUx  cents 
to  .-si  pee  bushel.  They  conveyed  their  pork  to 
market  to  Clinton  and  Terre   Haute.    Ind. 

The    early     education    of     our    subject    was   prose- 


T.HI 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cuted  in  a  log  cabin,  with  puncheon  floor,  with 
seats  and  desks  made  of  slabs,  the  former  set  up  on 
rude  wooden  pins  for  legs  and  the  latter  sustained 
by  pins  driven  in  the  wall,  across  which  the  slabs 
were  laid.  A  huge  fireplace  extended  along  one 
end  of  the  building,  and  the  chimney  was  made 
outside,  of  earth  and  sticks.  With  the  exception 
of  a  couple  of  years  spent  at  school  in  Paris,  our 
subject  here  completed  his  education.  He  was 
married  April  13,  1854,  to  Miss  Sarah  .1.,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Hannah,  a  native  of  Delaware  County, 
N.  Y.  The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Kimble  on  both 
sides,  as  well  as  her  mother,  were  natives  of  Scot- 
hind.  She  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y,. 
and  was  taken  by  her  grandmother  to  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.,  remaining  there  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  when  she  came  to  this  county  with  them. 
The  young  people  began  their  married  life  on  a 
tract  of  land  in  Paris  Township,  taking  possession 
of  their  present  farm  in  1854.  They  are  the 
parents  of  five  children:  Clarence  C,  Willis  P., 
Amelia  G.  (now  Mrs.  .lames  McCulIoch),  William 
L.  and  John  1). 

Clarence  C.  Kimble  was  married  April  1,  1888, 
to  Miss  Catharine  Keifer  of  St.  Catharine,  Canada, 
and  they  are  now  residents  of  Chicago,  Willis  P. 
married  Miss  Sarah  Gates,  is  employed  as  a  civil 
engineer  and  surveyor,  and  lives  in  Marceline.  Mo. 
lie  ran  the  first  line  of  railroad  into  Northern 
Mexico  from  the  United  States.  William  L.  and 
John  D.  are  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimble  own  and  occupy  a  fine 
residence,  which  is  represented  in  this  work  by  a 
lithographic  engraving,  and  their  many  friends 
always  meet  with  a  warm  and  cordial  reception 
i'l  their  pleasant  home. 


FREDERICK  GUMM.     The  elements  of  m- 

Py  dustry  and  perseverance  in  the  make-up  of 
this  gentleman  have  resulted  in  his  success 
financially,  while  as  a  man  and  a  citizen  he  occu- 
pies an  enviable  position  in  his  community.  His 
native  place  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
in   the   village  of    Horn,  Prussia,  and   he  was   born 


Dec.  25,  1827.  He  emigated  to  America  in  1848 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years  and,  in 
July  following,  established  himself  as  a  resident  of 
Edgar  County,  III.  He  is  now  numbered  among 
the  well-to-do  farmers  of  Paris  Township,  a  self- 
made  man  who  began  at  the  font  of  the  ladder,  de- 
pendent upon  his  own  resources  and  is  making 
excellent  progress  toward  the  top. 

In  noting  the  parental  history  of  our  subject  we 
find  he  is  the  son  of  George  and  Maria  E.  (Ilarter) 
Guram  who  were  natives  of  the  same  province  as 
their  son.  They  sprang  from  an  excellent  ancestry 
and  for  generations  were  identified  with  the  Evan- 
gelical Church.  The  father  of  our  subject  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  Prussian  Army  and  spent  his  last 
days  in  his  native  land.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  Jacob  Ilarter,  also  a  Prussian  by  birth,  who 
spent  his  entire  life  upon  his  native  soil. 

The  voyage  to  this  country  was  made  by  our 
subject  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Antwerp"  and  con- 
sumed about  sixty  days.  Most  of  the  time  the  sea  was 
veiy  rough  and  the  wind  in  the  wrong  direction  so 
that  the  ship  could  only  make  very  slow  progress,  lie 
finally  landed  in  safety  in  New  York  City  and 
thence  made  his  way,  via  the  Hudson  River  to  Al- 
bany. From  there  he  traveled  by  canal  to  Buffalo 
and  thence  by  lake  to  Sheboygan,  Wis.,  where  a 
few  of  his  old  acquaintances  had  settled.  A  few 
days  later  he  proceeded  to  Milwaukee  anil  from 
there  to  this  county  as  before  noted. 

Our  subject  now  commenced  working  on  a  farm 
by  the  month  and  was  thus  occupied  two  and  one- 
half  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  he  had 
with  genuine  German  thrift  and  prudence  accumu- 
lated sufficient  means  to  begin  operations  on  his 
own  account.  He  began  farming  on  rented  land 
and  in  due  time  took  unto  himself  a  wife  and  help- 
mate. Miss  Anna  Graff,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  Paris  Township,  Jan.  (i, 
1859.  Mrs.  Gnmm  came  to  the  United  States  with 
her  uncle,  Jacob  Pfister,  a  brother  of  her  mother, 
who  had  died  in  Switzerland.  Her  people,  like 
those  of  our  subject,  were  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church. 

Mr.  Gnmm  continued  to  farm  on  rented  land 
until  he  had  accumulated  sufficient  to  purchase 
forty  acres   to    which,  later,  he   added    forty    more 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


991 


where  his  buildings  now  stand,  and  which  joins  his 
first  purchase.  As  his  means  accumulated  he  in- 
vested his  spare  capital  in  additional  land  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  240  acres.  lie  has  brought  this 
to  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  laid  a  considerable 
quantity  of  tiling  and  improved  it  with  good  build- 
ings. Such  has  been  his  career  that  he  enjoys  the 
unlimited  confidence  of  his  neighbors,  who  consider 
his  word  as  good  as  his  bond. 

To  our  subject  and  his  excellent  wife  there  have 
been  born  nine  children.  The  eldest,  a  daughter, 
Anna  E.,  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  II.  Zise  and  they  re- 
side in  Englewood,  this  State.  Mary  became  the 
wife  of  Charles  Ilanes  and  died  in  Paris  in  Febru- 
ary, 1889;  Edward  lives  in  Buck  Township;  John 
T.,  William  F.,  Albert  1)..  Jennie  Y.  and  Pearl  B. 
are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Ella  S.  died  when 
twenty  months  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cumin  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  our  subject, 
politically,  givers  his  unqualified  support  to  the 
Democratic  party.  He  has  served  as  School  Di- 
rector in  his  district  about  twelve  years,  but  aside 
from  this  has  avoided  the  responsibilities  of  office. 
A  half-brother  of  our  subject.  Peter  Pross,  and  one 
of  his  own  brothers,  George,  accompanied  him  to 
this  country.  Mr.  Pross  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier 
during  the  late  Civil  War  and  died  of  measles  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.  Mr.  George  Gumm  is  a  resident 
of  Buck  Township,  Edgar  County. 

^~hH3*S3>§-h-J~ 


Vl?OSIAS  F.  AT1ION  is  one  of  the  old  settlers 
of  Edgar  County.  He  located  two  miles 
north  of  Paris  in  1851,  which  at  that  time 
(jKSg/'  was  the  only  farm,  with  one  or  two  excep- 
tions, between  Paris  and  Mulberry  Grove.  Mr. 
Athon  bought  an  improved  farm,  where  he  lived 
for  seventeen  years,  making  the  place  a  very  de- 
sirable one.  He  planted  trees,  shrubbery,  and  or- 
chards, and  otherwise  improved  it.  Hewasoneof 
the  first  School  Directors  and  aided  in  forming  the 
first  district  in  his  neighborhood. 

In  1868  Mr.  Athon  removed  to  Paris,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business.  He  added  forty- 
two  rooms  to  the  Paris  House,  making  it  the  finest 


hotel  in  Eastern  Illinois.  This  venture  was  not  a 
financial  success,  although  he  continued  in  the 
business  for  ten  years.  lie  has  been  Assessor  for 
the  city  and  township  for  nine  years,  tilling  this 
difficult  position  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  tax- 
payers. Mr.  Athon  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
March  9,  1*17.  lie  lived  there  but  a  short  time, 
when  his  parents  emigrated  to  l'aoli,  Ind.,  and 
afterwards  to  Bedford,  when  that  place  consisted 
of  three  log  cabins.  His  learning  was  received  in 
tin-  common  schools  of  his  boyhood,  and  after 
gaining  a  limited  education  he  followed  farming. 
Our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Serene  Ganey, 
June  25,  1835.  lie  lived  in  Indiana  until  1851, 
when  he  purchased  200  acres  of  land,  as  before 
staled.  At  that  time  he  also  owned  600  acres  in 
Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Athon  are  the  parents  of 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  ten  are  still  living. 
John  W .  was  killed  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  in 
front  of  Atlanta;  Henry  married  Miss  Clara 
Boucher;  she  died,  and  he  took  for  his  second  wife 
Mrs.  Osborne;  Flavius  J.  is  now  living  six  miles 
north  of  Paris  on  a  farm;  William  is  a  clerk  in  a 
hotel  at  Terre  Haute  Ind.;  Nathaniel  I).  is  living 
in  Paris;  Margaret  married  C.  E.  Carpenter,  of 
Topeka,  Kan.;  Catherine  is  at  home;  Fletcher  is 
now  living  in  Topeka,  Kan.;  Clara  married  I).  II. 
Jenkins,  of  Los  Angeles,  CaL;  Susan  is  now  Mrs. 
A.  S.  Lamb,  of  Aspen,  Col.;  Charles  L.  is  living 
in  this  State.  Two  children  died  in  infancy,  named 
Winfield  and  Mary. 

Mrs.  Athon  was  born  in  Pulaski  County.  Ky.,  in 
1818,  and  when  a  babe  of  eighteen  months  her  par- 
ents removed  to  near  Springville,  Ind.,  where  she 
lived  until  her  marriage.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Alien  and  Margaret  Ganey,  who  were  among  the 
first  settlers  in  that  part  of  Indiana.  Joseph 
Athon,  father  of  Josias.  was  born  in  Maryland, 
Nov.  1),  1764,  where  he  lived  until  he  became  of 
age.  He  taught  school  in  Washington,  Baltimore, 
anil  other  places  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. While  in  Maryland  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Wolverton,  of  Fredericktown.  lie  was  thirty-four 
years  old  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  and  his  wife 
was  seventeen.  The  early  part  of  their  married 
life  was  spent  in  Rockbridge  County,  Va.;  from 
I    there  they  removed  North  Carolina,   remaining  in 


992 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


that  State  seven  years,  when  they  came  to  Indiana 
and  located  near  Springville,  where  lie  died  in  his 
eighty-fourth  year.  The  mother  died  in  1852, 
when  the  cholera  was  epidemic  in  Indiana.  This 
worthy  couple  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  more  than  fifty  years,  and 
their  house  was  the  home  of  the  circuit  riders. 
When  only  a  hoy  of  eighteen  years,  Peter  Cart- 
wright,  the  eccentric  Methodist  preacher,  delivered 
a  sermon  in  Mr.  Athon's  house,  which  was  a  regu- 
lar preaching  place  where  he  preached  ever}-  four 
weeks. 

Josias  F.  Athon  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens 
of  his  county,  and  takes  great  pride  in  doing  well 
the  work  allotted  to  him.  As  Assessor  he  has  the 
reputation  of  handing  in  the  best  books  to  the 
county  authorities,  of  any  official  in  this  county. 
He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  member  since  1838.  Politi- 
cally he  was  in  the  early  days  a  Whig,  and  his  first 
Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  William  Henry  Har- 
rison and  on  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party 
he  became  a  stanch  Republican,  and  a  strong  Union 
man  during  the  war.  At  the  last  presidential  elec- 
tion he  voted  for  Gen.  Harrison. 


^  ARK  ROWE,  M.  1).,  Physician  and  Sur- 
geon, who  also  follows  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  on  section  22,  town- 
ship 11,  range  13,  Buck  Township,  Edgar 
County,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England.  April  29, 
1834.  Dr.  James  Rowe,  (deceased),  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place  as  his 
son.  He  brought  his  family  to  the  United  States 
in  1852,  and  located  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he 
resided  a  few  years,  hoping  to  regain  his  lost  health 
in  the  dry  and  bracing  air  of  that  climate,  but  was 
doomed  to  disappontment,  his  health  remaining 
poor  and  growing  worse  until  he  was  finally  laid  to 
rest  in  that  place. 

Dr.  Rowe  received  the  rudiments  of  an  educa- 
tion in  a  select  school  while  a  youth  in  England. 
On  arriving  in  this  country,  lie  was  placed  in  the 
Cedar  Valley  Seminary,  Cedar  Valley,  Mitchell  Co., 


Iowa,  where  he  pursued  his  studies,  and  on  com- 
pleting the  course  in  that  school,  entered  the 
Homeopathic  Institute  in  Brooklyn.  N.  V..  where  he 
received  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine,  and  be- 
gan the  practice  of  medicine  under  the  rules  of 
that  school.  Becoming  dissatisfied  with  this  school 
of  practice,  he  matriculated  in  the  medical  college 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  18G5,  taking  the  Eclectic 
course  of  studies  in  Materia  Medica,  which  he  pur- 
sued with  unfaltering  ardor  and  diligence  through- 
out the  entire  course,  and  received  his  diploma  in 
18C5.  His  first  location  under  the  rules  of  the 
Eclectic  schools  of  medicine  was  in  Grand  View, 
where  he  built  up  a  large  practice  in  that  town  and 
vicinity.  In  1867  he  removed  to  Dudley,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1875.  when  he  came  to  his  pre- 
sent place. 

Dr.  Rowe's  practice  while  a  resident  of  Dudley, 
was  not  only  large  in  the  number  of  his  patients, 
but  extensive  in  the  distances  he  had  to  travel  from 
his  home.  During  a  stay  of  about  fifteen  years  in 
that  place,  he  was  obliged  to  do  as  much,  if  not. 
more  riding  than  any  other  physician  in  Edgar 
County,  averaging  about  10,000  miles  a  year  for 
ten  years  of  that  time,  but  during  recent  years  he 
has  endeavored  to  diminish  his  practice  by  degrees, 
with  a  view  of  totally  abandoning  it.  Coveting  a 
life  of  rural  delights,  and  having  an  experience  in 
agricultural  matters,  he  purchased  the  large  estate 
which  is  the  present  home  of  himself  and  family, 
and  on  which  he  has  erected  an  elegant  dwelling. 
In  addition  to  his  home  place  of  240  acres,  he  owns 
320  acres  in  Wichita  County,  Tex.  Cropping  the 
luscious  herbage  on  the  broad  acres  surrounding 
the  commodious  dwelling  place  of  Dr.  Rowe,  may 
be  seen  hundreds  of  tine  cattle,  and  other  blooded 
stock,  enjoying  the  present,  and  fitting  themselves 
to  till  the  coffers  of  their  owner  in  the  future  by 
securing  the  highest  market  price  when  sold. 

Our  subject  and  Miss  Elizabeth  I*.  Kennedy, 
daughter  of  Guy  Kennedy  (deceased),  were  mar- 
ried in  June,  1855.  Mrs.  Rowe  was  a  native  of 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  has  become  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Anna  E,  and  Charles  K.  Anna  married 
Dr.  Frank  Sweney,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Rush  Medical  College.  Chicago,  and  a 
brother  of  Senator  Sweney.     They  have  two   ehil- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


993 


(Iri'ii.  Kate,  and  Marcia.  Charles  married  Miss 
Belle  McNeill,  and  makes  his  home  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.  lie  is  a  graduate  of  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from  winch  in- 
stitution lie  received  his  diploma,  and  takes  high 
rank  in  his  chosen  profession   in   the  Quaker  City. 

In  1861  Dr.  Rowe  suffered  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
and  after  four  years  of  loneliness  was  again  united 
in  marriage  in  1865,  taking  fur  his  life  partner, 
Mrs.  RosannaE.  Adams,  a  daughter  of  Israel  House 
niul  widow  of  Anson  Adams.  She  was  a  native  of 
Berlin,  Vt.,  ami  the  fruit  of  this  second  union  was 
one  child,  Herberl  1!.  Mrs.  Rowe  hail  four  chil- 
dren by  her  first  husband,  of  whom  one  survives — 
Nellie — who  is  married  to  Randolph  White,  of  Car- 
bon, Iml..  ami  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Har- 
riett ami  Randolph. 

Although  our  subject  has  not  neglected  any  of 
the  duties  pertaining  to  the  successful  prosecution 
of  his  life-work,  he  has  kept  up  his  interest  in  the 
general  affairs  of  the  world,  anil  is  well  informed  on 
all  the  subjects  of  the  hour,  also  following  out  an 
extensive  course  of  reading  in  the  literature  of  his 
own  profession,  and  his  eminent  abilities  make  him 
a  valuable  member  of  the  Esculapian  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  of  the  American  Medical  Association. 
lie  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
holding  his  membership  in  Kansas  Chapter,  in 
Grand  View  Lodge  and  Palestine  Commandery  at 
Paris.  Our  subject  has  views  of  his  own  on  the 
political  and  economic  questions  of  the  day.  hut 
(iocs  not  spare  much  time  to  discuss  them,  being 
satisfied  to  exercise  his  right  of  a.  freeman  at  the 
periodical  elections,  casting  his  ballot  in  favor  of 
the  Democracy. 


./v/\*;—  ♦♦ 


WlollN  M.  LEGATE,  is  one  of  the  Old  settlers 
of  Kdgar  County,  where  he  is  held  in  unL 
versal  respect  for  his  rugged  honesty  and 
\\)  great  energy  of  character.  lie  owns  and 
occupies  400  acres  of  as  nice  land  as  the  sun  ever 
.shone  upon,  and  upon  which  is  built  all  the  struct- 
ures that  are  essential  to  the  operation  of  a  well- 
regulated    farm,      lie   has    accumulated  his   compe- 


tency wholly  by  his  own  endeavors,  and  can  be 
called,  in  truth,  a  self-made  man. 

His  father,  Robert  Legate,  was  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee, from  which  Slate  he  removed  to  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  being  one  of  the  earlier  settlers 
there.  lie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  in  the 
yeir  1 823,  respected  as  a  model  young  man.  lie 
was  a  Presbyterian.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Capl.  John  Legale  was  a  native  of  the  north  of 
Ireland  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man. 
locating  in  Tennessee.  lie  afterward  removed  to 
Brown  County,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  Hill 
acres  of  land,  lie  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War  and  served  under  Geu.  Marion.  He  died 
on  his  farm  in  Ohio,  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  The  mother  of  John  M.,  was  Catherine 
Mearse,  a  native  of  Ohio,  Her  father.  David 
Mearse.  was  born  in  Ireland,  where  he  married, 
whence  he  came  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day  and 
bought  a  small  farm.  He  later  moved  to  I'.rown 
Count).  Ohio.  While  going  down  the  Ohio  River, 
himself  and  family  were  captured  by  the  Indians 
at  Three  Islands,  where  they  were  bought  by  the 
whites  and  taken  to  Detroit  ami  sent  back  to  Ken- 
tucky. They  remained  in  the  latter  State  but  a 
short  time,  when  the  family  removed  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling on  a,  quarter  section  of  land.  There  the 
grandfather  lived  until  death  called  him  away. 

The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  and  reared  in  Ohio.  Her  second  husband  was 
Israel  D.  Sayre.  She  died  in  Edgar  Township, 
July  I 'J,  l*<sS.  and  was  the  mother  of  two  children, 
John  M.  and  Elizabeth.  The  latter  married  Will- 
iam Scott  of  Prairie  Township  and  is  dead.  John 
M..  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written,  was  born  in 
Brown  County.  Ohio.  Oct.  11,  L819.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  while  yet  a  babe,  was  left 
fatherless.  His  Grandmother  Legate  took  charge 
of  him  and  gave  him  good  school  advantages. 
In  the  spring  of  1830  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
Step-father,  by  wagon.  The  country  was  then  en- 
tirely new  anil  destitute  of  anything  that  would 
indicate  civilization.  Wild  game  of  all  kinds,  deer, 
wolves  and  turkeys  abounded  in  profusion,  and  he 
recalls  the  fact  of  seeing  forty-two  deer  in  one 
herd.  lie  stayed  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  old   and,  in  August.  1842,  he  bought  a   farm 


9!i  I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Edgar  Township  containing  160  acres  improved. 

He  remained  on  this  place  about  twelve  years, 
when  he  sold  it  and  loeated  where  he  now  is,  in 
Prairie  Township.  His  present  farm  consists  of 
225  acres,  which  lie  originally  bought  and  to  which 
he  has  added  enough  to  make  400  acres.  This  is 
all  well  improved  with  fences,  hedges,  etc.,  and  is 
abundantly  watered  by  a  creek.  Good  springs  are 
also  plentiful  oi:  the  place.  General  farming  en- 
gages his  attention  and  also  feeding  and  buying 
cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  On  Sept.  5,  1886,  he  had 
the  misfortune  to  lose  his  house  by  fire,  and  it  was 
supposed  to  have  been  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 
He  soon  rebuilt  his  house  on  a  larger  and  finer 
scale.  Groves  and  orchards  are  interspersed  (in 
this  model  farm  and  everything  connected  with  it 
indicates  thrift. 

On  March  10,  1842,  Mr.  Legate  married  Miss 
Susan  Clark,  a  native  of  Oldham  County,  Ivy.  She 
came  to  Edgar  County  when  she  was  six  years  of 
age — early  in  the  fall  of  1831.  She  is  the  mother 
df  eleven  children:  Francis  M.  is  operating  the 
home  farm;  Edmund  lives  in  Paris,  this  county; 
William  II.  is  at  home;  Nancy  married  Joseph 
Longer  and  is  residing  in  Prairie  Township; 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  R.  B.  McFerren,  a  farmer 
of  Osage  County,  Kan;  Malinda  married  Aivill 
Boz  of  Prairie  Township;  Emma  and  Sarah  are  at 
hoine;   Mary  and  Ellsworth  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Legate  is  a  prominent  and  standi  Republi- 
can and  has  held  the  offices  of  School  Director, 
Constable  and  Supervisor  of  Roads  for  a  long  time 
and  has  given  great  satisfaction  in  the  conduct 
of  these  positions.  Mrs.  Legate  worships  at  the 
Friends'  Church. 


iZRA  H.  IIONNOLD  was  bora  Sept.  27, 
I860,  in  Kansas  Township,  Edgar  Co.,  111., 
just  a  short  time  prior  to  the  election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United 
States.  The  house  in  which  the  subject  of  this 
notice  was  born  is  now  the  property  of  James  II. 
Shively,  and  is  used  for  a  wash-house  and  wood- 
shed,    lie  is  a   young  fanner  of   thrift  and  enter- 


prise, and  in  all  respects  a  model  agriculturist  and 
a  first-class  citizen.  His  beautiful  little  farm  com- 
prises eighty  acres  on  section  2,  township  13,  range 
1 4  west,  Edgar  County,  111.  He  is  also  a  stock-raiser, 
making  a  specialty  of  Norman  and  English  draft 
horses,  Short-horn  cattle  and  pure  breed  Chester- 
white  swine,  and  in  the  latter  is  especially  inter- 
ested and  uniformly  successful.  As  to  his  political 
views,  he  is  a  Republican,  having  cast  his  first  vote 
for  James  G.  Blaine.  He  is  the  second  child  of 
John  R.  and  Frances  B.  Ilonnold,  and  has  one 
brother,  Ora  E.,  and  three  sisters — Sue  C,  Anna 
L.  and  Carrie  V.  Our  subject  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Harmony  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  his  grandfather,  Richard  Ilon- 
nold, was  a  consistent  member,  and  gave  it  the 
name  of  Harmony.  He  is  a  lover  of  old  relics, 
having  in  his  possession  an  old  stone  Indian  tom- 
ahawk found  by  his  father  a  number  of  years  ago 
upon  the  Indian  battle-field  near  Cambridge,  Ohio. 
He  spent  his  school  days  at  what  is  known  as  the 
Ilonnold,  School-house,  in  District  No.  1,  section 
2,  and  a  view  of  it  will  be  found  in  this  volume 
in  connection  with  the  engraving  of  his  lather's 
homestead.  Our  subject  received  excellent  instruc- 
tion and  a  good  education,  his  teachers  being  as 
follows:  Daniel  Brading,  John  B.  Holland.  Will- 
iam Allen,  Edward  Shy,  Maggie  Snyder,  Dora  Mc- 
Christy-;  Frank  Ault,  M.  B.  Moffett,  W.  C.  Morris, 
Nelia  Ilite,  and  John  Snyder.  He  is  the  namesake 
of  the  Rev.  Ezra  Starkey,  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
ference, a  man  of  note  in  the  church,  and  who 
died  April  20,  1886.  Our  subject  is  of  German 
descent  and  of  the  fifth  generation  of  the  only  one 
of  the  6even  Honnold  brothers  who  came  from 
Germany  to  America. 

The  parents  of  him  of  whom  this  biographical 
review  is  written,  were  John  R.  and  Frances  B. 
Honnold,  nee  Mock,  and  were  bora  in  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1855, 
and  were  united  in  marriage  Sept.  23,  1858,  by  the 
Rev.  E.  Hook.  Our  subject  was  first  married  to 
Mary  A.  Killgore,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the 
late  Joseph  Killgore,  this  event  being  solemnized 
March  15,  1882,  and  the  ceremony  was  performed 
in  Vermillion,  Edgar  Co.,  III.,  by  the  Rev.  Chris 
Galeener.     One    son   was    born  of    this    union,  J. 


PORTRAIT  AM)   l'.IOC  RA  1MIICAI.   ALBUM. 


995 


Harlan,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  May  20,  1883. 
The  wife  died  Nov.  13,  1887,  and  the  little  one 
was  left  with  the  father  and  grandparents  Honnold. 
Our  subject  was  again  married,  March  7,  1889, 
to  Ella  Meadows,  the  daughter  of  .lames  and  Mat- 
lie  Meadows,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by 
the  Kev.  A.  L.  Plowman.  Mrs.  Honnold  was  born 
near  Vermillion,  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  April  29,  I860, 
and  is  the  second  child  of  her  parents.  l'.esides 
herself,  there  were  three  others  in  her  father's 
fa  mil}-,  viz:  William,  James,  and  a  sister,  Gracie, 
who  died  in  infancy,  .lames  Meadows,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Honnold,  was  born  near  Vermillion,  Ed- 
gar Co.,  III.  Her  mother.  Mattie  Meadows,  nee 
Cole,  was  horn  near  Case)-,  Clark  Co..  III.  Mr. 
Honnold's  grandfather,  John  I).  Mock,  was  one  of 
the  F.  F.  Y.'s.  and  is  the  only  person  living  in 
Kansas  Township  who  has  ever  seen  Gen  La 
Fayette. 


<x3o~ 


AMES  YVYATT.  This  gentleman  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
Ross  Township  and  is  the  proprietor  of  a 
(Wsw  snug  homestead  comprising  eighty-four 
acres  of  land  on  section  3G  while  he  has  forty  aires 
in  Edgar  Township  and  thirty  five  acres  in 
Prairie  Township.  He  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
best  families  in  this  region,  further  mention  of 
whom  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  his  brother  William 
Wyatt  on  another  page  in  this  volume. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Edgar 
Township  within  one  half  mile  of  where  he  now 
lives,  Sept.  22,  1820.  lie  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  received  a  limited  education  in  the  common 
schools,  in  the  meantime  assisting  his  father  in  the 
development  of  his  land  and  the  improvement  of 
the  homestead.  He  remembers  the  time  when  wild 
game  abounded  in  this  region  and  when  the  hunt 
for  deer  and  wolves  was  one  of  his  most  exciting 
pastimes.  He  commenced  plowing  when  a  boy  with 
the  old  fashioned  wooden  moldboard  plow,  and  for 
his  first  month's  overwork  he  proudly  received  the 
sum  of  &o.  He  drove  a  breaking  team  of  seven 
yoke  of  oxen  and  thus  grew  up  strong  of  muscle 
and  healthy  in   mind    becoming  well  fitted  for  the 


battle    of    life.       He     still    has    in    hi^     possession     a 

scythe  snathe,    which    his  father  presented  him  in 

1845  and  which  he  has  used  every  year  since.       He 

has   taken  good  care  of  it  and  it   is  in  as  good  1 - 

dition  to-day  as  when  ii  was  first  manufactured. 
Mr.  Wyatt  maintains  that  he  would  not  lake  a 
horse  for  it. 

Mr.    Wyatt  remained    at    1 e    until   after  the 

death  of  his  father  which  occurred  in  1846, operat- 
ing the  farm  one  year,  then  began  working  out, 
and  was  thus  occupied  until  a  man  of  twenty-live 
years.  In  1851  he  began  farming  for  himself  and 
purchased  land  gradually  until  he  secured  his  pres- 
ent property.  His  first  dwelling  was  a  log  house, 
which  is  still  standing  and  well  preserved.  In  the 
constructing  of  this  he  was  principally  his  own 
carpenter  and  builder,  and  occupied  it  until  1865. 
That  year  he  put  up  the  more  modern  dwelling, 
which  is  pleasantly  situated  upon  a  rise  of  ground 
and  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding 
country.  Mr.  Wyatt  from  time  to  time,  set  ouf 
fruit  and  forest  trees,  carrying  forty  of  the  latter 
across  the  prairie  and  transplanting  them  around 
his  home,  where  they  have  developed  into  fine 
large  trees,  making  a  grateful  shade  for  man  and 
beast.  The  land  is  plentifully  watered  from  a  uev - 
er  failing  spring  and  is  largely  devoted  to  stock 
raising.  Mr.  Wyatt  keeps  good  grades  of  Short- 
horn cattle  and  is  particularly  fond  of  line  horses, 
having  fourteen  head  of  these  ami  employing  two 
teams  in  operating  the  farm,  of  which  he  is  sole 
superintendent. 

The  marriage  of  James  Wyatt  and  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Scott  took  place  at  the  bride's  home  in 
Cherry  Point.  Oct.  24,  1851.  .Mrs.  Wyatt  was 
born  in  Marshall.  III.,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  Scott,  a  farmer  of  Cherry  Point  and  who 
was  killed  by  a  runaway  team,  April,  >.  1851. 
Mr.  Scott  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county  and  a  worthy  citizen,  (if  this  union  there 
were  born  two  children:  Mary  A.,  who  died  when 
twenty-three  years  old  and  Jacob  10. ,  who  remains 
at  the  homestead.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Scott)  Wyatt 
departed  this  life  at  her  home  in  Ross  Township 
in  May.  11.  188:1.  Our  subject  contracted  asecond 
marriage  Sept.  n,  1888,  with  Miss  Periza  Edging- 
ton,    a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  daughter  of  Lyman 


996 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


r. 


Edgington,  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State  and 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Edgar  Township,  this 
county.  Politically  Mr.  Wyatt  is  a  straight  for- 
ward Democrat  and  religiously  belongs  to  the  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Chrisman  in  which  he  holds  the 
office  of  Deacon.  He  assisted  materially  in  the 
erection  of  the  church  edifice  and  is  numbered 
among  its  chief  pillars. 


f'OSEI'II  R.  PINNELL.  This  gentleman 
bears  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
most  wide-awake  and  energetic  farmers  of 
Shiloh  Township.  He  is  comfortably  lo- 
cated on  160  acres  of  land,  occupying  the  east 
quarter  of  section  15,  where  he  has  a  neat  frame 
residence,  a  good  barn,  fruit  and  shade  trees,  plenty 
of  green  grass,  and  all  the  other  surroundings 
which  complete  the  attractiveness  of  rural  life. 
With  the  exception  of  three  years  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Shiloh  Township  since  1876.  In  1881 
he  rented  his  land  and  removed  to  Hamilton 
County,  Neb.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  on 
on  rented  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Aurora.  In  1884 
he  returned  to  the  old  place,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. A  selfraade  man  in  the  best  sense  of  the 
term,  he  has  arisen  from  a  modest  position  in  life 
solely  by  his  own  efforts,  has  accumulated  a  com- 
fortable, property,  and  likewise  secured  the  esteem 
of  his  neighbors. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  in  Grand- 
View  Township,  Edgar  County,  and  the  date  of 
his  birth  July  16,  1850.  When  quite  young  our 
subject  removed  with  his  parents  to  Kansas 
Township,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
receiving  very  little  schooling.  His  father  hav- 
ing died  when  he  was  a  lad  of  twelve  years,  he 
assisted  his  mother  in  the  farm  work  and  was  thus 
occupied  until  [sixteen  years  old.  Then,  leaving 
home,  he  worked  out  by  the  month  five  years,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  this  time  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  hook  as  a  renter  of  land  in  Kansas 
Township.  He  thus  operated  upon  different  farms 
in  that  vicinity  until  1876,  when  he  located  on  his 
present  place  in  Shiloh  Township,  which  then  com- 


prised 140  acres  without  any  improvements.  Tak 
ing  possession  he  erected  a  dwelling,  commenced 
breaking  the  sod,  and  was  successful  in  his  efforts 
to  build  up  a  farm.  In  due  time  he  purchased 
twenty  acres  adjoining,  and  has  now  an  even  quar- 
ter section  of  well  cultivated  land.  He  has  set  out 
groves  and  an  orchard — maple  and  willow  trees — 
enclosed  and  cross-fenced  his  fields  and  now  makes 
a  specialty  of  grain  and  stock.  In  cattle  his  favor- 
ites are  high-grade  Short-horns,  of  which  he  feeds 
and  ships  one  car  annually.  He  has  Poland-China 
swine  and  about  nine  head  of  draft  and  road 
horses,  using  two  teams  on  the  farm.  He  has  laid 
considerable  tile  for  drainage  purposes,  and  nearly 
all  his  land  is  exceedingly  fertile,  yielding  in  abun- 
dance the  rich  crops  of  this  region. 

In  Kansas  Township.  Jan.  30,  1876,  our  subject 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  \.  Cash. 
This  lady  was  born  in  Kansas  Township  July  9, 
1857,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Cash,  one  of  its 
earliest  settlers  and  most  prominent  citizens., 
owning  a  well-regulated  farm  of  120  acres.  This 
union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children — 
Osborne  R.  and  Joseph  II.  Mr.  Pinnell  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  Republican  principles,  and  officiates  as 
a  School  Director  in  his  district.  He  was  at  one 
time  identified  with  the  Grange  movement,  and  his 
religious  ideas  coincide  with  those  of  the  Christian 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member  in  good 
standings. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Elijah  Pinnell,  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  the  son  of  John  Pinnell, 
who  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  after- 
ward settled  down  on  a  farm  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
He  was  a  man  of  excellent  traits  of  character  and 
justifiably  proud  of  his  substantial  Scotch  an- 
cestry. Finally,  leaving  his  native  State,  he  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky,  of  which  he  was  one  of  t la- 
early  pioneers,  locating  in  Oldham  County.  He 
was  there  employed  as  an  overseer  and  inspector  at 
a  distillery,  and  had  under  him  the  negroes  em- 
ployed about  it.  Subsequently  leaving  Kentucky, 
he  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  located  on 
Killed  land  in  Grand  View  Township.  Later  he  re- 
moved to  Kansas  Township.  In  1860  he  pur- 
chased ten  acres  of  land  in  the  latter,  where  lie 
established  a  home  and  spent  his  last  years,  dying  in 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


:i:r, 


1862  at  the  ageof  seventy-three.  When  becoming 
a  voting  citizen  be  identified  himself  with  the  Whig 
party,  and  upon  its  abandonment  became  a  stanch 
Republican. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Ongles)  Pinnellwas  born  in  Oldham 
County,  Ivy.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  II. 
Ongles,  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  blacksmith  by 
trade.  lie  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  where  lie  followed  his  trade  and 
spent  his  last  days.  Mrs.  Pinned  is  still  living, 
being  now  seventy-five  years  old,  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  sou,  our  subject.  She  is  a  lady  of 
many  estimable  qualities,  and  an  active  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  at  Hume. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
ten  children,  nine  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years: 
Klilm  is  a  resident  of  Allen  County.  Kan.;  Ann  E. 
is  living  in  Coles  County,  this  Slate;  Lucy  died 
when  about  twenty-live  years  old;  John  II.  is  a 
resident  of  Sheridan  County,  Mo.;  William  II.  lives 
in  Hamilton  County,  Neb.;  Melinda  B.  sojourns 
in  Taney  County.  Mo.;  Joseph  11..  oursubject,  was 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Sarah  B.  is  a  resident 
of  Paris,  Edgar  County;  Willis  O.  lives  in  Elk 
County,  Kan.  Elihu,  during  the  late  Civil  War, 
enlisted,  in  1861,  in  Company  E,  12tb  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  served  three  years.  He  was  wounded 
by  a  car  running  over  his  foot.  John  II.  likewise 
served  three  years  in  Company  II,  79th  Illinois 
Infantry,  in  which  he  enlisted  in  18G2.  William 
entered  the  ranks  of  the  Union  Army  in  the  spring 
of  1864,  and  served  in  Company  11,  150th  Illinois 
Infantry  until  the  close  of  the  war. 


<&  IfclLLIAM  WYATT.  This  gentleman  hears 
\/\j/l  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  oldest 
^\y  settlers  of  Ross  Township,  and  is  supposed 
to  be  the  oldest  native-born  citizen  of  this  county. 
He  is  an  easy-going  farmer  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances, renting  his  land  to  Other  parties  and  enjoy- 
ing in  the  wisest  manner  the  proceeds  thereof.  He 
has  eighty-four  acres  on  section  24.  and  forty  acres 
of  timber  in  Prairie  Township. 

The    father    of    our    subject    was    Col.    William 


Wyatt,  a  native  of  Monongalia  County,  (now 
West)  Va.,  and  was  born  in  1791.  Grandfather 
Jasper  Wyatt  was  a  native  of  Delaware,  and  when 
reaching  man's  estate  removed  to  the  above  men- 
tioned county  in  Virginia  where  he  engaged  in 
farming   until    the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  1812, 

when    he    was    employed    as    a  spy   in  the  American 

army,  lie  spenl  his  last  days  in  Virginia,  Col. 
William  Wyatt  served  likewise  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  and  subsequently  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  West  Virginia,  lie  was  married  there 
and  started  for  the  West,  making  his  way  by  boat 
to  Vincennes,  Ind.,  where  he  sojourned  until  the 
fall  of  the  year.  Next  he  went  to  Otter  Creek, 
and  January  21  journeyed  to  this  county  by 
team.  He  settled  in  Hunter  Township  and  entered 
the  employ  of  Col.  Blackburn,  with  whom  he 
remained  a  short  time;  he  then  entered  land  on 
section  I,  Edgar  Township,  where  he  began  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  home,  putting  up  a  log  house  anil 
carrying  on  gradually  such  improvements  as  he 
could  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  War. 
He  then  volunteered  his  services  and  was  mustered 
in  as  Second  Lieutenant  under  Gen.  Alexander. 
Soon  after  he  was  promoted  Lieutenant  Colonel 
and  commanded  a  regiment  until  the  close  of  the 
struggle. 

After  leaving  the  service  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject returned  to  his  farm  in  a  region  of  country 
where  he  was  one  of  the  tirst  settlers.  In  fact  he 
was  the  first  man  to  locate  in  Edgar  Township,and 
there  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was 
an  active  member  and  supporter  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  became  widely  known  for 
his  many  excellent  traits  of  character.  His  friends 
were  everywhere,  among  the  poor  as  well  as  the 
rich,  and  his  death,  which  occurred  in  July,  1846, 
was  mourned  and  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Prickett)  Wyatt.  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  came  to  this 
county  with  her  family.  After  the  death  of  her 
husband  she  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Monroe, 
Wis.,  where  she  resided  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Austin,  until  her  decease,  which  Occurred 
about  1877.  The  family  circle  was  completed 
by  the  birth  of  fourteen  children.  Shelby,  a  resi- 
dent of  Edgar  Township,  this  county:  Jacob  and 


Df)8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Elizabeth,  deceased;  Zachariah,  of  Clark  County, 
Iowa;  Jemima,  deceased  ;  Catherine, living  in  Iowa; 
William,  our  subject-;  .lames,  of  Ross  Township; 
Casandra,  of  Cherry  Point,  Ross  Township;  Ely 
living  in  Oregon;  Ananias  living  in  Idaho;  John, 
deceased;  Augustus  located  near  Ft.  Scott,  Kan., 
and  Polly,  deceased.  Zachariah  during  the  late 
war  served  in  an  Iowa  regiment,  and  Augustus 
served  in  a  Kansas  regiment.  John  enlisted  in  a 
Wisconsin  regiment  and  was  wounded  at  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg;  he  suffered  the  amputation  of  an 
arm,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died  soon  after- 
ward. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Edgar 
Township,  this  county.  March  24,  1821.  in  the 
primitive  log  cabin  built  by  his  father  on  the  new 
farm,  and  grew  up  healthy  in  body  and  mind,  re- 
ceiving a  limited  education,  principally  in  the  win- 
ter season,  in  a  log  school-house  with  slab  benches, 
puncheon  floor  and  greased  paper  for  window 
panes.  For  some  years  there  was  not  a  house  be- 
tween the  home  of  the  Wyatts  and  the  present 
flourishing  city  of  Paris,  which  was  then  but  a 
hamlet  of  a  few  houses.  The  youth  of  those  days 
were  early  inured  to  hard  labor,  and  our  subject, 
when  a  boy  of  ten,  drove  a  breaking  team,  plowing, 
and  performing  such  other  labor  as  his  strength  and 
size  permitted.  He  also  assisted  in  grading  the 
State  Road  when  there  was  not  a  fence  on  the  prai- 
rie for  miles.  lie  was  an  expert  hunter  when  but 
a  boy,  and  nothing  delighted  him  better  than  join- 
ing in  the  wolf  hunts  about  four  times  a  year,  dur- 
ing which  he  brought  down  numbers  of  these 
mischievous  animals,  and  was  voted  the  champion 
shot.  He  also  killed  many  a  deer,  besides  prairie 
chickens,  and  wild  turkeys,  wildcats  and  coons, 
and  made  considerable  money  selling  the  hides. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
a  young  man  of  twenty-four  years,  then  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself.  In  1850  he  entered  from  the 
Government  the  land  which  he  now  owns  and  oc- 
cupies, paying  therefor  $1.25  per  acre.  It  lay  in 
its  primitive  condition  without  any  improvements 
whatever,  and  he  broke  the  prairie  with  oxen,  put 
up  a  frame  house,  planted  hedge  and  made  other 
fencing,  set  out  fruit  and  forest  trees  and  inaugu- 
rated   the   many    other  improvements  suggested  to 


Iiis  active  and  progressive  mind.  The  first  dwell- 
ing was  abandoned  in  1871  for  a  more  modern 
residence,  which  occupies  an  area  of  16x36  feet, 
with  an  L  18x20.  He  has  a  commodious  barn 
52x60  feet  in  dimensions.  In  1881  while  engaged 
in  threshing  he  suffered  a  broken  ankle,  and  for  the 
last  eight  years  his  land  has  been  tilled  by  other 
parties. 

Mr.  Wyatt  has  always  been  interested  in  horses 
and  has  given  considerable  attention  to  the  breed- 
ing of  fancy  Kentucky  roadsters,  having  at  the 
present  time  nine  of  these,  some  of  which  are  quite 
valuable.  He  has  uniformly  signalized  himself  as 
a  liberal-minded  and  public-spirited  citizen,  en- 
cou raging  the  enterprises  set  on  foot  for  the  gen- 
eral advancement  of  the  community.  He  has  been 
for  years  identified  with  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Chrisman.  and  in  politics  is  an  uncompromising 
Democrat.  He  has  had  no  desire  for  the  responsi- 
bilities of  office,  although  serving  as  County  Com- 
missioner and  on  the  Grand  and  Petit  juries.  He 
has  also  been  a  Director  in  his  school  district  for 
years  and  was  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  six 
years. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Wyatt,  in  184!»,  was 
with  Miss  Minerva  Manning,  of  Edgar  Township. 
The  three  children  born  of  this  union  were:  John, 
now  deceased;  Franklin  who  is  fanning  in  Kansas, 
and  James,  who  deals  in  horses  and  lives  in  Chris- 
man.  Mrs.  Minerva  (Manning)  Wyatt  departed 
this  life  in  January,  1856.  The  present  wife  of  our 
subject,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1862,  in  Ross 
Township,  was  formerly  Miss  Catherine  Painter,  a 
native  of  Kentucky. 

-« #«# «— 


ftp  OHN  W.  N.  DOAK,  late  a  resident  of 
Paris  and  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Tenn.,  Dec.  10,  1838,  and 
was  descended  from  ancestors  who  occupied 
a  high  position  in  that  part  of  the  country.  His 
great-grandfather,  Samuel  Doak,  1).  D.,  a  graduate 
of  Princeton,  was  the  founder  of  Washington  Col- 
lege, at  Greeneville,  Tenn.,  which  was  chartered  in 
1795,    and    which    was    the    parent  of  the  present 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOOBAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


999 


Greeneville  and  Tusculum  College,  this  institution 
being  the  outgrowth  of  that  and  Greeneville  Col- 
lege, chartered  in  1794,  and  founded  by  Hezekiah 
Balch,  1).  D.;  and  of  Tusculum  College,  founded 
in  1844  by  Samuel  Doak  and  Ins  son,  Samuel  \V. 
Doak,  D.  I). 

In  1868  these  institutions  were  united,  the  6 rst 
president  being  W.  S.  Doak.  I).  1).,  grandson  of 
the  founder  of  the  old  Washington  College,  and  a 
cousin  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Samuel  Doak 
was  an  eminent  Presbyterian  minister,  and  bad  a 
wide  reputation  for  great  ability  as  a  pulpit  orator. 
He  died  in  Tennessee,  and  the  old  records  speak 
of  him  as  a  man  who  exercised  a  vast  influence  for 
good.  John  W.  Doak,  a  son  of  Samuel,  was  nn 
eminent  and  eloquent  Presbyterian  minister,  who 
labored  for  many  years  in  East  Tennessee,  lie 
was  married  to  Miss  Alexander,  a  sister  of  A.  A. 
Alexander,  D.  I).,  of  Princeton  Theological  Semi- 
nary, and  to  them  was  born  a  family  of  several 
sons  and  daughters,  among  whom  was  John  Newton 
Doak,  M.  D.,  who  was  graduated  from  Washington 
College  in  1S17. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  Newton 
and  Martha  (Payne)  Doak.  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Tennessee.  The  father  was  a  physician 
and  surgeon,  practicing  in  Greeneville,  but  at  an 
early  day,  about  the  year  1832,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  both  entered  and  purchased  land  in 
Paris  and  Siinms  townships,  besides  some  town  lots 
in  Paris.  He  was  here  but  a  few  years  when  his 
liist  wife  died,  and  he  then  returned  to  Tennessee. 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  liis  life,  dying  in 
1840.  After  liis  return  to  Tennessee  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Martha  Payne,  the  mother  of  our  subject. 
She,  some  years  after  his  death,  removed  to  Mis- 
souri, and  was  there  married  to  William  Jordon. 
In  consequence  of  the  troubles  in  that  State  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Rebellion,  they  thought  best  to 
leave  Missouri,  and  coming  to  this  county,  settled 
on  a  farm  which  belonged  to  the  father  of  our 
subject.  They  occupied  this  until  the  fall  of  18(j.") 
(after  the  close  of  the  war),  and  while  they  were 
preparing  to  return  to  Missouri,  Mrs.  Jordon  was 
was  taken  ill  ami  died  Oct.  II,  18G5,  just  three 
days  prior  to  the  decease  of  her  son. 

John  W.  N.  Doak  was   reared  in   Tennessee   and 


educated  in  the  college  founded  by  his  great-grand- 
father. He  accompanied  his  mother  to  Missouri, 
and  about  the  year  1859  he  and  a  brother  named 
William  came  here  to  look  after  the  laud  which 
bad  belonged  to  their  father.  Some  of  it  had  been 
sold,  but  on  a  part  of  the  remainder  they  settled. 
This  was  situated  about  two  miles  southwesl  of 
Paris,  and  here  our  subject  continued  farming 
until  1861.  He  then  enlisted  in  Company  E,  66th 
Illinois  Infantry,  for  three  rears,  served  his  entire 
time,  and  proved  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier,  giving 
his  life  for  his  country  as  truly  as  though  he  bad 
died  on  the  Held  of  battle,  as  his  death  was  caused 
by  exposure,  primarily  from  a  heavy  cold  caught 
in  the  trenches  at  Ft.  Donelson. 

Mr.  Doak  participated  in  the  light  at  the  above- 
mentioned  place  in  a  corps  of  sharpshooters.  He 
was  also  engaged  in  the  desperate  battle  of  Shiloh, 
and  many  of  the  other  battles  fought  in  the  south- 
west. Although  frequently  exposed  in  the  front 
he  was  never  wounded  or  taken  pi  isoner.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  was  mus- 
tered ott,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge,  and 
returned  to  his  farm  in  Paris  Township.  There 
the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed,  and  there  the 
brave  soldier  died  Oct.  17,  1865,  three  days  after 
the  decease  of  his  mother. 

•  A  man  of  quiet  and  reserved  disposition,  Mr. 
Doak  was  a  true  Christian,  carrying  his  religion 
with  him,  wherever  he  went.  He  was  conscientious 
in  all  his  transactions  a  man  of  spotless  character. 
a  fact  recognized  by  his  old  comrades,  some  of  whom 
are  yet  living  in  Paris  and  its  immediate  vicinity. 
lie  was  a  member  while  here  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Paris,  and  by  those  who  knew  him  was 
held  in  high  esteem.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Emily,  daughter  of  William  and  Lucretia 
(Henderson)  Guthrie,  June  13,  1865.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Doak  was  born  in  Boss  County.  Ohio. 
Nov.  2,'n  1  sos,  and  her  mother  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pa..  Aug.  20,  1815.  They  were  married  in  Boss 
County,  where  the  Outlines  settled  in  and  near 
Chilicothe  at  an  early  day.  and  where  the  father  of 
William  Guthrie  built  the  first  State  house.  The 
latter  with  his  wife  emigrated  to  Cass  County.  Hid., 
about  1S37,  remaining  there  about  three  years, 
then,  coming  to  this  county,  they  purchased  a  farm 


1000 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


iu  Hunter  Township  upon  which  they  lived  for 
thirty  years,  removing  thence  to  Paris,  where  the 
death  of  Mr.  Guthrie  took  place  March  20,  1874. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  in  Vermilion  County. 
this  State.  May  23.  1886,  while  on  a  visit  to  a 
daughter,  and  was  laid  by  the  side  of  her  husband 
in  the  Edgar  Cemetery  of  Paris. 

Mrs.  Doak  was  born  Oct.  6.  1838,  near  Logans- 
port,  in  Cass  County,  Ind.,  and  of  her  marriage 
with  our  subject  there  was  born  one  child  only,  u 
son,  John  W.,  March  1  1.  1866.  He  is  an  attorney 
and  resides  in  Paris. 


«N» 


-&.— 


UILLIAM  N.  WILSON.  The  man  who 
takes  pride  in  the  preservation  of  his  fani- 

Wy/  ily  history  is  one  who  is  most  likely  to 
order  his  own  life  in  that  manner  which  shall  reflect 
honor  upon  his  posterity.  The  subject  of  this 
notice  was  born  in  Fleming  County,  Ky.,  which 
was  likewise  the  native  place  of  his  parents,  John 
and  Margaret  (Newcomb)  Wilson.  There  the  lat- 
ter were  reared  and  married,  and  later  emigrated 
to  .Monroe  County,  Ind.  After  a  few  years'  so- 
journ in  that  region  they  once  more  gathered 
together  their  worldly  possessions,  about  1824. 
and,  coming  to  Edgar  County.  111.,  settled  among 
the  Indians  in  Hunter  Township.  Here  the  father 
constructed  a  farm  and  reared  his  family,  and  they 
together  endured  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  life  on  the  frontier.  Their  industry  and  perse- 
verance, however,  were  in  due  time  rewarded  in 
the  possession  of  a  comfortable  home,  while  their 
children  took  their  places  in  the  community  and 
were  recognized  as  forming  a  portion  of  its  best 
element. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Andrew  Wilson,  a  native  of  the  city  of  Dublin. 
Ireland,  where  lie  was  reared,  educated,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  a  tailor.  About  1785  he  emigrated  to 
America,  a  poor  boy  without  money,  friends,  or 
influence,  having  not  even  enough  cash  to  pay  his 
passage  across  the  Atlantic,  but  working  it  on  the 
ship.  After  landing  lie  made  his  way  into  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  supported  himself   by  the  labor  of 


his    bands,  finally    married,  reared  a    family,  and 
spent  his  last  days  in  the  blue  grass  regions. 

On  the   other    side   of    the    house,  the  maternal 

grandfather  of  our  subject  was  William  Newc b, 

a  native  of  Fleming  County,  Ky.,  where  he  was 
reared  to  man's  estate  and  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Bell.  They  removed  to  Monroe  County. 
Ind.,  and  later  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  being  among 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  region.  In  a  few 
years,  however,  Grandfather  Newcomb  decided 
upon  another  change  of  residence  and  moved  with 
lii>  family  into  Macon  County,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  John,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  accompanied  his  parents  in  their  different 
removals  until  ready  to  establish  a  home  of  his 
own.  William  N.  distinctly  remembers  the  time 
when  Edgar  Township  was  mostly  a  wild  tract  of 
country,  and  when  but  few  settlers  had  ventured 
into  this  region;  when  Indians  were  plentiful  and 
wild  animals  abounded.  Large  droves  of  deer 
were  frequently  seen  crossing  the  prairie  not  far 
from  the  cabin  home  of  the  Wilsons,  and  the  vvolves 
frequently  made  night  hideous  howling  around 
their  door.  The  nearest  market  for  a  number  of 
years  was  at  Clinton.  Ind.,  from  which  point  the 
principal  products  were  transported  to  New  Orleans 
by  tlatboats.  The  primitive  schools  were  con- 
ducted in  log  cabins,  and  likewise  the  church  ser- 
vices, these  often  being  held  also  in  private  houses. 
Our  subject  during  his  early  manhood  served  as 
constable  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  and  during 
that  time  enjoyed  a  personal  acquaintance  with 
nearly  every  man  in  the  county. 

Reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  life  on  the  fron- 
tier, young  Wilson  grew  up  strong  in  body  and 
imbued  with  those  excellent  moral  sentiments  which 
were  characteristic  of  regions  where  vice  is  almost 
wholly  unknown.  His  chief  aim  in  life  was  to 
attain  loan  honorable  manhood  and  a  home  of  his 
own.  After  due  preparation  he  was  married  in 
Johnson  County,  Ind.,  in  1843,  to  Miss  Mary  A., 
daughter]  of  Meshack  and  Sarah  (Tucker)  Turner. 
The  young  people,  full  of  courage  and  hope,  entered 
upon  the  journey  of  life  together  upon  the  farm 
where  they  now  live,  and  labored  with  one  mutual 
purpose  in  view.  There  were  born  to  them  three 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter,  Louise,  is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Kilil 


now  the  wife  of  William  Darling,  and  lives  in 
York  County,  Neb. ;  John  T.  is  married  to  Ann 
Malony;  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Elias  B.  Sheets, 
and  they  live  in  Sedalia,  Mo. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Wilson  was 
.lames  Turner,  a  native  of  Spottsylvania  County, 
Ya..  where  he  lived  until  reaching  man's  estate  and 
married  Miss  Sarah  Farmer.  Later  they  removed 
to  Georgia,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.     The  great-grandfather.  Dr.    .lames    Tinner. 

was  a  native  of  England,  where  he  received  a  g 1 

education  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  early 
in  life.  He  settled  in  Virginia  and  died  there. 
1 1  is  sons  were  named  Meshacfc,  Shadrack,  Abed- 
nego,  John,  and  .lames.  They  also  had  a  daughter 
who  married  a  Mr.  Ogeltree,  and  who  were  direct 
heirs  to  the  large  estate  of  the  Turner  family  in 
England.  Mrs.  Wilson  is  a  very  estimable  lady, 
and  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Christian 
Church.  Around  their  present  dwelling  is  one  acre 
of  ground,  which  makes  a  snug  home,  and  in  con- 
nection with  which  are  modern  conveniences  and 
improvements.  Mr.  Wilson  also  has  forty  acres  else- 
where in  Hunter  Township. 

^  AVIS  II.  SHANK.  That  the  career  of 
this  gentleman  has  been  filled  in  with  in- 
dustry and  signalized  by  success,  is  evi- 
dent in  his  surroundings,  which  comprise 
a  well-regulated  farm  with  excellent  modern  im- 
provements. He  has  followed  agriculture  all  his 
life,  and  may  certainly  feel  that  he  has  not  labored 
in  vain.  His  property,  comprising  120  acres  of 
land,  is  pleasantly  situated  on  section  20.  in  Paris 
Township,  and  the  fact  of  his  long  residence  here 
and  that  he  has  uniformly  performed  his  part  as  an 
honest  man  and  a  good  citizen,  has  placed  him  in  an 
enviable  position  among  bis  fellow-men. 

Our  subject  claims   as    his  native    State,    Ohio, 
which  has  furnished  so  many  of   the  men  who  have 

labored    to    g 1    purpose    in    the  development  of 

the  Great  West.  He  was  born  in  Greene  County, 
in  1843,  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  and  in  later  years  attended  a  commer- 


cial school  at  Dayton.  In  the  meantime  he  made 
his  headquarters  at  the  old  homestead,  where  he 
learned  the  principles  of  farming  and  occupied 
himself  with  his  father  until  reaching  man's  estate. 
In  18(11  he  was  married  to  .Miss  Mary  .1.  steel,  and 
in  1866  he  came  with  his  wife  and  his  parents  to 
this  county.  They  purchased  about  101)  acres  of 
land  and  erected  the  first  tile  factory  in  the  county. 
The  people  of  this  region  were  slow  to  adopt  the 
system  of  tiling,  as  it  was  difficult  to  make  them 
understand  how  the  water  could  be  drained  from 
the  ground  in  this  manner.  In  due  time,  however, 
by  great  patience  and  perseverance  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Shank,  they  became  converted,  and  the  enterprise 
proved  an  immense  success. 

After  operating  the  tile  factory  a  number  of 
years  Mr.  Shank  sold  out  and  invested  a  part  of 
his  capital  in  the  lumber  business  at  Paris.  Finally 
he  returned  to  the  farm,  to  which  he  has  since  de- 
voted his  attention,  and  engaged  largely  in  slock 
and  fruit  raising.  He  has  the  largest  herd  of 
thorough-bred  Berkshire  swine  in  the  county,  and 
which  is  familiarly  known  as  the  "Glenwood 
Herd."  In  the  fruit  line  he  has  a  line  vineyard, 
with  a  goodly  assortment  of  the  smaller  fruits  and 
benies.  and  raises  choice  varieties  of  potatoes. 
The  family  residence  is  a  fine  large  frame  structure, 
set  iii  the  midst  of  a  large,  beautifully  shaded  yard, 
which  forms  a  delightful  retreat  in  summer,  while 
the  buildings  are  protected  from  the  bitter  blasts 
of  winter.  There  is  an  ample  supply  of  outbuild- 
ings, including  a  large  barn  with  sheds,  pens, 
etc,  and  a  mill  for  grinding  feed.  All  of  these 
improvements  have  been  instituted  by  the  present 
proprietor.  He  has  120  acres  of  laud,  which  pro- 
duces in  abundance  the  rich  crops  of  Central  Illi- 
nois. 

Mr.  Shank  took  an  active  part  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  pike  road,  which  runs  past  his  farm  — 
in  fact,  with  the  assistance  of  (J.  W.  Kimble,  was 
chiefly  instrumental  in  bringing  if  into  existence. 
The  various  other  enterprises  having  for  their 
object  the  general  good  of  the  people  and  the  up- 
building of  the  township,  have  ever  received  his 
hearty  co-operation.  His  home  is  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  to  be  found  in  the  county.  His  fam- 
ily  circle    includes  live    interesting    children,     viz.: 


1 002 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Cora  E.;  John  A.  is  .1  member  of  the  first  Congre- 
gational Church;  Jessie  S.,  Nellie  E.,  and  Nettie  P. 
Millie  was  taken  from  the  household  by  death  at 
the  age  of  seven  weeks.  The  wife  and  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  our  subject  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Shank,  socially, 
belongs  to  Edgar  Lodge  No.  91,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at 
Paris.  While  a  resident  of  his  native  State  lie  was 
a  member  of  the  militia. 

.Mis.  Shank  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Steel,  like- 
wise a  native  of  Greene  County,  Ohio,  and  the  son 
of  Ebenezer  Steel,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
that  region.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  emigrated  to  Ohio  during  its  pioneer  days, 
settling  mi  a  tract  of  heavily  timbered  land  and 
literally  chopping  out  a  farm  from  the  wilderness. 
He  there  spent  his  Inst  days.  Henry  Shank,  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  likewise  set- 
lied  in  that  region,  in  the  western  part  of  Greene 
County,  not  far  from  Dayton,  when  that  now  flour- 
ishing city  was  but  a  hamlet.  He  was  a  saddler  by 
trade  and  manufactured  saddles  and  harness,  which 
lie  traded  for  work  to  the  settlers,  and  thus  man- 
aged to  clear  his  farm.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Barbara  Crumbaugh.  They  reared  a  fine  family  of 
children,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
the  Buckeye  State.  Their  son,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  married  Miss  Rebecca  Hawkins,  in  Greene 
County,  and  to  them  there  were  born  two  children 
only:  our  subject,  and  his  sister,  Mary  F.,  now 
Mrs.  Andrew  Crumbaugh,  a  native  of  McLean 
County,  this  State. 


w 


FJLLIAM  II.  DOWNS.  One  of  the  most 
beautiful  farms  in  Embarras  Township  is 
that     belonging    to    the     subject    of     this 


sketch.      It  is  finely  located  on  sectic 


and  is 


embellished  with  a  large  two  story  frame  dwelling 
around  which  have  been  planted  fruit  and  shade 
trees,  and  which  is  Hanked  by  a  commodious  barn 
with  sheds  and  other  necessary  outbuildings,  the 
whole  situated  in  a  commanding  position  with  n 
good  view  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  farm 
is  largely  devoted    to  stock-raising  and  its  various 


departments  bear  evidence  of  being  under  the 
supervision  of  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  in- 
telligence. Mr.  Downs  is  largely  self-made,  a  man 
who  has  arisen  to  an  enviable  position,  socially 
and  financially,  by  his  own  efforts. 

A  man  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  our  subject  was 
born  Aug.  26,  1848,  at  the  family  homestead  in 
Paris  Township  and  is  the  son  of  James  B.  and 
Betsy  A.  ( Metcalf )  Downs,  the  former  a  native  of 
Loudon  County,  Va.,  and  the  latter  of  Jefferson 
County,  Ky.  The  father  of  our  subject  came  to 
Illinois  in  1838  and  until  1850  lived  in  Paris 
Township.  That  year  he  changed  his  residence  to 
Embarras  Township  of  which  he  was  a  resident 
for  the  long  period  of  thirty-five  years.  Two 
uncles,  Noble  and  Benjamin  Downs,  served  as 
soldiers  in  the  Mexican  War.  To  the  parents 
there  were  born  three  children  only — William  II., 
James  N.  and  Anna  M.,  (Mrs.  McLean,)  the  two 
latter  are  residents  of  Paris. 

Mr.  Downs  after  leaving  the  district  school  pre- 
pared himself  for  entering  Eureka  College  in 
Woodford  County,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
for  a  time  and  then  entered  the  law  department  of 
Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor.  After  being 
graduated  he  crossed  the  Mississippi  into  Wichita, 
Kan.,  and  commenced  his  law  practice  there  in 
about  LS7.'5.  Six  months  later,  however,  he  en- 
tered 160  acres  of  land  in  Sedgwick  County  and 
in  1874  returned  to  his  native  haunts  and  resumed 
teaching  which  profession  he  had  followed  prior  to 
this  time.  He  was  thus  occupied  five  winters 
while  in  the  summer  season  he  employed  himself 
at  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1850  the  elder  Downs 
had  entered  320  acres  of  land  and  upon  this  our 
subject  settled  in  1879  and  has  since  remained. 
The  first  dwelling  on  this  place  was  built  by  set- 
ting posts  in  the  ground  to  which  boards  were 
nailed  and  the  whole  finished  off  with  a  shed  roof. 
The  Downs  family  lived  in  true  pioneer  style  for 
a  number  of  years,  careful  to  keep  their  expenses 
within  their  income  ami  in  due  time  found  them- 
selves on  solid  ground,  financially.  William  H.  is 
the  owner  of  250  acres  of  the  old  farm  which  he 
has  operated  with  such  admirable  results. 

In  the  December  following  his  twenty-first  birth- 
day  Mr.    Downs    was    married,   in    1869,  to    Miss 


PORTRAIT  AND  P,l(><  i  RAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


1003 


Ellen  A.  Mills.  This  lady  is  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
John  Mills  of  Kansas,  Edgar  County  and  by  her 
union  with  our  subject  has  become  the  mother  of 
five  children,  three  only  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Tessa  M.,  Valetta  R.  and  Roscoe  F..  all  of 
whom  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Downs 
politically,  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat.  He 
cares  very  little  for  official  honors  but  has  been 
prevailed  upon  to  serve  as  School  Director  and  to 
represent  l-'.mbarras  Township  in  the  County 
Hoard  of  Supervisors,  lie  is  a  worthy  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  in  the  Masonic  fraternity 
has  advanced  as  far  as  to  become  a  Knighl  Temp- 
lar. He  also  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 


lIDF.ON  MINOR,  one  of  the  oldest  mer- 
chants of  Edgar  County,  is  postmaster  at 
Edgar, and  although  quite  well  advanced  in 
years  is  remarkably  active  and  has  always  been 
recognized  as  an  honest  man  and  a  good  citizen. 
He  has  had  his  full  share  of  the  difficulties  of  life 
with  which  to  contend,  but  has  maintained  his  in- 
tegrity and  is  held  in  great  respect  by  the  people 
who  have  known  hiin  for  a  lifetime.  He  served  as 
a  School  Director  twelve  years  and  in  polities  is  a 
very  strong  Democrat — a  man  who  has  been  of 
great  service  to  his  party  in  this  section  and  who 
is  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  various  con- 
ventions, has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Central 
Committee. 

The  boyhood  of  on r  subject  was  spent  in  Clermont 
County.  Ohio,  where  he  was  horn  Dec.  8,  181  1.  lie 
was  raised  on  the  frontier,  receiving  limited  edu- 
cational advantages  in  the  subscription  school. and 
left  home  at  the  age  of  seventeen  to  engage  as 
general  merchant  in  a  store  at  Felicity,  Ohio,  lie  re- 
mained in  that  place  until  a  man  of  thirty-six  years 
and  in  1846  became  a  resident  of  Butler  County 
and  was  still  employed  as  a  clerk  at  Darrtown. 
The  year  following  he  came  to  Illinois,  bringing 
with  him  a  stock  of  goods  and  locating  in  Bloom- 
field.  In  due  time.  business  proving  good,  he  en- 
larged his  store  and  remained  there  until  1873. 
That    yeai    he   came  to  Edgar  and    put  up  the   first 


dwelling  in  the  town  of  Edgar.  He  likewise 
brought  to  it  the  first  stock  of  goods  and  for  a  lime 
all  went  well.  In  1879  he  met  with  reverses,  but 
partially  recovered  his  losses  ami  established  a 
grocery  on  a  small  scale,  later  adding  to  his 
Stock  in  trade  hoots  and  shoes.  Although  not  in 
affluent  circumstances,  he  owns  his  dwelling  and 
store  and  has  many  of  the  comforts  of  life,  lie 
was  appointed  Postmaster  in  December.  L872  and 
has  since  held  the  office. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Mason  County,  Ky.. 
in  lK.'i'.l  to  Miss  Leonora  Ilolfon,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, who  received  a  good  education  and  taught 
school  for  some  time  prior  to  her  marriage.  ( )f 
this  union  there  have  been  born  eight  children  of 
whom  the  two  eldest.  Thomas  ami  Anna,  are  de- 
ceased; Mary  is  the  wife  of  Albert  G.  Bates,  a 
farmer  and  they  live  near  Vevav,  Ind.;  Charles 
operates  the  grocery  store  for  his  father  and  is  also 
in  the  coal  business;  Robert,  Judith  and  John  are 
deceased.  Mamie  is  the  wife  of  John  F.  Stephen- 
son who  was  formerly  County  Surveyor  and  is  now 
a  resident  of  Edgar  Township. 


S/AMES  M.PERISHO.  The  simple  and  con- 
tented home  life  possible  amid  the  quiet 
scenes  of  the  country,  is  happily  illustrated 
V§W  'n  ",c  surroundings  of  this  genial  and  com- 
panionable old  gentleman  who  owns  and  occupies 
.■I  well-regulated  farm  on  section  24  in  Grand  View 
Township.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this 
county,  being  the  son  of  one  of  its  representative 
families  and  was  born  in  Grand  View,  three  miles 
from  the  homestead  where  he  now  lives,  Jan.  30, 

1826.       He  was  the   youngest   child  of   his    parents, 

Joseph  and  Barbara  (/.ink)  Perisho,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  North  Carolina.  Dec.  27.  1786. 
The  father  of  our  subject  left  his  native  State 
when  a  lad  of  fourteen  years,  going  into  Kentucky 
and  thence  removed  to  Indiana  where  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1H14.  lie  sojourned  in  the  Hoosier  Slate 
until  1825,  then  coming  to  this  county  look  up  a 
trad  of  wild    land    from  which  he  constructed  the 

1 'stead     now  occupied  by  his  sou  and   where   his 


1004 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


death  took  place  in  1838  while  he  was  still  a  young 
man.  He  became  prominent  in  local  affairs  and 
was  in  all  respects  a  highly  esteemed  and  reliable 
citizen.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  for  a 
period  of  thirty-four  years,  passing  away  in  1872. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  mature  years  and  seven  of  whom 
are  living. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Joseph  Perisho,  a  native  of  France  who  emigrated 
In  America  at  an  early  day,  probably  during  Revo- 
lutionary times,  and  settled  in  North  Carolina. 
( )n  the  other  side  of  the  house,  Grandfather  Daniel 
Zink  was  born  in  Germany  and  upon  coming  to 
America  settled  in  Washington  County.  Ya..  where 
his  daughter,  Barbara,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  born  July  27,  17'J2.  Later  the  family  removed 
to  Kentucky,  thence  to  Indiana  and  finally  to  Illi- 
nois in  1825.  James  M.  was  the  youngest  child  of 
his  parents  and  like  his  brothers  received  a  limited 
education  in  the  subscription  schools  of  this  county, 
which  were  mostly  conducted  in  the  winter  season. 
He  assisted  his  father  in  developing  the  new  farm 
and  when  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  began  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  There  were  many  In- 
dians in  this  section  during  his  boyhood  days  and 
wild  game  of  nil  kinds  was  plentiful.  Young 
Perisho  grew  up  with  the  country  and  has  been 
one  of  the  privileged  witnesses  of  its  transformation 
from  a  wilderness  into  the  homes  of  an  intelligent 
and  enlightened  people.  In  the  successful  care 
and  culture  of  a  portion  of  the  soil  he  lias  thus 
contributed  his  quota  to  the  value  of  the  taxable 
property  of  his  native  count}'. 

Mr.  Perisho  remained  a  bachelor  until  approach- 
ing the  thirty-seventh  year  of  his  age  and  was  then 
married  Jan.  I,  1863,  to  Miss  Sapora  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  Anderson  of  Coles  County,  this 
State.  They  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
only  three  of  whom  are  living — Emanuel  M., 
Catherine  R.  and  Carmelia  A.,  all  at  home  with 
their  father.  The  mother  died  Dec.  8,  1876.  Our 
subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  June  4,  1878, 
with  Miss  Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
Schultz,  who  are  now  residents  of  Dudley  this 
county  and  quite  aged,  the  father  being  eighty-five 
years  old  and  the  mother  eighty-one.      Of  the  ten 


children  bom  to  them,  seven  are  now  living. 
Sarah  Ann,  (Mrs.  Perisho)  was  the  fourth  child  of 
the  family  and  was  born  July  2,  1835  in  Virginia. 
The  year  following  they  all  came  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  this  county. 

The  farm  of  our  subject  embraces  1G7  acres  of 
land  and  is  still  under  his  supervision,  although  his 
son,  Emanuel,  attends  to  the  plowing  and  the  heav- 
ier work.  The  home  surroundings  are  pleasant  in 
the  extreme,  the  dwelling  being  surrounded  with 
innumerable  flowers,  indicating  the  fine  tastes  of 
Mrs.  Perisho,  who  is  a  very  estimable  lady,  entirely 
devoted  to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  her  family. 
She  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Presby- 
terian  while  Mr.  Perisho  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  In  years  past  he  was  a  leading 
Granger.  He  east  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
James  K.  Polk  and  since  that  time  has  uniformly 
given  his  support  to  the  Democratic  part}'.  He 
keeps  himself  well  posted  upon  State  and  National 
issues  and  has  always  borne  the  reputation  of  a 
peaceful  and  law-abiding  citizen,  one  who  has  ever 
given  his  cordial  support  to  the  enterprises  best 
calculated  for  the  general  good  of  the  people 
around  him.  Such  has  been  his  life  that  he  scarcely 
has  an  enemy  in  the  world  and  his  name  will  be 
held  in  kindly  remembrance  long  after  he  has  been 
gathered  to  his  fathers. 

J^f/BRAHAM  F.  LONG.  Living  upon  the 
theory  that  a  ••rolling  stone  gathers  no 
lii  moss,"  the  subject  of  this  notice  still  clings 
to  the  old  homestead  where  he  was  born, 
Feb.  25,  1851.  This  is  a  tine  body  of  land,  160 
acres  in  extent,  and  pleasantly  located  on  section 
24  in  Edgar  Township.  Here  were  spent  the  boy- 
hood and  youth  of  our  subject,  who  received  his 
education  in  the  district  school  and  worked  with 
his  father  until  a  man  of  twenty-one  years.  Then, 
having  had  a  practical  experience  in  farming,  he 
assumed  charge  of  the  place,  which  he  has  man- 
aged since  that  time,  and  which  became  his  about 
L885. 

Mr.     Long     himself     made     the     improvements 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 





which  are  now  viewed  with  much  interest  by  the 
passing  traveler,  and  which  consists  of  a  sub- 
stantial dwelling  and  barn,  sheds,  and  the  other 
buildings  required  for  the  successful  prosecution 
of  agricultural  pursuits.  The  land  is  watered  by 
Bruellet  Creek,  and  spring  water  besides,  while 
there  is  an  abundance  of  native  timber,  an  orchard 
of  apple  trees  in  good  bearing  condition,  and  the 
smaller  fruits  fur  the  use  of  the  family.  In  addi- 
tion to  general  farming,  .Mr.  I. out;  makes  a  specialty 
of  Norman  and  Clydesdale  horses,  keeping  on  hand 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  head.  Most  of  his  land  is 
operated  by  a  renter.  Besides  this  property,  Mr. 
Long  owns  1(10  acres  four  miles  south  of  Osborne 
City.  Kan.  lie  remembers  the  time  when  deer  and 
wild  turkeys  were  plentiful  in  this  region,  and  one 
of  his  youthful  recreations  was  hunting. 

The  20th  of  October,  1887,  marked  an  interest- 
ing event  in  the  life  of  our  subject,  being  the  date 
of  his  marriage  with  Miss  Laura  J.  Benneflel.  This 
lady  was  burn  in  Shiloh  Township,  Edgar  Co.. 
111.,  March  10.  1865.  A  sketch  of  her  parents. 
Robert  and  Mary  .1.  Bennefiel,  will  be  found  on 
another  page  of  this  Album.  The  early  life  of 
Mrs.  Long  was  spent  quietly  under  the  parental 
roof,  where  she  was  trained  in  those  housewifely 
duties  and  accomplishments  which  have  well  fitted 
he  to  preside  gracefully  over  her  pleasant  and 
tasteful  home.  She  is  very  intelligent  and  well- 
informed,  and  adorns  her  position  as  the  wife  of  a 
leading  citizen.  For  some  time  past  she  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at 
Paiis.  Mr.  Long,  politically,  is  a  strong  Repub- 
lican and  an  active  member  of  his  party,  frequently 
being  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  and  Stale 
conventions.  He  assisted  in  the  nomination  of 
"Dick"  Ogiesby  for  Governor,  and  has  served  on 
the  Central  Committee.  Franklin  Church,  which 
was  called  after  him,  was  removed  by  him  from 
Bloomfield  to  its  present  site,  near  our  subject's 
farm. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Andrew  Long,  a 
a  native-born  Virginian  and  the  son  of  John  Long, 
who  was  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and 
served  in  the  War  of  1812.  Later,  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Government  in  the  United  States 
Arsenal  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  was  thus  occupied 


at  the  time  of  bis  death.  The  great-grandfather  was 
William  Lung,  a  native  of  England,  who,  upon 
emigrating  to  America,  settled  in  Virginia,  where  lie 
spent  his  last  days.  Andrew  Long  was  reared  by 
one  of  his  uncles,  and  early  in  life  removed  with 
him  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Fayette  County,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  In  is:i7  he  set  out  for  Illi- 
nois overland  by  team,  and  upon  bis  arrival  iu 
Edgar  County  purchased  a  claim  of  160  acres  of 
land,  which  he  improved,  and  upon  which  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  July  1,  1886.  He  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  community,  and  identified 
with  its  educational  affairs.  For  the  long  period 
of  fifty  years  he  has  been  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Margaret  Mark.  She  was  born  in  Hunting- 
ton County.  Pa.,  of  which  State  her  father  was  also 
a  native,  whence  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Fayette  County.  Ohio.  He  participated  in  the  War 
of  1*12  as  a  commissioned  officer,  in  which  he  bore 
himself  with  greal  credit,  being  well  versed  ill  mili- 
tary tactics.  The  Mark  family  was  of  German  de- 
scent, and  first  represented  in  this  country  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  War,  in  which  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject  carried  a  musket  and  lived 
through  it,  to  be  killed  at  the  first  celebration  of 
the  4th  of  July,  on  Manhattan  Island,  by  the 
premature  explosion  of  a  piece  of  artillery.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  accompanied  her  family  to 
Edgar  County.  111.,  and  died  at  the  homestead  now 
occupied  by  Abraham  I'".,  our  subject,  in  Septem- 
ber, I  878,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  The  ten 
children  of  the  parental  household  were  named  re- 
spectively: .Martha.  John  F.  and  William  A.,  de- 
ceased; Lavonia  II.,  Mrs.  Calvin,  of  Paris;  Mary 
O,  Mrs.  Price,  of  Champaign  County,  III.;  Stroder 
M.,  a  banker  of  Newman,  111.;  Samuel  L..  a  resi- 
dent of  Douglas  County;  Mahala  J.,  living  at  New- 
man; Alpheus  C,  an  inventor  of  some  note,  being 
the  inventor  of  a  patent  lifting  jack,  and  also  a 
patent  wagon  coupling,  of  Paris;  and  Abraham  F., 
our  subject. 

Mr.  Long  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
four  years,  and  was  appointed  Notary  Public, 
first  under  Gov.  John  Hamilton,  next  under  Gov. 
Ogiesby,  and  finally  by  Gov.  Joe  Filer,     lie  is  of 


1006 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


that  genial  and  obliging  disposition  which  has 
made  him  a  universal  favorite  both  in  business 
and  social  circles,  and  he  believes  in  extracting  all 
the  good  attainable  from  life  as  he  goes  along. 
The  home  of  the  Longs  is  consequently  a  very 
pleasant  place  of  resort,  and  under  its  hospitable 
roof  the  proprietor  and  his  amiable  wife  frequently 
entertain  their  many  friends. 


-efe- 


EP 


<S  ItelLLIAM  C.  DICKEN,  late  a  well-known 
\fijfl  resident  of  Ridge  Farm,  departed  this  life 
VW  at  the  former  place.  May  2G,  188,0,  and  all 
that  was  mortal  of  him  was  consigned  to  its  peace- 
ful repose  in  Ingram  Cemetery.  He  was  a  man 
widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  this 
county  where  he  had  distinguished  himself  as  a  lib- 
eral and  public-spirited  citizen,  one  who  accumu- 
lated a  fine  property  and  at  the  same  time  inter- 
ested himself  in  the  general  welfare  of  those  around 
him. 

Mr.  Dicken  was  born  in  Vermilion  County,  this 
State,  May  4,  18.S4,  and  was  the  son  of  John 
Dicken,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  who  upon  coming  to 
Illinois  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Georgetown  and 
engaged  in  farming.  Later,  selling  this  property 
he  purchased  land  adjoining  Ridge  Farm  and  look 
up  his  abode  in  that  town,  where  he  officiated  as 
Justice"  of  the  Peace  and  where  he  spent  his  last 
days.  He  had  been  engaged  as  a  merchant  at  New- 
man a  few  years  and  was  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  was  married  after 
coming  to  Illinois  to  Miss  Mary  Golden,  whose  pa- 
rents belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends.  William 
('.  was  their  second  child  and  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  the  High  School  at  Georgetown.  He  chose 
farming  for  his  vocation  and  was  married  on 
Nov.  21,  1860,  in  Paris  to  Miss  Serena  Scott, 
sister  of  A.  .).  Scott,  whose  biography  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

After  marriage  the  young  couple  located  in 
Prairie  Township,  where  Mr.  Dicken  owned  and 
operated  a  farm  of  240  acres.  Later  he  sold  this 
and  purchased  Kill  acres  on  section  11  adjoining, 
where    he    prosecuted    farming    and   stock-raising 


until  1871.  In  November  of  that  year  he  rented 
his  farm  and  removed  to  that  which  the  family 
now  occupy  in  Ross  Township.  Upon  it  there  had 
been  effected  comparatively  few  improvements  and 
Mr.  Dicken  for  several  years  thereafter  put 
forth  his  noblest  efforts  in  the  construction  of  a 
homestead.  In  the  meantime  he  also  engaged  ex- 
tensively as  a  dealer  in  live-stock,  buying,  feeding 
and  shipping  with  marked  success.  He  added  to 
his  real  estate  and  in  due  time  became  the  owner 
of  1,810  acres  of  land  in  Edgar  County,  1,030  in 
Ross  and  Prairie  townships  and  780  acres  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Metcalf. 

The  Dicken  home  farm  was  purchased  for  128 
per  acre  and  for  his  other  land  Mr.  Dicken  paid  a 
good  round  sum.  While  his  own  extensive  inter- 
ests naturally  absorbed  much  of  his  time  and 
thoughts,  he  vvas  ever  ready  to  assist  those  who 
would  try  to  help  themselves  and  started  many 
a  man  on  the  road  to  prosperity.  By  these 
his  name  is  now  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 
Such  was  bis  genial  and  obliging  disposition 
that  he  was  an  universal  favorite  both  in  business 
and  social  circles.  He  always  maintained  a  warm 
interest  in  the  establishment  of  schools,  giving  lib- 
erally to  these  enterprises  and  also  in  building 
churches.  Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat  until 
1880  and  then  feeling  that  he  bad  reason  to  change 
his  views,  voted  for  Garfield  and  subsequently  was 
a  strong  supporter  of  Republican  principles.  Al- 
though unambitious  of  ottice  he  served  as  High- 
way Commissioner  for  a  number  of  years,  also  as 
a  School  Director. 

The  Dicken  homestead  invariably  attracts  the  at- 
tention of  the  passing  traveler  as  one  evidently 
having  been  built  up  under  the  supervision  of  a 
man  possessing  cultivated  tastes  and  ample  means. 
It  embraces  360  acres  of  finely  improved  land, 
with  a  tasteful  and  commodious  modern  residence 
in  the  midst  of  ample  grounds,  flanked  by  fruit 
and  forest  trees,  beautifully  situated  on  a  knoll  on 
the  banks  of  the  north  fork  of  the  Bruellet  Creek 
and  commanding  a  fine  view  of.  the  surrounding 
country.  Witli  its  outbuildings,  machinery  and 
live-stock,  it  very  nearly  approaches  the  ideal 
country  estate.  Since  the  decease  of  her  husband 
Mrs.  Dicken,  with  the  assistance  of  her  children  has 


PORTRAIT  AND  BloOlJAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


mo; 


managed  the  farm  and  maintained  its  reputation 
for  excellence  and  fertility.  The  land  is  watered 
by  a  living  spring  and  a  branch  of  the  Ninth  Fork 
and  is  largely  devoted  to  live-stock,  including 
thorough-bred  sheep, graded  draft  horscsand  com- 
mon swine.  Two  teams  are  utilized  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  farm. 

Mrs.  I licken.  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary  inteli- 
gence,  was  born  at  her  father's  farm  embracing  the 
the  present  site  of  Scottland,  Dec.  15,  1837.  she 
attended  the  coniiDOn  school  and  was  trained 
by  an  excellent  mother  in  all  housewifely  du- 
ties and  also  assisted  in  out-door  employments 
whenever  necessary,  at  a  time  when  wild  game  was 
plentiful,  when  deer  were  often  to  be  seen  in  the 
neighborhood  of  their  home  and  wolves  prow  led 
around  the  house  at  night.  Her  early  Studies  were 
Conducted  in  a  log  school-house  and  later  she  at- 
tended the  High  School  at  Georgetown.  She  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  her  marriage, 
and  by  her  union  with  our  subject  became  the 
mother  of  six  children,  the  eldest  of  whom.  Mel- 
Yin  S.,  is  administrator  of  the  estate;  he  married 
Miss  Ma  Heed  and  is  farming  in  Prairie  Township. 
Laura  E.,  the  third  child,  is  the  wife  of  Wort  C. 
McKinley,  a  mail  clerk  on  the  Cairo,  Vincennes  & 
Chicago  Railroad,  and  is  a  resident  of  Danville; 
David  M.  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years;  .John 
C,  William  A.,  and  Ada  R.  are  at  home  with  their 
mother.  Mis.  Dicken  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  assisted  liberally  in  build- 
ing the  church  edifice  in  this  township. 


Jul |  ORRIS  LITTLE,  Supervisor  of  Edgar 
'//  \V  Township,  is  a  practical  farmer  and  good 
business  man  and  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent citizens  of  the  township.  Genial, 
whole-souled  and  obliging,  he  has  made  friends 
wherever  he  is  known  and  exerts  no  small  influ- 
ence in  the  affairs  of  his  community  where  he  is  a 
leader  in  the  Republican  party.  He  is  prominent 
in  the  1.  <  >.  O.  I-'.  Lodge  at  Chrisman,  occupying 
the  post  of  Junior  PastGrand,  was  the  representa- 
tive to  the  State   Grand  Lodge   and  is    frequently 


sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  county  con- 
ventions He  was  one  year  a  member  of  the  Cen- 
tral Committee  and  has  always  been  active  in  pro- 
moting his  party's  interests.  His  occupation  has 
been  that  of  a  farmer  and  his  homestead  of  160 
acres  is  located  on  section  l  6. 

'J  he  family   history  of  Mr.  Little  possesses  many 

points  of  interest,  lie  is  the  son  of  Alpheus  Little. 
who  was  born  near  Hamilton,  Butler  Co..  Ohio,  of 
which  Grandfather  Ezra  Little  was  also  a  native, 
and  the  only  child  of  his  parents.  When  a  young 
man  Grandfather  Little  moved  with  his  family  to 
Montgomery  County,  hid.,  where  he  cleared  a  farm 
from  the  forest  and  as  the  result  of  great  industry 
and  economy,  became  the  owner  of  liOO  acres  of 
land.  lie  was  a  man  of  excellent  abilities  and  an 
active  member  of  the  Close  Communion  Baptist 
Church.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  .lob  Little,  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 
He  went  to  sea  when  a  boy  and  followed  the  life 
of  a  sailor  until  forty  years  old.  remaining  to  this 
time  a  bachelor.  He  was  then  married  to  Miss 
Joanna  Miller  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  was  an 
aunt  of  Gov.  Oliver  P.  Morton.  He  located  in 
Butler  Count}',  Ohio,  but  later  removed  to  Indiana, 
where  he  spent  his  last  (lays. 

The  Little  family  are  of  Scotch  ancestry.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  four  years  old  when  he 
went  with  his  parents  to  Indiana.  lie  obtained  a 
a  common  school  education  and  when  a  young  man 
engaged  in  teaching.  In  due  time  he  purchased 
land  in  Montgomery  County.  Ind.,  where  he  op- 
peiated  until  1853.  He  then  removed  to  Clinton 
County,  where  he  purchased  another  farm  of  1(10 
acres,  but  in  1857  sold  this  and  came  to  Edgar 
County,  locating  on  his  present  farm  of  160 
acres.  In  connection  with  farming  he  engaged 
successfully  in  stock-raising  and  became  the  owner 
of  loo  acres  of  land,  which  with  the  exception  of 
160  acres,  he  divided  among  his  children.  lb'  was 
a  active  member  of  the  Christian  Church  in  which 
he  officiated  as  an  Elder,  and  contributed  liberally 
to  its  support,  furnishing  the  greater  part  of  the 
funds  to  erect  the  church  edifice. 

The  maiden  name  of  tin'  mother  of  our  subjeel 
was  Cynthia  Butcher.  She  was  born  in  .Mont- 
gomery County.     Ind.,  ami   was   the    daughter    of 


1008 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


John  Butcher,  a  native  of  Virginia.  The  latter 
upon  leaving  the  Old  Dominion,  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  Newark,  Ohio,  and  from  the  latter  to 
Montgomery  County,  Ind.,  where  lie  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  and  became  a  horse-dealer  of 
great  repute.  He  was  also  an  expert  hunter  and  de- 
lighted in  this  sport.  He  traveled  through  Illinois 
when  it  was  a  wilderness,  but  made  his  home  in  In- 
diana where  he  spent  his  last  days.  In  addition  to 
farming  lie  operated  as  a  veterinary  surgeon.  He 
was  a  prominent  and  popular  man  and  familiarly 
known  as  '-Uncle  John."  When  a  child  he  lost  all 
(if  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand  by  being  burned, 
but  notwithstanding  this  he  could  perform  a  man's 
labor  and  was  considered  the  best  shot  in  the 
country. 

Tne  great-grandfather  Butcher  emigrated  from 
Newark,  Ohio,  to  Indiana,  where  he  spent  his  last 
days.  This  family  was  of  German  descent.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living  and  is  fifty- 
nine  years  old.  Then'  were  only  three  children  in 
the  parental  family,  Morris,  our  subject;  Sarah  E., 
Mrs.  Manning,  of  Edgar  Township;  and  Hannah 
M.,  Mrs.  Moyer.  Morris  Little  was  born  near 
Darlington,  Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.,  8,  1851, 
in  an  old  log  house.  He  was  taken  to  Clinton 
County  when  an  infant  and  resided  there  until 
the  spring  of  1857.  when  his  parents  came  to 
Illinois  overland  with  teams.  He  pursued  his 
studies  in  the  common  schools  a  few  weeks  in  the 
winter  seasons  until  twenty-one  years  old,  then  en- 
tered the  High  School  at  Chrisman  from  which  he 
was  graduated.  He  taught  school  thereafter  for 
two  winters,  then  turned  his  attention  exclusively 
to  farming,  in  which  he  has  since  been  engaged. 

Our  subject  when  commencing  work  on  his  own 
account  rented  his  father's  farm,  but  in  the  winter 
of  1H7I-75  conducted  a  general  store  in  Edgar, 
having  -$2,000  worth  of  stock.  He  located  upon 
his  present  place  in  the  spring  of  1884.  There  had 
been  deeded  to  him  from  his  father's  estate  eighty 
acres  of  this  and  he  had  purchased  eighty  acres  ad- 
ditional. A  portion  of  the  soil  had  been  broken, 
but  aside  from  this  there  was  no  improvements. 
He  put  up  a  house  and  stable  besides  other  less  im- 
portant structures,  planted  hedges  for  fencing  and 
cross-fencing  and  for  the  first  few  years  was  en- 


gaged mostly  in  the  raising  of  grain.  In  the  mean- 
time he  has  laid  considerable  tiling  and  the  land  is 
well  watered  by  the  South  fork  of  Bruelett  Creek. 
Stock-raising  now  forms  a  part  of  the  general  oper- 
ations of  the  farm  including  cattle,  horses,  sheep, 
and  swine.  Of  the  latter  Mr.  Little  ships  a  car- 
load annually.  These  are  full-blooded  mostly, 
while  his  horses  are  Norman  and  Clydesdale;  he 
utilizes  three  teams  on  the  farm. 

Our  subject  was  married  on  the  6th  of  March, 
1882,  at  Paris,  to  Miss  Mary  Mark.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Edgar  Township  and  is  the  daughter  of  A. 
W.  Mark,  one  of  its  most  prominent  farmers  and 
well-to-do.  A  sketch  of  him  appeals  on  another 
page  in  this  volume.  The  three  children  born  of 
this  union  are  .lames  Blaine,  Edna  Blanche  and 
Gary  Morton.  Mr.  Little  is  serving  his  third  term 
as  Supervisor  and  has  occupied  nearly  all  the  other 
local  offices,  being  Collector  and  Assessor  two 
years  each  and  Township  Clerk  one  term.  He  was 
School  Trustee  for  a  period  of  nine  years. 


AMES  STEWART  is  a  native  of  Edgar 
i  County,  and  was  born  in  Sims  Township, 
five  miles  south  of  Paris.  .Inly  II.  1841.  He 
spent  his  youthful  days  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  received  a  good  education  at  the  common 
schools.  When  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  he  en- 
listed in  the  defense  of  his  country,  joining  Com- 
pany B,  1st  Missouri  Engineers,  duly  27,  1861. 
His  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Western  army, 
and  was  engaged  with  Gen.  Pope  in  the  reduction 
of  Island  No.  10,  then  at  New  Madrid,  going  from 
there  to  Vicksburg,  aiding  in  the  siege  of  that  city. 
The  regiment  was  also  at  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and 
for  some  time  under  Gen.  Grant  in  different  parts 
of  the  West  and  South,  performing  the  duties  of 
an  engineer  regiment.  Mr.  Stewart  served  faith- 
fully and  well  until  Aug.  5,  1864,  when  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

After  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Stewart  engaged  in 
farming,  locating  seven  miles  northwest  of  Paris. 
He  continued  working  on  his  farm  until  1881.  He 
had  280  acres  of  land  and  improved  it  thoroughly. 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


[009 


In  the  war  mentioned  he  engaged  in  the  milling 
business  with  Laughlin,  .Marly  &  Stewart,  in  what 
is  known  as  the  ••Paris  City  Mills."  Hecontinued 
in  this  business  for  three  years,  and  in  tin*  mean- 
time, in  1882,  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Edgar 
County,  that  being  the  lir>t  year  the  office  was  ex- 
tended to  four  years.  lb*  filled  (his  position  with 
credit  to  himself  and  honor  l<>  the  county.  He 
was  nominated  for  the  <  > 1 1  i> ■< ■  of  County  Treasurer, 
Imt  as  the  Democratic  party  was  united,  he  was 
defeated.  Since  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
oilier  as  Sheriff,  he  has  purchased  l^n  acres  of 
timber  land  in  this  county,  and  with  a  partner  is 
engaged  in  the  lumber,  wood  and  tie  business  veiy 
extensively.  One-third  of  the  land  has  already 
been  put  into  cultivation,  and  sometime  the  whole 
tract   will  make  a  splendid   farm. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  at  present  an  Alderman  for  the 
1st  Ward  of  the  city  of  Paris,  and  lie  has  held 
other  offices  of  trust,  lie  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.  lie 
belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  and  United  Workmen, 
and  in  all  of  these  societies  he  is  wvy  popular. 
Mr.  Stewart  and  wife  arc  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Kpiseopal  Church.  On  Feb.  15th,  1866,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Sally  K.  Middlcton.  They  are  the  parents  of  five 
children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living:  Ulysses  C, 
Claude  A.  and  Otto  M.  I'lysses  married  .Miss  Bessie 
Green,  of  Paris,  and  they  have  one  child,  Josiall. 
Ulysses  is  living  on  his  father's  farm  north  of 
town.  Mrs.  Stewart  was  horn  in  Edgar  County, 
March  30,  1845,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Josiah 
Middlcton,  who  was  a  fanner  of  Elbridge  Town- 
ship. James  Stewart,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  in  1805, 
where  lie  lived  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
In  1839  he  removed  to  this  county,  locating  on  a 
farm  south  of  Paris,  which  was  partially  improved. 
There  lie  made  himself  a  gooil  home,  and  when  he 
died,  in  1  868,  was  respected  by  all  his  acquaintances. 
His  widow  still  lives.  They  reared  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  all  of  whom  attained  maturity, 
and  eight  arc  now  living.  The  following  is  a 
record  of  all  the  children:  Adam  and  Rebecca  are 
dead;  .lane  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Morton,  a 
farmer  of  Elbridge  Township;  Rachael  is  the  wife 


of  John  A.  Sims,  a  resident  of  this  county;  New- 
ton    is    a    farmer    in    Buck   Township;   Mary    Ann 

married  John  Ryan:  .lames  i>  the  one  of  whom  we 
write;  Alexander  died  when  he  was  twenty-three 
years  old;  Sarah  married   I..  Snedicker,  and  they 

are  residing  in  Buck  Township;  Angelinc  is  the 
widow  of  John  (Vyder,  who  was  a  farmer.  She  is 
living  in  Paris;  Lucretia  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
North,  of  Sims  Township. 

All  of  l  he  living  I  lie  in  hers  of  t  he  family  are  in  this 
county,  and  are  thrifty  and  representative  people. 
The  father  of  this  estimable  family  was  interested 
in  the  organization  of  district  No.  I.  township  11, 
range  I  •_'.  at  an  early  date  in  the  history  of  Edgar 
County.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  largely  through  his  efforts  the  church 
building  was  erected  in  the  neighborhood  last  men- 
tioned, lie  married  Mary  Ann  Henderson,  a  na- 
tive of  Washington  County,  \'a.  Her  parents  were 
from  England. 


PRAM   C.   HAWKINS.      This    gentleman 
ranks  prominently  among  the  native-born 

citizens  of  Edgar  Township,  and  was  born 
Vj)  near  Bloom  field,  July    1G,  1850.      lie    was 

reared  to  farm  pursuits  and  given  a  good  practical 
education  in  the  common  school.  His  boyhood 
ami  youth  were  spent  in  a  comparatively  unevent- 
ful manner  under  the  home  roof,  where  he  remained 
until  a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years.  We  now 
find  him  comfortably  located  on  the  well-regulated 
farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  .">  and  he  also  oper- 
ates 21(1  acres  adjoining.  This  in  itself  indicate-, 
his  industrious  habits  and  the  worthy  ambition  to 
provide  against  his  old  age.  His  farm  lies  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Edgar  Township,  two  and 
three-fourths  miles  from  Metealf. 

Upon  first  leaving  home  our  subject  started  out 
overland  by  team,  in  1872,  and  a  month  later 
landed  in  Oak  (.rove,  Seward  Co..  Neb.  He  pur- 
chased a  claim  of  Hit)  acres  in  Butler  County,  se- 
cured his  title  to  it  by  remaining  there  the  required 
length  of  time,  then  sold  it  and  returning  to  Illi- 
nois   bought   forty  acres   of    land   on  Cherry  Point 


Kill) 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


road  in  Edgar  Township  upon  which  he  operated 
until  1881.  During  that  year  lie  sold  this  also 
and  purchased  his  present  farm  which  was  a  tract 
of  eighty  acres  partially  improved.  He  has  en- 
closed the  Held  with  fences,  put  up  a  barn  40  x  48 
feet  in  dimensions,  also  a  carriage  shed,  has  laid 
tiling  and  planted  hedge  and  also  set  out  an  orch- 
ard. He  makes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising,  having 
beside  his  cattle  and  swine  twenty  head  of  valuable 
high-grade  Norman  and  Clydesdale  horses,  lie 
employs  three  teams  in  working  the  firm.  The 
dwelling  is  located  two  and  three-fourths  miles 
from  Metcalf. 

Mr.  Hawkins  was  first  married  .Ian.  30,  1873,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Ward,  the  wedding  taking  place  at 
the  bride's  home  in  Bloomliehl.  Mrs.  Hawkins 
was  born  in  Indiana  and  received  a  good  educa- 
tion. She  was  later  employed  as  a  teacher.  She 
only  survived  her  marriage  ten  months,  dying  that 
same  year.  She  was  a  lady  of  great  culture  and 
refinement  and  her  loss  was  deeply  mourned.  She 
left  one  child,  a  son,  William  W.,  now  a  promising 
young   man  who   remains  at  home  with  his   father. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
Edgar  Township  in  September,  1878,  to  Miss  Hattie 
E.  Fonts,  daughter  of  II.  II.  Pouts,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  She  also  was 
born  in  Indiana  Nov.  26,  1854  and  taught  school 
there  prior  to  her  marriage.  This  union  has  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  four  children — Otis,  Albert, 
Myrtie  E.  and  Edith  M.  Mr.  Hawkins  is  an  active 
Democrat,  politically,  and  is  frequently  sent  as  a 
delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  He  served  as 
Constable  for  four  years,  Assessor  one  year  and 
has  been  a  Director  in  his  school  district  for  a 
period  of  eight  years — in  the  meantime  officiating 
as  President  of  the  Board.  Personally,  he  is  a  very 
pleasant  and  agreeable  gentleman  and  invariably 
makes  a  good  impression  upon  those  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact. 

William  Hawkins,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Hardin  County,  Ky..  and  was  the  son  of 
David  Hawkins,  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812 
and  later  operated  as  a  farmer  in  the  above-named 
county.  Later  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating 
near  the  present  town  of  Bloomfield  when  its  set- 
tlers were    lew  and    far    between,     lie  carried  on 


farming  thereafter  until  his  death.  William  was  a 
young  man  upon  coming  to  Illinois  and  operated 
in  Edgar  County  as  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  also 
as  a  teamster.  He  frequently  drove  through  to 
Chicago,  and  in  the  pursuance  of  his  trade  found 
employment  there  and  put  up  a  number  of  build- 
ings in  the  pioneer  days.  Finally  he  located  on  a 
farm  of  seventy -seven  acres  in  Edgar  Township 
where  he  spent  his  last  days  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  Politically,  he  was  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  his  religious  views  harmonized  with 
those  of  the  •■  Hardshell"  Baptist  Church. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Charlotte  Drake.  She  was  likewise  a  native 
of  Indiana  and  died  in  Edgar  Township,  111.,  in 
18G3.  The  six  children  of  the  parental  family 
were  named  respectively,  Martha,  a  resident  of 
Young  America  Township;  William  II.,  living  in 
Nebraska;  David  S.,  deceased;  Sarah  A.  in  Dan- 
ville; Edward  L.  of  Fairniouut,  III.,  and  Abram 
C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


■"vet  ~-*JU2J2/&i3*i 


I  **~^J-2><?Zr?r>\~'v\^v~ 


<fl  IMLLIAM  NAY.  After  a  series  of  well- 
vjidli  slx'nt  J'eal's  employed  in  honorable  toil  lie 
\jfyy  with  whose  name  we  introduce  this  bio- 
graphical outline,  practically  retired  from  active 
labor  and  lives  comfortably  on  a  snug  farm  of 
seventy-five  acres  on  section  30,  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship, Edgar  County.  He  was  at  one  time  a  large 
land-owner,  having  290  acres  in  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies,  and  210  acres  in  another  part  of 
Edgar  County  and  in  Coles  County.  This  he  has 
disposed  of  by  dividing  it  among  his  children,  to 
each  of  whom  he  has  given  a  farm.  He  is  a  man 
justly  pioud  of  his  family  record,  the  main  points 
of  which  we  give  as  follows: 

Mr.  Nay  was  born  in  Oldham  County,  Ky.,  Jan. 
14,  1821,  of  which  county  his  father,  Sanford  Nay, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers,  emigrating  thither 
from  Virginia,  his  native  State,  with  his  parents. 
He  was  there  reared  and  married,  the  maiden  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  Sanford  and 
Anna  Bennett,  who  were  natives  of  the  Blue  Grass 
State.     Not  long  afterward  the  newly  wedded  pair 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


|U|    I 


made  their  way  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Kansas 
Township,  Edgar  County  a*  early  as  1831,  when 
Indians  still  lingered  in  this  pari  of  the  country. 
The  journey  was  made  overland  with  an  ox  team 
and  as  soon  as  it  was  completed  Mr.  Nay  established 
himself  in  a  log  cabin  and  commenced  opening  up 
a  farm.  Avoiding  the  fate  of  the  "  rolling  stone 
which  gathers  no  moss,"   lie  remained    persistently 

upon  his  Bret  possession  where  were  horn  the  ten 
children,  seven  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years.  Of 
these  there  are  now  (inly  three  survivors,  William. 
our  subject;  Ezra,  a  resilient  of  Kansas  Township, 
and  Lavina.  the  wife  of  Jasper  N.  1'innell.  who  oc- 
cupies the  old  home  farm  upon  which  the  parents 
spent  their  last  days.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Christian  Chnreli.  with  which  they  had  been  con- 
nected many  years,  and  in  which  the  father  served 
as  a  Deacon.  They  came  to  Illinois  poor  in  purse, 
l.nt  by  industry,  economy  and  good  management 
the  father  became  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  land 
and  a  goodly  amount  of  personal  property. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Joseph  Nay.  a  native  of  Culpeper  County,  Va.. 
where  he  married  Miss  Frances  Maliarnev,  who  was 
also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Subsequently 
the}'  removed  to  Kentucky  and  then  came  to  Illi- 
nois, joining  their  children  in  Edgar  County  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  The  maternal 
grand  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia  from  which 
they  removed  to  Kentucky  it  is  believed,  prior  to 
178!),  as  they  had  one  child  born  in  a  fort  in  April 
of  that  year.  That  child.  Reuben  Bennett,  is  still 
living  in  Kentucky.  The  family  was  noted  for 
longevity.  Two  of  them  lived  to  lie  ninety  years 
old  and  the  youngest  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years. 

William  Nay.  our  subject,  attended  school  three 
months  in  his  native  county  and  later  studied  his 
lessons  in  a  log  schoobhouse  in  Edgar  County,  111. 
The  floor  of  this  building  was  covered  with  punch- 
eon and  the  unplaned  seats  and  desks  were  made 
of  the  same  material,  upheld  by  rude  wooden  legs. 
For  writing  desks  pins  were  driven  into  the  wall 
and  slabs  laid  across  them.  Instead  of  glass  the 
window  panes  were  made  of  greased  paper.  A  huge 
fireplace   extended    nearly   across  one    end    of    the 


building.  The  nearest  market  for  slock  in  those 
days  was  at  Terre  Haute.  Ind..  while  they  also 
Iran-ported  produce  to  Chicago  and  St.  Louis. 
With  the  exception  of  timbers  being  laid  across 
the  slOUgllS,  a  road  was  scarcely  marked  out  and 
there  were  few  fences  to  be  seen.  Al  times  the 
travelers  had  to  go  considerably    out  of  their  waj 

to  avoid   being  swamped. 

Amid  I  hese  scenes  and  surroundings  the  boyhood 
and  youth  of  our  subject  were  spent,  while  he  was 
trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  grew  up  strong 
and  self  reliant.  His  chief  ambition  was  to  estab- 
lish a  home  of  his  own  and  he  was  accordingly 
married,  .Ian.  17.  IS  17,  in  Kansas  Township,  to 
Miss  Harriet  F.,  daughter  of  Jonathan  W.  and 
Elizabeth  (Aiken)  Brown.  Mrs.  Nay  was  born  in 
Edgar  County,  Jubj  20,  1S27.  Her  parents  emi- 
grated from  Connecticut  to  this  county  at  a  very 
early  dale   and    here   reared    their   family    of  seven 

children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Nay  was  they igest  born 

and  of  whom  only  two  survive.  Mrs.  Nay  has  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  white  girl  born  in  Kansas 
Township.  Here  she  has  spent  her  entire  life  and 
is  now   living  within  one  mile  of  her  birthplace. 

The  six  living  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Na\ 
were  named  respectively.  George  B.,  William  H., 
Nancy  K..  the  widow  of  Levi  Sherer.  and  now  with 
her  parents;  Charles  E..  Mary  L.,  Mrs.  Jacob  Glo- 
vier,  also  living  near  her  parents  and  Ira  F.,  who 
operates  the  home  farm.  Those  deceased  are  San- 
ford  W..  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Willis 
II.,  who  was  called  from  the  home  circle  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  Hattie  I...  who 
died  in  the  bloom  of  womanhood  when  only  about. 
nineteen  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nay  are  members 
in  good  Standing  of  the  Christian  Church  in  which 
our  subject  has  been  Deacon  and  Elder  for  many 
years. 

During  the  progress  of  theCivil  War  Mr.  Nay 
enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier,  Sept.  28,  1864,  in 
Company  II.  59th  Illinios  Infantry,  lie  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Nashville.  Tenn..  and  served 
until  June,  1865,  after  the  close  of  the  war  when 
he  received  his  honorable  discharge.  His  brother 
Harrison,  was  a  member  of  Company  II,  79th  Illi- 
nois Infantry  and  was  captured  by  the  rebels  al 
the  battle  of  Chiekainauga.     He  was  conveyed    to 


1012 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Libby  prison  and  then  to  Danville,  Ya.,  where  he 
died  in  prison.  Mr.  Nay,  politically,  supports  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  As  an  ex-sol- 
dier, he  belongs  to  the  Kansas  Post,  G.  A.  R.  II is 
life  has  passed  in  a  comparatively  uneventful  man- 
ner, during  which  he  has  been  content  to  pursue 
the  even  tenor  of  his  way  and  is  looked  upon  as  a. 
peaceable  and  law-abiding  citizen — one  who  enjoys 
the  entire  confidence  and  esteem  of    his  neighbors. 


<<1  IfclLLIAM  JONES,  one  of  Illinois'  suceess- 
\V\/W  '"'  and  prosperous  fanners,  owns  880  acres 
Yy\5  of  valuable  land,  of  which  640  acres  are 
on  section  22,  160  acres  on  section  2:5,  and  80  acres 
on  section  21.  This  extensive  estate  he  operates 
as  a  feeding  farm,  reserving  a  portion  for  the  pur- 
poses of  general  farming.  Me  attends  to  the  feed- 
ing of  150  head  of  his  own  cattle,  and  about  as 
many  more  for  several  other  persons. 

In  1865  Mr.  Jones  came  to  Edgar  County  and 
rented  a  small  place  from  Mr.  James  Gains  and 
made  that  his  home  for  about  five  years,  working 
industriously  and  economizing  prudently,  so  that 
in  1870  he  was  able  to  purchase  320  acres  of  land, 
which  formed  the  nucleus  of  his  present  extensive 
possessions.  The  land  first  purchased  was  located 
on  section  22,  and  to  this  he  has  added  at  various 
times  until  he  now  owns  his  present  large  estate. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  Feb.  28, 
1831.  in  (lark  County,  Ohio.  His  father  was  David 
Jones  and  his  mother  Jane  Ellis.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  from  Maryland,  in  which  State 
his  father  was  born.  His  mother  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  the  daughter  of  a  farmer  and  of  Welsh  ex- 
traction. The  parental  family  consisted  of  thirteen 
children,  named,  respectively,  Eveline,  who  mar- 
ried Daniel  Martin;  she  died  in  Springfield,  Ohio, 
about  fifteen  years  ago,  leaving  a  grown  family  of 
four  children.  Mary  Ann  lives  in  Clark  County. 
Ohio,  and  is  the  wife  of  Abraham  Weaver,  a  farmer; 
they  have  eight  children;  Ellis  died  in  Texas  in 
1865,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  children;  Philura 
is  single,  and  resides  in  Clark  County,  Ohio;  Dan- 
iel  lives  in  Sidcll.  where  he  follows  the  occupation 


of  a  butcher;  he  has  been  married  twice  and  has 
six  children;  Harvey  resides  at  1 1  ildreth ;  he  is  a 
wealthy  and  prosperous  farmer  and  lives  in  a  pleas- 
ant home  with  a  family  of  five  children;  Jonathan 
is  a  widower  and  lives  in  California;  Isabelle  J.  is 
married  to  Mr.  Frank  Ward,  and  resides  near  Lon- 
don, Ohio;  Sylvester  enlisted  in  Company  G,  04th 
Ohio  Infantry;  lie  was  fatally  wounded  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Crab  Orchard.  Ky.,  and  died  shortly  after- 
ward, leaving  another  chair  vacant  in  his  father's 
household:  Sandusky  is  unmarried,  and  resides  in 
the  State  of  Kansas;  Celestine  is  married  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Shafer,  and  resides  in  Ohio;  Sarah  E.  died 
ten  years  ago  unmarried. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the 
farm  in  Ohio,  where  he  enjoyed  only  the  limited 
educational  ad  vantages  that  were  afforded  by  the 
common  schools  of  country  districts.  In  August, 
1  802.  he  enlisted  in  Company  0,  94th Ohio  Infantry, 
and  went  forward  with  the  rest  of  his  command 
to  meet,  and  if  possible  vanquish  the  enemy. 
Shortly  after  entering  the  army  he  was  raised  to  the 
rank  of  Corporal,  which  office  he  held  until  his 
honorable  discharge  in  June.  IS65.  He  partici- 
pated in  tin'  battles  of  Reseca,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
and  Peach  Tree  Orchard,  also  fighting  gallantly  to 
sustain  the  Stars  and  Stripes  in  the  campaign  be- 
fore Atlanta.  On  receiving  his  discharge  he  went 
to  Clark  County,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  cat- 
tle trade  and  farming  until  August,  1865,  when  he 
came  to  Edgar  County. 

On  November  12,  1867,  our  subject  and  Miss 
Charity  E.  Blanchard  were  united  in  marriage. 
Mrs.  Jones  is  a  daughter  of  Horatio  and  Rebecca 
Blanchard,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio.  She  was 
born  and  reared  near  Chrisman.  III.  No  children 
have  come  to  bless  the  home  of  our  subject  and  wife, 
but  they  raised  Martha  E.  Snell,  who,  upon  arriv- 
ing at  the  age  of  eighteen,  married  William  S. 
Breeding,  and  is  now  a  resident,  of  Custer  County, 
Neb.  They  also  have  with  them  a  lad  of  fifteen, 
whom  they  have  raised  as  their  own,  and  who 
bears  the  name  of  Don  A.  Jones. 

Mr.  Jones  lost  his  father  in  1867,  and  his  mother 
in  1882,  both  lying  beneath  the  sod  and  calmly 
sleeping,  awaiting  the  resurrection  morn.  They 
died  as  they  had    lived,    in    full    communion   with 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


1018 


the  New  Light  Christian  Church.  Politically  the 
elder  Jones  was  a  Whin'  until  the  war,  when  he 
threw  in  his  ballot  for  the  Republican    candidates. 

Our  subject  has  held  n<>  public  office  except  that 
of  School  Director,  which  position  he  occupies 
more  by  virtue  of  his  great-  interest  in  educational 
matters  than  as  a  party  man.  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  Township  Committee,  where  hi>  sa- 
gacity, integrity  and  public  spirit,  make  him  a 
valued  helper  in  their  councils.  Mrs.  Jones  is  a 
lady  who  is  active  in  every  good  work,  and  is  a 
consistent,  earnest  and  devoted  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 

Our  subject  and  his  family  reside  in  a  beautiful 
home,  situated  in  the  midst  of  highly  ornamented 
grounds  in  the  center  of  section  "22.  His  farm  is 
all  under  fence,  in  first  class  cultivation,  and  well 
adapted  to  the  purposes  to  which  it  is  devoted. 
Closely  planted  and  trimmed  hedges  and  good  build- 
ings serve  to  give  an  additional  attractiveness  to 
this  tine  estate.  Mr  Jones'  present  prosperity  is 
owing  to  his  habits  of  industry,  frugality  and  good 
business   foresight.      Socially     he    is   a    genial    and 

friendly   man,    hospitable  and   liberal   to  all   g 1 

works. 


ILLIAM  II.  PATRICK.  Could  the  pio- 
(Jj  neers  of  forty  years  ago  have  been  permit- 
ted to  look  into  the  future  and  note  the 
outcome  of  their  labors  and  privations,  they  would 
have  felt  amply  repaid  for  the  scenes  through 
which  they  passed  during  the  period  of  life  on 
the  frontier.  Some  of  them,  it  is  true,  have  been 
permitted  to  view  the  result  of  their  labors,  while 
others  passed  to  their  long  home  in  the  midst 
of  their  usefulness.  They  came  from  all  portions 
of  the  Eastand  South,  and  among  the  States  which 
sent  their  delegations  of  emigrants  Kentucky  was 
one  of  the  foremost.  The  Patrick  family  nour- 
ished in  the  Blue  Grass  State  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century  and  were  recognized  as  among  its 
best  elements.  In  that  State  was  born  Thomas 
C.  Patrick,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
who  did  valiant  service  in  the  War  of  1812  and 
afterward  settled   down  on  a  farm  near  the  place  of 


his  birth,  where  he  remained  until  about  1885. 
In  1  he  meantime  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  many 
eminent  men,  being  himself  prominent  and  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  and  numbered  among  hi* 
personal  friends  the  immortal  Henry  ('lav.  fi- 
nally in  the  year  above  mentioned,  Grandfather 
Patrick  had  his  attention  attracted  to  the  voting 
and  growing  State  of  Illinois  and  decided  to  come 
hither.  Halting  in  Edgar  County  lie  entered  a 
tract  of  land  in  Bruellet  Township  which  he  se- 
cured from  Henry  Clay  and  upon  which  he  oper- 
ated successfully  until  his  earthly  labors  were 
ended.  He  traced  his  ancestry  to  Scotland  and 
possessed  the  force  of  character  and  strength  of 
frame  which  i>  characteristic  of  that  nationality. 

A g  the  children  born  to  Thomas  ( '.   Patrick. 

Sr.,  was  Tin  Unas  C,  dr.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
who  was  a  youth  of  sixteen  years  when  he  accom- 
panied the  family  to  Illinois.  After  sojourning 
a  while  with  them  in  Edgar  County  he  went  into 
Jasper  County  anil  entered  land,  upon  which  hi' 
began  operating  successfully  and  added  to  his 
possession  until  he  was  at  one  time  owner  of  1,000 
acres.  He  became  largely  interested  in  live-stock 
and  remained  there  until  1858.  Then  selling  out 
he  removed  to  Mattoon,  where  he  invested  in  land 
and  town  property  and  where  he  still  resides.  lie 
is  recognized  as  among  the  prominent  men  of  that 
region,  is  one  of  the  lights  in  the  Republican  party 
and  a  conscientious  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Eliza  Chrisman,  was  born  in  Nelson  County. 
Kentucky,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Chris- 
man,  likewise  a  native  of  that  county,  and  who 
carried  on  farming  there  in  his  younger  years. 
He.  too,  Anally  joined  the  caravan  coming  West- 
ward and  entered  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment on  the  Chicago  road  in  Edgar  Township. 
He  labored  in  true  pioneer  style  in  the  opening  up 
of  the  farm  and  upon  it  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  daughter  Eliza  remained  a  member  of 
the  parental  household  until  her  marriage.  Her 
death  look  place  in  Mattoon  III.,  in  January,  1889, 

when  she  was  sixty-nine  years  of  age.  She.  like 
her  husband,  was  active  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal   Church,  of   which  she   became    a    member  in 


1111  1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


childhood.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there 
were  born  four  children:  Cynthia,  deceased,  Will- 
iam II.  our  subject,  John  T.,  who  is  farming  near 
Mat  toon,  and  Walter  A.,  a  merchant  of  •Montgom- 
ery, Ala.    ■ 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  near  New- 
ton, Jasper  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  6,  1845.  He  made  him- 
self useful  around  the  homestead  as  soon  as  of 
suitable  age  and  strength,  and  pursued  his  studies 
in  a  log  school-house  during  the  winter  season. 
The  first  schools  were  conducted  on  the  subscrip- 
tion plan,  and  later  free  schools  were  established. 
Young  Patrick  when  sufficiently  advanced  entered 
the  High  School  at  Mattoon  and  there  completed 
his  studies.  He  left  home  when  a  youth  of  eight- 
een years  and  began  clerking  in  a  dry-goods  store 
at  Newton,  where  he  remained  two  years.  After 
this  he  became  interested  in  live-stock,  which  he 
began  buying  and  shipping  to  Chicago  and  from 
which  he  realized  handsome  returns.  He  made  his 
first  purchase  of  land  in  1808,  240  acres,  for  which 
he  paid  $5  and  $8  per  acre.  It  was  all  prairie 
with  no  improvements,  and  indeed  there  were  few 
improvements  in  the  whole  township.  This  prop- 
city  lie  still  retains  and  has  added  to  it  until  he  is 
now  the  owner  of  320  acres,  all  lying  on  section  1. 
He  commenced  breaking  with  ten  yoke  of  oxen, 
and  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  pro- 
ceeded with  the  improvements  as  rapidly  as  possi- 
ble, making  fences,  putting  up  buildings,  and 
gathering  around  himself  and  his  family  the  com- 
forts of  life.  In  connection  with  general  agricul- 
ture he  has  operated  continuously  as  a  dealer  in 
live-stock,  and  usually  ships  two  car-loads  of  cat- 
tle annually  besides  large  numbers  of  swine.  He 
keeps  good  horses  and  utilizes  four  teams  in  run- 
ning the  farm. 

Our  subject  remained  a  bachelor  until  1882, 
and  was  then  married  in  Hudsonville,  Crawford 
Co..  III.,  to  Miss  Mattie  .Teffers,  who  was  born  in 
that  county,  acquired  a  good  education  and  occu- 
pied herself  as  a  teacher  prior  to  her  marriage.  ( )f 
this  union  there  has  been  born  one  child,  a  son, 
Roy  Thomas.  March  25,  1883.  Mr.  Patrick  polit- 
ically is  a  straight  Republican,  and  has  served  as  a 
School  Director  in  his  district,  also  as  Clerk  of  the 
School  Board,  and    was  at  one  time  Commissioner 


of  Highways,  but  resigned  the  office.  Mrs.  Patrick 
belongs  to  the  Christian  Church.  The  farm  is 
finely  located  on  the  Buck  Township  line  and  occu- 
pies the  west  half  of  section  1.  No  traveler  pass- 
ing through  this  region  fails  to  notice  the  air  of 
enterprise  and  thrift  surrounding  it,  the  beauty 
and  fertility  of  its  fields  and  the  evident  comfort 
and  plenty  which  is  a  feature  of  the  immediate 
home.  As  a  citizen  who  has  redeemed  a  large 
area  of  the  soil  from  its  original  condition  and 
pays  over  each  year  a  snug  sum  in  the  County 
Treasury  in  the  way  of  taxes,  while  at  the  same 
time  encouraging  all  the  enterprises  calculated  to 
benefit  the  people  morally  and  financially,  Will- 
iam II.  Patrick  is  fully  worthy  of  representation 
among  the  leading  men  of  Edgar  County. 


SCAR  HUFFMAN.  If  a  man's  general  ehar_ 
acter  may  be  determined  by  his  surroundings 
that  of  Mr.  Huffman  is  first-class  in  every 
respect.  We  find  him  occupying  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Hunter  Township — a  thoroughly  culti- 
vated body  of  land,  comprising  140  acres  on  sec- 
tion 19,  while  he  has  150  acres  elsewhere,  the 
whole  of  which  is  in  a  productive  condition  and 
improved  with  good  buildings. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Hunter  Township,  this 
county.  May  23,  1846,  and  received  his  rudiment- 
ary education  in  the  district  school.  Later,  he  at- 
tended the  Commercial  College  at  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.  He  is  the  offspring  of  an  excellent  family, 
being  the  son  of  David  Huffman,  who  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  who,  in  181 1.  emigrated  to  Licking 
County,  ( )hio.  He  there  learned  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith  at  Zanesville,  and  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Stover,  daughter  of  Samuel  Stover,  also 
a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  a  pioneer  of  the 
Buckeye  State.  The  grandparents  on  both  sides 
of  the  house  were  all  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  are  long  since  deceased.  The  paternal 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  and  was  the  son  of  a  native 
of  Germany  wiio  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  a  young  man.      His  father  had   embarked  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


1015 


the  ship  with  him,  but  died  on  the  voyage,  and 
was  buried  at  sea. 

The  parents  of  our  subjecl  came  to  this  county 
in  1837,  and  the  father  entered  a  tract  of  Govern- 
ment land     in  Hunter   Township,  where  he  made   a 

permanent  settlement  and   constructed    the    I e- 

Stead  now  occupied  by  his  son  D.  A.  Paris  was 
then  simply  a  cluster  of  little  log  cabins.  The 
nearest  market  for  the  pioneer  farmers  was  at  Clin- 
ton, I  ml.,  and  the  father  afterward  hauled  his  pro- 
duce to  Chicago,  bringing  back  with  him  salt, 
leather  and  such  other  articles  as  were  required 
by  his  family  or  his  neighbors.  The  land  which 
he  took  up  was  covered  with  heavy  timber, 
from  which  he  made  charcoal,  which  was  then 
used  for  fuel  at  the  old  Indiana  Furnace,  lie 
felled  the  trees,  prepared  the  soil  for  cultivation, 
and  here  spent  his  last  days,  dying  about  1  882.  The 
mother  had  preceded  her  husband  to  the  silent  land, 
dying  in  1876.  She  was  a  most  worthy  and  excellent 
lady,  and  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist,  Church. 
David  Huffman  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  a  number  of  years,  served  as  Road  Commis- 
sioner twelve  years,  and  as  School  Treasurer  fif- 
teen years.  The  parental  household  included  eighl 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth,  and  only  three  are  living. 

During  the  second  year  of  the  war  our  subject 
enlisted  in  the  three  months' sei  vice,  in  the  7th 
Illinois  Infantry, serving  his  time,  and  the  following 
February  re-enlisted  in  Company  E,  66th  Illinois 
Infantry,  known  as  •■Western  Sharpshooters,"  with 
which  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  conflict. 
He  participated  in  many  important  battles,  includ- 
ing that  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  was  at  the  siege 
of  Atlanta,  where  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in 
the  left  thigh  and  still  carries  the  hall.  Upon  sev- 
eral occasions  his  clothes  were  perforated  by  bul- 
lets. He  escaped  injury,  however,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  received  his  honorable  discharge. 

After  his  return  home  from  the  army,  our  suh- 
ject  began  to  make  arrangements  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  fireside  of  his  own.  and  in  1868  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella,  daughter  of  Joel  and  Lucy 
(Gideon)  Dyer.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  four  children — Harry.  Sivola  (deceased),  Bertie 
M.  ami  Bessie  (deceased).     Mr.  Huffman  voles  the 


straight  Republican  ticket,  and  has  been  school 
Treasurer  in  his  district  for  a  period  of  fifteen 
years.  Both  he  ami  his  estimable  wife  are  prominent 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
Huffman,  socially,  belongs  to  Driskell  Posl  No. 
20!),  G.  A.  R.,  of  Paris,  lie  has  served  as  Town- 
ship Clerk  one  term,  but  otherwise  has  been  mosth 
engaged  in  farming  pursuits.  From  IK71  to  1873, 
however,  he  was  occupied  as  a  general  merchant  at 
Vermilion. 


.J.NTHONY  TWEEDY.     It  has  been   truly 
WlLM     said  that — "There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of 


(!)  men,  which  taken  at  the  Hood  leads  on  to 
fortune."  A  review  of  the  histories  of 
many  whose  life-records  are  given  herein,  illustra- 
tes the  truth  of   this  saying.     Perhaps   with   s e 

the  tide  comes  in  so  slowly  that  only  the  fast  re- 
ceding waters  cause  the  mind  to  grasp  the  truth  of 
the  Hood  time  of  fortune.  But  whether  slowly  or 
rapidly,  bearing  fortunes  of  money  or  happiness  or 
peace,  it  will  surely  present  to  all  the  golden  op- 
portunity. 

A  study  of  the  life  of  Anthony  Tweedy  gives  a 
fitting  illustration  of  this  principle,  lie  did  not  at 
one  sudden  bound  reach  the  acme  of  human  desires, 
but  gradually,  slowly  and  surely  attained  his  pres- 
ent comfortable  position.  He  is  at.  the  present 
time  a  resident  of  Paris,  where  he  removed  from 
his  farm  in  1  «*<!  in  order  to  secure  educational  and 
social  advantages  for  his  family. 

Anthony  Tweedy  is  the  son  of  .lames  and  Pho  he 
(Fisher)  Tweedy.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  when'  he  was  reared  to  the  life 
and  employment  of  a  farmer,  hut  afterward  often 
changed  his  place  of  residence.  First  he  moved  to 
Bast  Tennessee,  into  Knox  County,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  farm,  hut  later  emigrated  to  Fayette 
County.  Ind..  of  which  he  Was  one  of  the  first 
settlers.  When  he  went  there  it  was  a  wilderness 
of  forests,  uninhabited  save  by  the  beasts  of  the 
Held,  and  the  birds  Of  the  air.  lie  lived  in  that 
county  from  1812  until  lN.'i:!,  all  his  lime  being 
taken  up  in  clearing  the  timber,  and  farming  on 
his   Land,    which   was  situated   near   Connersvilie, 


KH6 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ind.  He  also  engaged  in  stock-raising,  but  at  last 
sold  the  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  had  entered, 
and  coming  to  Edgar  County,  located  in  St  rat- 
ton  Township.  Here  he  entered  another  160  acres 
of  land,  which  he  operated  some  years  when  he 
rented  his  farm  and  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Clinton.  Ind.  There  he  bought  120  acres  of  land, 
which  he  managed  until  his  return  to  the  old  home- 
stead. He  died  Aug.  1,  1850,  having  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  In  politics, 
he  was  a  strong  Democrat. 

The  mother  of  Anthony  Tweedy  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  was  earl}-  left  an  orphan.  She  was 
raised  as  one  of  the  family  of  A.  Fisher,  in  West 
Virginia.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  she  wcnl 
to  Iowa,  where  she  made  her  home  with  her  sun. 
John  !).,  in  Wayne  County,  near  the  village  of 
Seymour,  and  there  passed  to  her  final  rest  in  1872. 
She  was  a  linn  believer  in  tin'  doctrines  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  (Munch. 

To  James  and  Plnebe  Tweedy  there  were  limn 
six  children,  whose  record  is  thus  stated:  James  F., 
who  lives  in  Muncie.  Ind.;  John  I).,  who  lives  in 
Kansas;  Anthony,  the  subject  of  this  record,  Sarah 
a  resident  of  Posey  County,  Ind;  Margaret  and 
Phffibe,  who  are  deceased. 

Anthony  Tweedy  was  horn  near  Connersville, 
Ind..  in  the  year  1819,  May  1."..  Like  his  father, 
he  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  early  became  familiar 
with  the  details  of  farm  work,/md  the  requirements 
of  a  well-regulated  estate.  When  only  ten  years 
of  age  he  commenced  to  assist  his  father  in  the 
lighter  work,  suited  to  his  physicial  strength,  and 
thenceforward  he  was  a  valuable  factor  in  the 
carrying  on  of  the  home  place.  The  early  school 
experience  of  this  boy  was  similar  to  that  of  all 
others  who  lived  in  that  pioneer  land.  The  famil- 
iar log-cabin  was  the  temple  of  learning,  while 
greased  paper  over  the  apertures  admitted  lightand 
prevented  the  entrance  of  rain,  slab  seats  and 
puncheon  desks  were  regarded  as  very  comfortable 
for  the  children,  lie.  however,  never  attended 
a  free  school. 

In  1833  he  came  west  to  Illinois  with  his  father's 
family,  crossing  the  Wabash  River  at  Dergyes 
Ferry.  The  trip  occupied  nine  days  time,  and  was 
made  in  true  pioneer  style,  with  wagon  and  a  team 


of  horses,  while  the  oxen  (two  yoke)  were  driven 
ahead.  He  remained  with  his  father  at  the  old 
homestead  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  engaged  in  working  out  one  summer.  He 
afterward  purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  while  he 
received  another  forty  from  his  father.  This 
property  he  improved,  putting  up  a  log  house,  and 
later,  on  the  same  homestead  he  erected  a  comfor- 
table frame  residence.  He  afterward  purchased 
another  forty,  thus  making  an  entire  estate  of  1 20 
acres,  sevent}'  of  which  he  has  succeeded  in  clear- 
ing. He  continued  to  reside  there  until  1855, 
when  he  rented  his  home  place,  and  removed  to 
Edgar  Township,  buying  160  acres  of  prairie  land. 
This  he  broke  with  six  yoke  of  oxen,  and  made  it 
his  home.  It  was  school  land,  and  sold  at  *  1.25 
and  ¥1.50  per  acre.  In  1861  he  traded  his  farm 
in  Stratton  Township  for  ICO  acres  adjoining. 
Here,  he  engaged  in  the  stock  business  in  1863,  and 
led  from  100  to  150  head  of  cattle  which  he  ship- 
ped to  eastern  markets.  The  next  year  he  bought 
160  acres  adjoining,  making  altogether  three- 
fourths  of  a  section,  all  of  which  was  situated  to- 
gether. This  land  he  has  improved  to  a  great 
extent,  until  he  now  has  one  of  the  most  attractive 
residences  in  all  the  country  around,  with  two 
orchards,  and  groves,  and  fences  of  green  hedo-e. 
He  has  it  all  under  the  plow,  and  keeps  it  well- 
tilled.  On  one  coiner  of  his  property  a  Christian 
Church  has  been  erected,  the  ground  for  the  church 
and  the  surroundings  having  been  generously  do- 
nated by  Mr.  Tweedy. 

It  is  said  that  every  man  rides  a  hobbby,  and  if 
this  is  true,  it  must  be  admitted  that  one  of  Mi-. 
Tweedy's  hobbies  is  his  pride  in  his  horses.  Of 
these  he  has  two  stables,  some  of  them  being  fine- 
blooded.  Among  the  latter  may  lie  mentioned  the 
following:  "Prince  Tito."  weight  1800,  age  five 
years;  '-Mike,"  weight  1  100,  age  four  years. 

Mr.  Tweedy  has  been  twice  married,  the  first 
being  in  1839  in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  when 
he  was  united  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Cole,  born  in 
Steuben  County,  X.  Y.  She  was  a  school-teacher 
of  high  standing  before  her  marriage.  She  died 
April,  1847.  leaving  two  children — Amander  G., 
and  Richard  W.,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 
These  sons  served  in   the  defense  of  their  country, 


PORTRAIT  AND   P.10GRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


101' 


ami  for  its  success  they  gave  themselves  willing 
martyrs  Amander  <L  was  in  the  7th  Illinois 
Cavalry,  enlisting  in  1861,  and  was  fatally  injured 
in  a  skirmish  near  Point  Pleasant,  in  March.  1862. 
From  the  effects  of  the  wound  received  he  died  the 
day  after  the  battle.  The  second  son,  Richard, 
also  enlisted  in  1861,  serving  in  Company  A.  25th 
Illinois  Infantry,  with  whom  he  was  sent  to  the 
South.  In  1863  he  was  captured  after  fighting  in 
some  of  the  hardest  battles  in  the  South,  and  was 
taken    to   Libby   Prison,  where    he    died   Dec.   12, 

1863. 

Our  subject  was  married  the  second  time  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  White,  a  native  of  Wayne  County.  Ind. 
She  became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  and  died 
March  10,  1872,  near  Edgar,  this  county.  The 
following  is  the  record  of  the  children:  Charity 
(deceased),  Phoebe,  Emma,  Mattie  (deceased),  Har- 
riet ami  Grant.  Phoebe  is  the  wife  of  J.  Liest,  a 
farmer  of  Edgar  Township;  Rosa  was  a  teacher 
and  married  James  Tucker,  a  farmer  in  Young 
America  Township;  Emma  is  at  home  in  Paris; 
Harriet  also  at  home;  Grant  is  in  Oklahoma. 

Mr.  Tweedy  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  has 
been  School  Director  for  years,  also  served  as 
Township  School  Trustee.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  77,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  in  Paris. 


I 


OlIN  CONDON.  Edgar  County  has  been 
assisted  in  its  growth  and  development  by 
a  goodly  number  of  the  sons  of  Erin,  who  arc 
I  recognized  as  representing  its  best  element. 
None  have  labored  more  industriously  or  to  better 
purpose  than  they.  Sanguine  and  generous  by 
nature,  it  has  taken  a  large  amount  of  hardshipand 
toil  to  discourage  them, and  they  are  usually  found 
in  comfortable  circumstances  and  in  harmony  with 
the  institutions  of  their  adopted  country.  Among 
those  who  have  labored  and  prospered  and  have 
established  themselves  in  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  their  fellow  citizens,  John  Condon  is  num- 
bered with  the  foremest.  He  is  operating  a  large 
farm,  comprising  a  whole  section  of  land,  which  is 
under  good  cultivation    and  thoroughly  equipped 


with  the  on  ttit  necessarj  for  carrying  on  agriculture 

after  tin- most  approved  modern  methods.  Mr.  Con- 
don is  a  favorite  in  business  and  social    circles,  and 

has  fulfilled  all  the  duties  of  citizenship  with  the 
exception  thai  he  has  never  taken  to  himself  a  wife 
and  helpmate.  Living  with  him  on  his  farm  arc 
his  brothers.  Patrick  and  Richard,  and  his  sister. 
Catherine. 

In  noting  the  parental  history  of  our  subject  we 
Mini  that  his  father.  Mathew  Condon,  was  a  native 
of  County  Waterford.  Ireland,  and  the  sou  of 
Richard  Condon,  who  was  born  in  the  same  coun- 
ty, and  became  well-to-do  following  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  spent  his  entire  life  upon  his  native 
soil,  as  likewise  did  his  son  Mathew,  who  operated 
as  his  father  had  done  before  him.  as  a  farmer. 
They  lived  and  died  in  the  Catholic  faith.  The 
mother  was  in  her  girlhood  Miss  Alice  Anglum, 
also  a  native  of  County  Waterford,  and  she  died  in 
Ireland  in  1858.  The  six  children  of  the  parental 
family  were  named,  respectively,  Patrick.  Thomas, 
John,  Catherine.  Richard,  and  James.  Four  are 
residents  of  Shiloh  Township,  and  James  a  police- 
man of  Pana,  111. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  like  his  father  and 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  County  Waterford, 
and  was  born  near  Dungarvin  about  L845.  He 
had  limited  school  advantages,  and  at  an  early  age 
was  introduced  to  hard  work,  anil  acquired  those 
habits  of  industry  and  economy  which  have  served 
him  so  well  in  later  life.  In  1861,  when  a  youth 
of  sixteen  years,  having  worked  two  years  for 
himself,  he  decided  upon  a.  change  of  location  and 
crossed  the  Atlantic,  hoping  to  better  his  condition. 
He  made  the  voyage  on  the  ocean  steamer  "State 
of  Louisiana."  embarking  at  Queenstown  and  land- 
ing in  New  York  City  after  a  voyage  of  nineteen 
days.  During  this  voyage  they  had  encountered 
several  storms,  which  at  times  threatened  to  send 
them  to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean. 

For  two  years  after  landing  in  America  Mr.  Con- 
don   was    employed    on     the    New     York  A'   Harlem 

Railroad,  making  his  headquarters  in  the  city.  In 
L868  he  came  to  Paris,  Edgar  Co.,  III.,  by  rail,  and 
associating  himself  in  partnership  with  his  uncle. 
Edward  Sheehey,  engaged    in    farming  on    eighty 

acres  of  land  in   Buck    Township.      Two    years  later 


1 0 1  8 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lie  moved  on  :i  rented  farm  in  that  vicinit}*,  this 
comprising  120  acres  and  farmed  there  likewise 
two  years.  He  then  secured  a  tract  of  400  acres 
in  Shiloh  Township  upon  which  he  remained  one 
year.  Next  lie  moved  to  the  Hedge  Farm  of  220 
acres  in  Shiloh  Township,  near  Newman,  and  so- 
journed there  also  two  years.  Still  extending  his 
Held  of  operations  he  located  in  1875  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  G10  acres. 

lie  has  made  nearly  all  the  improvements  upon 
this,  and  besides  raising  grain  and  stock  in  Iaj'ge 
quantities, buys  and  ships  cattle  in  connection  with 
the  owner  of  the  farm  to  the  extent  of  two  or 
three  carloads  annually.  He  has  also  obtained  a 
fine  reputation  as  a  horse-breeder,  and  keeps  about 
thirty  head  of  fine  draft  animals.  In  the  operation 
of  his  farm  there  are  required  from  eight  to  ten 
teams.  After  the  busy  summer  season  is  overlie 
operates  a  steam  thresher,  and  from  the  whole  en- 
joys a  handsome  income. 

Upon  becoming  a  voting  citizen  Mr.  Condon 
identified  himself  with  the  Democratic  party,  of 
whose  principles  he  is  a  vigorous  advocate  and  is 
frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  various  con- 
ventions. He  was  trained  by  his  excellent  parents 
in  the  doctrines  of  the  Catholic  Church,  to  which 
lie  loyally  adheres,  and  has  materially  assisted  in 
the  building  of  the  church  edifice  at  Hume.  He 
has  never  had  time  to  run  after  office,  preferring 
to  give  his  attention  solely  to  his  farming  interests. 


'if1  ESSE  C.  BUCKLER.  Thousands  of  men 
are  passing  along  the  thoroughfare  of  life. 
comparatively  unnoticed,  yet  possessing 
those  traits  of  character  which  form  the  bone 
and  sinew  of  a  well-regulated  community,  and 
whose  strength  if  withdrawn  would  entail  an  almost 
irreparable  loss.  Of  such  is  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  a  plain,  unassuming  man  who  has  pursued 
the  even  tenor  of  his  way.  making  little  stir  in  the 
world,  but  accumulating  a  comfortable  property, 
and  establishing  himself  in  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  may  usually  be 
he  found  at  his  homestead  on  section    1  5  Embarras 


Township,  the  chief  features  of  which  are  plenty 
to  eat,  drink  and  wear,  with  a  comfortable  outlook 
for  the  declining  years. 

A  native  of  Nelson  County,  Ivy.,  our  subject 
was  born  June  1,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomp- 
son Buckler,  who  brought  his  family  from  the 
Blue  Grass  State  in  1850  and  settled  on  Sugar  Creek, 
five  miles  southeast  of  Paris,  in  Elbridgc  Town- 
ship. Two  years  later,  not  being  satisfied  with  his 
condition  or  his  prospects,  he  removed  to  Grand 
View  Township,  and  there  Jesse  C.  acquired  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  district  school,  and  was  first 
initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  farm  work.  Later 
he  learned  bricklaying  which  he  followed  for  a 
time.  In  1860  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Coles 
County,  where  he  lived  seven  years,  then  returning 
to  Edgar  established  himself  on  a  tract  of  land  in 
Kansas  Township.  In  1876  we  find  him  experi- 
menting with  a  farm  in  Douglas  County,  but  in 
1882,  returning  to  Edgar,  he  settled  on  the  land 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies,  This  has  been 
subjected  to  considerable  improvement  under  his 
supervision,  and  although  he  makes  no  pretensions 
to  style  or  elegance,  there  is  an  air  of  peace  and 
plenty  about  the  place  which  at  once  recommends 
it  as  a  good  and  comfortable  home. 

The  3 1st  of  May,  1857,  formed  an  interesting 
date  in  the  life  of  our  subject,  at  which  time  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  A.  Lester. 
William  Kester,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Buckler,  was  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Edgar  County,  and  is  long  since 
deceased.  Five  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
riage, the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son,  William  R..  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Casebear,  and  is  farming  in  Shiloh 
Township.  They  have  four  children:  Walter  S., 
Leroy,  Jessie  and  Maud.  Lawrence  V.  married 
Miss  Annie  Russell, and  lives  at  Kinney,  HI.;  they 
have  one  child,  Frank.  George  B.  married  Miss 
Maggie  Campbell,  and  makes  his  home  in  Isabel; 
Edmond  V.  and  Edna  M.  are  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Mr.  Buckler  belongs  to  the  Predestina- 
rian  Baptist  Church,  and  in  his  political  sympathies 
is  decidedly  with  the  Democratic  party. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
.was  Susan  Coyle.  She,  like  her  husband,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  and  their  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:     Rich- 


PORTRAIT  AM)   RIodRAPlIICAL  ALBUM. 


1019 


ard,  Jesse  C,  our  subject,  William,  James,  Albert 
and  Henry.  John  and  Mary  (Mrs.  Shields)  arc 
deceased.  The  father  departed  this  life  in  Febru- 
ary, 1852.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  a 
period  of  thirty-seven  years,  and  departed  hence 
March  2ii.  1889.  Aside  from  representing  Embar- 
ras  Township  two  years  in  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors,  Mr.  Buckler  has  carefully  avoided  the 
responsibilities  of  the  office-holder. 


S|OHX  SCOTT.     There    is    compensation    in 
accumulated  years  notwithstanding  man  nat- 


I! 

^_l|'  urally  dreads  becoming  old,  but  when  the 
(Kgl//  life  has  been  upright  and  honorable  and 
blest  with  the  esteem  of  man}-  friends,  a  man  must 
surely  derive  a  satisfaction  denied  those  starting 
oul  anxious  for  the  future  and  feeling  that  time 
alone  can  tell  what  will  be  the  result  of  their  strug- 
gles. John  Scott  was  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
Prairie  Township  and  almost  reached  his  threescore 
and  ten  years,  having  been  born  Sept.  (!,  1820. 
and  dying  Aug.  8.  1881L  He  was  a  native  of 
Morgan  County.  Ind.,  his  childhood  home  being 
near  Martinsville.  He  lived  there  until  nine  years 
of  age.  then  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  and 
since  that  time  has  mostly  been  a  resident  of  Prai- 
rie Township,  where  he  was  numbered  among  its 
leading  citizens,  although  shortly  before  his  death 
he  had  retired  from  active  labor,  being  not  strong 
in  health.  At  his  death  he  owned  a  line  farm  of 
320  acres  in  Prairie  Township  and  twenty  acres  in 
Bruellet. 

Mr.  Scott  remembered  that  journey  overland 
from  Indiana  to  this  count}",  when  deer  were  plen- 
tiful and  the  country  was  infested  with  wolves,  he 
being  able  to  count  sometimes  as  many  as  100 
wolves  at  a  time.  The  journey  was  made  over- 
land with  teams,  the  travelers  camping  and  cooking 
by  the  wayside  and  sleeping  in  their  wagons  at 
night.  Wolf-hunts  in  those  days  furnished  great 
sport  for  the  youth  of  this  region,  and  .John  Scott 
was  one  of  the  leaders,  riding  old  ••Rube,'"  the  best 
and  largest  horse  on  the  prairie,  and  usually  accom- 


panied by  his  favorite  chum,  Abraham  Smith. 
'They  killed  ten  wolves  one  day,  and  shol  a  great 
many  deer  besides  other  game,  including  prairie 
chickens.  Mr.  Scott  used  to  say  those  were  jolly 
times.  He  pursued  his  early  lessons  in  the  lo^ 
school-house,  with  slab  benches  and  puncheon  floor, 

mostly    in    the   winter  season,    while   in  si ner  he 

worked  on  the  farm,  herded  cattle  and  Occasionally 
took  a  journey  to  Chicago  during  the  infancy  of 
that   now  great  city. 

Our  subject  worked  with  his  father  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  then  began  for  himself,  locating 
On  eighty  acres  of  land  near  Scottland.  Upon  this 
he  effected  considerable  improvement,  then  with  a 
Mexican  land-warrant  secured  that  which  he  owned 
at  the  lime  of  his  death.  'To  this  he  removed  in 
IMS.  putting  up  first  a  shanty,  which  he  occupied 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  planted  a  large 
amount  of  hedge,  together  with  fruit  and  shade 
trees,  erected  the  necessary  buildings  for  the  shel- 
ter of  stock  and  the  storage  of  grain,  and  at  one 
time  was  the  owner  of  800  acres  of  land.  He  made 
a  specialty  of  feeding  cattle  and  swine,  which  he 
shipped  himself,  and  later  purchased  in  large  num- 
bers horses  and  mules,  shipping  these  to  Cincin- 
nati to  be  used  in  the  Government  service.  The 
home  farm,  which  has  two  residences,  is  operated 
by  his  boys. 

'The  marriage  of  John  Scott  and  Miss  Charlotte 
Light  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in  Bruel- 
let Township,  March  "26,  1843.  This  lady,  the 
daughter  of  David  Light,  was  born  in  New  Rich- 
mond, Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  2  1.  1825,  and  was 
thirteen  years  old  when  she  came  to  Illinois.  Her 
father,  David  Light,  also  a  native  of  that  county, 
was  born  in  1 SO0.  Her  paternal  grandfather. 
Jacob  Light,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  upon 
coming  to  America  located  first  in  Pennsylvania. 
Thence  he  removed  to  Michigan,  settling  in  the 
wilderness  where  he  almost  starved  to  death,  and 
finally  homesick  and  discouraged  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania. Later  he  engaged  in  the  Indian  War 
and  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  from  which  he 
never  entirely  recovered.  He.  however,  bad  the 
faculty  of  excellent  management  and  became 
owner  of  a  large  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  Finally 
he  sold    out   and    removed  to  Clermont   County, 


1020 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ohio.  He  laid  out  the  town  of  New  Richmond 
and  resided  there  until  his  death. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  upon  reaching  man's 
estate,  carried  on  farming  in  Ohio  until  1836. 
That  year  he  came  to  this  county  and  entered  land 
in  Bruellet  Township,  upon  which  he  labored  very 
successfully  and  in  due  time  became  the  owner  of 
800  acres.  lie  built  up  a  valuable  homestead, 
where  bis  death  took  place  in  September,  1888. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of 
the   United  Brethren  Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood 
Miss  Harriet  Dickinson.  She  was  born  in  New 
York  State  and  died  at  t  he  homestead  in 
Bruellet  Township,  this  county,  in  1873.  Her 
father  David  Dickinson  was  a  millwright  by  trade. 
The  parental  household  included  eight  children. 
viz.:  Charlotte,  Charles  D.,  and  Benjamin  F.,  de- 
ceased: 01<>  '  ,  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Reuben  S., 
Catherine  .'  mucl  II.  and  William    VV.      Benja- 

min, Oliver,  Samuel  and  William  served  in  the 
Union  Arm}'  all  through  the  late  Civil  War. 


4~f^ 


^*w 


UCIUS  B.  BACON.  This  gentleman  is 
counted  one  of  the  most  extensive  stock 
shippers  in  Edgar  County.  He  has  a  line 
farm,  comprising  a  quarter  section  of  land  and  the 
latest  improved  machinery  for  its  profitable  culti- 
vation. Skillful  and  thorough  as  an  agriculturist, 
he  has  been  deservedly  prosperous  financially,  and 
in  social  and  business  circles  occupies  an  enviable 
position.  He  enjoys  a  large  acquaintance  in  the 
county,  and  the  fact  that  he  is  a  favorite  wherever 
known  is  sufficient  indication  of  his  true  character. 
No  man  in  Ross  Township  is  more  worthy  of 
representation  in  a  work  designed  to  perpetuate 
the  names  and  deeds  of  its  leading  citizens.  Mr. 
Bacon  has  particularly  distinguished  himself  as  the 
champion  of  temperance  ami  a  high  morality,  and 
takes  a  warm  interest  in  forwarding  all  religious 
movements.  Politically  he  is  a  sound  Republican. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  of 
twelve  children,  the  offspring  of  Elijah  and  Jolima 
(Boldingl    Bacon,    and    was    born    in  the   township 


where  he  now  lives  Dec.  10,  184.5.  Elijah  Bacon 
was  born  in  Schuyler  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1707.  and 
was  the  son  of  Elijah  Bacon,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. The  latter  served  as  Drum  Major  in 
the  Revolutionary  War  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end.  being  then  a  young  man.  Upon  leaving  his 
native  State  he  settled  in  Schuyler  County,  X.  Y.. 
where  he  experienced  all  the  privations  and  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life.  He,  however,  was  physically 
well  fitted  for  the  duties  which  he  had  undertaken, 
being  of  large  and  commanding  stature  and  of 
great  strength.  He  was  descended  from  a  hard}' 
line  of  ancestors,  who  traced  their  descent  to  Eng- 
land and  who  for  many  generations  were  identified 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  silversmith  and 
watch  repairer  by  trade,  which  he  followed  in  con- 
nection with  operating  his  small  farm  in  Schuyler 
County,  N.  Y.,  at  a  time  when  he  was  surrounded 
by  Indians.  His  kindness  to  the  red  men  gained 
their  good  will,  and  thus,  far  from  suffering  mo- 
lestation at  their  hands,  they  proffered  him  many 
acts  of  kindness.  He  was  a  man  of  decided  views 
and  resolutely  opposed  to  human  slavery.  He 
emphasized  his  sentiments  in  this  respect  during  the 
long  period  of  twenty  years,  by  traveling  all  through 
the  Southern  States  and  preaching  against  the 
peculiar  institution,  from  the  time  he  was  a  young 
man  of  twenty-three  years  until  approaching  fifty. 
While  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  he  was  brought  into 
council  with  the  leading  slave-holders,  but  through 
his  great  ingenuity  and  temperance  of  speech,  suc- 
ceeded in  allaying  their  anger,  making  friends  of 
them.  He  went  on  with  his  good  work,  devoting 
to  it  his  whole  time  without  any  recompense.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  the  chimney  corner,  and 
under  the  circumstances  it  is  hardly  necessnry  to 
say,  was  acknowledgey  as  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary    ability. 

Elijah  Bacon,  in  1844.  made  his  way  to  Illinois, 
traveling  by  boat  to  Clinton,  and  locating  in 
Ross  Township,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers.  He  entered  about  400  acres  of  land, 
which  he  improved,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  fruit  raising,  being  the  leading  man  in 
this  industry  in  the  Township.  He  became  prom- 
inent-   in    social,     business   and    political     circles, 


portrait  and  biographical  album. 


1(121 


and  was  made  the  congressional  candidate  of 
the  anti-slavery  party.  He  was  also  nominated 
for  the  Legislature,  but  his  party  being  in  the 
minority   he    was  defeated,   as   he   expected.     lie 

possessed  rare  judgment  and  high  principles,  lie- 
sides  excellent  health, the  result  of  a  temperate  life 
anil  correel  habits.  At  one  time  lie  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  later  be- 
came more  liberal  in  his  views  and  was  not  identi- 
fied with  any  religious  organization.  Politically 
he  was  a  straight  Republican,  and  lived  to  see  the 
triumph  of  the  principles  which  he  so  faithfully 
advocated  during  his  young  manhood.  After  a 
well  spent  life  he  departed  hence  in  1*77. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  Mrs.  Jolima  (Hold- 
ing) Bacon,  was  born  in  Steuben  County.  N.  Y., 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Bolding,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Empire  State.  The  maternal  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Steuben  Count}7,  locating  in  the  Wabash 
Valley,  and  becoming  one  of  its  leading  fanners. 
About  1X20  he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Terre 
Haute,  where  he  became  a  large  land  owner  and 
carried  on  agriculture  extensively,  there  spending 
his  last  days.  The  mother  of  our  subject  passed 
away  ten  years  prior  to  the  decease  of  her  husband, 
dying  in  1K67.  She.  like  him,  at  that  time  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children:  Fanny,  de-' 
ceased;  Samuel  T.,  living  in  Missouri;  Elizabeth. 
Amanda,  Henry.  .James  and  Lydia,  all  deceased; 
Sarah,  a  resident  of  Vermilion  County,  this  State; 
Benjamin,  living  in  Danville;  Mary  and  Merej 
A.,  deceased;  Lucius  B.,  of  this  sketch.;  and  two 
dying  in  infancy.  Henry  and  Benjamin,  daring  the 
late  war  enlisted  as  Union  soldiers  in  1862, in  t.he7:»th 
Illinois  Infantry.  Henry  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.. 
and  Benjamin  received  his  honorable  discharge' 
prior  to  the  close  of  the  war  on  account  of  physical 
disability.  Lucius  B.,  our  subject,  was  born  Dec. 
10,  1845,  and  received  his  primitive  education  in 
the  primitive  log  school  house  of  Ross  Township. 
He,  however,  when  a  youth  of  nineteen  year.-. 
Studied  t'oi'  one  winter  at  the  Paris  High  School, 
then  attended  the  Commercial  College  at  La 
Fayette.  Ind.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
March.  1SI1K.      Afterward    returning  to  the    farm, 


he  sojourned   there    briefly,  and  then  commenced 

renting  laud  of  his  father,  upon  which  he  operated 
until  the  death  of  the  latter.  In  1*7*.  he  made  hi> 
liist  purchase,  eighty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he 
began  at  Brst  principles  to  effect  the  improvements 
which  have  now  brought  it  to  a  well  regulated  and 
valuable  estate.  lie  planted  hedge,  enclosing  and 
cross  fencing  his  land,  and  put  tip  a  house.  20x30 
feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  wing  12x20.  He  has  a 
good  barn  and  added  to  his  real  estate  until  he  was 
the  owner  of  Kid  acres,  all  in  one  body.  He  set, 
out  forest  and  fruit  trees,  has  tine  grounds  around 
the  dwelling,  and  Las  labored  to  such  good  pur- 
pose that  the  premises  in  all  respects  form  a  most 
attractive  home,  and  yields  to  the  proprietor  a  com- 
fortable income.  The  land  is  largely  devoted  to 
grain  raising,  while  Mr.  Bacon  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  live  stock  of 
all  kinds. 

The  live  stock  purchases  of  Mr.  Bacon  are  made 
mostly  in  Eastern  Illinois  and  Western  Indiana. 
while  lie  also  obtains  goodly  numbers  from  South- 
ern Illinois.  He  ships  to  Buffalo.  New  York  and 
other  eastern  cities,  lie  has  attained  considerable 
reputation  as  a  breeder,  his  favorites  being  full- 
blooded  Jersey  cattle,  and  in  sheep  he  has  the 
Shropshire  and  Southdowns.  In  draft  horses  he 
handles  Clydesdales  and  Norman,  of  which  he  has 
at  the  present  time  thirteen  head.  He  has  for 
years  m'ade  a  study  of  the  equine  race,  ami  fre- 
quently occupies  the  position  of  judge  at  the  county 
fairs. 

Our  subject  was  first  married  at  Paris.  .Ian.  29, 
1869,  to  Miss  Nancy  .1.  Bolding,  who  was  born  near 
Terre  Haute.  Ind.  This  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  two  children.  Charles  G.  and  George  E., 
and  the  mother  died  in  October.  Ins.").  The  elder 
son  is  a  student  of  Wabash   College,  at  Crawfords- 

ville,  Ind.,  while  the  younger  remains  at  I ic  with 

his  parents. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  Nov. 
24,  1886,  in  Richland  County,  this  State,  with  Miss 
Annie  15.  Waxier,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  have 
one  child,  a  son,  Blaine.  Mr.  Bacon  has  been  quite 
prominent  in  local  affairs,  officiating  as  Township 
Collector  one  year.  ( 'lerk  six  years,  and  is  at  present 
School  Director  in  his  district,     Socially  he  belongs 


.. 


1022 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  the  I.O.O.F.,  at  Cbrisman.  He  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when  a  youth  of  six- 
teen years,  and  has  been  one  of  the  most  liberal 
contributors  to  its  support,  donating  also  a  hand- 
some sum  to  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice.  He 
has  officiated  as  Steward  and  Class-Leader,  likewise 
as  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  he  has  been  a  useful  man  in  his 
community,  and  the  uniform  encourager  of  those 
measures  calculated  to  elevate  society  and  benefit 
tin-  people. 


4H* 


-i— 


^]  ASPER  N.  BAUM.  No  family  is  more  widely 
or  favorably  known  than  the  one  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  most  worthy 
representative.  They  were  among  the  first 
to  venture  into  the  wilds  of  Central  Illinois,  and 
right  nobly  have  they  performed  their  part  in  the 
development  of  its  resources.  They  brought  with 
them  the  elements  of  a  substantial  and  honorable 
ancestry,  and  have  left  footprints  on  the  sands  of 
time  in  this  region,  which  will  be  recognized  in 
generations  to  come.  Jasper  N.  is  one  of  the  worth- 
iest representatives  of  the  family,  numbers  of  whom 
are  yet  living  in  Vermilion  County,  and  are  invari- 
ably people  of  note  and  prominence.  Several  of 
them  are  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  subject  of  this  notice,  in  addition  to  being  a 
first-class  farmer,  is  a  keen-eyed  financier,  losing 
no  opportunity  to  drive  an  honest  bargain,  is 
thrifty  and  energetic,  while  at  the  same  time  cau- 
tious and  prudent,  and  "looks  well  before  he  leaps." 
lie  is  shown  to  possess  cultivated  tastes,  dwelling 
in  a  large,  commodious  and  handsome  farm  house, 
which  crowns  the  highest  points  on  the  ridge  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Young  America  Township, 
and  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try in  all  directions.  It  stands  half  a  mile  from 
the  public  highway  on  the  northern  line  of  section 
1  1.  and  with  its  adjacent  outbuildings,  trees,  shrub- 
bery and  green  grass,  is  without  question  a  most 
attractive  spot.  The  most  approved  machinery  is 
employed  in  the  cultivation  of  the  land,  which  is 
exceedingly  fertile  and  well-watered. 


The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Carroll 
Township,  Vermilion  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  25,  1857,  and 
was  the  second  child  born  to  Charles  W.  and  Cathe- 
rine Baum,  who  were  numbered  among  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  Vermilion  County.  He  remained  un- 
der the  home  roof  until  reaching  his  majority,  and 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  his  father,  and  car- 
ried on  agriculture  thus  for  a  period  of  seven  years. 
He  was  then  presented  by  his  father  with  400  acres 
of  land,  upon  which  he  settled  in  the  spring  of 
1879,  after  his  marriage,  and  to  which  in  due  time 
he  added  200  acres  more.  He  thus  now  has  a  fine 
estate  embracing  GOO  acres,  and  which  comprises 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  valuable  farms  in  the 
county. 

In  the  meantime,  in  November.  1876,  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Josephine, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Cochrane)  Stewart, 
who  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  of  Irish  descent. 
Mrs.  Baum  was  born  in  Elwood  Township,  Vermil- 
ion County,  Aug.  27,  1857,  and  was  one  of  five 
children  comprising  the  parental  household.  Her 
sister,  Tamar,  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Patrick, 
of  Vermilion  County,  and  they  have  seven  living 
children;  Vina  is  the  wife  of  Clark  Maddox,  a 
farmer  of  Sidell  Township,  and  they  have  eight 
children;  Delia  married  S.  W.  Baum.  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Dolly  J.  is 
the  wife  of  Reason  Roush,  and  a  resident  of  Catlin, 
III.,  near  which  place  he  carries  on  farming. 

In  addition  to  general  agriculture,  Mr.  Baum  has 
operated  as  a  successful  breeder  of  Short-horn  cat- 
tle and  Ilambletonian  horses,  an  industry  in  con- 
nection with  which  he  has  obtained  an  enviable 
reputation  throughout  this  part  of  the  State.  As 
may  be  supposed,  in  consideration  of  his  extensive 
farming  interests,  he  has  little  time  to  devote  to 
outside  matters,  and  otherwise  than  giving  his  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party,  has  very  little  to  do 
with  politics,  or  offices,  simply  officiating  as  a 
School  Director  in  his  district. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  have 
been  born  four  children — Blanche,  Georgia  V ., 
Dolly,  and  Weaver.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baum,  when 
first  married,  resided  in  Carroll  Township,  Vermil- 
ion County,  until  removing  to  their  present  farm, 
in  the  spring  of    1879.     Ten  years  have  worked  a 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1023 


remarkable  transformation  in  its  condition,  and  il 
is  the  means  of  yielding  a  snug  sum  to  the  county 
treasury  in  the  way  of  taxes.  The  man  who  has 
thus  contributed  his  quota  toward  redeeming  a  por- 
tion of  the  soil  from  its  primitive  condition,  and 
establishing  a  homestead,  where  once  was  a  wilder- 
ness, is  worthy  of  having  his  name  recorded  for  the 
perusal  of  coming  generations. 

We  append  to  the  biography  of  Jasper  Banm,  a 
few  important  facts  in  the  history  of  his  father, 
Charles  W.  Baum,  whose  sketch  is  published  in  the 
Aiuuwof  Vermilion  County.  Charles  W.  Baum 
traces  his  ancestry  hack  to  the  royal  blood  of  Po- 
land,  whence  his  grandfather  of  the  same  name  as 
himself,  was  compelled  to  flee  during  the  vicissi- 
tudes and  troubles  of  his  country.  An  exile  from 
his  home,  he  remained  in  Germany  until  about  the 
time  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  when  he  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  and  served  as  a  militia  man 
on  the  reserve  force  in  the  Colonial  Army.  After 
peace  was  made  with  England,  Grandfather  Baum 
removed  with  his  family  down  the  Ohio  River,  and 
settled  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  Charles  W.  Baum,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Clermont 
County,  Ohio,  April  4,  1815,  and  was  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birth  among  ten  children. 
He  grew  to  a  hardy  and  robust  manhood,  well 
fitted  to  take  his  place  among  the  pioneer  residents 
of  Kansas,  whither  he  emigrated  as  far  back  as 
1836.  Preempting  a  claim  of  160  acres,  this  was 
in  due  season  increased  by  purchase,  until  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  1.660  acres  of  fertile  soil,  be- 
sides 2(10  acres  given  his  wife  by  her  father. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Baum  was  united  in  marriage 
March  11.  18:39,  to  Miss  Catherine  Weaver,  a  na- 
tive of  Clermont  Count}'.  Ohio.  She  is  a  woman 
of  unusual  strength  of  character,  combined  with 
sweetness  of  disposition,  versatility  of  mind,  and 
soundness  of  judgment.  To  her  and  her  husband 
were  born  a  family  of  twelve  children,  namely: 
Celestine  A.  (Mrs.  William  T.  Hunt),  Jasper  N., 
our  subject.  Charles  Cyrus,  A.  Jacob.  Gideon  P., 
George  B.  McC,  Marcus  D.,  Orintha,  James  IL. 
John  W..  and  two  infants  who  died  unnamed.  The 
six  first  enumerated  are  living  at  the  present  will- 
ing, while  the  others  died  in  childhood.  Mr.  Ban  in 
gave  his  children   excellent  educations,    and    upon 


their  starting  out  in  life,  gave  each  of  them  finan- 
cial assistance.  He  will  leave  behind  him  a  record 
of  which  his  children  may  be  justly  proud,  and  his 
life  will  be  an  example  for  them  to  guide  their  foot- 
steps aright  down  the  pathway  we  tread  but  once. 


3h*-§> — * 


;  OUNH.CARAWAY,  a  well-to  do  bachelor, 
and  a  resident  of  Chrisinan,  operates  a  very 
large  tract  of  land,  the  joint  property  of 
'  himself  and  four  sisters,  who  have  aboul 
13,000  acres;  the  whole  of  which  was  left  them  by 
their  late  father.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  live 
stock,  in  which  he  takes  great  pride,  and  which 
yields  him  a  tine  income.  He  is  a  favorite  both  in 
social  and  business  circles,  and  stands  well  among 
the  leading  men  of  his  township. 

Our  subject  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Ross 
Township,  of  which  he  is  a  native  born  citizen, 
first  opening  his  eyes  to  the  light  August  30,  1855. 
He  was  at  an  early  age  taught  habits  of  industry 
and  frugality,  and  received  his  principal  education 
in  the  common  schools.  At  the  early  age  of  sev- 
enteen years  he  commenced  renting  land  from  his 
father,  and  at  the  same  time  engaged  in  the  live- 
stock business,  which  he  has  since  followed,  and  in 
which  he  is  excelled  by  none  in  this  region. 

In  1879  Mr.  Caraway  purchased  160  acres  of 
land  in  Young  America  Township,  which  he  im- 
proved and  sold  two  years  later  at  a  good  advance. 
Next  he  purchased  140  acres  further  west.  Then 
lie  sold  this  and  purchased  a  store  in  Chrisman, 
and  in  the  latter  put  in  a  stock  of  hardware,  which 
he  operated  six  months;  then  on  account  of  too 
much  business  disposed  of  it,  and  not  long  after- 
ward was  appointed  administrator  of  his  father's  es- 
tate. The  management  of  this  occupied  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  until  the  spring  of  1889,  when  the 
property  was  divided.  Mr.  Caraway  owns  300 
acres  adjoining  the  town,  the  most  of  which  he 
rents.  His  favorite  cattle  are  thoroughbred  Here- 
fords,  of  which  the  celebrated  "Arnold  "  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  herd.  He  has  Ave  head  of  full 
bloods,  and  also  breeds  Poland-China  swine  in 
goodly  numbers.     His  pasture  lands  are  supplied 


1024 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


with  running  water,  and  he  lias  all  the  conveniences 
for  prosecuting  his  business  after  the  most  approved 
methods. 

Mr.  Caraway,  politically,  affiliates  with  the  Pro- 
hibitionists, and  is  frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to 
their  various  conventions.  Socially  he  is  the  Past 
Grand  in  the  I.  ().  O.  F.  Lodge  at  Chrisnian,  while 
he  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen.  He  is  a  very  active  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  one  of  the  leading  men 
of  his  town  in  encouraging  the  enterprises  calcu- 
lated for  the  advancement  of  its  people. 


OOP 


coo 


ffiACOB  SHUMAKER.  Fortunately  for  him, 
Mr.  Shumaker  selected  some  of  the  best  land 
in  Edgar  County  upon  which  to  build  up  a 
l(^/,  homestead  in  1867,  some  fifteen  years  after 
his  advent  into  the  county.  The  result  is  a  valua- 
ble farm  which  he  has  brought  to  a  thorough  state 
of  cultivation  and  which  yields  him  golden  harvests 
for  his  labor.  He  is  another  illustration  of  the 
self-made  man  who  began  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder, 
and  by  his  perseverance  and  energy  has  established 
himself  in  a  position  very  nearly  the  top.  As  a 
citizen  he  is  all  that  could  be  desired;  being  pro- 
gressive and  liberal-minded,  and  one  upon  whom 
the  people  can  depend  in  encouraging  the  enter- 
prises which  should  be  for  the  best  good  of  the 
community.  Politically,  lie  is  a  sound  Republican, 
keeps  himself  well  informed  upon  the  current  top- 
ics of  the  day,  and  represents  in  a  worthy  manner 
the  intelligence  and  moral  worth  of  his  section. 
His  farm  comprises  240  acres  of  land  on  section  12 
in  Kansas  Township,  and  is  largely  devoted  to 
stock-raising,  graded  Norman  and  English  draft 
horses,  .Short-horn  cattle  ami  Poland-China  swine. 
The  Old  Dominion  contributed  some  of  the  best 
of  her  sons  to  the  early  settlement  of  Illinois,  and 
among  them  was  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  who 
was  born  in  Loudoun  County.  March  17.  1831. 
When  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years  he  came 
to  Illinois  witli  his  father,  George  .Shumaker,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  London  i  County.  Ya..  and  who 
established  himself  in  Grand.  View  Township  in  this    I 


county,  in  1852.  Not  being  satisfied,  however, 
with  his  progress  financially,  he  removed  to  Coles 
County  in  the  spring  of  1856,  but  returned  to  Ed- 
gar County  in  1857  and  settled  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship one  mile  south  of  where  our  subject  now  lives. 
He  and  his  family  endured  the  hardships  and  pri- 
vations incident  to  pioneer  life,  and  he  spent  his 
last  years  in  Edgar  County,  dying  in  1860.  The 
mother  departed  this  life  the  same  year,  six  weeks 
after  her  husband. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
George  Shumaker.  likewise  a  native  of  Loudoun 
County,  Va.,  and  a  son  of  Jacob  Shumaker,  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  a  young  man  and  settled  in  Virginia,  where 
he  spent  his  last  days.  His  grandson,  George,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  when  reaching  man's  estate 
was  married  to  Miss  Christina  Brill,  a  native  of  his 
own  county  and  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Brill,  who 
was  also  born  there,  and  who,  like  the  Shumaker 
family  was  of  German  descent.  To  the  parents  of 
our  subject  there  were  born  eleven  children,  of 
whom  Jacob  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  and 
seven  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Elizabeth,  Airs. 
Shirer;  Solomon,  Jacob,  Mary.  William,  Ann  and 
Samuel. 

Jacob  Shumaker,  like  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
received  a  limited  education,  and  as  soon  as  large 
enough  was  required  to  make  himself  useful  in  the 
development  of  the  new  farm.  He  took  to  agri- 
culture cheerfully,  and  has  made  it  his  life  voca- 
tion. When  approaching  his'  majority  his  chief 
ambition  was  to  excel  in  all  the  arts  pertaining  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  it  must  be  admitted 
the  he  has  very  nearly  attained  to  the  standard  of 
excellence  which  he  then  set  before  himself.  He 
remained  a  bachelor  until  approaching  his  thirty- 
fifih  year  of  his  age  and  was  then  married,  Nov. 
25,  1866,  to  Mrs.  C.  A.  Ogden,  daughter  of  Cephas 
Hanks,  who  spent  his  last  years  in  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Shumaker  was  born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio, 
Aug.  20,  1830.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Ogden  in 
Muskingum  County.  Ohio,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children — Mary  V.,  Carlos  A.  and 
Iva  A.  Mr.  Ogden  lost  his  life  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
have  been  born  two  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1025 


living,  a  son.  Cowan  ('..  now  seventeen  years  old. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shumaker  and  all  the  children  are 
members  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal' Church.  They  occupy  a  high  position  in  the 
social  circles  of  their  community,  and  our  subject 
forms  a  portion  of  the  bone  and  sinew  of  Edgar 
Gounty,  which  he  has  assisted  in  elevating  to  its 
present  condition. 


— *- 


#"# 


ff/ACOB    WETZEL,   deceased.      The    Wetzel 
family  came  to  Edgar  County  during   its 

early  settlement,  and  in  honor  of  one  of 
them,  Wetzel  Station  was  named.  The  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  located  in  Edgar 
Township  in  1854,  and  purchased  400  acres  of  land 
upon  which  he  operated  successfully  a  number  of 
years,  then,  retiring  from  active  labor,  took  up  his 
abode  in  Paris.  Our  subject,  on  the  28th  of  Feb- 
ruary, L888,  while  attempting  to  board  a  train  at 
Paris,  missed  his  footing-,  and  falling  under  the 
wheels,  was  instantly  killed.  Thus  Paris  lost  one  of 
its  most  honored  citizens,  and  Edgar  County  a  man 
who  had  assisted  materially  in  its  growth  and  de- 
velopment. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Columbus. 
Ohio.  Sept.  29,  1832,  and  lived  there  until  a  young 
man  of  twenty-two  years.  He  then  came  with  his 
father's  family  to  Illinois,  and  they  located  in  Ed- 
gar Township,  and  renting  the  land  comprising  the 
present  homestead,  engaged  in  farming.  The  Wet- 
zel family  was  of  German  descent,  and  Jacob,  Sr., 
the  father  of  our  subject,  and  in  his  native  country 
a  shepherd  of  Lorrain,  after  coming  to  America, 
located  in  the  embryo  town  of  Columbus,  Ohio, 
where  he  occupied  himself  as  a  gardener,  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  In  his  own  country  he 
had  served  as  a  soldier,  and  was  captured  by  the 
enemy. 

Mr.  Wetzel  was  married  in  Columbus.  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Christina  Barth.  who  was  of  French  descent, 
and  whose  father.  Nicholas  Barth,  was  born  and 
reared  in  France.  He  received  a  good  education 
in  Gorman,  English,  and  French,  and  learned  tail- 
oring,   which  he  followed  as  a  journeyman    until 


coming  to  America.  After  crossing  the  Atlantic, 
lie  located  in  New  York  City,  following  his  trade 
for  a  time,  and  joined  the  State  militia.  In  1840 
be  established  himself  as  a  merchant  tailor  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  »here  he  became  owner  of  five  acres 
of  land  inside  the  corporation,  and  was  in  comfort- 
able circumstances  al  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
took  place  in  184  I.  He  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  church. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Wetzel 
was  Anna  Eva  Wise.  She  was  born  in  France,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Henry  Wise,  who  emigrated 
to  America,  and  located  in  New  York  City,  where 
he  died.  Their  French  ancestry  was  intermixed 
with  German.  The  mother  died  at  Columbus,  in 
1855.  Their  family  consisted  of  three  daughters 
and  one  son,  viz:  Catherine,  a  resident  of  Cherry 
Point;  Christina  ( Mrs.  Wetzel);  Henry  living  at 
Bloomfield,  and  Louisa,  at  Cherry  Point. 

Mrs.  Wetzel  was  born  in  New  York  City,  July 
16.  l«o2,  and  lived  there  until  a  child  of  eight 
years.  In  1840  the  family  removed  by  boat  to  (  lo- 
lumbus,  where  Christina  was  reared  to  womanhood, 
and  educated  in  the  German  and  English  schools. 
She  remained  at  home  with  her  parents  until  her 
marriage.  Her  wedded  life  commenced  on  a  farm 
in  Edsrar  Township,  which  remained  her  home  until 
1889,  when  it  was  disposed  of  by  administrator's 
sale,  and  Mrs.  Wetzel  contemplates  buying  that 
which  she  now  occupies.  The  land  of  this  has  been 
subjected  to  thorough  cultivation,  and  the  Fields  are 
enclosed  with  hedge  and  watered  by  Willow  Creek. 
The  residence  is  a  commodious  structure,  10x36 
feet  in  dimensions,  flanked  by  a  large  barn,  shells, 
and  the  other  necessary  buildings.  Forest  and  fruit 
trees  have  been  planted  in  goodly  numbers,  and  the 
farm  is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain  and  stock. 
Three  teams  are  used  in  carrying  on  its  various 
departments. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetzel  there  were  born  eleven 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a  daughter.  Charlotte, 
is  the  wife  of  A.  Rinesmith,  a  farmer  of  Edgar 
Township;  Emma  is  deceased;  Nicholas  is  farming 
in  Edgar  Township,  where  he  has  also  officiated  as 
Assessor;  Charles  is  a  telegraph  operator  and  sta- 
tion  agent  at  Wetzel;  Harry   is  farming  in  Edgar 


1026 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Township;  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Johnson,  a 
fanner  of  Edgar  Township;  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
Maroe  Athon,  of  Edgar  Township;  Jesse.  Walter, 
Ola.  and  Rolland  remain  at  the  homestead  with  their 
mother.  Mr.  Wetzel  took  a  great  interest  in  the 
construction  of  the  railroad  through  Edgar  Town- 
ship, and  donated  the  right  of  way.  He  was  the 
first  Postmaster  at  Wetzel  Station,  and  held  the 
office  from  the  establishment  of  the  same,  until 
January.  1888.  He  was  also  Township  Collector 
two  terms,  and  served  as  School  Director.  His  re- 
ligious belief  coincided  with  those  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  In  politics  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party.  Mrs.  Wetzel  intends  buying  in 
the  near  future  154  acres  adjoining  the  homestead. 
The  farm  is  beautifully  situated  and  finely  adapted 
to  the  rich  crops  of  Central  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Charlotte  (Anthony)  Wetzel,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  bom  in  what  was  formerly  the 
French  Province  of  Lorrain,  and  spent  her  last 
years  in  Paris,  111.  There  were  only  three  children 
in  the  family:  Jacob,  our  subject;  Louis  and  Nicho- 
las, who  are  residents  of  Paris,  III. 

^p^lEORGE  1).  MITCHELL  owns  and  operates 
jf[  ^  1 19  acres  on  section  34,  in  Edgar  Township. 
V^sjH  Hi*  father  and  grandfather  were  both  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  and  both  bore  the  given 
name  of  William.  The  former  was  born  in  Mifflin 
County  and  the  latter  in  Adams  County.  Grand- 
father Mitchell  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
fighting  at  Brandywine  under  Lafayette  and  Wash- 
ington, in  1777.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  war  he 
returned  home,  and  in  1780  took  for  his  life  part- 
ner Miss  Elizabeth  Hamilton.  Shortly  after  mar- 
riage the  young  couple  mounted  their  horses  and 
followed  the  bridle  path  to  Mifflin  County,  finally 
settling  in  Dry  Valley,  where  he  purchased  300 
acres  of  forest,  which  by  indefatigable  work  he 
cleared,  making  a  fine  home. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
Mitchell,  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  Being  a  gentleman 
of  fine  appearance  and  of  sterling  worth,  he   suc- 


ceeded in  wooing  and  winning  the  daughter  of 
Lord  Ross,  of  Ireland.  On  discovering  his  daugh- 
ter's marriage,  Lord  Ross  became  furiously  en- 
raged, and  offered  a  reward  of  £100  for  the  head 
of  John  Mitchell,  who  hail  presumed  to  aspire  to 
his  daughter's  hand.  This  state  of  affairs  obliged 
them  to  seek  refuge,  finding  it  in  America.  They 
first  sojourned  at  Philadelphia,  but  soon  afterward 
removed  further  West,  settling  near  Carlisle,  Adams 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  remained  until  the  close  of  life. 
William  Mitchell,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  1798.  In  his  chosen  occupation  of  fann- 
ing he  was  quite  prosperous,  owning  about  300 
acres  of  land.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a 
captain  in  the  Pennsylvania  State  Militia,  and  in 
all  the  affairs  of  the  county  took  a  prominent  anil 
active  part. 

Some  time  along  in  the  fifties  the  father  of  our 
subject  came  to  Illinois  and  bought  land,  but  never 
made  it  his  home.  He  retained  the  300  acres  of 
land  in  Pennsylvania  until  his  decease.  During 
life  he  was  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Margaret  Clayton,  a  native  of  the 
same  county  as  her  son,  and  a  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander Clayton,  a  native  of  Mifflin  County,  where 
he  followed  the  occupation  of  a  miller.  His  ma- 
ternal great-grandfather.  Peter  Hackenberry,  and 
his  wife.  Polly,  were  both  natives  of  Huntington 
County.  Pa.  Mrs.  Hacken berry's  mother  was 
Priscilla  Mingen.  a  native  of  Wales,  a  land  made 
famous  in  song  and  story  as  the  home  of  Prince 
Arthur  and  his  merry  Knights  of  the  Round  Table. 

After  the  death  of  George  Mitchell's  father 
mother  Mitchell  removed  to  Lincoln  County.  Kan., 
in  1879,  remaining  there  until  she  sweetly  fell 
asleep.  The  parental  family  consisted  of  eight 
children:  John,  now  in  Saline.  Kan.;  the  Rev. 
William,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister  now  lo- 
cated at  Areola.  111.;  Priscilla,  Mrs.  Allbright.  of 
Lincoln  Count}',  Kan.;  Amos  W.  resides  in  Saline 
County,  Kan.;  Matilda  E.,  now  Mrs.  McClure,  is 
residing  in  Lincoln  County,  Kan.;  Hamilton  R. 
also  lives  in  Lincoln  Count}',  Kan.;  George  D.,our 
subject,  and  Allen  P.,  of  Lincoln  County,  Ivan. 
Hamilton  R.  .Mitchell  was  in  the  1st  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  enlisting   in    1861;  he  served  three  years 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBFM. 


1027 


will]  the  rank  of  Sergeant;  Allen  P.  was  also  a  sol- 
dier  in  the  late  war,  enlisting  in  1862.  He  served 
nine  months  in  the  131st  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
being  a  member  of  Company  I). 

On  October  26th,  1838,  Mr.  Mitchell  opened  bis 
eyes  to  the  light  of  day  aear  Shady  Gap,  in  Tus- 
carora  Valley,  Huntington  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  reared 
in  Mifflin  County,  Pa.,  attending  the  common 
schools  of  the  district  until  Ids  eighteenth  year. 
when  he  entered  the  Lewiston  Academy,  which  he 
attended  three  winters.  Peeling  himself  capable 
of  teaching,  he  followed  that  profession  until  l*i;^. 
In  August  of  that  year  he  enlisted  in  the  1 .'» 1  st 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  Company  1)..  going  to 
Harrisburg.  where  they  were  mustered  into  the 
United  states  service,  young  Mitchell  receiving  the 
rank  of  Sergeant.  His  regiment  was  almost  im- 
mediately sent  to  the  front,  where  they  wereshortly 
afterward  engaged  in  a  conflict  at  ArlingtonHeights. 
Making  a  forced  march  not th ward,  they  were  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Antietam.  Fol- 
lowing the  success  of  our  arms  in  that  engagement, 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  of  which  it  was  now  a 
member,  went  slowly  southward,  remaining  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Potomac  River,  during  along 
period  of  comparative  inactivity,  which,  preceding 
the  gallant  ami  bloody  but  indecisive  assault  on 
Fredericksburg,  where  Burnside  got  stuck  in  the 
mud  resulted  in  checking  the  further  march  of 
our  arms  toward  Richmond.  Following  this  he 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  under 
Gen.  Hooker,  and  also  participated  in  several  other 
skirmishes.  At  Antietam  he  was  on  the  disabled 
list,  serving  in  the  1st  New  York  Light  Artillery, 
Capt.  Barnes,  Company  C,  acting  as  Corporal.  He 
was  mustered  out  and  honorably  discharged  at 
Harrisburg  in  lune,  1863,  returning  home  imme- 
diately. Six  weeks  later  he  enlisted  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  Militia  and  was  sent  to  Huntington 
County  to  guard  the  approach  of  the  enemy  from 
Gettysburg.  While  in  this  service  he  was  coin- 
missioned  First  Lieutenant,  and  remained  with  his 
fellow-soldiers  in  that  vicinity  until  they  were  no 
longer  needed,  when  they  were  disbandoned,  in  the 
fall  of  1863.  Thereupon  oursubject  returned  home 
and  employed  himself  upon  a  farm  until  September, 
1864,  when  he  removed   to  this  county,  having  the 


good  fortune  to  have  a  railroad  to  Carry  himspeedih 
to  his  destination.  He  located  ai  Vermillion, Stratton 
Township,  and  again  took  up  the  profession  of 
teaching,  following  that  occupation  through  the 
winter.  In  1866  he  began  farming,  working  on 
the  farm  of  his  father-in  law. 

.Mr.  Mitchell  and  .Miss  Mary  ('.  Driskell  were 
united  in  marriage  Nov.  30,  1865.  Mis.  Mitchell 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Driskell,  of  Brecken- 
ridge   County,  Ky.     Her  grandfather,  Joseph,  St., 

was  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he  was  an  ex- 
tensive fanner,  owning  slaves,  as  was  the  custom, 
and  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Mississippi  River. 
Reaching  New  Orleans  on  one  of  his  trips,  he  there 
fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow  fever.  The  great- 
grandfather of  Mrs.  Mitchell.  David,  when  a  mere 
babe  came  wit  h  his  parents  from  Ireland  and  set- 
tled in  Kentucky.  Joseph  was  a  lad  of  fifteen 
when  he  came  to  Illinois,  accompanying  his  mother 
in  1858,  and  locating  in  Stratton  Township.  Edgar 
County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  when  of  a 
suitable  age.  his  mother.  Nancy  A.  (Riley)  Driskell, 
entiling  the  land  in  Stratton.  In  1840  she  went  to 
McDonongh  County,  residing  there  until  her  death, 
which  took  place  in  1*50. 

Mr.  Driskell  prospered  in  his  adopted  home. 
securing  over  300  acres.  In  1876  he  removed  to 
Paris,  where  he  now  resides,  he  having  been  born 
in  the  memorable  year  of  1*12..  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  subscribes  to  the  principles  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  although  not 
being  a  member  in  that  communion.  The  wife  of 
Mr.  Driskell  was  Judith  Mayo,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky and  daughter  of  William  .1.  Mayo,  a  Revolu- 
tionary hero,  who  left  his  native  State  of  Virginia 
at  the  close  of  the  war  to  take  up  his  residence  in 
Kentucky.  Having  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a 
good  education  in  his  youth,  he  employed  a  portion 
ot  his  time  instructing  the  youth  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, also  following  his  profession  of  a  civil  engi- 
neer, as  well  as  overseeing  the  operations  of  the 
farm.  Partaking  of  the  restless  disposition  of 
those  times,  he  left  Kentucky,  coming  to  Edgar 
County  in  1825,  and  locating  in  Hunter  Town- 
ship, Wayne  Precinct,  where  he  bought  160  acres 
of  land,  building  the  first  frame  house  in  the  town- 
ship.     Mr.  Mayo  was  a  line  classical  scholar,  and  a 


10-28 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


warm  personal  friend  and  admirer  of  Kentucky's 
great  statesman,  Henry  Clay.  lie  served  his  native 
county  as  clerk,  also  performing  the  duties  for  a 
number  of  years  of  a  local  minister  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  in  which  communion  he 
died,  in  18  lit.  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 
Great-grandfather  Mayo  was  Jacob,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  having  been  born  in  that  State  Aug.  1, 
1744,  of  English  parentage. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Mitchell,  an  educated  and 
accomplished  lady,  was  born  July  11,  1813.  in 
Ford  County,  Ky.,  where  she  grew  to  womanhood. 
Following  the  varying  fortunes  of  her  husband,  she 
at  length  fell  asleep  in  1841  in  Stratton  Township. 
During  her  married  life  she  became  the  mother 
of  seven  children:  William  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen;  J.  M.  is  at  present  a  resident  of  Clark 
County.  Kan  ;  Elizabeth  A.  is  a  resident  of  Paris; 
George  W.,  also  deceased;  Mary  C,  wife  of  our 
subject;  Caroline,  deceased;  and  E.  B.,  who  re- 
sides in  Paiis. 

John  M.  was  one  of  the  earliest  ones  to  answer  the 
first  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  troops  in  1861, 
enlisting  in  Company  E,  12th  Illinois  Infantry. 
At  the  expiration  of  four  months  he  came  home 
sick.  The  second  of  the  family  to  enter  the  war 
was  George  W..  who  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  79th 
Illinois  Infantry.  In  July,  1863,  he  died  of  a 
wound  received  in  the  battle  of  Liberty  Gap.  On 
making  an  examination  of  the  body  a  minie-ball 
was  found  embedded  in  the  leaves  of  a  bible  which 
he  carried  in  a  pocket  over  his  heart.  The  G.  A.  R. 
Post  at  Paris  was  named  Driskell  Post  No.  168  in 
honor  of  him. 

Mrs.  George  1).  Mitchell,  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  .March  18,  1843,  in  Stratton  Town- 
ship, receiving  a  good  common-school  education 
and  teaching  one  term  in  the  home  school.  Since 
coming  here  our  subject,  George  D.  Mitchell,  has 
secured  1  lit  acres  of  land,  and  has  built  a  new 
house  of  nine  rooms,  planning  it  with  reference  to 
convenience  and  comfort.  It  is  situated  in  the 
midst  of  finely  improved  grounds.  In  addition  to 
raising  grain  extensively  he  also  supplies  the  market 
with  hogs  and  line  horses.  The  family  of  Mr. 
Mitchell  has  been  increased  by  the  addition  of 
five   children:  Clayton.  Walter   M..  Francis  J.  R.. 


Florence  M.  and  William  J.  Clayton  attended  the 
Commercial  College  at  Terre  Haute.  Ind..  two 
winters,  and  has  since  been  employed  as  a  book- 
keeper in  Paris;  Walter  is  at  home  with  his  par- 
ents. After  finishing  a  course  of  instruction  at  the 
home  school,  Francis  J.  R.  attended  the  High 
School  at  Paris  two  years,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Postal  Paris,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  it 
A.  M.  at  Chrisman.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Pine  (Wove.  Believing  that  the  responsibility  of 
the  good  government  of  this  country  rests  with  its 
citizens,  he  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
politics,  being  a  delegate  to  the  County  Conven- 
tions of  the  Republican  parly. 


-*-«* 


.  AVID  WARD.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
deserves  special  mention  among  the  lead- 
ing farmers  of  Edgar  Township.  A  self- 
made  man  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the 
term,  he  has  arisen  to  a  good  position,  socially  and 
financially,  over  the  disadvantages  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth.  He  received  only  a  limited  education 
hut  has  kept  his  eyes  open  to  what  was  going  on 
around  him  in  the  world,  and  by  a  course  of  read- 
ing has  gained  much  useful  information.  In  con- 
versation he  is  pleasing  and  has  the  happy  faculty 
of  discoursing  intelligently  upon  the  current  topics 
of  the  day.  His  attractive  homestead  of  113  acres 
occupies  a  part  of  sections  11,15  and  33,  the  resi- 
dence being  on  section  33.  The  dwelling,  although 
built  of  logs,  has  been  made  an  attractive  domicile 
and  provides  an  exceedingly  safe  shelter  for  its 
inmates.  The  other  improvements  are  fully  in 
keeping  with  the  progress  and  enterprise  which 
have  distinguished  its  proprietor. 

Our  subject  is  of  Southern  birth  and  parentage, 
being  the  son  of  John  Ward,  who  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  and  was  of  English  descent.  lie 
employed  himself  as  a  cabinet-maker  in  the  early 
days,  and  remained  in  his  native  State  until  1833. 
That  year  he  set  out  overland  for  Owen  County, 
Ind.,  where  he  entered    land    which  he  improved, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1029 


and  in  connection  with  it  also  worked  at  his  trade. 
He  was  a  very  fine  workman  and  commanded  nearly 
all  the  patronage  in  this  line  in  his  locality.  He 
lived  in  Owen  County,  thirty  years,  then,  in  1863, 
changed  his  residence  to  Vigo  County,  End.,  where 
he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  six  miles  from 
Terre  Haute.  IK-  lived  upon  this  until  L872,  then 
changed  his  residence  again,  this  time  to  Edgar 
Township,  where  he  purchased  a  small  farm  and  slid 
resides  upon  it.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  in  which  during  his  more  active  manhood 
he  officiated  as  Elder,  lie  is  now  seventy-five  years 
old. 

Mrs.  Jemima  (Humble)  Ward,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  the  daughter  of  David  Humble, 
who  was  of  German  ancestry  and  who  located  in 
North  Carolina,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  The 
great-grandfather  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  a 
man  of  large  frame  and  very  strong  constitution. 
David  Humble  owned  a  large  plantation  in  North 
Carolina.  He  participated  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
in  1834  removed  to  Owen  County.  Ind..  where  he 
became  a  large  land  owner  and  where  he  died.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  is  now  eighty-one  years  old. 
David  was  the  eldest  of  the  three  children.  The 
others  were  Eli  W.  and  .lane  (.Airs.  Ashley),  both 
residents  of  Edgar  Township.  Eli  during  the  late 
war  enlisted,  m  1861,  in  the  71st  Indiana  Infantry, 
which  was  afterward  mounted  and  changed  to  the 
Gth  Cavalry.  He  was  but  a  youth  of  sixteen  when 
he  entered  the  army  and  he  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery County.  N.  C,  Feb,  16,  1832.  He  was  but 
one  year  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Owen 
County.  Ind.  He  acquired  a  limited  education  in 
the  public  schools,  and  as  soon  as  able  was  required 
to  make  himself  useful  around  the  homestead, 
where  he  remained  until  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
four  years.  He  then  began  farming  for  himself 
and  in  the  meantime  purchased  forty  acres  of  laud 
which  he  retained  possession  of  until  1862.  Then 
selling  out  he  removed  to  a  point  in  Vigo  County. 
six  miles  from  Terre  Haute,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  and  lived  until  <  >ctober,1864.  The  Civil 
War  being  then  in  progress  with  no  immediate 
prospect  of  its  close  he  enlisted  in  Company  E.  57th 


Indiana  Infant ry,  and  being  mustered  in  al  Pulaski, 
Trim.,  was  sent  with  his  comrades  to  the  front 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Thomas.  He  partici- 
bated  in  the  battles  of  Spring  Hill.  Franklin  and 
Nashville,  and  after  several  other  engagements  with 
the  enemy  was  sent  with  the  regiment  to  Texas  I" 
guard  the  frontier.  He  was  mustered  out  in  the 
I. our  Star  Mate,  ainl  repairing  to  New  Orleans  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge. 

After  returning  to  civil  life  Mr.  Ward  resumed 
farming  at  the  homestead  until  1873.  Then  sell- 
ing out  he  crossed  the  Mississippi  with  a  team  and 
established  himself  in  Marion  County.  Iowa.  After 
a  brief  sojourn  there  he  came  back  to  Edgar  County. 
[11.,  and  purchased  the  farm  which  he  now  owns, 
where  he  has  cleared  over  100  acres,  fenced  it  and 
put  up  a  house  and  barn  and  makes  a  specialty  of 
grain  ami  stock,  especially  Poland-China  swine. 
He  has  >ix  head  of  good  horses,  and  his  farm  op- 
erations are  generally  conducted  with  thoroughness 
and  skill.  He  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket 
and  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Horace. 

Our  subject  was  married,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  m 
(>\vcn  County,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Artie  A.  C reach,  who 
was  born  in  (lay  County,  that  State.  They  have 
six  children,  viz.:  John  L.  Joseph  I>..  Thomas 
Franklin,  Sadie.  (  His  1!.  and  Emma.  John  G.  is 
fanning  for  himself  in  Edgar  Township;  the  Others 
are  at  home  with  their  parents  and  form  a  bright 
and  interesting  group,  who  have  been  well  trained 
and  thoroughly  educated. 


*^$& 


AVID  S.  CURTIS.  One  of  the  oldest  liv- 
li  ing  native-born  residents  of  Hunter  Town- 
ship, is  naturally  looked  upon  with  more 
than  ordinary  interest,  as  in  the  ease  of 
thesubjeel  of  this  notice.  He  has  jusl  rounded  up 
his  three-score  years  and  ten.  and  such  has  been  his 
career,  that  he  is  affectionately  viewed  as  one  of 
the  old  landmarks  whose  name  will  lie  preserved  in 
kindly  remembrance  long  after  he  has  departed 
hence.      We  line!  him  the  owner  of  a  large  and  val- 


10.30 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


liable  farm,  embellished  with  a  commodious  frame 
duelling,  neatly  painted  very  white,  and  kept  in 
good  repair,  with  a  large  grassy  yard,  with  hand- 
some shade  trees  and  evergreens,  a  substantial  barn 
and  other  modern  improvements.  He  likewise  has 
a  nursery  forty  acres  in  extent,  and  as  a  fruit- 
grower, has  gained  an  enviable  reputation.  He 
has  been  a  prominent  man  in  his  community,  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  politically,  and  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Curtis  was  born  in  Hunter  Township,  July 
1 ,  1  8 1  It,  at  a  time  when  the  face  of  the  country  bore 
little  resemblance  to  its  present  condition,  being  a 
wild  and  uncultivated  district,  abounding  in  wild 
animals,  and  over  which  the  Indians  frequently 
passed  from  one  place  to  another.  His  early  studies 
were  conducted  in  a  log  school-house,  with  punch- 
eon floor,  seats  made  of  slabs  and  upheld  by  rude 
wooden  legs,  and  desks  made  of  puncheon  laid 
across  pins  driven  into  the  wall.  Light  was  admit- 
ted through  the  doorway  and  window-panes  made 
of  greased  paper.  The  system  of  instruction  cor- 
responded with  the  surroundings,  but  the  boys  of 
that,  day  grew  up  strong  of  muscle,  and  healthy  in 
moral  principle,  well  fitted  for  the  duties  which  lay 
before  them. 

Young  Curtis  received  careful  training  from  his 
excellent  parents,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  de- 
velopment of  his  new  farm,  becoming  familiar  with 
agricultural  pursuits.  When  approaching  manhood 
his  chief  ambition  was  to  establish  a  home  of  his 
own,  and  July  27,  1848,  he  took  unto  himself  a 
wife  and  helpmate,  being  married  at  the  bride's 
home  in  Hunter  Township,  to  Miss  Frances  R. 
Dickenson.  She  ivas  born  in  Virginia,  and  came 
to  this  county  with  her  parents,  Robert  N.,  and 
Cynthia  (Rives)  Dickenson,  when  a  young  girl. 
They  are  the  parents  of  five  children:  Alice;  Belle, 
wife  of  A.  D.  Siders;  David  S.,  Joseph  W.,  and 
Jennie  L.;  all  are  at  home. 

Our  subject  and  his  brother  Benjamin,  associated 
themselves  in  partnership,  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  the  nursery  business  for  several  years.  In  the 
meantime  they  furnished  capital  for  a  mercantile 
business  at  Paris,  which  was  conducted  by  George 
Hoge.  Farming,  merchandising,  and  the  nursery 
business  have  thus  occupied  the  life  of  Mr.  Curtis 


with  the  exception  of  nine  months  which  he  spent 
in  the  army  during  the  late  Civil  War.  He  organ- 
ized a  company  of  the  79th  Illinois  Infantry,  of 
which  he  was  made  Captain,  and  served  until  he 
was  obliged  to  accept  his  discbarge  on  account  of 
ill-health.  He  has  been  a  man  of  great  persever- 
ance and  energy,  and  these  qualities  have  enabled 
him  to  accomplish  far  more  than  many  men  blessed 
with  a  robust  constitution,  but  of  lesser  qualities 
of  resolution  and  industry.  Politically,  he  is  one 
of  the  warmest  adherents  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  with 
various  local  otlices. 

Joseph  Curtis,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  whence  he  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Virginia,  in  childhood.  Later  they  left 
the  Old  Dominion,  and  removed  to  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  and  Joseph,  upon  reaching  manhood,  there 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Hannah  Shelby,  and 
they  in  due  time  were  married.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  was  a  resident  of  Pickaway 
County.  The  parents  left  the  Buckeye  State  in 
1818,  and  coming  to  Edgar  County,  III.,  located  in 
Hunter  Township,  where  Joseph  Curtis  established 
the  first  nursery  in  the  State  that  same  year.  He 
also  inaugurated  the  root-grafting  process  in  this 
county,  and  was  highly  successful  in  his  business 
as  a  nurseryman,  enjoying  a  patronage  extending 
throughout  the  county,  and  a  largo  area  of  the 
country  adjoining. 

The  father  of  our  subject  organized  the  first 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Hunter  Township, 
of  which  both  he  and  his  excellent  wife  were  devoted 
members,  and  died  firm  in  the  faith.  The  paternal 
grandfather.  Joseph  Curtis,  Sr..  was  likewise  a  na- 
native  of  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  married,  and 
later  removed  to  Ohio,  where  his  wife  died.  After 
her  decease  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  spent  his  last 
days  with  his  son,  Joseph,  Jr..  dying  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years.  He  was  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  enjoyed  the  per- 
sonal acquaintance  of  Gen.  Washington.  The  Cur- 
tis family  traces  its  ancestry  to  England,  and  was 
first  represented  in  America  during  the  Colonial 
days.  The  meagre  details  which  have  been  gleaned 
of  their  history,  denote  that  they   were  people  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


L081 


eminent  respectability,  there  being  among  them 
many  men  of  repute,  who  made  for  themselves  a 
record  reflecting  honor  upon  their  descendants. 


'*'w-<v»2££rt<5'$@. . 


Sf51'Jr3''»'""W>" 


OL.  GEORGE  DOLL,  late  a  well-known 
and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Paris,  was 
I  a  resident  of  this  place  with  the  exception 
of  the  four  years  which  he  served  in  the  army, 
from  the  time  he  was  eighteen  years  old  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  near  Baldswinville.  in  this 
county,  Feb.  14,  1888.  lie  was  born  in  Hockville, 
Ind.,  Jan.  lit,  1834.  and  was  thus  approaching,  at 
the  time  of  his  decease,  the  fifty-fourth  year  of 
his  age.  The  circumstances  attending  the  death  of 
Col.  Dole  were  peculiarly  sad  and  distressing.  On 
the  day  preceding  he  attended  the  funeral  of  an 
old  friend  and  brother  Elder  in  the  church.  Mr.  H. 
.V.  Conkey,  about  six  miles  northeast  of  Paris.  Me 
was  one  of  the  pall  bearers  and  assisted  in  convey- 
ing his  friend's  remains  to  the  hearse,  lie  had  but 
a  short  time  before  remarked  that  he  was  feeling 
unusually  well,  but  after  entering  his  carriage  and 
when  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  from  the 
residence,  he  said  to  a  friend,  by  whom  he  was  sit- 
ting that  he  felt  strangely  and  would  get  out.  At- 
tempting to  do  so  he  fell  against  his  friend  in  a 
helpless  condition  and  was  at  once  taken  back  to 
tin'  house  whence  he  had  so  lately  helped  to  carry 
all  that  was  mortal  of  his  brother  in  the  church, 
and  it  was  found  that  he  was  suffering  from  a 
stroke  of  paralysis.  The  next  day  another  shock 
was  received,  and  the  brave  Christian  soldier  and 
es'eemed  citizen,  rendered  up  his  soul  to  Him  who 
gave  it. 

The  life  of  George  Dole  was  one  full  of  encour- 
agement to  young  men  and  well  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. By  the  death  of  his  father.  Franklin  Dole, 
he  was  left  without  paternal  care  or  guidance  at  the 
age  of  four  years,  and  his  mother,  who  was  in 
limited  circumstances,  removed  with  her  two  boys 
to  Napoleon,  Ohio,  where  the  earliest  years  of  our 
subject  were  passed.  A  part  of  his  time  was  spent 
with  his  cousin  William  P.  Dole,  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  Paris,  and  at  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
took  up  his  residence  permanently  in    that    place. 


At  this  time  he  hail  only  acquired  the  rudiments  o( 
an  education  which  he  get  about  obtaining  with  an 
energy  and  perseverance  which  had  it>    legitimate 

reward.  Disdaining  no  honest  labor  he  began  his 
career  in  Paris  by  cutting  wood  at  (illy  cents  a 
cord,  and  while  engaged  in  this  bard  labor,  gave 
all  his  spare  moments  to  diligent  study.  Husband- 
ing carefully  his  scantj  resources  he  accumulated 
some  little  means  and  soon  acquired  sufficient  ed- 
ucation to  enable  him  to  teach  a  district  school. 
His  salary  was  carefully  saved  and  he  thus  became 
enabled  to  enter  the  academy  at  Paris,  after  which 
he  for  some  time  alternately  attended  and  taught 
school.  By  slow  degrees  his  means  grew  until  he 
had  saved  enough  to  enable  him  to  attend  Wash- 
tion  (now  Washington  and  Jefferson)  College,  in 
Washington  County,  Pa.,  where  he  was  graduated 
with  high  honors  in  the  class  of  '61.  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  foremost  members. 

In  the  meantime  had  occurred  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War  and  upon  the  day  of  his  graduation 
young  Dole  was  summoned  to  Washington  by  his 
cousin.  William  Dole,  who  had  been  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln, Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 
The  war  brought  to  Mr.  Dole  as  to  many  others, 
the  opportunity  to  show  the  metal  of  which  he  was 
made  and  it  gave  out  the  true  ring.  Through  the 
influence  of  his  cousin  he  was  appointed  adjutant 
of  the  3d  Indian  Regiment  of  United  Slates 
troops,  which  was  recruited  from  the  friendly  In- 
dians of  Kansas  and  the  Indian  Territory.  In  this 
command  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  be- 
ing commissioned  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment in  1863.  During  his  service  he  participated 
in  several  hard  fought  battles,  among  them  that  at 
Shirley's  Ford,  Cane  Hill.  Fort  Davis.  Prairie 
Grove,  Greenleaf  Prairie.  Honey  Springs,  Mays- 
ville,  and  Webber's  Falls,  besides  many  .skirmishes. 
His  soldier  life  was  characterized  by  the  same 
grace  which  distinguishes  his  entire  career.  He 
gave  his  best  to  his  country's  service  and  every 
duty  undertaken  was  thoroughly  and  conscien- 
tiously performed.  His  heart  was  in  his  work  and 
his  country  numbered  among  its  defenders  no 
braver  or  more  patriotic  spirit  or  fine  more  willing 
to  endure  for  her  sake  the  hardships  and  privations 
or  risk  the  dangers  of  a  soldier's  life. 


1032 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Dining  the  four  years  of  his  service  Col.  Dole 
was  absent  from  his  command  only  twenty  days,  at 
which  time  he  obtained  a  furlough  to  come  home 
and  be  married  to  a  lady  who  remained  his  loving 
and  faithful  companion  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  For  two  years  of  his  service  he  never 
slept  or  ate  in  a  house  and  the  God  of  battles, 
whom  he  sincerely  worshipped,  preserved  him  amid 
all  the  dangers  to  which  he  was  exposed.  Upon 
the  return  of  peace  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  mustered  out  at  Ft.  Gibson,  Indian  Territory. 
in  June,  1865. 

Col.  Dole  had  prepared  himself  thoroughly  for 
the  practice  of  law  and  coming  back  to  Paris,  he 
in  May,  18G6,  formed  a  partnership  with  Col.  II.  V. 
Sellar.  then  and  now  an  eminent  member  of  the 
Edgar  County  bar.  This  connection  remained  un- 
broken until  it  was  severed  by  death,  a  period  of 
twenty-two  years,  during  all  of  which  time  the 
most  implicit  and  unbounded  confidence  and  the 
closest  personal  friendship  existed  between  the 
partners — a  fact  which  well  illustrates  the  honora- 
ble and  upright  character  of  both  men. 

In  Greencastle.  Ind..  March  24.  1864,  Col.  Dole 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  E.  Osborn, 
a  daughter  of  Col.  John  and  Emily  (McCorkle) 
Osborn.  the  father  a  prominent  member  of  the  bar 
of  Putnam  County.  Ind.  Both  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  Col.  Osborn  of  Maysville,  Ma- 
son County,  and  his  wife  of  Flemingsburg,  Fleming 
County.  The  father  died  in  Greencastle  and  the 
mother  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  in  Paris.  Mrs. 
Dole  was  born  at  Rowling  Green,  Clay  Co.,  Ind.. 
Jan.  11.  1840.  Her  union  with  Col.  Dole  was 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children.  The  eldest, 
Milton  ()..  died  in  Paris,  Jan.  28,  1889,  aged 
twenty-three  years.  He  was  a  young  man  of  most 
exemplary  character  and  his  untimely  death  left  his 
widowed  mother  doubly  bereaved.  The  second 
child  and  only  daughter  was  Mary  a  lovely  girl, 
the  pride  and  joy  of  both  parents,  from  whom  she 
was  taken  by  death.  Nov.  14,  1885.  at  the  age  of 
nine  years.  The  two  living  children  are  named 
respectively:  Alfred  Eramett,  now  a  student  in  Wa- 
bash Collage,  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  and  eighteen 
years  of  age;  and  George,  eleven  years  old.  who  is 
at  home  with  his  mother. 


The  domestic  relations  of  this  family  were  of  a 
peculiary  happy  character.  To  their  children  the 
parents  set  an  example  of  Christian  love  and  char- 
ity, beautiful  to  behold  and  worthy  of  emulation. 
The  home  circle  was  the  dearest  place  on  earth  to 
him,  who  was  its  head,  and  the  lessons  there 
taught  by  the  patents  left  their  impress  upon  the 
children.  Especially  was  this  shown  in  the  case  of 
the  eldest  son.  who  during  the  long  and  tedious 
illness  preceding  his  death,  when  he  was  battling 
for  life  with  that  dread  foe  consumption,  never 
murmured  against  the  decree  winch  hail  gone  forth 
and  which  he  well  knew  meant  for  him  at  best  an 
early  death.  He  endured  and  suffered  patiently 
and  died  as  he  had  lived,  a  sincere  Christian,  firm 
in  the  belief  of  a  better  and  brighter  world  where 
sickness  and  sorrow  are  unknown. 

George  Dole  was  a  man  of  a  quiet  and  rather  re- 
tiring character.  The  success  which  attended  his 
business  career  was  gained  not  by  loud  self-asser- 
tion but  by  genuine  worth,  and  grew  'out  of  the  in- 
flexible devotion  to  duty,  which  characterized  him 
all  through  life.  No  charge  ever  committed  to  his 
care  was  neglected,  nor  was  a  word  ever  whispered 
against  his  integrity.  Honorable  public  position 
was  within  his  reach  but  he  preferred  to  devote 
himself  to  those  duties  which  were  directly  in  the 
line  of  his  profession  in  which  he  won  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact.  He  was  appointed  by  the  court  Receiver 
of  the  Illinois  Midland  Railroad,  holding  that  posi- 
tion for  two  years  and  by  his  judicious  and  able 
management  of  its  financial  affairs,  did  much  to  save 
the  property  of  its  stock-holders.  It  was  his  just 
boast  that  during  those  trying  times  for  the  road, 
there  was  no  trouble  with  its  employes  nor '-strikes" 
to  embarrass  its  operations.  We  append  the  follow- 
ing clipped  from  the  Railway  Age: 

The  Receiver  of  the  Illinois  Midland  Railroad, 
Mr.  George  Dole,  has  been  relieved  from  that  office 
at  his  own  request,  This  is  unprecedented.  In 
Illinois  the  position  oi  receiver  of  a  railroad  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  '-fattest"  things  out.  Thousands 
cry  for  it;  no  one  was  ever  known  to  decline  it, 
The  simple  word  of  the  man  who  happens  to  sit  on 
the  bench  throws  the  absolute  control  of  millions 
of  dollars'  worth  of  property  into  the  hands  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in:;:; 


man  whom  he  may  take  the  humor  to  select,  ami 
instead  of  charging  ami  compelling  him  to  handle 
the  property  tor  the  interests  of  its  owners,  the 
court  virtually  says  to  him — '-go  in  andgel  all  you 
can."  This  is  the  meaning  of  the  monstrous  pro- 
vision giving  the  receiver  two  and  a  half  per  cent  of 
all  money  which  he  receives  ami  pays  out.  It 
means  "make  the  receipts  as  big  as  you  can  no 
matter  if  you  have  to  give  losing  rates,  pay  out 
all  the  money  you  can  find  any  pretext  for. 
For  every  *U>l>  you  handle  you  may  keep  $2.50." 
The  history  of  receiverships  in  this  Slate  show 
how  faithfully  these  hints  have  been  followed. 
Mr.  Dole  says  he  resigned  because  the  road 
cannot  be  made  to  pay  expenses.  As  this 
would  lie  no  objection  to  the  man  who  simply 
wanted  to  grab  his  two  and  a  half  per  cent.,  since 
he  could  get  it  from  a  losing-  road  rather  better 
than  from  one  that  did  not  have  to  payout  all  that 
it  earned,  we  judge  that  Mr.  Dole  was  a  good  man 
to  keep  as  receiver,  and  that  the  road  may  not  gain 
by  bis  retiring. 

The  social  life  of  Col.  Dole  was  also  a  success. 
He  was  a  member  of  several  organizations  all  of 
whom  sorrowed  for  bis  sudden  death.  Resolutions 
of  regret  and  sympathy  for  the  bereaved  family 
were  passed  by  the  count}'  bar;  by  the  Paris  Hoard 
of  Underwriters;  by  Driskell  Post  No.  209, 
!..  A.  R. ;  by  John  A.  Logan  Republican  Club;  by 
Edgar  Council  0.  C.  F.;  by  Austin  Lodge  No.  664, 
[.O.  O.F.,  and  others.  He  had  publicly  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Paris,  Dec.  26, 
1856,  and  remained  a  devout  and  faithful  follower 
of  the  Master  until  the  day  of  his  death.  In  1871 
he  was  chosen  an  Elder,  tilling  that  office  accepta- 
bly the  remainder  of  his  life.  For  thirteen  years 
be  was  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  dur- 
ing which  his  close  attention  to  it  was  marked.  Ik- 
resigned  this  position  at  length  to  take  charge  of  a 
class  of  young  men,  many  of  whom  through  his 
influence  became  devout  and  consistent  Christians. 
Taken  in  every  relation  the  life  of  our  subject 
was  one  worthy  of  all  praise.  In  business  he  was 
honorable  ami  trustworthy;  as  a  soldier  he  was  un- 
flinching;  in  the  domestic  circle  he  was  a  faithful 
husband  and  a  kind  and  devoted  parent  and  in  the 
Church  he  was   all  he   professed.      To   him    ma\     be 


well  applied  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  "Mark  the 
perfect  man.  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end  of 

that  man  is  peace.'" 

ILLARD  B.  TUCKER.      The  State  of  Illi- 
nois owes  her  prosperity  to   the    men   who 

first  emigrated  hither,  and  who  came  from 
all  parts  of  the  Last  and  South.  That  she 
is  classed  among  the  leading  Slates  of  the  Union 
is  due  to  the  energy  and  industry  of  her  pioneer 
settlers,  no  less  than  to  their  rare  intelligence  and 
the  excellent  moral  traits  of  character  which  dis- 
tinguished them  as  a  peculiarly  honorable  and  law- 
abiding  people.  Among  this  class  of  people  the 
Tucker  family  deserves  honorable  mi  ntion,  and 
especially  •  >sborn  Tucker,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  of  English  descent,  born 
Sept.   11.  1802. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Kentucky,  whither  his  parents  moved, 
where  he  lived  until  the  spring  of  1856.  Then, 
with  the  desire  to  see  something  of  the  Great  West 
he  made  his  way  to  this  Stale,  and  employed  him- 
self as  a  carpenter  and  painter,  at  which  trades  he 
had  served  an  apprenticeship.  The  first  \  ears  of 
bis  sojourn  in  Illinois  he  lived  in  Edgar  County, 
then  changed  his  residence  to  Logan  County,  where 
be  carried  on  fanning  until  retiring  from  the  active 
labors  of  life.  He  afterwards  mule  his  home  with 
our  subject,  and  is  stout  of  his  age.  He  has  reached 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  The  wife 
and  mother  was  in  her  girlhood  Miss  Cynthia  I'.at- 
tershell,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  who  died  in 
Kentucky  about  1850.  The  parental  family  in- 
cluded thirteen  children,  viz:  William,  a  resident 
of  Edgar  Township,  this  county;  Polly,  deceased ; 
John,  residing  in  Falls.  Iowa;   Emily  (Mrs.  Smick) 

lives    in     Ross    Township,  this    county;     Elizabeth 

(Mrs.  Roberts)  is  a  resident  of  Paris;  Conoway  re- 
sides in  Missouri;  Dillard  B..  our  subject,  was  the 
seventh  child;  Henry  is  deceased;  Mark  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Douglas  County.  111.;  Peter  is  deceased; 
Sarah  lives  in  Ottawa  City.  Kan.:  Ann  lives  in 
\li>- i.  ami  Charles  is  deceased.     Mark  and  Con- 


10:54 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


oway  served  as  soldiers  in  the  late  Civil  War. 
Henry  was  in  a  Kentucky  regiment,  and  while  at 
home  sick  on  a  furlough  the  rebels  captured  him 
while  in  his  bed  and  forced  him  to  march,  during 
which  he  died  on  the  way. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Paris, 
Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  5,  1840.  and  spent  his  boy 
hood  and  youth  upon  a  farm,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  He  came  with  his 
father  to  Illinois  when  a  youth  of  seventeen  years, 
and  completed  his  education  by  a  few  months' 
attendance  at  school  during  the  winter  season. 
Prior  to  this  he  had  only  attended  one  term  in  his 
native  township.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he  set  out 
for  Pike's  Peak.  The  route  was  by  Leavenworth. 
Kan.,  where  he  obtained  a  team  and  went  across 
the  State  to  Denver,  which  occupied  thirty  days. 
Upon  reaching  the  Peak  Mr.  Tucker  engaged  in 
mining  in  Russell  Gulch,  where  he  operated  until 
fall,  and  then,  being  satisfied  with  his  venture  in 
the  far  West,  returned  by  team  to  Omaha,  Neb., 
and  thence  by  stage  to  St.  Joe,  and  from  there 
home  by  rail.  He  was  then  but  nineteen  years  of 
age.  Aside  from  this  his  life  passed  in  a  compara- 
tively uneventful  manner  until  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  War,  and  then,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
under  the  call  for  300,000  troops,  he  enlisted  in 
August,  1861,  in  Company  A,  7th  Illinois  Cavalry, 
and  was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Butler.  Thence 
they  were  sent  to  Cairo,  and  later  furnished  with 
their  equipments  at  Bird's  Point  on  the  Mississippi. 
They  first  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Point  Pleas- 
ant, Tenn.,  and  later  at  Tiptonsyille.  Ky.,  where 
they  captured  a  number  of  rebels.  Next  they  were 
ordered  to  Shiloh,  and  there  our  subject  was  taken 
ill  and  confined  in  the  hospital. 

In  the  spring  of  1862  Mr.  Tucker  was  allowed  to 
go  home  on  a  furlough.  When  sufficiently  recov- 
ered re-entering  the  ranks,  he  was  stationed  in  the 
convalescent  camp  at  Louisville,  and  in  January, 
1863,  rejoined  his  regiment  in  Mississippi.  The 
first  two  years  the  boys  had  their  own  horses,  but 
afterward  were  furnished  animals  by  the  Govern- 
ment. Our  subject  subsequently  participated  in 
many  of  the  important  battles  which  followed. 
being  at  Jackson.  Miss.,  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  and 
Memphis.    Tenn.      Thence   they   worked   their  way 


east,  to  La  Grange,  that  State,  which  was  made  their 
headquarters  until  1863.  Young  Tucker,  in  the 
meantime,  had  some  narrow  escapes,  and  upon  one 
occasion  his  hat  was  shot  off  by  a  spent  ball.  He 
went  by  the  name  of  ••  Sergt.  Tuck."  He  and  his 
cousin.  Sanford  Battershell,  enlisted  at  the  same 
time,  ami  upon  starling  out  resolved  to  stay 
together  through  thick  and  thin.  They  were 
familiarly  known  to  their  comrades  as  "Tucker- 
shell  and  Bat."  They  shared  with  each  other  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  a  soldier's  life,  and  had 
the  happiness  of  realiizng  their  hope  of  remaining 
together  until  the  close. 

In  the  winter  of  1863-4  our  subject,  with  his  com- 
rades, met  the  enemy  in  battle  at  West  Point,  Miss.. 
also  at  Aberdeen,  and  thence  went  into  Alabam  .. 
where  they  were  largely  engaged  in  skirmishing, 
lie  participated  in  the  battle  of  Nashville  in  Dec- 
ember, 1864,  and  witnessed,  with  a  feeling  of  deep 
satisfaction,  the  routing  of  the  rebels  at  that  place. 
From  that  time  on  until  Christmas  they  were 
nearly  continually  under  fire  and  our  subject 
wound  up  his  term  of  enlistment  in  the  rear  of  the 
battle  of  Franklin.  He  re-entered  the  ranks  at  La 
Grange,  Tenn.,  in  the  spring  of  1863.  Soon  after- 
ward the  regiment  was  sent  to  Alabama,  and  re- 
mained in  the  vicinity  of  Tuscumbia  until  Novem- 
ber, 1865.  The  war  having  now  closed,  Mr.  Tucker 
was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  and  received  his 
honorable  discharge  at  Springfield.  III.,  November, 
16,  after  a  faithful  service  of  four  years  and  three 
months.  He  escaped  injury  otherwise  than  having 
his  left  wrist  somewhat  mangled  by  the  falling  of 
a  horse  upon  it.  Mr  Tucker  purchased  the  farm 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies  ia  February. 
1866,  eighty  acres,  for  which  he  paid  $15  per  acre. 
It  was  a  tractof  cultivated  prairie,  and  he  began  at 
first  principles  in  the  construction  of  a  farm.  First 
securing  a  shelter  for  himself  and  family,  he  got  in 
his  first  season's  crops,  and  by  degrees  planted 
forest  and  fruit  trees  and  instituted  the  other  im- 
provements necessary  to  the  well  regulated  home- 
stead. He  laid  tiling,  planted  hedge,  purchased 
scales  and  other  farm  machinery,  got  together  a 
goodly  assortment  of  live  stock,  and  in  due  time 
began  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  labors.  He  has  1  in 
acres  in  the  home  farm   and  eighty   acres  elsewhere 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1035 


in  the  same  township;  the  latter  is  likewise  im- 
proved with  buildings,  which  he  rents.  Besides 
grain  raising,  he  is  largely  interested  in  live 
stock,  cattle,  sheep  and  swine  making  a  speciality 
of  the  latter.  He  1ms  fourteen  head  of  good  horses. 
After  the  war  our  subject  was  first  married  in 
Edgar  Township,  Dec.  31,  186.i,  to  Miss  Loviua 
Brothers,  a  native  of  Ohio.  To  them  there  were 
born  two  children,  Julia  and  Ida,  who  are  at  home 
with  their  father.  The  mother  died  at  her  home  in 
1882.  Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage, 
Nov.  30,  1882,  in  Edgar  Township,  with  Mrs.  Mar) 
Parks,  daughter  of  William  Iloult.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Edgar  Township,  and  is  the  sister  of  W. 
F.  Moult,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  Album.  Of  this  union  there  are  four  children  : 
David  and  Dolly,  Carl  (deceased)  and  one  un- 
named. Mr.  Tucker  is  a  sound  Republican  polit- 
ically, and  has  served  as  a  School  Director  in  his 
district  for  ten  years.  Me  has  been  identified  with 
the  Baptist  Church  since  a  youth  of  eighteen  years, 
and  is  at  present  one  of  the  Trustees.  As  an  ex- 
soldier  in  good  standing,  he  belongs  to  the  G.A.R. 
at  Chrisman.  Genial,  obliging  and  courteous,  he 
has  friends  wherever  known,  and  is  a  most  worthy 
representative  of  an  excellent  ancestry. 

W WELLINGTON  W.  TROVER.  It  is  said 
that  a  gentleman  may  be  detected  by  his 
conduct  in  a  crowd  away  from  home;  and 
a  gentleman  may  also  as  surely  be  detected  by  his 
treatment  of  the  stranger  whom  he  meets  and  who 
has  no  special  claim  upon  him.  The  gentleman 
with  whose  name  we  introduce  this  sketch  was  one 
whom  the  detective  biographer  pronounced  a  gen- 
tleman at  the  first  meeting.  Genial,  accommodat- 
ing and  courteous  in  his  manner  and  possessed  of 
more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  he  at  once  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  that 
humble  individual,  as  he  has  also  done  in  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Me  is 
worthy  of  special  mention  as  one  of  the  leading 
politicians  of  Edgar  Township  and  one  specially 
devoted  to   the  interests  of  the  Republican   party. 


As  an  ex-soldier  of  the  Union  army,  he  ha>  since 
retiring  from  the  ranks  fought  for  his  Republican 
principles  with  all  the  natural  strength  of  his 
character,  and  nothing  gratifies  him  more  than  to 
expend  his  time  and  his  talents  in  upholding  them. 
We  find  Mr.  Trover  occupying  a  snug  farm  of 
seventy-four  acres  on  sections  G.  7  and  s  in  Edgar 
Township,  within  whose  limits  he  was  born  July 
12,  1843,  Me  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits  and 
being  the  child  of  a  family  in  moderate  circum- 
stances, received  his  education  mostly  by  the  tire- 
side  and  at  the  aye  of  thirteen  commenced  the 
battle  of  life  by  working  out  on  a  farm.  Me  was 
thus  occupied  until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War  andjhen,  a  youth  of  nineteen  years,  enlisted 
in  Company  I,  8th  Illinois  Infantry.  Me  was  mus- 
tered into  service  at  Camp  Butler  and  went  with 
the  three  months'  men  to  Washington  City, whence 
they  were  ordered  to  Alexandria,  where  young 
Trover  with  his  company  was  mostly  on  patrol 
duty  until  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  enlist- 
ment, in  July  following.  Thereafter,  until  the 
spring  of  1803,  Mr.  Trover  occupied  himself  again 
as  a  farm  laborer,  then  re-entered  the  army  as  a 
member  of  Company  K.  (>2d  Illinois  Infantry, 
soon  after  which  he  was  sent  to  Little  Rock,  Ark., 
and  later  met  the  enemy  in  several  skirmishes, 
after  which  he  went  with  his  comrades  into  the 
Indian  Territory,  to  keep  the  red  men  at  a  respect- 
able distance.  In  the  meantime  our  subject  was 
detailed  as  mail  carrier  between  Forts  Gibson  and 
Smith  and  had  only  one  horse  to  perform  the  duly. 
He  was  kept  at  this  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
performed  fully  as  important  and  responsible  work 
as  many  who  fought  in  the  ranks.  In  the  spring 
of  1866  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  after  an  army  life  of  three  years  and 
three  months. 

Upon  returning  home  our  subject  worked  as  a 
carpenter  with  his  father  until  1871.  That  year 
he  resumed  agricultural  pursuits  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  .r>,  Edgar  Township. 
Me  engaged  in  stock  raising  successfully  until 
1 874,  then  sold  out  and  removed  to  his  present 
place.  The  first  purchase  was  seven  acres  upon 
which  he  moved  his  parents  and  which  they  made 
their  home.       Me  still   follows  Stock-raising  success- 


1036 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fully,  making  a  specialty  of  swine  and  buys  anil 
sells  largely  on  commission.  He  put  up  the  house 
which  he  now  occupies,  also  the  barn  and  has  the 
other  buildings  necessary  for  his  convenience. 
His  land  is  well  watered  by  Sprint:'  Branch  and 
under  thorough  cultivation,  has  become  very 
fertile. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Rachel 
Lustison  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in 
Edgar  Township  in  January  1*71.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Ohio.  Nine  children  have  been  born  of 
this  union,  viz.:  Edgar,  (deceased);  Lucy,  and 
Sarah,  (deceased);  Viola,  Bert,  Mamie,  Gertrude, 
(deceased);  Bertha  and  B.,  all  of  whom  are  at 
home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Wellington  Trover 
was  elected  Supervisor  in  1886  and  re-elected  the 
spring  following,  thus  serving  two  terms.  He  has 
also  officiated  as  Township  Collector  two  years. 
lie  is  a  member  of  Driskell  Post,  No.  209,  G.  A.  R. 
lie  has  served  on  the  grand  and  petit  juries  and 
officiated  as  a  delegate  of  the  county  conventions 
several  times,  while  he  has  been  likewise  a  member 
of  the  County  Central  Committee. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  David  Trover,  a 
native  <>f  Virginia,  and  the  son  of  a  farmer  of  Eng- 
lish descent  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States  at 
an  early  day  and  spent  the  balance  of  his  life  in 
the  Old  Dominion.  David  served  an  apprentice- 
ship at  carpentering  and  in  due  time  operated  as  a 
builder  and  contractor.  He  emigrated  to  Clinton 
County,  Ind.,  at  a  very  earl}'  day,  when  a  young 
man  and  unmarried.  Thence  he  came  to  Edgar 
County,  111.  and  settled  in  Edgar  Township,  where 
he  was  married  and  was  successful  in  business,  ac- 
cumulating a  good  property.  He  voted  the 
Democratic  ticket  until  the  candidacy  of  James 
Buchanan,  in  1856,  during  which  year  the  Repub- 
lican party  was  organized,  when  he  cast  his  ballot 
for  John  C.  Fremont,  the  candidate  of  the  latter, 
and  thereafter  was  a  decided  Republican.  He  was 
a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  thor- 
oughly well  informed,  although  having  had  very 
limited  advantages  for  an  education.  He  departed 
this  life  in  1873  in  the  Universalist  belief. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Elizabeth  A.  Sheets.  She  was  born  in  Ohio  to 
which  State   her  father   had    removed   from  his  na- 


tive Virginia  at  a  very  early  day.  After  a  few 
year's  residence  in  the  Buckeye  State  he  came  to 
Edgar  County,  111.  and  entered  about  200  acres  of 
land  in  Edgar  Township.  This  was  mostly  timber 
which  he  cleared  and  improved  and  built  up  a 
good  homestead,  where  his  death  look  place  in 
1881  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
Politically,  he  was  a  sound  Democrat  and  held 
most  of  the  local  offices,  including  that  of  Road 
Commissioner  and  School  Trustee.  He  was  an  en- 
terprising and  reliable  citizen  and  influential  in 
his  community.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died 
at  her  homestead  in  Edgar  Township.  The  nine 
children  of  the  parental  family  were  named  re- 
spectively, Louisa,  deceased;  Wellington  W..  our 
subject;  Singleton,  a  resident  of  Missouri:  Alfred. 
living  in  Edgar  Township;  Jane,  a  resident  of 
Missouri;  Joseph,  of  Edgar  Township ;  Llewellyn; 
David,  deceased  ;  and  Delila.  in  Missouri.  Singe- 
ton  and  Alfred  during  the  late  Civil  War  enlisted 
as  Union  soldiers,  in  1862,  in  the  02d  Illinois 
Infantry  and  served  until  the  close. 

-5 #M# ,- 


AVID  HANLEY.  In  the  year  1819,  it  is 
hardly  necessary  to  say.  very  few  white 
people  had  ventured  into  Central  Illinois  or 
into  any  part  of  the  State.  Among  them  that 
year  came  Mr.  Hanley,  who  is  probably  one  of  the 
oldest  living  residents  of  the  county.  Deer,  wild  tur- 
key,wolves  and  Indians  were  plentiful, the  latter  prin- 
cipally the  Cherokees  and  they  often  camped  near 
the  cabin  of  the  white  man.  Our  subject  had  Indian 
boys  for  his  playmates  and  although  they  fre- 
quently differed  in  their  ideas,  he  seldom  had  any 
serious  conflict  with  them.  He  often  recalls  the 
time  when  the  farmers  threshed  their  grain  wih  a 
flail,  the  grain  being  laid  on  rails  with  linen  sheets 
underneath  to  catch  the  kernels.  For  ten  years 
after  coming  here  they  drove  through  with  a  team 
to  Chicago,  making  the  trip  with  four  yoke  of  oxen 
and  consuming  one  month.  They  kept  this  up  as 
late  as  1838.  For  their  recreations  the  settlers  had 
log  rollings,  corn  huskings  and  dancing. 

The  subject  of  this  notice   was  born  in  Muhlen- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


I  ic; 7 


berg  County,  Ky.,  July  5,  1818,  and  a  year  later 
his  parents  set  out  by  wagon  for  Illinois.  The 
scenes  of  Ins  first  recollection  lie  in  Edgar  County, 
where  he  began  work  on  a  farm  when  a  boy.     His 

early   education    was   conducted   in  a  log  scl 1- 

house  with  the  ground  fur  the  floor,  slabs  for  seats 
and  desks,  greased  paper  for  window  panes,  a  huge 
fireplace  extending  nearly  across  one  end  and  the 
smoke  coaxed  through  a  chimney  built  outside  of 
mud  and  sticks.  Young  Hanley  remained  at  home 
until  twenty-one  years  old  and  then  until  twenty- 
five  employed  himself  as  a  farm  laborer.  lie  then 
in  1843  entered  160  acres  of  land  in  Sims  Town- 
ship. This  was  mostly  covered  with  timber.  He 
had  before  entering,  worked  it  in  order  to  get 
money  to  secure  it  for  his  own.  He  proceeded 
successfully  with  its  improvement  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  adjoining.  In  due  time  he  became  the 
owner  of  240  acres  and  lived  upon  it  eight  years. 
Then  selling  out  he  rented  laud  in  Paris  Township 
five  years,  then  purchased  240  acres  adjoining 
Redmon,  which  was  unimproved  and  upon  wRich 
he  labored  industriously  until  1n77.  Then  selling 
out  he  removed  to  his  present  place,  a  well-culti- 
vated farm  of  160  acres.  In  1878  he  rented  this 
ami  removed  to  the  northwestern  part  of  Shilob 
Township  and  followed  agriculture  there  live  years 
as  a  renter.  In  1883  he  returned  to  his  old  farm 
which  had  been  greatly  run  down  in  the  meantime 
and  which  he  has  improved,  building  fences.  [Hit- 
ting in  tile  and  planting  walnut  and  mulberry 
trees.  He  has  1 20  acres  under  the  plow.  The  soil 
is  very  fertile  and  moistened  by  a  running  stream. 
The  homestead  lies  fourteen  miles  from  Paris.  Mr. 
Hanley  has  good  cattle  and  swine  with  fourteen 
head  of  draft  horses  and  uses  about  four  teams  in 
his  farm  work. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Hannah 
Patterson  occurred  in  Sims  Township.  May  .3,  1842. 
Mrs.  Hanley  is  the  daughter  of  William  Patterson. 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  born  near  tin-  city  of 
Pittsburg.  His  father,  William  Patterson.  Sr..  was 
a  native  of  Ireland  and  upon  coming  to  America 
located  in  Pennsylvania  where  he  spent  his  last  days. 
Willliam,  Jr.,  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  War- 
ren County,  Ohio,  when  a  lad  of  ten  years.  There 
he  grew  to  man's  estate  and   worked  in   Cincinnati 


in  a  rope  factory  until  his  marriage.  Afterward  he 
engaged  in  farming  in  Southern  Ohio,  and  lived 
there  until  the  fall  of  1883.  Then  coming  to  Illi- 
nois lie  located  at  Walnut  Grove,  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship, where    he   engaged    in    farming   and   milling. 

Subsequently,  however,  he  returned  Last,  as  far 
as  Lake  County.  Iml..  where  his  death  occurred. 
He  was  a  Republican,  politically,  and  in  religious 
matters  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Hanley 
was  Nancy  Hamilton.  She  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  near  the  town  of  Moresficld  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Hamilton,  who  was  born  in 
England.  He  served  in  the  English  army  and  as  a 
soldier  of  that  army  was  brought  over  the  Atlantic 
to  fight  the  colonists.  This  he  did  not  wish  to  do, 
so  deserted  the  ranks  and  located  in  Virginia  and 
lived  in  Palmyra,  Warren  County,  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Hanley  was  reared 
to  womanhood  in  Ohio  and  died  in  Momence,  111. 
in  1884.  when  eighty-four  years  old.  Of  the  nine 
children,  born  to  the  parents,  six  are  living,  viz.  : 
Sarah,  a  resident  of  Wellington.  111. ;  Catherine,  liv- 
ing in  Will  County,  111;  Hannah,  "  .  Hanley; 
Caroline  is  deceased;   Russell,  a  i  of    Will 

County;  Henry  II.  and  Leander,  of  Di         le.     Le- 
ander  during  the  late   war  enlisted  in  181 
42d  Illinois  Infantry   and    served    until   the   (•:■ 
The  deceased  are  William.  Caroline  and  Emma. 

Mrs.  Hanley  was  born  near  Palmyra,  Warren 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  IG.  1828.  She  came  to  Illinois 
with  her  parents  when  a  child,  they  making  the 
journe}'  overland  with  teams.  She  was  fond  of  her 
books  ami  by  close  application  obtained  a  good 
education.  She  learned  thoroughly  all  housewifely 
duties  and  was  particularly  expert  at  weaving.  She 
has  kept  up  her  interest  in  reading  and  study  and 
is  thoroughly  well  informed.  The  twelve  children, 
born  of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  were  named 
respectively:  Sarah  J.,  deceased;  Savilla;  Nancy 
deceased  ;  Caroline;  William;  Ellen  deceased  ;  Lean- 
der, Henry,  Thomas,  Emma,  Lizzie  and  Hannah. 
Sarah  J.  became  the  wife  of  Condy  O'Donnell  and 
they  are  both  deceased  ;  Savilla  married  Stephen 
Jump,  who  is  now  a  retired  farmer  and  they  live  at 
Brocton;    Nancy   was  married   to   George    Wood; 


1038 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Caroline  was  the  wife  of  George  Coffer,  of  Baxter 
Springs,  Cherokee  Co.,  Kan.;  Ellen  married  a  Mr. 
Massey  and  at  her  death  left  three  children;  Leander 
is  a  house  carpenter  and  lives  in  Ft.  Gibson,  Indian 
Territory;  Henry  is  farming  in  Crocker  County, 
Kan.;  Thomas  is  fanning  in  Shiloh  Township,  Ed- 
gar County;  Emma,  Mrs.  Massey,  is  a  resident  of 
Champaign  County,  111.;  Lizzie,  Mis.  Russell,  lives 
in  Hendricks  County,  Ind.;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of 
Abner  Russell  and  they  occupy  the  home  farm; 
they  have  two  children — Everet  Lee  and  Emma. 

Mr.  Hanley  for  years  affiliated  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  in  the  election  of  '88  cast  his  bal- 
lot for  Benjamin  Harrison  and  intends  hereafter  to 
support  the  Republican  party.  He  was  Path  Master 
in  the  early  days  and  has  for  many  years  served  as 
School  Director.  In  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  and  a  regular  attendant  upon  the 
services  at  Prairie  Chapel.  He  is  a  man  who  has 
made  a  great  deal  of  money,  but  has  likewise  lost 
much  on  account  of  appending  his  name  to  notes 
for  lriends.  In  this  way  he  has  parted  with  a  small 
fortune.  He  has  given  eighty  acres  of  land  to  his 
son,  Henry,  and  helps  his  other  children  as  much  as 
possible.  He  intends  putting  up  a  new  residence 
in  the  near  future.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  have 
lived  together  happily  for  many  years  and  are  of 
that  genial  temperament  which  has  drawn  around 
them  hosts  of  friends. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Samuel  Hanley,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  paternal  grand- 
father was  born  in  Ireland.  The  latter  crossed  the 
Atlantic  at  an  early  day  and  thereafter  farmed  in 
Pennsylvania  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Samuel 
served  an  apprenticeship  at  shoeinaking  and  early 
in  life  established  himself  on  a  farm  in  Muhlenberg 
County,  Ky..  where  he  became  well-to-do.  He  con- 
tracted the  western  fever,  however,  and  in  1819 
came  to  Illinois  and  entered  land  in  Sims  Town- 
ship, Edgar  County.  He  put  up  a  house  and  estab- 
lished the  first  mill  in  this  region.  He  afterward 
improved  four  different  farms  and  likewise  estab- 
lished the  first  distillery  in  the  county.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  industry  and  died  in  Paris 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
v\as  Mary  Ripple.     She  was  a    native   of    Pennsyl- 


vania and  the  daughter  of  Michael  Ripple,  who 
was  likewise  born  in  that  state  and  is  of  German 
descent.  He  served  through  the  Revolutionary 
War  under  the  direct  command  of  Gen.  Washing- 
ton and  afterward  established  himself  on  a  farm  in 
Kentucky  whence  he  removed  to  Illinois  in  1825. 
He  spent  his  last  days  in  Sims  Township,  passing 
away  at  a  ripe  old  age.  The  mother  likewise  died 
in  Paris;  both  were  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  Their  large  family  of  fifteen  children 
grew  to  mature  years,  were  never  sick  a  day,  never 
had  a  doctor  and  never  lost  a  meal  until  after  they 
had  grown  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  Joseph, 
Matthew,  William  and  Lydia  are  deceased.  Mary 
is  a  resident  of  Clark  County,  III.;  Michael.  Cyn- 
thia, Samuel,  Anthony  and  Ephraim  are  deceased. 
John  is  a  resident  of  Paris  Township.  David,  our 
subject,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Elizabeth 
and  Sarah  are  deceased,  Savilla  is  a  resident  of  Paris. 


%t~i 


i  saas  ■ 


JOSEPH  H.  MURPHY.  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  a  continued  residence  in  one  place,  con- 
fers upon  a  man  importance  and  standing  in 
AJ^J'  his  community.  Mr.  Murphy  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Bruellet  Township.and  was  born  within 
one  mile  of  his  present  home.  He  was  reared  upon 
a  farm,  and  educated  in  the  district  school,  and  at 
an  early  age  began  reading  law  at  home.  He  prac- 
ticed in  Eastern  Illinois  and  Vermillion  County, 
Ind.,  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Indiana, 
in  1881.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he  maintained 
his  partiality  for  rural  life,  and  established  himself 
on  a  farm  occupying  a  part  of  section  1G,  in  Bruel- 
let Township,  where  he  has  effected  good  improve- 
ments, and  gathered  about  himself  anil  his  family 
all  the  comforts  of  life. 

Thomas  Murphy,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  where  he  remained 
until  reaching  manhood,  acquiring  a  good  educa- 
tion. Upon  leaving  his  native  isle,  he  set  sail  for 
Nova  Scotia,  and  was  occupied  there  as  a  school 
teacher  several  years.  There  also  he  found  his 
bride,  a  native  of  that  island,  Miss  Nancy  A., 
daughter  of  Alexander  Thompson,  and  after  their 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


10.50 


marriage  they  lived  there  until  four  children  were 
born.  About  L836,  they  came  to  the  States,  laud- 
ing "ii  the  present  site  of  Chicago,  whence  they 
made  their  way  to  this  county  by  means  of  an  ox- 
team.  Tliey  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Scottland, 
where  there  father  taughl  school  aboul  two  years, 
then  secured  a  tract  of  land,  which  he  converted 
into  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Joseph  II. 
This  section  was  then  a  dense  forest,  and  Mr. 
Murphy  taughl  school,  and  worked  upon  his  land 
alternately  until  his  death.  May  12,  1844,  when  he 
was  killed  by  :i  falling  tree,  lie  had  been  educated 
for  the  priesthood,  his  parents  being  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  hut  this  being  not  in  accord- 
ance with  his  tastes,  he  declined  to  enter  upon  the 
course  marked  out  for  him,  and  later  liccame  a 
Protestant,  and  identified  with  a  Protestant  Church, 
lie  left  a  widow  with  eight  children,  and  she  sur- 
vived until  1881.  Their  eldest  daughter,  Gazelle, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Daniel  McColley;  Hannah  mar- 
ried John  Carnes;  William  and  Alexander  are  next 
in  order  of  birth;  Catherine  married  Daniel  Hum- 
rickhouse.  and  is  now  deceased  ;  Thomas,  Joseph  II.. 
and  John  W..  complete  the  list.  In  the  late  Civil 
War,  John  was  a  drum-major,  and  died  in  1863  in 
Helena,  Ark.;  William  served  four  years  in  Com- 
pany A..  13d  Indiana  Infantry,  was  captured  by 
the  rebels,  and  confined  fifteen  months  in  Tyler, 
Tex.;  he  escaped  twice,  and  was  twice  re-taken  by 
blood  hounds.  He  finally  returned  home  without 
a  wound.  Thomas  served  in  the  army  four  years 
in  Company  C,  18th  Indiana  Infantry,  and  re- 
ceived a  gun-shot  wound  in  the  left  hand;  Joseph, 
our  subject,  enlisted  in  Company  K,  34th  Illinois 
Infantry,  in  which  he  served  from  March  until  Au- 
gust. 1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  thirty  days 
after  the  regiment  was  disbanded,  at  the  hospital  in 
Cumberland,  Md..  where  he  had  been  confined  since 
the  June  previous  from  typhoid  fever  and  rheuma- 
tism. After  receiving  his  discharge,  he  returned 
home,  and  was  occupied  as  a  farm  laborer  until  his 

marriage. 
The  above  mentioned  important  and  interesting 

event  in  the  life  of  our  subject,  was  celebrated  al 
the  bride's  home  in  1  809,  the  lady  being  Miss  Mary 
Ed<nngton.  She  had  been  teaching  the  district 
school,  and  making  her  home   with  her  brother,  at 


whose  house   Our   subject     had    been    boarding,  and 

the  result  was  what  might  naturally  be  expected. 
Of  this  union  there  have  been  born  four  children 
— John  W.,  James.  Nettie  and  Carrie.  Mr.  Mur- 
phy's farm  comprises  eighty  acres  of  choice  land, 
which  he  cleared  from  the  timber.  When  his  health 
began  to  fail,  he  took  up  the  sludy  of  law.  and 
after  entering  upon  his  practice,  followed  if  success- 
fully until  the  present,  lime.  lie  was  elected  con- 
stable in  1869,  and  served  eight  years.  He  isquite 
prominent  in  local  affairs.  Later  he  was  elected 
Township  Supervisor,  serving  four  terms,  and  after 
an  intermission  of  two  terms,  was  re-elected,  and 
served  two  terms.  He  has  been  the  Treasurer  of 
his  school  district  six  years. 

Mrs.  Murphy  is  the  daughter  of  Lyman  Edging- 
ton,  a  native  of  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared,  and 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Philips,  who  was  also  born 
there.  They  came  to  this  county  at  an  early  day. 
and  located  in  Hunter  Township,  where  Mrs.  Mur- 
phy was  born  and  reared.  There  also  her  father 
died,  leaving  his  widow  with  four  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Murphy  was  next  to  the  youngest. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  and  makes  her  home  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Thomas  Scott,  of  Br uellet  Town- 
ship, a  sketch  of  whose  husband  appears  in  this 
volume.  Mrs.  Murphy  is  a  member  of  the  Protest- 
ant Methodist  Church. 

—  v .<*o-(©^.<^(5).'0*o< «^— 

LINER  BELL,  a  son  of  .lames  S.  and  Jane 
(Stewart)  Bell,  was  born  Oct.  4,  1842.  in 
Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Ohio.  His  father  was  born  in 
Muskingum  County.     The  paternal  grandfather  of 

our  subject  was  a  farmer  and  had  a  pleasant   I ie 

in  the  State  of  Ohio,  to  which  place  his  parents 
came  from  England.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  of  Irish  extraction.  His  father  was  one  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  and  became  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  named  respectively:  Catherine. 
Oliver.  Mary  Ellen.  Sarah  Ann,  Ira.  Harriet,  Jane, 
Vernon  and  Sumner.  Catherine  married  Isaac  Skin- 
ner, a  farmer;  they  have  five  children;  Mary  Ellen 
was  married  near  Kansas,  111.,  and  lives  in  Newman, 


1040 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


111.  Her  husband's  name  was  Shoemaker;  he  was 
an  old  soldier,  having  served  in  the  12th  Illinois  In- 
fantry. She  is  the  mother  of  two  children.  Sarah 
Ann  was  married  to  a  farmer  named  Jackson  Barnes 
and  resides  in  Hinesborough,  Douglas  Co.,  111. 
They  are  the  parents  of  one  child;  Ira  is  married  to 
Catherine  Reed;  they  have  three  children,  and  their 
home  is  on  a  farm.  Harriet  is  married  to  Samuel 
1 1  ikins,  and  with  their  two  children  lives  on  a  farm 
near  I  nan,  111.;  Jane  lives  near  Newman  with 
her  husb  William  Stillwell,  and  two  children; 

Vernon    <.  a    farm    near  Newman,  Douglas 

Count}',  tins  State.  He  is  married  to  Emma  Blair, 
and  is  the  father  of  three  children;  Sumner  lives 
near  Newman  on  a  farm  with  his  wife  and  three 
children. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  three  months  old 
when  his  mother  departed  this  life,  and  he  was  left 
to  the  care  of  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Catherine  Bell,  who 
afterward  married  Mr.  Shivelev.  and  who  tilled  a 
mother's  place  to  him  to  the  best  of  her  ability  un- 
til he  reached  the  age  of  six  years,  at  which  time 
he  was  removed  from  her  care  and  home  in  Vinton 
County,  Ohio,  to  his  father's  home  on  the  farm,  his 
father  having  married  a  second  time,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  eighteenth  year.  He  then  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  working  at  whatever  he 
could  find  to  do  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
in  1861.  This  event  stirred  his  patriotic  aspira- 
tions, and  he  enlisted  in  Company  II.  59th  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  served  with  credit  to  himself  until 
November,  1862,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returned  home.  He  remained  at  home  over  a 
year,  assisting  in  the  work  of  the  farm  and  being 
an  interested  observer  of  the  course  of  the  war.  In 
1865  he  re-enlisted  in  Company  C,  150th  Illinois 
Infantry.  During  the  time  of  his  first  enlistment 
he  was  a  gallant  participant  in  the  battles  of  Pea 
Ridge.  Arkansas  and  Farmington,  Miss. ;  shortly 
after  his  second  enlistment  he  was  injured  by  being 
thrown  from  a  horse  and  was  incapacitated  from 
service.  He  served  his  term  out  and  returned 
home.  Feb.  4,  1864,  our  subject  led  Miss  Charity 
E.  McCown  to  the  altar.  Mrs.  Bell  is  a  daughter 
of  Jonathan  and  Olive  T,  McCown,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Edgar  County,  where  they  spent  their  youth 
and    married  life.     The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Bell 


were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  county  and  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardships  and  vicissitudes  of  pio- 
neer life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  have  become  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  named  respectively,  Sherman,  Will- 
iam, Elmer  E.,  James  Corwin,  Olive  J.,  Elsie  E., 
Bert  and  Bessie.  William  and  Elmer  E.  died  when 
at  the  age  of  about  fifteen  years  and  Olive  J.  at 
fourteen  years.  The  rest  of  the  children  still  sur- 
vive and  are  under  the  roof  of  their  parents. 

Mr.  Bell  started  with  sixty  acres,  which  by  fru- 
gality and  industry  he  has  succeded  in  increasing 
to  16(1  acres.  He  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  for 
which  his  varied  experience  and  general  intelli- 
gence make  him  well  fitted,  and  he  also  raises 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  taking  care  in  selecting  his 
stock  to  secure  the  best,  and  watching  the  market 
closely  in  order  to  sell  to  the  best  advantage. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  Lowe  Post,  No.  323, 
G.  A.  R.  at  Newman,  also  of  Newman  Lodge  No. 
469  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch,  uncom- 
promising Republican.  He  has  never  sought  for 
nor  accepted  any  public  office,  but  devoted  his  tal- 
ents to  the  service  of  his  party  in  the  position  of 
delegate  to  the  different  county  conventions,  and 
by  his  clear  head  and  wise  counsels  made  himself 
and  his  advice  so  valuable  to  his  associates  that  he 
has  been  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  Central 
Committee.  In  1888  he  attended  the  National  en- 
campment of  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Bell  was  not  only  a  soldier  himself  but  is  the 
son  of  a  soldier,  who  fought  gallantly  during  the 
late  war  for  three  years.  James  S.  Bell,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  the  Tilth 
Illinois  Infantry  and  participated  gallantly  and 
fearlessly  in  the  battles  of  Murfreesboro  and  Nash- 
ville. During  his  three  years'  service  he  never 
faltered  in  his  duty  or  showed  the  white  feather. 
His  last  years  were  soothed  by  the  consolations  of 
religion,  he  being  a  member  in  full  standing  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  came  to  Illinois 
in  1857  and  located  near  Oakland,  in  Coles  County, 
where  he  followed  the  occupation  of  our  first  par- 
ents, changing  what  was  raw  prairie  at  his  advent, 
into  a  nourishing,  well-cultivated  farm  of  200  acres, 
which   he  secured  by  purchase.     He  died  in  1873. 

Mr.  Bell,  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


10: 


notice,  is  a  man  of  firm  convictions,  quiet,  unob- 
trusive demeanor,  and  a  good  farmer.  His  place 
is  under  fine  cultivation  and  he  takes  pride  in  hav- 
ing gOOd  wells  of  pure,  cold   water,  line  horses  and 

cattle,  and  tasty  and  substantial  buildings.  Mr. 
Bell  inherited  a  rugged  constitution,  and  was  a 
gentleman  of  good  physique,  capable  of  enduring 
great  strains  until  the  injurv  he  received  during  the 

war,  since  which  time  lie  has  been  in  more  delicate 
health.  Winter's  snows  have  also  touched  his  dark 
hair  and  heard  lightly,  hut  his  sparkling  brown  eye 
is  as  bright  as  in  his  early  youth.  The  home  of 
Mi-,  and  Mrs.  Bell,  although  modest  in  appearance, 
is  the  abiding  place  of  domestic  happiness,  comfort 
and  content. 


OllN  T.  STAFF,  proprietor  of  the  Kansas 
Canning  Factory,  is  conducting  an  enter- 
prise of  which  he  is  justifiably  proud.  This 
is  numbered  among  Hie  useful  industries  of 
the  town  and  is  finely  illustrative  of  the  energy 
and  push  of  one  man,  who,  on  account  of  these 
qualities  and  other  admirable  traits  in  his  make  up, 
is  exercising  no  small  influence  in  his  community. 
It  is  the  custom  sometimes  in  building  up  a  charita- 
ble institution  for  each  one  interested  to  contri- 
bute a  brick  toward  its  erection,  and  in  the 
building  up  of  Kansas  as  a  business  center  .Mr. 
Staff  has  contributed  a  whole  wheelbarrow  full  of 
this  indispensable  material. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  Raysville, 
Henry  Co..  Ink.  and  the  date  of  his  birth  Aug.  1. 
1851.  He  is  of  German  parentage  and  ancestry, 
being  the  son  of  Frederick  Mall,  a  native  of  Heidle- 
hero-,  who  emigrated  to  America  in  1824,  and  mak- 
in»  his  way  to  the  wilds  of  Indiana  settled  upon 
the  present  site  of  Raysville  when  the  country  was 
in  a  comparatively  wild  state  and  peopled  princi- 
pally by  Indians  and  the  animals,  who  had  not 
learned  to  tear  the  approach  of  man. 

The  father  of  our  subjeel  was  a  baker  and  con- 
fectioner by  trade,  which  he  followed  in  Raysville 
after  it  became  of  any  importance,  Until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  November,  1853.     The  mother, 


Mis.  Catherine  (Knapp)  Staff,  was  a  native  of  the 
-ame  city  as  her  husband,  add  thej  became  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living. 
The  eldest,  Mrs.  Frances  Barnaby,  is  a  residenl  of 

Raysville.  Ind.  The  others  are:  Christine,  Mrs. 
(air;  Henry.  Peter,  Frederick,  .lohn  T.  and  Law- 
rence. Two  daughters,  Mary  (Mrs.  Barnabj  )  and 
Lizzie,  the  latter  a  young  lady,  died  of  cholera  in 
Indianapolis  in    1  872. 

Our    subject     was    reared    ill  his  native  town  and 

educated  in  the  Quaker  school  established  there. 
He  employed  himself  at  farming  until  a  youth  of 
eighteen  years,  and  later  until  1888  was  occupied 
as  i  commercial  traveler,  having  his  headquarters 
at  Terre  Haute.  In  April  of  that  year  he  came  to 
Edgar  County,  and  put  up  the  building  in  which 
is  established  the  canning  works.  This  building  oc- 
cupies an  area  of  350x40  feci,  ami  is  two  stories 
in  height.  Besides  this  are  the  boiler  and  process 
rooms  60x30  feel,  also  two  stories,  a  corn-crib 
12.3x2b  feet,  a  repair  shop  20x14  feet,  with  offices 
in  a  one-story  building,14xl8  feel.  There  is  a  scale 
room  1  4x  1  s  feet  along  the  north  side  and  a  platform 
of  2  Ixl(K)  feet  on  the  north  side,  and  on  the  south 
side  a  plat  form  of  60x60  feet,  likewise  a  shed  14x60 
feet.  Mr.  Staff  u>cs  a  corn-cooker  and  filler  of  which 
he  is  the  inventor  and  patentee,  and  which  is  an  in- 
genious contrivance,  automatic  in  its  action.  Into 
this  the  corn  runs,  is  cooked  and  conveyed  out  into 
cans  which  arc  placed  under  the  tilling'  nozzles,  all 
being  operated  by  steam  power  simultaneously.  It  is 
probable  that  the  fortune  of  Mr.  Staff  is  assured 
through  this  invention  alone,  and  he  has  alreadj 
been  offered  $25,000  for  a  half  interest  in  it.  At 
this  writing  Mr.  Staff  is  completing  a  new  build- 
ing. T.'jxlU  feet,  lo  be  used  for  the  manufacture  of 
empty  cases  and  labeling  and  stamping  all  the  filled 
cases  after  leaving  the  process  room.  The  ca- 
pacity of  the  factory  is  15,000  quarts  pier  day.  and 
gives  employment  to  150  persons.  Thus  it  will  he 
seen  that  the  enterprise  is  of  inestimable  value  to 
tin'  town,  bringing  to  it  not  only  a  large  amount  of 
business  but  a  large  number  of  people  to  be  fed  and 
clothed. 

The  home  of  Mi.  Staff  is  pleasantly  located  in 
I  he  eastern  part  of  town,  and  he  enjoys  the  society 
and  the  friendship  of  its  best  people.    He  was  mar- 


1042 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ried  May  14,  1872,  to  Miss  Lyda Shomberg.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Edinburg,  Ind.,  and  they  have 
live  children — Harry.  Estella,  John.  Anna  and 
Katie.  Mrs.  Staff  is  a  member  of  St.  Stephen's 
Church  at  Terre  Haute,  and  our  subject,  socially, 
belongs  to  the  A.  O.  TJ.  W. 


-i-+ 


-M- 


ffi  OHN  T.  CUSICK.  This  gentleman,  who  is 
|  on  the  sunny  side  of  forty,  occupies  a  lead- 
ing position  among  the  younger  members 
'  of  the  fanning  community  of  Edgar  Town- 
ship, being  the  owner  of  sixty-six  acres  on 
section  21.  He  was  born  in  Vigo  County,  Ind., 
May  4,  1850,  and  has  spent  the  most  of  his  life  in 
this  county.  At  an  early  age  he  became  familiar 
with  farming  and  pursued  his  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  mostly  in  the  winter  season,  until  a 
youth  of  seventeen  years.  In  1867  the  family  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  where  our  subject  remained 
with  them  until  1869.  Then  entering  Westtield 
College,  111.,  he  pursued  his  studies  industriously 
two  years,  returning  to  the  farm  to  spend  his  vaca- 
tions. Cpon  one  of  these  occasions,  while  follow- 
ing a  threshing-machine  he  met  with  an  accident 
by  which  he  lost  an  eye.  which  put  an  end  to  his 
studies. 

Our  subject  now  remained  upon  the  farm  with 
his  father  for  a  time,  then  rented  the  old  place  and 
operated  it  until  1881.  That  vear  he  removed  to 
his  present  homestead.  He  has  made  all  the  im- 
provements upon  it.  has  laid  considerable  tile 
draining,  set  out  trees  and  built  fences,  besides  the 
house,  barn  and  other  outbuildings,  and  although 
his  farm  is  not  extensive  it  yields  handsome  re- 
turns. He  makes  a  specialty  of  graded  stock. 
raising  the  grain  for  their  consumption  and  the 
produce  for  the  needs  of  the  family.  He  has  about 
eight  head  of  horses  and  utilizes  two  teams  on  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Cusick  was  married  in  Clark  County,  111., 
Nov.  12.  1877.  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Crowther.  Mrs. 
Cusick  was  born  in  Terre  Haute.  Ind.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Crowther,  na- 
tives of  Leeds,  England.   Her  father  is  a  mechani- 


cal engineer,  but  is  fond  of  agricultural  pursuits 
and  owns  a  farm  in  Clark  County.  <  )f  this  union 
there  have  been  born  four  children.  Myrtle  E., 
Mattie  E..  Hortensia  and  Maudie  E.  Our  subject 
politically  votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket  and 
was  a  School  Director  in  Indiana  four  years.  Here 
he  is  quite  prominent  in  local  politics  and  is  fre- 
quently sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  conven- 
tions. 

Anderson  Cusick,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  near  Knoxville  in  East  Tennessee,  and  was 
the  son  of  David  Cusick,  a  native  of  the  same 
State,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  served 
in  the  War  of  1812.  The  latter  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois in  1818,  during  the  year  of  its  conversion 
from  a  Territory  into  a  State,  and  located  in  El- 
bridge  Township,  Edgar  County.  B3'  entry  and 
purchase  he  in  due  time  became  the  owner  of  250 
acres  of  land  the  most  of  which  he  brought  to  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  His  son  Anderson,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  boy  when  coming  to 
the  Prairie  State  and  spent  his  after  years  in  a 
manner  similar  to  that  of  the  sons  of  pioneer  farm- 
ers. He  followed  the  occupation  of  his  forefathers 
and  in  due  time  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Stratton  Township,  upon  which  he  labored  a  num- 
ber of  years,  then  selling  out  established  himself  in 
Edgar  Township  on  a  tract  of  160  acres.  After- 
ward he  made  his  way  across  the  Mississippi  and 
purchased  the  same  amount  of  land  in  Wayne 
County.  Iowa.  Finally,  however,  he  returned  to 
Edgar  Township.  In  December,  1867,  he  rented 
this  farm  and  going  to  the  vicinity  of  Vigo,  Ind.. 
purchased  240  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  estab- 
lished himself,  engaging  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
passing  away  about  1877. 

Mrs.  Martha  (Tucker)  Cusick.  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Joel  Tucker,  a  native  of  South  Caro- 
lina, who  removed  first  to  Tennessee  and  then  to 
Vigo  County,  Indiana.  He  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation and  spent  his  last  days  in  Vigo  County. 
Mrs.  Cusick  died  at  the  homestead  in  that  State; 
she  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
The  seven  children  of  the  parental  family  were 
named   respectively,  Jane,  now  deceased ;    Joseph, 


PORTRAIT  AND  lilt  m  ;  i;a  I'l  IK  A  I.    \l.l;l  M. 


1043 


a  resident  of  Vigo  County.  Ind;  Nancy  A..  Mrs. 
Horsley,  of  Edgar  Township;  Sarah  E.,  deceased; 
America,  a  resilient  of  Clark  County,  this  State; 
John  T.  our  subject;  and  David  A.,  deceased. 

— •*»  *'%*"' ft 'I*  IS1* *" 


BRAHAM  STUM'.  Here  and  there  in  his 
travels  the  biographer  cnines  across  a  vet- 
eran of  the  late  war.  who  is  always  an 
object  of  interest  to  the  intelligent  and  pa- 
triotic citizen.  Many  of  them  have  lust  none  of 
the  spirit  which  fired  them  m  their  youthful  days 
and  led  them  to  go  forth  and  fight  the  battles  of  their 
country,  as  one  of  the  stern  duties  which  they  had 
no  thought  of  evading.  Mr.  Stipp  performed  his 
part  in  that  bitter  conflict,  and  has  been  permitted 
to  live  and  rejoice  over  the  many  blessings  which 
followed  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  the  ex- 
tinction of  slavery.  We  now  find  him  comfortably 
situated  on  a  well-regulated  farm  of  210  acres  of 
land  on  section  7  in  Elbridge  Township,  where  he 
took  up  his  residence  more  than  twenty  years  ago. 
He  is  widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  this 
part  of  the  county  as  one  of  its  most  substantial 
men  and  most  useful  citizens. 

A  son  of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this 
county,  our  subject  was  born  in  Elbridge  Town- 
ship, April  12,  1842,  and  scarcely  left  its  limits 
until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  Early 
in  the  conflict  he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a 
member  of  Company  C,  70th  Illinois  Infantry,  was 
mustered  into  service  at  Mattoon.  and  thence  went 
to  the  front  in  the  latter  part  of  August.  He  soon 
met  the  enemy  in  active  conflict,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  River,  Tenn.,  next  at  Liberty  Gap 
and  later  at  Chickamauga  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Thomas.  At  this  place  he  experienced  a  very 
narrow  escape  from  being  captured  by  the  rebels, 
and  he  next  fought  at  Missionary  Ridge,  near 
Hragg's  headquarters,  where  they  made  a  success- 
ful charge  upon  the  enemy,  routing  them  com- 
pletely. 

This  division  of  the  army  next  moved  upon 
Dalton,  Ga.,  where  the  Union  arms  were  again  vic- 
torious, and  where  our  subject  barely  escaped  with 


bis  life  from  the  sharpshooters.  At  the  battle  of 
Resaca,  which  followed,  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg 
just  above  the  knee,  which  confined  him  in  the  hos- 
pital for  six  months.  When  he  was  sufficiently 
recovered,  hi'  was  sent  first  to  Chattanooga,  and 
then  to  Nashville,  and  later  was  given  a  furlough 
and  was  sent  home.  When  able  to  rejoin  his  regi- 
ment, he  was  transferred  to  the  Infantry  Reserve 
Corps  of  Veterans,  and  detailed  to  guard  the  pris- 
oners at  Rock  Island,  111.  ( )u  the  1st  of  March 
the   prisoners  were  taken    to  Virginia,  our  subject 

being  one  of    those  accompany ing    them,   returning 

from  the  expedition  the  latter  part  of  that  month. 
Later,  he  revisited  the  Old  Dominion,  and  thence 
went  to  New  Orleans  with  prisoners,  remaining 
there  the  following  winter.  His  term  of  enlistment 
having  now  expired,  he  was  mustered  out  and  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge.  He  experienced 
all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  life  in  the  army, 
and  by  his  bravery  and  fidelity  to  duty  gained  the 
esteem  of  his  comrades  and  the  approval  of  his 
commanding  officers. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  army.  .Air.  Stipp  re- 
sumed farming,  and  in  KS(i7  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Nancy 
(Van  Kirk)  Williams.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  were 
natives  of  Indiana  and  Pennsylvania  respectively, 
and  after  their  marriage  took  up  their  abode  in 
Ripley  County.  Ind.  They  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Stipp  was  the  third, 
and  who  was  born  Dec.  26.  IS)  I.  She  received  a 
good  education  in  the  common  school,  and  re- 
mained a  member  of  the  household  circle  until  her 
maniage.  Mr.  Williams  died  in  Indiana  about 
L852.  The  mother  was  subsequently  married,  and, 
coming  to  this  county,  made  her  home  in  Stratton 
Township  until  her  death. 

To  our  subject  and  his  good  wife  there  have 
been  born  six  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Eliza 
E..  died  at  the  interesting  age  of  fifteen  years.  The 
others — lohn  T.,  William.  Jeanette  and  Clara  A. 
remain  under  the  home  roof.  Mr.  Stipp  purchased 
his  present  farm  in  1867,  to  which  he  has  since 
added  until  it  now  embraces  :.' 1 0  acres,  and  has 
brought  the  land  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
besides  making  first-class  improvements.  The  resi- 
dence is  a   roomy  and  convenient   brick    structure, 


1044 


PORTRAIT  AND  BI< (GRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


while  the  barn  and  other  outbuildings  are  amply 
adapted  to  the  various  purposes  of  agriculture. 
Politically.  Mr.  Stipp  votes  the  straight  Repub- 
lican ticket,  and  has  always  taken  a  warm    interest 

in   the  establishment  and   maintenance  of   scl Is, 

serving  on  the  Board  two  terms  and  encouraging 
the  measures  instituted  for  the  proper  training  of 
the  young.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  .Stipp  are  members 
in  good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
socially,  Mr.  Stipp  belongs  to  Vermilion  Lodge 
No.  563,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Ellen 
K.  (Ballou)  Stipp,  the  father  a  native  of  Ohio  and 
the  mother  of  Tennessee.  John  Stipp  came  to  this 
county  when  a  young  man.  and  here  met  his  fu- 
ture wife.  They  settled  upon  land  constituting 
the  present  homestead  of  our  subject,  and  from 
which  the  father  constructed  a  fine  farm,  which  he 
occupied  until  his  death,  in  1855.  The  mother  is 
living,  making  her  home  with  her  son,  George 
W.,  in  this  township.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children:  Peter,  Abraham,  George  W.  and 
Zackariah.  Without  making  any  great  show  in 
the  world,  they  were  looked  upon  as  honest,  in- 
dustrious and  worthy  people,  possessing  those  ele- 
ments which  form  the  ground-work  of  all  good 
society.  Both  were  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  the  father,  politically,  was  first 
an  Old-Line  Whig  and  later  a  Republican. 


i  LZA  N.  BLAIR.  There  is  probably  not  a 
£g  more  public-spirited  or  liberal-minded  citi- 
' — ■?  zen  within  the  environments  of  Embarras 
Township  than  Mr.  Blair.  Uniformly  interested 
in  educational  and  benevolent  institutions,  he  con- 
tributes of  his  means  to  the  establishment  and  sup- 
port of  these  as  opportunity  occurs  and  likewise  to 
the  church,  although  not  connected  with  any  re- 
ligious organization.  By  occupation,  he  is  a  life 
long  agriculturist  and  in  this  as  in  business  chan- 
nels, has  been  uniformly  successful.  He  owns  120 
acres  of  highly-cultivated  land  and  looks  after  the 
122  acres  owned  by  his  wife.  The  homestead  is 
pleasantly  located  on  section  30  and  with  its  build- 


ings, its  pasture  lands,  its  fruit  and  shade  trees,  live 
stock  and  farm  machinery,  leaves  very  little  more 
to  be  desired  in  the  way  of  a  complete  rural  estate. 
1 1  forms  one  of  the  valued  land-marks  of  this  part 
of  the  county,  inaugurated  and  perpetuated  by  a 
citizen  whose  name  will  be  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance long  after  he  has  been  gathered  to  his  fath- 
ers. 

Our  subject  has  never  wandered  very  far  from 
the  place  of  his  birth,  which  occurred  April  24, 
1858  in  Embarras  Township,  111.  His  father, 
Thomas  Blair,  a  native  of  Indiana,  came  to  Edgar 
County  over  fifty  years  ago  when  a  boy  and  accom- 
panied by  his  father  Thomas.  Sr.  The  latter  was 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Kansas  Township, 
establishing  his  cabin  home  in  the  wilderness, 
among  Indians  and  wild  animals.  He  was  a  man 
of  brave  and  courageous  spirit  and  having  once 
put  his  hand  to  the  plow  never  turned  back,  lie 
persevered  amid  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  life 
on  the  frontier  and  lived  to  see  the  march  of  civil- 
ization and  the  establishment  around  him  of  an 
intelligent  and  prosperous  people.  Grandfather 
Blair  departed  this  life  about  June  27,  185G. 

Thomas  Blair,  Jr.,  grew  to  manhood  and  tools 
for  his  wife  and  helpmate  Miss  Diana  Hickey. 
He,  like  his  father  before  him.  reduced  a  portion 
of  the  soil  to  a  state  of  cultivation  and  built  up  a 
comfortable  home.  To  him  and  his  estimable  part- 
ner there  were  born  four  children — Elza  N.,  Sam- 
uel II..  Emma  L..  and  Ida  M..  all  of  these  are  liv- 
ing, those  besides  our  subject  being  located  two  in 
Edgar  and  two  in  Douglas  County.  The  father  died 
in  Oct.  30,  18G4,  at  the  homestead  in  Coles  County 
where  he  had  established  himself  about  1859.  The 
mother  was  subsequently  married  to  John  Laugh- 
er son  of  Frederick  Laugher.  Of  this  union  there 
were  born  three  children — lohn  W.,  Charles  I!., 
and  Leroy,  and  who  are  now  living  near  Oakland 
in  Coles  County,  with  the  mother  and  father.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  bred  to  farm  pursuits 
and  obtained  his  education  in  the  common  school. 
About  the  time  of  starting  out  in  life  for  himself, 
he  was  married  March  6,  1879,  to  Miss  Amanda 
E..  daughter  of  Samuel  II.  Ashmore,  who  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Coles  County,  III.,  anil  is  now 
deceased,     Mrs.  Blair  was  born  February  12,  1858, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


10-15 


in  Oakland  Township,  Coles  County,  and  remained 
a  member  of  the  parental  household  until  her 
marriage;  of  this  union  there  is  no  children.  Mr. 
Blair,  politically,  gives  his  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party  but  otherwise  than  performing  the 
duty  of  an  American  citizen  at  the  polls,  meddles 
very  little  with  public  affairs.  He  keeps  himself 
posted  upon  current  events  the  world  over  and  is 
a  man  who  makes  very  little  stir  in  the  world,  but 
nevertheless  is  one  exercising  a  marked  influence 
in  his  community  and  one  whose  (.pinions  are  gen- 
erally  respected. 

ff/OIIN  ROLL.  Among  the  wide-awake  and 
successful  men  of  Embarras  Township  none 
have  started  out  with  prospects  more  Mat. 
tering  than  Mr.  Roll,  the  present  supervisor 
of  that  township.  He  is  comparatively  young 
in  years,  having  been  born  Oct.  17.  1857,  and 
occupies  a  farm  adjacent  to  the  old  homestead 
where  lie  lirst.  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light,  and 
which  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  17  in  Em- 
barras Township,  Edgar  County.  In  his  farming 
operations  his  aim  is  to  excel,  audit  must  he  ad- 
mitted that  few  men  in  his  vicinity  are  prosecut- 
ing agriculture  with  more  praiseworthy  results. 
As  a  financier,  he  is  a  decided  success,  likewise. 
In  the  meantime,  while  operating  as  a  tiller  of 
the  soil,  he  has  given  to  his  mind  that  careful  culti- 
vation which  has  made  him  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence  and  one  with  whom  an  hour 
may  always  be  spent  in  a  pleasant  and  profitable 
manner. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Roll  was  conducted 
in  the  district  school  and  he  made  his  home  with 
his  parents  until  ready  to  establish  a  fireside  of  his 
own.  The  13th,  of  October,  1881,  was  appropriately 
celebrated  by  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  Charles  Merkle,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Edgar  County  and  who  is  now 
deceased.  The  Merkle  family  is  widely  represen- 
ted in  this  section  of  Illinois  and  recognized  as 
comprising  a  portion  of  its  best  element.  Mrs. 
Roll   was  born  at  her  father's  old  homestead.  Nov, 


1.    1858,   and   was   reared  to  an  attractive  woman- 

I d.  lieinu  well  educated  and  fitted  for  her  future 

position  in  life  as  the  wife  of  a  leading  citizen, 
Mrs.  Roll  has  in  her  own  right  160  acres  of  land 
which  our  subject  operates  in  addition  to  his  own 
farm  of  480  acres.  He  is  a  lover  of  fine  horses 
and  has  an  interest  in  those  described  ill  the  bio- 
graphy of  Douglas  Merkle,  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. As  a  stock-breeder  he  lias  gained  an  envia- 
ble reputation  and  in  this  as  in  hi*  general  farm- 
ing operations,  is  content  with  nothing  less  then 
the  best.  He  is  the  father  of  three  children — 
Charles   A.,   John    I)  .   and  Hannah  E. 

Politically.  Mr.  Roll  gives  his  uniform  support 
to  the  Democratic  party.  Ileal  present  represents 
his  township  in  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors. 
He  has  officiated  as  School  Director  six  years  and 
is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church.  His  father  Abraham  Roll,  was  one  of 
the  earliesi  pioneers  of  Edgar  County,  being  born 
in  Sims  Township  when  it  was  peopled  largely  by 
Indians  and  wild  animals.  He  constructed  a  home 
from  the  wilderness  and  spent  his  last  years  in 
peace  and  comfort,  departing  hence  about  1K77. 
lie  was  a  conscientious  Christian  man  and  a  devo- 
ted member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  The 
mother  in  her  girlhood  was  .Miss  Hannah,  daughter 
of  Thomas  McDonald,  who  likewise  ventured  on 
to  the  frontier  during  its  early  settlement.  They 
were  the  parents  of  live  children.  Our  subject's 
sister  Mary.  Mrs.  Hathaway,  who  is  now  a  widow, 
with  her  only  child.  Lilly  F..  fourteen  years  old. 
lives  at  the  old  homestead. 

To  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Roll  there  were  horn  five 
children,  of  whom  three  are  living.  Miss  Sally 
Roll,  a  younger  sister  of  our  subject,  makes  her 
home  with  her  mother  on  the  old  b estead.  Re- 
becca and  David  died  at  the  ages,  of  about  eight 
and  twelve  years  respectively. 


-*>+<— 


ARRISON    POULTER.      One   of    the    chief 
haracteristics  in   the   makeup   of   this   gen- 
tleman   is   his   natural-horn   patriotism;  an- 
((§)''      other  is  his  regard  for  his  ancestral    history 
in  which  he  takes  a   justifiable    pride.      He   has   al- 


1046 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ways  kept  himself  well  posted  in  regard  to  war 
history  and  has  in  general  kept  the  run  of  national 
events,  aided  by  good  memory  and  more  than  or- 
dinary intelligence.  A  farmer  by  occupation,  he 
may  lie  usually  found  at  his  headquarters,  a  well- 
conducted  homestead  on  section  15  in  Kansas 
Township.  In  this  township  he  was  bom  May  6, 
1837,  near  where  he  now  lives,  being  the  son  of 
John  Poulter  who  settled  in  this  region  during  its 
pioneer  days. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Mid- 
dletown,  Ky..  and  born  about  twelve  miles  above 
the  city  of  Louisville.  There  he  was  also  reared 
and  married,  and  thence  soon  set  out  with  his  bride 
mi  a  wedding  tour.  The  medium  of  transportation 
was  a  wagon  drawn  by  one  yoke  of  oxen  and  a 
yoke  of  cows.  Landing  in  Edgar  County,  111., 
they  settled  among  the  heavy  timber  of  Kansas 
Township,  having  for  their  only  neighbors  Indians 
and  wild  animals,  both  of  whom  visited  the  Poul- 
ters  nearly  every  day.  Their  dwelling  was  a  small 
log  cabin  and  their  Indian  neighbors  were  friendly, 
frequently  inviting  the  white  man  to  share  their 
hospitality.  Upon  one  occasion  the  father  of  our 
subject  accepted  and  sat  down  to  a  repast,  a  part 
(if  which  consisted  of  sou])  made  from  a  deer's 
head  without  removing  the  hair.  Mrs.  Poulter, 
who  was  also  invited,  was  unable  to  partake.  The 
Indians  laughed  at  her  and  brought  her  some  veni- 
son and  Johnnycake  baked  on  a  board. 

For  several  years  the  Poulter  family  had  their 
corn  and  wheat  ground  in  a  mill  operated  by  horse 
power,  and  when  young  Harrison  was  of  suitable 
age  he  went  to  the  mill  on  horseback,  when  so  small 
that  the  sack  had  to  be  tied  on  the  horse  and  he 
lifted  on  top  of  it.  It  was  necessary  to  start  early 
on  these  excursions  and  upon  one  occasion  he 
reached  the  mill  before  daylight,  being  the  first 
one  there  and  was  thus  entitled  to  the  first  grind- 
ing. A  man,  however,  came  soon  afterward  and 
before  the  miller  could  reach  the  mill,  this  man 
poured  his  grain  into  the  hopper  and  hitching  his 
team  to  the  sweep  commenced  operations.  Young 
Poulter  said  nothing  but  watched  his  chance  to 
speak  to  the  miller  privately  and  the  latter  com- 
pelled the  man  to  take  his  team  away  and  his  corn 
out  of  the    hopper.     The  Poulter    grist  was   then 


substituted  and  our  hero  marched  away  with  it  in 
triumph. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Arturburn)  Poulter,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  likewise  a  native  of  Kentucky 
.•ind  of  her  union  with  Frederick  Poulter  there 
were  born  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.;  Eliza  A.  and  Martha  .1.,  both  of  whom  mar- 
ried into  the  Pinell  family:  Lucy,  (Mrs.  Wright.) 
John  I)..  Harrison  and  George  W.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  under 
the  parental  roof,  acquiring  his  education  in  the 
pioneer  schools.  He  was  tired  to  farm  pursuits  at 
which  he  employed  himself  mostly  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.  He  then  enlisted  in 
Company  H.  79th  Illinois  Infantry,  the  regiment 
being  under  command  of  the  noted  Col.  Buckner, 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Crab  Orchard. 
Murfreesboro,  Stone  River,  Liberty  Gap.  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Chattanooga  and  Rock  Face  Ridge,  in 
the  latter  of  which  the  Colonel  was  wounded. 
Of  this  our  subject  had  a  presentiment  at  the  time 
and  although  not  seeing  him,  hunted  for  him  and 
found  him  badly  shot  through  the  body.  He  had 
him  conveyed  to  the  hospital  and  was  his  close  at- 
tendant for  six  weeks  thereafter,  bringing  him  out 
in  good  shape.  Col.  Buckner  was  naturally  deeply 
grateful  for  this  service  which  he  often  alluded  to 
in  his  re-union  speeches,  saying  that  -'to  Harrison 
Poulter  he  owed  his  life." 

Our  subject  also  fought  in  the  siege  of  Atlanta 
and  at  Columbia,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  Tenn., 
besides  other  important  engagements  with  the 
eneu)3'.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
home  and  resumed  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  farm 
life.  With  the  exception  of  that  period  and  two 
years  in  Vernon  County,  Mo.,  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  Decatur.  111.,  he  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Kansas  Township.  In  this  township  he  was  mar- 
ried Aug.  14,  1856,  to  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of 
William  Waite,  one  of  its  earliest  pioneers.  Mr. 
Waite  was  born  in  England  and  crossed  the  Atlantic 
when  quite  young;  he  spent  his  last  years  in  Kan- 
sas Township.  Mrs.  Poulter  was  born  in  Kansas 
Township  March  18,  1837.  She  is  now  the  mother 
of  four  children  only  two  of  whom  are  living — 
John  II.  and  .Alary  J.  William  E.  died  when  a 
promising  young  man  in  the  twenty-first  year  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1047 


his  age;  Lovina  was  taken  from  the  home  circle  by 
death  in  the  bloom  of  womanhood;  she  had  been 
married  to  William  Stoddard  and  left  two  children, 
Lilly  and  Bessie,  who  make  their  home  with  their 
grandfather  Poulter.  John  II.  Poulter  married 
Miss  Martha  Burgess  and  they  live  in  Douglas 
County;  they  have  two  children — Frederick  II. 
and  George  E.  Miss  Mary  Poulter  became  the 
wife  of  John  T.  Lee  and  lives  in  Westfield,  Clark 
County;  they  have  two  children — Anna  May  and 
Charles   Clyde. 

Mr.  Poulter,  politically,  affiliates  with  the  Re- 
publican  party.  He  has  held  the  various  local 
offices  and  for  the  last  three  yeai-.-  has  been  Town- 
ship Assessor.  Socially,  lie  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  the  G.  A.  I!..  while  his  religious 
views  are  in  harmony  with  the  Christian  Church, 
being  a  member  of  Hie  society  at  Hitesville,  Coles 
County.  His  farm  comprises  eighty  acres  of  well- 
tilled  land  ami  he  gives  special  attention  to  graded 
stock. 

\fi_—^  ENRY    FRKI.     As  an  example  of  stirring 
Y    jj  energy,  perseverance  and  resolution,  the  ca. 

>^c  reer  of  Mr.  Frei  is  worthy  of  more  than  a 
'i(|y)  passing  notice.  He  occupies  a  high  position 
as  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  Kansas,  III. .and 
one  who  began  in  life  without  other  resources  than 
those  which  lay  within  him.  He  has  seen  much  of 
life  in  its  various  phases,  lias  had  a  wide  experience 
as  a  traveler,  and  has  always  kept  his  eyes  open  to 
what  was  going  on  around  him  in  the  world.  He 
has  always  found  honesty  to  he  the  best  policy, 
ami  has  adhered  to  this  maxim  in  his  dealings  with 
his  fellowmen.  In  his  merchandising  operations 
he  deals  in  dr\ -goods,  clothing,  hats  and  caps,  hoots 
and  shoes,  carpets,  etc.,  and  has  built  up  a  large 
and  flourishing  trade. 

A  native  of  "hat  was  then  the  Kingdom  of  Wnr- 
temburg,  Germany,  our  subject  was  horn  Feb.  7, 
1830,  and  is  the  son  of  Meir  and  Nina  (Frei)  Frei, 
who  were  also  natives  of  that  Province.  The 
mother  died  when  her  son  Henry  was  in  the  ninth 
year  of  his  age.  The  father  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Germany  and  died  there  a  feu  years  -inee.       Iln,i\ 


was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  town  and 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  at  the 
turner's  trade.  This,  however,  was  not  congenial  to 
his  tastes,  and  he  therefore  did  not  follow  it.     In 

1852,  when  a  young  mi f  twenty-two  years,  he 

decided  to  seek  his  fortune  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic.     After  setting  foot  upon  American  soil 

lie  titled  himself  out  with  a  pack  of  Yankee  notions 
which  he  peddled  through  New  Hampshire  and 
Connecticut  one  year.  Next  we  find  him  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  winked  one  year 
for  $4  a  month  and  his  hoard. 

It  is  not  to  he  wondered  at  that  Mr.  Frei  was 
dissatisfied  still  with  his  condition  and  his  pros- 
pects, SO  leaving  the  East  he  made  his  way  to  Illi- 
nois in  1854  and  halted  in  Danville  where  he 
.secured  employment  as  clerk  in  a  small  store.  A 
month  later  he  went  to  Beloit,  Wis.,  where  he 
clerked  one  year  for  the  same  man.  and  later  was 
in  a  number  of  stores  all  over  the  country.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  swindled  out  of  two  year's  wages 
and  was  turned  out  again  in  the  cold  world  with 
only  $5  in  his  pocket.  His  next  objective  point 
was  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  landed  without  a. 
cent.  He  pawned  his  watch  and  spare  clothing  to 
pay  his  hoard  until  he  could  find  work.  He  fort- 
unately met  a  friend  who  secured  a  position  for 
him  with  a  party  who  had  a  branch  store  in  Oska- 
loosa,  Iowa,  and  wdio  sent  young  Frei  there,  where 
he  remained  until  establishing  a  branch  store  in 
Alhia.  Here  he  did  an  extensive  business  tor  the 
firm,  remaining  there  nine  months.  Then  under 
instruction  he  took  the  goods  in  a  wagon  and 
sold  them  at  auction  in  the  little  towns  over  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  State,  for  which  service  he 
was  paid  &i>0  per  month  and  expenses.  He  was 
now  becoming  quite  an  expert  as  a  salesman  and 
had  laid  up  *G00. 

The  next  enterprise  of  Mr.  Frei  was  to  take  a 
car-load  of  flour,  meat,  tobacco  and  whiskey,  and 
-tart,  farther  westward,  to  Pike's  Peak.  He  had 
with  him  several  oilier  men.  hut  one  old  Germnn 
in  the  company  persisted  in  getting  drunk,  so  Mr. 
Frei  and  another  man  concluded  to  withdraw  from 
the  corporation.  'J  hey  divided  the  goods,  giving 
to  the  other  parties  the  whisky  and  most  of  the  to- 
bacco.     Mr.  Frei    and    his    partner   kept   the   Hour, 


1048 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


meat  and  some  of  the  tobacco,  and  with  it  made 
their  way  to  Nebraska  City.  They  had  great  diffi- 
culty in  crossing  the  river  on  account  of  high  water. 
but  after  reaching  Chillicothe.  Mo.,  they  were  fort- 
unate iu  selling  out  everything,  merchandise  as 
well  as  teams.  After  this  they  made  their  way  back 
to  the  river  and  thence  to  St.  Louis  at  which  point 
they  set  out  for  Pilot  Knob,  with  the  expectation  of 
establishing  a  store  at  that  point.  They  found  no 
opening,  however,  and  thence  retraced  their  steps 
to  Beardstown,  111.  Here  the  partner  was  taken 
ill  and  Mr.  Frei.  leaving  him  went  to  Cincinnati. 
He  has  never  heard  from  him  since  and  cannot 
even  recall  his  name. 

In  1858  Mr.  Frei  established  himself  at  Pari.-. 
111.,  and  thereafter  for  line  year  he  was  clerk  in  a 
store  at  $12.50  per  month  and  his  board.  His  em- 
ployer borrowed  his  money  and  lost  it  in  gambling, 
finally  becoming  bankrupt.  Mr.  Frei  attached  the 
goods  and  thus  recovered  his  loss.  In  the  fall  of 
1  859  he  went  to  Berlin,  Md.,  and  was  clerk  in  a  dry- 
goods  and  grocery  store  for  about  eighteen  months. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  lie  was  solicited  to 
enter  the  Confederate  army,  but  he  very  sensibly 
left  the  country  with  his  money,  and  walkingabout 
twenty-live  miles  to  the  nearest  railroad  station  took 
a  train  for  New  York  City. 

One  da}7  while  walking  along  Broadway  Mr. 
Frei  heard  some  one  call  his  name,  but  thinking 
perhaps  some  one  else  was  meant  paid  no  attention 
to  it.  Presently  a  person  tapped  him  on  the  shoul- 
der, and  looking  around  he  saw  Mr.  .lake  Sholeni, 
of  Paris,  who  solicited  him  to  return  to  Paris  as  his 
clerk.  He  consented  and  remained  with  him  until 
the  fall  of  1863.  lie  then  engaged  in  the  buying 
and  shipping  of  poultry,  eggs,  etc.,  on  his  own  ac- 
count, which  he  followed  up  for  nine  months  alone. 
Then  he  associated  himself  in  partnership  with 
Austin  Ernest.  They  prosecuted  this  business  in 
Paris  on  the  south  side  of  the  square.  They  first 
purchased  a  small  grocery  store,  from  which  they 
sold  their  goods  in  this  line  and  later  put  in  a  stock 
of  dry-goods  and  clothing.  Mr.  Frei  was  in  Cin- 
cinnati after  new  stock  at  the  time  Richmond  was 
taken  and  when  goods  dropped  nearly  one-half. 
He  purchased  largely  and  the  next  week  there  was 
a  rise  and  he  made  a  profit  of  300   per  cent.     His 


sales  were  all  cash  and  ran  from  850  to  8223  per 
day.  which  did  not  have  to  be  shared  with  any 
clerk,  unless  Ernest  stood  in  the  store  while  Mr. 
Frei  was  absent  at  his  meals.  In  1865  Mr.  Frei 
was  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Barlow,  and  in  April, 
1866.  they  dissolved  and  he  went  to  Kansas,  111. 
In  this  latter  place  he  established  himself  as  a  dry- 
goods  merchant  and  clothier,  and  while  having 
mada  some  money  has  also  at  various  times  met 
with  serious  losses.  He  is  now,  however,  the  owner 
of  a  fine  property,  including  his  store  and  residence. 
His  store  is  fitted  up  in  a  tasteful  and  convenient 
manner,  and  his  patronage  embraces  the  best  people 
in  the  township. 

Mr.  Frei  was  married,  Jan.  9,  1867,  to  Miss 
Caroline  Beer,  who,  like  her  husband,  was  born  in 
Wurtemburg,  and  who  came  to  America  in  1862, 
Her  father.  Ilirsh  Beer,  spent  his  last  years  in  t'er- 
many.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frei  have  no  children  of  their 
own.  but  some  time  since  adopted  an  orphan  child, 
Rachel,  who  was  born  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  about 
1874.     Her  parents  died  of  the  yellow  fever. 

Upon  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen  Mr.  Frei 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
believes  in  union  and  freedom  and  is  thoroughly  in 
sympathy  with  the  institutions  of  his  adopted 
country.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  was  for  sev- 
eral years  treasurer  of  his  lodge  in  Kansas,  and  has 
been  secretary  of  the  chapter  since  1882.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


-$*sS~*- 


yp,ILLIAM  NUCKLES.  There  is  nothing  in 
the  world  more  pleasant  to  contemplate 
\}^}'  than  a  well-spent  life — the  career  of  a  man 
who  has  done  good  as  he  has  had  opportunity  and 
who  presents  an  example  worthy  of  emulation.  These 
thoughts  involuntarily  arise  in  reviewing  the  career 
of  Mr.  Nuckles,  a  man  scarcely  having  an  enemy 
in  the  world  and  who  is  well  spoken  of  by7  the 
people  of  his  commnnity.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  this  county,  coming  within  its  limits 
when  it  had  been  invaded  by  comparatively  few 
white  men  and  the  greater  portion  of  its  land  laj' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


1049 


in  its  primitive  condition.  He  came  hither  without 
resources  other  thnn  his  own  resolute  "ill  and  the 
habits  of  industry  which  bad  been  taught  him 
from  his  childhood,  but  these  proved  the  qualities 
most  needed  and  which  have  enabled  him  to  secure  a 
g 1  homestead  and  spend  his  later  years  in  com- 
parative  ease.     His    farm    uprises   160   acres  of 

well- cultivated  land  on  section  16,  where  Mr. 
Nuckles  lias  effected  good  improvements  and  added 
measurably  to  the  taxable  property  of  his  town- 
ship. 

Our  subject  is  the  offspring  of  an  old  New  Eng- 
land family  and  the  son  of  Robert  Nuckles,  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia  who. when  a  young  man,  emigrated 
to  .Mercer  County.  Ky..  where  he  was  married. 
Later  he  removed  to  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  where 
lie  purchased  land  and  sojourned  a  few  years,  then 
sold  out  and  came  to  this  county.  Here  he  became 
the  owner  of  land  in  Ross  Township,  where  he 
opened  up  a  farm  and  was  one  of  the  firsl  settlers 
in  his  neighborhood.  Later  he  removed  to  a  point 
on  the  Stale  Road  north  of  Chrisman.  where  in  con- 
nection with  farming  he  opened  his  house  to  trav- 
elers and  for  several  years  officiated  as  "mine  host." 
Finally  selling  out  he  removed  to  Ridge  Farm 
and  established  a  grocery  business  in  connection 
with  a  meat-market,  which  he  conducted  until  once 
more  selling  out  and  removing  to  the  vicinity  of 
1'rliana.  In  that  vicinity  he  purchased  another 
farm  Upon  which  he  remained  until  his  death,  sev- 
eral years  ago.  He  was  for  many  years  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  prior  to  the  war 
affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  Duringthe 
conflict  between  the  North  and  the  South,  he  con- 
sidered that  he  had  reason  to  change  his  political 
views  ami  wheeled  over  into  the  Republican  ranks. 

Mrs.  Rachel  (Martin)  Nuckles.  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  died  in 
Ross  Township,  this  county,  prior  to  Hie  decease  of 
her  husband.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren— Fanny,  deceased;  Jefferson,  now  a  resident 
of  Kansas:  Elijah,  deceased:  William,  the  subject 
of  this  notice:  John,  living  in  (  Iregon:  Rhoda,  Mrs. 
Loop,  of  Metcalf;  Rachel,  living  in  Ridge  Farm, 
this  state,  and  .lames,  a  resident  of  Missouri.  Jef- 
ferson and  Elijah  served  as  Union  soldiers  during 
the  late  Civil  War.    William,  our  subject,  was  born 


near  Montezuma,  Vermilion  Co..  hid..  Dec.  9,  1829 
and  lived  there  with  his  parents  until  a  lad  of  ten 
.\  ears,     lie  then  came  with  tin-in   to  this  coiintv  ami 

was  reared  to  manhood  in  Ross  Township,  lie  re- 
members the  time  when  wild  game  was  plentiful 
and  when  he  traveled  to  mill  with  a  sack  of  grain 
on  his  horse's  back.  lie  remained  under  the  home 
roof  until  a  youth  of  nineteen  years. t  hen  starting  mil. 
for  himself,  worked  by  the  month  for  several  years, 

In  1849,  our  subject  crossed  the  Mississippi  into 
Jackson  County.  Iowa,  making  the  journey  by 
team  and  purchased  a  claim.  This  subsequently  he 
traded  for  a  horse  and  resumed  his  labors  of  farm- 
ing for  other  p  irties  one  \  ear.  then  wenl  south  into 

Mississippi,     lie  chopped  w 1   there  during  one 

winter  and  in  the  spring  came  up  the  river  pre- 
pared t<>  establish  a  home  of  his  own.  On  the  7th 
of  February,  1850,  he  was  married  in  Ross  Town- 
ship to  Miss  Elizabeth  Pierce:  this  lady  was  horn 
in  Vermillion  County.  Ind..  and  onlysurvived  her 
marriage  but  a  brief  time,  dying  in  1  .s.5;i.  of  this 
union  there  were  born  two  children — Caroline  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Brownfield,  of  Missouri,  and 
Lucretia,  who  died  when  about  fourteen  years  old. 

From  this  time  on  until  1859  Mr.  Nuckles  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  rented  land  in  this  township, 
but  that  year  purchased  his  present  farm  which 
was  then  a  tract  of  school  land  without  any  im- 
provements. In  the  meantime  he  had  been  married 
again,  Nov.  8,  1855,  in  Prairie  Township,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edmond  Clark,  a  native  of 
\ermont.  Mr.  Clark  left  the  Green  Mountain 
State  at  aii  early  day,  emigrating  to  Fleming 
County.  Ky.,  where  he  sojourned  until  1831.  That 
year,  coming  to  Illinois,  he  entered  a  tract  of  land 
in  Prairie  Township,  this  county,  upon  which  he 
labored  very  successfully  and  became  well-to-do 
and  the  owner  of  a  large  extent  of  land.  lie  had 
married  Miss  Nancy  Graves,  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  whose  father  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  met  his  death  at  the  hand 
of  Morrell's  gang,  who  at  the  time  were  committing 
tiian\  acts  of  violence  in  that  region.  Mrs.  Nuckles' 
father  died  in    Prairie    Township,    and    the  mother 

S e  years   after    in    the    same     place.      She   was  a 

woman  of  many  estimable  qualities  and  a  member 
of  the    Baptist   Church.     Her  family  consisted  i 


1050 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eight  children — Alex,  deceased;  Mary,  a  resident 
of  Oregon :  Marinda,  in  Kentucky;  Susan,  living  in 
Edgar  County,  111.;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Nuckles ; Emily, 
deceased ;  James,  a  resident  of  Chrisman  and  Lucy. 
residing  in  Prairie  Township. 

Mrs.  Nuckles  was  born  in  Fleming  County.  Ky.. 
April  1.  L827,  and  was  four  years  old  when  her 
parents  came  to  this  State.  She  remained  under  the 
home  roof  until  her  marriage  and  by  her  union 
with  our  subject  has  become  the  mother  of  nine 
children.  The  eldest,  a  daughter,  Mary,  is  the  wife 
of  II.  Wood,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Boss  Township; 
Dorinda  is  at  home  with  her  parents;  Charles  mar- 
lied  Miss  Laura  Womack  and  is  farming  in  Bruellet 
Township;  Edgar  married  Miss  Jennie  Black- 
burn and  is  engaged  in  hop-raising  in  Oregon; 
John  died  when  a  child;  William  is  farming  in  Ross 
Township;  Albert,  Nannie,  and  James  II.  remain 
under  the  parental  roof. 

On  the  7th  of  March,  18G5,  Mr.  Nuckles  laid 
aside  his  personal  interests  in  order  to  assist  in 
the  preservation  of  the  Union.  Enlisting  in  Com- 
pany G,  28th  Illinois  Infantry,  he  was  mustered 
into  service  at  Danville,  soon  after  which  the  regi- 
ment was  sent  South  to  Mobile.  Next  they  were 
ordered  to  Ft.  Blakeley  and  from  there  into  Texas. 
At  Brady's  Island,  our  subject  was  taken  ill  and 
confined  in  the  hospital  for  some  time.  Upon  his 
recovery  he  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of  a  nurse  in 
the  hospital  at  Sedgwick.  Fa.,  and  was  thus  occupied 
until  being  mustered  out  at  Springfield,  111.  He 
received  his  honorable  discharge  in  April,    18Gb'. 

Upon  his  return  from  the  army  Mr.  Nuckles  re- 
sumed in  earnest  the  cultivation  of  his  land  and  ef- 
fecting the  much-needed  improvements  around  his 
homestead.  He  is  a  warm  advocate  of  temperance 
and  somesince  time  allied  himself  with  the  Prohibi- 
tion party.  Both  he  and  his  excellent  wife  are  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Ml. 
Olive  and  Mr.  Nuckles  contributed  liberally  toward 
the  erection  of  a  church  edifice.  He  has  officiated 
as  Steward 'and  Trustee,  also  as  Class-Leader  and 
for  some  time  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school. Although  his  life  has  been  compara- 
tively uneventful,  he  has  ever  maintained  that 
uniform  regard  to  duty  andjprinciple  which  have  had 
a  sensible  influence   upon    those   around    him.      His 


land  is  largely  devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain  and 
he  is  especially  interested  in  good  horses,  of  which 
he  owns  about  fifteen  head,  mostly  draft  animals. 
lie  uses  two  teams  in  his  farm  operations. 


*       IMLLIAM   FRANCIS 

\sJ/l     t,'iere  m  ms  peregrins 
\jysff      meets  a  character  of 


FRANCIS  IIOU1.T.  Here  and 
lations.  the  biographer 
more  than  ordinay 
interest,  as  in  case  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
lie  finds  him  located  amidst  the  most  attractive 
rural  scenery  in  a  beautiful  home,  situated  in  a  se- 
cluded spot  along  the  forest  banks  of  Bruellet 
creek,  the  residence,  a  tasteful  brick  structure 
which  both  within  and  without  is  indicative  of 
cultivated  tastes  and  abundant  means.  The  pro- 
prietor of  this  charming  homestead  is  fully  in 
keeping  with  his  surroundings,  both  mentally  and 
physically,  being  a  man  of  classic  education  and 
pleasing  exterior,  of  fine  presence  and  luxurious 
tastes.  He  has  chosen  for  his  companion,  a  lady 
well  fitted  for  her  position,  one  of  refined  and 
cultivated  tastes  and,  like  himself,  the  offspring  of 
an  excellent  family.  Their  lives  have  unquestion- 
ably thus  far  been  cast  in  pleasant  places  and  they 
have  hosts  of  friends  whose  esteem  and  confidence 
testify  to  their  genuine  worth  and  excellence. 

Mr.  Hoult.  a  native  of  Edgar  Township,  this 
county,  was  born  near  Bloomfield,  Aug.  1,  1865. 
He  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and  attended  the 
common  school  until  fifteen  years  old.  Soon  after- 
ward he  was  graduated  from  the  Chrisman  flieji 
School  and  in  the  fall  of  1881,  entered  Wabash 
College  at  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  where  he  was  a 
student  four  years,~taking  the  classical  course  and 
remaining  until  the  spring  of  1885.  In  the  fall 
of  that  year  he  commenced  teaching  in  Ross  Town- 
ship and  followed  this  profession  three  years  in 
succession.  In  the  spring  of  1888  he  located  on 
his  present  place,  where  he  has  sixty  acres  of  choice 
land  which  is  especially  adapted  to  the  raising  of 
grain  and  stock  and  is  finely  located  on  section  30, 
Prairie  Township,  and  1G0  acres  on  section  25  in 
Ross  Township. 

The  8th   of  July.  L 887,  witnessed    the    marriage 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1051 


of  our  subject  :it  Chrisman,  with  Miss  Grace, 
daughter  of  John  Moss.  a  prominent  citizen  of 
this  countj  and  who  is  fully  represented  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  Mrs.  Iloult  is.  like  her  husband, 
a  native  of  Edgar  County,  and  completed  her  edu- 
cation in  Jacksonville  Female  Academy.  Later 
she  engaged  as  a  teacher  in  the  Chrisman  High 
School.  This  happy  home  has  been  still  further 
brightened  by  the  birth  of  one  child,  Geneva 
Francis.  Mrs.  Iloult  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Jacksonville,  and  our  subject  in 
his  political  views  is  wholly  in  accord  with  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  William  Iloult, 
the  third  in  a  family  of  twelve  children,  and  who 
was  born  near  Fairmount,  .Marion  County,  (now 
West)  Yu..  Oct.  27,  1814  and  lived  there  until  a 
youth  of  eighteen  years.  He  then  accompanied 
his  father  to  Illinois,  making  the  journey  by  boat 
to  Clinton  and  thence  by  team  to  Edgar  Township 
this  county.  He  remained  in  the  Prairie  State 
until  1836,  then  returning  to  the  Old  Dominion 
employed  himself  as  a  carpenter  about  a  year,  after 
which  he  again  sought  the  Prairie  State.  In  1810 
he  went  back  to  Virginia,  where  he  occupied  him- 
self, principally  as  a  cabinetmaker  and  sojourned 
three  years. 

William  Iloult  on  the  17th  of  February.  184$, 
was  married  in  Edgar  Township,  to  .Mrs.  Rebecca 
Smith.  This  lady  was  born  in  Montgomery  County, 
Ky..  Au jr.  •-'<;.  isi  |,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Jobn 
McKee,  also  a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State.  The 
father  of  Mr.  McKee  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  In 
1 829  John  McKee  came  to  Illinois  without  means 
and  commenced  the  struggle  of  life  in  the  Wesl  :i> 
a  school  teacher.  As  soon  as  able  he  secured  a 
tract  of  government  land  and  as  years  passed  on. 
such  was  his  industry  and  good  management  that 
he  had  acquired  at  the  time  of  his  decease  in  Edgar 
Township,  2,000  acres  of  land.  He  departed  this 
life  many  years  ago  leaving  his  family  in  comfort- 
able circumstances. 

After  his  marriage  William  Iloult  engaged  in 
farming  and  purchased  the  farm  in  Edgar  Town- 
ship, which  be  still  owns  and  operates.  Upon  it 
he  has  made  all  the  improvements  which  attract 
the  admiring  eye  of    the  passing    traveler  and    like 


hi.-  father-in-law  Mr.  McKee.  has  become  one  of 
the  largest  land  owners  in  the  county,  lie  has  been 
an  excellent  citizen,  is  independent  ill  politics  and 
in  religion  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  To  him  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were 
born  eight  children,  the  seven  besides  our  subject 
being:  John,  a  farmer  of  Ross  Township;  Mary. 
(Mrs.  Tucker,)  living  in  Edgar  Township;  Dorothy 
L.,  (Mrs.  Fair.)  deceased;  Emily,  (Mrs.  Fair.)  a 
resident  of  Ross  Township;  .lames,  a  farmer  of 
Prairie  Township  and  Rachael  E.,  (Mrs.  Keys)  in 
Hunter  Township,  and   an    infant,  deceased. 


R.    LYSANDER  PORTER.     The   subject 

j).  of  this  sketch  is  a  practicing  physician 
ajJi&r  and  surgeon  of  Bloomfield,  residing  in  his 
comfortable  home  in  the  midst  of  exten- 
sive grounds,  comprising  some  twenty  acres.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Cayuga  County,  N.  V., 
being  named  John  after  his  father,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  who,  originally  from  England,  came 
early  to  America,  and  made  his  home  in  New 
York,  following  the  honorable  occupation  of  a 
fanner.  The  father  of  Dr.  Porter  served  with 
credit  as  a  Sergeant  in  the  memorable  War  of  IM  l'. 
Some  time  after  the  conclusion  of  that  conflict  he 
removed  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Vermillion  County, 
coming  there  in  the  early  days,  while  settlers 
were  yet  few  and  far  between,  and  the  land  was  in 
almost  undisputed  possession  of  the  original  for- 
ests, Indians  and  wild  animals.  Nothing  daunted 
he  entered  160  acres  of  land,  and  set  bravely  to 
work  clearing  his  land  and  building  a  home. 

Being  fitted  by  nature  and  education  to  occupy 
a  more  prominent  position  in  the  community,  he 
was  early  called  by  the  suffrages  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens to  the  office  of  Associate  -ludue.  and  was 
never  afterwards  permitted  to  retire  to  private 
life  for  any  great  length  of  time,  being  successively 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  County  Surveyor, 
Associate  Judge,  ami  crowning  all,  was  elected  Rep- 
resentative from  his  county  to  the  Indiana  Stale  Leg- 
islature, lie  also  Served  as  Auditor  one  term,  was 
County    Commissioner  a  number   of  years,    never 


1052 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


succeeding  in  escaping  public  duties  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  court-house  in  1844,  when 
he  had  just  reached  the  allotted  period  of  three- 
score years.  During  the  time  he  served  as  County 
Surveyor  he  made  a  map  of  the  county,  being  the 
first  man  to  get  a  correct  one.  In  addition  to  his 
other  duties,  he  also  served  bis  county  as  attorney 
at  law. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Miss  Phoebe 
Hedges,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Cayuga 
County,  N.  Y.,  her  father  being  a  supposed  descend- 
ant of  a  relation  of  Joe  Hedges  of  Maryland, 
who  had  a  fortune  left  to  him  in  England.  While 
living  in  Clinton  our  subject  had  the  great  misfort- 
une to  lose  his  mother  in  death.  The  parental 
family  consisted  of  nine  children:  Elizabeth. 
Charles.  Amos  and  Clarinda,  all  deceased.  Lysan- 
der,  of  whom  we  write,  was  the  next  in  order  of 
birth.  William  and  Jane  are  deceased;  John  re- 
sides in  Coffee  Count}',  Kan.,  on  a  farm;  Emily, 
also  deceased.  John  fully  sustained  the  reputation 
of  our  Northern  boys  for  gallantly  during  his  two 
years  service  in  the  Civil  War.  fighting  under  the 
banner  of  the  Kansas  Regulars  until  its  close. 

( )ur  subject  first  saw  the  light  of  day  on  his  fath- 
er's farm,  two  miles  west  of  Clinton,  Ind..  his 
birthday  being  April  23,  1823.  He  was  reared  on, 
the  farm,  enjoying  only  such  limited  advantages 
in  the  way  of  education  as  were  afforded  by  the 
common  schools  of  those  days.  The  school  house 
was  one  built  in  the  usual  style  of  pioneer  times, 
having  a  log  out  on  each  side  to  serve  for  windows. 
The  slab  seat  and  puncheon  Boor  made  a  substan- 
tial if  not  elegant  house,  and  one  which  he  attended 
until  his  eighteenth  year.  The  seven  succeeding 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  profession  of 
teaching,  which  he  then  left  for  a  time  to  follow 
the  farm.  In  1846  he  removed  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  Edgar  Township,  Edgar  County,  working  on 
the  farm  a  short  while,  then  securing  work  in  a 
carding  mill.  He  operated  a  carding  machine  for 
several  years,  then  concluded  to  study  medicine. 
Entering  the  office  of  Dr.  Cary  he  studied  under 
him  one  year,  then  finished  his  studies  under  Dr. 
Whitcomb,  with  whom  he  went  into  partnership, 
remaining  with  him  two  3*ears.  In  the  fall  of  1849, 
he  entered  the  Ohio  Anatomical  A'  Medical  College 


at  Cincinnati.  Pursuing  his  studies  there  one  year 
he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1850.  He  returned 
to  Bloomfield,  remaining  one  year,  when  he  removed 
to  Oakhall,  Champaign  Count}-,  establishing  a 
practice,  but  only  remaining  there  one  year.  In 
the  spring  of  1853.  he  went  to  Georgetown,  I'll., 
where  he  practiced  one  year,  then  changed  to  Par- 
isville,  Ind.,  entering  into  partnership  with  Dr. 
Kemp.  After  practicing  there  about  one  year. 
Dr.  Whitcomb  left  Bloomfield,  following  which  our 
subject  returned  to  Bloomfield,  where  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since,  having  established  a  good  prac- 
tice. 

In  the  fall  of  1850  Dr.  Porter  was  married  in 
Bloomfield  to  Miss  Eliza  Wood,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Wood  of  Ohio,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Edgar  County.  Farming,  varied  with  occasional 
work  at  his  trade  of  blacksmithing,  formed  his  oc- 
cupation. During  the  brief  but  sanguinary  Black 
Hawk  War,  he  gallantly  bore  his  part,  never  flinch- 
ing in  the  hottest  of  the  tight.  Mrs.  Porter  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  being  one  of  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. 

Following  the  advent  of  our  subject  into  Bloom- 
field the  second  time,  he  bought  the  spacious 
grounds  on  which  his  present  elegant  home  is  situ- 
ated, improving  and  beautifying  it  until  he  has 
brought  it  to  its  present  fine  condition.  Not  the 
least  attractive  feature  of  the  place,  especially  on  a 
warm  summer  day,  is  the  fine  spring  of  clear  cold 
water  that  bubbles  up  from  the  bosom  of  mother 
earth,  bringing  health  and  refreshment  to  all  who 
partake  of  it.  Dr.  Porter  has  also  some  fine  stock 
on  his  place,  keeping  only  the  best. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren: Sarah  A,  was  married  to  Nelson  Barklv.  a 
telegraph  operator  at  Robinson,  111.;  she  is  since 
deceased;  William  is  a  farmer  in  Edgar  Township; 
Mary  B.  is  married  to  E.  Adamson,  of  Rosodale, 
Ind.,  who  is  employed  in  the  service  of  a  railroad 
company;  James  is  farming  in  Edgar  Township. 
Appreciating  the  power  derived  from  knowledge, 
our  subject  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters,  and  has  very  properly  been  elected 
School  Director.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
A  A.  M.  The  Baptist  Church  of  Bloomfield  num- 
bers him  among  its  most  intelligent  and  active  sup- 


PORTRAIT  AND   HI( )( SRA1MIICAL  ALBUM. 


1053 


porters.  Politically  he  votes  and  works  with  the 
third  party,  believing  the  prohibition  of  the  liquor 
traffic  to  be  the  most  important  subject  now  claim- 
ing the  attention  of  the  voters  of  this  country,  lie 
was  a  delegate  to  the  last  county  convention.  He 
has  frequently  spoken  in  public  in  behalf  of  cher- 
ished political  principles.  His  first  vote  was  cast 
for  Henry  Clay.  Ilis  youthful  enthusiasm  prompted 
him  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  a  Clay  pole.  He 
voted  the  Whig  ticket  until  the  Republican  party 
was  organized,  when  he  voted  for  Fremont,  after- 
ward throwing  in  his  lot  with  the  Republican 
party,  until  18?<4.  when  he  voted  for  St.  John. 


( 


/p^EORGE  M.  JETER,  Attorney-at-law  and 
'If  (-_,  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Paris,  was  born  in 
%2(  New  Albany,  Ind.,  July  4.  1855,  amid  the 
explosion  of  the  national  artillery  which  heralded 
in  the  anniversary  of  colonial  freedom.  He  is  the 
offspring  of  a  good  family,  being  the  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Elizabeth  (Albertson)  Jeter,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Patrick  Van  Dine,  a  native  of  County  Tipperary> 
Ireland;  the  mother's  ancestors  came  from  Amster- 
dam. Holland,  many  generations  ago,  and  were 
Quakers  in  religious  belief.  She  throughout  her 
life  adhered  to  the  religious  faith  which  had  been 
taught  her  in  her  youth.  Grandfather  Van  Dine 
made  his  way  alone  across  the  Atlantic  when  a 
boy  of  fifteen  years  and  secured  employment  in 
Virginia  with  a  German  farmer  named  Jeremiah 
Jeter.  The  latter  had  one  child,  a  daughter,  and 
the  young  emigrant  proving  industrious  and  faith- 
ful, was  adopted  by  Mr.  Jeter  and  his  wife,  who 
gave  him  their  name,  after  which  he  married  their 
daughter,  and  they  willed  to  them  their  property. 
He  was  married  in  the  Old  Dominion  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  five  sons,  the  youngest  of  whom  was  William 
the  father  of  our  subject. 

William  Jeter  was  educated  at  Louisville.  Ky.. 
and  later  studied  medicine  and  was  graduated  from 
the  medical   college    in   that  city.      He  commenced 


the  practice  of  his  profession  in  New  Albany,  Ind., 
but  died  quite  suddenly  in  1857  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-seven  years.  Ilis  father  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  advantages  of  a  good  education,  but 
had  not  left  him  much  of  his  property,  and  his 
early  death  left  his  widow  and  young  children  in 
limited  circumstances.  Ilis  wife,  Elizabeth,  to 
whom  he  had  been  married  in  New  Albany.  Ind.. 
when  very  young,  in  1848,  belonged  to  a  family  of 
Quakers,  and  was  left  an  orphan  when  a  mere  child. 
She  was  educated  by  the  Society  of  Friends  for  a 
teacher  in  the  Friends'  Seminary  for  <  i  iris  in  New 
Albany.  Mr.  Jeter  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  and 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Albertson  caused  the  lat- 
ter to  be  expelled  from  the  ranks  of"  the  Friends. 
Upon  the  death  of  her  husband  she  was  left 
with  four  young  children,  to  whom  she  devoted 
herself  for  several  years,  maintaining  herself  and 
children  by  teaching  in  a  public  seminary  in  New 
Albany,  Indiana,  and  when  they  were  partly  grown 
she  married  a  man  named  Yearling,  with  whom 
she  removed  to  Columbus,  Tex.,  where  her  death 
took  place. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  of 
his  father's  three  sons,  and  he  was  reared  by  Jere- 
miah Harris,  of  Hunter  Township,  this  county,  with 
whom  he  made  his  home  until  he  was  of  age.  He. 
however,  began  to  look  out  for  himself  early  in 
life,  acquired  a  good  common  school  education  and 
enjoyed  the  comforts  of  an  excellent  home,  being 
treated  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  as  though  he  were 
their  own  child.  Ilis  early  years  were  spent  upon 
the  farm,  but  his  inclinations  from  his  youth  were 
toward  the  law  as  a  profession,  which  he  steadily 
kept  in  view  until  he  could  put  his  desires  into  a 
substantial  form.  When  a  youth  of  fifteen  years 
he  was  employed  by  a  company  of  Scotch  coal- 
miners  as  a  sort  of  interpreter  and  salesman,  they 
not  speaking  English  fluently.  At  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen he  became  a  traveling  salesman  for  Puell  & 
McLean,  dispensing  (latent  medicines  principally 
in  this  county. 

During  the  three  years  and  more  that  Mr.  Jeter 
was  thus  employed  he  accumulated  some  means 
and  when  twenty-one  years  old  embarked  in  the 
timber  trade  along  the  line  of  the  Vandalia  & 
Midland  Railway.      While    thus  employed    he    met 


1054 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


with  a  severe  accident  on  the  railroad  by  which  he 
was  badly  crippled,  both  ankles  being  broken  and 
one  arm  disabled.  This  caused  an  enforced  rest 
and  also  enabled  Mr.  Jeter  to  put  his  cherished 
plans  into  execution.  Coming  to  Paris,  this 
county,  he  employed  a  private  teacher  to  carry  on 
and  supplement  his  early  education,  and  soon  en- 
tered the  office  of  .1.  W.  Howell,  Esq..  where  he 
read  law  for  six  years.  Subsequently  he  was  ex- 
amined before  the  Appellate  Court  at  Mount  Ver- 
non, which  examination  he  passed  with  honor, 
receiving  100  per  cent,  in  all  his  studies,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  February,  188'J. 

Since  his  residence  in  Paris  Mr.  Jeter  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  politics.  He  was  reared  under 
Democratic  influences,  Mr.  Harris  being  a  member 
of  that  party,  but  on  reaching  his  majority  he 
identified  himself  with  the  National  Greenbackers, 
remaining  with  them  until  1879,  then  resumption 
having  been  accomplished  by  the  Republicans,  he 
considered  the  mission  of  the  Greenback  party 
ended  and  since  that  time  has  given  his  undivided 
support  to  the  Republican  Party.  In  the  spring 
of  1885  he  was  nominated  by  this  party  for  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  receiving  every  vote 
cast  in  the  convention  and  was  elected  by  a  major- 
ity in  advance  of  the  balance  of  ticket.  He  served 
his  term  of  four  years  acceptably  and  in  188'J  was 
unanimously  re-nominated  and  elected  by  a  ma- 
jority of  333. 

The  marriage  of  George  M.  Jeter  and  Miss 
Nettie  Sizemore,  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's 
home  in  Sims  Township,  Nov.  17,  188C.  This 
lady  is  the  daughter  of  Martin  and  Margaret 
(Priest)  Sizemore,  the  father  a  well-to-do  farmer 
and  a  leading  citizen  of  Sims  Township,  where  he 
settled  in  the  pioneer  days  and  accumulated  a  large 
property.  He  died  in  1872,  and  his  widow  now 
makes  her  home  in  Paris.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeter  are 
the  parents  of  one  child.  George  M.,  Jr.,  born 
Nov.  20,  1888.  They  occupy  a  neat  residence  on 
East  Court  Street  and  enjoy  the  friendship  of  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances.  The  position  which 
Mr.  Jeter  has  made  for  himself  in  social,  business 
and  political  circles  is  one  of  which  he  has  reason 
to  be  proud.  Reared  among  the  hills  with  limited 
advantiges  he  h..s  certainly  made  good  use  of    his 


later  opportunities.  He  is  decided  in  .his  political 
views,  but  never  offensive  in  advancing  them,  be- 
lieving in  the  right  of  every  individual  to  think 
and  act  for  himself.  He  is  well  known  throughout 
the  county  and  has  many  friends  who  will  be 
pleased  at  his  further  advancement  which  may 
reasonably  be  expected  in  the  near  future.  So- 
cially he  belongs  to  Austin  Lodge  No.  GC4,  I.O.O.F. 
at  Pans. 

TP^EY.  DAVID  COAKE,  farmer  and  preacher 
|Wf  of  the  gospel,  a  resident  of  Danville  Town- 
->  «\  s'iip.  was  born  in  Carter  County,  Ky  ,  Oct. 
%|  6,  1848.  His  great-grandfather  of  the  same 
name,  came  to  America  with  his  family  in  colonial 
times,  and  fought  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
He  settled  in  Scott  County.  W.  Va.,and  therespent 
his  last  years.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
three  years  old  when  lie  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  country.  He  was  reared  in  Scott  County. 
After  his  marriage  to  Rebecca  Flannery.  a  native 
of  Scott  County,  he  removed  to  Lee  County,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death.  His  son. 
Henry  J.  Coake,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
that  county,  Aug.  18,  1818.  At  twenty  years  of 
age.  his  father  being  dead,  the  young  man  went  with 
his  mother  to  Kentucky.  He  there  married  Lienor 
Howe,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Elenor  (Littleton) 
Rowe,  of  Carter  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coake  re- 
sided in  that  county  until  1863,  when  they  came  to 
Illinois,  and  purchased  the  farm  that  he  and  his 
son  now  occupy,  which  is  beautifully  located  on 
seel  ion  10,  Danville  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  present  sketch  was  in  his  fif- 
teenth year  when  he  accompanied  his  father  and 
mother  to  this  place.  He  married  in  1875  .Miss 
Ann  Willim,  a  native  of  Lewis  County,  Ky., 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Clarissa  (  Duncan )  Wil- 
lim. Of  their  happy  wedded  life  one  child  has 
been  born,  Bertha.  David  Coake  united  with  the 
Christian  Church  when  seventeen  years  of  age.  and 
began  preaching  at  thirty-six.  lie  removed  to  Kan- 
sas in  1879.  and  there  being  no  organized  Christian 
Church  ner.r,  he  attached  himself  to  the  Society  of 
Friends.     On    his    return    to    Illinois    in    1886,  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1055 


again  united  with  ih<'  Church  «>f  Christ.  Bred  lo 
agriculture,  a  lover  of  the  country  and  its  peaceful 
pursuits,  Mr.  Coake,  in  taking  up  the  clerical  pro- 
fession, did  nut  abandon  the  plough,  and  has  not 
ceased  sowing  seed  in  material  soil  since  he  began 
the  culture  of  spiritual  fields.  No  doubt  in  prac- 
tice the  blending  of  the  two  vocations  is  a  benefit 
to  both.  Sharing  on  the  week  day  the  labors  of  the 
people,  yet  nol  engrossed  by  them,  partaking  of 
their  joys  and  anxieties,  yet  nol  bound  up  in 
worldly  cans,  lie  is  better  fitted  to  give  counsel  to 
the  erring,  advice  to  the  inquiring,  to  lend  a  help- 
ing hand  to  the  weak  and  stumbling,  and  to  speak 
of  heavenly  things  to  those  who  are  bidding  fare- 
well  to  things  Of  earth. 

,^ps\  APT.  SAMUEL  MITCHELL.  Gov.  Ogles- 
Ill  by  said  of  this  sturdy  veteran  upon  pre- 
^^j/l  senting  him,  during  the  encampment  at 
Danville,  that  he  was  "a  man  who  had  seen  more 
active  service  in  the  army  than  any  other  in  the 
State  of  Illinois."  He  served  four  years  during 
the  late  Civil  War,  and  was  one  year  in  the 
.Mexican  War.  He  looks  upon  his  army  re- 
cord with  pardonable  pride  and  for  his  daring  and 
gallant  services,  received  not  only  the  admiration 
of  his  comrades,  lint  the  high  approval  of  his  su- 
perior  officers.  He  bears  the  still  further  honor  of 
being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Edgar  Town- 
ship, and  has  the  prettiest  residence  within  its 
limits  and  which  forms  the  most  attractive  feature 
of  a  well-regulated  farm  of  220  acres  lying  on  sec- 
tions 25  and  26,  adjacent  to  the  town  limits  of 
Horace. 

This  branch  of  the  Mitchell  family  traces  its  an- 
cestry to  Scotland  and   was  probably    represented 
in  America    by  the  great  grandfather    of  our  sub 
ject    who  settled  in     New  York  State  where  his  son 

Ensign,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born, 
grew  up  on  a  farm  and  distinguished  himself  later 

as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Subse- 
quently he  emigrated  to  the  vicinity  of  Darby  Plain, 
in  Ohio,  where  he  was  a  pioneer  settler,  farmed  on 
120  acres  of  land  and  officiated  as  a  local   exhorter 


of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  lie  was  a  man 
of  great  energy  and  prominent  in  his  community 
and  his  name  is  still  remembered  in  and  about 
Mechanicsburg  where  he  died  .-it  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety  years. 

Ensign  Mitchell.  .Jr..  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  Mute  of  New 
York  and  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  While  a 
young  man  and  unmarried,  he  removed  to  Ohio 
:tnd  became  interested  in  the  salt  works  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Kenawa.  and  afterwards  removed  to 
Georgetown  where  be  accumulated  a  fine  property, 
becoming  the  owner  of  640  acres  of  land  and  was 
largely  engaged  in  pork-packing  and  shipping  pro- 
duce on  flat  boats  to  New  Orleans.  Unfortunately 
however,  by  signing  notes  for  friends  he  lost  the 
greater  part  of  his  property,  and  in  1  S2'.l  left  the 
State,  setting  out  for  the  West  overland  with  a 
wagon  and  two  yoke  of  cattle  bringing  with  him  his 
family  and  household  effects,  lie  Located  On  the 
State  Road  in  Edgar  Township,  where  he  entered 
160  acres  of  land  and  established  a  home  which  he 
occupied  until  his  death.  He  was  a  strong  Aboli- 
tionist and  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  organizing  the  first  society  in 
the  township  and  serving  for  many  years  as  Class- 
Leader. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Calvin)  Mitchell,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Brown  County.  Ohio,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Hiram  Calvin,  who  was  of 
French  descent  and  carried  on  farming  successfully 
in  that  county.  The  mother  of  oursubject  died  in 
1846  when  a  young  woman.  The  parental  family 
included  nine  children,  of  whom  Calvin,  Joseph, 
Chandler  and  Elizabeth  are  deceased.  The  surviv- 
ors are  Lucy,  Mrs.  Ralston,  of  Bloomfaeld,  111.; 
Nancy,  a  resident  of  Rapid  City.  Dak.;  Polly,  of 
Newman,  and  John,  a  resident  of  Washington; 
Samuel,  our  subject,  was  next  to  the  youngest 
born.  John  during  the  late  war  enlisted  in  1862 
in  the  79th  Illinois  infantry  and  was  captured  by 
the  rebels  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Sept.  19, 
1863.  He  suffered  imprisonment  at  Libby  and 
Andersonville,  and  in  the  latter  prison  was  the 
leader  ill  digging  a  tunnel  for  the  escape  of  himself 
and  comrades.  When  it  was  completed  he  was  so 
weak  that  he  was  unable  to  travel  and  was  obliged 


105(5 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  retrace  his  steps;  later  lie  became  very  ill  and 
remained  in  prison  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
had  been  given  the  commission  of  First  Lieutenant 
with  which  rank  he  was  mustered  out.  The  suffer- 
ings and  privations  which  he  endured  affected  his 
health  to  such  a  degree  that  he  has  never  fully  re- 
covered. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  March  4,  1827,  and  was  a 
child  three  years  of  age  when  he  was  brought  by 
his  parent  to  Illinois.  He  grew  up  on  the  frontier 
in  the  vicinity  of  Bloonifield  and  wore  moccasins 
to  the  log  school-house  where  he  obtained  his  early 
education.  In  1840,  when  a  youth  of  nineteen 
years,  he  enlisted,  June  G,  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Mexican  War  in  Company H,  4th  Illinois  Infantry. 
He  was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Springfield 
and  went  with  his  comrades  to  Jefferson  Barricks, 
Mo.,  where  they  drilled  two  weeks.  They  then  re- 
ceived marching  orders  and  joined  the  command 
of  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  after  which  for  six  months 
they  saw  considerable  skirmishing  and  some  fight- 
ing, and  later  were  assigned  to  the  command  of 
Gen.  Winfield  Scott  who  led  them  in  the  battle 
of  Vera  Cruz  and  Carre  Gordo.  Our  subject  an- 
ticipated entering  the  City  of  Mexico  with  his 
regiment  but  before  this  could  be  accomplished  his 
term  of  enlistment  expired  at  Pueblo,  and  he  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  New  Orleans  in  June,  1847,  bearing  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  youngest  man  in  his  company. 
During  his  service  he  was  severely  injured  in  the 
leg,  being  run  over  by  a  company  of  cavalry,  the 
horses  of  which  tramped  upon  him  before  he  could 
make  his  escape. 

Upon  his  return  home  Capt.  Mitchell  remained 
with  his  father  until  reaching  his  majority.  In  1850 
he  traveled  overland  to  Wisconsin  with  horses  and 
after  making  his  sales  in  Milwaukee,  proceeded  to 
the  vicinity  of  Baraboo  and  exchanged  his  land 
warrant  for  160  acres  which  he  subsequently  traded 
for  forty  acres  of  land  in  Edgar  County,  111.  He 
returned  to  the  latter  place  a  few  days  later  and 
taking  possession  of  his  property  commenced  farm- 
ing and  making  improvements,  and  purchased 
forty  acres  additional.  He  operated  upon  this  until 
1861,  and  then   the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  con- 


strained him  to  lay  aside  his  personal  plans  and  in- 
terests and  in  June,  of  that  year,  lie  organized 
Company  A,  of  which  he  was  made  Second  Lieu- 
tenant and  which  was  assigned  to  the  25th  Illinois 
Infantry.  The  company  proceeded  to  St.  Louis 
where  they  were  mustered  into  the  service  and 
thence  were  ordered  to  Jefferson  City.  They  had 
an  unimportant  skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  Spring- 
field and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge. 
Lieut.  Mitchell  later  was  tendered  a  Captain's  com- 
mission on  account  of  his  meritorious  service  at 
this  battle.  Prior  to  this  he  had  been  sent  out  to 
reconnoitre  and  discover  the  enemy's  position 
which  he  carefully  noted  and  reported  at  head- 
quarters and  which  resulted  in  the  Union  troops 
winning  the  fight  the  next  day. 

Later  followed  the  battle  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  and 
Champion  Hills,  in  which  our  subject  was  staff  of- 
ficer and  where  his  horse  was  wounded.  By  hold- 
ing up  the  head  of  the  animal  he  managed  to  go 
some  distance.  Later,  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River 
thirteen  men  of  his  company  were  killed  and 
wounded.  Ne,xt  he  fought  in  the  battle  of  Chiek- 
amauga,  one  of  the  most  desperate  engagements  of 
the  war,  and  which  occurred  Sept.  19  and  20,  1863. 
On  the  18th  of  the  month  he  made  six  charges  and 
was  beaten  back  each  time.  On  the  19th  he  started 
out  with  eighteen  or  twenty  men  only,  having  lost 
the  others  the  day  before.  Capt.  Mitchell  was 
wounded  in  the  breast  and  shoulder  by  a  falling 
missile  and  in  this  way  lost  all  but  three  of  his  men. 
He  fought  his  way  through  the  thickest  of  the 
fight,  but  on  the  skirmish  line  was  knocked  on  the 
head  with  a  gun  and  fell  unable  to  go  further.  He 
was  taken  with  bleeding  at  the  lungs,  and  at  Chat- 
tanooga was  sheltered  in  a  private  house  where  he 
remained  about  two  weeks.  He  then  joined  his 
regiment  in  time  to  participate  in  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge  when  his  left  arm  was  tied  up, 
and  against  the  order  of  Gen.  Wood  he  led  his  men 
and  made  a  charge  up  the  Ridge  within  thirty  feet 
of  the  rebel  breastworks.  The  concussion  of  a 
rebel  gun,  fired  almost  in  his  face,  produced  deaf- 
ness of  the  left  ear,  from  which  he  has  not  re- 
covered. 

Capt.   Mitchell    besides    the   battles    mentioned, 
fought  at  Noonday   Creek  (July  18,  1864),    Pine 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1057 


Top  and  Kenesaw  Mountains,  Chattahooehie, 
Beacb  Tree  Creek  and  Atlanta.  At  Champion 
Hills  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  rebels  but  by 
strategy  effected  his  escape. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment  he 
was  mustered  out  at  Springfield,  in  September,  1864. 
lie  returned  home,  intending  to  remain,  but  the 
following  spring  be  organized  Company  IS.  which 
was  assigned  to  the  154th  Illinois  Infantry  and  of 
which  against  his  inclination  he  was  made  Captain. 
He  was  finally  mustered  out  at  Louisvilie,  Ky.,  in 
November.  1865  with  the  rank  of  Captain.  During 
hie  army  service  he  participated  in  twenty-seven 
battles  and  about  150  skirmishes  during  both  wars. 

Retiring  to  civil  life  a  second  time,  our  subject 
resumed  operations  on  his  farm  and  gave  consider- 
able attention  to  stock-raising,  lie  was  unable  to 
do  manual  labor  himself  and  he  was  obliged  to  pay 
out  considerable  for  hired  help,  but  notwithstand- 
ing this  he  was  prosperous  and  purchased  addi- 
tional land  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  250  acres. 
He  made  all  the  improvements  upon  it  and  resided 
there  till  1882,  and  removed  to  his  present  resi- 
dence. He  gave  to  the  Chicago,  Yinccnnes  & 
Cairo  Railroad  Company  the  right  of  way  besides 
$200.  His  farm  is  mostly  carried  on  by  his  son 
and  is  devoted  largely  to  stock-raising  and  feeding 
cattle  and  swine,  ('apt.  Mitchell  is  also  large!}' 
interested  in  draft  horses  and  roadsters,  of  which 
he  has  about  twelve  head.  His  cattle  are  full- 
blooded  Short-horns  and  his  swine  Poland-China 
and  Berkshire. 

The  marriage  of  ('apt.  Mitchell  and  Miss  Martha 
M.  Long  occurred  at  the  bride's  home  in  Edgar 
Townshipin  1852.  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  A.  F.  Long,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  She  died  about  1858. 
The  Captain  in  1865  contracted  a  second  matri- 
monial alliance  with  Miss  Harriet  .1.  daughter  of 
David  Calvin  and  a  native  of  Edgar  Township. 
Mr.  Calvin  was  one  of  the  largest  farmers  in  this 
region.  Mrs.  Mitchell  obtained  a  good  education 
and  taught  in  the  graded  schools  of  Paris  prior  to 
her  marriage.  There  was  born  of  this  union  a  son, 
Herman,  who  is  now  going  to  school  in  Tennessee. 

(apt.  Mitchell,  politically,  is  a  sound  Republican 
and  has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs,  serving  on 


the  Central  Committe  and  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions,  lie  has  officiated  as  ( lollector, 
Assessor  and  School   Director  ami  socially  belongs 

to  the    Masonic    Lodge    at     Paris   and  the    (LA.   R. 

Mrs. Mitchell,  an  accomplished,  refined  and  intel- 
ligent lady,  is  highly  spoken  of  in  her  community, 
and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at    Horace. 


ISRALL   X.    ARCHBOLD.  is   one    of    the   most 
prosperous    farmers    of     Edgar     County.      His 

'41  father,  the  Hon.  Edward  Archbold,  was  bom 
in  Washington.  1).  C,  1805, and  studied  law  under 
Gen.  Jackson  of  Clarksburg,  Va.  When  he  was 
about  twenty-three  years  of  age  hi'  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  after  which  he  commenced  a  lucrative 
practice  in  Woodslield,  Ohio,  until  18(58.  Deserved 
two  terms  in  the  Ohio  Senate  and  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  convention  that  framed  the  present 
State  Constitution  of  Ohio  in  1850.  He  was 
originally  a  Democrat  until  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party  in  1855.  when  he  united  his 
fortunes  with  the  new  organization.  In  18G*  he 
removed  to  Paris.  111.,  where  he  resided  for  one 
year,  and  in  1869  he  located  in  Nebraska  City, 
Neb.,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
until  his  death  in  1873.  He  was  considered  one  of 
the  most  eminent  men  of  his  profession  and  sus- 
tained a  good  reputation  as  a  man. 

The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  .lames  A.  Archbold.  lie  was  born  near  Dublin, 
Ireland,  and  traced  his  ancestry  to  England.  He 
came  to  America  and  located  at  Washington  and 
was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  one  of  the  departments, 
under  the  administration  of  John  Adams.  Later 
he  removed  to  West  Virginia,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  and  died  there  in  1818.  His  wife  was 
named  ( 'anady,  whose  people  were  prominent  in 
the  Revolution,  and  of  Irish  descent.  The  moth  r 
of  Israel  N.  was  L'achael  Nicklin.  who  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County.  \  a.,  and  the  daughter  of  John 
Nicklin,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  prominent 
physician  in  Eastern  Virginia,  who  later  removed 
to  Tyler  County,  W.    Va.,  where   he  practiced    his 


1058 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


profession  until  his  death  in  1839.  Mrs.  Archbold 
removed  to  Oregon  in  1874  and  remained  there 
until  her  death,  which  occurred  at  Hillsboro,  on 
June  2,  1886,  when  she  was  eighty-four  years  of 
age.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  was  the  mother  of  five  children, 
whose  records  are  given:  Alston  C,  lives  in  Ore- 
gon and  was  a  Probate  Judge  there;  John  was 
a  captain  in  the  25th  Ohio,  in  which  he  enlisted  in 
18G1  as  a  lieutenant  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Honey  Hill,  S.  C,  in  the  spring  of  1865.  Eliza- 
beth married  Capt.  Jones,  but  died  after  her  mar- 
riage in  1862.  Mary  resides  in  Hillsboro;  Alston 
C.  was  lieutenant  in  the  25th  Ohio  Infantry.  He 
enlisted  in  1861  and  resigned  the  following  year, 
when  he  went  to  Boise  mines  and  from  there  to 
Oregon. 

Israel  N.  Archbold  was  born  in  WoodsBeld, 
Monroe  County,  Ohio,  on  July  6,  1833,  where  he 
received  good  educational  advantages,  finishing  his 
education  at  the  Barnesville  Institute  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Monroe  County,  commenced,  but  abandoned  the 
study  of  law.  In  1860  he  came  to  Illinois  and  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  principal  of  the  schools  at 
Ridge  Farm,  a  position  he  filled  during  the  winter 
term  of  1860.  He  located  on  his  present  farm  im- 
mediately succeeding  his  engagement  in  the  school. 
In  Oct.  1864  he  entered  the  18th  Illinois  Infantry 
and  was  mustered  in  at  Danville,  whence  he  was 
sent  to  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  there  assigned  to 
duty.  Here  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  dis- 
ability, and  several  j-ears  after  his  discharge,  he 
suffered  from  the  effects  of  his  army  life. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  during  the  campaign 
of  1888,  a  ball  was  built  for  use  in  the  Harrison 
campaign.  The  famous  Harrison  &  Morton  ball 
was  constructed  at  Ridge  Farm  by  Mr.  Archbold 
at  the  cost  of  some  $400,  he  bearing  most  of  the 
expense.  This  ball  was  started  rolling  for  Indian- 
apolis on  Sept.  27  and  created  a  great  deal  of  en- 
thusiasm, in  the  county  through,  which  it  passed. 
It  is  made  of  wood  and  weighs  3,500  pounds,  per- 
fectly round  and  pointed  red,  white  and  blue,  with  a 
view  of  the  old  big  cabin,  which  cut  such  a  figure  in 
the  old  Harrison  Campaign.  The  ball  is  sixteen  feet 
in  diameter  and    is  supported  from  the  ground  byr 


means  of  flanges  nineteen  feet  high.  An  iron 
gudgeon  extends  from  each  side  of  the  ball  and.  re- 
volves within  the  iron  rings  of  the  shafts,  which 
project  forward  to  a  wagon  as  the  motive  power. 
The  ball  is  constructed  of  half-inch  poplar  lumber 
and  is  so  built  that  it  can  be  opened  and  explored 
by  the  curious.  It  is  now  at  Brazil,  Ind..  and  it  is 
expected  that  it  will  be  eventually  taken  to  In- 
dianapolis. 

In  1840,  when  Mr.  Archbold  was  a  boy  of  seven 
years,  he  saw  a  ball  that  was  built  by  the  admirers 
of  William  Henry  Harrison.  This  was  about  six 
feet  in  diameter  over  all,  and  the  lad  then  thought 
that  it  was  too  small  and  vowed,  that  if  another 
Harrison  ever  ran  for  president  he  would  build  a 
larger  one.  Circumstances  threw  it  in  his  way  to 
do  so  and.  immediately  upon  the  nomination  of 
Benjamin  Harrison,  he  began  working  at  his  hobby 
with  the  result  above  stated.  It  was  a  great  scheme 
and  reflects  credit  upon  the  projector.  It  is  un- 
necessary to  state  that  Mr.  Archbold  is  a  strong 
Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
No.  632,  and  is  a  man  universally  respected  for  his 
sterling  qualities  as  a  citizen. 

-^ -stHN* *""- 


ffiOHN  TENBROOK,  M.  D.,  was  a  leading 
physician  and  surgeon  in  Paris,  111.,  where 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  practice  for  over 
\^^)l  forty-live  years.  His  paternal  ancestors 
were  of  Holland  extraction,  the  name  being  spelled 
original  "  Tenbroecke."  They  settled  first  in  New 
Amsterdam,  as  New  York  was  then  called,  and 
from  there  the  family  subsequently  spread  over  the 
Eastern  States,  principally  in  New  York,  along  the 
Hudson  River,  in  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. 
Andrew  Tenbrook,  the  father  of  John,  was  a  farmer 
in  Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  spending  his  en- 
tire life  there.  The  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Eleanor  Curry,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  also  died 
in  Northumberland  County.  The  family  of  which 
she  was  a  member  settled  in  Greene  County,  Ohio, 
where  they  are  quite  numerous. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  on  his  fath- 
er's farm,  a    few  miles  from   Milton,   Northumber: 


POliTliAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   Al.lil   \l. 


L059 


land  Co.,  Pa.,  on  Dec.  21,  1808,  at  a  place  known 
ms  Warrior's  Run  Meeting  House.  Ele  receivedhis 
academic  education  at  Milton,  and  was  graduated 
afterward  at  La  Fayette  College, Easton,  Pa.,  which 
heattended  from  1832  to  1836.  While  there  he  was 
the  first  president  of  the  La  Fayette  Temperance 
Society  as  early  as  1832,  the  year  in  which  he  en- 
tered.  On  leaving  college  he  began  the  stud}'  of 
medicine  under  Dr.  McDougal  al  Milton,  Pa.,  was 
afterward  graduated  and  received  his  diploma  from 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  1838. 
Later  lie  received  the  honorary  degree  of  M.  D. 
from  Rush  Medical  College.  Chicago.  In  March. 
IK  10.  he  came  to  Paris,  111.,  and  here  established  a 
practice  which,  as  the  years  went  by,  increased 
greatly,  and  he  became  one  of  the  most  widely 
known  and  respected  physicians  in  this  part  of  the 
county,  as  well  on  account  of  his  high  personal 
character  as  his  ability  as  a  physician.  He  loved 
his  profession,  and  was  always  a  student,  keeping 
abreast  of  the  modern  developments  in  the  science 
of  medicine.  He  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature in  1862  without  any  effort  on  his  part  to  se- 
cure either  the  nomination  or  the  election.  In  fact, 
it  was  rather  against  his  wish  that  his  name  was  men- 
tioned in  connection  therewith,  as  he  was  in  no  way 
a  politician.  When  the  battle  of  Shiloh  was 
fought,  Gov.  Vales  telegraphed  for  volunteer  phy- 
sicians, and  Dr.  Tenbrock  was  among  the  first  of 
those  who  went.  Most  of  them  soon  returned  to 
their  homes  and  their  practice,  but  our  subject  re- 
mained six  weeks,  attending  to  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  the  hospitals  at  Savannah",  never  re- 
ceiving a  penny  for  his  services,  and  not  even  hav- 
ing his  railroad  fare  paid. 

Dr.  Tenbrook  was  a  man  of  deep  and  strong  re- 
ligious feeling,  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  for  many  years  a  Trustee  of 
that  church  in  Paris.  While  firm  in  his  own  be- 
lief, he  was  tolerant  of  that  of  others,  believing  in 
the  fullest  liberty  and  never  controverting  the  sin- 
cere opinions  of  those  who  differed  with  him.  He 
was  always  a  warm  advocate  of  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance reform,  to  which  lie  gave  his  earnest  efforts 
from  his  earliest,  manhood.  His  life  was  one  filled 
with  jiood  works,  and  he  died  as  he  had  lived,  a 
Christian    in  the  highesl    sense   of  the    word.     lie 


passed  from  earth,  after  much  suffering,  in  the  sure 
and  certain  hope  of  immortality,  Aug,  8,  1885,  al 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  His  ailment  was 
brain  disease  resulting,  probably,  from  a  fall  from 
his  carriage  sometime  previously. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1840,  Dr.  Tenbrook  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  .lane  ('..  daughter  of 
Gen.  Milton  K.  and  Mary  (Shields)  Alexander,  of 
whom  a  sketch  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Mrs.  Tenbrook  was  horn  in  Giles  County.  Tenn., 
Dec.  12.  1820.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  six  children,  two  only  of  whom  arc  living, 
namely:  Nellie,  the  wife  of  Stephen  Bird,  a  rail- 
road man  living  in  Paris,  and  Dollie  T..  the  wife 
of  ().  S.  Jones,  a  real  estate  dealer  in  the  same 
place.  .John,  the  eldest  in  (he  family,  died  in  1844, 
when  three  years  old.  Nettie  died  unmarried  in 
1870,  aged  t wen  tj  years.  Zachary  died  in  1860  al 
the  age  of  thirteen  years.  Elizabeth,  the  youngest, 
died  in  1 854,  when  two  years  old. 

An  interesting  incident  in  connection  with  the 
history  of  Mrs.  Tenbrook  is  that  the  substantial 
and  commodious  brick  house  in  which  she  lives  and 
where  she  has  passed  many  years,  is  the  oldest 
dwelling  in  the  city  of  Paris,  and  in  a  state  of  ad- 
mirable repair.  In  that  house  she  first  met  her 
husband  and  was  there  married  to  him.  It  was  l he 
home  of  her  parents, and  she  had  lived  there  up  to 
the  time  of  her  marriage.  For  several  years  prior 
to  the  death  of  the  Doctor,  it  was  the  home  of  him- 
self and  his  family.  Mrs.  Tenbrook  is  likewise  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  her  name 
is  associated  with  many  good  works. 


kFNJAMIN  McKEE  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  F., 
v  and  grandson  of  John  and  Rachel  McKee 
both  natives  of  Kentucky  the  former  born 
April  7,  L819,  the  latter  in  1794.  Grand- 
father McKee  was  a  farmer  and  like  a  I  rue  yeoman 
shouldered  his  musket  and  marched  to  the  f runt 
in  the  War  of  1812,  answering  British  gun  pow- 
der with  his  trusty  rifle  until  surrounded  by  the 
Indians  when  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined 
on   ship    board    on  Lake  Erie.      He  ran  the  Indian 


1060 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


gauntlet  and  gained  his  liberty.  On  securing  his 
liberty  he  returned  to  the  farm,  which  he  after- 
ward partially  abandoned,  preferring  the  more  lu- 
crative occupation  of  flat-boating  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers.  In  1829  he  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  Edgar  Township.  The  journey  was 
made  in  the  usual  style  of  the  time,  wagons  and 
horses  conveying  the  family  and  household  goods 
across  the  country  to  their  new  home  on  the  bound- 
less prairie.  Bringing  $700  with  him  he  was  com- 
paratively well  off,  and  being  industrious  he  ac- 
cumulated a  snug  fortune  before  his  death  which 
occurred  in  1877.  Besides  his  other  work  he 
taught  school  for  some  time  and  filled  the  position 
of  Surveyor  for  the  district,  surveying  not  only 
the  laiKLhe  entered  or  purchased  for  himself,  but 
also  that  of  his  neighbors.  Before  his  death,  of 
which  mention  is  made  above,  he  secured  the  un- 
disputed title  to  over  2000  acres  in  Edgar  and  Ross 
townships,  leaving  a  fine  inheritance  to  his  family. 

The  great  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Samuel 
McKee,  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a  hero  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  fighting  under  Washington 
and  being  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornvvallis 
at  Yorktown.  On  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed 
to  Kentucky,  then  in  possession  of  the  Indians  and 
assisted  his  fellow  pioneers  in  their  many  cam- 
paigns against  the  savages,  and  it  is  said  that  he 
killed  one  Indian  certain.  The  McKees  arc  of 
Irish  descent  and  come  of  good  fighting  stock,  some 
of  their  ancestors  having  been  in  the  siege  of  Sou- 
dan. 

Benjamin  F.  McKee  spent  his  youth  in  Edgar 
Township  and  on  his  maturity  engaged  in  farming, 
assisting  in  the  management  of  his  father's  place. 
He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Sept.  .5,  1812, 
being  only  twenty-three  years  old.  The  mother 
of  our  subject,  Dorothy  Hoult  was  a  native  of  Mar- 
ion County,  Va.,  where  she  was  born  in  1822, being 
the  daughter  of  Klisha  Hoult,  who  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  followed  farming  there  until 
1832,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  Leaving  Virginia 
in  the  spring  of  that  year  he  brought  his  family  by 
boat  to  Clinton  Ind.,  finally  locating  in  Edgar 
County,  on  the  state  road.  He  bought  a  squatter's 
right  in    Edgar  County,  entered  laud  and  engaged 


in  farming;  being  fond  of  good  living  and  his  cir- 
cumstances, owing  to  his  successful  industry,  per- 
miting  him  to  enjoy  it,  his  home  became  a  synonym 
of  hospitality  and  good  cheer.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  and  an  active  Democrat, 
taking  a  prominent  part  in  all  the  public  meetings, 
his  party  services  being  rewarded  with  the  office  of 
County  Commissioner,  which  he  held  one  year. 
His  death  occurred  Sept.  •'!.    1851. 

The  mother  of  Benjamin  McKee  entered  the 
marriage  relation  the  second  time  with  Thomas 
Wynn  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county. 
They  passed  their  life  on  a  farm  in  Edgar  Town- 
ship where  Mrs.  Wynn  died  in  .Inly  26,  187."). 
Throughout  her  life  of  useful  activity  she  found  a 
religious  home  within  the  fold  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Dining  her  first  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  one  child — Benjamin  McKee. 
Her  second  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three 
children — Jonathan,  now  in  Texas;  Newton  and 
Elisha,  also  in  Texas. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Edgar  Township,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  father  was  taken  into 
the  family  of  his  grandfather  Hoult,  where  he  re- 
mained until  nine  years  of  age.  While  there  he 
attended  the  common  school  of  the  district  and 
also.  <luring  vacation,  a  subscription  school.  When 
he  had  reached  the  above  named  age  he  was  re- 
moved to  his  grandfather  McKce's  home,  where  he 
remained  until  of  legal  age,  earning  a  good  name 
for  obedience  and  industry.  While  a  youth  he  en- 
gaged in  some  of  the  many  hunting  parties  of  the 
neighborhood.  In  September  I  864  he  was  drafted  in- 
to the  United  States  service,  entering  the  59th  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  being  assigned  to  Company  F.  Ilis 
regiment  was  mustered  into  service  at  Danville, 111. 
He  joined  his  regiment  at  Athens.  Ala.  They 
were  placed  in  Scolield's  division. and  ordered  back 
to  Nashville.  Meeting  the  confederates  at  Frank- 
lin, they  engaged  in  a  fierce  struggle  but  suc- 
ceeded in  forcing  their  way  through  the  enemies 
lines  and  reached  Thomas  at,  Nashville.  Shortly 
after  when  Hood  invested  Nashville,  he  was  in 
the  ranks  of  those  who  sallied  out  and  drove  him 
across  the  Tennessee  River.  Our  subject  was 
with  the  wing  of  the  army  that  pushed  on  to 
Huntsville,  Ala.,  with  his  regiment  and  in  the  cam- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOORAl'HICAL  ALBUM. 


L06J 


paign  following  reached  East  Tennessee  and  North 
Carolina.  While  they  were  in  Tennessee,  Rich- 
mond fell  before  (want's  army  and  they  were 
shortly  afterward  sent  hack  to  Nashville,  where 
they  were  mustered  out  and  honorably  discharged, 
June,  11,  1865.  On  receiving  his  discharge  he 
immediately  left  for  home,  and  commenced  work 
on  his  grandfather's  farm.  In  1  SS 1  the  estate  was 
divided  and  he  took  possession  of  300  acres,  being 
his  share.  The  land  was  fenced  but  otherwise  un- 
improved, lie  has  put  up  a  dwelling  20x28  feet 
and  all  the  other  necessary  buildings.  Although 
engaged  somewhat  in  general  farming  he  pays 
most  attention  to  grass  and  stock.  He  has  cattle 
and  cows  and  raises  horses  for  the  market,  having 
at  present  seven  head,  including  three  teams.  In 
addition  to  his  farm  he  owns  three  lots  in  the  town 
of  Chrisman,  III.  Since  he  has  resided  on  his 
place  he  has  set  out  a  fine  orchard  from  which  he 
is  now  reaping  the  benefit  having  plenty  of  fruit 
for  his  family  and  the  market. 

On  the  11th  day  of  July.  1867  in  Edgar  County, 
Mr.  McKee  led  Miss  Theresa  Moore  to  the  mar- 
riage altar,  the  fruit  of  which  union  is  one  child — 
Miss  Mary  E.  Mrs.  McKee  is  a  native  of  Edgar 
County,  and  was  born  July,  II,  184  4.  Their 
daughter  is  an  affectionate  and  cultured  young 
lady,  a  graduate  of  their  home  school,  from  which 
she  has  received  a  diploma  of  honor. 

Mr.  McKee  has  served  his  district  as  School  Di- 
rector for  two  years  and  Supervisor  of  Roads  for 
one  term.  Politically  he  adheres  to  the  Republican 
party. 

-    <xrx>    . 


<x5o~ 


»ILLIAM  M.  LAUHER,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  W.  M.  Lauher  &  Co.,  is  with 
his  partners  transacting  an  extensive  busi- 
ness in  agricultural  implements,  farm  machinery, 
buggies,  wagons,  etc..  at  Kansas,  and  is  numbered 
among  the  leading  men  of  the  place.  Intelligent, 
benevolent  and  upright  in  his  dealings,  he  has  been 
no  unimportant  factor  in  upholding  the  standard  of 
morality  and  encouraging  the  enterprises  calculated 
for  the  best  good  of  the  people.  He  has  had  a 
large  experience  in  life,  and  has  labored  incessantly 


with  hands  and  brain  and  to  good  purpose.  He 
profited  from  the  experience  of  his  early  lib'  which 
was  marked  by  rather  limited  advantages,  and 
filled  in  with  habits  of  industry  and  economy, 
which  have  proved  to  him  excellent  capital  in  his 
later  years. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Clark  County,  this 
State.  Aug.  11),  1834,  and  is  the  son  of  Frederick 
Lauher,  a  native  of  Berne,  Switzerland.  The  lat- 
ter emigrated  to  America  when  a  young  man,  set- 
tling in  the  vicinity  of  Bellaire,  Ohio,  where  in 
due  time  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Kellar. 
This  lady  was  a  native  of  his  own  country,  and  first 
opened  her  eyes  to  the  light  near  the  foot  of  the 
Alps.  Soon  after  their  marriage  the  parents  of  our 
subject  came,  in  183(1,  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Clark 
County,  and  the  father  afterward  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  The  household  circle 
was  completed  by  the  birth  of  ten  children,  viz: 
Margaret  and  Jacob,  now  deceased;  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Roberts;  William  M.,  our  subject;  John  F. ; 
Evan  S.,  Mary  J.,  (Mrs.  Coons),  James  K.,  Nancy 
M.,  (Mrs.  Allen)  and  Benjamin  F. 

The  Lauher  (the  name  was  originally  spelled 
Locher)  family  changed  their  residence  from 
Clark  to  Edgar  County,  III.,  in  1836,  and  on  the 
19th  of  August,  1849,  William  M.  commenced  his 
apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmith  trade,  at  which  he 
served  five  years  in  Sims  Township,  five  miles 
south  of  Paris,  working  at  $3.50  per  month,  serv- 
ing five  years  with  James  S.  O'llair.  Later  he 
operated  as  a  journeyman  about  two  years,  then 
took  charge  of  the  shop  in  which  he  had  learned 
the  trade,  and  which  he  conducted  until  Oct.  6, 
1859.  That  day  found  him  in  Kansas,  in  which 
town  he  ran  a  shop  until  1884.  Then  wisely  resol- 
ving to  retire  from  the  arduous  labors  involved 
therein,  invested  a  portion  of  his  capital  in  the 
business  in  which  we  now  find  him  engaged,  and 
in  which  he  became  interested  in  1880. 

In  addition  to  the  merchandise  mentioned  at  the 
beginning  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Lauher  also  sells  the 
Abbott  buggy,  of  Chicago,  and  the  Studebaker 
wagons  and  other  road  vehicles,  as  well  as  those 
produced  from  other  leading  manufacturers.  They 
do  an  annual  business  of  from  $10,000  to  $12,000, 
and  by  their  promptness    in    meeting   their  obliga- 


•1062 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


tions  and  also  in  attending  to  their  customers,  have 
established  themselves  at  the  head  of  the  trade. 
Mr.  Lauher  owns  and  occupies  a  home  in  the  south 
eastern  part  of  the  city.  He  was  married  Jan.  6, 
1859,  to  Miss  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  Capt.  Rob- 
ert Griffin,  who  obtained  his  title  during  his  gallant 
service  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Of  this  union 
there  were  born  no  children.  Mrs.  Martha  (Grif- 
fin) Lauher  remained  the  companion  of  her  hus- 
band for  a  period  of  twenty-four  years,  departing 
this  life  June  6,  1883.  Mr.  Lauher  contracted  a 
second  marriage  April  6,  1884,  with  Miss  Caroline 
Shuman,  daughter  of  Charles  G.  Shuman,  who  set- 
tled in  18.37  m  Dudley,  Edgar  Co  .  111.,  where  his 
decease  took  place.  Of  this  latter  marriage  there 
have  been  born  three  children,  only  two  of  whom 
are  living — Maude,  born  April  18,  1887,  and  Mary, 
July  4,  1889.  The  boy,  Roscoe,  died  when  six 
months  old.  He  has  an  adopted  son.  Edward  \V. 
Lauher,  who  is  a  traveling  salesman  of  the  house  of 
Quiun  &  Gray,  Little  Rock,  Ark. 

Mr.  Lauher,  politically,  is  a  firm  adherent  of  the 
Democratic  party,  but  has  never  evinced  any  de- 
sire for  office.  He  is  a  warm  admirer  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  Masonry,  in  which  he  has  attained  to  the 
R.  A.  degree,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  I.  ().().  F. 
In  his  religious  views  he  harmonizes  with  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Christian  Church,  of  which  lie  is  a 
member,  receiving  baptism  by  the  well-known  and 
talented  divine.  Prof.  Black,  an  Evangelist  of  great 
talent  and  power,  and  who  has  made  for  himself  a 
wide  reputation  in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Lauher  is  also 
identified  with  the  same  church. 


f/AMKS  II.  McCULLOCH.  There  is  upon 
the  face  of  the  globe  a  no  more  pleasant 
sight  to  the  eye,  than  a  young  man  starting 
out  in  life  with  worthy  ambitions  to  do 
something  and  be  somebody  in  the  world  of  men. 
He  who  has  the  proper  conception  of  that  which  is 
worthy  and  honorable,  is  never  ashamed  to  labor 
with  his  hands  or  to  perform  the  duties  assigned 
him,  with  patience  and    courage.     These  thoughts 


involuntarily  occur  in  contemplating  the  surround- 
ings of  Mr.  McCulloch,  one  of  the  enterprising 
young  fanners  of  Shiloh  Township  who  owns  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  1  1 ,  and  operates  in  addi- 
tion 360  acres  adjoining  and  belonging  to  his 
father.  Having  been  bred  to  farm  pursuits  from 
boyhood  he  has  had  ample  experience,  and  being 
wide  awake  and  enterprising  there  seems  nothing 
in  the  way  of  his  complete  success.  He  has  a  pleas- 
ant home,  his  domestic  affairs  being  presided  over 
by  a  very  accomplished  lady,  who  is  capable,  well- 
educated  and  possesses  refined  and  cultivated 
tastes. 

Our  subject  is  the  offspring  of  a  good  family. 
being  the  son  of  John  Y.  McCulloch.  who  was  born 
in  Hunter  Township,  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and  grew  up 
amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life  during  its 
early  settlement.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Otis 
McCulloch,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  one 
of  the  very  first  men  to  enter  land  in  the  Sucker 
State.  He  there  became  owner  of  a  large  farm. 
aggregating  probably  100  acres,  and  established 
the  first  store  at  Baldwinsville.  He  conducted 
this  a  few  years,  but  died  at  his  homestead  when 
quite  aged. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  Edgar 
County,  111.,  chose  farming  for  his  vocation,  in 
which  he  engaged  on  his  own  account  as  soon  as 
reaching  man's  estate,  and  likewise  operated  as  a 
dealer  in  live-stock,  buying  cattle  in  large  numbers 
and  driving  them  through  to  Chicago  and  the  Last, 
even  as  far  as  Massachusetts.  This  industry  proved 
quite  profitable  and  he  invested  bis  capital  in  land, 
finally  becoming  the  owner  of  400  acres  in  Hunter 
Township  and  3fi0  acres  in  Shiloh.  He  brought  the 
whole  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  established 
his  homestead  in  Hunter  Township,  where  he  still 
lives.  He  is  still  vigorous  and  active,  and  super- 
intends his  farming  operations,  lie  keeps  himself 
well  posted  upon  current  events,  and  votes  the 
Republican  ticket. 

Mrs.  Olive  (Plumb)  McCulloch,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Jacksonville,  Yt.,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Saxton  Plumb.  The  latter  was  a 
native  of  Stonington,  Conn.,  but  removed  with  his 
father,  James  Saxton,  when  a  boy,  to  Vermont, 
where  he  later    operated  as  a  cloth  manufacturer 


PORTRAIT  AND   1!I(  >< ;  UAl'IIICAL  Al.liI'M. 


1063 


and  became  well-to-do.  .lames  Plumb  was  a  sea- 
faring man,  and  the  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  Plumb,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  who  also  followed  the  sea 
and   worked    Mis  way  from    before    the  mast  until 

I iming  Captain  and    finally  owner  (if  a  vessel, 

ami  traded  between  the  United  States  and  the  West 
Indies. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  became  a  pros- 
perous merchant,  and  was  a  prominent  man  in  his 
county,  largely  concerned  in  its  growth  and  de- 
velopment, lie  laid  out  the  town  of  Jacksonville, 
Vt.,  giving  to  it  ils  name  after  the  ex-President, 
Andrew  Jackson,  and  was  the  first  man  to  be  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  winch  office  lie  held  until  re- 
signing it.  Later  in  life  he  removed  to  North 
Adams,  Mass.,  where  he  resumed  his  old  business 
as  a  cloth  manufacturer,  but  remained  there,  how- 
ever, only  a  few  ycn>. Finally  he  returned  to  Jack- 
sonville, and  continued  the  manufacture  of  cloth 
until  1854.  That  year  he  set  out  for  the  West, 
and  halting  in  the  young  town  of  Chicago,  sojourned 
there  with  his  family  until  1856.  During  the 
latter  year  he  came  to  Edgar  County.  III.,  and 
spent  his  last  days  with  his  son,  John  Y..  in  Hunter 
Township. 

( rrandmother  Harriet  (  Roberts)  Plumb  was  born 
in  Whitingham,  Vt.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Hon. 
John  Roberts,  a  native  of  Greenfield,  Mass..  who 
removed  to  Vermont  with  his  father  when  a  boy. 
His  advantages  for  a  education  were  extremely 
limited,  but  by  his  own  exertions  he  learned  id 
read  and  write  On  birch  bark,  and  after  mastering 
the  common  branches  took  up  the  study  of  law. 
and  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  attorneys 
his  county.  He  was  successful  as  a  money-getter, 
and  invested  a  large  portion  of  his  capital  in  land, 
lie  was  elected  to  the  office  <>i  Sheriff  in  Windham 
County,  in  which  he  served  a  year,  and  later  was 
Judge  of  the  county  court  three  successive  terms. 
Finally,  he  was  elected  to  the  state  Legislature,  in 
which  he  served  six  terms.  In  1852  he  was  made 
the  nominee  of  his  party  for  Governor. 

Hon.  James  Roberts,  maternal  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Greenfield, 
Mass..  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  <if  Wind- 
ham   County,   Vt.,  being  One  of    the    three    men    to 

enter  the  wilderness  and    redeem  a  portion  of  its 


soil.  lie  likewise  became  an  extensive  landowner, 
and  laid  out  Whiting  Township  in  Windham 
County.  The  Roberts  family  was  of  Welsh  des- 
cent, and  all  through  were  distinguished  for  those 
trails  of  character  which  invariably  made  of  them 
substantial  and  reliable  citizens. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  woman- 
hood in  the  Green  Mountain  state,  whence  she  re- 
moved to  Chicago.  III.,  and  there  remained  until 
her  marriage.  The  parental  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  viz.:  Otis,  deceased;  Mary,  a  resi- 
dent of  LaMoure,  Dak.;  Hattie,  deceased,  .lames 
II..  our  subject;  George  11..  Esther.  John  I'.,  and 
Julia,  the  latter  four  all  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents in  Hunter  Township.  At  the  old  homestead 
there  James  II.  was  born,  Feb.  20,  18G2,  and  there 
he  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  on  the  farm,  at- 
tending the  common  school  until  sixteen  years  of 
age.  He  then  entered  the  State  Normal  School, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  three  years,  and 
lain-  followed  them  in  the  Gem  City  Business  Col- 
lege at  Quincy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1K87.  He  then  returned  to  his 
father's  farm,  and  soon  afterward  began  operating 
the  land  which  he  now  owns,  but  did  not  move  to 
it  permanently  until  1885.  He  has  made  all  the 
improvements  observable  upon  it,  having  a  neat 
dwelling,  sheds,  pens,  and  machinery,  with  neat 
fences  and  the  other  appliances  of  the  well-regu- 
lated homestead.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  live- 
stock, which  yields  him  good  returns.  In  the  fall 
of  1888  he  purchased  eighty  acres  adjoining  on 
section  11.  which  in  itself  was  an  improved  farm 
with  a  residence,  grove  and  orchard.  In  cattle 
Mr.  McCulloch  favors  high-grade  Short-horns, 
while  all  his  stock  is  of  good  quality  and  well 
cared   for. 

The  27th  of  October,  1886, -witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  in  Paris  Township  with  Mi>s 
Gertrude  Kimble.  Mrs.  McCulloch  was  born  in 
that  township,  and  is  the  daughter  of  George  W. 
and  Sarah  (Hannah)  Kimble,  who  are  numbered 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  that  locality.  Mrs. 
McCulloch  was  carefully  trained  and  completed 
her  education  al  St.  Mary's,  Ind., and  like  her  hus- 
band is  a  favorite  in  the  social  circles  of  their 
neighborhood.     A    sketch    of    the    Kimble  family 


1064 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


will  be  found  on  another  page  in  this  volume. 
Mr.  McCulloeh,  although  not  mingling  very  much 
with  political  affairs,  has  his  own  decided  views, 
and  uniformly  supports  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


#-# 


— *- 


r^ICHAM)    STOKES.     The   man    who  forms 

U^7  his  opinions  and  abides  by  them  conscien- 
.  tiously  cannot  fail  to  command  respect, 
^)  even  though  the  majority  of  men  may 
differ  from  him.  One  of  the  leading  character- 
istics of  Mr.  Stokes  is  his  Democracy,  "dyed 
in  the  wool,"  and  which  it  would  take  a  mira- 
cle to  eradicate;  another  is  his  firm  belief  in 
the  doctrines  of  the  Close  Communion  Baptist 
Church  with  which  he  has  been  connected  since 
his  youth.  An  honest,  hardworking,  upright  and 
intelligent  citizen,  he  has  enunciated  his  principles 
by  his  example  and  has  no  use  for  the  drones  in 
the  world's  great  hive,  but  nevertheless  no  man 
posesses  kindlier  impulses  or  gives  a  more  hearty 
aid  to  those  who  will  try  to  help  themselves. 

On  section  11  in  Embarras  Township  may  be 
seen  the  homestead  of  Mr.  Stokes,  which  comprises 
188  acres  of  land  with  good  improvements  and 
twenty  acres  elsewhere  which  make  all  told  208  acres. 
At  the  age  of  nearly  fifty-nine  years,  having  been 
born  Sept.  15,  1830,  Mr.  Stokes  is  still  able  to 
superintend  his  farming  operations  with  his  old 
time  thoroughness  and  energy.  He  is  a  native  of 
North  Carolina  and  the  son  of  John  Stokes  who 
was  born  in  Virginia,  but  who  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Illinois  when  a  small  boy  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Oakland  111.  The  latter  had  a  full  ex- 
perience with  the  difficulties  of  life  on  the  frontier, 
to  which  he  came  when  the  present  flourishing  city 
of  Paris  was  designated  simply  by  a  few  log  huts, 
near  which  he  settled. 

The  Stokes  family  finally  changed  their  residence 
to  Embarras  Township  where  they  sojourned  a  few 
years  near  the  present  site  of  Isabel.  Since  that 
time  Richard  has  been  a  resident  of  this  township. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Lutitia  Allen 
and   the   parental  family  included  ten  children,  six 


of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Richard.  John  W..  Su- 
san, Ellen,  James  and  Alma.  One  daughter,  Mary 
A.,  died  in  the  bloom  of  womanhood,  and  a  son, 
Levi  died  when  a  promising  young  man  of  over 
twenty-  years.  The  survivors  besides  our  subject 
are  residents  of  Illinois. 

The  education  of  Mr.  Stokes  was  conducted  in  a 
log  cabin  under  the  primitive  methods  of  instruc- 
tion peculiar  to  that  day.  The  floor  of  the  temple 
of  learning  was  made  of  split  logs  with  the  flat 
sides  turned  up,  the  roof  covered  with  clapboards 
held  in  their  place  by  weight  poles,  a  huge  fire- 
place occupied  nearly  one  end  of  the  room  and  the 
chimney  was  built  outside  of  sticks  and  clay.  The 
seats  and  writing  desks  were  manufactured  of  the 
same  material  as  the  floor,  the  former  upheld  by 
rude  wooden  legs  and  the  latter  fastened  to  the 
wall  with  wooden  pins.  The  birch  rod  was  freely 
used  in  order  to  enforce  the  lessons  from  the 
elementary  spelling  book  which  passed  from  child 
to  child  through  the  family  until  it  would  no  longer 
hold  together. 

The  schools  were  conducted  in  the  winter  season 
and  during  the  summer  our  subject  like  his  com- 
rades, was  required  to  make  himself  useful  on  the 
farm.  He  began  plowing  when  a  lad  of  ten  years 
and  prided  himself  upon  his  accomplishments.  He 
remained  a  single  man  until  twenty-five  years  old 
and  in  the  fall  of  1855  was  married  to  Miss  Man', 
daughter  of  Joseph  Bradbury  who  was  a  pioneer 
settler  of  this  county,  and  is  long  since  deceased. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of 
James  Lauher  of  Edgar  Count}',  111.,  and  has  three 
children — Norah,  Frederick  and  William.  Mary 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Wilson  of  Shiloh  Township 
and  they  have  two  children  Flora  and  Mary  S.; 
Sophronia  married  Francis  Collins  and  died 
leaving  two  children,  Clarence  and  Bertie.  The 
mother  of  these  children  passed  to  her  long  home 
several  years  ago. 

Mr.  Stokes  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alli- 
ance with  Miss  Rebecca  A.,  daughter  of  John 
Galbreath.  Their  six  children  were  named  respec- 
tively John  R.,  James  W..  Mahala,  Clara  15.. 
Jarret  and  Joseph  C.  Mrs.  Rebecca  J.  Stokes  died 
also  and  Mr.  Stokes  was  married  the  third  time, Oct. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BI(  K  J  RAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


L065 


3,  1879,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Sisk.  Ansel  Sisk,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Stokes,  came  t<>  Edgar  County  about 
forty  years  ago,  performed  his  share  of  pioneer 
labor  and  rested  therefrom  Feb.  I.  1887.  The 
three  children  born  of  tins  union  are  Delia  L.,  Es- 
tella  V.,  and  Jesse  Cleveland.  Mr.  Stokes  has 
never  sought  office,  preferring  to  remain  a  private 
citizen  and  perfect  himself  as  a  farmer,  which  with- 
out question  he  has  fully  accomplished.  Without 
making  any  pretentions  to  elegance,  his  home  dis- 
plays comfort  and  plenty  and  will  compare  favora- 
bly  with  that  of  ai>3'  of  his  neighbors. 


~^i^H~^ti> 


<r*<2-»«^tf-» 


j|^  ENRY  S.  MERKLE.  This  gentleman  is  a 
y  worthy  representative  of  a  family  well 
known  and  highly  respected  in  Edgar 
County.  We  find  him  pleasantly  located 
on  section  6  in  Embarras  Township,  not  far  from 
the  old  homestead  where  he  was  born,  April  6, 
1856.  Of  his  father,  Charles  Merkle,  a  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  latter  is  one 
of  the  most  honored  pioneers  of  this  county,  and 
has  contributed  his  full  share  to  the  development 
of  its  best  resources.  Schools,  churches,  and  other 
worthy  institutions  have  uniformly  received  his 
moral  and  financial  support,  he  building  up  a  good 
record,  to  which  his  descendants  may  refer  with 
pride. 

Mr.  Merkle  has  spent  his  entire  life  within  the 
limits  of  his  native  county,  and  he  remained  a 
member  of  the  parental  household  until  approach- 
ing the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  In  the  mean- 
time he  had  obtained  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
farming,  and  adopted  this  for  his  vocation  in  life. 
When  establishing  a  fireside  of  his  own,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ella  Gillis,  at  the 
bride's  home  in  Embarras  Township,  March  23, 
1882.  This  lady  is  the  daughter  of  George  Gillis, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  section,  and  who  de 
parted  this  life  many  years  ago.  Two  (Laughters 
have  been  born  Of  this  union,  only  one  of  whom  is 
living — Eva  A.,  who  was  born  Nov.  15,  1884. 
Baby  Ethel  died  Jan.  8,  1889,  aged  eight  months 
and  seven  days.      Mrs.  Merkle,  like  her  husband,  is 


a   native   of    Embarras    Township,   and   was    born 
Sept.  14.  1865.     She  is  a  very  estimable  lady,  and 

is    a    member     in  good    Standing  Of    the    Methodist 

Episcopal  Church,  at  Brocton. 

The  farming  operations  of  Mr.  Merkle  are  con- 
ducted after  the  most  approved  methods.  He  owns 
and  operates  a  GarSCOtl  steam  thresher,  in  connec- 
tion with  which  he  uses  a  Thorntown  straw  stacker, 
and  by  this  means  has  built  up  a  large  patronage 
throughout  this  part  of  the  county.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  live-stock,  and  has  a  third  interest  in 
the  fine  horses  mentioned  in  the  biography  of  his 
brother.  Douglas  Merkle.  Besides  his  farm  prop- 
erty, he  owns  a  house  and  lot  in  Brocton.  His 
favorites  in  the  cattle  line  are  the  graded  Short- 
horns, numbers  of  which  he  disposes  of  annually 
at  handsome  profits.  Politically,  Mr.  Merkle  is  a 
sound  Democrat.  He  keeps  himself  well  post,.,! 
on  State  and  National  events,  and  possessing  more 
than  ordinary  ability  and  intelligence,  is  a  man 
naturally  looked  up  to  in  his  community  as  one 
representing  its  best  elements. 


—ZQJ2X$%&~ — m 


•^S/Zrcrar.. 


Ml  EROY  WILEY  has  retired  from  the  active 
I  (©)  duties  of  life,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  rest 
ly^v  to  which  a  busy  career  entitles  him.  He 
was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Paris,  March  14,  1827, 
and  when  he  was  eight  years  of  age  his  father  re- 
moved to  Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  111.  There  he 
finished  his  education,  and  in  1846  enlisted  in  the 
Mexican  War  with  two  brothers.  He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo.  While  in 
the  service  he  contracted  a  lameness,  obliging  him 
to  use  crutches  for  a  long  time.  His  period  of  ser- 
vice covered  a  little  over  a  year. 

When  he  returned  from  the  army  he  was  almost 
a  physical  wreck,  ami  therefore  traveled  to  re- 
cuperate his  health.  In  1858  he  returned  to 
Charleston,  where  he  married  Miss  Rebecca  I.inder, 
June  1,  of  that  year.  After  his  marriage  he  en- 
tered the  mercantile  trade,  continuing  in  that  busi- 
m~~  until  1805.  In  1878  he  came  to  Paris  and 
purchased  a    large  woolen    mill,  which    he  operated 


1066 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


for  three  years  until  the  plant  burned  to  the  ground 
in  September,  1876.  Immediately  succeeding  this 
loss  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  a  position 
which  he  held  for  eight  years,  giving  satisfaction 
to  his  constituents.  About  the  time  last  mentioned 
he  was  elected  Grand  Reporter  for  the  Knights  of 
Honor,  his  jurisdiction  embracing  Illinois.  He  filled 
the  duties  of  this  office  satisfactorily  for  nine  years. 
In  1887  he  retired  from  business.  He  is  interested 
in  city  and  farm  property  in  Edgar  and  Coles 
counties.  His  wife  died  Feb.  27,  1873,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children.  The  eldest.  Leona, 
died  in  March,  1872.  She  was  the  wife  of  L.  A. 
Shoaff,  editor  of  the  Gazette,  and  left  one  daughter, 
Stella.  Ellen  married  Ezra  Link,  of  Charleston. 
Clifford  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Merkle,  Wiley 
&  Co..  manufacturers  of  brooms  at  Paris.  Hor- 
ton  is  a  member  of  the  class  of '91,  Dartmouth 
College;  and  Warren  is  now  a  student  in  the  Paris 
High  School. 

Rebecca  Linder  was  born  in  Rush  County,  Ind., 
while  her  parents  were  en  route  from  Virginia  to 
Illinois,  March  7,  1831.  The  family  located  in  the 
vicinity  of  Charleston,  111.,  where  Rebecca  re- 
mained until  her  marriage,  in  1863.  Her  father 
was  a  leading  farmer.  Mr.  Wiley  took  for  his 
second  wife  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Hall,  of  Butler,  Hamil- 
ton Co..  Ky.  The  marriage  occurred  in  August, 
1885.  Mrs.  Hall,  nee  Fisher,  was  born  in  Cincin- 
nati, April  29,  1827.  She  resided  there  until  1843, 
when  her  parents  removed  to  Kentucky.  By  her 
first  marriage  she  is  the  mother  of  four  children, 
all  of  whom  are  married. 

James  Wiley,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Brackon  County,  Ky.,  in  the 
last  year  of  the  last  century,  where  he  lived  until 
his  marriage  to  Rebecca  Parker,  who  was  born  in 
the  same  county  in  1 707.  After  their  marriage, 
in  1827,  they  located  in  the  vicinity,  of  Paris, 
and  consequently  were  among  the  very  earliest 
settlers.  The  elder  Wiley  was  at  that  time  a  brick, 
stone  and  plastering  mason.  He  removed  in  1834 
to  Charleston,  where  he  lived  and  carried  on  his 
trade.  He  was  the  contractor  for  the  building  of 
the  Court  House  at  that  place,  and  in  this  line  of 
business  was  counted  successful.  He  died  April 
14,  1865,  at  exactly  the  same   day,  hour  and   min- 


ute that  Abraham  Lincoln  was  assassinated.  His 
wife  died  some  years  later  at  the  home  of  her  son 
Leroy. 

Leroy  Wiley  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  of 
Edgar  County,  and  his  long  life  within  its  borders 
has  been  one  of  ceaseless  activity.  He  is  one  of 
those  men  whose  character  is  admired,  and  his 
friends  are  counted  by  the  thousands. 


OBERT  EMMET  CRIMMINS,  of  Young 
America  Township,  is  a  young  man 
who  owes  his  success  in  business  to 
^p)  his  own  tireless  energy,  ceaseless  in- 
dustry and  level  headed  judgment.  For  years 
he  has  combined  farming  and  grain  -  buying, 
and  as  the  result  of  prudent  business  meth- 
ods has  a  snug  bank  account,  besides  a  valu- 
able business  experience  to  guide  him  in  fut- 
ure years.  As  is  indicated  by  his  manner  Mr 
Crimmins,  though  of  American  birth,  is  of  Irish 
ancestry.  He  was  born  Dec.  23,  1853,  in  Greene 
County,  Ohio. 

Our  subject's  father,  Morgan  Crimmins.  and  his 
grandfather  Robert  Crimmins,  were  natives  of 
County  Kerry,  Ireland,  as  also  were  his  grand- 
mother and  his  mother  Ellen  (Eager)  Crimmins. 
to  whom  Ins  father  was  married  in  1848.  A  short 
time  after  their  marriage  they  bade  farewell  to  Ire- 
land and  sought  freedom  and  fortune  in  the  United 
states  under  the  protection  of  the  Stars-and-Stripes. 
His  ancestors  were  peasant  farmers  in  Ireland,  and 
after  his  father  landed  in  New  York  he  sought  and 
obtained  employment  as  a  farm  hand  in  Massachu- 
setts, being  employed  in  that  capacity  by  Col. 
Woodbury,  of  that  State,  with  whom  he  remained 
one  year.  He  then  removed  to  Greene  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  forty  acres  close 
to  Yellow  Springs.  From  Ohio  his  father  removed 
to  this  State  about  1856  and  settled  at  what  was 
then  known  as  "Patch  Grove,"  now  the  site  of  the 
village  of  Hume,  this  county,  upon  the  Jeff  Bun- 
ton  place,  which  he  rented  and  where  he  lived  one 
year.  He  next  removed  to  the  southwestern  part 
of  Carroll   Township.  Vermilion  County,  where   lie 


afdCrff^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1067 


bought  two  acres  of  land,  which  he  afterward  in- 
creased to  eighty-two  acres  by  purchase  and  c>n 
which  lie  lived  until  his  death  in   1889. 

The  parents  of  whom  we  write  had  live  chil- 
dren, three  boys  and  two  girls,  Robert  E.  being 
the  eldest;  Jeremiah  lives  in  Vermilion  County,  on 
the  old  place;  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Stringer,  and 
is  the  father  of  two  children.  Ilanora.  now  Mrs. 
Samuel  Stunkard,  resides  in  Shiloh  Township. 
She  is  the  mother  of  three  children.  Her  husband 
is  a  farmer.  John  lives  near  the  old  homestead; 
he  married  Miss  Ella  Stunkard.  lie  runs  a  farm  in 
Carroll  Township  and  a  livery  stable  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Sidell.  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Ram- 
sey, a  prosperous  farmer  residing  in  Carroll 
Township,  Vermilion  County.  They  have  three 
children  living.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Greene 
County.  Ohio,  Dec.  23,  1853,  and  is  now  in  his 
thirty-sixth  j7ear.  lie  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  what  time  he  could  be  spared  from  assist- 
ing his  father  on  the   farm. 

November  23,  1878.  Mr.  Crimmins  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Parthenia  Home,  daughter 
of  Dr.  A.  and  Hariette  Home.  Miss  Home  is 
one  of  ten  children,  eight  of  wdiom  are  living: 
Mary  E.,  Francis  M.,  Cinderella.  Parthenia,  Dora 
V..  William,  Sarah  E.  .Jennie,  John  and  Margaret. 
Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  William  Hildreth,  who  re- 
sides at  Hildreth  and  after  whom  the  village  is 
named.  He  is  a  prominent  and  wealthy  farmer, 
his  estate  consisting  of  700  acres  of  land.  He  is 
the  father  of  six  children.  Francis  M.  is  a  widower 
and  a  traveling  man;  he  has  three  children  living. 
Cinderella  is  the  wife  of  William  Corley;  her  home 
is  in  Kansas  and  her  husband  is  a  traveling  man. 
She  has  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  dead. 
Dora  V.  (Mrs.  George  Christleib)  resides  in  Philips 
County,  Kan.  William  lives  near  Clinton.  Iowa: 
he  is  unmarried.  Sarah  E.  is  the  wife  of  John 
Durr,  a  farmer  who  lives  near  Newman,  Douglas 
Co..  111.  Jennie,  who  is  unmarried,  lives  with 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Christleib.  John  and  Margaret 
died  in  infancy. 

By  this  union  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crimmins  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  five  children:  Anna.  Ginevra, 
Harriet  E.,  Mary  E.  and  an  infant  yet  to  be  named. 
Mr.    Crimmins   is    the   present  postmaster   of    Ilil- 


dreth  and  the  Supervisor  of  Young  America  Town- 
ship: he  has  also  served  as  School  Director. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Palermo  Lodge  No.  6  16, 
I. ().(>. V.  I'oltieally  Mr.  Crimmins  is  an  advocate 
of  the  Democratic  parly.  lie  has  been  a  resident 
of  Hildreth  twelve  years  and  has  in  addition  to 
fanning  followed  the  business  ol  buying  grain. 
He  contributed  $50  towards  securing  the  Chicago 
<fe  Ohio  River  Railroad  through  Hildreth  and 
helped  with  his  own  hands  to  grade  and  lay  the 
side-track  at  the  station.  lie  has  been  foremost  in 
every  enterprise  lending  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  village.  He  owns  a  nice  little  home  and 
three  lots.  He  is  talking  of  building  a  handsome 
residence  that  will  be  adequate  to  the  requirements 
and  comfort  of  his  growing  family.  Mrs.  Crim- 
inous is  a  quiet,  ladylike  and  refined  little  woman. 
who  enters  heartily  into  all  her  husband's  efforts 
to  make  his  life  successful  in  business  and  worthy 
of  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellowmen. 


-+T*- 


UILLIAM  SCOTT.  The  branch  of  the 
Scott  family  to  which  the  subject  of  this 
W*!j  notice  belongs,  was  represented  in  the 
Prairie  State  at  a  very  early  day.  and  uncle  Samuel 
Scott,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  one  of  its  most 
prominent  and  beloved  pioneers.  A  native  of 
Fleming  County,  Ky.,  he  there  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  and  upon  leaving  his  native  State  emi- 
grated at  first  to  the  vicinity  of  Bloomington,  Ind. 
He  was  married  in  that  State  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Tabor,  who  was  born  there  and  whose  parents 
were  early  pioneers.  Her  father.  William  Tabor, 
served  in  the  War  of  1812  and  distinguished  him- 
self as  an  expert  hunter.  On  account  of  his  uner- 
ring skill  with  his  rifle  the  Indians  stood  in  great 
awe  of  him.  Hi'  came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  but 
remained  here  only  a  short  time  returning  to  Indi- 
ana, where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

Samuel  Scott  spent  his  lasl  days  at  tin1  old  farm 
in  Prairie  Township,  amidst  the  comforts  of  a  home 
which  he  had  built  up  from  the  wilderness.  lie 
was  held  in  great  esteem  by  high  and  low.  rich  and 
poor,  and  Scottland  was    named    in  honor  of  him. 


1068 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


During  his  sojourn  at  Bloomington,  Intl..  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born,  July  13,  181!).  While 
William  was  a  mere  child  the  parents  removed  to 
Martinsville,  Incl.,  which  town  the  father  had  been 
mainly  instrumental  in  laying  out.  Prior  to  this 
he  had  entered  land,  a  part  of  which  he  cleared, 
and  upon  his  farm  was  later  located  the  county 
seat,  Martinsville,  Ind.  Leaving  Indiana,  about 
1830,  Samuel  Scott  came  to  Prairie  Township.  III., 
where  by  entry  and  purchase  he  secured  a  large 
tract  of  land,  and  after  giving  to  each  of  his  ten 
children  about  300  acres  had  about  1,000  acres  left 
in  the  State  of  Kansas.  Probably  there  was  not  a 
man  in  the  whole  county  mure  widely  or  favor- 
ably known.  He  was  possessed  of  a  large  and 
generous  heart  and  that  high  sense  of  honor  which 
prevented  him  from  ever  defrauding  any  man  and 
which  ever  inclined  him  to  assist  those  less  fortun- 
ate than  himself. 

Amid  the  kindly  influences  exercised  by  such 
a  father,  our  subject  grew  up  to  a  worthy  manhood, 
and  was  married  in  Prairie  Township  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth C.  Legate,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  died 
upon  the  farm  and  in  the  same  house  where  Sam- 
uel Scott  had  looked  his  last  upon  earth.  He  died 
at  the  residence  of  his  son  William.  Of  this  union 
there  were  born  ten  children,  viz.:  Israel  1)..  Sam- 
uel, John  M.,  Robert  L.,  William  Milton,  Lemuel, 
Albert  (deceased),  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Charles  Smith  of 
Scottland;  Norval;  Franklin  is  deceased.  Our  sub- 
ject contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Mrs.  Addie 
(Burr)  Jaquith;  she  had  three  children  by  her  Qrst 
husband,  viz,  Merton  P.,  Arthur  D.,  and  Cyrus  V. 
Arthur  is  deceased.  Mr.  Jaquith  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  died  in  California,  to  which  State 
he  had   gone  during  the  gold  excitement  of  1849. 

Our  subject  has  now  more  than  700  acres,  com- 
prising his  valuable  homestead,  of  which  he  has 
now  been  in  possession  for  several  years.  He  and 
his  wife  have  for  their  use  a  part  of  the  large  dwell- 
ing, furnished  in  accordance  with  their  tastes  and 
convenience,  and  where  they  spend  a  portion  of 
their  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  are  taking  life 
comfortably,  their  children  all  heiiiij  settled  in 
pleasant  homes  in  the  midst  of  plenty.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scott  are  prominently  identified  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  our  subject 


has  always  given  a  liberal  support.  He  largely 
contributed  to  the  building  of  two  churches  on  his 
land.  He  has  never  meddled  very  much  with  pol- 
itics, but  keeps  himself  posted  in  regard  to  matters 
of  general  interest  and  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 
He  has  been  no  office-seeker,  and  otherwise  than 
serving  as  one  of  the  first  collectors  of  Prairie 
Township,  has  avoided  the  responsibilities  of  pub- 
lic life.  He  also  has  a  residence  on  West  Chestnut 
street  in  Paris.  Mrs.  Scott  during  her  widowhood 
■vris  a  teacher  for  twent}'  years. 


■^ 


-^% 


1 


H.  JONES,  proprietor  and  manager  of  the 
Metcalf  Tile  Works,  began  his  career  as  a 
worker  in  clay  in  his  father's  brick3Tard  at 
Marietta,  Ohio.  He  is  of  fine  phsique,  and, 
although  fifty  one  years  of  age,  is  capable  of  en- 
during as  hard  work  as  at  any  time  during  his 
active  and  busy  life.  His  calm,  placid,  yet  reso- 
lute face,  bespeaks  a  quiet,  thoughtful,  and  earnest 
nature.  He  is  a  man  of  few  words,  prompt  to  de- 
cide and  fearless  to  execute.  He  makes  up  his 
mind  only  after  due  deliberation,  and  then  finally 
adheres  to  what  his  judgment  sanctions.  One 
easily  recognizes  in  him  many  of  the  dominant 
traits  of  character  of  the  late  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  He 
is  a  silent  man,  so  much  so  that  for  many  months 
after  his  arrival  in  Metealf  many  of  his  neighbors 
could  claim  scarcely  more  than  a  passing  acquaint- 
ance with  him.  His  personal  affairs  and  business 
concerns  he  kept  to  himself,  being  content  to  pur- 
sue the  even  tenor  of  his  way  without  fuss,  noise 
or  parade.  The  people  of  Metcalf  soon  found  that 
this  quiet,  silent,  unobtrusive  tile  burner  was  a  man 
of  sterling  qualities  and  great  force  of  character,  and 
that  he  was  certain  to  prove  a  useful  and  valuable 
member  of  their  little  community.  Without  his 
seeking  the  position,  they  elected  him  School  Di- 
rector, and  shortly  afterward  discovered  that  he 
possesssed  executive  ability  equal  to  any  emer- 
gency. One  of  the  first  things  he  did  after  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  Board  was  to  propose  the 
levy,  all  in  one  year,  of  a  tax  sufficient  to  build  an 
addition  to  the  village  school   building  and  to  em- 


portrait  and  biographical  album. 


1069 


ploy  an  extra  teacher.  Tlio  proposition  staggered 
the  taxpayers  of  the  district,  who  thought  they 
saw  a  grievous  burden  in  the  proposed  tax.  Mr, 
Jones,  with  quiet  persistence  and  determination, 
and  the  aid  of  a  fellow-member  of  the  board,  levied 
the  tax,  contracted  for  the  building  of  the  addi- 
tion and  the  employment  of  the  extra  teacher.  In 
answer  to  those  who  objected,  he  replied  that  if 
the  people  were  not  satisfied  with  his  course  they 
needn't  re-elect  him.  The  tax  was  collected,  and 
the  taxpayers  were  surprised  to  find  that  it  did  not 
materially  increase  their  assessment.  The  school 
building  was  enlarged  to  double  its  former  size 
and  capacity,  and  the  teacher  employed.  Every- 
one suddenly  realized  that  Mr.  Jones  had  done  a 
sensible,  timely  and  judicious  thing,  and  the  tax- 
payers, instead  of  bouncing  him  from  the  board, 
elected  him  for  another  term  as  a  tribute  to  his 
foresight,  common  sense  and  courage. 

The  story  of  the  life  of  this  quiet,  resolute  man 
is  the  story  of  a  career  of  hard  work.  His  early 
education  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of 
Washington  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  Jan. 
12,  1838.  but  bis  practical  experience,  to  which  he 
owes  his  business  success,  began  in  his  father's 
brickyard  in  Marietta.  Ohio,  where  he  worked  dur- 
ing his  boyhood  years.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
F.  Jones,  now  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
one  years,  actively  engaged  in  business  as  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Jones'  father  and  mother  were  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  of  Welsh  descent.  They  had 
eight  children  born  to  them,  our  subject  being 
the  eldest.  Charlotte,  the  second-born,  married 
Charles  Davidson,  and  now  resides  in  Washington 
County.  Ohio;  Alexander  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
77th  Ohio  Infantry  during  the  late  war,  and  died 
while  in  the  service  of  his  country;  William  A.  is 
married,  and  resides  in  Missouri;  Mary  M.  became 
Mrs.  John  Bratton,  and  died  about  eight  years 
ao-o,  leaving  three  children;  Thomas  F.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas,  where  he  is  engaged  in  briekkmak- 
ing.  Samuel  rlied  in  childhood,  and  David  resides 
in  Columbus,  Ohio;  he  is  a  carpenter  and  builder. 
In  1868  Mr.  Jones'  mother  died,  and  in  1872  his 
father  received  a  contract  for  building  the  Central 
Insane   Asylum,  at  Columbus,  Ohio.     Thither   he 


moved  with  his  family.  He  resumed  brickmaking 
in  Columbus,  and  continues  to  follow  a  general  con- 
tracting and  building  business.  While  a  resident 
of  Marietta,  he  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council 
for  a  number  of  years,  lie  was  a  very  prominent 
member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Marietta.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  a  Methodist,  and  in  politics  a  Repub- 
lican 

In  1876  our  subject  went  into  business  for  him- 
self in  Columbus,  where  he  conducted  a  brickyard. 
He  afterward  followed  brickmaking  in  Lancaster, 
Ohio.  After  remaining  in  Ohio  until  the  summer 
of  1881,  he  turned  his  face  westward,  and  joined 
\n>  brother.  William  A.  They  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  drain  tile  and  brick  at  Sydney.  III. 
After  familiarizing  himself  with  the  manufacture 
of  tile.  Mr.  Jones,  April  1,  I  88.5.  came  to  his  pres- 
ent location.  In  the  operation  and  management 
of  his  factory  he  has  brought  to  bear  a.  lifetime  of 
valuable  experience.  The  result  is  a  satisfactory 
measure  of  success  and  a  constantly  growing  and 
increasing  business.  Being  a  man  of  unimpeach- 
able private  character,  unassailable  integrity  and 
unblemished  reputation,  Mr.  Jones  stands  high  in 
the  esteem  not  only  of  his  neighbors  and  friends. 
but  of  all  who  have  business  relations  with  him. 
He  is  a  safe,  reliable,  prudent  man  of  business,  with 
a  reserve  force  equal  to  every  emergency. 

Mr.  Jones  was  married.  Dec.  15,  1857,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Lancaster,  daughter  of  .lames  L.  Lancaster. 
His  wife's  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Ten  children  have  resulted  from  this  union:  W. 
A.,  James  A.,  Mary.  Lillian.  Olga.  Agnes.  Pearl, 
Edward,  Josephine  and  Maud.  W.  A.,  the  eldest 
of  the  family,  was  killed  on  the  railroad  about  six 
years  ago;  James  A.  and  Edward  reside  at  home, 
and  assist  in  the  factory;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  W. 
W.  Biddleman,  a  fanner;  they  have  three  children. 
Lillian  resides  in  Columbus,  Ohio;  her  husband, 
Ilarland  Randall,  is  a  raiload  engineer.  She  is  the 
mother  of  three  children.  Olga  is  married  to 
Charles  Schreller,  who  works  with  Mr.  Jones  in 
the  tile  factory;  Agnes,  who  is  single,  remains  at 
home.     Mr:  Jones    is  a   member  of    Hume  Lodge, 

No.  725,   I.  O.  O.   P..  and  at  present   holds  the  office 

of  Inside  Guard.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of 

School    Directors    of     Metcalf.    and     is    serving   1 1 i .- 


1070 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


second  term.  Though  not  an  active  politician, 
Mr.  Jones  is  an  earnest  Republican,  and  might, 
were  lie  a  little  more  aggressive  in  his  own  behalf. 
be  an  influential  member  of  his  party. 

Mr.  Jones'  Tile  Factory  is  located  in  the  western 
part  of  the  village  of  Metcalf.  and  contains  ma- 
chinery, kilns,  etc.,  for  turning  out  large  quantities 
of  drain  tile.  The  clay  is  abundant  and  of  fine  qual- 
ity, anil  the  factory  is  kept  busy  supplying  the 
demand  that  comes  to  it  from  a  large  drainage 
area. 


-3~£§§!~€r 


T.  BAUM.  M.D.,  is  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  city  of 
/*<-^£'  Paris,  111.  He  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  be- 
ing born  in  White  County,  Dec.  15,  1847.  His 
parents  were  Henry  and  Harriet  (Cross)  Bauni. 
the  former  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1806,  and  the 
latter  in  Ohio  in  1814.  He  comes  of  a  race  of 
pioneers,  his  grandfather,  Daniel  Baum,  being  one 
of  the  first  six  men  who  settled  in  what  is  now 
Carroll  County,  Ind.,  in  1825,  coming  with  his 
family  from  where  the  city  of  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
now  stands,  down  the  .Scioto  River  on  a  flat  boat 
to  the  Ohio,  then  down  the  latter  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Wabash,  thence  up  the  latter  to  the  site  of  the 
present  city  of  Delphi,  in  Carroll  County,  Ind. 
He  carried  his  family  and  household  goods  with 
him,  while  the  stock  was  driven  overland.  The 
joniney  was  tedious  and  hazardous,  but  the  hardy 
spirit  which  animated  the  early  pioneers  sustained 
him.  and  on  arriving  at  his  destination  Daniel 
Baum  at  once  took  up  a  farm,  which  he  improved; 
there  he  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  and 
there  he  died,  an  honored  citizen,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Asenith  Rothrock,  survived  him  several 
years,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine 
years. 

Henry  Baum,  father  of  oursubject,  was  nineteen 
years  eld  when  the  removal  to  Indiana  took  place, 
and  in  that  new  country  adopted  the  life  of  a 
pioneer  farmer,  remaining  in  that  occupation  all 
of  his  life.  He  removed  to  White  County.  Ind., 
and  was  there  married,  in  1832,   to    Harriett  Cross, 


whose  family  had  come  from  Ohio  to  Parke  County, 
Ind..  in  which  place  her  parents  died.  The  quiet 
life  of  a  farmer  did  not  entirely  satisfy  Henry 
Baum,  who  was  of  a  somewhat  adventurous  spirit, 
and  he  made  what  was  considered  in  those  da3's 
very  long  journeys,  going  as  far  south  as  Texas 
and  New  Orleans.  In  1841,  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Missouri,  but  not  liking  the  country, 
returned  to  White  County,  where  he  bought 
another  farm  near  his  old  home,  which  he  had  sold 
before  going  away:  at  this  place  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  1854,  aged  forty- 
eight  years.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five,  and  makes  her  home  in  Paris. 
Aside  from  his  penchant  for  traveling,  Henry 
Baum  lived  a  quiet  life,  but  never  accumulated  a 
large  property,  as  his  travels  consumed  a  large  part 
of  his  earnings.  In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  Whig  party. 

Henry  Baum  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy  and  the 
remaining  eight  lived  to  years  of  maturity.  Mary, 
the  eldest,  is  the  widow  of  John  McBeth,  a  Union 
soldier,  who  died  in  the  loathsome  rebel  prison  pen 
at  Andersonville.  She  now  lives  in  Paris,  and  has 
one  son,  William  II..  local  editor  of  the  Beacon. 
Rachel  is  the  widow  of  Robert  Cornell,  and  lives 
in  White  County,  Ind.  Belle  is  the  wife  of  U.  B. 
Stigers,  and  lives  near  Oskaloosa,  Iowa.  Charles 
S.  died  in  1866,  from  the  effect  of  disease  con- 
tracted while  in  the  Union  Arm}',  in  which  ho 
served  for  three  years,  in  the  46th  Indiana  Volun- 
teers. Adam  P.  is  farming  in  Dawes  County, 
Neb.  He  was  also  a  patriot  soldier,  serving  eight- 
een months  in  the  20th  and  in  the  116th  Indiana 
Infantry,  and,  being  taken  prisoner  during  this  time 
was  confined  in  the  famous  Libby  Prison  at  Rich- 
mond. John  Clay,  another  brave  soldier,  gave  his 
life  for  his  country,  dying  in  1869,  from  disease 
contracted  in  the  army.  He  served  three  years 
and  eight  months  in  the  20th,  72d  and  116th 
Indiana  Infantry.  Martha  M.  is  the  wife  of 
S.  D.  McCarthy,  and  is  a  resident  of  Paris. 
The  youngest  of  those  who  lived  to  maturity  was 
the  subject  of  our  sketch. 

Z.  T.  Baum  lived  in  his  native  county  until  he 
was  thirteen  years  old,  when  his  father  being  dead 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1(171 


his  mother  removed  to  Carroll  County,  Ind.,  while 
he  worked  at  farming  in  the  summer  and  attended 
sehool  in  the  winter  until  186.'i.  when  lie,  too.  fol- 
lowed the  patriotic  example  of  his  elder  brothers. 
and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  six  months 
became  a  soldier  of  the  Union,  enlisting  in  Com 
pany  E,  116th  Indiana  Infantry  for  six  months. 
Upon  the  expiration  of  this  time,  he  enlisted  in  the 
135th  Indiana  for  one  hundred  days,  and  when  that 
time  had  expired  he  re-enlisted  in  the  150th  Indiana, 
where  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  mustered  out  of  service  Aug.  5,  1865.  and 
then  resumed  his  farm  work  in  the  summer  and 
teaching  school  in  winter,  until  the  fall  of  1867, 
when  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  Pittsburg. 
Carroll  Co..  Ind..  under  Dr.  .1.  L.  Morrow,  also  a 
war  veteran,  who  had  been  Surgeon  of  the  72d 
Indiana.  In  his  office  Mr.  Baum  read  medicine 
for  three  years  and  attended  courses  of  lectures  in 
Chicago  and  Cincinnati,  and  was  graduated  at  the 
Miami  Medical  College,  at  the  latter  city.  He  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Transit- 
ville,  Tippecanoe  Co.,  Ind.,  staying  there  until  his 
removal  to  Paris,  April  1.  187:!.  since  which  time 
he  has  lived  at  the  latter  place,  and  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice. 

A  faithful  assistant  and  companion  of  Dr.  Baum 
for  the  past  eleven  years  has  been  his  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Eliza  E.  McCord,  with  whom  he  was  united 
in  marriage  Dec.  12,  1878.  This  lady  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Nancy  (Stout)  McCord,  early 
settlers  of  Sims  Township,  whence  they  removed 
from  their  old  home  in  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Baum 
was  born  in  Paris  Township,  Edgar  County,  June 
17,  1852.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth 
of  one  child,  Ralph  A.,  who  was  born  June  16, 
1881. 

Since  taking  up  his  residence  in  Paris.  Dr.  Baum 
has  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  its  public 
affairs  and  social  life,  lie  served  two  years  as 
Alderman  of  the  2nd  Ward,  and  in  1888  was  re- 
elected, serving  but  one  year,  however,  when  he 
resigned.  He  was  Supervisor  from  1881  t<>  1886, 
serving  full  five  years  in  that  capacity,  and  in 
1885  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Paris  after 
a  heated  contest,  the  Doctor  accepting  the  nomin- 
ation   late   in  the  canvass,  after  the  declination  of 


the  candidate  previously  Dominated,  lie  and  his 
friends,  however,  made  a  stirring  canvass,  and  he 

was  triumphantly  elected.  Dr.  Baum  was  also 
from  lis77  to  1885  United  states  Examining  Sur- 
geon for  Pensions,  but  lost  that  position  under  the 
Cleveland  administration  because  of  his  "offensive 
partisanship,"  hi'  being  a  life-long  Republican,  lie 
has,  however,  been  re-appointed  by  Commissioner 
Tanner,  one  of  the  Board  of  Examining  Surgeons, 
which  he  was  instrumental  in  having  appointed  for 
this  county. 

Dr.  Baum  is  Commander  of  the  Driskell  P<»t, 
No.  201),  (i.A.R..  of  Paris;  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Apollo  Lodge,  No.  57,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  of  the  Paris  Lodge.  No.  268.  A.F.  &  A.M..  of 
which  he  is  W.M.;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  a 
public  spirited  and  energetic  citizen  and  wields 
nn  small  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  thriving  city 
where  he  has  made  his  home. 

A  feature  of  the  family  history  of  which  the 
Doctor  may  well  be  proud,  is  the  fact  that  every- 
one of  the  family  of  suitable  age  was  in  the  Union 
army,  not  only  himself  and  his  brothers,  but  all 
his  near  relatives  to  the  number  of  over  twenty, 
a  bright  record  of  patriotism  of  which  their  des- 
cendants may  well  be  proud. 


-9-SS*-*- 


\¥  JOHN  ALLEN,  Jr.,  Postmaster  and  general 
merchant  at  Grand  View,  is  one  of  its  lead- 
ing men  and  politicians  and  began  business 
in  this  place  in  1880  with  modest  means. 
He  was  successful  from  the  start,  and  besides  ac- 
cumulated a  snug  sum  of  money  has  fully  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the 
people,  who  have  given  him  many  expressions  of 
their  friendship  and  good  will.  Politically,  he  is 
an  enthusiastic  Republican,  giving  freely  of  his  time 
and  means  whenever  opportunity  occurs  to  be  of 
assistance  to  his  party. 

Lebanon,  Warren  ('<>..  Ohio,  was  the  native  place 
of  our  subject,  and  the  date  of  his  birth  April  II, 
1845.  He  attended  the  district  school  during  his 
boyhood,   but   at   the  early  age  of  fourteen  years 


10  72 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOC  RAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


began  lift-  on  his  own  account,  working  on  a  farm 
first  al  84  per  month.  He  wasthus  occupied  until 
a  youth  of  nineteen  years  and  until  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  War.  Then  desirous  of  having  a  hand 
in  the  subjugation  of  the  Rebels,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  150th  Illinois  Infantry  at  Paris,  and 
was  soon  sent  with  his  comrades  to  the  front. 
Their  first  objective  point  was  Nashville.  Tenn., 
and  they  next  went  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.  Later. 
they  were  at  Cleveland.  Tenn..  and  Dalton,  (^a.. 
whence  they  went  to  Spring  Place,  Ga.,  then  re- 
turned to  Dalton:  they  reached  Westpoint,  Ga., 
Aug.  7.  and  on  the  10th  of  January,  1866,  returned 
to  Atlanta  after  the  close  of  the  war,  whence  they 
were  ordered  home  and  mustered  out  without  par- 
ticpating  in  any  active  engagement,  although  en- 
during the  hardships  and    privations  of    army  life. 

Upon  laying  aside  the  weapons  of  war,  our  sub- 
ject resumed  the  implements  of  agriculture,  at 
which  he  was  occupied  until  1880.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  store  ami  stock  of  Robert  Moseley,  at 
Grand  View,  since  which  time  he  has  prosecuted 
general  merchandising  with  great  success,  building 
up  an  excellent  trade  which  is  steadily  increasing. 
•  in  the  1st  of  October,  1867  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jenny,  daughter  of  John  W.  Bur- 
ton, who  later  removed  to  Missouri  and  died  there. 
In  the  family  of  Mr.  Burton  there  were  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Allen  was  the  third  in  order 
of  birth.  She  was  born  April  5,  1851,  in  Virginia, 
and  received  a  common-school  education.  Of  her 
union  with  our  subject  there  have  been  born  three 
children,  one  of  whom,  Mary  died  in  187G  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  Zella,  the  elder  daughter,  is  an 
interesting  young  lady  of  nineteen  years,  and  Ida 
is  a  bright  girl  of  eleven  years.  Both  are  at  home 
with  their  parents. 

Air.  Allen  owns  eighteen  acres  of  land  near 
Grand  View,  and  has  a  pleasant  home  in  the  village. 
He  has  officiated  for  the  past  ten  years  as  School 
Director  in  his  district,  and  before  receiving  his 
appointment  as  Postmaster,  in  1889,  had  officiated 
as  Assistant-Postmaster  for  a  number  of  years. 
Both  he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Allen 
for  several  years  has  been  Steward  and  Trustee. 
Mrs.   Allen     is  a     teacher    in    the    Sunday-school, 


which  the  two  daughters  attend  regularly.  Socially 
our  subject  belongs  to  Grand  View  Lodge,  No.  614, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has  held  all  the  offices  and 
for  the  last  ten  years  has  represented  it  at  the  vari- 
ous conventions  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  Kansas  Camp  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Kansas 
Post  No.  405,  G.  A.  R.  In  the  latter  he  was 
elected  an  Alternate  of  the  Convention  held  at 
Springfield  in  February,  1889.  Upon  the  inaugu- 
aration  of  President  Harrison,  March  4,  1889,  he 
visited  Washington  and  witnessed  this  ceremonial 
among  other  interesting  sights  at  the  National 
Capital. 


JfOIIN  DAVIDSON.  The  thoughtful  in. 
I  dividual  cannot  fail  to  look  upon  the  early 
pioneer  with  more  than  ordinary  interest. 
))  To  those  having  the  faculty  of  drawing  out 
from  them  a  relation  of  their  experiences  on  the 
frontier,  there  is  presented  a  picture  of  toil,  strug- 
gle, sacrifice  and  courage  seldom  known  to  the  peo- 
ple of  to-day.  Among  those  whose  experiences,  if 
properly  written  down  would  make  a  good-sized 
volume  of  rare  interest,  may  be  mentioned  Mr. 
Davidson,  who  is  one  of  the  old  residents  of  Edgar 
County,  and  who  trod  on  the  soil  of  Shiloh  Town- 
ship soon  after  the  Indians  had  left  it  and  while 
wild  animals,  deer,  wolves  and  other  creatures 
roamed  almost  unrestrained  by  the  fear  of  man. 
We  find  him  pleasantly  located  on  a  finely  improved 
farm  of  150  acres  occupying  a  portion  of  section 
3,  near  the  edge  of  Mulberry  Grove,  where  he  es- 
tablished himself  in  1854  and  has  a  good  home- 
stead. 

A  native  of  Sullivan  County,  Ind.,  our  subject 
was  born  at  the  modest  homestead  of  his  parents 
near  Carlisle,  Nov.  13,  1830,  and  lived  there  on  a 
farm  until  a  young  man  of  twenty-four  years.  He 
received  very  limited  school  advantages,  pursuing 
his  studies  in  the  log  cabin  under  the  primitive 
methods  of  instruction  incident  to  that  time  and 
place.  At  the  age  mentioned,  determining  to  see 
something  more  of  the  world,  he  in  the  fall  of 
1854,  set  out  overland  with  a  team  to  Illinois  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1073 


located  in  what  was  then  Buck,  but  is  now  Shiloh 
Township.  Besides  his  team,  he  ("inn-  empty 
handed,  and  for  a  time  engaged  as  a  farm  laborer. 
As  soon  as  able  he  began  operating  on  rented  land 
and  finally  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  present 
farm.  Young  and  active,  labor  seemed  light  as 
long  as  he  was  reasonably  rewarded  and.  although 
the  recreations  of  the  young  people  of  that  time 
were  not  strictly  classical,  they  probablj  enjoyed 
those  they  had.  fully  as  much  :is  Hie  rising  genera- 
tion. Young  Davidson  took  part  in  the  wolf  hunts 
and  the  various  other  kinds  of  amusements  indulged 
in  by  the  young  people  of  those  times,  such  as  coin 
huskings,  apple  parings  and  similar  gatherings.  At 
the  same  time  he  proceeded  with  the  improvement 
of  his  purchase.  Mulberry  drove  was  atone  time 
a  timber  tract  comprising  several  thousand  acres. 
It  was  somewhat  misnamed,  as  it  never  contained 
but  very  few  mulberry  trees.  Once  in  the  early 
days  an  emigrant  encamping  here  happened  to 
pitch  his  tent  under  one  large  mulberry  tree  and, 
naming  "the  place  Mulberry  Grove,  the  name  has 
clung  to  it  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Davidson  while  cultivating  the  soil  set  out 
forest  and  fruit  trees  and  first  put  up  a  log  house. 
Later  he  added  as  he  was  able  the  structures  most 
needed.  It  hardly  seemed  possible  that  he  could 
leave  home  and  assist  in  subjugating  the  rebels dur- 
ingthe  Civil  War.  and  he  watched  the  conflict  until 
in  February-  1865.      He  then   decided  thai  he  must 

have  a  hand  in  the  strife,  and  enlisted  in  (' pany 

C,  150th  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Jacksonville  and  sent  South  to  Nashville 
and  later  to  Dalton,  Ga.,  where  the  regiment  was 
drilled  and  assigned  principally  to  guard  duty. 
Thence  they  went  on  to  Atlanta  and  wintered  at 
Spring    Place    in    Georgia.     They   endured    many 

hardships   and   great    exposure     fr which     Mr. 

Davidson  suffered  greatly,  but  he  managed  to  re- 
main with  his  regiment  until  it  was  mustered  out 
in  February,  1866.  He  received  his  honorable  dis- 
charge at  Camp  Butler  and  as  soon  as  possible 
thereafter  returned  to  his  farm  and  his  family. 

The  25th  of  December,  1856,  was  appropriately 
celebrated  by  our  subject  in  liis  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Myers.  This  lady  was  born  in  Shiloh  Town- 
ship, August.  1840,  and  is   the  daughter  of   Archie 


Myers,  a  native  of  South  Carolina  and  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Edgar  County.  Mr.  Myers  be- 
came very  successful  as  a  farmer  and  in  his  husi- 
ness  transactions,  and  accumulated  100  acres  of 
hind.  He  spent  his  last  days  at  the  home  of  his 
son-in-law.  our  subject,  dying  about  1874.  liis 
wife,  Lucinda  Dillinger,  a  native  of  Indiana,  like- 
wise died  in  Shiloh  Towuship.  Mrs.  Mary  (Myers) 
Davidson  departed  this  life  at  her  home  in  Shiloh 
I'ownship,  in  February,  1888  leaving  seven  child- 
ren, viz:  William.  Archie.  George,  Sarah,  John, 
Jr.,  Mark  and  Bessie.  They  are  all  at  home  with 
their    father.      Our    subject,  politically,     votes    the 

straight  Democratic  ticket,  and  has  been  Director 
in  his  school  district  for  a  period  of  twenty  years. 
He  has  also  officiated  as  Road  Supervisor  and 
served  on  the  petit  jury.  lie  has  little  ambition 
for  official  honors,  being  absorbed  mostly  by  his 
farming  Interests. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  George  Davidson, 
a  native  of  Jessamine  County,  Ky  .  and  of  English 
descent.  lb:  was  reared  in  the  Blue  Grass  State, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  in  his  younger  years, 
then  emigrated  to  Sullivan  County.  1  n <  1 . .  and  ac- 
quired land  near  which  was  afterward  built  up  the 
town  of  Carlisle.  He  was  very  successful  as  a 
farmer  and  spent  his  last  days  upon  the  old  home- 
stead, dying,  however,  at  the  early  age  of  forty 
years.  The  mother,  Mrs.  Cynthia  (Portwood) 
Davidson  was  likewise  a  native  of  Kentucky,  of 
which  her  parents  were  early  pioneers,  and  her 
mother,  ili-s.  Lizzie  Portwood,  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  old  Indian  fighter.  Daniel  Boone.  She 
also  died  at  the  homestead  near  Carlisle,  lnd.  She 
was  a  woman  possessing  many  excellent  qualities 
and  was  a  conscientious  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  There  were  born  to  the  parents  ten  chil- 
dren; viz:  Mary  of  Greene  County,  lnd.;  Eliza, 
deceased;  Susan;  Paulina,  Mrs  Milam  of  Metcalf; 
William  of  Sullivan  County,  lnd.;  John,  our  sub- 
ject; Anna  of  Greene  County,  [nd.;George  of  Sul- 
livan County;  Dudley  of  Greene  County,  and  Lucy 
of  Texas  County,  Mo.  George,  during  the  late 
Civil  War,  was  a  member  of  the  fi'.Hh  Indiana  In- 
fantry in  which    he  served  over  three   years.     He 

\\  :i~  :it    one  time    captured    by  the    Rebels,  but    was 
exchanged    at    St.    Louis    a     lew    days    afterward. 


1074 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


John,  our  subject,  served  in  the  army  one  year  and 
contracted  rheumatism,  from  which  he  has  since 
suffered  greatly  and  is  unable  to  do  any  labor.  He 
is  very  obliging  and  sociable  and  held  in  esteem 
by  his  neighbors. 


->&£&&&&*■ 


-V 


1  //J-^AL 

%jl  °ourier 

Wfl      ing  a  ge 


J.  BLACKSTOCK.  editor  of  the  Chrisman 

and  Leisure  Moments,  besides  be- 
entleman  of  large  experience  and 
considerable  travel,  especially  in  the  West,  is  a 
journalist  of  marked  ability,  and  both  as  a  business 
man  and  a  citizen  is  amply  worthy  of  representation 
in  a  work  of  this  kind.  He  wag  born  in  Allegheny 
City,  Pa..  Aug.  14,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of  James 
Blackstock,  a,  native  of  Scotland  and  born  near 
the  city  of  Edinburgh. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Joseph  Blackstock,  likewise  a  native  of  Scotland 
and  a  contractor  and  builder  by  occupation.  He 
emigrated  to  America  at  an  early  date  and  located 
first  on  Prince  Edward  Island,  whence  he  removed 
to  Quebec,  Canada,  and  there  prosecuted  his  call- 
ing. In  Scotland  he  had  been  quite  an  extensive 
land  owner  and  a  man  of  importance.  James 
Blackstock,  like  his  father  before  him,  also  ope- 
rated as  a  contractor  and  builder  which  he  followed 
in  the  Smoky  City,  although  not  living  there.  He 
became  well-to-do  and  was  prominently  identified 
witli  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Richie,  a  native  of  Bedford  County,  Pa., 
and  who  had  two  brothers  killed  in  the  Mexican 
War,  Grandfather  Richie  was  of  German  descent, 
but  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  followed  school 
teaching  and  farming  combined  and  was  at  one 
time  owner  of  2,500  acres  of  land  in  Bedford 
County.  He  is  still  living  in  Pittsburg  and  al- 
though sixty-live  years  old,  has  not  a  gray  hair  on 
his  head.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there 
were  born  three  children  the  two  besides  himself 
being  sisters — Mrs.  Maria  Hancock  and  Mrs  Lizzie 
Friedenrich,  both  of  Pittsburg. 

The  early  advantages  of  our  subject  were  quite 
limited  but  he  made  the  most  of  his    opportunities 


and  is  recognized  as  a  thoroughly  well  informed 
man.  When  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  he  engaged  as  a 
boat-hand  on  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Missouri 
Rivers  which  he  followed  three  years,  being  pro- 
moted in  the  meantime  from  cabin  boy  to  steward. 
In  1866  we  find  him  in  Dakota,  roughing  it  among 
the  Indians,  hunting  and  chopping.  He  learned 
to  speak  the  Sioux  language  fluently  and  at  one 
time  for  the  period  of  twenty-one  da}s  was  in 
Sitting  Bull's  camp  near  the  place  where  Gen. 
Custer  was  killed.  He  sojourned  in  Dakota  and 
Montana,  until  1873,  ranching  it,  being  employed 
in  a  woodyard  and  at  whatever  came  to  hand. 
Upon  leaving  that  region  he,  that  same  3'ear,  lo- 
cated at  Pine  City,  Minn.,  where  occurred  his  first 
newspaper  venture.  He  began  reading  and  study- 
ing without  a  tutor,  conducting  his  paper,  became 
interested  in  real  estate  and  claims  and  held  vari- 
ous county  offices,  being  Register  of  Deeds,  Clerk 
of  the  Court  and  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

In  the  fall  of  1877  Mr.  Blackstock  returned  to 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  began  publishing  the  semi- 
weekly  Tribune,  running  in  connection  therewith  a 
job  office  and  the  Hotel  Reporter.  He  was  afterward 
connected  with  different  papers  in  Pittsburg,  in- 
cluding the  Gazette  and  the  Daily  Dispatch.  In 
1874  he  became  connected  with  the  Allegheney 
Errning  Mail  and  thereafter  continued  on  one  of 
the  dailies  until  March  ,  1887.  That  year  he  emi- 
grated to  Chicago,  where  he  was  in  business  until 
September  and  whence  he  came  to  Chrisman  and 
purchased  the  Advance.  He  changed  the  name  to 
that  of  the  Courier  and  instituted  many  improve- 
ments. It  is  a  six  column  quarto  and  one  of  the 
handsomest  papers  in  the  count}',  filled  with  gen- 
eral and  local  news.  Mr.  Blackstock  also  pub- 
lishes Lesiure  Moments  a  four  column  quarto  and 
and  has  a  well-equipped  job  office  with  steam 
power  press  and  other  necessary  adjuncts. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  June 
•27,  1880,  to  Miss  Ella  Grey,  a  native  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Grey  a  prom- 
inent resident  of  the  Quaker  City.  Mr.  Blackstock 
politically,  is  a  sound  Republican  and  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Minnesota  was  quite  prominent  in  politics. 
He  is  at  present  serving  as  Police  Magistrate.  So- 
cially, he  was  at  one  time  connected  with  the  K.  of 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


KIT.". 


P.  and  the  K.  of  II.  In  religious  matters  bis  pref- 
erences are  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
A  personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Blackstock  would 
hardly  be  complete  without  mention  of  his  pel  ilog 
.Indue,  a  mixture  of  the  Gordon  .Setter.  Scotch 
Collie  and  Spaniel.  This  animal  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  intelligent  canines  in  the  county. 
obedient,  docile,  courageous  and  seeming  to  under- 
stand everything  that  is  said  to  him.  In  being 
written  up  by  the  Chicago  I)nil>i  News  he  was  des- 
ignated as  "the  dog  who  thinks."  It  is  hardly  nec- 
essary to  say  that  he  possesses  a  far  more  than 
nominal  value  in  the  estimation  of  Mr.  Blackstock, 
from  whom  he  could  scarcely  be  purchased  at  any 
price. 


-~o-*- 


ffiAMES  SOMMERVILLE,  of  Edgar  Town- 
ship, with  his  sisters..  Molly,  Nancy,  and 
.Margaret,  owns  and  operates  100  acres  of 
land  on  section  IS,  adjoining  the  site  of 
I!l<  omfield.  the  family  also  owning  considerable 
real  estate  in  Washington.  The  conveniently 
arranged  homestead  is  very  pleasantly  situated, 
the  dwelling  and  adjacent  buildings  being  lo- 
cated near  the  cross  roads,  and  commanding  a 
fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country.  Mr.  Som- 
merville  was  at  one  time  among  the  largest  stock- 
buyers  in  Edgar  County,  and  has  been  prominent 
iD  local  affairs.  He  was  elected  a  School  Director 
before  reaching  his  majority,  in  which  office  lie 
served  five  years.  He  was  Township  Clerk  and 
Collector  two  years  each.  Assessor  one  year,  and 
represented  his  township  in  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors  four  years  in  succession.  Politically, 
he  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat,  active  in  the 
councils  of  his  party,  and  has  been  for  years  sent 
as  a  delegate  to  the  various   conventions. 

The  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Edgar  Township.  Dec.  30,  1840, 
and  received  a  practical  education  in  the  common 
school.  He  remained  at  home  assisting  in  the  la- 
bors of  the  farm  until  reaching  his  majority,  and  at 
that  early  age  developed  more  than  ordinary  good 
business  talent,  He  began  buying  and  shipping 
stock  to   the   Eastern    markets — Indianapolis,    Chi- 

AAAj  \%  ^  i 


cago,  and  New  York  City,  and  in  the  pursuance  of 
his  business,  has  visited  nearly  all  the  large  cities 
east  of  st.  Louis.  He  is  a  man  observing  of  what  is 
:_; < ' i  1 1 lj  on  around  him  in  the  world,  and  in  his  vari- 
ous travels  has  picked  upa  useful  fund  of  informa- 
tion. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Alexander  Som- 
merville.  a  native  of  County  Donegal.  Ireland,  and 
horn  in  August.  1798.  The  paternal  grand  fat  her. 
John  Soinmeiville.  also  a  native  of  County  Done- 
gal, carried  on  farming  there  for  a  number  of  years 
after  reaching  his  majority,  in  the  meantime  be- 
coming married,  and  the  father  of  a  family.  lie 
finally  decided  to  cast  his  lot  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  and  in  1802  made  the  voyage  with  his 
family,  landing  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  .Inly  I. 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  Fleming  County.  Ky., 
where  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers.  lie  set- 
tled in  the  wilderness,  from  which  he  constructed 
a  comfortable  home,  and  there  spent  his    last    days. 

It  is  believed  that  he  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
as  he  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  to  which 
he  firmly  adhered  during  his  entire  life. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  man's 
estate  in  Fleming  County,  Ky.,  where  In.  like  his 
father  before  him,  cleared  a  farm  from  the  wilder- 
ness, and  lived  until  1836.  He  then  decided  to 
seek  the  Great  West,  and  made  his  way  overland  by 
team  to  Illinois,  settling  on  the  eastern  line  of 
Edgar  Township.  Notwithstanding  his  early  sur- 
roundings, he  had  acquired  a  good  education, 
largely  supplemented  by  his  own  efforts  in  his  stu- 
dious application  to  his  hooks  at  home.  He  entered 
and  purchased  land  in  Edgar  Township,  where  he 
lived  three  years,  then,  in  1859,  sold  out  and  pur- 
Chased  land  of  .lames  Gordon,  adjoining  Bloom- 
lichl.  lie  added  from  time  to  time  to  his  real  estate, 
until  he  became  the  owner  of  KM)  acres,  in  addi- 
tion to  operating  his  farm,  he  c lucted  an  hotel  al 

liloomlield  until  the  building  of  the  railroad  to  this 
point.  lie  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  commu- 
nity, a  decided  Democrat,  politically,  ami  served  as 
Constable  for  years.  His  death  occurred  Dec.  17. 
188lTat  the  homestead,  which  he  had  built  up. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Rosa  Cochran.  She  was  born  in  Fleming 
County,  Ky..  in  [815,  and  was  the  daughter  of  .lain.- 


1076 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Cochran,  a  native  of  Virginia.  The  latter,  upon  leav- 
ing his  native  State,  removed  to  Fleming  County. 
Ky..  where  he  became  owner  of  a  large  farm  and 
slaves.  In  addition  to  prosecuting  agriculture,  he 
engaged  in  flat-boating  down  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi  rivers  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  energy  and  perseverance,  one  who  was  looked 
up  to  in  his  community,  and  at  his  death  left  a  good 
property.  lie  spent  his  last  years  in  Kentucky, 
dying  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  reared  a 
Methodist,  of  which  church  she  remained  a  member 
many  years,  and  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in 
Edgar  Township,  Nov.  16,  188S? 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
eight  children,  viz:  .lames.  Molly,  Nancy,  Melinda 
(  Mrs.  Soinmerville),and  a  resident  of  Rush  County, 
Ind. ;  John  VV..  living  in  Garfield  County,  Wash- 
ington; Joseph  H.,  a  resident  of  Columbia  County, 
Washington;  Rosa,  (Mrs.  Hoult),  of  Edgar  Town- 
ship, and  Margaret. 

Mr.  Somnierville  is  a  man  of  much  originality  of 
thought,  which  finds  expression  in  such  unique  lan- 
guage and  forcible  metaphors,  as  to  render  him  a 
most  entertaining  companion.  He  recalls  some  amus- 
ing experiences  of  his  early  days,  which  when  told 
by  himself,  gain  much  in  the  relation,  as  he  is  an 
inimitable  raconteur.  At  one  time,  his  father  kept 
a  tavern  at  which  travelers  were  accommodated  for 
the  small  sum  of  a  "bit,"  or  twelve  and  one-half 
cents,  for  a  meal,  and  a  ••picayune,"  or  six  and  one- 
fourth  cents,  for  horse  feed.  Even  these  trifling- 
bills  appear  to  have  been  too  high  for  the  pocket- 
books  of  some  of  the  guests,  as  they  sometimes 
tried  to  evade  payment  by  slipping  away  very  early 
in  the  morning.  In  every  case  however,  the  land- 
lord followed  and  brought  them  back,  giving  them 
their  dinners  and  a  fresh  start,  and  making  sure  of 
his  pay  before  they  again  departed.  With  all  this, 
he  was  a  kind-hearted,  benevolent  man.  who  never! 
turned  the  needy  wayfarer  from  his  door. 

Our  subject  was  brought  up  under  religious  in- 
fluences, and  in  his  youth  was  to  use  his  own  words, 
"one  of  the  best  boys  on  earth,  and  never  failed  to 
attend  Sunday-school  and  religious  exercises  when- 
ever opportunity  offered."  His  sense  of  right  and 
wrong,  received  however,  a  severe  shock  as  he  ad- 


vanced in  years.  The  reasons  cannot  be  better  given 
than  in  his  own  graphic  words, so  we  let  him  relate 
his  own  story.  '-As  I  grew  older,  I  grew  smarter. and 
disposed  of  about  all  my  religion  for  good  reasons. 
After  I  became  of  age,  and  was  doing  business  on 
my  own  hook,  there  was  a  young  preacher  who 
gave  out  that  he  would  preach  a  sermon  on  the 
'Immorality  of  Dancing.'  He  drew  a  terrible  pic- 
ture of  the  evil,  and  told  how  it  would  lead  to  dis- 
honesty. However,  he  had  sold  a  bunch  of  cattle 
to  be  weighed  the  following  morning,  and  it  turned 
out  that  they  were  the  worst  ''stuffed"  lot  of  cattle 
that  ever  went  out  of  Edgar  County.  I  always 
thought  that  sermon  was  prepared  for  the  express 
purpose  of  stuffing  that  drove  of  cattle,  so  I  have 
never  been  in  a  church  since,  but  have  often  been 
deceived  the  same  way.  Another  time.  I  bought 
a  bunch  of  cattle  of  a  man  that  was  worth  $50,000, 
and  had  no  children.  I  was  satisfied  he  was  going 
to  stuff  those  cattle  on  me,  so  I  did  not  let  him 
know  when  I  would  take  them,  until  late  the  eve- 
ning previous.  But  to  make  sure  of  it.  I  went  and 
sat  up  with  the  cattle  until  2  A.  M.,  and  accidentally 
went  to  sleep,  and  before  I  woke  up.  lie  had  come 
two  miles,  fed.  salted,  and  watered  the  cattle  on 
me.  I  always  believed  that  he  found  me  that  night 
and  mesmerized  me. 

"On  another  occasion  I  bought  a  lot  of  hogs  from 
a  rich  old  farmer  that  had  the  reputation  of  mak- 
ing everything  weigh  heavy  at  home,  and  light  in 
market.  It  was  very  cold  weather,  and  I  knew  his 
slop  would  be  frozen  up,  but  he  seemed  to  be  a  lit- 
tle late  getting  to  the  scales,  so  I  concluded  to  walk 
over  and  assist  him  in  driving,  but  when  I  arrived 
on  the  scene  of  action,  I  found  the  honest  old  farmer 
boiling  water  and  soaking  a  lot  of  old  damaged 
wheat  to  sell  to  me  at  about  *1  per  bushel.  I  came 
very  near  fainting,  but  couldn't  see  that  it  affected 
him  in  the  least.  I  reckon  he  had  been  boiling  salt 
and  water  all  night,  and  for  the  life  of  me  I  cannot 
see  why  such  men  as  those  will  vote  to  retain  the 
tariff  on  salt,  one  of  the  greatest  necessaries  of  life, 
wealth,  and  happiness,  to  the  honest  old    farmer." 

In  1873.  Mr.  Somrnerville  having  proved  him- 
self a  true  Democrat,  was  given  the  nomination  for 
Township  Supervisor,  the  party  having  at  that  time 
about  forty  majority  in  the  township,  although    as 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


1077 


he  remarks,  in  those  days  elections  were  run  ou 
high  moral  principles,  and  the  two  parties  would 
often  agree  to  vote  for  the  best  man.  lie  'an 
ahead  of  his  ticket,  and  was  elected.  The  next 
year  he  was  again  a  candidate,  but  the  Granger 
party  having  been  organized  in  the  meantime,  his 
majority  was  cut  down,  although  he  was  successful 
as  before.  The  two  succeeding  years  he  was  again 
elected.  That  the  demoralization  of  politics  had 
already  begun,  is  evidenced  by  the  statement,  that 
in  those  days  "floaters"  were  to  be  "found,  although 
they  could  be  "counted  on  your  lingers,  and  cost 
only  $1  to  *2  apiece,  a  §.">  man  being  called  a 
thorough-bred.  Since  those  days,  the  men  whose 
votes  can  be  bought,  have  become  more  numerous. 
and  more  expensive,  costing  all  the  way  from  $10 
to  $25." 

Mr.  Sommerville  is  fully  alive  to  the  crying  evils 
of  the  day,  and  while  somewhat  pessimistic  in  his 
views,  very  clearly  sees  the  injurious  effects  upon 
the  community  of  the  lax  methods  of  administer- 
ing justice,  and  the  wrong  uses  to  which  political 
power  is  put  by  unscrupulous  demagogues.  He  is 
thoroughly  Democratic  in  his  anxiety  to  sec  tax-pay- 
ers relieved  of  the  many  burdens  placed  upon  them, 
and  in  desiring  and  working  for  a  purer  system  of 
government,  in  which  the  weight  of  the  purse  will 
not  overbalance  the  demands  for  justice,  and  the 
greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number.  He  has 
moreover  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and  does 
not  hesitate  to  speak  out  his  sentiments  in  regard 
to  politics  in  his  immediate  neighborhood,  and  ex- 
presses himself  thereupon  in  his  own  quaint  way  as 
follows:  "The  township  stands  190  Republicans. 
170  Democrats,  15  Prohibitionists,  and  10  float- 
ers. While  the  Democrats  use  a  little  11101103-.  the 
Republicans  use  both  money  and  liquor,  and  the 
Prohibitionists  keep  a  full  supply  of  eloquence, 
wind,  and  water  on  hand,  with  which  they  barely 
hold  their  own.  While  the  county  is  Democratic, 
the  majority  of  the  Board  of  .Supervisors  are  lie- 
publicans.  This  makes  the  Grand  Jury  decidedly 
Republican;  then  we  have  three  nice  tender-hearted 
Republican  Judges;  the}'  look  like  Justices  of  the 
Peace  from  Kentucky.  The  first  thing  the  Judge 
does  is  to  select  the  foreman,  and  generally  from 
Paris,  or  one  that  is  reliable.     There  a   long  iron- 


clad oath  is  administered  to  him.  ami  the  Judge 
gives  the  jury  long,  windy  instructions  on  "bucket- 
shops,"  when  they  would  not  know  one  if  they  wire 
to  see  it.  Then  the  jury  retire  to  their  room,  and 
about  the  first  thing  they  do,  is  to  pass  a  resolution 
to  have  nothing  to  do  with  election  matters.  The 
Republicans  all  vote  solid  for  that  amendment  to 
the  constitution,  in  order  to  give  them  equal  chances. 
Then  they  indict  all  the  saloon  keepers  on  three 
cases,  and  send  a  Republican  committee  around  to 
confer  with  them,  and  they  finally  agree  to  let  up 
on  them,  provided  they  will  give  their  voles  and 
influence  to  the  Republicans  in  the  next  election. 
After  this  they  set  for  about  two  weeks,  drawing 
their  pay  and  selling  out  occasionally  on  good 
ease-,  and  finally  reluctantly  adjourn  with  about 
loo  indictments  to  make  a  good  showing,  mostly 
against  Democrats  that  haven't  got  the  money,  or 
won't  put  up.  About  one  case  out  of  ten.  stands 
the  test,  anil  then  it  is  very  amusing  to  see  the 
Judge  put  on  his  judicial  countenance,  and  hear 
him  pour  about  two  volumes  of  compliments  in  the 
ears  of  the  jury  for  their  great  and  successful  efforts 
in  keeping  the  people  civilized,  and,  he  should  add, 
in  keeping  the  Republican  party  organized.  This 
pieee  of  machinery  costs  the  tax-payers  in  full, 
from  $3,000  to  $4,000  at  each  term,  and  the  wheel 
goes  round  twice  a  year." 


w 


,<fl  WILLIAM  HOULT,  JR.,  one  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  farming  community  of 
Ross  Township,  owns  and  operates  115 
acres  of  improved  land  located  on  section  34  and 
wh'i  h.  under  his  excellent  management,  is  the 
source  of  a  comfortable  income.  This  property  has 
to  him  a  far  more  than  moneyed  value,  for  it  is  his 
"birthplace  and  where  he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light,  Sept.  22,  1852.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  common  school  and,  when  reaching  his  ma- 
jority, commenced  farming  for  himself  on  rented 
land.  After  a  few  years  he  associated  himself  in 
partnership  with  his  father  with  whom  he  operated 
until  1883   and  then,  coming   into  his  share  of   the 


1078 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


property,  is  now  turning  his  whole  attention  to  its 
improvement  besides  buying,  feeding,  and  raising 
cattle  and  draft  horses. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  the  well-known  Mathew 
Iloult,  who  was  born  in  Fainnount.  Marion  Co., 
Ya.,  and  was  the  son  of  Elisha  Iloult.  also  a  native 
of  that  county,  where  he  carried  on  farming  and 
spent  his  last  days.  The  father  of  our  subject  came 
to  Illinois  in  1832  and,  locating  in  Edgar  Town- 
ship, operated  as  a  farmer  and  accumulated  a  tine 
property.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Dorothy  (Prickett) 
Iloult,  vvas  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  her  hus- 
band and  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Prickett,  and  of 
German  descent.  They  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  Matthew  was  the  seventh 
in  order  of  birth  and  he  was  born  Sept.  '2(5.  1818. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  with  limited  school  ad- 
vantages and  was  fourteen  years  old  when  the 
family  came  to  Illinois.  They  made  the  journey 
by  boat  to  Clinton,  Ind..  and  thence  by  ox  team  to 
Bloomfield  at  a  time  when  few  white  men  had  ven- 
tured into  this  region  to  settle  and  wild  game  of  all 
kinds  vvas  plentiful. 

About  1810  Mathew  Iloult  removed  to  a  point 
near  Louisburg.  Ark.,  where  he  was  a  pioneer  set- 
tler, and  engaged  in  the  nursery  and  general  fruit 
raising  business.  After  two  and  one-half  years 
he  returned  to  this  county  and  lived  in  the  same 
house  with  his  father  until  1847  when  he  purchased 
the  present  homestead.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Ross  Township  and  first  secured  10'.) 
acres  of  land  with  a  log  house.  He  was  prospered 
in  his  labors,  effected  Gne  improvements,  but 
finally  rented  his  farm  and  retired  from  active 
labor.  He  was  married  at  Danville  in  March.  1847. 
to  Miss  Lorena  Elizabeth  Hartley;  who  was  born  in 
Marion  County,  Va..  and  who  departed  this  life  at 
the  homestead  April  22,  1882.  He  is  an  active  Pro- 
hibitionist and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 

Of  the  five  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our 
subject  only  three  are  living — William,  Jr.. 
Prentice,  a  resident  of  Ross  Township,  and  Laurie 
E.,  now  Mrs.  John  W.  Law  of  Ross  Township. 
The  deceased  are:  Mary  K.  and  Amos  A.  William 
Hoult,  Jr.,  was  married  June  14,  1874,  at  the 
bride's  home  in  Edgar  Township  to  Miss  Catherine 


E.  Brothers,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  they  are  now  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  viz:  Albert,  Clara  B., 
Wilbur,  Mabel  G.,  Sylvester,  Barbara  E.  and  Law- 
rence. Mr.  Hoult  votes  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket,  but  aside  from  serving  on  the  jury,  has 
mingled  very  little  in  public  affairs. 


ILLIKIN  SMITH.  The  young  man  who 
begins  life  early  with  one  definite  object 
in  view,  seldom  fails  to  meet  with  success, 
and  ere  approaching  the  noontide  of  life 
may  accumulate  sufficient  of  this  world's  goods  to 
relieve  him  from  anxiety  as  to  the  future,  and  en- 
able him  to  spend  his  later  years  in  the  enjoyment 
of  life's  best  gifts.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  young 
men  of  Bruellet  Township,  where  he  has  a  good 
farm  on  section  20  which,  under  his  careful  man- 
agement has  become  a  valuable  estate.  It  is  200 
acres  in  extent  and  embellished  with  a  well-built 
house  and  a  commodious  barn,  together  with  the 
oilier  buildings  and  the  machinery  required  for  the 
successful  prosecution  of  agriculture.  There  fell 
to  him  from  his  father's  estate  about  seventy  acres 
of  land  and  a  little  money,  and,  like  the  wise  man 
in  the  Scripture,  he  has  improved  his  talents  and 
added  to  his  possessions. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Prairie  Township,  this 
county,  Oct  24,  1866, and  was  left  an  orphan  by 
the  death  of  both  parents  when  only  about  three 
years  old.  He  was  reared  by  friends  of  the  family 
and  lived  with  different  parties  until  a  lad  of  four- 
teen years.  Afterward  he  made  his  own  way  in 
in  the  world  mostly,  and  the  experience,  although 
seeming  hard  at  the  time,  developed  in  him  those 
qualities  which  have  best  fitted  him  for  the  sterner 
duties  of  life.  His  father,  Shepard  B.  Smith,  came 
to  this  county  with  his  parents  when  a  child,  it  is 
supposed,  although  it  is  possible  he  was  born  here. 
The  grandfather,  Abram  Smith,  is  still  living  in 
Chrisman  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  four  years. 
Upon  coining  to  this  county  he  entered  a  large 
tract  of  land,  including  the  present   site  of   Chris-. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in::) 


man,  and  performed  his  part  in  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  county. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 

was  Matilda  Wood  and  she  passed  away  prior  to 
the  decease  of  her  husband.  Their  family  consisted 
of  six  children.  Millikin.  our  subject,  was  married 
December  21,  L 888,  to  Miss  Ida,  daughter  of  A. 
M.  Koons.  now  a  resident  of  Chrism  an  and  a  car- 
penter by  occupation.  Mr.  Koons  was  born  in 
Maryland  and  came  to  this  county  at  an  early  day, 
with  his  parents,  they  locating  at  Vermilion  County 
when  he  was  a  mere  child,  and  afterwards  removed 
to  Chrisman.  Upon  reaching  man's  estate  he 
worked  as  a.  carpenter,  became  prominent  in  his 
community  and  was  specially  interested  in  the 
cause  of  temperance.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  and  a  teacher  of  the  Bible  Class 
in  the  Sunday-school  for  many  years.  After  the 
outbreak  of  the  rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army  and  gave  to  his  country  a  brave  and  faithful 
service  of  three  years  in  Company  A,  71st  Illinois 
Infantry,  lie  was  at  one  time  President  of  the 
Temperance  Society  and  organized  a  lodge  of  I.  O. 
(i.  T.  at  Chrisman.  He  departed  this  life  .Ian.  8, 
1882.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  a,  resident  of 
Chrisman.  Mrs.  Smith  under  careful  parental] train- 
ing united  with  the  Baptist  Church  some  years  ago 
and  still  remains  a  member. 


*~t£§§~€- 

,  AMES  M.  RICK,  of  Prairie  Township,  look 
possession  of  his  present  farm,  of  1(50  acres. 
on  section  30,  in  1887.  It  was  then  little 
more  than  a  wilderness,  but  three  years 
of  skillful  and  well  directed  labor  have  worked 
wonders,  and  it  is  now  fast  approaching  a  point 
which  will  place  it  second  to  none  among  the  best 
regulated  farms  of  the  Township.  Improvements 
are  being  carried  on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  while 
at  the  same  time  Mr.  Rice  raises  quantities  of 
crrain  and  live  stock  and  is  considerably  interested 
in    trotting    horses.      He  has  made  fences,  repaired 

the  buildings,  constructed   a    fish   | d,  set  out  an 

Orchard  and  forest  trees,    and  all    these,  which  will 
be   developed    in  tin-  course  of  a  few    years,  will  in 


time  contribute  toward  the  completion  of  one'of 
the  most  desirable  homesteads  in  this  region.  .Mr. 
Rice  in  his  labors  has  been  ably  seconded  by  his 
excellent  and  amiable  wife,  a  lady  ol'  more  than 
ordinary  worth  and  intelligence,  well  educated  and 
in  all  respects  the  most  suitable  partner  of  her  hus- 
band. 

The  native  place  of  our  subject  was  Taylors- 
ville.  Warrick  Co..  hid.,  and  the  date  of  his  birth 
April  29,  LSI  I.  lie  has  been  familiar  with  farm 
pursuits  since  boyhood,  and  obtained  his  education 
mostly  in  the  common  school,  although  he  attended 
the  High  School  for  a  time.  Later  he  assisted  his 
father  around  the  homestead  until  after  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.  Then,  when  but  a  youth 
of  nineteen  years,  he,  in  February,  1 81!:?,  enlisted 
in  Company  I).  I  13d  Indiana  Infantry,  being  mus- 
tered in  at  Evansville.  The  regiment  was  soon 
scut  to  the  front,  and  after  skirmishing  consider- 
ably in  Middle  Tennessee  was  ordered  to  Tulla- 
homa.  where  our  subject  met  with  an  accident  by 
which  he  suffered  the  loss  of  his  left  little  finger. 
He  was  principally  on  guard  duty  afterward  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  in  May,  18G5.  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Indianapolis,  where  he  received  hi- 
honorable  discharge. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Rice  resumed  farm- 
ing, and  in  due  time  purchased  100  acres  of  land, 
which  he  sold  in  1867.  We  next  find  him  in 
Champaign  County.  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
cattle  business  until  March.  1868,  and  afterward 
for  a  time  farmed  on  rented  land.  lie  was  married 
Aug.  7,  137:?,  at  Paris  to  Miss  Tamar  E.  Cook. 
This  lady  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio.  Nov. 
29,  1849,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Cook,  also 
a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State.  A  sketch  of  her 
brother,  Amos  Cook,  and  further  notice  of  the 
family  will  be  found  on  another  page  in  this 
volume. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  are  the  parents  of  one  child, 
a  son.  Charlie  M..  and  some  I  hue  since  they  adopted 
one  John  R.  Scott  from  the  New  York  Juvenile 
Asylum.  The  boy  is  the  son  of  John  Scott,  of 
English  descent,  and  who  served  in  the  late  Civil 
War.  His  mother  was  a  Miss  Welsh,  a  native  of 
England.      I  Mil'  subject  politically  is  a  stanch   I  )cni- 

ocrat,  and  has  served  as  Road  Supervisor.     He  has 


1080 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


little  time  for  the  cares  of  office,  and  has  conse- 
quently declined  the  responsibilities  connected 
therewith. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Thomas  J.  and 
Rebecca  (Hull)  Rice;  the  father  a  native  of  War- 
rick County,  Ind.,  and  the  mother  of  Kentucky. 
The  paternal  grandfather  held  a  Colonel's  commis- 
sion in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  shot  through  the 
ankle.  He  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  upon  leaving 
his  native  State  settled  in  Warrick  County,  Ind., 
among  its  earliest  pioneers,  and  where  he  spent  li is 
last  days.  He  traced  his  ancestry  to  England. 
The  father  of  our  subject  when  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen years  entered  land  from  the  Government, 
which  he  improved  and  still  lives  upon.  He  is 
well  to-do,  owning  about  400  acres  of  land  in  War- 
rick County,  Ind.,  and  is  a  prominent  man  in  his 
community,  uniformly  voting  the  straight  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  John  Hull,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  spent  his  last  years  in 
Kentucky.  Mrs.  Rebecca  (Hull)  Rice  is  still  living 
and  is  now  fifty-two  years  of  age.  The  six  chil- 
dren of  the  parental  family  were  named  respec- 
tively George  M.,  who  continues  a  resident  of 
Warrick  County,  Ind.;  James  M.,  our  subject; 
Elizabeth,  living  in  Spencer  County,  Ind.;  Mis- 
souri C,  Marinda  J.  and  Sarah  V.,  the  latter  three 
residents  of  Warrick  County,  Ind. 

<3|p*HOMAS  HEFFELFINGER.  This  genial 
/Z^Ssj,  and  companionable  old  gentleman  is  known 
^g^  all  over  the  count}'  where  he  has  hosts  of 
friends  and  where  he  has  arisen  from  a  modest 
position  in  life  to  one  of  independence.  He  car- 
ries on  general  merchandising  at  Scottland  and  is 
also  interested  in  farming.  He  owns  altogether 
687  acres  of  land  embracing  two  farms  in  Edgar 
Township  of  380  acres.  201  acres  in  Bruelett  Town- 
ship and  106  acres  in  Prairie  Township,  all  of 
which  is  in  productive  condition  with  fair  im- 
provements. 

The  native  place  of  Mr.  Heffelfinger  was  near 
Carlisle,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born 


in  March,  1814,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received 
limited  school  advantages.  He  studied  his  early 
lessons  in  a  log  school  house  with  slab  benches 
and  puncheon  floor,  and  early  in  life  started  out 
for  himself,  beginning  an  apprenticeship  at  cabinet- 
making  when  a  lad  of  fifteen  years.  Later  he 
took  up  wheelwrighting  and  subsequently  operated 
as  a  carpenter  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  In  1829 
he  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  later  operated  as  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  in  various  cities.  In  18411  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Attica,  Fountain  Co.,  Ind., 
where  he  occupied  himself  as  a  carpenter  and 
builder  until  the  spring  of  1854.  Then  coming  to 
Bloomtield,  this  county,  the  journey  to  which 
point  he  made  by  canal  and  wagon,  he  established 
himself  as  a  general  merchant  and  was  successful 
from  the  start. 

Our  subject  soon  began  investing  his  surplus 
capital  in  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Bloomfield  and 
hired  men  to  cultivate  it.  In  1876  he  moved  his 
stock  of  goods  to  Scottland  and  has  been  prospered 
here  as  elsewhere.  His  store  building  is  18  x  36 
feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  wing  22  x  15  feet  which 
is  a  ware  room.  He  also  has  a  residence  property 
in  Chrisman  and  farm  property  in  Prairie  Town- 
ship. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1836,  Mr.  Heffelfinger 
was  married  in  Wood  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Bernthisel,  who  was  born  in  Perry  County,  that 
State,  in  1818.  The  fruit  of  this  union  was  two 
children,  Sarah  and  Lucy,  both  born  in  the  Buck- 
eye State.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  A.  J.  Culver,  a 
mechanic  of  San  Diego  County.  Cal.,  and  they 
have  one  child.  Clinton.  Lucy  married  Joseph 
Stanfield,  a  native  of  this  State,  and  they  reside  at 
Chrisman.  They  have  three  children,  Otis,  Milo 
and  Ollie.  Mrs.  HefTelfinger  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 

Our  subject  when  first  becoming  a  voter  was 
identified  with  the  old  Whig  party.  He  voted  for 
Harrison  in  1836,  when  he  was  defeated  and  again 
in  1840.  He  voted  for  his  grandson  in  the  fall  of 
1 888  and  is  one  of  the  most  zealous  adherents  of 
the  Republican  party.  His  political  ideas  were 
shaped  by  those  of  his  honored  father,  Thomas 
Heffelfinger,  Sr.,  the  place  of  whose  nativity  was 
near  the   birthplace  of   his  son,  near   Carlisle,  Pa., 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


insi 


where  he  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits  and  lived 
until  removing  to  Ohio.  This  journey  was  made 
in  wagons  overland  and  he  settled  in  Wayne 
County.  He  traced  his  ancestry  til  Switzerland 
and  was  a  devout  member  Of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Eva  Weaver.  She  also  was  horn  in  Cumber- 
laad  County,  Pa.,  and  died  in  Wayne  County,  (  >hk>. 
The  parental  household  consisted  of  twelve  chil- 
dren. The  eldest,  John,  is  deceased;  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  live  in  Indiana:  Samuel  died  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; James  died  in  Indiana;  William  died  in 
California;  Benjamin  died  in  Ohio  and  Archibald 
died  in  California.  Thomas,  our  subject,  was  the 
ninth  in  order  of  birth;  Robert,  Isabelle  and 
David  are  living  in  Ohio.  Jobn  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of   1812. 


^|/AMES  M.  WILLIAMS.  There  is  probably 
no  more  popular  man  in  Edgar  Township, 
than  the  subject  of  this  notice.  He  owns 
and  occupies  fifty-five  acres  of  choice  land, 
lying  on  sections  14  and  1."),  which  comprises  a  part 
of  the  homestead  where  he  was  born,  March  14, 
1837.  He  remembers  many  of  the  incidents  of  the 
early  days  of  this  county  when  wild  game  was  plen- 
tiful. He  assisted  in  herding  cattle  in  the  open 
country  when  a  lad  of  eight  or  nine  years  and 
when  thirteen  years  old  traveled  overland  to  Chi- 
cago with  a  team.  That  was  in  the  year  1840,  when 
the  now  flourishing  city  was  a  village  without  side- 
walks and  giving  no  indication  whatever  of  its  fu- 
ture importance. 

Young  Williams  assisted  his  father  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  farm,  remaining  under  the  home  roof 
until  nineteen  years  old.  In  1856  he  drove  a  lot, 
of  cattle  to  Minnesota,  being  forty-two  days  on  the 
road,  after  which  he  went  into  Dakota  and  so- 
journed one  winter  engaged  in  trapping  and  hunt- 
ing, which  yielded  him  very  good  returns.  It  was 
a  period  very  enjoyable  in  other  respects  also,  and 
he  was  considered  one  of  the  best  shots  in  the  coun- 
try. From  that  time  until  L859  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ins  in  Illinois:  next    he    purchased   eighty  acres  of 


land  in  Edgar  Township  for  which  he  paid  $23  per 
acre.  He  cultivated  the  soil,  erected  -nod  build- 
ings and  instituted  various  other  improvements 
and  at  the  same  time  was  very  successful  in  his 
farming  operations.  In  1880,  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  adjoining,  which  he  retained  until  1887.  and 
then  sold  it  with  the  exception  of  fifty-five  acres, 
which  he  still  owns.  This  is  enclosed  with  neat  and 
substantial  fencing,  mostly  of  hedge,  and  is  embel- 
lished with  groves  and  an  orchard,  a  stream  of 
running  water,  with  good  springs,  and  the  land  has 
been  made  fertile  by  thorough  drainage.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams in  1886  sustained  considerable  loss  by  the 
burning  of  his  barn.  In  addition  to  general  agri- 
culture he  makes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising  and 
also  buys  and  feeds  considerably.  He  keeps  six- 
good  draft  horses  and  utilizes  two  teams  in  his 
farm  operations. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Olive 
Collins,  took  place  at  the  bride's  home  in  Edgar 
County  in  1860.  This  lady  was  born  in  Edgar 
(  ounty.  III.,  and  is  now  the  mother  of  two  children 
— Alice  and  Hester.  The  elder  attended  the  city 
schools  at  Paris  and  for  six  years  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful teacher.  Hester  remains  at  home  with  her 
parents.  .Mr.  Williams  politically  is  a  solid  Demo- 
crat and  one  of  the  most  active  members  of  his 
party  in  this  vicinity.  He  frequently  officiates  as 
a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions  and  labors 
as  he  has  opportunity  for  the  success  of  its  prin- 
ciples, lie  served  as  Constable  for  a  period  of  eight 
years  and  has  been  a  School  Director. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Reason  Williams. 
who  was  born  in  Brcckenridge  County,  Ky..  and 
was  the  son  of  an  old  Virginian,  wdio  emigrated 
from  his  native  State  to  Kentucky  in  the  pio- 
neer days.  He  purchased  land,  engaged  in  fann- 
ing and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The 
father  of  our  subject,  like  his  honored  sire,  also 
chose  agriculture  for  his  life  occupation,  but 
elected  to  prosecute  it  on  the  soil  of  Illinois.  Jour- 
neying overland  by  means  of  an  ox  team,  he  in 
18:S4,  came  to  Paris  Township  and  purchased  land 
which  he  improved  with  oxen,  having  no  horses 
for  several  years.  He  finally  parted  with  his 
first  purchase  and  entered  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Edgar  Township.    He  also  purchased  a  like  amount 


1082 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


adjoining  and  added  to  his  real  estate  until  he  was 
at  one  time  the  owner  of  211  acres.  He  engaged 
quite  extensively  in  the  live-stock  business  driving 
his  fat  cattle  through  to  Chicago  in  the  early  days. 
He  departed  this  life  full  of  years  and  honors  in 
1878.  He  was  a  man  well  known  throughout  this 
community,  was  first  a  Whig  and  then  a  Democrat, 
and  a  member  of  the  Hardshell  Baptist  Church. 

Mrs.  Maria  (Seaton)  Williams,  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  Virginia  and  was  the  daughter 
of  William  Seaton.  a  native  of  that  State  and  who 
there  spent  his  entire  life.  The  daughter,  Maria, 
went  to  Kentucky  prior  to  her  marriage.  She  is 
still  living,  occupying  a  part  of  the  homestead,  and 
is  quite  well  advanced  in  years.  Her  son,  James 
M.,  looks  after  her  needs  carefully  and  sees  that 
she  wants  for  nothing. 

The  parental  household  included  eleven  children 
of  whom  Henry,  William  and  George  are  deceased. 
James  M.  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth;  Albeit  is 
ceased;  Harrison  is  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Sarah. 
Mrs.  Collins,  lives  in  Edgar  Township;  Juda,  Maria, 
and  Emily  are  deceased;  Lucy  lives  in  Kansas; 
George,  during  the  late  Civil  War,  served  three 
months  in  1801  in  a  regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry; 
Albert  enlisted  in  1861  in  a  Wisconsin  regiment 
and  died  in  one  of  the  Southern  hospitals. 


AVID  SCOTT.     The  Scott  family  every- 
where  are   recognized  as  among  the  lead- 

'  ing  citizens  of  this  county  and  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  one  of  its  most  worthy  off- 
shoots, is  located  on  a  fine  farm  of  320  acres  on 
section  15  in  Ross  Township.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  and  is  a  man  possessing  great  in- 
tegrity of  character,  reliable  and  prompt  in  meeting 
his  obligations,  and  a  member  of  his  community 
which  it  could  not  well  do  without.  A  sketch  of 
his  father,  Samuel  Scott,  will  be  found  in  the  biog- 
raphy of  Andrew  Scott  elsewhere  in  this  volume — 
David  and  Andrew  being  brothers. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Moores- 
ville,  Morgan  Co.,  Ind..  Feb.  21.  1824.  and  was 
reared    to    manhood    on    a    farm,    mostly   in    this 


county,  as  his  parents  in  1829  left  Indiana  and 
came  to  Illinois.  He  consequently  remembers  very 
little  of  his  early  home,  but  recollects  some  inci- 
dents of  the  journey,  which  was  made  overland 
and  consumed  several  weeks.  Wild  animals  of  all 
kinds  abounded  in  this  region  at  that  time,  and 
young  Scott  at  times,  has  seen  as  many  as  fifty  deer 
in  one  herd.  His  education  was  limited  by  a  few 
weeks  each  year  in  the  log  school  house,  the  school 
being  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan. 

Our  subject  was  at  an  early  age  introduced  to 
farm  labor  and,  when  a  boy  of  ten,  herded  cattle 
on  the  prairies  and  became  a  fearless  rider.  He 
frequently  accompanied  his  father,  driving  cattle 
through  to  Chicago,  which  was  then  an  unimportant 
town,  and  he  took  part  in  the  wolf  hunts  which 
were  frequently  organized  in  order  to  exterminate 
that  disagreeable  and  mischievous  animal.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  twenty-two  years  old  and,  in 
1851,  crossing  the  Mississippi,  he  located  in  Mon- 
mouth Township,  Jackson  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he 
purchased  120  acres  of  land  and  a  farm  ten  miles 
west  of  Maquoketa.  He  lived  there  for  a  period 
of  twenty  years  and.  in  1871,  came  back  to  this 
county  and  located  upon  the  farm  which  he  now 
occupies. 

Mr.  Scott  has  five  houses  on  his  farm  occupied 
by  his  men,  and  is  largely  engaged  in  stock-raising, 
feeding  and  shipping  cattle,  disposing  of  from 
five  to  six  carloads  annually.  Seven  teams  of 
horses  are  utilized  in  the  farm  labor,  these  being 
graded  draft  animals  of  excellent  breeds.  The 
farm  lies  about  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of 
Chrisman  and  is  considered  a  very  valuable  piece 
of  property. 

The  marriage  of  David  Scott  with  Miss  Emma 
Lock  took  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents 
at  Anamosa.  Jones  Co.,  Iowa,  in  the  fall  of  1853. 
This  lady  was  born  in  Coles  County,  111.  Mrs. 
Sec  lit  departed  this  life  at  her  home  in  Edgar 
County.  111.,  May  2.  1880.  Their  eldest  child, 
Sylvester,  operates  the  home  farm,  where  he  lives 
with  America  L.  and  David  M.,  his  sister  and 
brother.  Columbus  is  also  on  the  home  farm; 
Serena  is  the  wife  of  Ted  Coslett,  a  farmer  of 
Young  America  Township. 

Mr.   Scott  is  a   very  strong   Republican,  and   is 


$■■ 


MZ  'A- 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1095 


quite  prominent  in  party  politics  in  this  section, 
frequently  serving  ms  a  delegate  to  the  county  con- 
ventions, lie  has  served  on  the  Grand  and  Petit 
juries  a  number  of  times;  has  also  sit  veil  as  School 
Director,  and  in  Iowa  was  Constable  for  many 
years.  He  assisted  in  building  the  first  school 
house  in  the  Hawkeye  State  and  has  all  his  life  been 
interested  in  educational  matters.  In  Iowa  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
There,  also,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee who  made  it  their  business  to  look  after 
horse  thieves,  and  attended  the  first  trial  of  one  of 
these,  which  was  held  on  the  open  highway.  Dur- 
ing those  days  the  Indians  encamped  in  large  num- 
bers along  the  banks  of  the  Maquoketa  River  and 
Mr.  Scott  frequently  traded  horses  with  them.  He 
has  watched  with  lively  interest  the  changes  oc- 
curring during  a  period  of  thirty  years  and  has 
contributed  his  full  quota  to  the  development  of 
one  of  the  richest  sections  of  country  in  the  Great 
West. 


3"*- 


R.  ABEL  IIORNE.  Veterinary  Surgeon,  is 
a  gentleman  of  recognized  ability,  not  only 
in  connection  with  his  profession,  but  one 
who  is  thoroughly  well  informed,  and  pos- 
sesses mental  gifts  of  a  high  order.  A  native  of 
AVayne  County,  Ind.,  he  was  born  Jan.  1(1.  1852, 
and  is  the  son  of  Wilson  and  Clarkey  (Henby) 
Home,  who  were  natives  of  Wayne  County,  N.  C, 
the  father  born  in  the  year  L800,  and  the  mother  in 
L801.  They  were  of  English  and  Scotch  ancestry, 
respectively,  and  carefully  reared  in  the  Quaker 
faith.  The}'  spent  their  childhood  and  youth  in 
their  native  State,  where  they  were  married,  and 
whence  they  removed  to  Indiana  in  1822.  They 
were  among  the  pioneer  residents  of  Wayne  County, 
and  built  up  a  homestead  from  the  wilderness, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the 
mother  passing  away  in  1866,  and  the  rather  two 
years  later.  To  Wilson  Home  and  his  excellent 
wife,  there  was  born  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
only  four  of  whom  are  living:  Dr.  A.,  our  subject ; 
Hannah,    Mrs.    Cammack,    of    Xenia,    Ind.;    Eliza. 


Mrs.    Canady.   of    Amboy,    Ind.;   and   Clarkey    J., 
Mrs.  Lamb,  of  Richmond,  Ind. 

The  subject  of  Ibis  sketch,  in  common  with  his 
brothers  ami  sisters,  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  district  school,  and  remained  with  his  father 
upon  the  farm  until  reaching  man's  estate.  In 
1850,  before  attaining  his  nineteenth  year,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet  Linton. 
They  remained  in  Indiana  for  six  years  thereafter, 
and  in  1856,  started  for  the  Great  West.,  their 
destination  being  Omaha.  Neb.  Our  subject  there 
engaged  as  a  real-estate  dealer  three  years,  then  re- 
turned to  his  native  county  in  the  fall  of  1859. 
He  had  always  been  fond  of  horses,  and  a  close 
observer  of  their  habits  and  needs,  and  determined 
to  turn  his  attention  to  the  study  of  their  diseases. 
Repairing  to  St.  Louis,  he  entered  the  Veterinary 
College,  which  was  under  the  superintendence  of 
the  well-known  Dr.  Keller,  and  was  graduated  that 
same  year. 

In  the  spring  of  1861  Dr.  Home  established 
himself  in  Edgar  County,  III.  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  which  he  continued  with 
but  slight  interruptions,  in  Edgar  and  Vermilion 
counties  until  1880.  During  this  time  he  acquired 
an  enviable  reputation  in  this  line  of  practice  do- 
ing an  extensive  business  and  which  proved  the 
source  of  a  fine  income.  It  is  estimated  that  in 
eleven  cases  out  of  thirteen  he  was  successful  in 
the  treatment  of  tetanus  or  lockjaw  by  a  remedy 
of  bis  own  discovery  and  his  novel  manner  of  ad- 
ministering the  same  won  for  him  much  praise. 
He  also  saved  the  lives  of  six  or  seven  very  valu- 
able animals  by  an  operation  called  tracheotomy, 
which  consists  of  making  an  artificial  opening  in 
tin'  windpipe.  He  also  saved  a  number  of  cattle 
and  horses  by  inserting  a  trocar  into  the  animal's 
flank  and  thus  liberating  the  carbonic  acid  gas. 
He  has  indeed  made  a  specialty  of  animal  surgery. 
performing  many  critical  operations  and  being 
almost  uniformly  successful. 

Since  the  year  1880  Dr.  Home  has  been  engaged 
in  quite  another  field  of  labor  in  the  connection 
with  the  publication  of  biographical  and  county 
bi>tory.  but  in  the  meantime  his  leisure  hours  have 

been  employed  in  a  close  slinly  of  all  the  late  pub. 

lications,  French,  English  and  American,  in  relation 


1096 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  the  veterinary  science,  tbe  results  of  which  he 
.proposes  to  give  to  the  world  by  resuming  his 
practice  in  the  near  future.  He  is  now  established 
at  Hildreth  with  a  choice  stock  of  drugs  and  medi- 
cines and  the  instruments  necessary  to  his  chosen 
calling.  At  the  same  time  he  will  <  fficiate  as  auc- 
tioneer, a  profession  which  he  has  followed  success- 
fully for  twenty-five  years  and  he  will  also  act  as 
attorney  whenever  required,  having  by  a  course  of 
law  study  perfected  himself  so  as  to  he  able  to 
conduct  any  ordinary  case.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  he  has  spent  few  idle  hours  since  reaching 
years  of  manhood  and  his  ambition  has  kept  pace 
with  his  mental  acquirements. 

During  the  first  year  of  the  late  Civil  War  Dr. 
Home  entered  the  Union  army  as  a  member  of 
Company  E,  150th  Illinois  Infantry  in  which  he 
was  first  Orderly  Sergeant  and  later  received  a 
Captain's  commission.  Ill  health,  however, obliged 
him  to  leave  the  army  before  receiving  his  com- 
mission and  he  reluctantly  returned  to  his  old 
field  of  labor.  To  him  and  his  estimable  wife 
there  have  been  born  ten  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  a  daughter,  Mary  E.,  is  the  wife  of  William 
II.  Hildreth,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  volume;  Francis  M.  is  a  commercial  trav- 
eler; Cinderella;  Partliena  is  the  wife  of  Robert  E. 
Crimmins,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Dora  Y.  married  George  Christlieb  of  Kan- 
sas; Willie,  Sarah  E.,  Jennie  L.,  deceased;  Mar- 
garet and  John  are  deceased.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  August,  1876. 

The  Doctor  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
1M77  with  Miss  Lund  Fleraming,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  children.  Carrie  and  John,  the  latter  of 
whom  is  deceased.  The  present  wife  of  our  sub 
ject,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1H82,  was  form- 
erly Miss  Fiankie  Y.  Young,  daughter  of  Omega 
and  Nancy  (Staytor)  Young  and  niece  of  Gov. 
Wise  of  Virginia.  She  was  born  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  Sept.  2,  1853,  and  is  a  sister  of  W. 
W.  Young,  a  law  partner  of  Gen.  Blackburn,  of 
Ohio  Mr.  Young  is  considered  one  of  the  ablest 
criminal  lawyers  in  the  Buckeye  State.  Another 
brother,  W.  D.  Young,  is  the  Mayor  of  Ripley, 
Ohio,  and  likewise  a  prominent  attorney.  Her 
father  was  a  minister   of    the    New    Light  Church 


during  his  3'ounger  years,  but  later  became  a 
Freethinker.  Both  he  and  bis  wife  are  deceased. 
Mis.  Frankie  Y.  Home  was  well  educated,  being 
graduated  from  Lebanon  College,  where  subse- 
quently she  was  engaged  as  a  teacher. 

Dr.  Home  was  reared  in  the  Quaker  faith,  but 
when  eighteen  years  old  identified  himself  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  later  officia- 
ted as  a  minister  for  a  period  of  four  years.  Since 
that  time  his  religious  views  have  changed  and  he 
is  quite  liberal.  Although  his  school  education 
was  quite  limited,  his  inclinations  have  always 
been  toward  literature  and  science,  and  by  improv- 
ing his  leisure  hours  he  has  become  well  informed 
upon  most  of  the  leading  topics  of  the  day.  His 
researches  constrained  him  to  enter  the  lecture 
field,  the  result  of  which  has  been  many  interesting 
addresses  upon  the  subject  of  electrical  psychology, 
physiology,  geology,  natural  philosophy, the  horse 
and  his  diseases,  and  <  thet  topics.  He  has  like- 
wise been  a  debater  of  no  mean  talent,  and  in  the 
field  of  theology  has  met  some  very  able  public 
speakers.  His  remarkable  memory  gives  him  great 
advantage  in  these  contests,  while  his  natural  elo- 
quence and  gift  of  logic  makes  him  an  exceed- 
ingly interesting  speaker. 

A  self-made  man,  Dr.  Home  deserves  more  than 
a  passing  mention,  lie  who  amid  the  disadvant- 
ages of  his  early  life  climbs  up  unaided  the  ladder 
of  knowledge,  forms  a  part  of  that  element  which 
has  given  to  the  world  some  of  its  most  valuable 
men.  Not  only  should  it  prove  a  stimulus  to  oth- 
ers, but  it  has  opened  up  many  channels  of 
thought-  and  assisted  the  world's  progress  intellect- 
ually; and  inasmuch  as  the  mind  becomes  enlight- 
ened and  the  thoughts  elevated,  it  must  follow  in 
the  nature  of  things  that  the  world  is  to  be  made 
better.  Every  man  who  is  the  means  of  instruc- 
tion to  his  fellows  has  contributed  something  to 
the  general  good,  and  is  the  means  of  exerting  an 
influence  which  will  remain  effective  long  after  he 
has  been  called  hence. 

In  closing  this  brief  sketch,  the  publishers  of 
this  Album  wish  to  express  in  this  public  man- 
ner their  appreciation  of  the  ability  and  faith- 
fulness of  Dr.  Home.  Long  and  close  business  ac- 
quaintance with    him  gave   us    ample  opportunity 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1097 


of  knowing  him  well.  A  kinder-hearted  man 
is  seldom  met.  He  is  generous  to  a  fault,  unless  if 
be  a  fault  to  be  too  open  handed.  His  friendships 
are  strong  and  no  malice  toward  one  who  lias  in- 
jured him  ever  finds  lodgment  within  his  breast. 
A  genius  in  the  use  of  language,  almost  a  prodigy 
for  remembering  all  lie  either  reads  or  hears,  a  tire- 
less worker,  Dr.  Home  is  in  many  respects  a  re- 
markable man.  We  take  pleasure  in  presenting  his 
portrait  in  this  volume. 


-S~HH3*£M§-'-4- 


ENJAMIN  F.  MANNING.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Clermont  County. 
I]l|]  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  Coming 
to  Edgar  Township  in  1829,  he  located  on 
eighty  acres  of  land.  Being  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  the  township,  he  and  his  family  experi- 
enced the  usual  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life,  fighting 
as  occasion  required  Indians  or  wolves.  Using  his 
best  efforts  to  improve  this  farm  of  eighty  acres,  he 
succeeded  in  making  a  home  for  his  family,  and  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  boundless  prairie  dot- 
ted all  over  with  farms  and  villages.  He  followed 
this  active  and  useful  life  till  he  quietly  fell  asleep 
nt  the  age  of  seventy  years.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  wasElizabeth  Day.  She  was  born  in  Ohio, 
where  she  married  John  Manning,  and  with  her 
husband  came  to  Edgar  Township,  where  she  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  her  death.  The  parental 
family  consisted  of  thirteen  children,  namely: 
Minerva,  deceased ;  Alonzo.  deceased,  lie  enlisted 
in  the  54th  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry,  in  1801. 
and  served  with  credit  to  himself  until  he  was  taken 
prisoner  at  the  battleof  Cbickamauga,  and  was  sent 
to  Andersonville,  where  after  one  year's  suffering 
lie  died  of  starvation.  Edward  J.,  the  next  son. 
enlisted  in  the  54th  Illinois  Infantry  in  1861; 
although  wounded  in  the  lirnb  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  now  lives  in  Bates  County, 
Mo.  ;Cina,  deceased;  Melvin,  is  now  living  in  Bour- 
bon County,  Kan.;  he  served  in  the  war  in  the  same 
regiment  as  his  brothers.  Edward  and  Alonzo; 
while  fighting  bravely  he  was  wounded  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a  shell.      In    1863    Wesley   and   Oliver 


enlisted  in  the  Illinois  Cavalry,  serving  fearlessly 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  remaining  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are:  Eli/.a,  still  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Edgar  County:  Thir/.a.  deceased ;  John,  is 
living  in  Barton  County.  Mo.;  Wesley,  is  in  Walla 
Walla  County,  Wash.;  Alfred  is  in  this  county; 
Oliver  is  living  in  Decatur,  III.:  Joseph  is  in 
Huron  County.  Ohio;  and  Benjamin,  oursubject. 

The  youngest  member  of  this  family  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  bom  in  Edgar  Town- 
ship Nov,  "-'7.  1850,  growing  up  on  the  farm.  Even 
in  bis  early  years  he  was  obliged  to  work,  follow- 
ing the  plow  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  hold 
one.  His  educational  advantages  were  limited, 
being  confined  to  the  meagre  course  of  instruction 
afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  those  days, 
lie  can  remember  the  times  when  wild  game,  deer, 
and  wolves  roamed  over  the  prairie,  obliging  the 
settlers  to  guard  their  lives  and  their  crops.  When 
a  boy  he  took  part  in  the  many  wolf  hunts  on  the 
prairies,  enjoying,  the  exciting  rides  with  all  the 
ardor  of  youth. 

The  architects  of  those  days  did  not  build  houses 
for  show,  but  for  comfort  and  endurance,  so  that 
our  subject  was  enabled  to  live  in  the  same  house 
his  parents  had  first  built  until  he  was  twenty  years 
old,  when  he  left  home  to  do  for  himself.  He 
rented  land  in  Edgar  Township,  and  followed  farm- 
ing until  1878,  when  he  started  a  store  in  Edgar,  buy- 
ing out  the  stock  of  Robert  Wasson.  Engaging  in 
general  merchandise,  he  carried  on  the  business  one 
year  and  then  sold  to  Morris  Little,  going  back  to 
his  present  place  of  eighty  acres.  Since  returning 
he  has  made  improvements,  amongst  others  having 
planted  a  fine  orchard.  While  raising  the  usual 
!  quantity  of  grain  and  stock,  he  also  pays  attention 
to  fine  cattle  and  hogs,  having  plenty  of  water,  his 
farm  being  located  on  both  sides  of  the  Bruellet 
Creek.  He  has  two  teams  of  horses  and  a  large 
apiary. 

October,  1870,  in  Edgar  Township,  Mr.  Man- 
ning was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Little,  an  account  of  whose  life  appears  in  Morris 
Little's  sketch.  Mrs.  Manning  is  a  native  of  Clin- 
ton County,  Ind..  where  she  was  born  April  12. 
185  1.  and  came  to  this  Stale  in  1858,  growing  up 
in    Edgar   County.      Mr.   and    Mrs.    .Manning   have 


lll'.IS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


seven  children,  named  respectively:  Otis  Marion, 
Lulu  Maud,  Inez  Mead.  Eflie  Mabel.  Artlia 
Ethel,  and  the  twins,  Jessie  Hila,  and  Bessie  Nila. 
Our  subject  is  Constable  of  the  county  at  present, 
and  has  been  a  School  Director  for  six  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  a  delegate  to 
the  County  Convention.  His  wife  is  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

-    x.  .v-^>r<^-v.  _» , 


<f£\ 


JOSEPH  D.  HUNTER.  The  individual  who 
has  assisted  in  maintaining  the  reputation  of 
his  township  as  the  abode  of  an  intelligent 
nd  progressive  diss  of  people  deserves  to 
have  his  name  preserved  among  the  annals  of  its 
most  worthy  and  useful  men.  Not  alone  as  a  money- 
making  factor  does  a  man  become  of  value  to 
his  community,  but  he  who  assists  in  upholding 
the  standard  of  morality,  and  gives  due  weight  to 
the  finer  elements  of  life,  should  not  be  passed  un- 
noticed. 

The  surroundings  of  an  individual  determine  in 
a  large  measure  the  salient  points  of  his  character. 
In  passing  among  the  beautiful  homes  of  Hunter 
Township,  to  none  is  the  attention  of  the  passing 
traveler  more  agreeably  attracted  than  that  which 
belongs  to  the  subject  of  this  notice.  The  well- 
developed  farm  of  250  acres  is  under  a  thorough 
state  of  cultivation,  enclosed  with  neat  and  sub- 
stantial fences  and  embellished  with  modern  build- 
ings. The  dwelling  is  a  large  and  elegant  house, 
beautifully  furnished,  set  in  the  midst  of  a  fine 
lawn,  surrounded  by  shade  trees  and  shrubbery, 
and  forming  one  of  the  most  attractive  pictures  in 
the  landscape  of  this  region.  The  land  is  well  cul- 
tivated by  the  most  modern  and  approved  machin- 
ery, while  the  well-fed  live  stock  contributes  its 
quota  to  the  general  appearance  of  comfort  and 
plenty.  Personally  the  proprietor  of  this  elegant 
home  is  one  of  the  most  popular  men.  both  in  the 
social  and  business  circles  of  his  community. 

The  Hunter  homestead  possesses  more  than  a 
moneyed  value  to  our  subject,  for  it  was  here  that 
he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  1849,  and 
amid  its  quiet  surroundings,  engaged  in  rural  pur- 


suits, developed  into  manhood.  In  the  meantime 
he  acquired  an  excellent  education,  entering  the 
Paris  Academy  after  leaving  the  district  school, 
and  later  he  was  a  student  in  a  school  in  Indiana 
one  year.  He  completed  his  studies  in  a  commer- 
cial  college  in  Chicago.  His  habits  of  industry 
were  thus  fortified  by  an  intelligent  knowledge  of 
business  methods,  and  he  was  fully  prepared  to  en- 
ter upon  a  successful  and   honorable  career. 

When  prepared  to  establish  a  fireside  of  his  own 
our  subject  was  united  in  marriage,  October.  1874. 
in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  with  Miss  Ella,  daugh- 
ter of  William  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Bogart)  Groves. 
The  young  people  began  their  wedded  life  in  their 
present  residence  which  had  been  recently  built, 
and  under  the  most  favorable  auspices  Mr.  Hunter 
proceeded  with  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  while 
he  still  carried  on  the  improvements  on  his  farm. 
There  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter  five 
children,  namely:  Collett;  Maude,  now  deceased, 
Florence,  William  G,  and  Blanche,  who  is  dead. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter  are  members  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  Mr.  Hun- 
ter gives  his  political  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  About  1879  he  was  elected  Township 
Commissioner,  served  two  years,  was  re-elected 
in  188.")  and  still  holds  the  office.  He  has  also 
served  as  Township  Clerk  and  School  Director. 
His  aim  has  been  to  raise  the  standard  of  agricul- 
ture in  Central  Illinois,  and  for  the  past  two  years 
he  has  served  as  Superintendent  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Agricultural  Society.  During  the 
construction  of  the  county  jail  in  1888,  Mr.  Hun- 
ter was  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors, 
and  is  still  a  member  of  the  Building  Committee. 
For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Hunter  has  been  largely 
interested  in  live-stock,  buying,  raising  and  ship- 
ping cattle  and  swine  in  large  numbers.  For  a 
period  of  four  years  he  was  connected  with  a  pack- 
ing house  at  Newport,  Indianapolis  and  Danville, 
being  associated  with  Mr.  Collett  as  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm,  and  the}'  carried  on  a  large  and 
profitable  business. 

Spencer  K.  Hunter,  the  father  of  our  subject. 
was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  lived  there  until  ap- 
proaching manhood,  when  he  came  about  1827  to 
this  county  with  his    parents.      In   due  time  he  en- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1099 


tered  a  tract  of  land  and  later  in  company  with 
his  brother,  John,  purchased  two  sections  of  Henry 
(lav,  which  property  still  remains  in  the  family 
.and  from  a  part  of   which  the  farm    of  Joseph  was 

cut  off.  Spencer  K.  Hunter  is  still  living  and  a 
resident  of  (his  county. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Hunter  were  natives  of 
Tennessee,  whence  they  removed  to  Indiana  during 
its  pioneer  days  in  their  youth,  with  their  respect- 
ive parents.  After  marriage  they  began  house- 
keeping in  true  pioneer  style,  the  father  securing  a 
tract  of  land  from  which  he  opened  up  a  farm  which 
still  remains  their  home.  The  family  traces  its  an- 
cestry to  Germany.  Mr.  Hunter  had  the  manage- 
ment of  his  father's  farm,  comprising  about  700 
acres  of  choice  land,  and  is  the  guardian  of  Harry 
and  Amy,  orphan  children  of  his  deceased  sister, 
Hannah,  who  married  William  Hunter,  a  native  of 
Ireland.  The  latter  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  quite  young.  It  is  not  supposed  that  he  is 
any  relation  to  the  Hunter  family  to  which  his 
wife  belonged.  These  children  were  given  a  farm 
of  120  acres  by  their  maternal  grandfather  Hunter, 
and  this  is  managed  by  Joseph  1). 


!J<iiJi]  ILTON  A.  BLACKBURN,  a  young  man 
who  has  just  passed  the  the  thirtieth 
!■  year  of  his  age,  is  accounted  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  farmers  of  Edgar  Town- 
ship, and  hah  a  quarter  section  of  land  which  under 
his  wise  management  is  becoming  a  valuable  piece 
of  property.  The  farm  with  its  neat  and  conve- 
nient buildings  makes  a  very  attractive  homestead, 
and  the  proprietor  is  a  general  favorite  both  in  the 
social  and  business  circles  of  the  community.  He 
is  married  to  an  accomplished  and  intelligent  lady, 
and  in  their  journey  of  life,  comparatively  just  be- 
gun, they  have  the  good  wishes  of  hosts  of  friends. 
The  Blackburn  family  may  properly  be  ac- 
counted as  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  Edgar 
County  to  which  they  came  during  its  pioneer 
days,  first  being  represented  by  Col.  James  Black- 
biii-n.  the  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject.     His   son.  William,  the  father  of    Milton  A., 


our  subject,  was  born  in  Stratton  Township  and  is 
fully  represented  on  another  page  in  this  volume. 
Grandfather  Blackburn  entered  land  in  Stratton 
Township  and  later  served  as  a  colonel  all  through 
the  Black  Hawk  War.  Upon  returning  to  civil 
life  he  resumed  the  cultivation  and  improvement 
of  his  land,  becoming  well-to-do.  and  left  at  his 
decease  property  estimated   to  be  worth  $100,000. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  bred  to  farm  life 
and  after  reaching  man's  estate  engaged  in  stock- 
raising.  After  his  marriage  he  located  in  Grand 
View  Township  where  he  sojourned  many  years, 
then  abandoning  the  active  labors  of  farm  life, 
took  up  his  abode  in  Paris,  where  for  a  time  he 
conducted  a  clothing  store.  lie  owns  a  large 
amount  of  real  estate  adjoining  the  town  and  800 
acres  of  land  besides,  being,  like  his  father  before 
him.  well-to-do  and  having  the  faculty  of  turning 
everything  he  chooses  into  hard  cash.  In  his  politi- 
cal views  he  is  a  decided  Republican  and  in  relig- 
ious matters  an  Elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Paris.  He  was  married  in  early  manhood  to 
Miss  Tate,  and  of  this  union  there  was  born  one 
child,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Gano.  Of  his  second 
marriage  with  Louisa  Downard  there  were  born 
seven  children,  viz.,  Cassie  (Mrs.  Guthrie),  Mil- 
ton A.,  our  subject,  William,  Jr.,  Maggie,  James, 
John  and  Nellie.  Most  of  them  are  under  the  home 
roof  and  all  are  residents  of  Paris  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Grand  View  Township,  June  11, 
1859.  He  remained  there  until  a  lad  of  twelve 
years,  then  removed  with  his  parents  into  Paris 
where  he  completed  the  ordinary  branches  of  study 
in  the  High  School.  In  1878  he  entered  the  Uni- 
versity at  Champaign,  remaining  two  years  and 
completing  his  studies.  Upon  leaving  the  univer- 
sity he  resumed  farming  near  Paris  and  grad- 
ually drifted  into  stock-raising.  Afterward  he 
operated  1,300  acres  of  land  in  partnership  with  his 
father.  In  the  spring  of  1882  he  purchased  his 
present  homestead  of  160  acres  of  improved  land, 
for  which  he  paid  the  snug  sum  of  $9,000.  It  is 
very  pleasantly  located  about  six  miles  from  Pans 
and  embellished  with  a  convenient  modern  dwell- 
ing, set  in  the  midst  of  ample  grounds,  with 
groves  and  an  orchard  adjacent  and  an  ample  barn 


1100 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


50x60  feet  in  dimensions.  He  has  wisely  supplied 
himself  with  the  most  approved  machinery  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle,  draft  horses 
and  roadsters,  Hambletonian.  Percheron  and  Eng- 
lish Shire.  He  takes  a  pardonable  pride  in  his 
horses,  which  frequently  are  awarded  the  premiums 
at  the  various  fairs.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
County  Fair  Association,  having  its  headquarters 
at  Paris  and  has  served  on  the  committee  of  awards 
for  horses. 

Mr.  Blackburn  was  married  at  Chrisman,  Dec.  22, 
1881,  to  Miss  Effle  MeKee,  a  sketch  of  whose 
father,  will  be  found  on  another  page  in  this  vol- 
ume. Mrs.  Blackburn  is  a  native  of  Edgar  Town- 
ship, and  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  Ralph. 
Fred  and  Marie.  Our  subject  politically  gives  his 
unqualified  support  to  the  Republican  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  School  Board  and  prominently 
identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Paris. 
Mrs.  Blackburn  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Chrisman. 


«       MLLIAM    R.    POULTER.      The    memory 

\j7j//  of  this  excellent  man,  who  departed  this 
W^S  life  at  his  homestead  in  Kansas  Township, 
Aug.  28,  1877,  is  held  in  kindly  remembrance  by 
a  large  portion  of  the  residents  of  this  part  of  the 
county.  He  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  County, 
Ky.,  and  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  man  in 
Kansas  Township,  which  he  represented  in  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  three  years  in  suc- 
cession, and  was  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  a 
period  of  six  years.  He  took  an  active  interest  in 
all  the  enterprises  calculated  to  benefit  the  people, 
socially,  morally  and  financially.  Especially  was 
he  interested  in  the  establishment  and  maintenance 
of  schools,  and  under  his  watchful  care  the  system 
of  instruction  was  greatly  improved.  His  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  the  famiPy  cemetery  on  the  old 
home  farm,  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son 
Thomas. 

In  1838  our  subject  was  married  to  Eliza  Doing, 
she  dying.  Mr.  Poulter.  in  1847,  was  married  in 
Edgar  County  to  Mrs.  Rachel  II.  (Oibbons)  Mus- 
grave.     This   lady  was  born  in  Lancaster  County, 


Pa.,  Dec.  12,  1824,  and  when  a  child  of  eighteen 
months  was  taken  by  her  parents,  James  and  Eliza 
A.  (Scott)  Gibbons,  to  Columbiana  County,  Ohio. 
They  lived  there  eight  years,  then,  in  1833,  emi- 
grated to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  they  sojourned 
seven  years.  In  1847  they  came  to  Edgar  County, 
III.,  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  about  three 
miles  from  the  town  of  Grand  View.  There  the 
father  cultivated  his  land  and  made  a  comfortable 
home.  Miss  Rachel  was  first  married  at  the  old 
farm  near  Terre  Haute  to  Nathan  Musgrave,  and 
they  lived  in  that  vicinity  four  years,  in  the  mean- 
time becoming  the  parents  of  one  child,  a  son, 
Henry.     Mr.     Musgrave  died  in  April,  1845. 

In  1840  James  (ribbons  removed  with  his  family 
to  Clarke  County,  this  State,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm,  upon  which  he  operated  many  years,  and 
where  the  mother  died.  Mrs.  Musgrave  after  the 
death  of  her  husband  returned  to  her  father's 
house  and  lived  with  the  family  in  Clark  County 
until  after  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Poulter.  Soon 
afterward  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poulter  took  up  their  abode 
in  Kansas  Township,  Edgar  County,  where  the 
death  of  Mr.  Poulter  took  place  and  where  she 
still  lives.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  born  eleven 
children:  Eliza  Jane  was  first  married  to  William 
Timmons,  who  is  now  deceased,  ami  she  then  be- 
came the  wife  of  W.  J.  Ward,  and  now  lives  in 
Bates  County,  Mo.;  Amelia,  Mrs.  N.  E.  Hurst,  is  a 
resident  of  Vernon  County,  Mo.;  Rosa,  Mrs.  A.  S. 
Davis,  lives  in  Bates  County;  Lucy,  the  wife  of 
Marion  Hurst,  lives  in  Vernon  Count}',  Mo.;  Fill- 
more lives  in  Kansas  Township;  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Thomas,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two 
children — Claude  and  Clyde;  Walter  Scott  married 
Nettie  M.  Redmon,  and  resides  in  Clark  County. 
The  next  child  died  in  infancy;  Mildred  is  the 
wife  of  William  Clutters,  and  Martha  is  the  wife  of 
James  Smith;  both  are  living  in  Bates  County,  Mo.; 
Franklin  lives  with  his  mother;  Belle  is  the  wife  of 
William  Ambers,  of  Kansas  Township. 

Mrs.  Poulter  was  left  a  fine  property  by  her  late 
husband,  consisting  of  196  acres  of  choice  land, 
which  is  operated  by  her  son  Franklin.  Her 
father,  James  Gibbons  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
which  was  also  the  native  State  of  her  paternal 
grandfather,    Samuel   Gibbons.     There    the    latter 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1101 


was  married  and  reared  li i>.  family  of  sixteen  chil- 
dren. At  the  age  of  seventy  years  he  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  where  ho  died  when  ninety  years  old.  Her 
great-grandfather,  David  Gibbons,  lived  many 
years  in  Pennsylvania  and  died  there;  the  place  of 
his  birth  is  no1  known. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Poulter  was  horn  in  New 
York  City,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Rodney 
Scott,  one    of    the    must  noted    physicians  and  sur- 

gi s  of  his  time.     The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 

was  Hannah  Gildersleeve.  The  maternal  great- 
grandfather of  Mrs.  Poulter  was  Robert  Scott,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  who  crossed  the  Atlantic  dur- 
ing the  Colonial  times.  Mr.  Musgravc,  the  Srst 
husband  of  Mrs.  Poulter,  belonged  to  the  Society 
of  friends,  while  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poulter  were  iden- 
lied  with  the  Christian  Church.  The  Poulter  fam- 
ily is  widely  represented  in  Central  Illinois,  and  are 
recognized  as  forming  a  portion  of  its  best  social 
elements,  while  their  industry  and  thrift  have  made 
them  generally  well-to-do. 


p^HEODORE  SCHANCE.     There  is  probably 
in  the  whole  of  Edgar  County  no  man  hav- 
ing a  better   understanding  of  general   me- 
chanics and   blacksmithipg  than  the  subject  of  this 

sketch.  Of  this  business  he  has  made  a  study  and 
a  science, and  takes  pride  in  his  acquirements.  lie 
is  far  above  theaverage  in  intelligence  and  natural 
abilities,  a  man  who  has  read  and  thought  much, 
and  one  with  whom  it  is  most  pleasant  and  profit- 
able to  converse,  lie  has  forty  acres  of  fine  land 
on  section  33  in  Ross  Township,  and  364  acres 
el-cwhere.  some  of  it  lying  in  Young  America 
Township. 

A  native  of  Cliristianstadt.  Sweden,  our  subject 
was  horn  Dec.  24,  1826,  and  until  a  yonth  of  six- 
teen years  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  parents, 
in  the  meantime  attending  the  common  school.  He 
then  began  his  apprenticeship  as  a  machinist,  and 
was  in  the  employ  of  one  man  for  a  period  of 
eight  years.  He,  however,  was  ambitions  for  sonic- 
thing  better  than  it  appeared  he  migbl  attain  in 
his  native    land,  and    in  1851    set   sail  for  America 


on  thegood  ship  •'Christiana."  which  landed  him  in 
New  York  City  after  a  voyage  of  ten  weeks  and 
four  days. 

From  the  metropolis  one  subject  proceeded  to 
Jamestown,  N.  Y..  anil  thereafter  for  sis  years  was 
in  the  employ  of  one  man,  officiating  the  greater 
part  of  the  lime  as  foreman  of  machinery.  When 
leaving  the  Empire  State,  in  1857,  he  came  to  this 
county  ami  located  in  Bloomfield,  where  hi'  es- 
tahlished  a  shop  for  himself,  conducted  it  one  year 
and  then  sold  out.  His  next  removal  was  to  Cherry 
Point,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident.  He 
put  up  a  shop,  and  was  prospered  from  the  start, 
engaging  in  general  blacksmi thing  and  as  a  ma- 
chinist. 

In  1863  Mr.  Schance  built  the  first  store  at  the 
Point,  assisted  in  organizing  the  town  and  was  in- 
strumental in  establishing  the  PostofHce.  He  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  in  1858,  and  followed 
his  trade  until  187:5.  That  year  he  removed  to  the 
farm  in  Ross  Township,  where  he  established  his 
residence  and  improved  his  land.  He  operated 
thereuntil  188:!,  then  returned  to  Cherry  Point, 
and  is  now  considerably  engaged  in  the  fruit  busi- 
ness. He  has  constructed  a  fish  pond,  which  is 
stocked  with  German  carp,  and  in  which  he  justly 
lakes  much  pride.  He  at  one  time  engaged  in 
feeding  and  shipping  stock,  handling  sometimes  as 
many  as  250  annually. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Sugar  Grove,  War- 
ren Co..  Pa.,  in  March.  1853,  to  Miss  Caroline 
Jones,  a  native  of  Northern  Sweden,  who  came  to 
America  in  1851.  Of  this  union  there  were  horn 
two  children:  Clarence  E.  married  Miss  Helen 
Kiddle,  of  Mattoon,  and  is  farming  in  Ross  Town- 
ship; John  G.  took  to  wife  Miss  .Minnie  Brant,  of 
Chrisman.  and  he  is  engaged  in  farming  and  as  a 
stock-dealer  at  Cherry  Point.  Mr.  Schance  is  one 
of  the  mOSl  earnest  advocates  of  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  officiated  as  School 
Director  for  the  past  nine  years;  he  has  also  served 
as  Highway  Commissioner  three  years.  He  has 
served  on  the  grand  and  petit  juries,  and,  socially, 
belongs  to  Bloomfield  Lodge  No.  148.  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  also  the  lodge  at  Chrisman.  His  sons 
are  both  members  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
the  I.O.  o.  F.  Mis.  Schance.  a  very  estimable  lady, 


1102 


PORTRAIT  AM)   lilOORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


is  a   member  of  the   Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  our  subject  returned  to 
his  native  land  and  spent  a  few  weeks  very  pleas- 
antly among  the  scenes  of  his  childhood  and  with 
his  parents  and  old  friends.  He  has  a  marked 
affection  for  the  land  of  his  adoption,  which  is  ever 
ready  to  recognize  talent  and  true  worth,  and  upon 
whose  soil  there  has  been  developed  so  many  ad- 
mirable characters  coming  from  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Olaf  P.  Schance, 
also  a  native  of  Christianstadt  and  the  son  of  a 
gentleman  of  French  birth,  who  was  an  officer  of 
the  French  army,  with  which  he  went  to  .Sweden, 
and  thereafter  spent  his  life.  He  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years,  and  his 
wife  was  one  hundred  and  throe  years  old  at  the 
time  of  her  decease.  The  father  of  our  subject 
spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native  Sweden,  engaged 
largely  as  a  stock-dealer,  and  departed  this  life  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  His  wife, 
Annie,  also  lived  and  died  there.  The  five  chil- 
dren of  the  parental  household  were  named  respect- 
ively: Olaf  and  Peter,  deceased:  Theodore,  our 
subject;  John,  deceased;  Andrew  and  Anna,  who 
remain  in  Sweden.  John  emigrated  to  America, 
and  during  the  late  war  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
Tilth  Infantry,  and  met  his  death  on  the  battlefield 
of  Stone  River  in  the  spring  of  1862. 


+*»+ 


\W7  EWIS  W.  BOLEN.  The  mercantile  in- 
|!  ((e)    terests  of  Edgar  County  find  a  worthy  rep- 

JLA\^  resentative  in  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
whose  patronymic  in  former  time*  was  ''Bowling." 
In  order  to  simplify  the  name  this  representative 
of  the  family  changed  it  to  its  form  as  above  given. 
He  is  one  of  those  progressive  characters,  who 
delight  in  the  march  of  civilization  and  recognize 
the  importance  of  preserving  the  family  record. 
In  his  case  this  is  something  of  which  to  be  proud, 
as  his  ancestors  were  people  who  left  their  indis- 
putable footprints  upon  the  sands  of  time.  His 
father,  Lewis  Bowling,  long  since  deceased  (July, 
1872)  was  a  native  of   Stafford  County,    Va.,  and 


served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was 
among  the  troops  which  marched  out  of  Washing 
ton  in  time  to  escape  the  British,  who  entered  and 
blew  up  the  Capitol.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Simon  Bowling,  served  in  the  United  States  Army 
•  prior  to  and  during  the  War  of  1812.  He  died  at 
Sacketts  Harbor,  probably  about  the  time  the  war 
closed,  or  soon  afterward.  Two  of  his  brothers 
also  participated  in  this  conflict  and  died  of  mumps 
while  in  the  service. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Notting- 
ham Township,  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  June  15,  1832. 
To  this  place  his  parents  had  emigrated  from  their 
native  Virginia — the  mother,  who  in  her  girlhood 
was  Margaret  Helfling,  having  also  been  a  native  of 
Stafford  County,  Va.,  and  born  near  what  was 
known  as  the  "wood  cuttings."  She  spent  her  last 
days  in  Owen  County,  hid.,  dying  about  1866,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  The  parental  fam- 
ily consisted  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  and  of  whom  Lewis  W.  is  the  youngest. 
His  sister,  Sarah,  (Mrs.  Staneart)  lives  near  Pome- 
roy,  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio;  Louisa,  (Mrs.  Brock)  is  a 
resident  of  Owen  County,  hid. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  con- 
ducted in  a  log-cabin  amid  the  Ohio  wilds,  where 
he  sat  on  split-log  seats  and  conned  his  lessons  by 
the  indifferent  light  admitted  through  window 
panes  of  greased  paper.  The  roof  of  this  structure 
was  made  of  clapboards  and  kept  in  its  place 
with  knees  and  weight  poles.  A  huge  fireplace 
occupied  nearl3-  one  end  of  the  building  and  fuel 
was  plenty  and  to  be  had  for  the  chopping.  The 
chimney  was  built  outside  of  sticks  and  clay.  The 
writing  desks  of  those  times  were  manufactured 
from  a  slab  or  a  piece  of  puncheon  and  upheld  in 
their  place  by  wooden  pins  driven  into  the  wall. 
The  teacher  was  not  required  to  have  any  classical 
education  and  enforced  his  percepts  largely  by  the 
use  of  the  birch  rod. 

Thus  life  passed  in  a  comparatively  uneven 
manner  until  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Indiana, 
in  March,  1851,  when  our  subject  was  approaching 
his  nineteenth  year.  They  sojourned  in  Owen 
County,  that  State,  until  May,  1870,  then  coming 
to  Edgar  County,  III.,  Lewis  W.  purchased  160 
acres    of  land  at  Five  Points  in  Shiloh  Township. 


PORTRAIT  AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1 103 


He  occupied  this  four  years,  then  established  him- 
self at  Isabel,  purchasing  the  stock  and  store  of 
J.  W.&  ('.  D.  Pierce,  general  merchants,  and  con- 
ducted the  business  nine  years.  Hitherto  he  had 
been  quite  successsul,  but  now  misfortune  and 
sickness  overtook  him  and  he  repaired  to  French 
Lick  Springs,  Ind..  for  his  health.  This  change 
had  the  desired  effect  and  in  due  time  he  pur- 
chased his  old  business  and  since  1884  has  ci  in- 
ducted it  uninterruptedly  and  successfully.  He 
knew  nothing  about  merchandising  when  he  em- 
barked in  the  business  and  although  paying  out 
over  $2,200  for  goods,  he  sold  them  at  a  profit 
and  has  since  been  uniformly  successful,  lie  now 
carries  a  capital  stock  of  84,000,  consisting  of 
groceries,  light  hardware,  drugs,  medicines,  paints 
and  oil,  boots  and  shoes,  hats  and  caps,  dry-goods, 
notions,  willow  and  wooden  ware — in  fact  every 
thing  usually  found  in  a  first-class  general  stoic. 
His  honesty  and  integrity  are  proverbial  and  he 
has  consequently  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative 
trade. 

The  18th  of  May.  1851,  witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  with  Miss  Eliza  A.,  daughter 
of  Nelson  Payne,  which  took  place  at  the  bride's 
home  in  Owen  County,  Ind.  There  were  born  of 
this  union  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 
viz:  George  W.,  Daniel  W.,  .lames  I.  and  Adella 
A.  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Bolen  departed  this  life  March 
25,  1883.  Mr.  Bolen  contracted  a  second  marriage 
Sept.  20,  1883,  with  Mrs.  Eliza  (Payne)  Anderson, 
daughter  of  Lemuel  Payne,  and  who  by  her  first 
husband  became  the  mother  of  two  children — 
Marion  anil  Anna,  the  latter  i>  now  the  wife  of 
Lewis  Fiddler. 

Mr.  Bolen  officiated  as  Postmaster  of  Embarras 
for  a  period  of  nine  years  and  when  withdrawing 
from  this  office  refused  further  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility.  After  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War.  lie  enlisted  in  Company  II.  97th  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  and  was  under  lire  ten  or  twelve 
(lays  at  the  siege  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  during  which 
time  the  city  was  captured  by  Union  troops.  His 
army  service  covered  a  period  of  one  year  and 
thirteen  days,  during  which  he  gained  a  good  in- 
sight into  the  hardship-  and  privations  of  life  in 
the  army.      Politically,   he   is  a  sound  Republican. 


warmly  devoted  to  the  interests  of  his  party  ami 
keeping  himself  well  posted  upon  political  events. 
George  W.  Bolen,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject 
traveled  all  over  the  western  and  southern  States 
and  is  now  established  as  a  stock  merchant  of  Kan- 
sas City.  Mo.  He  formerly  belonged  to  the  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.  fraternity.  Daniel  is  a  merchant  of  Isabel; 
James  carries  on  merchandising  and  the  lumber 
business  in  Conway;  Adella.  is  the  wife  of  Harry 
Sent t.  a  telegrapher,  and  they  live  near  Garden 
City,  Kan.  Mrs.  Bolen  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  was  also 
the  first  wife  of  our  subject. 


*«* 


THER  K.  BURTON.  The  business  interests 
of  Isabel  (ind  a  worthy  representative  in 
this  gentleman  who  operates  successfully  at 
ics  business  center  in  grain,  farm  implements,  &c. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Prairie  State,  having  been 
born  in  Ash  more,  Coles  Co.,  -Ian.  1:5.  1861.  His 
father,  Albert  Burton,  yielded  his  life  in  defense 
of  the  Union  during  the  late  Civil  War,  dying  in 
about  1862  amid  the  horrors  of  Andersonville 
Prison.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  A.  Tinsley.  was  the  daughter  of  Henry 
Tinsley,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  She  survived  her 
husband  until  1S77.  spending  her  last  years  in 
(  oh  s  County. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to  Edgar  County 
in  1861  when  the  latter  was  an  infant  of  siv 
months.  They  located  in  Kansas  Township  and 
with  the  exception  of  seven  years  spent  in  Oak- 
land Township.  Coles  County,  Edgar  County  has 
since  been  the  home  of  our  subject.  He  prose- 
cuted farming  until  1884,  then  engaged  in  the  dry - 
goods  trade  at  Oakland  in  company  with  his 
father-in-law.  Six  months  later,  however,  Mr. 
Burton,  removed  to  Isabel  where  he  established  a 
blanch  store  and  the  partnership  was  dissolved  in 
the  fall  of  1885.  Mr.  Burton  then  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  until  the  fall  of  Ks.ss  when 
selling  out  once  more  he  embarked  in  the  grain 
and    implement    trade*.      This    he    is    prosecuting 

Successfully   with  a    good    outlook    for    the    future. 


110  1 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


In  addition  to  the  articles  already  mentioned,  he 
deals  in  Rushford  wagons.  Besides  his  residence 
and  other  property  in  Label  he  owns  seventy  acres 
of  land  which  under  his  supervision  is  operated 
with  profitable  results. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Sarah  J. 
Kees  was  celebrated  in  the  bride's  home.  Jan.  31, 
1884.  This  lady  is  the  daughter  of  Lewis  Kees, 
deceased,  late  of  Oakland.  She,  like  her  husband, 
was  born  in  Coles  County,  111.,  but  was  reared  in 
Isabel.  Of  this  union  there  have  been  born  three 
children — Louie.  Annie  M.  and  Earl  K.  Our  sub- 
ject, politically,  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party 
and  socially,  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  He  has  no  desire  for  official  honors, 
preferring  to  give  his  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  prominently 
connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
They  are  worthy  representatives  of  the  education 
and  intelligence  of  their  community  and  popular 
in  its  social  circles. 


**>&&&*&r&*^ 


i 


f,  OlIX  ARTHUR.  Probably  no  county  in 
the  Prairie  State  has  been  more  fortunate  in 
the  character  of  its  early  residents  than  Ed- 
gar; and  among  those  who  came  here  in 
'50s  equipped  perhaps  with  little  except  their 
stout  hearts  and  well-developed  muscles,  was  the 
subject  of  this  notice,  lie  was  a  man  well  fitted  to 
battle  with  the  elements  of  a  new  soil,  having  that 
patience  and  persistence  which  ensured  his  success. 
Settling  in  Paris  Township,  in  1854  soon  after  his 
marriage,  he  went  in  debt  for  a  part  of  his  first  160 
acres,  and  the  fact  that  at  his  death  which  occurred  in 
1881,  he  was  the  owner  of  1,500  acres  of  well- 
improved  land  with  a  record  as  one  of  the  most 
successful  stock-dealers  in  the  county,  is  ample  in- 
dication of  the  manner  in  which  he  must  have 
labored  and   managed. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  the  son  of  Joseph  Arthur,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  who  emigrated  to  Ohio  at  an 
early  day  with  his  family,  where  he  and  his  wife 
spent  their  remaining  years.  The  family  was  of 
Irish  descent  and  possessed  in   a  large  measure  the 


kindly  and  generous  traits  of  that  nationality. 
The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were  spent 
in  his  native  county,  where  he  acquired  a  common- 
school  education  and  employed  himself  around  his 
father's  homestead  until  his  marriage.  The  maiden 
Of  his  choice  was  Miss  Eliza  ('.  Moss,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Clark  County.  Ohio,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Henry  Moss,  a  native  of  Augusta 
County,  Va. 

Henry  Moss  when  a  young  man  removed  with 
his  patents.  Jacoli  and  Mary  Moss,  to  Ohio,  where 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Barbara  Arbogast.  The 
latter  had  emigrated  to  Ohio  from  Virginia  with 
her  father,  David  Arbogast.  when  a  little  girl. 
Grandfather  Arbogast  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
but  left  the  Fatherland  in  his  youth,  and  after- 
ward followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  earthly 
career  was  ended.  To  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Arthur 
there  were  born  six  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to 
mature  years,  being  reared  in  Ohio  and  all  came 
to  this  county  in  1851  witii  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arthur. 
The  parents  spent  their  last  days  in  Paris  Town- 
ship. 

The  land  which   Mr.  Arthur  first    purchased  had 

underg but  very    little    improvement,  and  its 

only  building  was  a  small  log-house,  ruder  this 
humble  roof  the  newly  wedded  pair  began  the 
journey  of  life  together,  strong  in  courage  and 
hope  ami  worked  witli  the  mutual  purpose  of  gain- 
ing a  home  for  themselves  and  a  competence  for 
the  future.  In  duo  time  the  little  log  house  was 
exchanged  for  a  neat  frame  residence,  which  re- 
mained the  home  of  Mr.  Arthur  until  he  was  called 
hence.  Mr.  Arthur,  although  not  a  member  of  any 
church,  was  the  uniform  friend  and  encourager  of 
every  institution  having  for  its  object  the  social 
and  moral  good  of  the  people.  He  was  also  a 
peaceable  and  law-abiding  citizen,  never  having  a 
law-suit  with  his  neighbors  or  any  difficulty  in  his 
business  transactions.  Kind  and  devoted  in  his 
family,  he  was  deeply  mourned  by  his  wife  and 
children  and  regretted  by  the  entire  community  as 
one  of  its  most  useful  men. 

Mrs.  Arthur  after  the  death  of  her  husband  left 
the  farm  and  removed  to  Paris,  where  she  occu  ■ 
pies  a  neat  ami  comfortable  residence  on  North 
Main  Street.     Her  children    are    all    married,  and 


PORTRAIT   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1105 


with  one  exception,  live  near  her.  Athelinda,  is 
the  wife  of  George  W.  Brown,  a  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Paris  Township;  Daniel;  Mary  -I.  is  the  wife  of 
John  II.  Harris,  (a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  work);  Henry  II..  John  I).,  ami 
Arthur;  Addie  is  the  wife  of  Simon  Kisser,  of 
Paris  Township.  The  children  have  been  "ill 
educated  and  carefully  trained  in  those  principles 
which  have  given  solidity  to  their  character  and 
which  will  enable  them  to  perpetuate  the  family 
name  in  dignity  and  honor. 


€-*-!*- 


w 


/1LLIS  <).  PINNELL.  A  residence  in  Edgar 
County  of  thirty-six  years  has  caused  this 
gentleman  to  lie  well  known  by  the  greater 
portion  of  its  older  residents  and,  judging  from 
the  manner  in  which  they  speak  of  him,  he  has  evi- 
dently made  a  good  record.  He  first  located  on  a 
farm  near  which  grew  up  the  town  of  Kansas  and 
engaged  in  agriculture  until  1882.  In  the  mean- 
time he  had  become  identified  with  the  most  im- 
portant interests  of  his  township,  signalizing  him- 
self as  a  liberal-minded,  public-spirited  citizen  and, 
in  the  spring  of  the  year  above  mentioned,  was 
elected  Clerk  of  the  County  court  and  changed  his 
residence  to  Paris.  After  serving  his  term  accept- 
ably he  withdrew  from  the  office  and  engaged  in 
the  stock  commission  business  at  Indianapolis, 
which  he  still  follows.  He  spends  the  most  of  his 
time  in  the  city  with  the  exception  of  Sundays, 
when  he  is  at  home  with  his  family.  He  still  re- 
tains ownership  of  the  old  farm  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship and  which  comprises  a  tine  body  of  land,  500 
acres  in  extent.  He  has  2(10  acres  in  another  tract 
and  1G0  acres  in  another  His  residence  in  Paris  is 
a  handsome  and  commodious  frame  structure. 
pleasantly  situated  on  West  Court  street,  and,  with 
its  surroundings,  is  an  ornament  to  the  place. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Oldham 
County.  Kv..  .Ian.  21.  1824.  and  pursued  his  first 
studies  in  the  district  school.  He  was  raised  to  farm 
pursuits  and  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his 
native  county.  There,  also,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret,   daughter  of  Thomas   Wilhitc.  the  wed- 


ding taking  place  at  the  bride's  home.  Juno  2.  In  Is. 
Of   this    union    there   was    born    one    child,   a    son. 

William    C.     Mrs.  Pinnell   came  to   Edgar  C t\ 

with  her  husband,  but  died  in  1856  while  still  a 
young  woman.  She  was  possessed  of  many  excel- 
lent qualities  and  was  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  Pinnell  contracted  a  second  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Louisa  (Wilhitc)  He  Haven.  To  them  there 
was  born  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
second  wife  died  at  the  homestead,  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship in  1867.  Our  subject  was  married  a  third 
to  Mrs.  Glawvina  (Shaw)  Wilhite,  by  whom  he  has 
two  children — Brent  II.  and  Exia.  In  1862  during 
the  progress  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Pinnell  enlisted 
in  Company  II.  79th  Illinois  Infantry,  which  com- 
pany he  organized  in  the  vicinity  of  Kansas,  and 
of  which  he  was  elected  Captain.  He  was  obliged 
to  tender  his  resignation  in  1863  on  account  of  ill- 
ness in  his  family.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been 
operating  with  his  regiment  and  saw  active  service. 
Mr.  Pinnell  as  an  ex-soldier  belongs  to  Driskell 
Post,  G.  A.  R.  at  Paris.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
prominently  connected  with  the  Christian  Church. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  George  Pinnell,  a 
native  of  Virginia  who,  when  a  young  man,  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky  at  a  time  when  the  latter  State 
was  divided  up  into  three  counties.  He  was  thus 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  Blue  Grass 
regions,  and  built  up  a  home  in  the  wilderness 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  clays,  lie 
married  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Anna  (Christopher)  Clore,  and  who  like  her  par- 
ents, was  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  John  Pinnell,  was  likewise  a 
native  of  Virginina,  where  his  father  lived  during 
the  Revolutionary  War  in  which  he  participated, 
rendering  good  service  as  a  brave  and  faithful 
soldier. 

Mi'.  Pinnell,  our  subject,  was  the  sixth  in  a  family 
of  eleven  children  born  to  his  parents,  eight  of  whom 
are  living.  They  were  all  reared  at  the  old  farm 
in  Kentucky  where  the  parents  spent  their  declining 
years.  Most  of  them  are  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  all  arc  honored  and  praiseworthy  citi- 
zens, enjoying  in  a  high  degree  the  respect  of  their 
friends  and  neighbors.   Mr.  Pinnell  may  he  classed 


1  L06 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


among  the  representative  citizens  of  Edgar 
County,  and  especially  of  Paris,  where  bis  official 
career  has  been  creditable  in  the  extreme  and  whose 
people  hold  him  in  the  highest  esteem. 


rfps^TEPIiKN   W.  THAYER,      Very   few   per- 

^^£  sons  remaining  for  any  length  of  time  in 
vi^J/J  Edgar  County,  fail  to  become  familiar  with 
the  name  of  Mr.  Thayer,  who  is  very  pop- 
ular in  this  county  and  ranks  among  the  leading 
farmers  of  Ross  Township.  His  property  embraces 
293  acres  of  choice  land,  to  which  in  later  years  lie 
has  given  his  undivided  attention,  so  that  it  has  be- 
come remarkably  productive  and  yields  to  the  in- 
dustrious hand  of  the  husbandman  handsome 
returns.  Mr.  Thayer  has  wisely  spent  a  portion  of  his 
means  in  travel,  having  visited  all  the  important 
cities  of  the  East.  He  attended  the  inauguration  of 
President  Harrison.  March  4,  1889,  also  the  inaug- 
ural ball  and  Maj.  Powell's  reception,  during  which 
time  he  with  several  others  had  their  headquarters 
with  Gov.  Fifer.  of  this  State.  Mr.  Thayer  also 
visited  the  International  Exposition  at  New  Orleans 
on  his  second  wedding  trip,  and  those  travels  with 
his  natural  habit  of  reading  pursued  since  boyhood, 
have  resulted  in  making  him  an  exceedingly  well  in- 
formed man — one  with  whom  it  is  both  pleasurable 
and  profitable  to  converse. 

In  glancing  at  the  parental  history  of  our  subject 
we  find  that  he  is  the  son  of  Eli  S.  Thayer,  a  na- 
tive of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  the  grandson  of  Prof. 
John  S.  Thayer,  the  only  son  of  his  parents  ami 
likewise  a  native  of  the  Hub.  The  latter  obtained 
a  good  education,  having  been  graduated  from  an 
Eastern  college,  after  which  he  engaged  in  tin' 
jewelry  trade.  In  later  years  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  spent  bis  last  days  with  his  son.    Eli  S. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  na- 
tive of  France.  Eli  S.  Thayer,  when  a  young  man, 
taught  school  considerably.  Upon  leaving  his  na- 
tive State  he  went  to  the  Western  Reserve  in  Ohio, 
where  he  officiated  as  pedagogue  for  a  time,  then 
migrated  to  Tennessee  and  finally,  coining  North, 
located  at  Charleston,  III.,  and  entered  a  small  tract 


of  Government  land.  He  finally  became  quite  an 
extensive  dealer  in  lands  and  live-stock.  He  be- 
came owner  of  two  farms  in  Coles  County,  111.,  but 
eventually  sold  out  and  removed  to  a  point  near 
Areola,  in  Douglas  County,  where  he  purchased 
land.  Eventually  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Ar- 
eola, where  he  spent  his  last  days,  dying  in  1876  at 
the  age  of  fifty  -six  years.  He  was  for  many  years  an 
Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  (  Bo  velD  Thayer  wasanativeof  Ten- 
nessee, a  daughter  of  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  father  was  a  graduate  of  Washington 
College.  Tennessee,  of  which  he  subsequently  be- 
came President.  He  suffered  much  from  ill  health 
during  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  which  were  spent 
in  Paris,  this  county.  He  died  at  Paris  at  the  early 
age  of  thirtj'-six  years.  The  Bovell  family  was  of 
French  descent.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Thaj'er  is  still  liv- 
ing and  a  resident  of  Areola,  being  now  sixty-nine 
years  old. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
six  children:  John  S..  a  traveling  man,  makes 
his  headquarters  in  Kansas  City.  Mo.;  A.  J.  is 
a  prominent  farmer  of  Douglas  County,  this  State, 
owing  640  acres  of  land;  Stephen  W.,  our  subject, 
was  the  third  child;  James  L.  is  a  leading  merchant 
of  Sullivan,  III.;  Hannah  C,  Mrs.  Cawood,  is  a  res- 
ident of  Janesville,  111. ;    Mary   O.    lives  in  Areola. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  near  Charles- 
ton, Coles  Co.,  this  State,  Nov.  6,  1851,  and  lived 
there  until  a  youth  of  fifteen  years,  attending  the 
common  schools.  Then,  in  1806,  he  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Douglas  County  and  later  became  a 
student  in  the  seminary  at  Loxa,  in  Coles  County, 
where  he  remained  until  1869.  Subsequently  for 
three  years  he  was  occupied  as  a  teacher  in  Douglas 
County,  then  became  a  clerk  and  bookkeeper  in 
in  Areola  and  had  charge  of  a  store  there  for  six 
months.  We  next  find  him  in  the  dress  goods  de- 
partment of  a  dry-goods  establishment  in  Cincin- 
nati—  William  11.  Andrews  &  Co. — for  seventeen 
months.  Thence  he  went  to  the  firm  of  Lockwood, 
Nicholas  <fc  Tice,  wholesale  dealers  in  hats,  caps  and 
gentlemen's  furnishing  goods,  and  was  connected 
with  this  bouse  as  a  salesman  three  years,  traveling 
through  Illinois  and    Indiana. 

Mr.  Thayer  established  himself  at  Chrisman,  June 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


no; 


2'j,  1876,  as  a  general  merchant,  having  secured  a 

stock  of  g Is  in   exchange  for  a  farm.     In  1879 

he  established  a  branch  store  al  Clinton,  [nd.,  and 
conducted  the  two  establishments  until  the  fall  of 
that  year,  when  he  sold  both  .-iiid  purchased  his 
present  farm.  Later  he  engaged  in  buying  stock 
and  in  188fi  disposed  of  his  town  property  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  the  country  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. Here  he  lias  effected  good  improvements 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle,  feeding 
probably  Hmi  head  annually. 

Our  subject  was  first  married  Nov.  19,  1879,  at 
Chrisman,  to  Miss  Susie  Kenton  who  was  horn  here 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Kenton,  one  of 
the  largest  farmers  of  Edgar  County.  Of  this  union 
there  was  horn  one  child,  a  son.  Freddie,  and  the 
mother  died  in  1883.  Mr.  Thayer  contracted  a 
second  marriage  at  Buckley,  111.,  Feb.  24,  1885, 
with  Miss  Nellie  II..  daughter  of  John  Newlin. 
Mr.  Newlin  was  born  in  Chatham  County,  X.  C. 
Sept.  12.  1818.  In  1830,  when  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen years,  he  traveled  on  foot  from  his  home  to 
Parke  County,  [nd.  Three  years  later  he  repaired 
to  Ceorgetown.  111.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
a  saddler,  at  which  he  worked  for  sometime  in  that 
place.  Later  he  became  interested  in  politics  and 
was  appointed  Postmaster  and  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  In  1874  he  changed  his  residence  to 
Buckley  and  for  some  years  was  the  only  lawyer  in 
that  place  and  also  officiated  there  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  moved  to  Danville  in  INKS,  and  his 
death  took  place  May  'J.  of  the  following  year.  He 
was  a  man  of  high  moral  character  and  in  politics 
a  standi  Republican  Self  educated,  he  had  only 
attended  school  three  months  in  his  life,  but  by  his 
own  efforts  succeeded  in  gainings  goodly  amount 
of  book  knowledge  and  became  an  excellent  pen- 
man. He  married  Miss  Virena  E.  Newlin  (no  rela- 
tive) and  like  himself,  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
she  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  died  Jan.  12.  1*7.5,  at  her  home  near 
Buckley.  III. 

To  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Thayer  there  were  horn 
nine  children — Mary  L.  Mrs.  Raich;  Emma,  Mrs. 
Cowan  ;  Arabella,  a  resident,  of  Danville;  Charles 
S.,  deceased;  Eli  V.,  a  merchant  of  Chrisman;  Alice 
('..deceased;   Nellie    11.,   Mrs.    Thayer;  John  F..  a 


resident  of  Chrisman.  and  Annie  E.,  li\  ing  at  Ridge 
Farm.  Mrs.  Thayer  was  born  April  6,  1862,  and 
received  a  good  education,  completing  her  studies 
at  Onarga  Seminary.  Of  her  union  with  our  Subject 
there  are  three  children — lessie  E.,  Robert  Lin- 
coln and  Benjamin  Harrison.  Mr.  Thayer,  politic- 
ally, is  a  sound  Republican  and  during  the  campaign 
of  1888  canvassed  the  county  for  Harrison,  lie 
has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  one  term  and  is 
frequently  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  Republican 
conventions.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
Grand  and  Petit  Juries.  A  man  prompt  to  meet 
his  obligations  and  the  encourager  of  all  worthy 
enterprises,  he  stands  second  to  none  in  his  com- 
munity. 

•~3=*;-~ 

LLKN  SLY.  There  are  few  men  able  to 
present  to  the  world  a  more  forcible  illus- 
tration of  what  man  may  accomplish  by  a 
resolute  and  preserving  will,  than  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice.  His  success  has  been  phenome- 
nal, as  he  commenced  life  in  the  United  States 
without  a  centof  money  and  in  deb'.  In  the  course 
of  twenty-one  years  he  had  made  $21,000,  and  in 
the  meantime  hail  educated  himself  by  hard  study 
after  his  day's  work  was  done.  He  is  possessed 
of  more  real,  solid  information  than  many  a  col- 
lege-bred man,  is  an  extensive  reader  and  ready 
with  his  pen,  being  able  to  transact  all  ordinary 
business  with  ease  and  facility. 

It  is  said  that  Mr.  Sly  has  more  money  invested 
in  imported  horses  than  any  other  man  in  Edgar 
County,  and  he  is  extensively  engaged  in  the 
breeding  of  fine  draft  animals.  These  animals  are 
his  hobby  and  their  breeding  an  industry  which  he 
excels.  As  connected  with  local  affairs,  he  is 
liberal  and  public-spirited,  the  friend  of  religious 
and  educational  institutions  and  foremost  in  en- 
couraging the  enterprises  calculated  for  the  general 
good  of  the  community. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Northamptonshire.  Eng- 
land, Aug.  15,  1827,  and  as  soon  as  old  enough  was 
introduced  to  hard  work  on  the  farm,  having  no 
schooling  and  growing  up  with  no  advantages. 
His  father,  Allen  Sly.  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county  as  his  son.  and  spent  his  entire  life  upon 
his  native  soil,  dying  in   1  .S,V>.      The   mother.    .Mr-. 


108 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Lizzie  (Church)  Sly,  also  of  English  birth  and 
parantage,  lived  and  died  in  her  native  county. 
There  were  eight  children  in  the  parental  household, 
four  of  whom  lived  to  become  men  and  women. 
John  died  in  Chrisman;  Rebecca  and  Betsy  are  in 
England;  Allen  our  subject  is  next  to  the  young- 
est of  the  survivors. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  greatly  dissat- 
isfied with  his  condition  and  his  prospects,  our  sub- 
ject set  out  for  America,  leaving  Liverpool  on  the 
25th  of  December,  1851,  on  board  the  sailing  ves- 
sel "St.  John"  bound  for  New  York  City,  where  he 
landed  on  the  1st  of  February,  following.  Thence 
he  proceeded  to  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.,  where  lie 
sojourned  until  the  10th  of  June  engaged  on  the 
public  works.  He  now  started  for  the  West,  and 
coming  to  this  county  located  in  Prairie  Town- 
ship, and  for  two  years  thereafter  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Samuel  Scott.  Later,  he  began  renting 
kind  and  feeding  stock.  In  1850  ho  purchased 
forty  acres  in  Prairie  Township,  where  he  put  a 
frame  house  and  operated  successfully  until  1861, 
when  he  purchased  forty  acres  adjoining.  This  he 
improved,  and  in  the  course  of  time  added  still 
further  to  his  landed  possessions  until  he  had  240 
acres,  all  improved  and  brought  to  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation. 

For  some  time  after  Mr.  Sly  came  to  this  county, 
wild  game  of  all  kinds  abounded  and  he  killed  a 
large  number  of  ducks  and  geese,  probably  more 
than  any  other  man  in  the  county,  selling  them  in 
Paris  by  the  wagon-load.  One  season  he  shot 
seventy-five  dozen  quails  and  in  one  week  $86 
worth  of  prairie  chickens.  In  April,  1873  he  vis- 
ited England  with  his  wife  and  remained  there  un- 
til the  following  fall  amid  the  pleasant  scenes  of 
his  boyhood  days.  In  1875  lie  sold  his  farm  and 
removed  into  Chrisman,  where  for  two  years  he 
lived  retired  from  active  labor.  The  long  habits 
of  industry,  however,  could  not  be  laid  aside,  and 
in  1877  he  purchased  a  farm  of  320  acres  in  Young 
America  Township.  Of  this  he  still  retains  posses- 
sion, but  it  is  operated  by  a  tenant,  and  he  has 
sixty  acres  of  valuable  land  elsewhere  adjacent  to 
the  town.  He  has  also  forty  acres  in  Vermilion 
County,  111.,  near  Horse  Shoe  Bend,  which  pro- 
duces a  fine  quality  of  coal. 


The  fine  residence  of  Mr.  Sly  universally  attracts 
attention  and  here  he  has  three  barns  which  fur- 
nish stabling  room  for  his  horses.  In  1872  he 
bought  the  first  Norman  stallion  brought  to  this 
county  and  which  was  valued  at  $3,000.  This  he 
kept  seven  years.  He  has  now  three  imported  ani- 
mals— "Chicago,"  imported  from  France;  "Norman 
Prince  No.  21,000,"  three  years  old;  and  "Young 
Champion."  He  has  without  a  question  the  largest 
stock  of  horses  in  the  county  in  which  he  has  in- 
vested fully  $6,000  in  imported  animals  alone.  He 
has  taken  the  blue  ribbon  six  years  at  the  annual 
fairs  for  horses  and  colts. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Cambridgeshire, 
England,  Jan.  8,  18-18  to  Mrs.  Eliza  (Boone)  Bates, 
who  was  born  in  Cambridgeshire,  Nov.  13,  1*22, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Betsy  (Peck) 
Boone,  who  were  the  parents  of  six  children — Sarah, 
Betsy,  Nancy,  John,  Susan  and  Eliza,  of  whom 
the  latter  is  the  only  one  living.  She  remained 
with  her  parents  until  her  marriage  and  first  be- 
came the  wife  of  Thomas  Bates,  who  died  in  Eng- 
land. She  caiie  to  America  about  the  time  that 
Mr.  Sly  crossed  the  Atlantic. 

Our  subject  has  always  been  a  warm  advocate  of 
temperance  and  is  now  identified  with  the  Prohi- 
bitionists. He  frequently  serves  as  a  Delegate  to 
the  various  conventions  of  his  party,  and  has 
served  as  County  Commissioner.  He  attended  the 
State  Convention  at  Springfield  in  188-1.  and  keeps 
himself  generally  posted  upon  matters  of  interest 
to  the  intelligent  and  enterprising  citizen,  lie  has 
contributed  to  the  erection  of  every  church  build- 
ing for  ten  miles  around,  probably  disbursing 
$1,800  in  this  direction.  He  has  served  as  School 
Director  about  six  years,  also  r.s  Road  Supervisor. 
He  has  been  Class  Leader  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  since  1861,  officiating  as  Superintendent 
of  the  .Sunday-school  for  ten  years,  and  was  one  of 
the  Building  Committee  during  the  erection  of  the 
church  edifice  at  Chrisman. 


-!-<>■»- 


w 


where 


ILLIAM  II.  REED,  an  ex-soldier  of  the 
Union  Army  and  a  native  of  Bruellet 
Township,  makes  his  home  on   section  30, 

he    has    a    tine    farm    of    160    acres,    well- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


I  hid 


improved,  with  good  buildings  and  supplied  with 
the  requisite  machinery  for  the  successful  prosecu- 
tion of  agriculture.  He  is  looked  upon  .-is  one  of 
the  must.  Liberal  and  public-spirited  citizens  of 
this  section  and  intensely  interested  in  church 
work.  To  the  latter  he  was  carefully  reared, 
receiving  by  the  parental  fireside  those  early  teach- 
ings, which  "ill  leave  their  impress  upon  his  mind 
and  heart  until  mind  and  memory  fail. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Michael  F.  Reed,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  who.  when  a  lad  of  four- 
teen years  removed,  in  1832,  to  Vermillion  County, 
Ind  ,  accompanied  by  his  parents,  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Smith)  Reed.  They  settled  in  the  wilder- 
ins-  on  a  tract  of  Governinenl  laud,  where  they 
opened  up  a  farm  and  where  the  parents  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  Michael  F.  was  the 
second  born  in  a  family  of  six  children  of  whom 
only  one  is  living,  Andrew,  a  resident  of  Edgar 
County. 

Upon  reaching  man's  estate  Michael  Reed  un- 
married in  Bruellet  Township,  this  comity,  to  Miss 
Eliza  A.  Engle,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  this  region.  Of  this  union  there  were 
horn  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living-,  and 
of  whom  William  II.,  our  subject,  was  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth.  The  parents  for  a  number  of 
years  occupied  a  log-cabin  upon  a  part  of  the  land, 
which  Grandfather  Reed  had  entered  from  the 
Government,  and  there  Michael  Reed  spent  his  last 
days,  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1884.  They  experienced  in  those  early  days 
all  the  toils  and  privations  of  life  on  the  frontier, 
the  nearest,  market  being  at  Clinton.  Ind.  The 
Reed  family  making  the  journey  from  North  Car- 
olina fcO  Illinois  traveled  overland  with  teams, 
camping  wherever  night  overtook  them,  cooking 
by  the  wayside  and  sleeping  in  their  wagons.  They 
were  eminently  religious  and  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject at  an  early  period  in  his  life  united  with  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church,  in  which  he  was  a 
Trustee  ami  one  of  the  most  active  workers.  lie 
was  usually  the  leader  in  enterprise-,  requiring  funds 
or  other  assistance,  and  conscientiously  performed 
every  known  duty  in  connection  therewith.  He 
was  active  and  industrious,  possessing  excellent 
judgment   in    regard    to  business   affairs,    and  in 


his  death  lefl  a  line  legacy  to  his  heirs,  includin." 
Ton  acres  of  choice  laud.  The  old  homestead  em- 
braces 191  acres  and  there  the  widowed  mother 
still  lives,  being  now  sixty-live  years  old. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  anil 
youth  asssisting  his  father  around  the  homestead 
and  acquiring  a  limited  education  in  the  primitive 
schools  of  Illinois.  lie  was  married  in  Vermillion, 
County.  Ind..  June  2(1,  1869  to  .Miss  Nancy  .1. 
Green,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  and  Chloe 
(Daly)  Green.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
nine  children,  live  of  whom  are  living — Alice  M., 
.lames  II..  Albert,  Vernerl.  and  Benjamin  L.  The 
four  deceased  are  Chloe  A.,  Nancy  E.,  Irena  A.  and 
Melvin.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Reed  was  born  and 
reared  in  Ohio,  where  he  joined  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Chinch.  After  coming  to  Illinois  he 
entered  upon  his  ministerial  duties  and  thus 
labored  in  the  Master's  vineyard  many  years  ami 
until  advancing  age  obliged  him  to  retire.  He 
then  took  up  his  residence  in  Jonestown.  Ind, 
where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  some  years 
and  finally  came  to  live  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Reed,  where  his  death  took  place  Jan.  7.  1881. 
The  mother  died  at  the  home  of  her  son.  .John  I)., 
in  Lawrence   County,  this  State. 

Near  the  close  of  the  late  Civil  War  our  subject 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  150th  Illinois  Infantry  in 
February.  1865  and  served  until  January,  1866. 
lie  was  mustered  out  at  Atlanta.  Ga.,  after  having 
been  chiefly  assigned  to  garrison  duty.  He  had 
become  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church  when  a  youth  of  eighteen  years.  Mrs.  Reed 
joined  this  church  when  a  young  girl  of  fifteen 
years.  In  1886  they  united  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  of  which  they  have  since  been  mem- 
bers. .Mr.  Reed,  like  his  father,  has  always  been 
prominent  in  church  circles,  holding  the  different 
offices  wherever  he  has  been  located  and  is  now 
Officiating  as  Steward  and  Trustee.  From  early 
manhood  he  has  been  a  faithful  laborer  in  the 
Sunday-school,  most  of  the  time  as  Superintendent  ; 
he  is  also  President  of  the  Township  Sabbath- 
school  organization. 

Politically,  Mr.  Reed  is  a  -olid  Republican.  lie 
mixes  very  little  in  public  affairs,  however,  pre- 
ferring    to    devote     his    time    and    attention,    aside 


111(1 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl'M. 


from  his  religious  duties,  to  his  family  and  farm. 
He  is  considerably  interested  in  stock-raising, 
making  a  speciality  of  uattle  and  swine.  He  has  a 
sorghum  factory  on  his  farm,  where  he  manufac- 
tures from  1,0(10  to  1.800  gallons  of  syrup  per 
year. 

Mr.  Reed  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church  at  Coal  Creek,  the 
meetings  being  held  in  a  school  house,  where  also 
services  were  held  for  a  time  by  the  brethren. 
Later.  Mr.  Reed  obtained  a  preacher  and  finally  In- 
continued  efforts  and  solicitation  among  the  peo- 
ple, raised  enough  money  to  build  a  church  at 
that  point  in  Stratton  Township.  Mr.  Reed  hav- 
ing sold  his  property  in  Stratton  Township,  re- 
moved to  Bruellet  Creek  Township,  organized  a 
Sabbath-school  at  the  Jones  schoolhouse,  and  there 
raised  money,  and  also  built  a  church  at  that  place, 
the  people  of  the  vicinity  contributing  liberally  to- 
ward  the  enterprise.  In  this  work  he  had  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  Messrs.  Huston  and  Jordon 
and  others. 


^p^EORGE  WASHINGTON  TRIPLETT.      In 

III  <^»"  tne  Person  °f  *n*s  gentleman  we  have  that 
^^J  of  an  active  and  enterprising  man  in  the 
prime  of  life,  prominent  among  the  prosperous 
agriculturists  of  Ross  Township,  and  the  owner  of 
31 'J  acres  of  choice  land  on  sections  32  and  33. 
He  has  a  fine  family,  consisting  of  an  intelligent 
and  capable  wife  and  three  interesting  children. 
Their  home  is  without  question  the  abode  of  plenty 
and  comfort,  and  they  are  blest  with  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  a  host  of  friends.  The  career 
of  an  upright  man  and  a  good  citizen  is  amply 
illustrated  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Triplett,  who  is  es- 
teemed as  one  of  the  must  useful  and  reliable  men 
of  the  community. 

Our  subject,  the  only  child  of  Daniel  M.  and 
Emeline  (Rogers)  Triplett,  was  born  at  the  home- 
stead which  he  now  occupies  Oct.  25,  1847.  He 
was  deprived  by  death  of  the  affectionate  care  of 
his  mother  when  a  child  of  two  years,  and  was 
taken  into  the  home   of    his  aunt.    Elizabeth    Jen- 


nings, in  Centreville,  Ind.,  where  he  lived  until  a 
boy  of  seven  years.  Afterward  he  became  an  in- 
mate of  the  home  of  Christopher  Iliddle  of  Ver- 
million County,  Ind..  where  he  remained  and  at- 
tended the  common  school  until  a  youth  of  sixteen 
years. 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  the  Civil  War  being  in 
progress,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Company  K,  1 29th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service 
at  Indianapolis.  The  company  drilled  there  one 
month  and  was  then  ordered  South  to  Chatta- 
nooga, where  they  joined  Sherman's  command.  Mr. 
Triplett  wTas  taken  ill  at  Chattanooga  and  confined 
in  the  hospital  for  a  time,  but  on  his  recovery 
rejoined  his  regiment,  and  among  other  engage- 
ments participated  in  the  battle  of  Marietta,  Ga., 
and  was  at  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  after  which  he  was 
sent  back  with  Gen.  Thomas  to  Nashville.  Later 
followed  the  battles  of  Columbia,  Franklin  and 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  after  which  the}'  were  sent  to 
North  Carolina  by  boat  and  later  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Kingston,  soon  after  which  the  war 
was  ended  by  Lee's  surrender.  At  Rolla  our  sub- 
ject was  seized  with  pneumonia,  from  which  he 
suffered  a  short  time,  and  was  then  sent  to  David's 
Isle,  New  York  Harbor,  where  he  remained  until 
receiving  his  honorable  discharge,  in  June,  1  805. 

Soon  after  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Triplett  made 
his  way  back  to  Indiana,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  assisted  his  father  in  operating  the  home  farm 
until  the  fall  of  that  year.  Then,  desirous  of  ad- 
vancing his  education  he  attended  the  Paris  High 
School,  and  after  leaving  it  worked  for  his  uncle 
four  years  on  a  farm.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  he  began  operating  on  rented  land  in  Ross 
Township,  and  later  settled  in  Young  America 
Township,  where  he  farmed  four  years.  In  1878 
he  returned  to  the  homestead  and  remained  there 
until  the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  in 
1886. 

In  l.s.sG  Mr.  Triplett  received  his  share  of  his 
father's  estate,  123  acres,  which  he  improved  and  to 
which  he  has  added  until  lie  has  a  fine,  large  tract  of 
land,  all  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  It  is 
supplied  with  good  buildings  arid  running  water. and 
admirably  adapted  to  stock-raising,  to  which  it  is 
largely  devoted.    Mr.  Triplett  keeps  about  seventy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1111 


head  of  cattle,  twelve  head  of  horses  and  a  goodly 
number  of  swine,  shipping  of  the  latter  a  car  load 
annually. 

Our  subject  was  married  on  April  25,  1868,  in 
Ross  Township,  to  Miss  Nancy  B.,  daughter  of 
.John  Elsberry,  the  latter  a  native  of  Clark  County. 
Ky.  Grandfather  Elsberry  owned  a  large  planta- 
tion and  kept  slaves  and  died  in  the  Blue  Grass 
State.  His  son,  John,  left  there  in  1850.  coining 
to  this  county  and  locating  in  Edgar  Township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  His  wife  in  her  girl- 
hood was  Miss  Elizabeth  Hulett,  also  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Hulett,  a 
farmer  of  that  State,  who  came  to  Morgan  County. 
III.,  where  he  died  some  months  later.  The  mother 
made  her  home  with  our  subject  thereafter  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  She  was  a  lady  pos- 
sessing many  estimable  qualities  and  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  eight  children  of  the  parental  family  were 
named  respectively:  Benjamin,  Ellen,  (deceased), 
Jane,  Joseph,  Nancy,  John,  Rachel  ami  Janus 
(deceased).  Benjamin  and  Joseph  served  in  the 
64th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  the  latter  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Mrs.  Trip- 
lett  was  born  near  Winchester.  Ky.,  July  7,  1849, 
and  was  a  child  of  seven  years  when  her  parents 
came  to  this  State.  She  remained  under  the  home 
roof  until  her  marriage,  and  by  her  union  with  our 
subject  has  become  the  mother  of  three  children  : 
Daniel  W..  Norah  F.  and  Julia  G. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Daniel  M.  Trip- 
lett,  a  native  of  Virginia  and  born  in  1800.  His 
paternal  grandfather  carried  a  musket  in  the  War 
of  1812.  Daniel  M.  was  reared  to  farming  pur- 
suits, which  he  followed  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and 
later,  during  the  above  mentioned  war,  served  as  a 
teamster.  Upon  leaving  his  native  State  he  settled 
near  Circleville,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  fann- 
ing until  1832,  then  came  to  this  county.  Locat- 
ing near  Paris  he  became  overseer  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Neff  of  Chrisman.  and  a  few  years  later 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Ross  Township,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  lie  im- 
proved a  gooil  farm  ami  remained  upon  it  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  April  11.  1886.      lie  was 


a  stanch  Democrat  politically,  and  served  as  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  a  number  of  years. 

Mrs.  Emeline  (Rogers)  Triplet t.  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  New  York  Slate,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Elias  Rogers,  a  native  of  the  same 
State,  and  who  participated  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  1829  and  entering  land  in 
Edgar  Township  prosecuted  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing very  Successfully,  and  invested  his  capital  in 
land  until  he  became  the  owner  of  700  acres.  He 
died  in  1869,  surviving  his  daughter  for  twenty 
years,  the  mother  of  our  subject  having  passed 
away  in   1  8  I!). 

Mr.  Triplett  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
I '.  S.  Grant,  and  is  one  of  the  most  ardent  adher- 
ents of  the  Republican  party.  Socially,  he  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  member  of  chap- 
ter No.  32,  at  Paris,  and  Treasurer  of  the  lodge  at 
Chrisman.  He  has  served  on  the  petit  jury,  but 
has  never  sought  office,  having  all  he  could  prop- 
erly attend  to  in  the  management  of  his  large  farm 
and  its  various  interests. 

S/AMES  ORR.  This  life  has  been  compared 
in  its  flight  to  the  quick  passing  of  a  me- 
teor, the  changing  sands  in  the  hour-glass. 

]IJfj  the  ceaseless  waves  beating  on  the  sea-shore, 
and  then  forever  lost  to  view,  the  falls  whirling 
and  tossing  and  then  moving  on  the  great  ocean, 
only  to  be  swallowed  in  its  eddying  currents.  Nut 
only  is  the  earthly  sojourn  brief,  but  it  is  also  un- 
changeable. The  meteor  never  retraces  its  path. 
the  water  never  comes  back  again,  the  sands  pass 
out  and  return  no  more.  So  in  human  life,  we 
cannot  retrace  our  footsteps,  but  must  forever 
advance. 

"The  moving  linger  writes,  and  having  writ. 
Moves  on  ;   nor  all  your  piety  nor  wit 
Can  line  it  back  to  cancel  one-half  line. 
Nor  all  your  tears  wipe  out  a  word  of  it." 

4'hose  who  can  look  back  on  a  life  well  spent,  in 
acts  uf  kindness  and  deeds  of  charity,  have  much 
to  be  thankful  for.  Their  thoughts  turn  to  a  past 
quietly  and  usefully  spent,  and    no   remorseful,  re- 


1112 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


gretful  recollections  mingle  with  those  happy 
thoughts.  He  of  whom  we  write  is  able  to  turn 
with  perhaps  greater  pleasure  than  the  majority  of 
his  fellow  men,  to  review  the  actions  of  a  life  which 
is  now  approaching  its  twilight.  How  many  hearts 
crushed  and  broken  he  has  soothed,  how  many 
lives  he  has  changed,  doubtless  he  could  not  tell, 
even  if  willing  to  do  so.  But  for  many  years  he 
has  officiated  as  a  minister,  doing  his  duty  in  a 
quiet,  unpretentious  way.  and  not  at  the  same 
time  neglecting  his  farming  interests.  He  thus  imi- 
tated in  his  own  way  the  example  of  the  apostle 
Paul. 

Mr.  James  Oir,  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of 
young  American  Township.  Edgar  Co.  111.,  but  is 
now  living  in  Sidell,  Vermilion  County.  He  has 
served  for  some  time  as  local  minister  at  Hickory 
Grove.jEdgar  County.  He  was  one  of  the  first  preach- 
ers of  his  (Baptist)  denomination  in  Edgar Cauiity, 
and  was  the  meansof  accomplishing  much  missionary 
work  among  the  pioneer  settlers  there.  He  is  now 
in  his  eighty-first  year,  having  been  born  .Ian.  1, 
180i»  in  what  is  now  West  Virginia,  but  was  in 
those  days  a  part  of  the  old  Dominion.  Of  one  of 
the  old  plantations  of  that  State,  among  its  moun- 
tains and  hills  he  grew  to  manhood.  The  educa- 
tional opportunities  of  the  earlier  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century  were  not  so  extended  as  now, 
but  the  children  usually  attended  school  during  the 
winter  session,  and  were  always  proud  of  that 
privilege.  Then,  perhaps,  the  happiest  days  in 
the  life  of  the  girl  and  boy  were  when  with  books 
under  the  arm  and  lunch  in  the  pocket,  the  little 
ones  start  off  through  rain  and  snow  to  con  their 
lessons  on  hard  benches,  with  insufficient  light,  and 
no  ventilation.  Such  was  the  experience  of  out- 
subject  between  the  ages  of  five  and  eighteen  years. 
At  that  period  of  his  life  he  commenced  to  impart 
instruction  to  others,  and  was  far  above  the  aver- 
age teacher  of  the  time.  For  from  early  boyhood 
he  had  high  ideals  of  existence,  and  was  not  con- 
tent with  the  knowledge  he  had  attained  but  was 
ever  striving  upward  and  onward  in  the  path  of 
learning.  Not  alone  in  matters  moral  and  social 
but  also  in  religious  enterprises  he  was  foremost. 
He  showed  the  effects  of  Christian  instruction,  for 
he   was  born  of  Christian  parents,   who  endeavored 


to  train  him  not  only  for  this  life  but  for  some- 
thing beyond. 

.John  Dale  Orr.  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  was  born  near  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Balti- 
more Co..  Md.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Johns,  a  native  of  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  the 
wedding  being  solemized  near  Uniontown.  Pa. 
After  this  important  event  in  his  life.  Mr.  Orr  re- 
moved to  Virginia,  and  in  Preston  County,  that 
State,  engaged  in  farming.  The  remainder  of  his 
existence  was  passed  in  this  home  with  the  wife  of 
his  youth,  and  surrounded  by  a  devoted,  happy 
family.  When  he  died,  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years,  and  his  wife  also  passed  to  rest 
at  the  same  age.  This  husband  and  wife  were  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  their 
lives  were  characterized  by  sincerity  and  purity  of 
action.  Thev  left  a  name  which  their  children 
rngard  as  a  most  precious  legacy,  and  were.univer- 
sally  esteemed  and  honored. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Dale  Orr  were  the  parents  of 
six  children  who  lived  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, viz.:  Catherine,  John,  Ruth,  Hiram.  George 
and  James.  It  is  of  the  last  mentioned  that  we 
write,  and  he  alone  remains  of  this  family. 

As  has  been  before  mentioned,  James  Orr  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  West  Virginia, and  made  that 
his  home  until  he  was  forty  years  of  age.  He  then 
followed  the  tide  of  emigration  westward.  He  did 
everything  possible  to  assist  the  church  even  before 
he  cast  his  lot  with  any  denomination,  and  prepared 
to  minister  to  their  spiritual  necessities.  When 
fifty-three  years  of  age  he  joined  the  Baptist  Church 
ami  in  it  has  labored  ever  since.  As  a  minister  h" 
has  been  persevering,  ardent,  eloquent,  and  above 
all  he  has  been  sincere  and  earnest.  He  organized 
the  Baptist  Church  of  Hickory  Grove  in  1858,  and 
at  first  they   had  a  membership    of  only  nine. 

Our  subject  has  not  been  without  the  assistance 
of  a  helpmate  in  his  ministerial  labors.  His  first 
marriage  occurred  in  West  Virginia,  June  5,  1834; 
the  bride  being  Miss  Margaret  Fortney,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  where  she  also  died.  By  this  wife  Mr. 
Oir  had  four  children,  namely  :  James  A.,  who  was 
accidentally  shot  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Louise 
J.:  John  I),  and  Margaret.  Louise  J.  became  the 
wife  of  William    II.    Ross,   but   died    and   left   five 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


1113 


children  who  live  with  their  father  in  Becville, 
Tex.  .John  I),  is  unmarried.  Margaret  married 
and  afterward  died,  leaving  no  children.  Mr.  Orr 
was  married  a  second  time  in  1845  lo  Miss  Mary  A. 
Ross,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, near  Waymsburgh, 
in  Greene  County.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Abigail  Ross,  and  has  been  a  faithful  compan- 
ion of  her  husband  in  his  earnest  efforts  to  promote 
the  gospel,  and  spread  the  joyful  tidings  of  salva- 
tion. After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orr. 
they  made  their  home  in  Virginia  for  a  time,  but 
in  18.V1  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
(Joles  County.  This  was  only  a  temporary  home. 
and  soon  after  they  removed  to  Young  America 
Township,  Edgar  County,  which  was  until  recently 
their  home,  and  where  they  number  their  friends 
a ng  the  best  people  of  the  community  and  en- 
joy the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  know  them. 
To  Mr.  Orr  by  his  second  wife  have  been  born 
six  children,  namel}':  Abncr  Ross.  Thomas  J.. 
Timothy  W..  Hiram  E.,  James  W. and  B.Franklin. 
The  first  born,  Abner  R..  resides  in  Clark  County. 
111.,  where  he  is  a  prosperous  farmer.  He  married 
Mary  Elizabeth  Guthrie,  daughter  of  Andrew  Gu- 
thrie  of  Vermilion  County.    They  are  the  parents 


of  six  children,  viz:  Maude.  Esther.  Mabel.  Myrtle, 
Harry  and  Abner  Ross,  Jr.  Thomas  -T..  the  next 
in  order  of  birth,  lives  in  Cumberland  County,  III. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Lowderbacfc  and 

has  two  children  by  this  union  —  Iva  M.  and  Fran- 
cis; the  third  son.  Timothy  W.,died  when  six  years 
of  age;  Hiram  E..  the  next  by  birth,  died  when 
only  two  years  of  age;  .lames  \Y.  is  a  grain  buyer 
Of  Sidcll,  and  married  Eliza  Todd,  by  whom  he  has 
one  child,  a  son,  Edward  Lyle.  The  youngest  in 
this  large  family  of  sons  is  Benjamin  Franklin,  who 
is  a  resident  of  Kansas,  where  he  is  a  successful 
ranchman  and  cattleman.  He  married  Miss  Lettie 
Ross. 

Mr.  Orr,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  as  is  fitting 
for  the  father  of  so  many  sons  and  a  consistent 
Christian,  is  a  strict  temperance  man  and  is  in  fa- 
vor of  anything  which  will  improve  the  social  con- 
dition of  those  around  them,  lie  is  benevolent, 
kind-hearted  and  hospitable.  Many  suffering  and 
wronged  ones  have  owed  to  him  what  happiness 
they  enjoyed  on  earth,  and  unite  with  others  in 
wishing  for  him  and  his  estimable  wife  all  the  joys 
of  this  life  and  the  greater  ones  that  remain  unto 
the  faithful. 


♦ — ->s? 

^   '.S> 


*    sr^jf^ 


BIOGPJpEF?I<SplL 


Abbott,  Franklin  E 288 

Adams,  A.   P 97* 

Adams,  Ellis. 200 

Adams,  John *3 

Adams,  John  Q •■•  39 

Albright,  Alanson    N 761 

Albright,  Samuel 314 

Allen, George 276 

Allen,  Benjamin,  Jr 847 

Allen,  Hon.  Char  1  s    A 74* 

Allen,  Wm    I    700 

Allan,  John,  Jr 107 1 

Allhands,  F.  M 692 

Alexander,  F.  M 467 

Alexander,  Gen.  Milton  K.      .  ?o^ 

Alexander,  Hon.  W S73 

Amis, James  T 407 

Amis,    Mrs-  Nancy.- 4°7 

Andiews,  E.  W    88. 

Ankrum,  Asa      49& 

Ankrum.  A.   L 453 

Ankrum,  George  W    *,3° 

Arbuckle,  A.  'I" 4S> 

Archbold,  I.  N i°57 

Armantrout,  Hiram 195 

Armstrong,  Thomas 721 

Arthur  Chester  A 99 

Arthur,  John "°4 

Athon,  J.  F 99» 


B 


Babb,  Ira 43° 

Bacon,  Hon.  George  E 033 

Bacon,  L.  B '0*0 

Baker,  C  A °S4 

Baldwin,  Alexander 848 

Baldwin,  F.     2»4 

Baldwin,  J.  R 2o8 

Ball,S.O 644 

Bandy.   John  W 198 

Bandy,  William 247 

Bank,  First  National. 948 

Banta,J.H 509 

Banta,  William  F 49° 

Banta,  W.   F 939 


Banlz,  Ezra  J 429 

Barnett,  Geo..'. 748 

Barnett,  R.  E 748 

Rarnett,   F.  V 639 

Barnett,    James    603 

Barth,  A.J 879 

Barr,  James  D 943 

Barr.  W.  W   770 

Bass,   Henry ---596 

Bates,  Dr.  C.  C 852 

Bauin,  Jasper  N 1022 

Bauin,  Z,  1 '.,  M.  D '070 

Baum.  C.  C 5°5 

Baum,  Charles  M 199 

Baum, Charles  W 45^ 

IJ.uim,  Frank  A...      518 

Baum,  G.  T 5°4 

Baum,  Oliver  P 683 

Baum,H    W 668 

Beall,  W.  G 941 

Bcnuchnmp.  N    W 961 

Bell.  Oliver 1039 

Bennenel.  Robert  R Q07 

Bennett,  D.  C 663 

Bennett,  Henry  J    458 

Berkshire,  Robert 863 

Be ve ridge,  John  L 171 

Bissell,  William  H 151 

Blackburn,  M.  A 1099 

Blackburn.  William . .  .799 

Blackstock,   W.  J 1074 

Blair,  E.N 1044 

Blair,  Samuel 59s 

Blakeney,   T.  W 495 

Blakeney,  John 489 

Boardman,V.R 217 

Boggess,  J.  W.,  M.  D 221 

Bolden,  John    E    489 

Bolen,  L.  W 1102 

Bond,   Shadrach in 

Boyce,  Henry  G 240 

Boyer,John  K 779 

Brady,  John 394 

Brady,  Thomas. 676 

Bradley,  Dr.  S.  H 931 

Branham,  A 528 

Brewer,  J.  W 413 

Brooks,  John 557 

Brown.  T.  C 891 

Brown,    William 519 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Buchanan.  W.    W -300 

Buckler,  J.  C 1018 


Buhl,  Charles *97 

Burroughs,  Major  Wilson 387 

Burton,  O.  K "C3 

Busby,  I.  N .---575 

Bushnell,  H.  L 198 

Bushu,  James 822 

Butler,  W.  T 226 

Butts,  Saul 953 


Ca.dk,  Philip 275 

Campbell,  D 270 

Campbell,  J.J 693 

Canaday,  G.  W 5'7 

Canaday,  Henry  F 487 

Canaday,  William,  Sr 347 

Cannon,  Hon.J-G 225 

Caraway,  C.  T. .  680 

Caraway,  J.  H    1023 

Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Carter.  Frank 751 

Cassell,  Eliza  S 476 

Cassle,  James  A 829 

Cast,  Wilbur 589 

Cast,  William.. 227 

Cat  her  wood,  A.  T 219 

Catherwood,  J.  S 720 

Cauble,  William  B 281 

Chambers,  George  W 974 

Chapman,  Thomas  H 867 

Cessna,   John   313 

Cessna,  Wm --372 

Chace,  Henry  L.. 246 

Chandler,  Wm 746 

Chandler,  W.  R 764 

Christman,  J.  S 235 

Church,  Charles 732 

Clark,   )ohn  G 466 

Clarkson,  George 242 

Cleveland,  G rover  S 103 

Clifton,  James 367 

Clingan,  J.  S 475 

Clipson,  Wm 290 

Ctoyd,   J.  P.,  M.  I> 478 

Coake,  Rev.  David 1054 

Coffman.  D.  A 868 

Coffman.S.  A.,  M.  D 368 

Cole,  John 321 

Coles,  Edward 115 

Collier,  Alexander 532 


Collins,  John    sfi6 

Colson,  U-  O g0j 

Condon,  John 1017 

Cook,  A.  G 527 

Cook.  Amos $\ fj 

Cook,  J.  F 474 

Cook,  James  P 528 

Cook,  Joseph  B -444 

Cook,  Samuel 236 

Cooper,  Charles 479 

Cooper,  Mrs.  Lucinda 665 

Cooper,  John   E 695 

Cooper,  John  N ^83 

Copeland,  Wm      259 

Cotton,  Henry 484 

Cox,   Thomas 324 

Craig,  William 829 

Crandall,  E.  B 943 

Crane,  John  S  ......    . . .  .349 

Crane,  O.   H ig6 

Cranson,  John   B 239 

Crawford,  Herod  N 888 

Crimmins,  John  M 712 

Crimmins,  Robert  E 1066 

Culbertson,  W.  G 812 

Cullom,  Shelby   M 175 

Cummins,  John 787 

Cunningham,  W.  O 249 

Current,  H.  B 669 

Current,  Isaac   256 

Current,  J.  M 657 

Current,  W.  W ^84 

Curtis,  B.  O 781 

Curtis,  D.  S 1029 

Curtis,  Isaac  H 788 

Cusick,  John  T 1042 


D 


1  la  Ibey,  Aaron 752 

Dalbey,   Samuel   447 

Daniel,   O.  M 362 

Darnall,  A.  J 522 

Davidson,  |ohn 1072 

Davis,  Henry 229 

Davis,  H.  V 393 

Davis,   James 337 

Davis,  Jesse «?? 

Mavis,  Jonah  M 674 

Davis,  Judge  O.  1 38a 

Davis,  William 301 


INDEX. 


Dazey,  Jacob 271 

Dicken,  David  S     5-18 

Dicken,  WiUiaih  C '006 

I  tickinson  ,  William 212 

Dickson,  David 5°3 

I  lickson,  Sil  is 537 

I'ickson,  S.  S 455 

I    i lion,  Jonathan 73? 

I  lilloil,  ^eo    755 

I  1  ins  more,  George  O 607 

1 'ixon,  Alfred   M 34' 

Doak,  John  W.  N 958 

I  todson,  Geo.  W 255 

Dole,  Col-  George 1031 

Donovan,  S.  I' 57° 

Dougherty,  B.  F 689 

Douglass,  D.  B ■    -515 

I  tauglass,  J.  M 238 

Dawning,  C.  L 569 

Dvwtis,  W.  H 686 

Downs.  W.  H    1002 

Dunavan,  A    567 

I I  uncan,  Joseph    13' 


Entan,  Adam 667 

F.di*ns,  Dr.  Geo 

F.d  wards,  Ninian    119 

Elder,  A.  W 629 

1-  !li  -tr.  Clayton  13 538 

1    Iln.it.    H.   C 549 

Elliott,  Hon-  S     H Q7=> 

!■  lliott,  John  M 623 

1  lliott,  Robert 708 

F lliott,  Thomas 892 

I-  Lliott   Wesley 583 

Fnyjelmann,  John  N 759 

Epperson,  Dr.  J.  C 968 

Evans  Geo.  M .       .27* 

Evans,  Hon.  David    D 732 

Ewing,  William   L.  D 127 


Fagner.  Christian 652 

Fair,  George  W.... 889 

Fan  rot,  Ira 250 

Fifer,   Joseph 183 

Fillmore,  Millard 07 

Finley,  M.  T 738 

Fin  ley.  Watts 441 

Fisher,    Jno-  W 650 

Fisher,  Michael 628 

Fisk.  J.  W 550 

fisk,  K.  W 578 

Fithian,    K.  C.   B 666 

Fithian,  Wm.,M.D 739 

Fleming,  W 701 

Fletcher,  Henry 558 

Fletcher,  Jn© 521 

Folger,  John 745 

Folger,  Uriah 581 

Forbes,  C.  W 662 

Ford,  Thomas 139 


Forster,  James      .831 

Fcutz,    Henry  H .801 

Frasier,  H  ira  m 

I- 1 -.i?  km  ,    Samuel  704 

Freeman,  At.  734 

Freem?  n.  H.  I  .    .  .;  .262 

Frei,  Hi  in  >  1047 

French,  AOgiistnTC..   ..     ..   143 

French.  Ersom 75 

Fnltz,  Jacob 540 

G 


Gaines,  Francis 539 

Gal  way,  John  B .798 

Galway,  W.  H, 853 

Gardner.  Win.    H 699 

Garfield,  James  A 95 

Garlaugh,  H 661 

Geddes,  J.  M 213 

Giddings,  A  Ibert .344 

1  ■  idd  tngs,  Jno.  W .763 

Goings,   1  -  V 402 

Good  wine,  J-  W 207 

Gossett,  M.   1! 436 

Giant,  U.  S 87 

Graves,  Levi  H 556 

Gray,  C    K 635 

Gray,  William . .    .624 

'  ireen,  Bingham  C .694 

Gritten,  I. a  lien 731 

Grundy  ,  A 559 

Gumm,  Frederick 990 

Gurley,   Daniel (64 

Guthrie  A  rid  re  w ro4 

Guthrie,    Thomas ^  \  \ 


H 


Hacker,  F.  M 61S 

Hagley,  T.  K 401 

Hale,M.  W 963 

Hall,  J.  T.,   M.  D 840 

Hamilton.  Jno.  M 179 

Hanks.  James 911 

Han  ley,  David 1036 

Harper,  A 588 

Hanis,  John  H 984 

Harris,  W.  K 832 

Harrison,  Benj    F 107 

Harrison,  William  Henry 51 

Hawkins,  A  .  C 1009 

Hawkins,  William. -357 

Haworth,  Beriah 726 

Ha  worth,  llios 468 

Haworth,  W.  H 5i0 

Hayes,  R.   B 91 

Hays,  James    359 

Hay  ward,  Martin 520 

Healy ,  James  J 497 

Heffelfinger,  T 1080 

Heileinan,  Geo 542 

Henton,  CD 380 

Herron,  William   G      285 

Hester,  Cassius  M .480 

Hester,  William 536 


Hewes,  T    F 713 

Hildreth,  John  B   651 

Hildreth,  William  H 

I  I  ;  llni.  1 11  ,   (   ha  rles 379 

liinshau     I  '1     D.  ( 

Hitch.  (  hailes  P... 

I I  nag  land,    I  i-:o 3c  3 

Mil:,  Dr    John 743 

II'.M.-Y.    C.   1 951 

Hoi  oway,   /-.  C 232 

llolton,  Henry  C.  M  .  D        ..    530 

Honeywell,  A 713 

Hon nold,  James  L   857 

Honnold,  John  R    8S2 

Ffonni  Ld,  R.  D '.892 

Honnold,  E.  H 994 

H  00 pes,  Thomas . .   506 

Hopper,    Lewis j2y 

Horne,  Dr.  A ioys 

i  unit.  William,  Jr 1077 

Hoult,  W    F.  1050 

Houston ,  D .  J 930 

Houston,   Levi g  ;o 

Howard,  George  F 929 

Howard,  Guy  C 262 

Howell,  Jason  W 981 

Huffman,  Oscar 1014 

Huffman,  Geo.  D 754 

Hull,  C     F 531 

Hull,  J-   F-.  M.  D 729 

Hull,   John  C    8;4 

Humphreys,  Thomas  I!      --.-454 

Humrichous  John 498 

Hunter,  J.  D 1098 

Hurst,  Henry  H    864 


Igo,  Samuel  W    .  .    964 


Jack,  Reuben / 

Jackson,   Amos 348 

Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jackson,  Jno.  I.     238 

Jackson,  J.  1 684 

James,  Firman . . .  .977 

Jefferson,   Thomas 27 

Jenkins,  L.  O    827 

Jeter,  George  M 1053 

Johnson,  Andrew ..    83 

Johnston,     David 625 

Jones,  A 717 

Jones,   E.  P 210 

Jones,    F 371 

Jones,  Geo.  Wheeler,  M.  D..292 

Jones,  Ira  G 508 

Jones,  J-  H 1068 

Jones,  Philip 918 

Jones,  William 1012 

Judy,  William 1133 

J  urgensmeyer,  Wi]  Ham 3    « 


K 


Kelly  William 414 

Kelshi  nner.  B.  D    861 

Kent.  W.  W t;Q 

KepUnger  Thomas .3^0 

ECerrick,  James  A... 981 

Kerrick.JohnB    897 

Ketterson,  Joseph '...828 

Keys,  M 921 

Keyser,  Andrew 860 

Kilbourn,  Jonathan 744 

Killgore,  Samuel  B 969 

Kimble,  George  W 089 

Kimb rough,  A.  H.,  M.  D 2*8 

Kingsley,  V.  C.  T.,  M.  D....  338 

Kinsey,  Jno-  R    598 

Knight,  E.  P .    ..950 

Knox,  R.  M 445 


Lamb,    William  H 967 

Lange,  C.  G 957 

Lange,  F.  W g.57 

Langley,  Casper  J    697 

Larrancc,  Jonathan    734 

Larrance,M.  1 497 

La  11  f man,  K 792 

Lauher,   William  M 1061 

Lay  ton,  D 685 

Leach,  Benj  -  F 538 

Lee,  Thomas 211 

Leeka,  Dr.  Jesse 3^3 

Leemon,  Jno 297 

Legate,  John  M 993 

Lemon,  Theodore M  .  D 715 

Lewis,  Allen 740 

Lewis,  Cyrus 942 

Ligget,  Jesse 442 

Lincoln,   Abraham 79 

Linnabary.  O.  H 833 

Little,  Morris 1007 

Lloyd,  Henry 304 

Long,  A.  F 1004 

Lone,  Anthonv 656 

Lycan,  John  M 778 

Lycan,  J  .  V 776 

Lytic,  J.   K  .,  M.  D 433 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Maddock,  F.J 983 

Majors,  J.  W    851 

Makemson,    Hiram 718 

Makemson,    John 583 

Mann,    A 671 

Mann,  W.  J    .46.1 

Manning,  B.  F 1  097 

Manning,  L.  V .4S6 

Mark,  A.  W y37 

Marley,    W.  D 877 


INDEX. 


Mjrtinie,  Charles  W.,  M.  l>   .797 

M  ason,  James  K    923 

M  nson,  I'll  n 817 

Matkin.T 580 

M  in-  son,  Joel  A 147 

M  1  Broom,  William 

Mel  are,  l.li"  M 265 

M   I  augl  ey,T.C.,M      I1     .30' 

Mi  i   ml.  Mi  had    287 

Mi  (   01  I,  Wll  i.un      883 

Mi  '  ni  bins,  R.  G   890 

McCnlloi  h,  James  II    "062 

McCnlloch,  John  V 878 

McC, ilium.  Nelson S5q 

Mi  1  lowell,  Archibald 4-7 

McDowell,  J.  I.     448 

McDowell, Mrs    1      I  ....4:4 

.1      ...    I  nl,  n  1'  .   ' 

1  ,    lohn  W         0J0 

McKee,  Uenjamin  .   '"59 

M'  Kec,  John   S87 

McKee,  I  .  U 201 

McMillan,  James 566 

Mi  V  iv  ,    [acoh s*i 7 

McVn  .  John    2.0 

I*  cMillin.William 

Mendenhall.John 648 

Mendenhall,  Silas 610 

M  erkle,  And  ew 775 

Merkle,  Douglas  784 

Merkle,    Henry  S    1065 

M  ill    r,   I......    W     403 

Miller,  J.    W 526 

Miller,  William -.-.'.79 

M  illikin,   Andrew ..    ....Qlg 

Mill,.  Dr.  John    909 

Mills,  Henry 57' 

Mill,,  Mikon    ,62 

Mills,  William  II    55' 

M  inor,  Gideon 1003 

Mitchell,  Capt,  Samuel   1055 

Mitchell,  G,  D .1026 

Mitchell,  James  N 570 

Monroe.  James 35 

i       1  ■'.  Jesse 908 

Moreland,  Mrs    C.  T   673 

M  ..1 1  I  .M.I .    I  I as   K 6/3 

Morgan. S.    Ross 559 

Morgan,  I.  M 750 

Morris.  I  iNeal 842 

MoSCS,    J.    S 585 

Moss, Joseph   703 

Moss,  Alex 7tyo 

M  John 979 

Murphy     J.  H  1038 


N 


Nay,  William 1010 

Neville,  Ceo.  N v 

mb,  (  harles 814 

N«    .    !l,  Henry    D 

Newkirk,  Jno.  R  614 

New  I  in.  J  no.  W, ..      . .  616 

New  Ion,  L.  D ... .  . .  .$00 

Nolan,  H.  M 838 


Norris   N,   J    ,  M      1) 561 

1    s,    William 1048 


o 


Oakes,  Daniel 628 

'  >.■,-.  a  ood  ,111 

(  l.ikwood,    Hon.  J.  H     037 

Oak  wood,  M  ichael    .    260 

1  Idle,  Miles 

Oglesbj  .  i:-'  ichard    1    16.1 

Olehy,  F.  M t'S 

l  Ueh3  ,  U  iIIi.imi    1    584 

( Hmsted,  A.  G  ;<<• 

<  PNcal,  Perry 135 

(  >  r  r .     lames    W 719 

<  h  r,  James 'in 

Owen,  \  1  sxandei   D fo*> 


Padgilt,  John  1  ...      $96 

Palmer.  John  C 810 

Palmer,  John    M 167 

Park,  Timothy 339 

Parrish,  John  H 2<Si 

Partlow,   Asa 351 

Partlow,  John  J 280 

Pasteur,  F.  J 572 

Pate,  B.C 381 

Patterson,  Golden 5^8 

Patterson,  Mrs.  Mary ....        71-' 

Patterson,  William 741 

Palton,  Merrick 

Patrick,  W.  H 101  , 

Pearson,  G  ust a  v us  C .410 

Peirce,  Hon     Wm-    P 245 

Perisho,  James  M -1003 

Peterson,  Philip  V    

Pierce,  Franklin   71 

Pinnell,  Joseph  R      .     .996 

Pinnell.W.  I  .  S       952 

Pinnell,  W.  O 1105 

Plumb,  H.  R S01 

Pocltken,    Rev.    F,  A    600 

Polk,  James  K g 

Pollard,  John 665 

Porter,  Lysander,  M-  1' 1051 

Poulter,  Harrison   ...    ..  .11145 

.Poulter,  William  R ■  1 100 

Poulter,   Thomas     958 

P        •   .  i  .  k 

Powell,  Z.  E    820 

Prate,    II.'  ma: 7?6 

W,  H 3,7 

P.ugh,  Granville 540 

Pugh,   Martin         525 

Puzey,  H    


Reid.L.  A 582 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Reynolds,  Moses 565 

Reynolds,   Theodore .672 

Reynolds,  Thomas 655 

Rhoads.  John 880 

Rice,    Daniel -       7'° 

Rice,  J.   J 682 

Rice,  James  M 1079 

Rice,  S- S 869 

Rice,  T.   R 645 

Richardson,  F.    A 700 

Richardson,  Joseph 709 

Richards*  »n,    Margn  i    709 

Kickart,  W,  \' 417 

Ki-zus,  Luther  A 

Ring  land,  Dr.  George. . 

Robertson,  J,  J    S99 

Robertson.  Zachariah 719 

Robinson,  H    M 702 

Kobhison,  Jacob  W 839 

Roririck,  William  H    675 

Rogers,  Miles 897 

Roll,    lohn 1045 

1  Henry 8iy 

Ross.    John  E 6y6 

Ross,  M  rs.  Susan   E  I  ■■■ 

Ross,  William 9°  2 

Rouse,    Dennis    H 7-5 

Rowand,  Juhn    F 633 

Rowe,  Dr.  Mark 99 


R 


Reed,  William  II    .    .    ..  ....-■ 

Recs,  William r ,,, 

Reid,  D.  li 1    1 


SalUday,  Inn.  C .- 

Sanders,  <  leorge  F 615 

Sandusky,   Guy 3°4 

Sandusky,  A 47; 

Sandusky,  James. 493 

Sandusky.  J.  S 747 

Sandusky,  William.... 

Sandusky,  W.  T 378 

Sayre,  J    D qio 

Si  li.m  :e,  Theodoie..     noi 

1,   .  ,  M  rs.   Emma 191 

:-■ ,  James   S .191 

Sconce,  William    H 698 

Si  Ott,    -\-  J 9<3 

Scoit,    David". 1082 

Scott,  I-  D 818 

Scott,  John 1019 

Scott,  Thomas  854 

Si  ott,  Samuel 841 

William 1067 

Shane,  Abraham 830 

Shane,  James 952 

Shank,  D.  11 10  1 

Shank,  George  H 9^4 

Shaw,  Ma,     F.  P 774 

Shaw,    S.    S    707 

.ul    J.  M 789 

Shoaff,  J-  D 824 

Shoaff,  L.  A.G....  1 

Mi  umaker,  .1  ac  >b 1024 

Stall.    I     J    ■                  ....     v5. 
Sinkhorn,  A.  J 323 


Skeeters,  Rev.  Joseph 9C9 

Slaughter,  K.  S ■. . .   .651 

S'y,  A]  I'-n 1107 

Smith .  I  'avid  K  741 

Smith,  F.  P   620 

Smith  ,  Geo     VI         328 

Smith,  George    W 728 

Smith,  Jno.  K ,    .  .218 

S  in  itli ,  M  illikin 1078** 

Smith,    R.     B 670 

Smith,  William.  461 

Smith,  William  M 987 

Snow,  Abncr 749 

Snowden,  B.   F 309 

Snyder,  E 615 

SommerviU  •,  James   1075 

South  worth.  J.  J J58 

S perry,  (> 286 

Spry.  G.    M 399 

Stadler,    \  il .1 1.1  1 

lohn  'J  .i..,i 

Stafford,  John  944 

Stalling!,.    J  —  ...   .718 

Stark,  Samtiel   

sir.,  rns,  Alvin 

Stearns,  Calvin 452 

Steele,  James  M 978 

Stevens,  J  as.  H 579 

Si  evens,  Samuel    I  . 

Stevens,  W.  T 609 

Stewart,  James 100S 

Stew  art,  M 91  a 

St i ne,  James  M 409 

5l  1 pp,    V  In. .h. tin 1013 

Stokes,  Richard .    .    10*4 

Stufflebeam,  O.  P   

Sudduth,  J  .  V (j 

Sullh  an,  '  ieo.   M 

S li nkc I .  Jacob   ...  .  ...  928 

Swaim,  Dr.  P.  H 620 


Talboll,    II.    I   .  P.     .  |( 

Tate,  John  W ...    902 

Taylor,  Buford,  M    D    619 

Taylor,   I  ho  mas  \  • ,  7 

I  -ij  I ■  •  r ,  Zachary  - 

Tenbrook,  John,  M.  D  1058 

Thayer,  S.  W 

Thomas,  John 

Thompson,  James 613 

l  I;    in  pson  ,  John  E 289 

Thompson ,  J .   R 299 

■  m.   Samuel 743 

Thompson  .Wile; 899 

Tillotson,  Buell 755 

Tillotson,  Luther 318 

I  ilton,  Fn  d  

I  ilton,  G    W     762 

I  ownson,  Ephraim  872 

Trimble,  M r 

Triplett,  George  W .  11 10 

Trisler,  John 545 

L* rover,-  W,  W., 1035 

I  1  11  1        (   apt     Joseph. 278 

I  hi  ker,  D.  H 

I  ucket ,  G.  E  954 

Turner,  E.  C 983 


INDEX. 


Turner,  Dr-  J  no.  W 327 

Tweedy,  A 1015 

Tyler,  John- 55 


Vale,  J.  E 862 

Van  Allen,  J  no.  H 342 

Van  Allen,  William  P 389 

Van   Buren,  Martin -   47 

Van    Duyn,    John 658 

Van  H  out  in,  William  M 84g 

Vanneman,  Wm.   A 640 

Van  vickle,  Enoch    334 

Villars.  G    M 398 


Vinson,  Levin    ...    392 

Voorhes,  Albert 388 

w 


Waldruff,  B.  F 832 

Walling.  H 776 

Ward,  David ...1028 

Warner  C.   W 765 

Washington,  George 19 

Watson,  James 8154 

Webster.  Miss  Sarah  727 

Westbrook,  John . .   858 

Wetzel,  Jacob 1025 

Wherry,     Joseph    712 

White,     A.    L 343 


White,  Henry 823 

White,   James    E 383 

White,  William 353 

Whitton.Chas    E 260 

Wiley,  Hon.  I.eRoy 1065 

Wilkin.  W.  T 920 

Wilkins,  Judge  J.  W 608 

Williams,  J.  M    1081 

Williams,  Nathan 585 

Williams,  Thomas -408 

Williams,  Truman 352 

W  i  11  i.ims,  WiiJiam 354 

Wilson,  William  N 1000 

Winter,  Carl  C 310 

Winters,  W.  V 643 

Witherspoon,  W.  P 589 

Wood,   John    155 

W'orthington,  R.    R 030 


Wozencraft,  W.  A    qi8 

Wright,  Chailes   A 731 

Wright,  Hugh 291 

Wyatt,  James    995 

Wyalt,  William 097 

Y 

Yates,     Richard 159 

Yerkes,  Hiram 307 

\  oung,  Charles  S 555 

z 

Zeigler,  Benjamin 374 

Zimmerly,  Jacob 844 

Zimmerly,  William  A 77  1 


Adams,   John 22 

Adams,  John   Q      38 

Allen,  Benjamin,  Jr 846 

Amis,  James  T 406 

Arbuckle,  A.  T 45° 

Arthur,  Chester  A 90 

Bantz,  Ezra  J 427 

Bantz,  Mrs.  E.  J 426 

Bennefiel,  Robert  R 906 

Beveridge,  John    L .170 

Bissell,  Wm.   H i5o 

Bond,  Shadrach no 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Burroughs,  Maj.  W 386 

Busby,  Isaac  N -  -    -574 

Canady,  William 346 

Cannon,  Hon.  J  .  G    224 

Carlin,  Thos 134 

Cauble,  Willis  B..  M  .11 281 

Chapman,  Thomas  H 866 


PORTRAIT! 

*p^H*iSC1-* 


Cleveland,  G rover  S iov: 

Clifton.  James 366 

Coles,  Edward 114 

Cook  ,  Amos  G 926 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 

Cummins,  John 786 

Davis,  O.  L 382 

Dickson,  David -592 

Dinsmore,  George  O .  ...  .806 

Dougherty,  Benjamin  F 688 

Douglas,  Dorman  B 513 

Douglas,  Mrs.  D.  B ...51a 

Duncan.  Joseph... 130 

Edwards,  Ninian. 118 

Ewing,  William  L.  D 126 

Ford,  Thos 138 

Fifer,  Joseph  W    ,82 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 

French,  Augustus  C 142 

Garfield,  lames  A g8 


Grant,  UlysseS  S 86 

Hamilton,  John  M 178 

Harrison.  William  H 50 

Harrison,  Benjamin    ........    106 

Hayes,    Rutherford   II    ... go 

Hcrron,  W.  G    284 

Home.  Di .  ALel 1095 

Jackson,    Andrew ...   42 

Jefferson,  Thos 26 

Jenkins,  Dr.  Leroy  O 8s6 

Johnson,  Andrew 82 

Lamb,  William  H 966 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

McCabe,  John  M' 264 

Madison,  James 30 

Matteson,   Joel  A 146 

McKce,  John 886 

Monroe.   James 34 

Ogelsby,  Richard  J 162 

Palmer,  John   M 166 


Peirce,  Hon.  W.  P ..244- 

Pierce,  Franklin    70 

Polk,  James  H 58 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Rowand,  John  F. 630 

Sandusky,  Abraham 470 

Sandusky,  M  rs.   A 471 

Sandusky,  James 4^7 

Sconce,  James  S igo 

Scott,  W 1067 

Stevens,  Samuel  T 534 

Sudduth,  John  Y    946 

Taylor  Zachary 62 

Thompson,  James... 612 

Turner,  John  W 326 

Tyler,  John 54 

Van  Buien,   Martin    46 

Washington,  George 18 

Wood,  John    154 

Yates,  Richard 158 

Yerkes,  Hiram ^06 

Young,  Charles  S 554 


Ball,  Selim,  0 642 

Banta,  William 936 

Barnett,    James ...  .602 

Brown,  Thomas  C   -835 

Cadle,   Philip 274 

Caraway,  Charles  T 502 

Cassell,  Eliza  S 336 

CofTman,  Daniel  A 795 

Collins,  J 564 

Christman,  Joseph    S 234 

Current  J  .  M 502 

Elliott,  J.    M 622 

Engelmann,  J.  N 758 

Fin  ley.  Watts 438-4-39 

Fisher,  Michael 376 

Forster,  James 795 


Fultz,     Jacob 544 

Goodwine,  John  W 204-205 

Gray,    William 622 

Guthrie,   Andrew 602 

Harris,   W'illiam  K 795 

Ilawkirs,  William 356 

Honnold,  James  1 856 

Honnold,  J  .  R 835 

James,    Fir  man 976 

Jurgensmeyer,  W 356 

Kelly,  William 336 

Kent.W    W 678 

Kerrick.John    B 896 

Kimble,  George  W 9S6 

Kinsey.John  R 254 

Lange,  Bros   956 


Leeinon,  John    .....  -    .      ^94-295 

Mann,    William  J 460 

Mark,  A nthony  W   936 

Marley,  William  D 876 

Mason,  John 816 

McCullgch,  John  V 876 

M  ...  Kee,  Mrs-   A.  J .916 

McVay,  Jacob 916 

Miller,   J.  W 524 

Olehy.    F.    M 416 

Olmsted,    Albert 254 

O  we  n  ,  A .  D    502 

Pate,  Bird  C 336 

Pollard,  John    376 

Pou Iter,  Thomas 835 

Price,  Wm.  H 316 


P ugh,  Martin 524 

Reynolds,    Moses 564 

Rickhart,  W.  V 416 

Rogers,  Miles 896 

Sconce,  W.  H 376 

Scott,  Israel  D 816 

Smith.    William 460 

Smith,  William  M    986 

Stearns,    Alvin 254 

Steele.  James   976 

Tilton,  Fred 482 

Thomas,  John 678 

Trisler,  John 544 

Villars,  G.  M 758 

Westbrooke,    John 856 

Winters.  Wm.  V 64* 


AiB^0Fmm 


